David Kautt

Humble Success

2012-01-26T13:01:00.000-08:00

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, January 22, 2012

Genesis 41:14-41, “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.” So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river. Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt. And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows. When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke. Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven heads came up on one stalk, full and good. Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.” Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.” So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

Who wouldn’t want to be a little more successful this year than last? Who wouldn’t desire to prosper, yes I said ‘prosper’, materially, financially, when all around recession and inflation are eating up people’s wealth? Who wouldn’t want more strength to win battles literal, and especially, spiritual, in nature? Who wouldn’t long to have greater power and success as one serves others and stewards what belongs to others? Who?

I figure we all want 2012 to be a more successful, more prosperous year for us than 2011 was, right? But do we know how? And do we care to understand why? Emmanuel, ‘God-with-us’, that name we hear, we sing, we remember, especially during the Christmas season, as we have seen in and through the life of this young man Joseph – ‘God-with-us’ – the Emmanuel principle as we are calling it, is the how, the means to success. And the why? Do you remember what the why, the purpose, the goal, God’s intended outcome, what He desires when He causes us to prosper?

What a powerful, and I would add, consistent example of the WHY this young man Joseph really is for us. God gave him success. God caused Joseph to prosper, mightily with him as God was, why? That the result would be glory to God! That Joseph, as a servant, as a soldier, and as steward, might honor God, make God, the One, True and Living God, large and very, very near before the eyes of Potiphar, the Prison Warden, and even Pharoah himself.

The Emmanuel, God-with-us, principle, once again, that’s the HOW to success! And, honoring God, that’s the why…

This morning, as we move from Genesis chapters 39 and 40, the passages that detail for us the Emmanuel and Honor God principles, at work in Joseph’s success as a slave and as a prisoner, to chapter 41, we find that Joseph’s station in life, his ‘social status’ we might say, changes dramatically. From the pit of rejection in Canaan, sold off by his own flesh and blood, to the auction block in Egypt, the privileged son, coat of many colors and all is now a slave, to the prison house, falsely accused by a woman whose husband he had faithfully served for over 10 years! Though God was with Joseph, and God’s name was being honored through Joseph, his social standing, instead of it going from low to higher, for a time, a pretty long time, it seemed rather to be getting worse, didn’t it? Then, what? Then, through a series of dreams, that God, the One, True and Living God whom Joseph served, sent to Pharoah of all people, God lifts Joseph from the pit to the pinnacle, and in one giant leap, right?

Have you ever know of someone who, literally, overnight, went from rags to riches? Have you ever been acquainted with someone who literally went from janitor – you know, pushing the broom, slinging the mop – to President of the company, in one big leap? That’s what happened with Joseph! In chapter 39, God caused Joseph to succeed as Potiphar’s chief slave. In fact, God caused Potiphar to prosper because of Joseph, but still Joseph was, you know, a slave, Potiphar’s property.

Then, God gave Joseph success as a soldier. No, not with guns and bombs and combat boots, but against the wily temptations of a seductress named Mrs. Potiphar. Yes, Joseph succeeded militarily. But where did he end up when he refused Mrs. Potiphar’s advances? In jail, in prison. And, then, there in that dungeon, God was with Joseph, and enabled him to succeed as a steward. Remember? The text tells us that all that was accomplished in the prison was Joseph’s doing. In other words, Joseph succeed as a minister.

But now, the time has finally come. Maybe he didn’t realize it immediately, but speaking of dreams, the dreams he had as a lad, back home with his daddy and his brothers, dreams about his future greatness and how that his parents and brothers would one day bow before him, finally, that day had come true. From the pit, to the pinnacle, overnight, in one big leap. And, who wouldn’t want to revel in it? Who wouldn’t want to strut your stuff for a little while? From menial laborer, to magistrate, with the snap of Pharaoh’s fingers! Wow! You get the picture.

But, think with me. Take a look with me, right here, will you? This 30 years old young man, who is suddenly a success, as far as the social ladder is concerned – ‘Ah, that God-with-us stuff! That was okay for when I was Potiphar’s ‘gopher’. But now, look, I’m wearing Pharaoh’s signet ring! Who needs God, here, at this level of prominence? That ‘honor God’ stuff, that was fine when I was on the bottom of the ladder, but look, now I’m at the top! I have arrived! Enough of that honor God stuff! Now, it’s time to honor ME!

I’m looking, are you? I’m searching, are you? Do you find Joseph saying anything like that, doing anything like that here, when he, just like that, moves from the prison house to the palace? It’s not there, is it? It’s not there! From the pit to the pinnacle, overnight, and at the tender age of 30 years old. By the way, who else do we know rose to great prominence at about age 30? Jesus, right? There are a lot of parallels between Joseph and Jesus. Have you noticed?

From menial laborer to magistrate, second in command over the super power of that day, the country of Egypt. Did anything change for Joseph on that day? Verse 14 – His clothing changed. Maybe that’s the Old Testament’s way of saying he ‘took a shower’. And, his hairstyle or grooming changed, verse 14 says he shaved. And, then, down in verses 42 through 45, after God gave Joseph insight into the meaning of Pharaoh’s drams, and what Pharaoh should do about them, Joseph’s wardrobe changed: signet rings, gold necklaces, fine linen garments. And his transportation changed, he got to ride in the second chauffeur-driven limo in the Presidential procession. And, ultimately, as we mentioned last Lord’s Day, his name was changed. Pharaoh gave him an Egyptian name that meant ‘God speaks and lives!’ All of those things changed for Joseph. From the prison house to the palace, what a leap!

But, notice – notice very carefully what DIDN’T change! Verse 16 – Why do Bible students look at this young man Joseph and exclaim, ‘He’s just like Jesus!’? Why do they point to him and say, ‘He’s one of the best and most stunning pictures of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament?? Because of his humility! Pharaoh, the king of this ancient super power, Egypt, you know he’s gotta be used to people wanting to strut their stuff around him, wanting to make themselves look good before him so that perhaps he’ll put his signet ring on them. ‘Young man, I hear that you know how to interpret dreams; is that right?’ What kind of reply, what kind of answer, do you think Pharaoh expected to a question like that? ‘You got that right, Mr. Pharaoh! Man, I’m the best! I can do it!’ Did the ‘God-with-us’, Emmanuel Principle go out the window when Joseph suddenly made it to the big time?

Denver Broncos quarter-back Tim Tebow made quite a stir recently, when he, almost single-handedly, rescued his team from elimination from the NFL Playoffs, throwing for 316 yards passing – 3 – Sixteen – anybody ever come across that number before? And, then, in the thrill of victory, with millions of people watching, Tim Tebow bowed his knee and thanked God for His help! By the way, I understand that young Mr. Tebow did the same thing, he honored and acknowledged God, and Jesus Christ his Savior, last week, when his team went down in defeat. Now, I don’t know what you think about Mr. Tebow, whether he’s the real deal, or not.

But, listen – I know, I can see, right here in the passage, and in the remaining nine chapters of Genesis, this young man Joseph IS the real deal! Instead of strutting his stuff in front of big shot Pharaoh, his simply, and I believe, very humbly said, ‘It is not in me. That dream-interpreting ability you’ve heard about O, king, it’s not in me! No! God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace!’ You know, I’ve yet to come across a book with a title that reads something like ‘Leap Frogging to the Top’, that has any mention of the idea of humility! Guess what my friends? It’s right here in this Book! Church Leaders, you want to succeed in that position? Parents, you want your children to grow up honoring you? Husbands, you want your wife to turn out to be the most precious gift God gave you? Lead them, love them, help them learn, not by strutting your stuff! ‘Look here, I’m the Boss!’ Not by Lording it over them, but by humbly serving them! By honoring God before their eyes and in their ears! That’s what Joseph did, better yet, that’s what our Savior did, for us!

To succeed as a magistrate, in a position of power, influence and authority, the world says, ‘Shove your weight around! Show off! Strut your stuff!’ This Book says, ‘Serve!’

But, then notice, one other thing this young man Joseph shows us about success as a magistrate, a ruler, a leader. Keep the big pictures in mind, and remember who’s painting that picture! These dreams, the one about the cows, fat and skinny, and about the ears of grain, full and blighted, these dreams of Pharaoh were not the result of having too much pizza late at night! They were God’s messages, the message of the King of kings, to that king, at that special moment in history – why? Have you read the rest of the story, Genesis, Exodus, all the way to Calvary, the empty tomb and the Book of Revelation? Those dreams, seen by that king and interpreted by that son of Jacob, were not only God’s message of hope and help for that moment and that era of abundant harvest and of severe famine, more importantly, as Joseph later acknowledged to his brothers, they were God’s sovereign means of saving lives by a great deliverance (see Genesis 45:1-11).

Can you see it, my friends? The meandering path of Joseph’s life, put in a pit in Canaan by brothers who wanted to kill him, drug out of the pit and sold to slave traders who took him down to Egypt, auctioned off to Potiphar, lied about by Mrs. Potiphar, sent to the dungeon, though innocent, forgotten by Pharaoh’s butler. Then raised, just like that, to second in Pharaoh’s administration. This wasn’t just a meandering set of steps – no! This was a part of that sovereignly directed stream of redemption that becomes a mighty, rushing river of salvation at the cross, at the tomb, and at the throne of grace!

Success, prosperity, whether as a menial laborer, or as a magistrate, this Book, this man’s Christ-like example, sets forth two abiding principles:

- God-with-us, the Emmanuel Principle

- Honor-God, make God large and very, very near in all you do and say!

Two questions: are you desirous of success and prosperity in 2012? Are you living in accordance with these principles?

Servant Success

2012-01-16T15:13:00.000-08:00

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, January 8, 2012

Genesis 39:1-23, “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.” So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.” So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

Two weeks ago, we all began the New Year, 2012, at the same starting place, with the same hopes and aspirations for this year, with the same kinds of dreams and desires that somehow, some way, this year was going to be a better year for us, more successful, more prosperous. How are we doing so far? You know, we count down the days until Christmas, don’t we, those last few weeks before December 25^th? But few, if any, of us consider the fact, count the days, we’ve already used up in this New Year, and recognize that we only have 350 more days left in this year to pursue those goals with which we began the year.

Success, prosperity, this world’s definition of those words revolves around things like profit and product and progress. And, those things aren’t wrong or sinful, in and of themselves. But listen, I’m a Christian, that’s what I claim to be. And that’s what you call yourself, too, right? So, is this world’s definition of success, and perhaps, more significantly, is this world’s means for attaining to success, to be my definition and my means of attaining it? Bible-driven, not profit-driven. Holy Spirit-directed, not directed by and for an end-product or mere human progress. That’s who I am, or who I am supposed to be, if I am a Christian. So, how am I doing that so far in 2012, seeing I only have 350 days left to go?

The life of this man Joseph, what an incredible illustration of success, God-centered success, his life is. He was a success, he prospered, materially, or, we might say, monetarily, verse 3 tells us that “the Lord made all Joseph did to prosper in his hand.” And, verse 5 adds the interesting and amazing insight into how the blessing of God upon Joseph’s life brought blessing from God upon his master, Potiphar’s life and family.

Joseph prospered, he was successful, materially. He also succeeded militarily. We looked at this aspect of success, or prosperity, last time, didn’t we? No, Joseph wasn’t a soldier, at least, not in the guns and bombs and combat boots sense. But, what a war – fellows, ladies – what a war he waged with lust, with temptations that repeatedly came his way through Mrs. Potiphar’s invitation to the bedroom. And, what a victory he enjoyed when he exclaimed in her ears, “How can I do such a wicked thing as this, and sin again God?” Joseph was a success militarily, and he prospered monetarily or materially. And, in both ways, he not only received blessings from God, but he also was used by God to give blessings to Potiphar and Potiphar’s family! Beloved, that’s success! That’s what this Book means by the word prosperity.

