CONFIRMED IN FAITH (CC)

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.