Workshop of Wonders: Grow with God [Video]

Success in the New Year

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)

What Does it Mean to Be Born Again?

Preached at Northwest Christian Church
David P. Kautt
Sunday Morning, November 28, 2010

1 John 5:14-21, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.  If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.  All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.  We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.  We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

What does it mean to be ‘Born again’ or ‘Born of God’?  We’re nearing the end of our study of this marvelous portion of the Scripture, that portion we refer to as ‘First John’, the first letter penned by the apostle John, and once again, as over and over again through the course of this study, the Spirit of God uses the apostle John to confront us with this critical question, “What does it mean to be Born Again?”  Or, in the language of verse 18 of our text here, “What does it mean to be Born of God?” 

Whether we have been recently brought into God’s kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ, or whether we have known and been known by Him for years, this question is worth asking.  We need to come back to it regularly. 

In order to point us in the direction of the proper answers to this question, the apostle John presents us with three, ‘We know’ statements.  Three statements of fact to help us understand what it means to be ‘Born Again’, ‘Born of God’.  Let’s read those statements once again, shall we?

1 John 5:18-20, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.  We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”

What DOES it mean to be ‘Born Again,’ or ‘Born of God’?  If you and I were to be ‘Exhibits A’ and ‘B’ and ‘C’ and so forth, in a ‘court case’, paton ‘trial’, so to speak, by the people who know us, who watch us, who evaluate our claims to be God’s children, what would they be looking for as ‘evidence’ that our claims are valid?  Last Lord’s day’s service, that moving time of counting our blessings, capped off as it was by two joyful New Births, if someone from the outside had slipped in to watch and listen and take it all in, likely, sort of like the rest of us, they would have been caught up in the emotion of the moment, in the ‘experience’!  And, what a powerful and intensely meaningful experience it was, for certain!  But, listen – once they, our ‘outside observers’ had come back down to earth with the rest of us, what would they have been thinking?  What question would they have wanted to ask of those who had been baptized, and of all of us?  How about this one: “What’s the proof?”  For two of us, one week later, but for many of us, months, years, even decades later, ‘where’s the evidence’ that you or I have been ‘Born Again’, or ‘Born of God’?

Don’t get me wrong, the experience is necessary, and helpful.  The experience of repenting of one’s sins; the experience of confessing Christ before men; the experience of forsaking all others to trust Christ to save you; the experience of joining Him in Christian baptism, the experience of being buried with Him in the likeness of His death and then, raised to live in the newness of His resurrection life.  All these ‘experiences are helpful and necessary whether we participated in them last week, or 20, 40 or even 60 years ago! 

But, listen – in seeking to answer the question, “what does it mean to be ‘Born again’, or ‘Born of God’”, the apostle John, in this first letter of his, he moves us from reciting the 5-finger exercise (hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized), to the next step, finger #6, to the outcome, the evidence, the proof of the reality and validity of those first 5 steps we have taken – that step we might call ‘Living the Christian life’…

Proof #1 – The first of John’s ‘we know’ statements, contained in verse 18, what is at stake?  What’s the issue on the table, so to speak?  Mr. Outsider, coming into our midst to watch, to listen, to observe our lives, and then, compare them with our claims, what will he look for as ‘evidence’? 

Well, I’m not sure what Mr. Outsider would look for, but what the apostle John indicates that Mr. Outsider should see is a new lifestyle, a new lifestyle that is characteristic of you and me.  (1 John 5:18) 

Now, before we move on to verse 19, and then verses 20 and 21, let me ask you to explore something with me right here, for just a moment.  The evidence of the New Birth, the proof that you and I have been Born of God is first of all, a new lifestyle.  Now, what does that men?  What will a new lifestyle ‘look like’?  How will others know, how will WE know that such is the case for you and me?  Some might say that this new lifestyle will be along the lines of a change in the way we wear our hair, or a change in the car we drive, or that now we make an effort to be ‘in church’ each Lord’s Day.

But, listen – I want you to look again with me at verse 18, and take note of what this Book has to say about this ‘New lifestyle’.  “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin [literally, ‘does not keep on sinning’, ‘does not make it his habit to sin’], but he who has been born of God keeps himself [I think the idea there is that the child of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, seeks to restrain himself from sinning] and [thus] the wicked one does not touch him, is not able to get a hold on his life…” 

What does it mean to be ‘Born Again’, or ‘Born of God’?  Right off the bat, as we take in what God’s Word says about his new lifestyle, we observe, we must surely notice that God has some pretty challenging expectations of His people.  He expects them to wage war against sin as the guiding principle – against the tyrannical Ruler in their lives… He expects us - yes, us - to keep in mind what Paul said in Romans 6, that famous Baptism passage, do you remember what he said?  He said, “Shall you continue to sin so that God’s grace may about?  Certainly not!  You died to sin, you were baptized into Christ’s death, buried with Christ through baptism into death, so how can you continue to live in sin?” 