But, then there’s a third way in which Joseph succeeded and shows us what real success is all about, and that is in a way that I’m calling, ministerially. I’ll let your minds munch on that long word for a moment or two, while I set up for you the background. Success, prosperity - I don’t know how many of you are college football fans, or professional football fans, or, maybe even High School football fans, but so far, in all the years that I have been watching, listening and reading about these games, I’ve yet to see a team awarded a trophy for ending up in last place! Success, in football, at least, is measured in victories! And, ultimately, in Championships and Super Bowl rings, right?

Or, think of it this way. If you have ever watched the Cowboys play, in their stadium, you know they have a special display of banners on a certain level of the stadium’s walls. It’s called the ‘Ring of Honor’ and Cowboy greats like Tom Landry and Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman have their names and numbers arrayed there for all to see. And, of course, those men’s names are included in that select group, because they were the best, because in football terms, they succeeded. But listen, so far, Jerry Jones may prove me wrong on this someday, so far, I have yet to see a banner raised for the Team Water-boys, for the gophers who make sure all those multi-million dollar stars have plenty of Gatorade® and Power-Ade®.

Success, ministerially, would you allow me to add a word to your ‘success dictionary’ that maybe, up to this time, you had not included? Here’s the word: ‘servant’. Servant. Verse 4 of our text, it’s one of those verses folks like you and me pass over quickly, you know, because we want to get to the ‘meat of the passage’. Verse 4 – Take a look, this verse is the first ‘bite’ of some really good, really needed, ‘T-bone steak’! Success, how does God define it? Verse 4 – The text simply says that Joseph “found favor in Potiphar’s sight and served him…”

I don’t have time to develop it this morning, but allow me to remind you that that one word, a new addition, perhaps, to many of our success ‘dictionaries’, was the first ‘entry’ in our Lord’s dictionary! Remember? Jesus said, “I did not come to be served, but to serve and to give My life as a ransom for many…” In another context, when even Jesus’ closest friends, His disciples, were elbowing for position and prominence, Jesus took up the towel, the pitcher and the basin, their Master stooped to show them the full extent of love (see John 13:1), washed their dirty, grimmy feet, and drove home the point one more time before He died, that He, their Lord, their Master, their Creator, the Great ‘I Am’, was among them as the One who serves. (See Luke 22:27)

The successful servant, does that sound like an oxymoron to you, a contradiction in terms? In God’s Dictionary, it isn’t! Husbands, Fathers, Elders, Deacons, Preachers, in God’s ‘Dictionary’, it isn’t! Open it up – house Wives, Mothers, Sunday School Teachers, open it up, this ‘Dictionary’, and next to the word ‘success’, first entry is the word ‘servant’…

But, let’s go just a bit further with this, shall we? What does it mean to be a ‘successful servant’? What does one look like? What are his or her qualities or characteristics? Let me give you a quick list, how about it? Do you want to be a ‘successful servant’? Successful in this, Word-of-God-defined way? Here’s what you must ask the Lord Jesus to do in your life, to make of your life, to accomplish through your life: this prayer, “Lord, increase my faithfulness; Lord, increase my willingness; Lord, increase my giftedness; Lord, increase my kindness; Lord, please make me a successful servant!”

A successful servant, that’s what Joseph was, in all of these ways, and certainly, along with many other important roles like Savior and Great High Priest, that’s what Jesus was and is! But are you, and am I?

The successful servant, the one to whom the master can hand over increasing levels of responsibility, he is that way, becomes that way, how? Why? Because he is faithful! Because he is trustworthy! The apostle Paul, in a great passage on the subject of servant-hood, and the related topic of stewardship, said it like this: “It is required,” not optional, not ‘don’t have to, if you don’t want to’, but “it is required,” you must, if you’re going to be a steward, someone entrusted with what belongs to someone else, if you’re going to be a steward, “it is required that you be faithful…” (See 1 Corinthians 4:2)

Jesus put it this way: He drew the line of demarcation between successful and unsuccessful servants this way, remember? The good servant, the servant the master commends, is what kind of servant? “Well done, good and faithful servant…” God, I want to be a successful servant. Would you, please, cause me to grow, to flourish, to increase in faithfulness! I don’t want to be entrusted with only one, measly, portion of what is Yours! No, please cause me to grow in faithfulness, that I might be entrusted with more and more of what is Yours! How about that for a prayer for the remaining 350 days of this year?

Then, there’s willingness. The word is not used specifically in this text of Joseph, but it’s there, believe me, between the lines, it’s there. Imagine the conversation between Potiphar and Joseph, the first day Joseph is on the job. ‘Young man, since you are min, my property, I expect you to do whatever I say, no questions asked. So, for starters, I want you to polish my armor, and mop the floors of my house. Any questions?’ ‘Yes, sir. When’s my coke break? And, sir, couldn’t you think of something a little easier, a little les, you know, ‘yucky’ than polishing and mopping?’ From what I read both through the lines and between the lines of this passage, I don’t think such a conversation occurred, do you? Joseph succeeded as a servant because of his willingness! Jesus, the Ultimate Servant, described His role, His goal, His aim as His Father’s envoy, “I must be about My Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). “I must do the will of Him who sent Me and finish HIS work!” (John 4:34, 6:38) “Lord, increase my willingness. This year, I want to be a successful servant! God, please cause me to grow in willingness!”

Then, there’s giftedness and kindness. Again, Joseph sets an example before us, that finds ultimate expression in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There are several more things we could say about these qualities and characteristics of successful servants, but, let me bring it around to one more significant quality. We don’t have time to read the passage in its entirety, so, your assignment for this afternoon is to read and examine Genesis chapters 40 and 41 to see the details of what I’m going to summarize for you here. Genesis 40 – 41: It’s almost stunning to me to see it. In both Pharaoh’s dungeon, his royal prison, and in his palace, God – the One true and Living God – was trying to make Himself known, He was attempting o show pagan Egyptians that He was, is, alive and that He speaks powerfully. Pharaoh’s butler, Pharaoh’s baker, and then, Pharaoh himself, all three of them had dreams. God was speaking to each one of them in their sleep, trying to show them that He is, that He lives and that He speaks, to men.

However, there’s one big problem. The butler, the baker, Pharaoh; none of them understood what the dreams meant. And, in the palace, Pharaoh - who had wise men, and astrologers, and fortune tellers, coming out his ears - none of them could figure out the dreams either. But God, the One, True and Living God, who speaks, who wants to communicate, yes, even with pagans, had a servant. His name was Joseph. And what did Joseph do? He did what every successful servant of the Lord does. He said, ‘God, speak to them through me…’ He allowed the Living God, the God who DOES speak, to speak His Word through him! (See the meaning of the name Pharaoh gave Joseph in Genesis 41:45, “God lives and speaks”.)

How did Joseph do it? Six words, we’ve seen it before in Genesis 39, and the same is true in Genesis 40 and 41. Six words, and two principles, that are regularly at work in every successful servant of the Lord. What are those words? What are those principles? Mark them down one more time, will you? God-with-us: the ‘Emmanuel Principle’. And, Joseph-honored-God: the ‘Honor Principle’. What made Joseph the successful servant, faithful, willing, gifted, kind, that he was? God was with Him. The Spirit of the One, True and Living God was IN him. And, as he honored God, in the pit of slavery, in the prison and, yes, even in Pharaoh’s palace, God spoke through him to people who otherwise might never have known that there is a God in heaven who lives and who speaks.

How do you measure success, how do you define it? God’s word for it is this: serve. Servant.

Military Success in the New Year

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, January 8, 2012

The end of the year and the beginning of a New Year is one of those critical cross-roads in life, isn’t it? As we flip over the calendar, month-by-month, marking off each of the 365 days on it, we might not think that much about it. However, when the time comes to change calendars, and, perhaps to do like we do at our house, to transfer from the old calendar to the new calendar, all the birth dates and anniversary dates, each of the highlights and lowlights of the previous year, when that time comes, we often find ourselves stopping to evaluate, don’t we? Was I successful last year? And, if so, how successful was I? And in what areas of my life did I succeed? And, what about this New Year? Will it be a year full of prosperity and success for me, for my family, and for those I love?

Last week we discussed the fact that prosperity or success is something that most everyone years for, and many go to great strides to achieve. We also observed that different people’s definitions of success look and sound different. Profit – did I make a profit? Product – is this year’s product going to be better than last year’s? Progress – how far did we move from where we began during the last 12 months? A lot of people use words like profit, product and progress to define and measure success. But, what did we learn? What must we always keep in mind? We, who call ourselves the people of God, set apart by Him, set apart to Him, set apart for Him and for His purposes, we must remember that our God has given us a different definition of success than profit, product or progress. We must always keep in mind that success, prosperity, blessing, is always patterned according to His will for our lives, His goals, His Word. That’s why we are opening up this Book today. That’s why we open it every Lord’s Day, to see how our God defines success, to keep coming back to the simply but powerful truths He’s given us on the subject. Truths such as the ones laid up for us in this text.

Last week, we began our look at Joseph’s life, and at the fact that he was successful, very, very successful. And, we asked ourselves, ‘What would it take to be more materially prosperous in this new year?’ Our text tells us that the “Lord blessed [Potiphar] the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and [that] the blessing of the Lord was on all that Potiphar had [both] in the house and in the field.” Joseph’s success spilled over, reverberated, into the life of his master, Potiphar. God blessed Joseph, yes. But, God also used Joseph to BE a blessing! In a nutshell, that’s what success is all about from God’s perspective.

Material prosperity, monetary success. We’d all like to be a little more, maybe a lot more successful in those ways this year, wouldn’t we? But, how about this? Would you, do you also want to succeed, be more prosperous, militarily this year?

Military power and success. Most of us likely don’t have that category of prosperity even listed on our goals for 2012. But, if I may, I’d like to suggest it be written in near the top. Military success; what do you mean, ‘Military Success’?! Are we talking bombs and guns and combat boots? What do we mean when we say, ‘In 2012, we ought to be striving for military success, greater levels of military success?’

We read through the passage rather rapidly a moment ago, so perhaps you didn’t catch it. But, take a look again. The 39^th chapter of Genesis begins and ends with the same refrain: “the Lord was with Joseph” – remember? The Emmanuel Principle? The ‘God-with-us’ principle that is at the heart of real success from this Book’s vantage point. This chapter begins AND ends with the same refrain: “the Lord was with Joseph, and whatever he did, whatever Joseph put his hand to, the Lord made it to prosper.”

Joseph was a successful man as God poured His blessings on and funneled His blessings through His servant, this man, Joseph. We notice those parts of the passage, don’t we? We want those parts of the passage to be true in our lives, also, don’t we? But, here’s what we must not overlook: Joseph’s success was not without its battles! Joseph’s prosperity was not a result of God’s putting him in some kind of protective bubble where there would be no wars and skirmishes! Rather, at the heart of what we need to see and learn about success, as it is measured and defined by God, is what we discover in the middle verses of this passage, the section dealing with Joseph’s war, his battle with a woman, a wistful woman and agent of the Tempter, who wanted him to give into lust!

The section we’re talking about here, the portion of the passage that deals with military success, begins in the sixth verse with the words, “Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.” A blessing of God – physical beauty – a beauty that, I believe, in Joseph’s case, flowed from the inside out, that was more than skin deep, this gift of God upon his life could have been his Achilles’ heel. ‘Aw, come on Joseph… You’re young, you’re handsome, you’re single and unattached. And, remember, I am your master’s wife, I could get you fired!’

Can you imagine the enticement all of that must have been to Joseph? I mean, who would know? His parents wouldn’t know. They were in another country. He hadn’t seen or heard from them in years! His master wouldn’t know. Surely, she wouldn’t tell on him. Who would know?

It’s not written there in some many words, the phrase that is so prominent in the first and last halves of the chapter, “The Lord was with Joseph”, that phrase that encapsulates the Emmanuel principle, is not written there in black and white, but, listen. It’s there! Believe me, it’s there!

