Daniel 1:8-20
Scripture
The movie "Cinderella Man" tells the true story of boxing legend James J. Braddock, who made an incredible comeback during the Great Depression. Injured and arthritic, Braddock’s promising career was cut short, and he had to go on public assistance when he couldn’t get work at the docks in New Jersey. But when an opportunity came for him to get back in the ring—and provide for his family—he took it, and his world changed.
Now fighting with a purpose, Braddock started winning fight after fight. He inspired the nation with his perseverance in the midst of hardship. As his comeback built steam, he kept remembering the faces of his children and his wife, and how important it was for him to provide for them. Finally, Braddock won his way into a showdown with the World Heavyweight Champion, Max Baer.
Baer was a vicious fighter. In fact, he was notorious for killing two men in the ring! In the days before the fight Baer ridiculed, threatened, and mocked Braddock, and as the world looked on there was great concern for Braddock’s life.
When the big day arrived, Braddock’s wife—who had never attended any of his fights—sneaked into the bowels of the arena to find her husband in the locker room just moments before the fight. The look in her eyes sent everyone else from the room, and she marched straight up to Braddock. With a tender fierceness that could only come from a loyal wife, she locked her husband in her stare for the final words he would hear before the big event.
“So you just remember who you are,” she said. “You’re the Bulldog of Bergen, and the Pride of New Jersey. You’re everybody’s hope, and the kids’ hero. And you are the champion of my heart, James J. Braddock.”
Braddock then went into the ring to fight Max Baer. After a bloody and brutal contest, Braddock won the fight.
Remembering who we are truly makes a difference.
(last week - we are heroes)
Knowing that he belonged to God made the difference in Daniel’s life. Daniel endured difficult times and encountered tremendous opposition, but he knew that he belonged to God. And that knowledge enabled him to stand alone for God and be a hero.
So, with that in mind, let us read Daniel 1:8-20, which is the text for today’s sermon titled, “The Making of a Hero”:
"8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
"11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
"15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
"17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
"18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom." (Daniel 1:8-20)
If I were to take a poll of your past and present heroes, who would be on your list? Perhaps you might list a teacher, a professor, a grandparent, Neil Armstrong, John Wayne, Tony Dungy, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, Francis Schaeffer, Jim Elliot, the apostle Paul, the apostle Peter, or even Jesus himself.
I rather suspect that no-one would have the prophet Daniel on his or her list. I hope that this series of sermons will change that.
One common thread that seems to be woven throughout the lives of most real heroes, past or present, is that their heroism did not develop overnight. It wasn’t a sudden creation.
Instead their hero status was almost always achieved after being tested over and over again in the many small, mundane trials of life. Present heroism usually cannot be explained apart from past faithfulness under fire.
This was true of Daniel. Without question, Daniel should be numbered among one of the greatest heroes of Scripture. In fact, even by today’s Hollywood standards, Daniel deserves hero status.
In the next five chapters we will be going from one cliff-hanging, spine-tingling adventure to the next, as Daniel and his friends face death-dealing kings, dazzling dreams, a golden idol, a fiery furnace, a king turned into an animal, a palace plot, and a literal lions den. Steven Spielberg would love this material!
But what I want you to notice today is that Daniel does not appear in Daniel 1 as a full-blown hero on the scene of history. Instead, he is introduced to us as a young disciple facing very difficult and compromising temptations and choices—and all of these are very much out of the spotlight!
In Daniel 1, God gives us an inside look at the making of a true hero. In Daniel 1:8-20 I want you to see in Daniel three distinguishing marks of a true hero in any age.
I. Courage (1:8a)
The first mark of a hero is courage.
Last time we saw that when Daniel was faced with the temptation to compromise his moral convictions, verse 8 tells us that he resolved to do what was right before God, no matter what the price: “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine.” He was willing to stand alone. He realized that for the child of God there were certain things that could not be negotiated or compromised. So he refused the king’s delicacies.
In many ways, Daniel’s future usefulness in the kingdom of God depended on this single, seemingly mundane decision about what kind of food he was willing to eat—food that was forbidden to him by God’s law. If Daniel had not made this decision, he would never have found himself in the positions he later occupied, nor would he have been faithful enough to cope with them the way he did.
Instead, from the very beginning, in what to others seemed to be a trivial matter, he took a stand. And in doing so, he gained a bridgehead into enemy-occupied territory and found himself increasingly strong in the Lord.
The best time to take a stand is early. Daniel didn’t wait to decide what he was going to do. He made his mind up early.
The best time to make up your mind is that first moment you walk onto a new job and see those alluring opportunities. As a young person, it’s that first time someone tries to get you to go past those sexual limits God has set for your own protection and welfare. It’s the first night you unpack your suitcase at college. It’s the first day you fly out of town on your way to a week on the road away from your wife and family. In each instance, take a stand and say, “By God’s grace, I will honor God in all things.”
Another practical lesson we can learn here is that taking a stand in the little things is usually the biggest test.
Don’t say things like, “If terrorists dragged me from my home and threatened to kill me unless I denied my faith, I would stand firm. I would never deny Christ.”
As we dream about taking a strong stand in such a dramatic situation, we often let the little things slide in the meantime. We are less willing to offer our lives in all those little battles for honesty, integrity, commitment, and love that rage about us daily.
The fact is that many people lapse in the face of a test. Many a husband has walked out on his wife and children because he was no longer committed to his marriage. Many a wife has engaged in an extra-marital affair because she was wanted more sizzle and romance in her life. Many a young person has become addicted to drugs because he was curious about the euphoric feeling.