God’s expectations of His children are pretty challenging indeed!  But, listen!  So are His promises!  So are His promises!  1 John 2:1, “My little children, I write these things to you, so that you may not sin, even once.  But, but, if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One! 

Yes, God’s expectations of His children are very, very challenging.  “Whoever is born of God does not, does not keep on sinning – habitually, willfully, defiantly, rebelliously – the true child of God does not act that way.  His lifestyle is new and different, markedly different from his old lifestyle.  But, listen!  He doesn’t, you and I don’t go it alone!  1 John 5:18 and 2 Thessalonians 3:3 – mark them down, will you?  In our pursuit of this new habit, this new lifestyle of living as if we are dead to sin as the governing force over our lives, never forget this one fact: “The Lord is Faithful!”  And He will establish you and keep you from the evil one!”

‘What does it mean to be born again, born of God?’  1 John 5:18 – It means that you and I are in pursuit of a new lifestyle, a new habit regarding sin, a new way of living, with the help of the Holy Spirit! 

Secondly, it means that you and I have a new Source, a new sufficiency, a new leader!

Face #2 – ‘we know’ statement #2 – 1 John 5:19, “[And] we know that we are of God, and [that] the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”

Back when we all were a lot younger, we played a children’s game called, ‘Follow the Leader’, you remember, don’t you?  One of the neighborhood bunch would step up to the front of the line and say, “Follower me, do what I do…”  And immediately, everyone would fall in behind him, and do this, because he did that, and do this, because he did that…  It’s a game of imitation, you know it!  And it’s also, you may not have thought about is this way before, but the game, ‘Follow the Leader’ is also a game of expectation, a game where the followers must, they are expected to do what the leader does, or else they can’t play. 

Now, listen.  1 John 5:19 – This Book says that when you and I became God’s children, when we were born again, born of Him, for us, the ‘game’ of following the world and its leader, the Devil – STOPPED!  I mean it was over!  As far as God is concerned, the world and its leader no longer are to hold sway over our lives!  Rather, the imitation is now supposed to be turned HIS direction!  As our New Leader, when He says, ‘Jump!’, our only question should be, ‘How high?’ 

To be born again, born of God, yes, it means that you and I have a new leader.  We are of God, He holds, or is supposed to hold the ultimate sway over our lives!  And, as a child of God, it should be obvious, my behavior, and my battling against sin, should make it increasingly obvious that I have, we have a new lifestyle – in Him! 

Then, third, and finally, take a look at verse 20 and 21, and notice what they have to say about the new loyalty, the new loyalty that is to be characteristic of the child of God! To me, this is the best part of all. Read it with me, will you please.

1 John 5:20-21, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

What does it mean to be 'Born Again', or 'Born of God'?

A new lifestyle is important, remember Mr. Outsider? That's one of the 'proofs' he's looking for! And, a new leader, my, oh my, that is important as well! God is my Father, and as His child, in keeping with the imitation principle, in keeping with the old adage, 'Like Father, like son' – I am to become more and more like Him! But, then there's the question, the honest and earnest question: “How?” “How in the world is a new lifestyle of 'sinning less, and confessing it when I sin, more', how in the world is this new lifestyle, and the command to follow my new Leader something I could ever get done?”

Sound impossible? Like I said, this is the part I like best, fact #3, “we know” statement number three.

1 John 5:20-21, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

How in the world are you and I ever going to live up to these incredibly high and holy expectations God has for His children? Fact #3 – Actually, it's a whole bundle of facts that we must always, ALL WAYS, remember. Take a look, 1 John 5:20 – The Son of God has come... Praise God! 1 John 5:20 – the Son of God has given us an understanding, an insight into all of this, right here, through His Word, right here (in me) through the indwelling presence of His Spirit – why? Jesus Christ came. And, Jesus Christ has given us this understanding – why? That we may know Him who is true, not simply know about Him, but know Him, be in a life-changing relationship with Him who is true, and in His Son Jesus Christ.

Knowing God, through Christ, that's the answer to the 'How' question... 'What does it mean to be Born Again, or Born of God?' One final thought. If Mr. Outsider were to slip in here today, and follow you and me around for the next week, how would he answer this question: “Is he born again? Is she born again?” How would he?

To Love or Not to Love?

Image credit.

Preached at Northwest Christian Church
David P. Kautt
Sunday Morning, August 1, 2010.