How can you tell? Two things, two indicators that the Lord was with Joseph as he walked through this landmine. Number one, his words, what Joseph said shows that the Lord was with him. And, secondly, his deeds, what Joseph did shows that the Lord was with him there on that battlefield. Take a look: I mentioned it to the Sunday School class last Lord’s Day, but I want all of you to see it today. This woman, Potiphar’s Wife, who is in many ways like the strange woman, the immoral woman, that Solomon warned his sons against in the Book of Proverbs, notice how she uses her words. Take a look at what she does. Verse 7 – Prompted by longing eyes of lust and an empty, wicked heart, this woman doesn’t waste time with small talk: she just blurts it out: “Come to bed with me, you, handsome devil, you!”

Sounds like a proposition from a street walker in the red light district, doesn’t it, fellows? And, who wouldn’t be flattered by it, right? That, by the way, is an appeal not only to the fleshly lust, but to pride! “Come to bed with me…” That’s what Mrs. Potiphar says with her words. “Come to bed with me…” “Come to bed with me…” “Come to bed with me…” It’s what I call the ‘broken record’ approach. Take a look at verse 10 and you’ll get the picture. “Come to bed with me…” That’s what this audacious flirt says with her mouth. Those were her words. But notice the words Joseph uses in reply. Unlike the foolish Israelites, who several hundred years later said to Moses, “We will go up to the place which the Lord has promised,” (Numbers 14:40). We will go up and fight this battle and win. We will… And, sadly, Israel lost, was soundly defeated at the hands of the Amalekites and Canaanites – why? Because “the Lord was not with them…” (Numbers 14:42-43).

Notice, the words of Joseph as he stood toe-to-toe with this temptation and this enemy. There were no boastful forecasts of what he was going to do, on his own! No! Look! Instead, with is words, Joseph draws a line in the sand. He marks off the moral boundaries which governed his life. He says,

“But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:8-9)

When the heat was on and the hormones could have been also, Joseph glorified God. With his words, “How can I do this great wickedness and sin – SIN – against God?” With his words, Joseph honored God. But, words, you know, are a dime a dozen. ‘Talk is cheap’ is how my mother puts it. In other words, character, the kind of moral character and strength it takes to win battles, to succeed militarily, must be more – way more – than hot air! It must be backed up, followed up, by what? Actions!

Take a look at verse 10, would you, please? A lot of people, when they are pummeled with a continuing barrage of verbal assaults like Mrs. Potiphar used - that day-after-day, morning-after-morning, noon-and-night, ‘broken record’ approach – a lot of people give way and cave in when attacked like that. How come? Because they run out of air! Because they get tired of the talk, the arguments, the verbal volleys back-and-forth. And so, they lose the war!

But, we’re wanting to know how to win the war, aren’t we? We’re in need of guidance, THIS lamp for our feet, and light for our path (the Bible), to succeed militarily, aren’t we? And, what is that guidance?

The Emmanuel principle, Joseph lived by the ‘God-is-with-me’ principle. How do we know that? We know that by what he said. Verse 8 and 9, on the battlefield of lust and pride, he glorified God with his words! “How can I do such a wicked thing, and sin against God?!” But, that’s not all! Joseph also demonstrated what it means to live by the Emmanuel ‘God-is-with-me’ principle, by what he did! Verses 11 through 15 – to put it bluntly, he ran! When the temptress tried to grab him, he remembered, “I must honor God now! I am a vessel of honor, sanctified and fit for His use – here – today. So, I must run!” And ran he did!

Military success, to win battles of the mind, body and spirit. To honor God and allow the Emmanuel, God-with-me principle, to guide what you do with your mind, your body, and with your spirit, that’s what it means to succeed! That is what our God is calling us to, when He says, “Set your hearts, your minds, your affections, on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God…” (Colossians 3:1-3) That’s what He intends to be worked out in our lives, when He says, “Flee sexual immorality…” “You are not your own! You’re not! No! You have been bought with a price! Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s!” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

Success in the New Year

2012-01-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, January 1, 2012

Genesis 39:1-23, “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.” So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.” So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

How many of you believe that, all in all, your life was successful during 2011? How many of you would like to be more successful this year, in the New Year, 2012?

Success, what we mean by success, and, how to go about measuring it and when we are successful, varies from person to person, doesn’t it? Some would say that success has to do, like they say in the business world, with the ‘bottom line’. Did we make a profit? Did that profit level exceed previous years’ profit levels?

Others would suggest that success is not so much a matter of profits, but product. Is this year’s model or version of whatever we are manufacturing or producing better – improved – than last year’s?

Still others, perhaps those in areas like education and social influence measure their success – or failure – with yet a different ‘bottom line’. No, not profit, and not product, but progress. And they ask themselves, at crucial junctures, questions like this, “How far have we come in society, how far have our students come, since this time last year?”

Profit, product, progress. As you can see, success, what it means, and, how to recognize if and when you have attained to it, vary, differ, from person to the next. However, this Book, who’s Book is this? This Book, how much about success does the One whose Book this is KNOW about success? Though people’s definition and means of recognition of success DIFFER from person to person, listen. This Book, and the all-wise, unchanging Person behind this Book, has one CONSTANT definition of success, one unvarying way of determining success, and that is with three simple words: “God – with – us!” If it can be said, truly said, not just based on our fluctuating emotions or some passing whim, but based on what this Book says, that God is, was will be, with us, then – and only then – can it be said that we are a success, that what we have attempted to do or be was successful.

Genesis 39 – A Powerful glimpse into the life of Joseph, a man who went – literally – from the pit to the pinnacle, what does the Scripture say of him? Count them, repeatedly, the text says of Joseph, that “the Lord was with him…” (Genesis 39:2, 3, 21, 23) And, because the Lord was with him, what else does the passage relate to us about Joseph? Verse 2, verse 3, verse 5, verse 21, verse 23 – The Scripture tells us that because the Lord was with Joseph, yes, even in places and circumstances like slavery and prison, because of those three simply words: God with him, Joseph was successful, Joseph prospered. And, look at it, “the blessing of the Lord was on all” that pertained to his master Potiphar, and upon all who were connected to Joseph in jail.

Success, I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a little more, maybe a lot more successful, this year, than last year? I would. I do.

Every year, about this time, I get a year-end report from my bank. And, in simply terms, that report over views for me, where my family was, financially, at the beginning of 2011, and, where we are now, twelve months later. And, every year, maybe like you, I look at those figures and at the ‘bottom line’, and ask myself, “Are we any better off than we were twelve months ago?” I mean, in economic times like we’re in today, who wouldn’t want to see at least a little more in the bank at year end than a year ago? But, how? And, have you ever asked this question of your life and finances? Why? Why do I want to be more successful financially? What would be the goal, the purpose, the hoped-for outcome, of such success? A newer car? A bigger home? The latest in gadgets? How about more to give to the Lord’s work? How about more to share with the poor? How about more to send to missionaries? How about more to use in assisting orphans and widows?

You may not see it quite yet, but listen, those three words: God-with-us, alter, they affect, in amazing, can’t-calculate-it-or-display-it-on-a-spread-sheet, kind of ways, both the How? and the Why? of our pursuit of material and financial prosperity. Let me show you how: Psalm 24, and then, Psalm 50, material prosperity, financial success, in this economy and in this New Year. Is that for which you’re hoping?

Where do you being in that quest? Go to MONEY magazine, right? Go to the Wall Street Journal, right? Go to your broker, or your banker, or your investment adviser, right? Psalm 24 – How many of those people, those supposed ‘experts’ will bring this perspective to the discussion?

Psalm 24:1-10, “The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.
For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. Selah Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah

Psalm 24, material wealth and possession, what we call “ours”, our ‘stuff’, our ‘net worth’. Whose is it, really? And, why? Psalm 24, verses one and two, it is the Lords! Judy S----, G.C.’s wife shared with me a tremendous word of testimony the other night at the funeral home. A word that is based, ultimately, on what David the psalmist teaches us here: she said, “As far as my dear husband is concerned, the Lord gave him to me, and now the Lord has taken him from me. Blessed be the name of the Lord!” What a testimony! What a perspective! An accurate, Biblical perspective that all of us should desire to have in this area of money! My “stuff” is not really mine! It’s the Lord’s, why? Because He made it, and, because He made me. And as Creator, my Creator, He owns me and owns what pertains to me! That’s the first principle related to material prosperity and success that goes with the words, “God-with-us!”

Then, look further with me here, would you, please? Psalm 24:5 – Notice the reference to receiving “the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of salvation…” Question: Who is the ‘he’? Who is the person, or, perhaps, we should ask, ‘what kind of person is in line to be blessed by God materially and financially? Psalm 24:3-4 – Have you spent some time examining your year-end bank statements? What did you see? Are the words, ‘God-with-me’ written anywhere on those reports? If not, then what?

Then it’s time to look in the mirror! (The BIBLE) It’s time to look in the mirror! Psalm 24:3-6, read them with me one more time, will you?

Psalm 24:3-6, “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. Selah”

Material prosperity, financially successful, who wouldn’t want to be more that way this year, than last? God-with-us, have you looked in the mirror? Looked at your hands, and your heart, your soul and your speech? How do they line up with God’s measurement of success?

Genesis 39 – The life of this great man of faith, Joseph. Repeatedly, the Scripture describes him as successful, and, as being the reason, the human reason, the flesh and blood instrument of God to bring success to the likes of Potiphar and the prison warden. How did that happen? God-with-us. Joseph lifted up his life, and said, “King of Glory, won’t you come in, please? Please, enter my life, O Lord of Hosts, every part of it, including the “stuff” I call mine, and do so, with Your strength, and with Your power!” What are we talking about here? God-with-us. Three simple words.

Material prosperity, financial success in the New Year, the How’s? And the Why’s? What are we talking about here? How is it, why is it, that Joseph was so successful?

Psalm 50 – Take a look at that passage with me, will you, please? Psalm 50 – pick up the reading of the text with me, in verse 7:

Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you; I am God, your God! I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are continually before Me. I will not take a bull from your house, nor goats out of your folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Psalm 50:7 -15

Material success and prosperity, notice that, once again, the unchanging starting point on this issue is not profit, or product or progress, but what? God owns it all! That 4-wheeler, you got here on the ‘back’ of… Whose is it? Verse 10 – That 4-footed beast you’ll eat from in a little while, Who supplied it? Verses 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Material prosperity, financial success – how? In this economy? How? Joseph shows us how. The psalmist Asaph tells us know, God-with-us, the God-centered, not profit-centered, not product-centered, not even progress-centered, but the God-centered life!

Notice how Asaph details that for us in verses 12, 13 and 14:

If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

It all belongs to God, my ‘stuff’ isn’t mine! It’s His! So, what? So, “offer to God thanksgiving”, step one. So, “pay your vows to the Most High,” step two. So, “call upon ME in the day of trouble,” - we don’t have time to unpack all of what each one of those steps mean, but study them out. You want to be more materially prosperous in 2012, there’s your assignment, study them out.

God-with-us, offer to God thanksgiving [step one], pay your vows to the Most High [step two], and step three to attain to financial success, “call upon the LORD in the day of trouble…” That’s the How? The means, the method. But what’s the goal? What’s the purpose behind a God-centered-life? Verse 15 – Here’s the answer to these Why? questions:

“Offer to God thanksgiving; pay your vows to the Most High, call upon the Lord in the day of trouble”, if we will do these things, IF, then what? Then, God will deliver us, and we, as He grants success in His way, according to His means, and in His perfect timing, then, we will glorify Him! We will do, we MUST do, what Joseph repeatedly did, as he moved from the pit – rejected and hated by his brothers – to Potiphar’s house as a slave, to prison – unjustly accused and condemned – and finally, to the pinnacle of authority in Egypt. God-with-us – As God graciously grants us success, in His way and in His time, then we must do what Joseph repeatedly did, we must honor God! We must turn the spotlight on Him!

God-with-us – 3 words, 3 simple words that have everything to do with material and financial prosperity and success in the New Year. The God-centered, not the profit-centered, not the product-centered, not even the progress-centered life, but the God-centered life, that’s real success! That’s real prosperity!