Learn to take a stand in all the little things in life today. Learn to be faithful in all the little things today. Then, if you should face a large test, you are much more likely to stand.
The week before September 11, 2001, America’s "Tuesday of Terror," 32-year-old Todd Beamer and his wife, Lisa, had spent a romantic getaway in Italy. The couple, both 1991 graduates of Wheaton College, returned home Monday rested and relieved to be reunited with their boys David, 3, and Andrew, 1.
But extended family time would have to wait. The next morning Todd, an executive with Oracle, had to be at a sales reps meeting in Northern California. He kissed Lisa goodbye, who at the time was five months pregnant with their third child, and headed to the Newark, NJ airport where he boarded United Flight 93 for San Francisco, CA.
About 90 minutes into the westbound flight, the Boeing 757 was approaching Cleveland when three hijackers onboard identified themselves to the 34 passengers and 7 crew and proceeded to take control of the cockpit and cabin. The plane, now piloted by the would-be terrorists, made a sharp turn to the south.
Todd reached for the GTE Airfone in the back of the seat and was connected to a GTE supervisor on the ground. He explained to her what was happening and indicated that he and the other passengers would not likely survive. He presumed the pilot and co-pilot were already seriously injured or dead.
The GTE employee explained to Todd what had already happened at the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Upon hearing this news, Todd must have realized that the hijackers were intent on crashing the plane into another prominent building near Washington D.C. (the direction in which they were now headed). Even though the hijacker nearest to Todd had a bomb belted around his middle, the former Wheaton College baseball player told the GTE representative that he and a few others were determined to do whatever they could to disrupt the terrorists’ plan.
He then asked the person on the other end of the phone to call his wife and report their entire conversation to her (including how much he loved her). Before hanging up, this committed Christian and devoted family man, who taught Sunday school each week, asked the GTE employee to pray the Lord’s Prayer with him. With the sound of passengers screaming in the background, she complied. When they concluded the prayer, Scott calmly said, “Help me, God. Help me, Jesus.”
The GTE employee then heard Todd say, apparently to the other three businessmen he’d alluded to earlier: “Are you ready, guys? Let’s roll!” With that the phone went dead.
Within a few minutes, Flight 93 was nose diving into a rural field 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, where it left a crater 40 feet deep as it disintegrated upon impact, killing everyone on board.
Because Todd Beamer was committed to Jesus Christ and His kingdom, because he was faithful in the little things, he was willing to do whatever was necessary to put the needs of others above his own fear of danger and imminent death. That’s
courage! Thanks to him and the three other businessmen who joined with him, the intended target in the nation’s capital was not reached and who knows how many lives were saved because of that. No one on the ground was killed.
According to Todd’s wife, Lisa, “His example of courage has given me, my boys (and my unborn baby) a reason to live.”
That’s what can happen when we, by the grace of God, learn to obey the Lord in all the little things of life.
Like Daniel, your growth in grace and your usefulness in God’s service do not begin in the world of your dreams but in the context of life’s harsh realities. It is in all those small matters in life that victories are won.
God means for all of your smaller battles to be a training ground to prepare you for the major conflicts that are coming. If we are not faithful to Christ on today’s training ground, believe me, it will not be easy to follow him on tomorrow’s field of battle.
II. Humility (1:8b)
The second mark of a hero is humility.
If you think the strength of Daniel’s stand is impressive, look even closer now at these next verses to see the manner in which he took his stand. Verse 8b reads, “. . . and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”
Notice that Daniel did not send around leaflets encouraging a riot. He didn’t begin a protest movement. He didn’t start a hate campaign. He didn’t try to embarrass his superior because of his own strong convictions. Instead he responded to his situation with a spirit of humility and respect by requesting permission of the chief official not to eat the king’s food.
Daniel does not seem to have explained to this official that no matter what his response to Daniel’s request, he had already resolved that he would never eat the king’s food and defile himself. Instead Daniel seems to have patiently explained his situation and his desire to be faithful to his God and ask respectfully that he might receive this privilege.
There is something very Christ-like about this humble spirit of Daniel. True faithfulness to God is seen not only in your determination to take a strong stand but also in the way you do that.
Daniel learned how to take a strong stand for the Lord in a way that showed the greatness of God, not in a way that left people staring at Daniel himself, and there is a world of difference. To take a strong stand for Christ today and to still be humble is a grace that far too few of us ever attain.
III. Faith (1:9-14)
The third mark of a hero is faith.
The response of the chief official to Daniel’s request to forego the king’s food was not too positive. Even though verse 9 tells us he was sympathetic toward Daniel, he was also very concerned about the personal ramifications of such a decision.
In verse 10 we find that “the official told Daniel, ‘I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.’”
But this first rejection didn’t cause Daniel to waver. He remained steadfast in his commitment, as is then evidenced in his creative appeal later to the guard that the official had placed over him and his three friends.
Verses 11-14 say, “Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ‘Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.’ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.”
It is evident from his request that Daniel sincerely believed that God would honor the strong stand he had taken. Daniel dared to believe that as he stood for what was truly right, God would supernaturally intervene on his behalf! Although it might not have been God’s will to intervene, Daniel still knew that he had a very good reason to believe God would intervene. Why? Because Daniel knew that the issue at stake was God’s glory and name.
Learning what it means to live for the sake of God’s glory will produce in you a spirit of humble faith that God will act on your behalf as you put him first. It was just this confidence that has always marked the lives of the heroes of the faith, in both the Old and New Testaments. And it’s this kind of confidence in God that continues to mark men and women of faith today.