1 John 3:10-24: “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.  For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.  Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.  We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.  Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.  And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.  For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.  And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.  And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

To be or not to be…  A long time ago an old play write suggested that that is the question, the big issue of life.  “To be, or not to be…”

Well, my friends, as we look not to the words and ways of poets and play writes, but to the Book of books, the Bible – God’s Holy word, a lamp to our feet and a light to our path – as we look to THESE words for all things that pertain to life and godliness we discover that the question, the big issue of life is not “to be or not to be…”, but “to love or not to love…” 

Several weeks ago, as we began our journey through this portion of the word of God – the first letter written by the Apostle John – I suggested to you that among other things, what we might find here in this letter would be three ‘tests’, three ways of evaluating ourselves to see if we truly are in the faith.  Three sign-posts or distinguishing marks of true Christians that, hopefully, are evident in each and everyone of our lives.  Do you remember what they are? 

Well, first of all, there is the doctrinal test, that sign post, that distinguishing mark of a true Christian that pertains to what he or she believes about Jesus of Nazareth.  Of course, as the apostle John makes clear throughout this letter, in places like 1 John 2:20-23 and 1 John 4:1-3 and 1 John 5:1-5, the point of discussion pertaining to Jesus, revolves not around whether He was good man, a good teacher or a good moral example, but whether or not He was – and is – the Christ, the Son of the living God, who indeed came to this world in human flesh.  That’s the doctrinal test, the test of belief, and those who confess, who agree with God’s testimony as to Jesus’ identity, do so because they are truly born again, born of God. 

But, then, there’s test number two.  How can I know, as John implies in his words in 1 John 5:12-13, that I have truly received God’s gift of eternal life?  Sign post number 2 – I need to look at my behavior.  Not just what I believe about the identity of Jesus of Nazareth, but I need to honestly evaluate my behavior – is it in keeping with the nature and character of God and of Christ?  This is what some have called the ‘moral test’, the signpost of son-ship that pertains to the issue of righteous living.  1 John 1:5ff – Take a look again at that passage with me.

The nature and character of God, and my day-to-day behavior - am I seeking to match up my behavior, the way I conduct myself day in and day out, with the nature and character of God?  “God is light” and “there is no darkness at all” in Him, the apostle John declares in 1 John 1:5.  But to walk in sin – particularly un-confessed, un-repented of sin, is to walk, not in light as He is in the light, but is to walk in darkness, is to lie, is to fail to practice the truth.  Is that my lifestyle?  Does that description, walking darkness rather than practicing righteousness, depict my behavior?

The doctrinal test, the distinguishing mark that pertains to what I believe about Jesus – how am I doing with respect to this signpost of son-ship?  Or, what about the moral test, the sign post of son-ship that has to do with my day-to-day behavior – how am I doing with respect to that distinguishing mark of a Christian?

That’s two of the tests John points us toward, that we might examine ourselves.  But, what’s the third one?

In the passage we read from a moment ago, 1 John 3:10-24, the apostle John lays out for us test number 3, the one that has been called the ‘social’ or ‘relational test,’ the one that everything to do with the question: “to love or not to love.”

Before we jump off into this deep, theological water, allow me to point out two or three things going in, that we ought to keep in mind, as we study this subject, and as we examine ourselves in view of what we will learn. 

Number one: the idea of loving one another, though it is explained and portrayed in its fullness in and through the Cross, in and through what Jesus Christ, God’s Son, did for us at Calvary – even though the idea of loving one another came to its ultimate fruition THERE, this idea, this concept, this Biblical teaching is not a new or novel addition that the apostle John is sticking in ‘late in the game’ so-to-speak.  No!  Rather, as he makes clear with his words in verse 11, ‘this message [the message, the command to love one another] is a message that has been proclaimed and taught “from the beginning”.  The beginning of what?  The beginning of Jesus’ ministry, for sure.  But look next at verse 12 for a powerful answer to that question.  The apostle John, in verse 11, says that the message “we must love one another” has been proclaimed “from the beginning”.  And the beginning he has in mind, at least if his illustration in verse 12 is any indication, is the beginning of human relationships.  “Love one another,” it’s not a Johnny-come-lately teaching – no!  It is a foundational teaching that pertains to what God had in mind for human relationships from the very outset! 

Secondly, please notice with me a definition, a description, a picture beside the entry in God’s heavenly ‘dictionary,’ next to the word ‘love’.  Verse 16 – “John, you’re telling us and teaching us about love, and loving one another.  What do you mean by that?  What does love, this kind of love, look like?”  Read it again with me, verses 16 through 18 and as we do, let’s remember what Calvary looks like!

1 John 3:16-18: “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

My loved ones, before we dive off into this teaching pertaining to the question, “to love or not to love” we need to – we must – keep in mind these two things.  Number one, the command to “love one another” is not new!  No!  Verses 11 and 12, it goes all the way back to God’s creation design!  Secondly, the word, the concept, the idea of love and loving one another described here is every and always defined in light of the Cross!  That is what the apostle John means by love!  And, that model, that illustration is what we are called and commanded to imitate! 