Solomon, wisest man who ever lived, perhaps the richest man ever also, summed it up like this: “Honor the Lord with your possessions [your stuff], and with the first-fruits of all your increase… Then, your barns [your pantries] will be filled with plenty, and your presses will overflow with new wine…” (Proverbs 3:9-10)

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

A Season of Peace

2011-12-15T14:54:00.000-08:00

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, December 11, 2011

Luke 2:1-20, “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
       “ Glory to God in the highest,
      And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”

There’s a commodity that is in short supply today; and yet is in great demand. It’s a possession, a priceless treasure that people the world over are seeking and yet are hardly finding. With all their dollars and credit lines, and the hard work that it takes to earn them, they are pursuing it to no avail. Many would even give all that they own to claim it and to enjoy it in their lives, but – sad to say – they are looking for it in all the wrong places. Wal-mart doesn’t carry it. Best Buy never has it in stock. The quaint, Mom and Pop stores around the square in Downtown McKinney don’t have it in their inventory, nor can you obtain it through Amazon, Ebay or any other web-based store. What am I talking about? A priceless gem? A rare antique? A one-of-a-kind handmade craft?

No. I’m talking about peace. Peace. The very season that, as we learned last time, is meant to be a season of joy, the very season that, as I hope to lead you in discovering next time, is intended by God to be a season of hope – real, lasting hope – the very season that is all of these things because, as we will come to find out on Christmas morning, is THE season of love, this season, Christmas season, is, for way too many people anything but a season of peace.

A season of joy - we looked at that wonderful truth about the Christmas season last time, didn’t we? And do you remember what we learned? We found out that joy, real joy, wonderful joy, is ours, it is! How? Why? Because of this one bit of good, good news. “For unto you – unto you – is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Christmas is a season of joy because of those good tidings of great joy.

But, where are we to go to find peace? What is the reason why someone like me would call the Christmas season a season of peace? The angel of the Lord, shining with the dazzling brilliance of God’s glory, brought the joyful report to the shepherds that night outside Bethlehem: a Savior has been born, Christ the Lord. It is a season of joy! But take note, in verses 13 & 14 that it was the numberless host of heaven’s angelic messengers that praised God with these words: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Peace… Where are people like you and me to find it? Peace. This precious commodity, this priceless, tirelessly sought after possession, where are we to go to obtain it?

I witnessed a sad and heart-breaking scene just a few weeks ago, when a friend of mine came stumbling out the door of his home, head in his hands, weeping almost uncontrollably. I knew the reason for his tears, the turmoil and turbulence in his life due to many factors out of sync with God’s plan for his life. But what he said, what my friend said, has stuck with me ever since. “I just want some peace, David, I just want to have peace!”

Interestingly, this man and his girlfriend live in a rundown, rent house with a 40 foot high, 30 foot wide bill board, one of those big ones like you see out along the highway, there is the huge billboard, planted right there, on one end of my friend’s front yard! And how I wish I could put this simply message up there on that billboard: Peace? Where is it to be found? “And this shall be a sign unto you: yes shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger!”

A Baby? In a manger? Who would ever have thought to look there for peace? Speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Zacharias, the joy-filled father of John the Baptist, has this to say about that Baby. Take a look. Right across the page, in Luke 1:78-79, he prophesies that the “Dayspring from on high”, that’s a reference to that Baby, Zacharias says that the “Dayspring from on high has visited us…” God, by means of, because of His tender mercies poured out upon peace-seekers like my friend, in His Son, Jesus Christ, in this Baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed so lovingly in that manger bed, through His Son, our Savior, Christ the Lord, has made a way for those who ‘sit in darkness and in the shadow of death” to be enlightened, and - and – in and through that Baby He has made it possible for our feet, my friend’s feet, all people’s feet, to be guided “into the way of peace!”

Christmas, it is a season of peace, at least, that’s what God’s intention is for it. But, why is it that so many, who are so desperately searching for this rich blessing, not finding it, not experiencing and enjoying it?

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I find that many of life’s most complex problems, issues like “where can I go to get, how will I ever enjoy true peace?” I have come to realize, and maybe you have also, that many of life’s most complicated problems have a solution that is, in fact, quite simple. I’d like to suggest to you that such is the case when it comes to our quest for peace.

Two things, two glorious facts that you simply must know, about Jesus, about that precious Baby, if you want to enjoy real peace. Number one, Ephesians 2:14 – Jesus Christ IS our peace – He is – because of what He has done for sinners, for people like you and me and my friend, who, without Him, are sitting, living, enduring, a place, so filled with darkness, so terribly overshadowed by death. Jesus Christ IS our peace, because of what He has done for sinners! Praise God!

And, then, fact number two that I’d like for us to explore this morning is this: Jesus Christ is our peace, He is! Because of what He gives to saints…

The manger, we love it, don’t we? As we come to grips with the awesome reality of God becoming man, this unusual baby bed, this rustic cradle, we love it, because of what it stands for, what it declares to us about this Baby. The Word HAS become flesh and dwelt among us, the Only Begotten Son of the Father, full, as He is, of grace and truth, in this marvelous way we have been given the privilege to behold His glory! Wow! Yes, we love the manger, that crude cradle. But listen, don’t forget. This would be no season of peace, if, following the cradle, there had been no cross! He is our peace, Ephesians 2:14 – Jesus Christ is our peace! How do we know that? Because of what He has done for sinners, for the powerless, the ungodly, for His enemies! For people just like you and me! The prophet Isaiah, who in the ninth chapter of his prophecy, spoke of a “Child to be born, a Son to be given”, One upon whose shoulders the government would be placed. Do you remember how Isaiah depicted Him, what he called Him?

Isaiah 9:6, “And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” Jesus Christ is our peace… Our Prince of Peace… And here’s how we know that. Isaiah 53 – The Child to be born would be “wounded, literally pierced through for our transgressions, the Son to be given, He would be bruised – literally – crushed, for our iniquities. And, then – catch this – Isaiah 53:5, He is our peace, how do we know that? Because of what He has done for sinners! Look at what Isaiah says about Him there in chapter 53, verse 5. “He was wounded – pierced through – for our transgressions, He was bruised – crushed – for our iniquities.” And then it tells us that the “chastisement of our peace” the ripping, tearing, cutting blows intended to supply us with peace were upon Him – why? So that by those stripes, as a result of all that pain and suffering and agony – for us – we might be healed! He is our peace, this Baby, yes, because He came to be born in a manger. But much more, because He bled and died, in our place, for us, on a cross!

Christmas, it really is a season of peace, because of what Jesus has done for sinners! We don’t have time to look at the rest of this powerful 53^rd chapter of Isaiah, but here’s your assignment: read and study the rest of it, in light of Ephesians chapter 2 and 1 Peter chapter 2. Christmas, it is a season of peace because of what Jesus Christ has done for sinners!

But, then, there’s fact number two, remember it? Jesus Christ, He is our peace – He is! If you are a Christian… How do I know that? Because of what He gives to His saints! Quickly move with me to John chapters 14 & 16. Peace, peace with God, what Jesus Christ has done at Calvary, for sinners, for the powerless, for the ungodly, yes, for us who in our sinful rebellion against God are no less than God’s enemies! That peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, has an incredible by-product, the one that my friend so yearns for – what is it? It is the gift that Jesus Christ, our peace, gives to His saints: peace within! Peace in our hearts! John 14:27 and John 16:33 - The scene is the upper room, Jesus’ final hours with His closest men, before He must go to Gethsemane and Calvary. It is a troubling scene for Him, because He knew what was ahead. It was perhaps even more distressing for the disciples because they didn’t know fully nor understand completely, what was about to take place. Ever been there? A place of ominous uncertainty? A place of impending doom and dread? Flip on the news, look at our society and you’ll feel it, won’t you? I mean, even with the lights and the tinsel, the music and the ornaments, the tree and the packages under it, for most of us, it’s there. This sense of foreboding anxiety, and fear.

My Loved Ones, what season is this? “For unto you a Child is born, unto you a Son is given, and the government, the final ruling authority over all these things, will be upon His shoulders, upon the shoulders of the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. What season is it? “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth – in McKinney and Sherman and Wylie and Princeton, and The Colony – on earth peace, good will toward men…”

My Loved Ones, this is the season of peace… And how do we know that? Because Jesus Christ, who is every Christian’s peace, has given a marvelous gift to His saints, and what is that gift? John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Christmas, what season is it? God has written it not on a billboard, but in manger, and on a cross! Jesus Christ, our peace-MAKER, our Intercessor, our Mediator, our Sacrificial Peace Offering, God’s Marvelous Gift to us, Jesus Christ, our Peace-Giver, our Comforter, in these times of turmoil and uncertainty, our Ever-Present Help in trouble. Christmas IS the season of peace. Why? You know why, because Jesus Christ has come.

A Season of Joy

2011-12-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, December 4, 2011

Luke 2:1-20, “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”

1 Peter 1:8-9, “whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.”

One of the very first songs to be sung and played on the radio and in department stores this time of year, is the song entitled: Deck the Halls. Many of you know the words by heart, and could even sing it now, having learned it and known it, from your childhood. You remember, it goes something like this: “Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la…” and so on. It’s a cheery song, with a catchy tune, although, I’ve yet to find a dictionary with a definition for the words, fa la la la la, la la la la… It also uses a phrase that caught my attention, that I want you to consider at the outset of our time in the Word of God this morning. It’s the phrase, “Tis the season to be jolly.” I looked it up, to make certain I understood what it means and found it interesting that this concept of a season to be jolly carries with it the ideas of cheerful festivity, and to be in good spirits. It can imply that someone is having fun, enjoying some form of pleasurable excitement and may even indicate that he or she is slightly drunk - or, as we might say, ‘Tipsy’.

Now, perhaps I’m making too much of this, seeing that this a secular song, although, I would remind you that it didn’t take too much prompting on my part for you to sing it in your minds, right? In other words, our thinking about this time of the year has been shaped, at least partly, by a song that tells us that this is the time to enjoy in some form of pleasurable excitement, to be in good spirits, perhaps we have imbibed some form of alcohol. But allow me to ask you, “for the Christ, is this time of year the time to be cheerful with a kind of transient or temporary festivity, a ‘jolly season’; or is it to be some other kind of season?

May I suggest to you that this season, this time of year we call the ‘Christmas season’, is not merely a ‘season to be jolly’, anybody can be tipsy anytime they want to be, anybody can pursue pleasure and excitement, anytime they want to do so. No. I’d like to suggest to you, that this season, the Christmas season is more, much, much more than a ‘season to be jolly’. Rather, it is – for the Christian, the person who, through the ‘grid’ of this Book understands what this season is, for the Bible-guided Christian, this season is not a jolly season, but a joyful season, a season of joy.

Peter, the apostolic writer of the words we find in the letter we call, “First Peter’, Peter filled with the Spirit, not with alcoholic ‘spirits’, describes the marvels and mysteries of what it means to be born again, what it truly means to be a Christian. In 1 Peter 1:8, he refers to Christians, those who have received the gift of salvation and the new birth, the Christmas gift Jesus Christ came to bring, as rejoicing “with joy unspeakable and full of glory”. Interestingly, he speaks of this joy, take a look at the text there in First Peter chapter one. Peter speaks of this inexpressible and glorious joy, not in the context of some form of jolly excitement and passing pleasure. But look. He speaks of it in the context of pain, in a setting that has to do with hardship, difficulty and testing.

1 Peter 1:6-9, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

A season of joy, not a season to be jolly… What does it mean? What are we talking about when we say that “Christmas is a season of joy”?

Well, first thing to note and to know, is what the angle of the Lord, the heavenly messenger said to the shepherds back there in Luke chapter two. A heaven-sent messengers, shining with the radiant glory of God, when he appears in the middle of the night to shepherds quietly keeping watch over their flocks, or if he was to appear to church members at 11:45 on a Sunday morning, a heaven-sent messenger is and would have been a startling and awesome sight, an appearance that would have caused great fear for those men. And we can understand that, can’t we? But look at what the angel of the Lord says to these men: “Fear not… don’t be afraid.” Why? “Because I bring you good tidings - good news of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you – this day – in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

The simple reason, the obvious reason – oh, my Loved Ones, the life-changing reason – this season is NOT simply a season to be jolly, but a season to be truly joyful, is because of the good news, because of the good tidings of GREAT joy. Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord!