The confidence of true Biblical faith is an assurance that is based on what God has promised in his word to do. If you know that God has promised to do something, you have every reason to join with Daniel and have a genuine spirit of expectancy that he will work on your behalf.
Allow me to close with a practical application. In 1 Samuel 2:30 God makes a very special promise, “Those who honor me I will honor.” You handle your situation right and God promises to honor that. God’s response may not be exactly what you want, or exactly when you want it, but his promise stands: “Those who honor me I will honor.”
Daniel knew that about God. That is why he lived with a spirit of expectancy. And that is why I don’t think Daniel was too surprised at what happened next. In verses 15-21 we discover how God honored Daniel’s faithfulness. Daniel and his friends were healthier than the other young men and the king was so impressed with their knowledge that he hired them into his royal service.
The faithful stand that Daniel took was not in vain. God honored his faithfulness. And he will honor your faithfulness as well!
I continue to hear the stories of those who say, “I was in a compromising, high risk situation. My job and my reputation were on the line. I bit the bullet. I took it to God and I dared to take a stand and trust God. And God honored that in my life. He granted me his favor.”
The development of Daniel’s character began by learning the importance of honoring God in the little things—like what he would and would not eat to obey God’s law. Daniel soon learned that these smaller battles were actually God’s training ground to prepare him for the much more major conflicts that were coming.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
HEROES - Are you on the list?
As you watch Heroes (the show) you find all of these seemingly ordinary people who are actually extraordinary.
There’s this list with an unknown # of people who fall into this category. So the buzz is... Are you on the list. Could u b hero?
Something else you may not be aware of is that God has a list. It is the most important list that can be found in heaven or on earth. I cannot emphasize how important this list is and how extremely important it is for us to know with certainty if our name is on that list. My purpose in today’s message is to provide you with the latest information about God’s list, what it is, and how one gets their name on that list.
We will all agree that it is important for our names to be on certain lists. There are good lists and there are bad lists. Everyone wants his or her name on a good list. (like Santa) I hope that this will be the case when I tell you about the best list of all – God’s list.
How many of you have heard of the “Do not call” list?
How many of you asked that your name be placed on the “Do not call” list?
Many welcomed the chance to get our name on a list that would penalize telemarketers if they called. I read that since the list has been created the number of such calls has been drastically reduced.
A telemarketer’s list is a bad list to be on.
A “Do not call” list is a good list to be on.
When someone has a grudge against one who has offended or hurt him or her in some fashion we may hear the offended party say about the offender, “He (or she) is on my list.” In other words they are going to remember what was done and maybe even seek to retaliate. In an even more serious sense mobsters or members of the Mafia may put people of their “hit list.” A Mafia “hit list” was a death sentence.
There’s the Dean’s list in college. That was good because it meant that I made good grades.
One of the lists we don’t like is the waiting list. Only because we want instant gratification and we don’t want to have to wait to get what we want. Some know what it is to be on an organ transplant waiting list to get a kidney or perhaps for a heart transplant.
Whether actively or passively in some way, some form, fashion, and for some good or bad reason we all have our names on a list somewhere. Your name is written down on some record either in a book or perhaps a computer. Your name is recorded at the Court House, in a Social Security file in Washington, DC or the local driver’s license bureau.
It’s interesting that the Bible has much to say about another official record where we may (or may not) find our name written down. I am talking about a record in Heaven. There is a book of names in Heaven. I am talking about a list of names that God Himself writes down as He oversees each entry in His book. This is the reason for my question, “Is Your Name On God’s List.” Meaning, is your name written down in God’s book?
Let me provide some Scripture background that will validate and authenticate the question I have asked. There are more than just a few passages of Scripture that relate to my question.
The first I have chosen is not the best but it is interesting because of the events that make up the story where this verse is found. Jesus had sent out 72 of His disciples on a mission of preaching and teaching that included the ability to work miracles. When they returned from their very successful ministry tour they were overjoyed. Luke tells us:
“The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."” Luke 10:17-20
In the show Hereos - try to stop bomb from destroying city
let’s suppose there was only one safe place to flee and because this place could accommodate only a limited number of people it meant only a certain number of people could board the buses to flee to safety.
In order to determine who would go and who would stay a list is made and only those whose name was on the list is allowed to find shelter and safety. If you knew such a danger existed and you knew the only way to live – the only way to get on the bus and save your life -- was to get your name on the list, how many of you would try your best to get your name on the list?
My story is an imaginary one. However, let me take you to the Scripture and ask you to seriously consider what the Prophet Daniel says about a day of calamity that is to come upon this earth. This is not imaginary. I am not making this up.
“"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.” Daniel 12:1
This verse predicts a day and time—perhaps a season lasting for an extended period—when the nations of this world will enter into a period of distress of such magnitude, such intensity and suffering, that has never happened before in the history of the world. This verse seems to describe a division between those who will suffer and those who will not suffer. It says some will be delivered from the suffering and others will not be delivered. The prophecy makes a clear distinction between those who will and those who will not be delivered. “Everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered” (vs. 1).
This verse says there is a book.
This verse says names are written in this book.
This verse says those whose names are written in this book will be delivered.
Is your name in the book? Is Your Name on God’s List?
This is the most important question. Thousands and thousands of people today want to know when this time of trouble will come. They want to know what will be happening when it comes. They want to know what they can do to protect themselves when it comes.
