07.01.2012 - Christianity from A to Z - pt 1, Personal Transformation

On Saturday, September 15, we will be having a church family meeting – where we are going as a church and where we have been – more details later, but get it on your calendar.
Thank You Lord, that You are present, and love us and have gathered us together. You are working in our lives and You want to touch our hearts and to know You and love You and love Your people and Your mission. To faithfully serve You all of our days. Here we are as Your servants – what do You have to say to us – what would you have us become – we want to become and say all that – that You may be pleased with our worship and our hearts and listening to Your word – that we might be a transformed people and a transformed community –
I am going to begin a new series – Christianity from A to Z – covering it all – everything you always wanted to know about Christianity. I am going to be going through the book of Ephesians – each letter is written for specific needs in a specific church – Romans, Corinthians, etc. But Ephesians was to be delivered not only to Ephesus, but to all of the churches in Asia Minor – pretty general about how to live in all circumstances and situations.
Ephesus had tremendous economic power – like the NYC of their day – it was a tremendous cultural power and influence – but most importantly – for the book of Ephesians and us – it was a place of significant spiritual influence. The temple of Artemis was one of the great places of the world. The whole world essentially was worshiping the god of the temple of Artemis in Ephesus.
Paul’s message – backed with divine power – demonstrates that his power and message is greater. And then what happens – this message and ministry transforms the people and culture of this community where it is received – and it transforms the very things that these people hold to dearly and have trusted in their entire lives.
It is so easy, when we think about the preaching of the gospel, that we limit it to something that is very important, but that it is all about a person getting a ticket out of hell and a ticket to heaven. Yes, that is important, - the gospel saves people from judgment and provides an eternal destination. But if we limit it to that, we are limiting it. The gospel should change peoples’ lives. In America, it is too easy to become a Christian without being changed – but that is not a biblical option – and it has to transform us at the core.
For them, it was obvious – they were idol worshipers. Two of our kids just got back from India. It is probably very much like Ephesus. Each community has idols they offer to – and these idols control people’s lives – and when they come to Christ – they must forsake their idols. I would suggest that we have some of the very same things. Yes, it is not a statue, but there are idols we must forsake when we come to Christ – and we must be transformed. The transformation – we will see in Acts – corresponds with the issues of brokenness, fallenness of the people in the city of Ephesus.
Paul comes to the people – and asks if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed – but they were not familiar with the Holy Spirit. Paul would first come to the Jews in the synagogues – and eventually would be kicked out. And then he ‘rented a place’ – like a school – and preached there for about 3 years. This was probably as long as he stayed anywhere.
Acts. 19:11
We have this culture steeped in spiritual power – looking for miracles and signs and mysteries. And God is showing them extraordinary miracles.
We might not be into magic – but we have our own things – and Paul wants to show what can’t be fixed by idols or technology or theories – CAN be transformed by God and the gospel.
Often, as Christians, we are afraid of that – living a life of power – spiritual power. And even just sit back and ask yourself – when is the last time I thought about that? My life is infused with divine power that can be unleashed in our world. But that is what is happening – Paul is unleashing power and confronting a culture – the power sources, the religion, the political and economic powers of Ephesus with the gospel – and things will be transformed.
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 insomuch that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the evil spirits went out.
That is incredible. And this isn’t like what goes on on TV – but historians would say – these cults would use handkerchiefs and aprons in their miracles – and God is taking what they are doing – showing that it had failed them – but showing that it actually brings healing through God. We see through Paul’s ministry – many demons were cast out. The same thing is happening in India. Our job is to discover where the idolatry lies in our culture – and address that.
We have been reading The Good and Beautiful God – and he calls these things – false narratives – and it is the job of the gospel and the church to correct these. And that is what Paul is doing in Ephesus.
Paul’s preaching and teaching transformed that community – yet he never engaged in cultural wars. He just engaged the gospel and preached the gospel and ministered to peoples’ lives. I think that is a word for us today – especially in an election year. Yes, we need to vote and be thoughtful citizens in our community – but Supreme Court decisions and laws and who gets elected aren’t the issue – the issue is seeing people come to Christ and through that to be changed. It is a spiritual battle that we face – we have spiritual enemies of darkness – and how much are you engaged in that? How much of your anger goes to that? Your passions? That is what is happening here.
17 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds. 19 And not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed.
There was real transformation and real issues resolved. There was tremendous financial consequences in coming to Christ – it affected every area of their lives.