Do you see it, my friends? Our joy, our rejoicing, as Christians it is not rooted in another drink. It is not hinging on whether or not we get to take part in another pleasurable experience, and another and another and another! No! It is rooted in the Good News, in the gospel message of salvation and in the fact that Jesus Christ, Jesus the Messiah is Lord!

A season of joy, one of the indicators that makes me think that this is what we should call this season is the presence, yes, of music, of singing! Not the empty, ‘Fa la la la la, la la la la’ of ‘Deck the Halls’, but the substance of Mary’s Song, the magnificat, and of Zacharias’s song, and of Simeon’s song, the benedictus. Look at each of these three songs with me for a moment or two, would you, please?

Luke 1:46-55, Mary’s song. Do you remember the context, the circumstance behind this song? Mary has just received the astonishing news that God had chosen her to be the mother of His Son. She would be, this young Jewish virgin, would be His holy vessel, His instrument through which the Son of God, the Son of the Highest, would enter into this world as a man. And, traveling to the home of her cousin Elizabeth, she hears Elizabeth’s Holy Spirit-inspired greeting: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! You, the mother of my Lord, has come to me!...” All of these things in the background cause Mary to well up with these joy-filled words: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” The reason for Mary’s joy, is the Good News… “The Lord has regarded the lowly estate of His maidservant. The Lord has done mighty things for her. The Lord has shown strength with His arm. The Lord has put down the mighty from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly. The Lord has filled the hungry with good things, but sent the rich away empty. The Lord has helped His servant Israel, and remembered His mercy, His covenant faithfulness to His people!” The Lord… The Lord… The Lord… He is the reason for Mary’s joy!

Then, there’s Zacharias’s song, Luke 1:67-79. Who is Zacharias? Do you remember? He is the husband of Elizabeth, He is the surprised father, who though he never would be a father, of the forerunner of the Messiah, Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist. Look at the joyful way in which he begins his song: “Blessed be [praises be] to the Lord God of Israel,” sounds like the Psalms, doesn’t it? “For He has visited and redeemed His people!” Good news. “He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David!” Good news… Just like He spoke through His holy prophets, the message is clear, and the news is very, very good indeed! “We shall be saved, He’s going to save us from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us!” Good news, He is, the Lord is, through this horn of salvation He is raising up for us, granting us deliverance from our enemies, and making a way for us to serve Him without fear, in the holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

It’s there, isn’t it? For Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, it was there. Not giddy gladness at good pleasures and excitements, but, deep, humble, grateful joy in the Lord, before the Giver of this Good News gift!

Or, take Simeon’s song, for an example. Luke 2:22-35 provides us not only with the words of Simeon’s song, but with the context. After a period of purification, required by the law of God following her pregnancy, and the delivery of the Christ Child, Mary and her husband, take little Jesus with them to Jerusalem, to the temple, to present Him to the Lord - what an awesome scene that must have been, for the Son of God, Mary’s children, Joseph’s keepsake, but God’s Only Begotten and Beloved Son, to be presented back to His Father in heaven! And, then, for Simeon, this otherwise unknown Biblical character, this man Luke describes as “just and devout” was “waiting for the consolation of Israel”, led by the Holy Spirit, he steps up to this couple, holding their precious bundle, and then, he gets to take Jesus into his arms! A season of joy, a season of life-changing, long-lasting joy, that’s what this was, and always would be for Simeon! There with the Holy Son of God in his arms, this man who had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had the opportunity to see the Lord’s Messiah, there he was, Simeon, holding the Christ of God in his own hands! And, what does he do? What would you have done if you had been Simeon?

Luke 2:28 – He blesses God, He praises God and says, “Lord, now You can let me depart in peace, for my eyes – my eyes – have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

Do you see why I call this season a season of joy, not a season merely to be jolly? The Son of God has come. The consolation of Israel has come. The light of revelation to the Gentiles has come. And, that, my friends, is Good News, very, very, good news!

So, what are we to do about it? “Behold, I bring you good news of great joy…” With your lips bless God, praise the Lord God of Israel, who has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for you. With your arms, your arms, like Simeon, take up that precious Child and exclaim, “Now! Now! My eyes have seen it! The salvation, the Savior You have prepared before the face of all peoples, the light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of God’s people Israel”. Take Him up in your arms, as your Savior, and allow Him to take you up, too – as His!

Last of all, this season of joy, here’s what you are to do. Luke 2:17 – like the shepherds, with your lives make widely known the saying which was told you concerning this precious Child!

The Attitude of Gratitude

2011-11-28T08:46:00.000-08:00

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, November 27, 2011

1 Thessalonians 5:14-24, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

To have the mindset of Jesus Christ is to have an attitude of gratitude. And to express the mindset of Jesus Christ is to give thanks in every situation.

What do you think about those two statements? Are they true? Are they false? Are they correct? Are they incorrect? Let me repeat them for you one more time, and you listen, and evaluate them with me, will you, please? Statement number one: to have the mind or mindset of Jesus Christ is to have an attitude of gratitude, or, we might say, a thankful heart. And, then, statement number two: to express the mindset of Jesus Christ, to display this attitude of gratitude, is to give thanks, is to allow the joyful appreciation that is in one’s heart to overflow in thankful praise. What do you think about those statements?

Caught somewhere between the exhilaration of summertime, with its vacations and sunshine and the day-by-day count-down to Christmas day – only 28 days of shopping left – sandwiched between soccer practice and band contests, car-pooling and punching a time clock, is a single, solitary day, set aside for most all of us to assemble with family and friends, to eat some turkey and dressing and pumpkin pie and to remember – yes, I said, “remember” – to give thanks for the blessings you have received. With all the hype and hoopla related to ‘Black Friday’, midnight madness, 10p.m. pandemonium, we need a reminder, don’t we, that this past week, the emphasis is meant to be, not on shopping, but on saying “thank you” to the Giver of every good and perfect gift.

To have the mindset of Jesus Christ is to have an attitude of gratitude. And to express the mindset of Jesus Christ is to give thanks in every situation. For the Christ, as we say, these things out to be “No Brainers”, completely obvious, right? But how many of us didn’t realize or remember that these verses are in the Bible?

An attitude of gratitude. Expressing that heartfelt gratitude by way of thanksgiving, using one’s lips to say, “Thank you, God… Thank you!” These things are at the heart and center of what it means to be a Christian. But, how is it that so many Christians don’t know that or don’t show that?

Clustered in a series of what I call ‘Biblical Universals’, ‘Biblical universal statements’ including: verse 14, “Be patient toward all men,” verse 15, “Don’t repay evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all,” verse 16, “Rejoice always,” verse 17, “pray without ceasing,” verse 21, “test all things,” and verse 22, “Abstain from every form of evil.”

Nestled so neatly, and almost inconspicuously, in that grouping of ‘Biblical Universals”, are these words: read them, hear them again, with me, will you, please? “In everything,” there’s that universal language again, right? Paul says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you, for you.”

What do you think about those words? I don’t know about you, but at first glance – honestly – this preacher’s response is: “What? Paul? You’ve gotta be kidding! In everything give thanks?!” Is this guy nuts or what?

Pardon me if I sound a bit irreverent in saying that, but, honestly, haven’t you thought the same thing? “Paul, what do you mean, ‘In everything give thanks? For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus?”

Well, first of all, notice with me that Paul does not say, “For everything give thanks…” You know, “God, I thank You for cancer… God, I thank You for suicide… God, I thank You for drunk drivers who kill innocent little children… God, I thank You for abortion…” Guided by the Spirit of God, the apostle Paul’s exhortation to us is not, “Give thanks for all things…” Why? Because, from God’s perspective, not simply from our limited, human perspective, but from God’s all-knowing, eternal vantage point, some things – really, a lot of things – are bad, tragic, wrong, yes, even wicked and sinful and disgusting.

Guided by the Holy Spirit, Paul’s divinely-inspired teaching for us here is not “give thanks for all things…”, but what? “Give thanks in all things!” But, what’s the difference?

Let me give you a simple, short answer to that question: Romans 8:28. The difference, the distinction between giving thanks for cancer and suicide and mass murder and poverty and starvation, and giving thanks in things like these is huge. And it revolves around the truth contained in these words: Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things,” there’s another one of those ‘Biblical universals’, “And we know that all things, God is at work, making all things [ultimately] work [out] for good, for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

In other words, what Paul says to us here in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, this ‘Biblical Universal’ about the Christian mindset and its expression in joyful praise, what is it? It is a statement, a declaration, an exhortation, that is in keeping with or an outgrowth of the fact that God is sovereign! That He is bigger than, and, ultimately in control over, the ‘biggies’ in our lives, things like cancer, and unemployment, and suicide and divorce, and doubt and worry and disappointment and fear!

Do you believe in the Sovereignty of God? Do you? I mean, who’s going to hold the universe together if He doesn’t? President Obama? Congress? The Federal Reserve? I mean, who’s going to make the sun go down tonight and cause it to rise again tomorrow morning? The weather man? Tony Romo? Last night’s winner of Dancing with the Stars?

When the apostle Paul writes what he wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 about the Christ-like mindset, an attitude of gratitude and the expression, the overflow of that attitude in thanksgiving, he is not talking non-sense! No! His words could not be more clear, could they? He is talking sovereignty! The over-arching ability and authority of God, and – and – His always, ultimately [universal statement], good plan at work, being carried out for, in behalf of, to the benefit of those who are His children!

“In everything give thanks…” That’s the first line of this powerful November 27^th, June 12^th, February 6^th, April 20^th exhortation, isn’t it? By the way, I threw in those dates that are not today’s dates, why? To remind us that this teaching is a 24/7, 365 teaching! It is good, helpful, needful, for every day of the year, and every minute of every day! “In everything give thanks,” that’s the first line of this ‘Biblical Universal’. But, what about line two? It says, “for this is the will of God…” “For this is God’s will…”

Is the will of God something you struggle with, something you have trouble figuring out? “God, should I do this, or that?” God, should I choose this, or that?” Take a look. Could it be any clearer? No need to cast lots here. No need to put out a fleece here. The will of God is clear. What God wants, by the way, that’s what the phrase, “the will of God” really means. “What God wants” is clear. Very clear. He wants His children to trust in His sovereignty! And, like His Only Begotten, to surrender to His good and perfect plan, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” And, then, with that Christ-like mindset, to praise Him! To thank Him for what He’s going to do, how He will display His power, His wisdom, His mercy, His faithfulness in, and yes, through the good, the bad and even the ugly! “In everything give thanks…” “For this is God’s will…”

Section number three, two words, we might wish, right, that they were two different words. But what words are those two words? “For you”, or “Concerning you”.

Are you a child of God? Truly? Are you a Christian? Really? Then these words, these two words are written to you. An attitude of gratitude, one of the most significant characteristics of the Christ-like mindset, is to be your attitude. Giving thanks, using your lips to offer up a sacrifice of praise that blesses the name of our Father in heaven, that is to be your consistent and constant activity! “give thanks in everything for this is the will of God for you…” That’s three-fourths of the verse, right? What is the last fourth? “In Christ Jesus”.

Beloved, do you realize the magnitude of those three words? “In Christ Jesus”? Those three words are enormous, in their meaning and importance. How do I know that? Well, consider, first of this powerful set of contrasts: in the darkness, in the light, in sin, in the Savior, dead, alive, lost, found, perishing, possessing everlasting life, deceived, disobedience, enslaved and separated from the life of God, enlightened, obedient, freed and brought into communion with God. I know that’s a long list of pairs, contrasting pairs everyone of which, by the way, is found right here, in the Scriptures. It’s a long list of contrasting pairs, I know. But think about the list, the contrasting pairs. The first one I gave, the first of each pair, who does it describe? Someone who is “in Christ Jesus”? In the darkness, in sin, dead, lost, perishing, and so on? Do those words describe someone who is “in Christ Jesus”? The Bible’s answer to that question is clear, isn’t it?

