CONFIRMED IN FAITH (CC)
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APRIL 26, 2015 SERMON
CLOSED CAPTIONED
CONFIRMATION SUNDAY:
CONFIRMED IN FAITH.
LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF
THIS MORNING'S
SERMON TEXT RECORDED FOR US IN
THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN
WHERE WE READ THE FIRST TWO
VERSES
OF CHAPTER THREE:
SEE WHAT GREAT LOVE THE FATHER
HAS LAVISHED ON US,
THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED
CHILDREN OF GOD!
AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE! THE
REASON
THE WORLD DOES NOT KNOW US IS
THAT IT DID NOT KNOW HIM.
DEAR FRIENDS, NOW WE ARE
CHILDREN OF GOD,
AND WHAT WE WILL BE HAS NOT
YET BEEN MADE KNOWN.
BUT WE KNOW THAT
WHEN CHRIST APPEARS, WE SHALL
BE LIKE HIM,
FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS.
THIS IS THE WORD OF OUR LORD.
LET US PRAY:
GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD, MAY
THE WORDS
OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION
OF EACH OF OUR HEARTS
BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT,
OUR ONLY SOURCE
OF HOPE AND COMFORT. AMEN.
[TEXT TAKEN FROM
THE HOLY BIBLE,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
1973, 1978, 1984, 2011
BY BIBLICA, INC.]
DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD
AND SAVIOR
JESUS CHRIST ... ESPECIALLY
CALEB
AND JUAN: SO ...
IS THIS REALLY
NECESSARY?
IS WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THESE
TWO YOUNG MEN THIS MORNING
A NECESSARY PART
OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE?
IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CHURCH
HAS DONE FOR YEARS.
CONFIRMING PEOPLE IN THEIR
FAITH.
HAVING THEM STAND BEFORE THE
CONGREGATION
OF BELIEVERS TO ANNOUNCE
WHAT THEY KNOW,
WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT,
AND TO MAKE A PROFESSION
OF THAT FAITH. A PROFESSION
TO REMAIN
FAITHFUL THROUGHOUT LIFE.
LAST WEEK WE HEARD THEM
PROFESS THEIR FAITH
IN A GREAT SHOW OF THEIR
KNOWLEDGE.
MANY OF YOU WHEN YOU LEFT THEM
CONGRATULATED THEM
ON A JOB WELL DONE.
THAT THEY HAD DONE A
GOOD JOB IN PREPARING
THEMSELVES
IN FAITH.
BUT TODAY,
IS NOTHING ABOUT WHAT THEY
HAVE DONE.
TODAY IS NOTHING ABOUT
WHAT WE AS A CHURCH HAVE DONE.
TODAY IS ABOUT THE FACT
THAT GOD HAS MADE US HIS
CHILDREN.
THAT GOD HAS LAVISHED ON US
HIS LOVE.
AND THIS IS A MONUMENTAL DAY
FOR US AS A CHURCH TO ONCE
AGAIN
GATHER AND REJOICE IN THE FACT
THAT GOD BY HIS GRACE HAS
CALLED
THESE TWO YOUNG MEN TO FAITH,
BAPTIZED THEM IN THE NAME OF
THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON,
AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
GIVING THEM THE GIFT
OF ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH FAITH
IN JESUS CHRIST.
KEEPING WITH THEM THE GIFT OF
THE
HOLY SPIRIT TO HAVE THEIR
MINDS OPEN
TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF SCRIPTURE.
TAKING THEIR HEARTS AND
CONFIRMING THE BELIEF THAT
THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT. WHAT A
WONDERFUL GIFT
THAT IS AND IT IS SUCH A
REMINDER TO ALL OF US
THAT GOD LAVISHES
HIS LOVE ON US.
ALL WE NEED TO DO TO
UNDERSTAND HOW WONDERFUL
GOD'S LOVE IS FOR US, IS TO
SIMPLY REVIEW
WHAT JESUS HIMSELF SAYS IN OUR
GOSPEL LESSON FOR THIS
MORNING.
REMEMBER WHEN HE SAID: I AM
THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
I'M THE GOOD SHEPHERD BECAUSE
I LAY DOWN MY LIFE
FOR THE SHEEP.
THERE IS
THE ESSENCE OF
GOD'S LOVE. JESUS IS NOT
SOME HIRED MAN WHO'S THERE TO
LOOK
AFTER THE SHEEP. THAT WHEN
TROUBLE COMES AND THE WOLF
SURROUNDS THE FLOCK, HE GETS
WORRIED. HE GETS SCARED.
HE GETS FRIGHTENED. AND RUNS
OFF AND LEAVES THE SHEEP
DEFENSELESS; FACING
THE FEROCIOUS WOLVES AND THEIR
GNARLY TEETH
READY AND WILLING AND WANTING
TO DEVOUR THEM.
THAT IS NOT THE SAVIOR
OF THE WORLD.
JESUS STOOD
AND FOUGHT FOR THE SHEEP.