Okay, now back to this passage and its deep waters, as we contemplate our answer to the question “to love or not to love”, and as we see whether we pass or fail on this third ‘test’ of our Christian profession.

How many of you have ever stopped to look at the photographs on the wall of Wal-Mart of the missing children?  And, how many of you have ever recognized one of those children and, after almost fainting, saying to yourself, “I know whose child he is!”  “I know whose child she is!”

Whose child are you?  “Oh, I’m Johny and Faye Kautt’s son.  Born in June 1961…”  Whose child are you?  All of us could answer in a way similar to the way I just answered that question.  But, that’s not the direction the apostle John is trying to steer us with his words in verses 10 through 12.  Whose child are you?  My loved ones, did you know that our answer to the question, “to love or not to love” has everything to do with the question, “whose child are you?”  Read it again with me.

1 John 3:10-12: “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.  For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.”

The first thing we need to realize about this third signpost of son-ship, this third examination test, is that whether or not we love each other speaks volumes about who our parent is!  I didn’t say parents, but parent!  “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God (that, by the way, has to do with signpost #2 – the moral or behavioral test), nor is he who does not love his brother!”  Whose child am I?  My answer to the question “to love or not to love” is the answer to the question about my parentage!

Secondly, my answer to that question “to love or not to love,” says a great deal about my most basic affiliations! 

I mentioned Wal-Mart a minute ago, now I’m going to mention Sam’s Club.  How many of you are a member of Sam’s Club?  We found out as we were preparing for our vacation trip that not only could we get fuel for Joel’s suburban cheaper at Sam’s Club, but also, because we are affiliated with Mr. Sam Walton’s elite ‘group’, we could get a better motel rate, too!

To whose group do you belong?  Ever been asked that question before?  My friends, did you know that our answer to that question “to whose group do you belong” has everything to do with our answer to the love question?  Verse 13 – Am I a part of God’s group or, am I a member of this world’s club?  Is there a way to find out for sure?  Yes, there is!  Verse 13 – if I love the brethren, the world’s gonna hate me!  I won’t be a part of their group, if I love my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Oh, but listen, if I don’t love my fellow Christians, then where is my basic affiliation?  With them!  With the world!

“To love or not to love” – Truly, these are deep, deep waters!  Deep because they deal with our parentage, and deep because they address our most basic affiliation.  But, also deep, because they speak to our location, because they confront as with the question: “what’s our address?”  I know most of your addresses, and most of you know my address.  In fact, we regularly receive mail from one another, don’t we?  But, what the apostle John is talking about here, in this discussion of the love question, is not what is our house number or what is our P.O. box number; but where is our ABODE?  Verse 14 – “We know,” that, by the way, is a statement of certainty, “We know, we are sure, that we have passed from death [one dwelling place] into life [another, a vastly different, dwelling place].”  How do we know that?  One way!  “Because we love the brethren.” 

Do you see it my friends?  “To love – to love your fellow Christian with that kind of love (Christ-like) is one way to signify that you have, indeed, changed your address!  I’m not living any longer at 666 DEATH Street!  No!  By God’s grace, through the out-pouring of God’s Spirit into my life, and by His Spirit, His love, I don’t live there any longer!  No!  My new address is 777 LIFE Avenue! 

What is so important about the love question?  It has everything to do with where you live!  But then, finally, please note with me, that all of that is true – whose child I am, to whose group I belong and what is my address – all of those questions ultimately force me to go back one more time to this ‘Mirror’, God’s Word, and ask, “Who am I?”  “What is my nature?”  Verse 15 – This is one of those ouch verses, isn’t it?  Have you ever hated a fellow Christian?  Have you ever failed to love a fellow Christian?  Notice those two sides to the same coin in verses 14 and 15.  Our answer to the question, “to love or not to love,” not only does it speak to our parentage, and to our affiliations, and to our location, but most importantly, it confronts us - like a right-out-of-bed, first-thing-in-the-morning look in the mirror confronts us with our messy hair and our sleepy eyes – our answer to the love question confronts us with who we are!  With our nature!  Verse 15 – “Whoever hates his brother,” look at the next word, only two letters, but extremely significant, “whoever hates his brother IS a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him!”

“To love or not to love…”  What do we see when we look into this ‘Mirror’?  More crucial: what will we DO in light of what we see?