None of those words or phrases, ‘Biblical universals’, none of those words or phrases describe someone who is “in Christ Jesus”! No! But, listen, the words “in the light” do, don’t they? The words, “in the Savior” do, don’t they? The words, “alive, found, and possessing everlasting life” do, don’t they? And, so, for the person for whom those words are true and accurate, for the person who IS “in Christ Jesus”, why shouldn’t he be “thankful”? Why shouldn’t she give to God the praise? He’s “in Christ Jesus”! She’s in the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life! He has every reason - universal statement again – she has every reason to pursue and to possess the joyful Christian mindset and its expression in daily giving of thanks!

But, here’s the question of the hour: “In Christ Jesus”, “in the Light”, “in the Savior”, do those words describe you? Are they true of you?

One more ‘Biblical universal’: 2 Peter 3:9, “[God] is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Another verse about the will of God. But is it saying that all will ultimately be saved? Later on in the same chapter Peter makes it clear that God allows for the will of men to be exerted against His will and for rebellious man’s will, in cooperation with Satan’s will, results in some, in many, perhaps in most people being “led away with the error of the wicked.” (2 Peter 3:17)

God doesn’t want you to be lost, dead, perishing, in sin. His desire for you is that you be saved. But you, you must “hear His voice. You must not harden your heart.” (Hebrews 3:7-8) You must open the door to Him.

The joyful Christ mindset, would that it would be true of you, starting today. Hear His voice, open your heart, to Him…

Thanksgiving & The Names of Our God

2011-11-14T08:43:00.000-08:00

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, November 13, 2011

Psalm 31:6-8, “I have hated those who regard useless idols; but I trust in the LORD.
I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, for You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, and have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place.

Psalm 32:10-11, “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 33:1-5, “Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the LORD with the harp; make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

As you may have noticed in the worship bulletin this morning, the Lord-willing my family and I will be traveling to Atlanta, Georgia this week to attend this year’s National Missionary Convention. We look forward to this time of fellowship with my brother, and other missionaries like him, who are seeking to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to advance the kingdom of God in places far and wide. We covet your prayers for our trip and for our own opportunities of ministry and worship. We praise God for your generous help with the trip as well.

However, since we will be absent next Lord’s Day, on the Blessing Count Sunday, the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day, I wanted to take the opportunity this morning to rehearse and recite a few of my own blessings and hopefully, in doing so, to sort of help prime your pumps, as you prepare to count your blessings also.

First of all, let me say, as I’m sure many of you will say, how grateful to God I am for my wife and children and for the rest of the members of my family. Indeed God has been very good to me, very gracious in giving them to me. And, like you, I thank God for those every days blessings, those daily essentials, that He so consistently and generously provides, health and strength, food and clothing and shelter, freedom and safety. Furthermore, I praise Him for His Bride the Church, and the privilege of being a part of it, and for the awesome, and often, overwhelming task He’s given to my family and me, to minister to His people, to you and others like you.

But, you know that all these things for which we are thankful, they didn’t come to us out of thin air. They had to come from somewhere, from some-One. And, so ultimately, my Loved Ones, when we count our blessings, when we celebrate a season we call ‘Thanksgiving’, whether we want to or not, whether we realize it or not, we are to acknowledge the Source of those gifts, the Giver of those blessings! And, in doing so, what are we doing? What ought we to be doing? We are celebrating Him! We ought to be glad in Him! But, just who is this Giver of every good and perfect gift? In the handful of verses from the Psalms I read a moment ago, did you notice? The divinely-inspired poets, David, and another unknown author, contrast the Source of all these good gifts we enjoy – the Lord – with what they refer to as “useless idols” (Psalm 31:6). Furthermore, the psalmists, in describing their own experiences of and encounters with the Good Give, the Perfect Giver, they contrast their responses to Him, with the responses of those who reject or neglect their Blessings Source.

Notice what the text says: Psalm 31:6, “I have hated those who regard useless idols, but I trust in the Lord… I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, for you have considered my trouble. You have known my soul in adversities, and have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place.” Or, take Psalm 32:10-11 as an example, David, the psalmist, in expressing his own thanksgiving for how God had forgiven his sins, covered his iniquities, determined not to impute his guilt at his transgressions, David arrives at this stunning and very sobering and humbling conclusion: look at what he writes there in Psalm 32:10-11, “Many SORROWS shall be to the wicked [to those who don’t repent of their sins, to those who refuse to acknowledge their guilt before their holy and righteous Creator], many will be THEIR sorrows, but… Take a look, he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him!” It’s no wonder, is it, that David’s final verse in this psalm is this triumphant exclamation and exhortation, “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, you righteous, and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart!”

Yes, I want to take this time today, a week ahead of time, since I’ll be missing out next Lord’s Day, I want to take time to count my blessings with you, and perhaps, to stir you to do the same, even today.

At the top of the first page of this sermon, I made a list of fifteen of the names of God, that I regularly come back to in counting my blessings on a daily, and weekly basis. Do you mind if I share them with you and briefly explain why I make mention of them?

Here goes: Shepherd, I know that the term ‘sheep’ may not be the normal, regular way in which you think of yourself, but listen, if you are a Christian, truly born again by the grace of God, you are one of His ‘sheep’, and He is your Good Shepherd. Several passages of Scripture come to mind, when I think of this name for my God, for example Psalm 23, find it there, if you would, in your Bibles. David, the psalmist, who was himself a shepherd, knew very well what he was talking about, when he wrote these words, “The Lord is my shepherd…” I like that, don’t you? “The Lord”, not some useless idol, not some wood, stone, or metal object, fashioned by the hands of mere men, but “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…” He, the Lord, my Shepherd, supplies everything I need. “He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake…” We don’t have time to examine the rest of David’s words here, but you the point, don’t you?

Count your blessings, my fellow ‘sheep’, give thanks to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Peter 2:25). Praise, worship, rejoice in the Good Shepherd, who has laid down His life, for you, His dearly loved sheep!

Then, there’s the name ‘Peace’. We are first introduced to this name of God, “Jehovah Shalom”, “The Lord is Peace”, way back in the book of Judges, in the Old Testament, in the days of a somewhat reluctant servant of the Lord by the name of Gideon. Judges chapter 6 is the chapter, and verse 24 is the specific verse location. At a time of great crisis and extreme danger and distress, both nationally and personally, for this man Gideon, the Lord speaks to His servant these calming words of assurance: “Peace be with you… Do not fear, you shall not die…” (Judges 6:23). Peace, what does that word mean to you? What thoughts, ideas, images, does it conjure up in your mind? How about things like tranquility, instead of turmoil? How about harmony, in place of hostility? How about rest, instead of war? Many years later, the prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of Someone whose names would be “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father” and, perhaps best of all, this Coming One would be known as the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah9:6-7). But, exactly how is it that this Coming One, whose name, by the way, is the Lord Jesus Christ, how is it that He is and will be our peace? Please find Ephesians 2:11-22 – This chapter that beings by describing the hopeless and helpless spiritual condition of every man, woman and young person outside of Jesus Christ, “Dead in trespasses and sins”, following the leading of the spirit of the prince of darkness, by nature objects of God’s righteous wrath; what is it that the Coming One, Jesus, does for us, is for us, so as to become our Peace?

Ephesians 2:11-22, “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

This morning, and really, if I stop and think about it, every morning of every day, I am thankful for Jehovah Shalom, my peace!

Thirdly, I thank God for the fact that He is my righteousness. This past week, in preparation for our family trip later this week, my sons and I spent considerable time preparing our old chariot for the trip. And, Ladies’, if you’re a neat-nick, if you’re Suzy housekeeper, with everything in your home spic and span, clean and shiny, listen, ladies’ don’t invite us over after a few hours of crawling around under a greasy old car! Yuck! Put those clothes and hand rags in the trash, right? Do you know something? Before an eternally, and infinitely Holy God, when it comes to my own righteousness, my own in-and-of-myself-moral-goodness, yuck! That’s a good word for it! Yuck! Isaiah the prophet put it like this: “All our righteousness are a filthy rags…” (Isaiah 64:6)

But, listen, what is Jehovah, my God, to me? What has He done for me? What has He given to me in His Son Jesus Christ? One of the most succinct answers to that series of questions is found in the first letter Paul wrote to the Corinthian church. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 – In a context that has everything to do with the power of God, and the wisdom of God, displayed for all to see, right there, at the Cross of Jesus Christ. In a context where Paul reminds us that even God’s so called ‘foolishness’ is wiser than the best of man’s wisdom, and that god’s so-called ‘weakness’ is far more powerful than all of man’s might! Listen to what the apostle Paul writes about our righteousness, Jehovah Tsidkenu.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31, “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

I can’t glory in God’s presence, I can’t – I dare not – boast before my Maker, my God, and neither should you. Why? Because: “Of Him we are in Christ Jesus…” Because: “[He has] become for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption”. Why? So that “no flesh should glory in His presence, yes. But also, so that those who do glory, we who do give thanks, might do so in the right direction, to Him, in Him!

Jehovah Shalom, the Lord is my peace. Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord is my righteousness. Jehovah Roi, the Lord is my shepherd. There’s one more from this group of fifteen that I’ll mention quickly before we close. Jehovah Shama, the Lord who is there. Ezekiel 48:35 is the passage, if you’d like to look it up. The same God who makes me lie down in green pastures, and leads me besides still waters, my Shepherd, where is He, when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death? Have you been there before? Is that where you are now? There’s no place darker, more dangerous and discouraging than that place. Your shepherd, my shepherd, where is He when we walk through that valley?

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” Jehovah Shama, the Always-There-For-Me God, in that valley, deep and dark and dreary, full of danger and depression, that’s where He is! Jehovah Shama, He is the Friend who sticks closer than a brother. He is our very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). He is the God whose words, “I will never leave you or forsake you…” mean something.

Jehovah Shama, Jehovah Roi, Jehovah Tsidkenu, Jehovah Shalom. This Thanksgiving season, and every day of our lives, if you know the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the King of kings, ultimately, you find yourself praising Him, thanking Him. Do so with me, will you?

What Motivates Us To Please God?

2011-11-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

Preached at Northwest Christian Church Sunday Morning, October 30, 2011

David P. Kautt

            1 Peter 1:13-2:12, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.   Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because

      “ All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers,
      and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“ Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious,

and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“ The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,”

and

“ A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

I appreciate your attentive response to the reading of that rather lengthy portion of Scripture. It’s a passage that I would like to peruse with you this morning as we learn more about what it means to bring joy to our Father in Heaven. To refresh your memory from our study a couple of weeks ago, let’s return to a lingering question that a study like this brings into our minds. That question is: what is it about God, what’s so great, so special about Him, that would prompt us to want to please Him and bring joy to Him? I mean, fathers like I am, we have imperfections, don’t we, girls? And, fathers like I am, we also have our glaring deficiencies! But, listen – remember? Not our Father in heaven! No! Praise God! He is an impartial Father, a Father who doesn’t play favorites, a Father, as 1 Peter 1:17 puts it, who judges according to each one’s work with a judgment that is without partiality or prejudice!

We have an impartial Father, and that is an incredible blessing because some of us have been the child who wasn’t favored, the son who wasn’t ‘Momma’s Boy’, the daughter who wasn’t ‘Daddy’s Girl’. We have an impartial Father – what a blessing! But also, remember? What a sobering reminder that is, too! Our heavenly Father, evaluates us, judges our lives, not on the basis of superficial externals, but on the basis of the real you and me! He sees and knows what no earthly father sees and knows about us. He is an impartial Father.

But, then, let’s also be reminded that our Father in heaven is a faithful Father. A Father we can always depend on, a father who always keeps His word.

1 Peter 1:22-25 – Take a look there one more time, will you? Earthly Father, you want to know why they are imperfect? Why they have all those glaring deficiencies? It’s because they are corruptible, perishable, subject to death and decay! It’s because they are like withering grass and fading, faltering flowers. But not our Father in Heaven! We are challenged to bring joy to Him – why? Because He is faithful! Because His Word, His promises endure forever!