What is going to happen, how is it going to happen, or when is it going to happen, these are not the question one should be asking. The most important question that needs to be asked and answered is: Is your name on God’s list. Is your name found written the book?
The Bible has much to say about God having a Book—and names being inscribed in it--that hasn’t been mentioned yet. Consider the following:
1. Moses
As you know, Moses was God’s instrument in leading the Hebrews out of Egyptian slavery toward freedom in a land God had promised. On several occasions the people sinned against the Lord with murmuring and complaining through their unbelief. On one occasion it was more serious than it had ever been. Because of the sin of the nation, God was about to literally wipe them off the face of the earth. Moses sensed a catastrophe was in the making. The Bible says:
“The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a terrible sin, but I will go back up to the Lord on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for your sin.”
So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a terrible sin these people have committed. They have made gods of gold for themselves. But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!”
But the Lord replied to Moses, “No, I will erase the name of
everyone who has sinned against me.” Exodus 32:31-33
2. The Apostle Paul was familiar with this book.
“And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.” Phil. 4:3
3. John the Revelator spoke often of this book. Consider:
“All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.” Rev. 3:5
There are several other passages of Scripture that mention names being written in God’s book. All these verses—Old and New Testament—make ever so real the truth Jesus set forth in our text found in Luke 10:20. “….rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”
1. There is a book in heaven called “The Book of Life.”
2. It is possible for our names to be written in it.
3. It is imperative—absolutely of the greatest importance—that we know our names are written there.
4. The question we face, the question, which must be given the most serious consideration, is: IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE? ARE YOU ON GOD’S LIST?
WHAT CONDITIONS MUST I MEET TO HAVE MY NAME PLACED ON GOD’S LIST?
I have no power to write my name there. Another hand must write it. I sign checks. I sign order blanks. I sign letters. I write my name often and for many reasons, as you do. But no king, dictator, general, merchant, scholar, or scientist can write his name in heaven. Think about that! You and I may get our name written into a church book but getting it in the Lamb’s Book of Life is another matter.
But you will never be good enough to write your name there. And the Son of God says it is better to have your name written there than to have it on the largest bank check ever drawn. Someone is going to have to write it there for you.
Another question arises: WHO CAN DO IT FOR ME?
Can my pastor?
Can the evangelist?
What about my attorney?
Can my personal physician take care of it for me?
Can my congressman, or senator do it?
All these may legitimately act in your behalf in urgent matters that affect your life down here but THEIR POWER IS LIMITED TO THIS EARTH!
Only one person has the right—has the authority and power--to place your name, or my name, in the Book of Life. It is the privilege of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. If your name is ever
written in heaven, it will be written on God’s terms alone.
HOW CAN WE KNOW?
“That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
The Cross is God’s Great PEN that inscribes your name in the Book of life
1. The cross is a sign of God’s love
2. The cross is a sign of God’s mercy
3. The cross is a sign of God’s grace
4. The cross is a sign of God’s forgiveness
5. The cross is God’s great quill dipped in the precious blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. It is the only instrument worthy enough--powerful enough—to inscribe your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Only the hand of God can do that!
There’s absolutely nothing we can do - only to believe He DID it
HOW CAN A PERSON BE SURE?
1. This is something we cannot afford to merely guess about. We cannot afford to take a chance. If it were not possible to be sure that your name is there, Jesus would not have told us to rejoice. Remember, “…rejoice that your names are written in heaven…” (Lk. 10:20. You and I cannot rejoice about something we are not certain about.
2. Don’t tell me, “I hope so,” or “I do the best I can.” When I ask you, “Is your name written there, are you on God’s list?” I want either a “yes,” or a “no.”
3. It is as simple as A-B-C.
a. ALL have sinned
b. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
c. Confess with your mouth
If you have never done, if you’re just not sure, now is the time.
COULD YOU BE A HERO?
“And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children... You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.” Galatians 3:29
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these” John 14:12
There’s this list with an unknown # of people who fall into this category. So the buzz is... Are you on the list. Could u b hero?
Something else you may not be aware of is that God has a list. It is the most important list that can be found in heaven or on earth. I cannot emphasize how important this list is and how extremely important it is for us to know with certainty if our name is on that list. My purpose in today’s message is to provide you with the latest information about God’s list, what it is, and how one gets their name on that list.
We will all agree that it is important for our names to be on certain lists. There are good lists and there are bad lists. Everyone wants his or her name on a good list. (like Santa) I hope that this will be the case when I tell you about the best list of all – God’s list.
How many of you have heard of the “Do not call” list?
How many of you asked that your name be placed on the “Do not call” list?
Many welcomed the chance to get our name on a list that would penalize telemarketers if they called. I read that since the list has been created the number of such calls has been drastically reduced.
A telemarketer’s list is a bad list to be on.
A “Do not call” list is a good list to be on.
When someone has a grudge against one who has offended or hurt him or her in some fashion we may hear the offended party say about the offender, “He (or she) is on my list.” In other words they are going to remember what was done and maybe even seek to retaliate. In an even more serious sense mobsters or members of the Mafia may put people of their “hit list.” A Mafia “hit list” was a death sentence.
There’s the Dean’s list in college. That was good because it meant that I made good grades.
One of the lists we don’t like is the waiting list. Only because we want instant gratification and we don’t want to have to wait to get what we want. Some know what it is to be on an organ transplant waiting list to get a kidney or perhaps for a heart transplant.
Whether actively or passively in some way, some form, fashion, and for some good or bad reason we all have our names on a list somewhere. Your name is written down on some record either in a book or perhaps a computer. Your name is recorded at the Court House, in a Social Security file in Washington, DC or the local driver’s license bureau.