JESUS STARES DOWN
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE
ENEMIES THAT WERE FEROCIOUS
WOLVES TO HIM.
STARES DOWN SATAN WHO WANTED
NOTHING MORE THAN TO SEE
CHRIST'S WORK
STOPPED AT WHATEVER COST.
WANTING TO DESTROY GOD'S PLAN
OF LOVE
SO THAT SATAN COULD HAVE ALL
OF THOSE SOULS
IN HIS CARE TO TORMENT THEM
FOR ALL ETERNITY. BUT JESUS
STOOD HIS GROUND,
LOOKED SATAN IN THE FACE AND
CARRIED OUT
THE PLAN THAT GOD HAD FOR HIM.
HE WILLINGLY LAID
DOWN HIS LIFE.
HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE SO THAT
THE PUNISHMENT OF SIN
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON YOU
AND ME AND ALL PEOPLE ...
HE TOOK UPON HIMSELF
SO THAT THAT SIN
IS FORGIVEN.
THERE IS THE LAVISH LOVE
OF GOD.
THAT HE HAS FORGIVEN ALL
OF OUR SINS. THAT HE HAS
DECLARED US NOT GUILTY
OF THOSE SINS. HE HIMSELF
EVEN STARED DOWN DEATH.
AND BY RAISING FROM THE DEAD
ON EASTER SUNDAY MORNING
HE DESTROYED DEATH.
TOTALLY OBLITERATED IT.
BECAUSE HE LIVES; AND HE LIVES
ETERNALLY!
SO THAT THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN
HIM
WILL ALSO LIVE ETERNALLY. AND
HE GIVES THAT
GRACIOUSLY TO ALL OF US.
LAVISHLY. HE LOVES US.
TO OPEN FOR US
HIS ETERNAL HOME AND TO LET US
IN.
TO LET US SINNERS IN
WHO AT MOMENTS IN OUR LIFE
DON'T CARE ABOUT GOD.
DON'T WANT TO RECOGNIZE GOD.
WOULD RATHER ENJOY
THE SIN THAT IS IN THE WORLD.
WE'RE LIKE SHEEP
WHO THINK THE WOLVES ARE
SOMETHING TO BE PLAYED WITH.
LET'S SEE HOW FAR I CAN GET
BEFORE I CAN RUN AWAY AND THEY
DON'T HURT ME.
LET'S SEE HOW FAR I CAN
WANDER OFF
ON MY OWN WITHOUT GOD'S HELP
BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY NEED
HIM.
NOT SEEING WHAT'S BEHIND THE
TREES
OR HIDING IN THE BUSHES
ARE THOSE WHO ARE JUST THERE
TO TAKE AND KIDNAP US.
GOD LOVES US.
AND CONTINUES TO SHOW
HIS LOVE FOR US IN THIS WORLD.
BY KEEPING HIS PROMISES.
FULFILLING HIS CARE
TO US. THAT WE COME TO HIM
REJOICING AND THANKFUL THAT WE
ARE HIS CHILDREN. AND WHAT IS
SO IMPORTANT TODAY
IS THAT THIS DAY REALLY
FOR CALEB AND JUAN IS NOT THAT
MUCH DIFFERENT THAN YESTERDAY
OR TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE.
THEY ARE YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING
THEIR FAITH.
BELIEVING IN GOD.
BELIEVING IN THE ONE WHO HAS
LOVED THEM AND CALLED THEM TO
BE HIS OWN. THAT WAS
YESTERDAY. THAT'S GOING TO BE
TOMORROW AND WE PRAY IT WILL
BE TO THE TIME
WHEN GOD CALLS THEM TO THEIR
ETERNAL REST.
AND PRAYER IS A GOOD THING.
PRAYER IS A GOOD THING FOR
EACH OF US
TO KEEP THESE YOUNG MEN IN OUR
LIFE OF PRAYER.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THE WORLD
THAT IS OUT THERE.
WE KNOW THE TEMPTATIONS THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO FACE. WE
KNOW THE EVIL
THAT WANTS TO GET THEM TO
DOUBT THEIR FAITH.
TO NOT TRUST IN GOD.
TO PUT THEIR HOPE IN A LOT OF
OTHER THINGS
IN THIS WORLD THAT ARE JUST
TEMPORARY
INSTEAD OF PUTTING THEM IN
GOD. WE CAN BE LIKE THAT
EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH WHO
WHEN THE
AUTHORITIES TOLD PETER: YOU
CAN'T SPEAK ANYMORE.
THAT THEY GOT DOWN ON THEIR
HANDS
AND KNEES AND PRAYED FOR PETER
AND THE DISCIPLES
TO SPEAK BOLDLY.
TO CONFESS THEIR FAITH. AND WE
MAKE THOSE SAME PRAYERS FOR
CALEB AND JUAN THIS MORNING.
THAT THEY WILL BOLDLY CONFESS
THEIR FAITH
IN THEIR LIFE. THAT GOD WILL
CONTINUE
TO SHIELD THEM AND PROTECT
THEM. THAT'S THE PRAYERS
THAT WE SAY FOR EACH OTHER.