Thirdly, let’s not forget the fact that our Father in heaven, we are inspired, yes, even incited, to want to bring joy to His heart – why? Because He is a gracious Father. He is an utterly gracious and patient Father! 1 Peter 2:1-3, take a look again. New born babes, that’s who we are, mess makers, who could bring out the grouch in God! But listen, my fellow mess-makers! God’s middle name isn’t ‘Oscar’. There is no GROUCH in Him, only grace! Only grace – that is – and holiness. 1 Peter 1:13-16, our Father in heaven, unlike any and every earthly father, is holy, separate, set apart! There truly is no One else like Him! No one else who wants to set us apart for the incredibly lofty purpose and mission of bringing Him pleasure! Why would anyone, why would you and I want to bring joy to our Father in heaven?

First reason, first answer to that question is simply this: because of what kind of Father He is! His holiness, His impartiality, His faithfulness, and yes, His grace, all these unique qualities of our Father in heaven draws us to Him, spurs us toward pleasing Him!

But, then, there’s a second reason why you and I are – or, ought to be – invited and even incited to bring God joy, and that is, because of what He has done for us, and what He has made of us. I’m talking here, now, not just about the nature and character of God, but also about the nature and character of salvation. Salvation: we talk a lot about that subject as Christians, don’t we? But do we always understand what we’re saying? Allow me to suggest to you two simple truths to keep in mind whenever the subject of salvation comes up. Number one, when you and I are discussing the eternally important topic of salvation, first of all, we can’t help but discuss and describe the Giver of that gift, our Holy, Impartial, Gracious and Faithful Father. He is the giver of that infinitely rich gift.

But, then there is a second fact, a second simple truth pertaining to salvation that we also must learn about and understand. You know what it is, don’t you? Second simple truth about salvation: it is a gift: 2 Corinthians 9:15, it is our Heavenly Father’s indescribable and unspeakable gift to unworthy, undeserving sinners like you and me!

The reason, the compelling reason for us to bring God pleasure, is just that! He, our perfect, holy, faithful, impartial and, yes, unbelievably gracious Father, has given us a gift! The gift. Look at what the apostle Peter has to tell us about that gift. It has everything to do with what God, our Father in heaven, has DONE for us, in Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:17-19, “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

I looked at the calendar again this morning and noticed – oh, no – I have only 54 more shopping days left until Christmas. But what’s so special about that day that makes me remember to count down those other 54 days? The gifts, right? The gifts. I’ve got a question for you, folks. How many of you remember every gift you received last Christmas? How many of you are still using every one of them? Why not? Reality check time, isn’t it? The reason we don’t remember, the reason we’re not still using those gifts, maybe even returned some of them for a refund, is why? What does the text say? Because even when it comes to gifts as seemingly valuable as silver and gold, all of the gifts that we give to each other at Christmas, what are they? They are corruptible. 1 Peter 1:18 – Peter says that they are perishable! But not the gift! Not what God has done for us, given to us, in Jesus Christ!

“Conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here [on earth] in fear.” 1 Peter 1:17 – Live to bring God, your Heavenly Father, pleasure! Why? Because of the gift! In Peter’s day, slaves, owned and overseen by human masters, they were bought and sold using perishable things like gold and silver to complete the transaction. Oh, but listen. Which of us has the resources, the bank account, IRA, 401-K, stock portfolio, big enough to purchase someone enslaved to sin? Praise to the Giver, faithful, holy, impartial, gracious Giver! And, yes, praise Him, for the gift! The reason, the motivating reason behind Peter’s command to “conduct ourselves throughout the time of our earthly stay in fear”, the motivating reason behind the call to bring joy to God, is what? The gift! “You have not been redeemed by corruptible things like silver and gold”. But, look! Praise God, “you have been redeemed with – by means of – the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot…”

How many shopping days did we say we have left? 54? I’m not propelled to please God, to bring God joy, because of any of those gifts! But, I am propelled to do so because of that gift, given on the cross.

Talking about perishable gifts and precious gifts. Look again at verses 22 through 2 5 of 1 Peter chapter one.

1 Peter 1:22-25, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because
      “ All flesh is as grass,
      And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
      The grass withers,
      And its flower falls away,
       But the word of the LORD endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

One of the most joyous things I get to participate in as a minister, with the families of this congregation, is the birth of little ones into your families. What a special occasion that is! But, you know something? Equally as special, but infinitely more painful for those very same families, is when I go with them to the cemetery to bury their children! The paradox between joyful birth and sorrowful death is almost too painful to bear. Except for two overarching realities. Look again at the text. Flesh and blood, we know this fact don’t we? Flesh and blood, apart from, outside of, Jesus Christ’s gift, flesh and blood was born to die! The Delivery Room is the first step toward the Embalming Room! Oh, but listen. In Jesus Christ, the gift, because of our holy, faithful, gracious Father, the Giver, guess what? There is a second overarching reality, and that is this: in Jesus Christ, the dying, the dead, who have been born AGAIN, through the living, abiding, eternal Word of God, shall live again!

The reason I am inspired, propelled to bring God pleasure, it’s the Gift. Look at what the Giver has done for me! Redeemed me with His Son’s precious blood. Given new life, eternal life to me, through His living and abiding Word! Why wouldn’t I want to bring Him joy?! But, listen – quickly, because we must close. Why wouldn’t I want to please God? I am motivated, driven to bring joy to His heart, not only because of what he Has done for me, what He has given in Christ, but also, because of what He has made of me.

Last time we were together, I mentioned the painful fact that for at least some of us, in our families growing up, we weren’t ‘Daddy’s Girl’ or ‘Momma’s Boy’. As far as our earthly parents were concerned we were kind of like what Peter describes all of us as being, when we are outside of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:10 – “Once we were not a people…” To put it in simple terms, before God did for us what He has done for us, in Jesus Christ, we were nobodies, we were ‘zeroes’. And, as he says in the second half of the verse, we were not the objects, the targets of God’s mercy. Outside of Christ, that’s what we were. Outside of Christ, that’s what every lost person is. But, take a look at the wonderful verse that precedes verse 10, and read it in connection with verse 10.

1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

Why would folks like you and me want to live our lives to please God? Because of what He has done for us, yes! But, also because of what He has made of us! The ‘nobodies’ in Jesus Christ, become the chosen ones. The ‘zeroes’, because of the Giver and the Gift, become a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, God’s own special people, His precious possessions, for what reason? To accomplish what goal? 1 Peter 2:9: even pleasing God is no the ultimate goal. What is? Praising God. Bringing glory to God. “That you may proclaim the praises – literally, the excellencies and mighty mercies - of God, the gracious, holy, faithful Giver who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light!

Bringing joy to the heart of our heavenly Father. We don’t do it, we don’t pursue that lofty goal in order to be saved, but because we have been saved, because God our gracious, faithful, holy Father in Heaven, has chosen to give all these things to us, in Jesus Christ His Son, His indescribable Gift to us.

What Is It About Our Father...

2011-10-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, October 16, 2011

and

“ A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”

I appreciate your attentive response to the reading of that rather lengthy portion of Scripture. It’s a passage that I would like to peruse with you this morning as we learn more about what it means to bring joy to our Father in Heaven. Occasionally I will tell my children that I am most joyful as their father when they seek to align themselves with what I desire for them. That relationship – I with them, and they with me – has its own dynamic, of course. It includes, among other things, my preferences, what I like and dislike, and, certainly, it includes their will, or we might say, willingness, to do, to choose to do what Daddy wants. Our relationships with one another, as father and children also includes our imperfections and glaring deficiencies, our sinful and oft-times, stubborn selfishness. But, listen: as we seek to grapple with this concept of being ‘Abigails’, being children of our HEAVENLY Father, whose first and foremost desire and life direction is to bring Him joy and pleasure, listen, God our Father in Heaven ISN’T sinful, stubborn or selfish. There are no imperfections or glaring deficiencies in Him! In fact, everything about Him – everything – when we rightly and fully understand it, ought, rather, to draw us toward Him, and toward pursuing His joy and good pleasure!

Perhaps one of the unanswered questions up to this point in our study, lingering in the back of your mind, has been: ‘What’s so great, so special, about God that I would even WANT to please Him and bring Him joy?’ ‘I mean, the only Father I know, really is mean and stubborn and selfish, what makes Him any better?

Great question, wouldn’t you say? I mean, what is it, really, about this One we call ‘God’, our Father in Heaven, that would invite us, even incite and entice us, to bring Him pleasure? What is it about Him that would make us want to be His ‘Abigails’?

Walk down through this text with me, will you, and let’s see if we can discover answer to these questions.

Verse 17 - How many of you know what it means to have a favorite, what it means to say about someone, ‘He is my favorite’, ‘She is my favorite’? All the parenting experts tell us that parents, when they play favorites with their children, can do some real damage to their children, both to the ones who are favored, and to the ones who are not favored. Some of you, when I mention this subject, could tell us graphic stories of how favoritism on the part of your parents has affected you. But, listen: if that is what is holding you back from seeking to bring joy to your HEAVENLY Father, take a look – verse 17 – what does it tell us about the nature of our God? He is a “Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work…” He doesn’t play favorites. He doesn’t judge by outward appearances. Rather, as 1 Samuel 16 indicates, He examines men’s hearts.

What a blessing, wouldn’t you say? To be able to call upon a Father who doesn’t use superficial standards to make decisions about people. But, listen, not only is that a blessing, especially if you’ve been one of the many who have not been ‘Daddy’s Girl’ or “Momma’s Boy’; it also is a fearful thing, a sobering thing, to realize that my Father in heaven knows me from the inside out, and, it is based on what He sees in here that determines His evaluation of me!

Why would I want to bring joy to my Father in Heaven? Why would I desire to please Him? 1 Peter 1:17 – Because unlike so many earthly parents, He doesn’t play favorites! Thankfully, and yes, SOBERINGLY, He judges me based on what He sees in my heart of hearts!

There is a second reason, a second aspect to the nature of God, that ought to propel us to pursue His pleasure, and that is that He is a God we can trust, that He is a faithful Father!

Take a look with me at verses 20 – 25. Peter writes:

1 Peter 1:20-25, “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because

      “ All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
      The grass withers, and its flower falls away,
       But the word of the LORD endures forever.”

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

How many times has this father said something to his children, and then didn’t follow through with it? I don’t know, but maybe kids have been keeping track… How many times has this father, with all of his imperfections and glaring deficiencies failed to follow through on something he promised? Speaking of sobering truths, Daddys, look at what verses 23 and 24 have to say about us, and about what issues forth from us: we are like grass, our seed is corruptible, perishable, our glory doesn’t last! Who would want to put his hope or trust in us?!

But, not our Heavenly Father! He is a Faithful Father, utterly faithful! His seed, His life-giving Word, is incorruptible! It endures forever! By the way, what does that tell us about the new birth salvation gift He gives by way of that imperishable seed? He is a faithful Father! What if He hadn’t been, on Easter Sunday morning, what if He hadn’t kept His promise to raise His Son from the dead? Where would you be, if your God wasn’t – isn’t – a faithful Father?

Why would anyone want to bring God joy? What is it about Him, not about us, that invites, and I say, even incites us to bring Him pleasure? He keeps His promises! He is an always, eternally faithful Father! Amen? Amen!

Impartial fathers, a father who doesn’t play favorites, that’s what our Father in Heaven is… Faithful fathers, a Father who always keeps His promises, that’s what our Father in Heaven is…

But, then, look with me at chapter two, verse three. What else does the Scripture teach us about our Father in Heaven?

1 Peter 2:1-3, “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

I’m a father, six times over. And if there is one thing that I’ve learned about little children is, that little kids make messes. So do big ones, but in different ways. But, listen: here’s the embarrassing thing to admit to you this morning. More often than I’d rather admit, their messes have brought out the grouch in me! ‘Why weren’t you watching what you were doing?’ ‘Why did you have to go and do that?’ ‘Didn’t I tell you that if you did that, you could expect this to happen?’ Too often, way too often, these children have had ‘Oscar’ for a father. And what child would want to please an ‘Oscar’?

