“Now Therefore… Arise!”
If you haven’t noticed it already, those of you who have been with us through the bulk of this series, We have been immersed into a very “intro-spective” study over the past three weeks. We’re asking you to do some real “soul-searching” here and take a spiritual inventory with the primary goal of seeing the World as God sees it. Our teacher, Danny Curry, has, in a convicting sort of way, turned the cameras on us! We’ve navigated through some rather thick lies that seam to surface as popular bad philosophy.
The first one being “I can’t do it!” We dealt with the story of the crippled man at the Pool of Siloam. Dealing with a powerful question that Jesus raises: “Do you really want to... You say you can’t, but do you really want to?”
The second lie that we waded through was the idea that: “I Got it! No help needed here! I can do it on my own. And we explored the idea that: We need each other most crucially! There is something beautiful about the church, about togetherness as we plow through this fun, but sometimes difficult life of being a Christian.
The third lie was found in our desire to ignore the issues and move on. When the most valuable thing that we can do at times is to take a long look in the mirror. And so I want to keep more of that going here this morning. In a sentence it would be: Complacency, isolation, & ignorance, these things cloud our lenses and make it impossible to see our world clearly, but with the right kinds of pro-action, community, & self awareness, we can put on a fresh set of eyes that will change our view into God’s view. Cool stuff? Are up to speed now? Good. Listen don’t forget if you haven’t been there yet, any of our sermons can be downloaded. We keep our podcast updated weekly at itunes.com. Just type in the words Park Chapel..., or visit our website: parkchapel.org.
We need to continue on in this series, but before we do that, would you join me in a word of Prayer?
The lie that you and I need to unpack this morning is this:
“Time will heal all wounds.”
We hear this lie a bunch. Consoling words from meaningful, but misguided friends who say. “Well it will get better with time...”
I had a buddy of mine from college. Who was great at this. Whenever I would have some girl troubles and maybe someone I had been dating at the time either let me go or it was the other way around. He would run downstairs to my floor. Find me laying on the bed, and with his guitar in hand he would sing this song: (Play the CD: “It only hurts...”)
Now as beautiful as that song is, is it really true? No it’s not true. And the philosophy behind it can be damaging. Now it’s true that sometimes a little space and a little time can be valuable. This quality time is not what we’re talking about today. You get mad, and you’re known to blow-up. By all means please go outside, do the math, ask some valuable question, and then deal with it. We’ve all seen the family drama somewhere or another where two people explode at each other, get loud, walk away and never deal with it. And the next time you see them everything seems fine, but nothing was ever done about it. We seen it and it makes us a wee-bit nervous.
This is just another way for us to ignore some pain. Do nothing about it, when the truth is this: “Healing is a Choice”
In Joshua Ch. 1 the Lord is speaking to Joshua these powerful words: “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise...”
Joshua 1:2 KJV (...etc)
Now let’s think a little bit about what’s going on here... Moses led the nation of Israel out of slavery and into the desert... This is a real big loss.
It’s just 8 words on a page but it could be the 8 words that change your life!
Maybe you’ve been living out negative scenes from the past and you don’t even know it... The abuser who damaged you continues to abuse you emotionally. I have talked to and worked with people who have lived for decades in the pain of shattered dreams and broken expectations. They are still suffering at thirty, fifty or sixty years of age because of something that happened to them as a child or a teenager.
If you are one of these people the I pray that you hear this today!
“now therefore arise...”
Maybe there’s a specific sin in your life today that you need to deal with...
“now therefore arise...”
Maybe you’ve lost a loved one and your dealing with regrets...
“now therefore arise...”
Maybe you’ve been wounded by a loved one...
“now therefore arise...”
If we go back just one chapter, to the book of Deuteronomy (ch. 34 v8)
“And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and morning for Moses were ended.”
Deuteronomy 34:8 KJV
And out of this new chapter in the lives of the sons of Israel, A new hope was discovered.
Your story must include hope. Hope for change, hope for a new day, a new leader, disposition, and new behavior. “now therefore arise is a choice!” This is where we get to do our part by the power of God!
David speaks of hope as if he has a choice in the matter...
Why am I discouraged?
Why so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Psalm 42:5
We talked about the need for good people in our lives two weeks ago. And listen if you are surrounded by hope-less people, you’ve got to find the right kind of people to fill your tank.
Here is a man that I want to be... Listen to this story.
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
Don’t you just love people who have the ability to fill your life with hope!
Here’s Paul, laying some hope down real thick!
And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died.
I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with these words.
I Thessalonians. 4:13-18
So why is Paul doing this? He’s doing this because he knows there are some rough days to be had here! And the Future, that’s where we want to head! Oh if we could have back all of those days of worry! Our kids deserve a hopeful tone and a beautiful face. Jesus said “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Can we please bring a bit of Heaven to Earth today? “Now therefore arise!”
Listen to this amazing scripture! God is so actively involved with us if only we could become aware of it...
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 23 KJV
Bottom Line:
True healing can only begin when we resolve our past and deal with our pain.
Resolving the past means... (Build these one at a time, Thanks!)
-You don’t let the sun go down on your anger.
-That you reconcile with the one who has something against you.
-As far as it depends on you, you will live at peace with everyone.
-You’ve created a semi-private outlet where in which you can confess and process your sins.
-That though some of your faults are socially and-or physically
hereditary, they most likely can not be justified theologically.
-And finally resolving the past mean that you have now a faith and
hope that can no longer be matched by this darker part of your
story.
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