BECAUSE OF THE LOVE THAT GOD
HAS GIVEN TO US THAT WE ARE
THE FAMILY
OF BELIEVERS. WE ARE BROTHERS
AND SISTERS IN CHRIST
THE FLOCK OF GOD LIVING IN
THIS WORLD
SEEING OUR WAY THROUGH LIFE
UNTIL CHRIST RETURNS. YES,
AND JOHN REMINDS US THIS
MORNING THAT WE DON'T HAVE ALL
OF THE ANSWERS.
WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE
ANSWERS ABOUT
WHEN THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
WHAT IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO
BE LIKE. ALL OF THOSE
QUESTIONS THAT COME UP IN OUR
HEAD THAT WE REALLY WANT TO
KNOW ABOUT HEAVEN AND
OUR ETERNAL LIFE. GOD SAYS WE
DON'T KNOW IT ALL.
BUT THIS WE DO KNOW ...
THAT WHEN CHRIST APPEARS
WE WILL BE LIKE HIM.
ETERNAL.
GLORIFIED BODY. BECAUSE OF
WHAT GOD
HAS DONE IN HIS LOVE. CALLING
US
TO LIVE WITH HIM FOR ALL
ETERNITY. HAVING THAT
ETERNAL LIFE AS THE RESULT AND
THE GIFT
OF FAITH. THIS WE KNOW!
SOMETIMES IT'S SO EASY FOR US
TO
GET FOCUSED ON THE THINGS WE
DON'T KNOW.
THE QUESTIONS THAT LIE BEFORE
US.
IMAGINE IF THESE TWO,
THESE TWO YOUNG MEN, GOT
FOCUSED
ON ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY
DON'T KNOW YET ABOUT THEIR
LIFE. HOW OVERWHELMING CAN
THAT BE?
AM I GONNA GET MARRIED? WHEN
AM I GONNA GET A CAR? WHAT CAR
IS IT GONNA BE? AM I GONNA DO
WELL IN SCHOOL? AM I GONNA GET
A JOB? AM I GONNA HAVE
CHILDREN? AM I GONNA LIVE IN
THIS COUNTRY? WILL I BE ABLE
TO TRAVEL? WHEN AM I GONNA
DIE? AM I GONNA MARRY SOMEONE
WHO DIES A WEEK AFTER I GET
MARRIED? ALL OF THOSE THINGS
WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT YET AS GOD'S CHILDREN
SOMETIMES WE GET FOCUSED ON
THOSE
AND NOT ON THE SIMPLE TRUTH OF
WHAT HE SAYS TO US.
TO KEEP US IN THE FAITH.
TO KEEP US CALM IN KNOWING
THAT GOD
HAS LAVISHED HIS LOVE ON US.
LAVISHED IT.
WE, AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD,
ARE NOT LIKE EARTHLY CHILDREN.
WHO FIND IT SO EASY TO
COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR PARENTS.
WHO CAN COME UP WITH A WHOLE
LIST OF THINGS
THAT OUR PARENTS NEVER DID FOR
US.
THAT OUR GRANDPARENTS ARE
CERTAINLY POURING OUT ON OUR
GRANDCHILDREN. THEY NEVER
WOULD HAVE LET ME DO THAT.
MAYBE SOMETIMES OUR
UPBRINGING WAS NOT RIGHT.
BUT WE COME TO GOD
THAT WAY SOMETIMES.
ACTING AS IF GOD DOESN'T LOVE
US SOMEHOW.
OR DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S BEST
FOR US.
BUT HE DOES! HE HAS SAVED US
FROM ETERNAL DEATH.
HE HAS FORGIVEN OUR SINS.
HE HAS CALLED US BY NAME
TO BE HIS CHILD.
AND THAT WE CELEBRATE TODAY.
THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD.
WE CELEBRATE
THAT JUAN AND CALEB ARE GOING
TO BE CONFIRMED IN THAT FAITH
THAT GOD BLESSED THEM WITH SO
MANY YEARS AGO.
THAT THEY REACH A MILESTONE OF
COMMUNING WITH US.
AS BROTHERS IN OUR FAITH.
TOTALLY UNITED IN DOCTRINE.
THAT WE GET TO WATCH THEM GROW
AND MATURE. AND WHAT A
WONDERFUL
BLESSING THAT IS.
SO TODAY IS IMPORTANT. TODAY
IS SPECIAL.
NOT BECAUSE OF US
BUT BECAUSE OF GOD
AND WHAT HE HAS DONE.
THAT HE HAS LAVISHED ON US HIS
LOVE.
THAT WE ARE CALLED CHILDREN OF
GOD
AND THAT
IS WHAT WE ARE!
AMEN.
LET US RISE.
NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD
THAT GOES BEYOND ALL OF OUR
UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR
HEARTS AND MINDS AND ESPECIALLY YOUR LIVES IN THE ONE TRUE FAITH
UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.