But listen: 1 Peter 2:1-3 indicate to us that God’s attitude, our Father in Heaven’s attitude toward new born babes - messes and all – is not grouch but grace! Peter, when he wrote these words, likely had in mind the words of the psalmist David, found in Psalm 34. Listen to what David writes about his Heavenly Father, and about himself as God’s child… “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no lack to those who fear Him! The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing!” (Psalm 34:8-10)

Why do children, God’s children, want to please Him? What is it about this Father that spurs His children in the direction of bringing Him joy and pleasure? Ask Peter; the cock-a-doodle-do man. Talk about messes! This foolish, prideful child practically SWORE that He would always be faithful to Jesus! “Even if everyone else is made to stumble, yet I will not be… [Jesus], if I have to die with You, I will not deny you…” (See Mark 14:27-31) Cock-a-doodle-do! Three times, when faced with the wide-open door to declare his allegiance to Jesus, what did Peter do? Like babies often do, he spilled the milk. Like little children often do, he knocked over the lamp. But what did Jesus do? What did this One who is perfectly and eternally like His Father do, as He dealt with Peter’s childish messes?

I don’t think Peter was merely writing good theology when he described the Father in heaven as gracious. I think he was giving a personal testimony! With tears welling up in his eyes, and a heart overflowing with praise to his Heavenly Father, Peter was describing himself when he wrote: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His abundant mercy has begotten ME again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3)

This man who spilled the milk and knocked over the lamp many more times than three, his heart’s desire, his fervent longing was to bring joy to the GRACIOUS, merciful Father who had gathered him up into His loving arms after each one of those messes!

Why would we want to bring joy to our Heavenly Father’s heart? Because He is gracious, infinitely gracious, to mess-makers like we are! Praise Him!

But, back to the first few verses of our Scripture text, 1 Peter 1:13-15, notice one more characteristic about our Father in Heaven, that ought to drive us to please Him and bring joy to His heart…

1 Peter 1:13-15, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.”

Impartial Father, faithful Father, gracious Father. That’s there, then number four, notice that Peter teaches us that it’s also God’s Holy Nature that evokes or ought to evoke in us the desire to bring Him pleasure.

What does the Word of God have in mind when it describes our God as holy? At the heart of the Biblical concept of holiness is the idea of separation. If you think about it, all that we have learn so far this morning about our Father in Heaven, about His impartiality, about His faithfulness, about His grace and gracious way of dealing with mess-makers, all of these tell us something about His holiness, but also all of these qualities, displayed perfectly and infinitely in Him, separate Him, set Him apart, from every other father, and from all other so-called ‘gods’! Every other father, or so-called ‘god’ is, himself, a mess-maker, full of deficiencies, marked by imperfections, stained and thoroughly marred by sin. But not Him! He, alone, is holy, holy, holy! And that utter holiness separates us from Him! “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts,” is the way Isaiah put it in Isaiah 6:5. “Depart from me – leave me – for I am a sinful man, O Lord,’ is the way Peter put it in Luke 5:8. But, listen: both of those men, both of those sinful, selfish men, guess what? Drawn to the holy, holy, holy Father in heaven, were ultimately set-apart, separated not from Him, but BY Him, to bring joy to Him, to carry out His good, pleasing and perfect will. How about you?

To be an Abigail. To bring joy and pleasure to a Father, who unlike every other Father, doesn’t play favorites, doesn’t fail on His promises, and doesn’t treat mess-makers like Oscar. Who wouldn’t want to live to please and honor Him? Who? Who?

How To Bring Joy to Our Heavenly Father's Heart

2011-10-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, October 9, 2011

Matthew 6:5-13, “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

      Our Father in heaven,
      Hallowed be Your name.
       Your kingdom come.
      Your will be done
      On earth as it is in heaven.
       Give us this day our daily bread.
       And forgive us our debts,
      As we forgive our debtors.
       And do not lead us into temptation,
      But deliver us from the evil one.
      For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

How to bring joy to the heart of your heavenly Father. Last Lord’s Day we began a look at this important, expansive and yes, provocative topic, as I introduced to you this thought, this theme: there’s NOTHING we can do to bring joy to our Heavenly Father’s heart MORE than to do that which pleases Him! To do what HE desires us to do! As far as my family is concerned, my wife and I, we only have one Abigail, only one daughter whose name means my father’s joy. But, listen – this father’s desire, that all six of our children choose, above everything else, to please, to bring joy to their Heavenly Father! The world tells us differently! I mean, day-in-and-day-out the world and its satanically oriented value system SCREAMS at us this message: “Delight yourself, please yourself, indulge in what brings YOU pleasure!” But, listen, are you a Christian? Have you not only been made BY God, but begotten OF God? If you have, then your mission, your purpose, your calling is to bring DELIGHT to Him! To bring Him PLEASURE…

But, how do we go about doing that? What steps must we take to do that? The passage I read a moment ago undoubtedly is familiar to virtually all of us. It is one that, likely, many of us have memorized. It is taken from that passage we often call the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ or, what some have called the ‘Model Prayer’. In it, Jesus, our master, our teacher, instructs us not only in the discipline of proper prayer, but in the direction He intends for our lives. In other words, He not only tells us: ‘This is how you should pray,’ but also, He shows us, instructs us: ‘This is hoe you should live, how to bring joy to your Heavenly Father.’

Now, before we look closely at the three-fold description Jesus supplies for us here, I’d like to have you think with me about some related matters first.

Prayer – a prayer with specific ingredients included in it, a prayer with a specific focus or orientation to it. How does prayer and, in particular, this ‘model prayer’ relate to the subject of PLEASING God, the topic of bringing joy to our Heavenly Father’s heart?

While you are mulling that over, allow me to point out two or three things to you from the larger context of this passage. First of all, please notice with me that – well – a lot of people pray! Verses 5 and 6 – hypocrites pray. Standing in the synagogues, stationed out on the street corners, long and loud; hypocrites pray. But, does that mean that God hears them, pays attention to them, is DELIGHTED to respond to them, is pleased with their prayers? A lot of people pray. Pagans pray. Yes, Jesus says, in verses 7 and 8, even pagans, when their car’s broke down, when they get the pink slip at work, when the doctor informs them that they only have a few weeks to live, even the pagans pray. Babbling on and on, thinking that with a multitude of words, surely they’re bound to say something right, somewhere along the way. Yes, even pagans pray. But, does that mean that God hears them? That His heart is overjoyed at their prayers?

Listen, my Loved Ones. A lot of people pray. RELIGIOUS people, CHURCH people pray. Many of them using these very words, in kind of a rote memory recitation. Sunday after Sunday, year after year, at the designated time in the service, and in perfect unison. But, does that mean that God hears that prayer? Does that mean that He rejoices in those who are praying it?

Yes, a lot of people pray; that is, a lot of people speak words, string together sentences and even paragraphs, supposedly aimed upward, toward the throne of God. But, listen – is it the praying, the saying of certain words in certain ways, the going through the motions, bowing the head, closing the eyes, folding the hands, that gets God’s attention, that stirs Him to rejoice, or is it something else?

What does it mean to bring joy to our Heavenly Father’s heart? What must we do to be our Father’s ‘Abigails’? It may not be completely clear to us, yet, but listen, I think it is extremely powerful, and provocative - penetratingly provocative – to see HERE that prayer, this prayer, has everything to do with pleasing God, with bringing Him pleasure. But, how is that so? Again, what is the connection between prayer – THIS prayer – and bringing delight to God’s heart?

One more time, verses 5 and 6, and verses 7 & 8, a lot of people pray: hypocrites, pagans, the religious, even church people pray; that is, they speak certain words, aimed in the direction of heaven. But, Jesus urges us, He instructs those who truly are His followers, not to be like them, verse 8, and instead to follow a different procedure when we pray – verse 6.

So, is it the praying that pleases God, that brings joy to our Heavenly Father’s heart, or is it something else?

I’d like to suggest to you, that what Jesus intends for all His followers to learn from this passage, is not simply a text, a prayer, to be memorized. But, a prayer, a petition that is the overflow of a heart that is in sync, a life that desires to be in lie with this prayer’s requests. In other words, I believe Jesus’ focus here is not so much on the words, the precise words, He wants us to say, but the direction, His direction for our lives, the direction He was us to go!

Take a look with these three petitions with me, one-at-a-time, will you please? Verse 9 – Addressing our Father, our Abba, our Heavenly Daddy, Jesus tells us that the first priority of our prayers, and, by extension the first priority of our lives, is to be: “Hallowed be Thy name…” As I said earlier, those four words, “Hallowed by Thy name”, and the remaining words of this prayer, are exceedingly familiar to most of us. And, to an extent, that’s good. But, listen, as we’ve seen, we must go father with this prayer, than just to merely memorize its words. No, it must become the yearning of our hearts, our deepest desire, to hallow, to sanctify, to set ABOVE and APART from all other names, God’s wonderful, incomparable name!

And, how do we do that? Keep in mind what we have observed already: praying this way, praying sincerely, fervently this way, coupled with a determination to live this way, that’s what God delights in! That’s what HE’S looking for… Hallowing God’s name – how do we do that? Take a look again at the fifth and sixth verses of this chapter, and at what Jesus says about the hypocrite’s prayers. “Look, God. I’m standing up to pray. Look, God. I’m stationed on the street corner to pray. Surely, You’re going to notice my prayers.” That’s the hypocrite’s prayer, and does God notice?

What does Jesus say? Because their love, their yearning and longing, is for other PEOPLE to notice and congratulate them on their apparent spirituality, God gives them what they want, men’s applause. But He, well, He looks the other way! Do you understand where I’m going with this? The hypocrite’s prayer is a prayer intended to make him famous, to hallow his name!

But, the true disciple’s prayer and the direction of his life, modeled after Jesus’ word and life is what? “I want to make YOUR name famous! I intend to hallow YOUR matchless name!”

Now, if you think about it, that petition, that request, that heart and life direction, ‘Hallowed be Thy name!’ has everything to do with the other petitions of this model prayer, doesn’t it? Because I want God’s name to be famous, set apart, lifted up above all others, because through my life I want His reputation to be honored, and be held in highest esteem, what am I going to ask Him to do, in me and through me? What am I going to pursue, if His fame is what I am all about?

In aiming to bring joy to Him, in striving to cause Him to be pleased, I am going to pursue His kingdom, His kingly rule in and over every area of my life. And, twin sister to that pursuit, I am also going to humbly submit to whatever He want me to do, in every area of my life.

Whew! This prayer, if it is to be MORE than just an empty recitation Sunday after Sunday, year after year, if it is to be as it was for Jesus, the game plan for our lives, then we must stop right now, not another word, and think, “Am I ready to LIVE OUT this prayer?” And, “Have I truly entered in to relationship with Abba, Father, which is the only way – listen – being in genuine, saving relationship with ‘Abba, Father’, is the only way to be able to live out this prayer.

You see, for Jesus, this was His prayer AND His life.

John 12:27-28, “Now is My soul troubled: and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? [No,] But for this purpose I came to this hour…” What purpose, Jesus? Verse 28 – My life, my goal for being here on earth, is this one purpose, “Father, glorify Thy name.” Bringing God, His Father, fame; that was Jesus’ prayer! That was His life! And, so was doing God’s will and extending His kingdom on earth. He prayed it in Gethsemane, “Not My will, but Thine be done…” And, He died, on Calvary’s cross, carrying out that prayer! And God was pleased! His Father rejoiced!

What does it mean to bring joy to the heart of your Heavenly Father? How are we to bring Him pleasure? To me there’s no more simply, but powerful answer to that question than these three petitions: ‘Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…’

Children – God’s children – for them, that’s their prayer, their life direction. May it be ours also.

The Priorities of Leadership - NEW SERMON VIDEO

2011-09-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

I have finally gotten around to posting David's sermon from last week (September 11, 2011).