In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:21-22Ephesians 2:21-22
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
21 Christ is the one who holds the building together and makes it grow into a holy temple for the Lord. ²² And you are part of that building Christ has built as a place for God's own Spirit to live.

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Several years ago my parents built a home.  It was something they had dreamed of doing most of their lives, and after years of job transfers and moving from house to house around the eastern half of the country, they finally set out to accomplish their life-long goal.  Before they could begin staking off the foundation or driving the first nail, they first had to purchase the property where their home would be constructed.  That was an arduous process in and of itself, in that, once they located the property they desired, they sacrificed deeply to pay off the debt for that property in full before they began pouring concrete and erecting walls.  The sacrifice was worth it as they kept their eyes on the goal and the reward that would result from their perseverance and faithfulness. Oh how they rejoiced on the day when the deed to that property was assigned to them and their heirs for time in memorium.

Then, the day came when construction began.  They moved into a temporary apartment near their newly purchased property so they could see and even hear the progress being made daily on their new home.  My father did a lot of the carpentry work himself.  He helped with plumbing, bricking, and many of the finishing details in, around, and under the house.  From their cozy apartment, my mother would often be making dinner in the evening as the sounds of hammers and nails and saws could be heard echoing through the trees.  She recognized those as the sounds of her home drawing that much closer to completion.  Throughout sunny days and rainy days, stormy seasons and perfect skies, the process of construction continued.  The concrete that was once bags of powder lying on the ground eventually became a solid foundation.  The wood that was piled all over the red clay of their 3 acres was summoned one board at a time to form walls and rafters and floor joists.  Shingles eventually covered the plywood on the roof, doors and windows and cabinetry walked through the open thresholds, and the day finally came when we helped them move in their furniture.  In fact, we surprised them one weekend by going into town and helping them move in ahead of schedule and we spent the very first night in their new home with them about 7 years ago now.  It was a very joyous occasion.

But, if you were to talk to my father, you would quickly learn as all homeowners know, that construction is an ongoing process even after you move in.  There are refinements and adjustments and repairs that still need to be done, even on a brand new home.  A homeowner’s work is never really complete.  There is always something to be done to make the home more suitable.

Spiritually speaking, we are under construction too.  We who have accepted the Lord as our personal Savior are, in fact, the dwelling place of God.  Now many people consider “the church building” to be the place where God lives.  But, the truth is that His people are His dwelling place and His Spirit resides in us as we yield daily to the ongoing process of being constructed to become more like Him.  Just as my parents sacrificed to purchase the land on which to build their new home, so God sacrificed to purchase us.  In reality, the Bible says that we do not belong to ourselves, but rather to God, and that we are to honor him with our bodies that are His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19,201 Corinthians 6:19,20
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
19 . You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. ²⁰ God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.

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The people of God are His temple, His home, and He is constructing us to reflect His holiness.  Just as the beams and joists of my parent’s new home had to learn to bear up under many different types of weather, so we too are tested under various circumstances and trials in our lives.  And by God’s grace, and only by His power, are we able to learn to endure and persevere for His glory. (Ephesians 6:13Ephesians 6:13
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
13 So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day m that evil day: Either the present or “the day of death” or “the day of judgment.” comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.

WP-Bible plugin)  Our faith is proven when it counteracts our fears, our character is forged by the purity of what we do in secret, and our maturity is deepened when we pursue holiness rather than happiness.  And like tools in the hands of the Master Carpenter, all of the circumstances of our lives are used to chisel and refine and sand away at our imperfections so that we are a home fit for the King.

What joy filled the Father’s heart the day you deeded your life over to Him!  The sacrifice He made for you was well worth the reward.  And, until the day that He returns, be willing and content to be a work of God under construction.

Recently I have been reading a book called, “Primal” by Mark Batterson.  I received it after attending a one-day conference that he lead at Anderson University.  Mark is the senior pastor at National Community Church just outside of Washington, D.C.

The book has been insightful and enjoyable so far, a definite page-turner.  As I read books such as “Primal,” I often keep a notebook nearby so that I can jot down thoughts that come to me while reading, new concepts I want to research further, and action steps I’m feeling convicted to take as a result of my reading.  This morning’s sermon at The Mount reminded me of some notes I made recently on “Counterfactual History.”  That was a totally new concept to me when I read about it a couple weeks ago, and it intrigued me.  Basically, counterfactual theory is asking the question, “What if ” in contrast to something we already know has occurred.  For example, we could invoke counterfactual history by asking what our lives might be like if Henry Ford never invented the automobile?  How would the world change in the absence of that piece of history?  What if the Wright Brothers had not discovered the means to fly?  Would we still be relegated to crossing the ocean on a ship?  By the way, what if God hadn’t shown Noah how to build a boat? Wasn’t that the very first ocean liner?  The purpose of employing counterfactual theory is to gain a deeper appreciation for what really did happen and how history actually unfolded.