To Build Up Fathers

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, June 20, 2010

Ephesians 6:4 – “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

I think I can speak for most of the fathers and sons here this morning in saying that, so far, our Father’s Day weekend has been a good one. What, with the kind greetings many of us have received this weekend, the enjoyable meals prepared, and maybe even the cards and phone calls some of us have received or will receive today – all in all, for most of us, this Father’s Day will go down as a good one in our minds and memories… Thank you to all of you for allowing God to use you to make it so.

Father’s Day – and, for me, a Father’s Day sermon, a message to, for and about fathers – you may be realize it in quite the way I do, seeing that you are sitting out there, and I’m standing up here; but to preach a sermon on this day, related to the uniqueness of this day, can be quite an assignment. Let me show you what I mean.

Father’s Day, for me at least, it seems, the tendency is to go to one of two extremes in what I could say at this time. For example, if I wanted to so, I could make this ‘Brag on Daddy Day’ – I could, we all could, find ourselves doing like the three little boys did, when they were comparing notes about their daddies. The first one, whose daddy worked in a factory, said to the other two, “My Daddy, when he gets paid, he comes home with a wallet full of money…” “Ah! That’s nothing,” exclaimed the second little boy, whose daddy worked in one of those high-rise buildings in downtown Dallas – had his own office and everything, an executive-type – “Ah, that’s nothing,” he shouted, “why MY daddy gets paid, he has to use his BRIEF CASE to carry it all!” Finally, the third little boy couldn’t restrain himself, he HAD to chime in, too! So he said, “Ah, that’s nothing, fellows,” he piped up! “When MY daddy gets paid, it take 4 grown men to carry all his money!”

By the way, the last little boy’s name is ‘Jaden’ and he happens to be the preacher’s son!

“Brag on Daddy Day’ – going to the extremes that those three little boys, especially my little Jaden went to, to boast in this fathers – that’s one direction I’m tempted to go in with the message today.

But, then there’s the other end of the spectrum. Instead of engaging in DADDY BRAGGING, I – we could get cranked up in some old fashioned ‘DADDY RAGGING’. We could spend from now, maybe on into next week BASHING fathers – and, in particular our fathers, or the fathers of our children, and, maybe seemingly for good reason. But, let me ask you to wrestle with a question I had to wrestle with: “What would be the purpose of it? What good would it accomplish to RAG on Daddy?”

Well, beloved, for some of you, this message may be a huge disappointment – although, I’d suggest you keep your ears open, yet. And, for others of you, this message, or, at least this introduction to the message, may elicit in you a big sigh of relief. But, again, I urge you to stay with me.

My plan, my goal, my purpose for this message, the Lord-willing, with His strength enabling me, is not to BOAST in fathers so much, nor to BASH fathers. But, rather, to do something that I think is or will be more balanced, more fitting and proper, and, especially, more Biblical – and that is, I’d like for the next 20-20-25 minutes or so, to be a time to BUILD up fathers, and a time to challenge fathers, every last father in this room, to build up their families.

First a little spade work, a little filling in of the background, before we get into the heart of God’s message to and for and about fathers, today.

First of all, I think it is absolutely essential to remind all of us that the word ‘father – or, perhaps the more intimate and affectionate term ‘Daddy’ – these words don’t merely refer to a male who can produce a child! No! My, how we need to get a hold of this concept – not only in our culture, but in the church, too! Beloved, the term ‘father’ in the Biblical sense, doesn’t merely mean a child-begetter! Rather, the word ‘father’ implies what? ‘Mother,’ right? And, not only does it imply ‘mother’, but it also implies or assumes another someone or group of someones – ‘children’. In other words, in the Biblical sense, from our Creator’s point of view, “father” is not simply a ‘biological’ term, but a relational term – a word that, as far as God’s grand design for His universe is concerned, is linked inextricably with the term “family”. This truth, I think is crucial – it is foundational!

But, let’s go a few steps further, shall we? “Father”, “Daddy” - “Abba” is the way that Bible word is pronounced – did you know that, from the Bible’s perspective, Daddy is the one God has shaped and set apart for some very interesting, challenging and important roles and duties. Here’s a key list for you – Daddy, from God’s point of view, he is the family Director, Commander, Instructor and Corrector. He is not only to beget the children, with the loving assistance of his wife, he also is to lead them, teach them, rebuke them, love them, care for them, and bless them! And, to the degree that he does these things, and his children respond, as Ephesians 6:1-3 exhorts them to respond to those things, honoring, obeying and loving Daddy – He, Daddy, will either rejoice over his children, or he will grieve over them.

Secondly, a question for all of us to consider, but, one that we fathers must especially evaluate. And the question is this: Ephesians 6:4, our theme text, says, “fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath…” Literally, “do not be, stop being that cause of anger and bitterness in the lives of your children…” Now, here’s the question: “how does a father go about provoking his children to wrath? What is it that he does or fails to do that can arouse these thoughts and feelings in his children?”