It’s interesting that the Bible has much to say about another official record where we may (or may not) find our name written down. I am talking about a record in Heaven. There is a book of names in Heaven. I am talking about a list of names that God Himself writes down as He oversees each entry in His book. This is the reason for my question, “Is Your Name On God’s List.” Meaning, is your name written down in God’s book?
Let me provide some Scripture background that will validate and authenticate the question I have asked. There are more than just a few passages of Scripture that relate to my question.
The first I have chosen is not the best but it is interesting because of the events that make up the story where this verse is found. Jesus had sent out 72 of His disciples on a mission of preaching and teaching that included the ability to work miracles. When they returned from their very successful ministry tour they were overjoyed. Luke tells us:
“The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."” Luke 10:17-20
In the show Hereos - try to stop bomb from destroying city
let’s suppose there was only one safe place to flee and because this place could accommodate only a limited number of people it meant only a certain number of people could board the buses to flee to safety.
In order to determine who would go and who would stay a list is made and only those whose name was on the list is allowed to find shelter and safety. If you knew such a danger existed and you knew the only way to live – the only way to get on the bus and save your life -- was to get your name on the list, how many of you would try your best to get your name on the list?
My story is an imaginary one. However, let me take you to the Scripture and ask you to seriously consider what the Prophet Daniel says about a day of calamity that is to come upon this earth. This is not imaginary. I am not making this up.
“"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.” Daniel 12:1
This verse predicts a day and time—perhaps a season lasting for an extended period—when the nations of this world will enter into a period of distress of such magnitude, such intensity and suffering, that has never happened before in the history of the world. This verse seems to describe a division between those who will suffer and those who will not suffer. It says some will be delivered from the suffering and others will not be delivered. The prophecy makes a clear distinction between those who will and those who will not be delivered. “Everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered” (vs. 1).
This verse says there is a book.
This verse says names are written in this book.
This verse says those whose names are written in this book will be delivered.
Is your name in the book? Is Your Name on God’s List?
This is the most important question. Thousands and thousands of people today want to know when this time of trouble will come. They want to know what will be happening when it comes. They want to know what they can do to protect themselves when it comes.
What is going to happen, how is it going to happen, or when is it going to happen, these are not the question one should be asking. The most important question that needs to be asked and answered is: Is your name on God’s list. Is your name found written the book?
The Bible has much to say about God having a Book—and names being inscribed in it--that hasn’t been mentioned yet. Consider the following:
1. Moses
As you know, Moses was God’s instrument in leading the Hebrews out of Egyptian slavery toward freedom in a land God had promised. On several occasions the people sinned against the Lord with murmuring and complaining through their unbelief. On one occasion it was more serious than it had ever been. Because of the sin of the nation, God was about to literally wipe them off the face of the earth. Moses sensed a catastrophe was in the making. The Bible says:
“The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a terrible sin, but I will go back up to the Lord on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for your sin.”
So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a terrible sin these people have committed. They have made gods of gold for themselves. But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!”
But the Lord replied to Moses, “No, I will erase the name of
everyone who has sinned against me.” Exodus 32:31-33
2. The Apostle Paul was familiar with this book.
“And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.” Phil. 4:3
3. John the Revelator spoke often of this book. Consider:
“All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.” Rev. 3:5
There are several other passages of Scripture that mention names being written in God’s book. All these verses—Old and New Testament—make ever so real the truth Jesus set forth in our text found in Luke 10:20. “….rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”
1. There is a book in heaven called “The Book of Life.”
2. It is possible for our names to be written in it.
3. It is imperative—absolutely of the greatest importance—that we know our names are written there.
4. The question we face, the question, which must be given the most serious consideration, is: IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE? ARE YOU ON GOD’S LIST?
WHAT CONDITIONS MUST I MEET TO HAVE MY NAME PLACED ON GOD’S LIST?
I have no power to write my name there. Another hand must write it. I sign checks. I sign order blanks. I sign letters. I write my name often and for many reasons, as you do. But no king, dictator, general, merchant, scholar, or scientist can write his name in heaven. Think about that! You and I may get our name written into a church book but getting it in the Lamb’s Book of Life is another matter.
But you will never be good enough to write your name there. And the Son of God says it is better to have your name written there than to have it on the largest bank check ever drawn. Someone is going to have to write it there for you.
Another question arises: WHO CAN DO IT FOR ME?
Can my pastor?
Can the evangelist?
What about my attorney?
Can my personal physician take care of it for me?
Can my congressman, or senator do it?
All these may legitimately act in your behalf in urgent matters that affect your life down here but THEIR POWER IS LIMITED TO THIS EARTH!
Only one person has the right—has the authority and power--to place your name, or my name, in the Book of Life. It is the privilege of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. If your name is ever
written in heaven, it will be written on God’s terms alone.
HOW CAN WE KNOW?
“That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
The Cross is God’s Great PEN that inscribes your name in the Book of life
1. The cross is a sign of God’s love
2. The cross is a sign of God’s mercy
3. The cross is a sign of God’s grace
4. The cross is a sign of God’s forgiveness
5. The cross is God’s great quill dipped in the precious blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. It is the only instrument worthy enough--powerful enough—to inscribe your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Only the hand of God can do that!
There’s absolutely nothing we can do - only to believe He DID it
HOW CAN A PERSON BE SURE?
