Jump Start # 4137

 

Ephesians 4:4-5 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

 

An explanation and a clarification: Against my better judgment, I’ve been asked to explain my new situation since I retired from local preaching last Sunday. I am not finished preaching. I have several meetings on the books for this year and the next many years. My “retirement” was from local preaching. I have told some that I am now going to be a free-range chicken, preaching anywhere and everywhere that I can be useful. I will continue to hold gospel meetings and lectureships. I will fill in for congregations who are between preachers. We don’t like the term “consultant” but I will help and advice congregations about shepherding, two-preacher arrangements, annual themes, becoming global and a host of other topics. These Jump Starts will continue. Preaching is in my blood and I will always preach until the Lord stops me.

 

I am sharing a series of my final ten sermons that I preached at Charlestown Road.

 

  # 9 The Divine Distinctiveness

 

Different, unusual, unique are not always words that we like to hear. In school, there is the pressure to fit in with everyone else. In business, employees are encouraged to follow the company culture. Society rewards blending in, not standing out. Different and unique are noticed. They are talked about. Some do things just to be noticed and draw attention to themselves. When it comes to the Lord, His way has always been distinct. Noah building an ark, Joshua walking around the walls of Jericho seven times, Daniel praying in his window in Persia, early disciples refusing to be silent when ordered. God’s people have always stood with the Lord.

The challenge before us in these times is how we maintain the distinctiveness of the Lord’s way in the atmosphere of surrendering to the times and blending in with the culture around us? Let’s consider four aspects of divine distinctiveness:

First, The Uniqueness of God. Three times in Isaiah God asks the question, “Who will you liken me to?” (40:17-26; 46:5, 8-10). Pharaoh learned that God was not like the Egyptian gods. Jezebel learned that God was not like the idol Baal.

 

(1) God is a Righteous judge (2 Tim 4:8) – He cannot be bribed, bought off, play favorites or bends truth to fit public opinion.

 

(2) God is Fair in His blessings (Mt 5:45). Heaven’s blessings come upon those who have prayed and thanked the Lord and to those who never give a thought to God.

 

(3) God’s Desire is for all to be saved (2 Pet 3:9; Ezekiel 18:23). The cross demonstrates the extent of God’s love for all of us. There is no one like the Lord.

 

Second, The Universal Nature of God’s Word (Mk 16:15). God’s word is for everyone. That includes everyone. Those we like and those we don’t like. Those that like God and those that don’t like God. Jesus fits all people, every home, every culture, every generation, every situation. The Gospel is for all.

 

Third, The Distinctiveness of God’s church. It is uniquely the Lord’s (Mt 16:18).

It is given a name that honors the Lord (Rom 16:16).

It is given a purpose that follows the Lord (Eph 1:22; 2:19-22).

It is given a promise that cannot be stopped (Dan 2:44).

 

Fourth, The Special Honor of Being God’s People. We are light (Mt 5:14) like Jesus is light (1 Jn 1:5).

We carry on the work that He started. We reflect His character in a dark world. Every act of grace, forgiveness, kindness and truth becomes a testimony of God. We become His hands in serving; His eyes in compassion; His voice in teaching truth. The work of the kingdom has been put into our hands. We are the World’s Bible.

There was a time when ancient Israel lost it’s distinctiveness. Instead of being the people of God, led by God—they wanted a physical, human king. They wanted what all the other nations had, a visible king to lead them. What they got were kings that led their hearts away from God.

 

The temptation to be silent on moral issues, to be more concerned with numbers may have made God’s church more attractive to the world, but it has lost it’s distinctiveness. God doesn’t want us to conform to the world—not in our congregations, homes, hearts, or our faith. We are to be transformed: different (Rom 12:1-2).

 

We offer what cannot be found anywhere else: the pure, simplistic message of Jesus Christ. We are not a denomination. We are not non-denominational. We are PRE-denomination, the primitive, pure, distinctive people of God.

 

Being unique carries criticism by those who do not understand. It can be lonely. Jeremiah stood alone. Noah stood alone. Paul often stood alone. But the Lord was with them

 

We do not apologize for following the Bible. We do not apologize for doing what God says.

 

We do not change the message, the plan or the mission to better fit us. We change us to better fit the word of God.

 

The Divine Distinctiveness.

 

Roger