I’m not sure any of us can totally and completely answer that question, but I’d like to suggest to you that a provoking-to-wrath kind of father - besides being disobedient to this explicit command of Scripture – most likely he is arousing anger in his children, because he also is a harsh father, a hyper-critical father, an angry and bitter father, a distant inattentive, absent father, an unprotecting father, a selfish father, and/or a hypocritical father, a father who refuses to admit his wrongs, repent of them, and seek restoration with his children. To all of those kinds of actions and attitudes that are UN-like our Heavenly Father, the word of God says, “STOP!” Men, we must, “stop provoking our children to wrath!”

Now, to the heart of the message, the second half of Ephesians 6:4, and the opportunity I have to BUILD UP fathers, and to urge them to BUILD UP their families.

Ephesians 6:4 – As we have already observed, the Word of God says, “Stop – fathers you must stop provoking your children to wrath…” But, notice that’s not the end of the verse! Rather, the apostle Paul likes with this crucial prohibition, “STOP,” an equally crucial admonition. “Start… start and keep on going – start bringing up and continue to bring up your children in the training and admonition of the Lord…”

In the course of examining this text, and in particular, looking more closely at the idea of “bringing up” children, as Paul puts it here, I discovered some very interesting, and I believe potent insights that will indeed help, instruct and inspire every father here today. Let me show you what I mean…

The word translated, “Bring-up” is a word that literally means to “feed, nourish, support, and care for…” It’s a word that I found located in several interesting places, including Luke 12:24.

In this passage, Jesus is instructing His disciples, and urging them not to worry, but to trust in the gracious, faithful and generous provision of their Heavenly Father.

“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?” Luke 12:22-24

As I said a minute ago, in this context, Jesus is urging His disciples to trust in their Heavenly Father to feed them, to nourish them, to “bring them up”, so to speak. Now, here’s the crossover point. Fathers – all my fellow Dads out there, for just a moment transfer all that Jesus says or implies about our Heavenly Father and His relationship to His children, to yourself and to your relationship with your children.

This passage, Luke 12:22-34 – what does it have to say to the Daddys among us?

Number one, fathers, when we feed our children, when we nourish them, when we care for them and bring them up with a nurturing that, by the way, as verse 30 points out, that flows out of our knowledge of our children and of their needs – when we do for them what our Heavenly Father does for us, what happens? What results? What takes place in the live of our children?

Verses 22, 29 and 32 – Our nurturing them, it calms them! When they know we’re going to do our best to meet their needs, they won’t fret or worry, they’ll be at peace!

Secondly, fathers – when we commit to “bringing up our children in the training and admonition of the Lord,” when we diligently take part in this Heavenly Father-like care for our children, we open up the way for them to go higher to look ABOVE and BEYONG us, to the one we’re looking to, to meet our needs! Verses 27 and 28 – Jesus says it this way, talking about the unsurpassed beauty of the lilies of the field, and yet also, their relaxation, as it were, in the fact that their Creator and Sustainer is making and will make them that way – Jesus says, “If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He cloth you, O you of little faith?”

Do you see it, my brothers? When we are faithful in carrying our the responsibility of nurturing our children like God nurtures us, in the long run THEY will learn to trust God, like we trust Him!

Furthermore, when we set the example to our children, yes, by allowing God to use us to feed them, to fill their stomachs and clothe their bodies – but, more importantly, by showing them by our stewardship, by our sense of priorities that our lives are MORE than food, more than clothes and cars and houses and jobs and education and status and so – when they see US, like Jesus did before His disciples, partaking of a ‘food’ they know nothing about, when they figure out by our habits and our open-book lives that we DON’T live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of God’s mouth -- then what?

Then, God will use us to call them to go… farther, higher, deeper, as Jesus says here, to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” to “lay up treasures in heaven,” to “take up their cross and follow Him.”

But how will this come to pass? What is required and required of us, if we’re going to nourish and care for our children the way God, our Heavenly Father, is bringing up us?

One more passage of scripture – Hebrews 5:12-14.

As I mentioned at the outset of this sermon, one of the primary duties of fathers, in their caring for their children is the duty to teach them. Hebrews 5:12-14 – Look at this text to see to whom it is addressed. Verse 12 – it is addressed to teachers, or, at least, to those who ought to be teachers.

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

What is required and required of us, fathers, if we are going to feed, to bring up our children in the training and admonition of the Lord?

My brothers, think about it this way: there are a lot of fathers in our world, who, like Esau are, “bread-only” men. Guys, who, un-like Jesus, think that man CAN live by bread along. Here’s a question for all of us “bread-only” men (and women, too), “How will we ever be able to feed and nourish our children with spiritual food, if we aren’t eating it ourselves?” “Bring them up, feed them, nourish them, in the training and admonition of the LORD,” the scripture says!