1. This is something we cannot afford to merely guess about. We cannot afford to take a chance. If it were not possible to be sure that your name is there, Jesus would not have told us to rejoice. Remember, “…rejoice that your names are written in heaven…” (Lk. 10:20. You and I cannot rejoice about something we are not certain about.
2. Don’t tell me, “I hope so,” or “I do the best I can.” When I ask you, “Is your name written there, are you on God’s list?” I want either a “yes,” or a “no.”
3. It is as simple as A-B-C.
a. ALL have sinned
b. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
c. Confess with your mouth
If you have never done, if you’re just not sure, now is the time.
COULD YOU BE A HERO?
“And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children... You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.” Galatians 3:29
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these” John 14:12
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
HEROES - The ULTIMATE Hero
Good morning. Today we are beginning our series ‘Heroes’. When you first heard the term “hero” what came to your mind? Perhaps you thought of a sports hero like Lance Armstrong or Tiger Woods. Or maybe an action hero. Some of us possibly thought of a military hero like Jessica Lynch or a fantasy hero like Superman.
or maybe you connected with John Wayne. John Wayne was a man’s man and a tough guy. He rode into town, cleaned things up and did it in a way that made you want to buy a horse, a six shooter and see what you could do with your town.
As I look at all those heroes I see a common denominator: they are all safe. Some of them are safe simply because they are not real. Some are safe because they are just playing a role. Others are safe because I could never physically do what they do. Our hero’s are safe and that, I believe, is part of their attraction.
This morning if I were to ask you to name your favorite hero I would expect you to say, “I like John Wayne but I’m at church so I’m going to say Jesus.”
This is sort of like the old story of a 2nd grade boy attending a Sunday school class. The teacher was telling a story that involved animals. Looking at her class she asked, “What is brown, furry, has a bushy tail and collects nuts to eat?”
The class responded with an eerie silence. Finally a little boy responded, “Teacher, it sure sounds like a squirrel but I’m going to say Jesus.” And today, that is the right answer. Today we are going to
consider Jesus as our ultimate hero. Now right up front I want us to acknowledge that our task is
beyond our reach. Jesus blows away the standards when it comes to heroes. He is unique. He is supreme. He is different. Different in the same way that a candle is different than the sun. They both may give off light but that is where the comparison ends. But I encourage you with this; this task has been out of reach for others as well. David said, “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.” Psalm 145:3 Christ supercedes our grandest thoughts and surpasses our best efforts at description. He is a hero beyond of our ability to explain. So what are we to do? I would propose that today we dance on the very edge of mystery. That we strive to describe the indescribable. Let’s remember however, that the closer we get to mystery the further we get from our ability to explain and describe that mystery. To help us do that I want us to look at Colossians 1:15-22 together. These two paragraphs are going to tell us that the hero Christ is supreme to all others because His nature is unique and because His work is unmatched. This truth is then going to demand that we answer two personal questions: 1. Have you and I made Jesus into a hero who is safe? 2. Do I really want Jesus as my hero? Read Colossians 1:15-18 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
Our Ultimate Hero: Jesus Christ: verses 15-18 1. The ultimate hero is divine: “the image of the invisible God”: vs. 15a The word “image” does not speak to physical image but to the very person of God and Christ. It communicates the idea of an image on a coin that is an exact representation of a real person. Or the idea of looking into a mirror where you see an exact representation of yourself. When a Hebrew or Gentile looked on the person of Christ they were seeing the very nature and being of God revealed. They were seeing the divine revealed. Jesus said in John 14:9, “anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.” Our hero, men and women, is divine. 2. The ultimate hero is the Creator and Sustainer: v15b-17 “the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
These verses tell us that Christ is the eternal Creator who after creating all things continues to sustain or uphold them by His power. Christ made all things and He has not given up His control of them or His power to govern them. This reference to Christ as the “first-born over all creation” speaks to both the eternal nature of Christ, He is before any created thing, and His rank or supremacy to all things. He is both before and supreme over His creation. What a wonderful encouragement to us. Someone is indeed in charge of this crazy world we live in and it’s the ult.hero Jesus Christ. Moment by moment He makes the universe we live in a cosmos instead of a chaos. Things may appear to be falling apart in our life but take encouragement; nothing has slipped through the fingers of the hero Christ. In His universe, nothing…and I mean nothing, diverts His focus, avoids His direction or limits His influence. Our Hero is the Creator and the One who remains supreme and sovereign. 3. The ultimate hero is the head of the Church – verse 18a “And he is the head of the body, the church” Take note of Paul’s use of language here. He has just explained that Christ is the supreme and sovereign Creator of all things visible and invisible. Genesis is not the final testament of Christ’s creative work. The church too is His creation. And as its Creator, He is its Head. The church refers here to both the local assembly of believers as well as to the universal church of all Christ-followers. He is the head, the leader of the church. Ephesians 1:22: “And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything FOR THE CHURCH”. Do you see how powerful this is? Christ’s supremacy over all creation is a gift to the church. Christ is supreme for the benefit of the church. His supreme authority over all things and His power over all things are for the benefit of FOCUS* - A Foursquare Church. One writer said this, “The Church has authority and power to overcome all opposition because her leader and head is Lord of all.” Expositor’s Commentary, volume 11, page 31. 4. The ultimate hero is the victor over death: verse 18b
“he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Christ is the first to rise in an immortal body. The first to look death square in the eye and defeat it. And because He rose from the dead He can offer life to those who are dead. Do you see the picture Paul is attempting to draw of Christ?