So again – it is more than just someone coming to Jesus and going to heaven – but it was this battle against the false narratives and powers of the Ephesian society – and God was prevailing. We are called to see the same thing in God. We ask, why does it not happen here? Part is because we are looking in the wrong place – we aren’t looking in the power of the simply preached gospel of Christ.
What that does is transform lives when it is believed and trusted. We have so much STUFF to offer that gets in the way of the power of the message and the gospel.
21 Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." 22 And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. 23 And about that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; 25 these he gathered together with the workmen of similar [trades,] and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. 26 "And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods [at all.]
Paul is destroying these false narratives – we are not to be afraid of that message. There is ONE MESSAGE to this world – and that is Christ – and we must hold to it always – it is only through the death of Christ – that people can be saved out of their sins – saved from judgment. And that we never give up. You could say that in that, we are intolerant – not intolerant of people t- but to hold strongly to that message that it is through Christ and Christ alone.
That is what is happening in Ephesus – how might this ministry and message speak to and transform our brokenness, fallenness, and corruption in our culture? There are probably dozens of ways – but I have three – maybe not even have time for that.
First false narrative of our culture – the idol of power and pride. We don’t hear it too often – how often do you hear, we are the most powerful nation on earth. May or may not be true – that is not the issue – but it is a source of idolatry for us in power and pride. It is like an idol. That is what Ephesus was doing – they were proud of their power – and God stepped in and said, You want to see power? And I think God wants to say to us – You want to see real power? What is real power? Power hangs on a cross – that is power. I think it affects us as individuals because we want control- It comes up in serious and silly ways. You hear it all the time – that person is a control freak – and the truth is, most of us are control freaks! It works out as a nation and as individuals. The media manipulates, the church manipulates. Jesus said – don’t be like them – there is no way of getting around it – give up the power that you might be a servant and slave to others. From our perspective, we need to relinquish power to God – and become a servant to God and others.
This has nothing to do with political policy – but everything to do with personal transformation. SO don’t make political policy decisions based on this. Nor should you think that you can transform things by gaining political power. God has enough power to change everything. I don’t believe that often – and I wish I believed it more.
Second – Sexual immorality – The false narrative is – Our core identity is found in our sexuality. That is false. Our core identity is that we are created in the image of God. Yes, we are created male and female that in unique ways we can express His image. We are created to express His image to society – that is o be our identity. When we bear His image, we bear it uniquely – and fully. When you look at our nation – over the past 100 years we went from sexual repression to liberation to brokenness. As a nation – we are sexually broken. If you don’t believe that – look at the number one use of the Internet.
Where does the transformation come from? It comes from learning intimacy.
Sexual brokenness is always a result of relational brokenness and can only be repaired by relational wholeness. And that relational wholeness begins with our relationship with God. And because that relationship isn’t whole – that so many of us struggle in this area. And it is not just pornography – it runs the gamut.
And there is need of repair in relationship with people. So many marriages lack intimacy – it is just a reality. You can have all kinds of sexuality without intimacy – but intimacy is wholeness and oneness in relationship. And that must be the focus.
A couple of practical suggestions – the issue of purity – and I don’t think we need to go back to a different era – but common sense purity – and what that means – you get on social media – you don’t say stupid things (sorry to use the s-word!). Common sense decency – speech, behavior – simple common purity in our lives.
Third – area of brokenness, false narrative – Greed and materialism. I think this is one of the most difficult idols/false narrative to deal with in our culture and the church. I think it is the most influential idol in the church. When it comes to immorality – we can recognize it in ourselves and others. When it comes to power and pride – we are good at that – we can all be accused of saying someone has a control issue – but when it comes to materialism and greed – we have a hard time seeing it. We MIGHT be able to see it in those who have a lot more than us – but we struggle to see it in ourselves.
I spoke to John and Becca who just got back from India and Mike Hopkins showed me pictures from Africa – and you think – Maybe I do have a problem with this…
34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, 35 and lay them at the apostles' feet; and they would be distributed to each, as any had need. 36 And Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means, Son of Encouragement), 37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Transformation? Radical generosity. Having cars and houses is not the issue – the issue is, do we live with radical generosity? Not just financial stewardship. Financial stewardship without radical generosity is the real American idol.
Let’s pray – Lord, help us because we fall so far short – and we know that and You know that – and you are okay because You just want us to move forward – You are more concerned with where You are taking us. You are inside of us – and all we can give is meager – pretty small – but in Your hands it is transformed and it can spread – help it to begin with us.