To feed them, to spiritually nourish our children, we must be eating from the Word of God, too! We must! But, that’s not all! Notice how this passage in Hebrews goes one step further! Verse 12 – “By this time, you ought to be teachers,” doing what fathers are supposed to do, “but instead, you need someone to teach you!” How so? Oh, they are eating, alright. Good and faithful fathers that we are, we are taking in spiritual nourishment alright… But is that enough? Is that sufficient to make us strong enough, healthy enough, wise enough to teach and feed our children? Verses 13 and 14 – Not if all you and I are eating is “milk”, “baby food,” so-to-speak! So, what’s the point?

Right here, fathers – yes, my beloved brothers, no matter what your age is, if you plan on nourishing and continuing to feed your children, yes, even up to when THEY have children and grandchildren, then you – I – we must continue to grow spiritually. We must move from milk, to Gerbers, to steak and mashed potatoes – so that God can use us to feed and nurture them!

One more time, Ephesians 6:4 – a passage intended not to bash fathers, or brag on fathers, but to build up fathers.

“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

Let’s go for it, brothers!

Grow! Grow! Grow!

Photo credit.

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, May 23, 2010

1 John 2:12-14: “I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to receive a letter from someone like the Apostle John? I mean, if he were writing a letter to us – today – what would he include in such a letter? What would he say to us?

I had the unique opportunity and privilege this last week to be the scribe, the secretary for a friend of mine who asked me to help him put together a letter he wanted to send to a friend of his in prison. It wasn’t that my friend needed help construction what he wanted to say in the letter. As he dictated the letter to me, there was no doubt in my mind that he KNEW what he wanted to communicate to his prisoner friend. The reasons for his letter and the intentions he had in mind to accomplish through his letter were very clear to him. All he need was a scribe – I was that scribe!

I want you to take a look at this Book. What is it? What do we have here before us? We call it the Word of God, don’t we? We refer to it as the Bible, the Holy Scriptures, the Book of books. But, what I want you to consider with me this morning is how that this Book – this best of Books – is, in fact, God’s letter to you and to me. Oh, yes, I know that it was penned - inspired - transcribed two, three - in some cases - nearly 4,000 years ago, and yet because it is Holy Scripture, a word from our Infinite and Eternal God, it is a time-less, or perhaps I should say “for all times…” Book. It is in fact a letter from God in this case, through the apostle John, to us – to us!

What kind of letter do we have here? What is it that the Spirit of God has prompted the apostle John to write to us? And, what are we to learn from it? What are we to do in response to it?

The first thing I was reminded of - as I sat on my couch last week, with pen and paper in hand preparing to serve as my friend’s scribe - was that a letter, at least the way we write letters, begins with a greeting, an introduction, an address to the recipient of the letter. “Dear Friend,” were the words I jotted in behalf of my friend in the letter he wanted to write. But, look at what the Spirit of God directed the apostle John to write; he addresses us in a similar way in verse 12. He speaks to us as “little children”. In verse 13, he addresses some as “young men” and others as “fathers”. And, the same goes for verse 14, as well: “little children,” “young men,” “fathers”. Why would God prompt John to use words and phrases like that to address folks like us? Well, perhaps it is meant to communicate the love and concern that God and this servant of His, the apostle John, have for folks like us. When God looks at those who belong to Him, through His Son, He looks at them (at us) as His children! As those who are DEAR to Him!

Another reason I figure the apostle John uses the different ways of addressing his recipients – “little children,” “young men,” and “fathers” – is because he’s looking at a congregation of believers in Jesus, made up of various individual Christians who are at different levels of spiritual growth and maturity. Each are dear and cherished by their spiritual mentor, the apostle John; but each are at various locations on the road toward maturity in Christ.

The Spirit of God led John the Apostle to address his readers, the recipients of his letter, using differing words – words meant to express tender concern – and words meant to acknowledge the unique spiritual location of each person reading the letter. And, yet, I’d like you to think about this part of the letter – the beginning part – for just a moment or two longer. Could it be, that at least part of the reason for the different forms of address here, in verses 12 through 14, is not merely to acknowledge the varying degrees of spiritual maturity present in a congregation such as this one, but also to spur each one of us – “little children,” “young men,” even “fathers” to greater levels of spiritual growth?

I mean, you think about it with me, will you? “Little children” – “spiritual babes” we might call them, as far a God is concerned, that’s the starting point, the beginning place for all of us - when it comes to our walk with Christ. In fact, Jesus said that unless we become as children, we cannot enter His kingdom! But, listen. Listen. While “little children” may be a great starting point – hear me, please – as far as our Father in heaven is concerned, it is no supposed to be the ENDING POINT, too!