He is the divine God who created all things and continues to sustain all things. He created the church as an expression of His creative work through which He exercises His power. And a primary expression of His power and benefit to the church is creating new lives out of dead people. I think Paul is writing all this stuff and stops to add a word of WOW found in verse 18. “In everything Christ might have the supremacy.” Folks, our hero Christ is supreme. Let me ask you one of the questions I mentioned earlier. Have you and I made Jesus into a hero who is safe? Think back to some of the categories of heroes. Fantasy Heroes: Several of the heroes were fantasy heroes. They do not really exist and they make no real difference on reality. Is Christ a fantasy hero who is making no difference in the reality called your life? Sports Heroes: These are the people we admire from a distance but have no relationship with at all. We admire them, talk about their athletic exploits but they would never accept an invitation to our home because we have no relationship with them. If I were to holler at Craig Biggio one night after a baseball game and invite him to my house for dinner, I seriously doubt if he would come. Why? Because we have no relationship. Is Christ like that for you? Someone that is fun to watch on Sunday mornings but does not get invited home with you? Action Heroes: A couple of our heroes represent well the rugged individualist who needs no one and who can conquer life on his own. I believe that this is the most lethal of deceptions. This is the Christ-follower who makes walking with Christ so private that he can no longer see how he is manipulating Christ to fit his own agenda and life. Let me give you something to chew on later today. Christ did not die to be your private hero. He died to be your personal hero so that you could express him publicly. The writer Sidney J. Harris once said this in relation to a list of heroes identified by society. “the heroes created by our society are people who have made it big, but not necessarily people who have done big things.” Christ has not only the character or nature to be our hero; He has also done the big things to warrant hero stature. What is the big thing that Jesus did?
Read Colossians 1:19-22
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” The Big Thing That Jesus Did To Warrant Hero Status? He Died to Reconcile You and Me to Himself. We all admire people who are willing to lay it all on the line for what they believe or for people they care about. Remember Cassie Bernall? She was the teenager at Columbine High School who looked up at a boy with a gun pointing at her and said, “Yes, I do believe in God.” Or Todd Beamer who on 9/11 turned to those around him on a plan hijacked by terrorist and said, “lets roll” and plunged to his death. Or Pat Tillman who gave up the wealth and status of the NFL only to be killed in Iraq. We admire that type of heroism and rightly so. I wonder if our admiration is not partially due to the fact that they remind us of Christ. He looked Pilate straight in the face and said, “It is as you say. I am the King of the Jews.” Then he paid for that truth with His life. Christ prayed in the garden and wrestled with the Father over what to do. Then, if you would allow me to say it this way, Jesus said to the Father, “let’s roll” and then went to His death. Christ called his disciples His friends and then took a cross for them.
Let me say with all honesty, this work of Christ amazes me.
It forces me to wrestle with the greatness of Christ. It challenges me to search for appropriate words of wonder. But there is something even more astounding to me regarding the work of this hero Christ. Something that forces me to my knees in complete awe. And it is this.
Christ died for the young boy who pulled the trigger that day at Columbine High School. Christ died for those men who believed so strongly in their cause that they would hijack a plane and kill innocent people. And Christ died for those soldiers who shot the bullet that killed our soldier. Now let me ask you the second of our two questions. Do you want this Jesus as your hero? If you do not know Christ as your savior, then this is a time for you to wrestle with this question, “Do you want this Jesus as your Savior?” If so, then I invite you If you are already a follower of Christ, then use this time to examine your heart. Let me ask the same question with a different twist for you. Do you want this Jesus as your Lord? Is the Jesus described this morning the Jesus you have given every aspect of your life to? Or have you substituted another hero. Use this time as a time to repent or affirm your followership of the hero Jesus.
The class responded with an eerie silence. Finally a little boy responded, “Teacher, it sure sounds like a squirrel but I’m going to say Jesus.” And today, that is the right answer. Today we are going to
consider Jesus as our ultimate hero. Now right up front I want us to acknowledge that our task is
beyond our reach. Jesus blows away the standards when it comes to heroes. He is unique. He is supreme. He is different. Different in the same way that a candle is different than the sun. They both may give off light but that is where the comparison ends. But I encourage you with this; this task has been out of reach for others as well. David said, “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.” Psalm 145:3 Christ supercedes our grandest thoughts and surpasses our best efforts at description. He is a hero beyond of our ability to explain. So what are we to do? I would propose that today we dance on the very edge of mystery. That we strive to describe the indescribable. Let’s remember however, that the closer we get to mystery the further we get from our ability to explain and describe that mystery. To help us do that I want us to look at Colossians 1:15-22 together. These two paragraphs are going to tell us that the hero Christ is supreme to all others because His nature is unique and because His work is unmatched. This truth is then going to demand that we answer two personal questions: 1. Have you and I made Jesus into a hero who is safe? 2. Do I really want Jesus as my hero? Read Colossians 1:15-18 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
Our Ultimate Hero: Jesus Christ: verses 15-18 1. The ultimate hero is divine: “the image of the invisible God”: vs. 15a The word “image” does not speak to physical image but to the very person of God and Christ. It communicates the idea of an image on a coin that is an exact representation of a real person. Or the idea of looking into a mirror where you see an exact representation of yourself. When a Hebrew or Gentile looked on the person of Christ they were seeing the very nature and being of God revealed. They were seeing the divine revealed. Jesus said in John 14:9, “anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.” Our hero, men and women, is divine. 2. The ultimate hero is the Creator and Sustainer: v15b-17 “the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