Grow, little children; grow toward young manhood. Grow, young men; grow toward fatherhood. Grow, yes grow, fathers, grow to be even more like your Father in Heaven! Grow! Grow! Grow!

In looking at a letter, like this one here, or even in transcribing a letter – as I did last week – there’s something to learn, something worth noticing with respect to the way in which the letter writer addresses the recipient. But, then – secondly, there is something to gain from examining the CAUSE behind the letter, too! Take a look again at these three short verses, and let the Beloved Apostle – “John, tell us, will you. Why did you write this letter?”

Now look at verses 12, 13 and 14, and notice how very clearly and powerfully the apostle John answers that question for us. “I write to you because…”

1 John 2:12-14: “I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

What is the Spirit of God meaning for us to see through these because statements? Well, the first thing I believe He intends is a very simple thing. Think of it, “I write to you, little children, BECAUSE your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake…” “I write to you, young men, BECAUSE…” I write to you, fathers, BECAUSE…” Through these “because” statements the Spirit of God directed John to inform us of this simple truth: this is a letter for Christians. This is a love letter from God the Father to those who have come to belong to Him, through Jesus Christ. In other words, this letter was not designed to be an evangelistic tract, a gospel pamphlet to be distributed to those who are OUTSIDE of Christ. But rather, it was meant to be a tool for edifying and equipping God’s people. And notice how it accomplishes that goal: it does so by bringing folks like us back to the foundation of our faith, forgiveness of sin, knowing Christ – the Word of God abiding in us, and waging war against the enemy of our souls!

“Dear Friend,” “little children,” “young men,” “fathers” - these are the ways letter writers address the recipients of their letters. “I write to you because…” Because your sins have been forgiven for His name’s sake; because you have known Him Who is from the beginning; because you have overcome the wicked one. “I write to you because,” these statements let us in on what prompted a letter like this letter.

But, then, go one step further with me in this look at John’s letter to us. I want us to consider what John might have intended – the goal the Spirit of God had in mind – when He directed John to write what he wrote. “I write to you BECAUSE your sins have been forgiven for His name’s sake!” As we pointed out earlier, this statement – and the 5 or 6 other “because statements listed here – are powerful reminders of a Christian’s spiritual state or status in Christ!

In Christ we are forgiven. In Christ we are known BY and able to know God the Father. Yes, in Christ we are strong and victorious because of God’s indwelling word! But, listen. With every one of those “because” statements as to our spiritual status, comes an implied exhortation, a challenge, a command! Verse 12 – Yes, dear children, in Christ your lives are marked by the forgiveness of your sins!

But, don’t stop there! Grow! Children, grow! Pursue a life of sinning LESS and confessing MORE! That’s the way toward greater spiritual maturity! Grow with respect to dealing with your sin! Remember 1 John 2:1-2?

1 John 2:1-2: “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but for the whole world.”

And you, young men, I write to you “because you have overcome the wicked one!” Because you have won some victories, in Christ, over lust and greed and pride and anger. But, don’t stop there! Grow! Arm yourselves with more of God’s holy armor. Stand firm in His strength, and most of all keep fighting, because there are MORE battles ahead, and MORE victories to win – in Jesus Christ! Grow!

Then, thirdly, the apostle John speaks to the fathers, to those who have grown spiritually to such a point that they now are helping to give birth to spiritual children. What does the apostle John say to them? He says, “Grow!” Yes, through the implied exhortation wrapped up in his “because you have known Him who is from the beginning” statement, the apostle John challenges even the spiritually mature to keep on growing! You have know Him! Yearn to know Him MORE. To the spiritual fathers among us, maybe the apostle John is urging you to say back to him, “I want to know Him more! Would you make room for me, allow me to lean with you on His breast!” “I want to know Him more!” Or, how about the spiritual mothers in our midst - that should be your plea as well! “Make room – sweet Mary of Bethany – make room for me at Jesus’ feet!” “I want to know Him,” “I want to soak up all that He has to say!”

If the apostle John were to write us a letter, today, what kind of letter would he write? What would he say to us? In this letter, intended originally for Christians living in Asia Minor near the end of the First Century AD – he wrote to the tender little children - the spiritual babes – to the strong young men, and to the spiritual fathers of those congregations. And he wrote because of the spiritual fruit, the fruits of repentance and salvation that were evident in them.

I wonder, if John were writing me a letter, a letter to us, would he be able to list the same series of “because” statements? Would he? Furthermore, I wonder – if our lives were “letters”, written on the tablets of other Christians’ hearts (see 2 Corinthians 3:1ff), what message from the Lord would those Christian brothers and sisters be receiving? I wonder…