These verses tell us that Christ is the eternal Creator who after creating all things continues to sustain or uphold them by His power. Christ made all things and He has not given up His control of them or His power to govern them. This reference to Christ as the “first-born over all creation” speaks to both the eternal nature of Christ, He is before any created thing, and His rank or supremacy to all things. He is both before and supreme over His creation. What a wonderful encouragement to us. Someone is indeed in charge of this crazy world we live in and it’s the ult.hero Jesus Christ. Moment by moment He makes the universe we live in a cosmos instead of a chaos. Things may appear to be falling apart in our life but take encouragement; nothing has slipped through the fingers of the hero Christ. In His universe, nothing…and I mean nothing, diverts His focus, avoids His direction or limits His influence. Our Hero is the Creator and the One who remains supreme and sovereign. 3. The ultimate hero is the head of the Church – verse 18a “And he is the head of the body, the church” Take note of Paul’s use of language here. He has just explained that Christ is the supreme and sovereign Creator of all things visible and invisible. Genesis is not the final testament of Christ’s creative work. The church too is His creation. And as its Creator, He is its Head. The church refers here to both the local assembly of believers as well as to the universal church of all Christ-followers. He is the head, the leader of the church. Ephesians 1:22: “And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything FOR THE CHURCH”. Do you see how powerful this is? Christ’s supremacy over all creation is a gift to the church. Christ is supreme for the benefit of the church. His supreme authority over all things and His power over all things are for the benefit of FOCUS* - A Foursquare Church. One writer said this, “The Church has authority and power to overcome all opposition because her leader and head is Lord of all.” Expositor’s Commentary, volume 11, page 31. 4. The ultimate hero is the victor over death: verse 18b
“he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Christ is the first to rise in an immortal body. The first to look death square in the eye and defeat it. And because He rose from the dead He can offer life to those who are dead. Do you see the picture Paul is attempting to draw of Christ?
He is the divine God who created all things and continues to sustain all things. He created the church as an expression of His creative work through which He exercises His power. And a primary expression of His power and benefit to the church is creating new lives out of dead people. I think Paul is writing all this stuff and stops to add a word of WOW found in verse 18. “In everything Christ might have the supremacy.” Folks, our hero Christ is supreme. Let me ask you one of the questions I mentioned earlier. Have you and I made Jesus into a hero who is safe? Think back to some of the categories of heroes. Fantasy Heroes: Several of the heroes were fantasy heroes. They do not really exist and they make no real difference on reality. Is Christ a fantasy hero who is making no difference in the reality called your life? Sports Heroes: These are the people we admire from a distance but have no relationship with at all. We admire them, talk about their athletic exploits but they would never accept an invitation to our home because we have no relationship with them. If I were to holler at Craig Biggio one night after a baseball game and invite him to my house for dinner, I seriously doubt if he would come. Why? Because we have no relationship. Is Christ like that for you? Someone that is fun to watch on Sunday mornings but does not get invited home with you? Action Heroes: A couple of our heroes represent well the rugged individualist who needs no one and who can conquer life on his own. I believe that this is the most lethal of deceptions. This is the Christ-follower who makes walking with Christ so private that he can no longer see how he is manipulating Christ to fit his own agenda and life. Let me give you something to chew on later today. Christ did not die to be your private hero. He died to be your personal hero so that you could express him publicly. The writer Sidney J. Harris once said this in relation to a list of heroes identified by society. “the heroes created by our society are people who have made it big, but not necessarily people who have done big things.” Christ has not only the character or nature to be our hero; He has also done the big things to warrant hero stature. What is the big thing that Jesus did?
Read Colossians 1:19-22
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” The Big Thing That Jesus Did To Warrant Hero Status? He Died to Reconcile You and Me to Himself. We all admire people who are willing to lay it all on the line for what they believe or for people they care about. Remember Cassie Bernall? She was the teenager at Columbine High School who looked up at a boy with a gun pointing at her and said, “Yes, I do believe in God.” Or Todd Beamer who on 9/11 turned to those around him on a plan hijacked by terrorist and said, “lets roll” and plunged to his death. Or Pat Tillman who gave up the wealth and status of the NFL only to be killed in Iraq. We admire that type of heroism and rightly so. I wonder if our admiration is not partially due to the fact that they remind us of Christ. He looked Pilate straight in the face and said, “It is as you say. I am the King of the Jews.” Then he paid for that truth with His life. Christ prayed in the garden and wrestled with the Father over what to do. Then, if you would allow me to say it this way, Jesus said to the Father, “let’s roll” and then went to His death. Christ called his disciples His friends and then took a cross for them.
Let me say with all honesty, this work of Christ amazes me.
It forces me to wrestle with the greatness of Christ. It challenges me to search for appropriate words of wonder. But there is something even more astounding to me regarding the work of this hero Christ. Something that forces me to my knees in complete awe. And it is this.
Christ died for the young boy who pulled the trigger that day at Columbine High School. Christ died for those men who believed so strongly in their cause that they would hijack a plane and kill innocent people. And Christ died for those soldiers who shot the bullet that killed our soldier. Now let me ask you the second of our two questions. Do you want this Jesus as your hero? If you do not know Christ as your savior, then this is a time for you to wrestle with this question, “Do you want this Jesus as your Savior?” If so, then I invite you If you are already a follower of Christ, then use this time to examine your heart. Let me ask the same question with a different twist for you. Do you want this Jesus as your Lord? Is the Jesus described this morning the Jesus you have given every aspect of your life to? Or have you substituted another hero. Use this time as a time to repent or affirm your followership of the hero Jesus.
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