This morning, Allan posed the question, “What if God hadn’t intervened in Saul’s life and initiated his conversion?” (Acts 9:1-19Acts 9:1-19
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
Saul Becomes a Follower of the Lord ^{9 1} Saul kept on threatening to kill the Lord's followers. He even went to the high priest ² and asked for letters to the Jewish leaders in Damascus. He did this because he wanted to arrest and take to Jerusalem any man or woman who had accepted the Lord's Way. d accepted the Lord's Way: In the book of Acts, this means to become a follower of the Lord Jesus. ³ When Saul had almost reached Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice that said, “Saul! Saul! Why are you so cruel to me?” ⁵ “Who are you?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus,” the Lord answered. “I am the one you are so cruel to. ⁶ Now get up and go into the city, where you will be told what to do.” ⁷ The men with Saul stood there speechless. They had heard the voice, but they had not seen anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could not see a thing. Someone then led him by the hand to Damascus, ⁹ and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink. ¹⁰ A follower named Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. Ananias answered, “Lord, here I am.” ¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. When you get there, you will find a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. Saul is praying, ¹² and he has seen a vision. He saw a man named Ananias coming to him and putting his hands on him, so that he could see again.” ¹³ Ananias replied, “Lord, a lot of people have told me about the terrible things this man has done to your followers in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ Now the chief priests have given him the power to come here and arrest anyone who worships in your name.” ¹⁵ The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for worshiping in my name.” ¹⁷ Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, “Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road. He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see. He got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ Then he ate and felt much better. Saul Preaches in Damascus For several days Saul stayed with the Lord's followers in Damascus.

WP-Bible plugin) How many more Christians would have been persecuted?  How many more would have been killed?  How would our lives be different if Saul had never become Paul?  (For one thing, we’d be missing about 13 books in the New Testament and a plethora of rich Scripture passages!!)  And what if Ananias hadn’t obeyed when God called him to seek out Saul of Tarsus at the house of Judas in Damascus on Straight Street so Saul’s sight could be restored? (vs. 13-17)  Saul was known for arresting and persecuting anyone who called upon God’s name.  What if Ananias’ fear outweighed his faith?  Can we even fathom how different our lives would be today if God hadn’t intervened, if Ananias hadn’t been obedient?

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of such stories throughout the Bible of how one person’s willingness to intervene and obey had a world changing impact!  Think of Noah’s righteousness and how he found favor with God.  He was the only man found worthy when God wiped out the rest of the human race in the flood.  What if Noah hadn’t lived righteously?  What if there was no one who survived the great deluge?  Quite possibly, I wouldn’t be typing this, and you wouldn’t be reading it!

The example that Mark Batterson uses in “Primal” to illustrate his point about Counterfactual History is the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis.  As you know, Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers after they got ticked off at the way their father, Jacob, showed favoritism to Joseph.  In fact, they led Jacob to believe Joseph had been killed by wild animals when they dipped his precious robe of many colors in goat’s blood.  A domino effect was in motion that I’d like to recount for you using counterfactual theory:

1. What if Joseph had not been sold by his Israelite brothers into slavery in Egypt?
2. What if Joseph had never been thrown into prison while in Egypt?
3. What if, while in prison, Joseph hadn’t noticed the upset countenance of his fellow inmate, the cupbearer?
4. What if he hadn’t interpreted the cupbearer’s dream?  (The cupbearer would not have known Joseph could do that!)
5. And without that relational link, Joseph would have never been brought to Pharaoh to interpret his dream after the cupbearer was restored to his position upon release from prison. Joseph may have died in that dungeon had events unfolded differently.
6. What if Joseph had not been promoted to second highest in command in Egypt prior to the great famine?  He would not have been in a position to store up enough grain to sustain Egypt as well as surrounding areas that came to Egypt for food during the famine.
7. One of those surrounding areas from which people came was Canaan, where Joseph’s family was from, otherwise known as the nation of Israel.  What if Joseph’s family had not survived the famine?
8. One of Joseph’s brothers was Judah.  What if he had died during those seven lean years of famine?  He never would have gone on to father the lineage out of which a Child would be born in a little town called Bethlehem.  And then, the big “What if” question…
9. What if Jesus had never been born? Then, perhaps, the greatest act of compassion and intervention the world has ever known might never have occurred.

We can see and learn by this that one act of compassion, one act of intervention, one act of obedience really does make a difference on the world.  And we all have opportunities to show kindness, to intervene, and to obey God everyday, so that we may continue to impact and change the world for His glory.  What opportunity lies before you today that has the potential to ripple into eternity if you just yield and obey?  Whatever it is, I encourage us all to seize the moment, because I would never want someone to spend their eternity separated from God asking, “What if someone I knew had only shared Jesus with me?”

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Matthew 26:26Matthew 26:26
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
The Lord's Supper ²⁶ During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this and eat it. This is my body.”

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Every time I hold the bread in my hand when I’m taking communion, I reflect upon the suffering that Jesus physically endured for me in His human body.  That piece of bread lying in the palm of my hand reminds me of the nails that pierced His skin, the thorns that ripped through His brow, and the spear that pierced His side.  I’m reminded of the open wounds on His back from the lashes He received from the soldier’s whips and the torturer’s “cat of nine-tails.”

This piece of bread is a symbol.  It is an edible reminder of the punishment that Jesus bore for me.  My sins, my disobedience, my short falls of God’s standard, my pride, my jealousy, my depravity, my selfishness…all the things that should have sentenced me to the cross, were absorbed by the body of my Savior instead.  He was rejected, He was mocked and beaten and bruised.  He was killed in my place.  This piece of bread symbolizes that.

The bread also reminds me of my Redeemer’s great love for me, because the body that this bread represents was willingly laid down for me.  Jesus gave Himself as a voluntary substitute for me.  His body wasn’t abused and taken against His will…He lovingly offered it of His own free will. I am humbled beyond words every time I stare into my hand and reflect upon the kind of love that piece of bread represents. Who can understand and comprehend such love? Thank You, Jesus, for the sacrifice You made for me.  I owe my life to you.

Jesus instructed us that we are to continue remembering the sacrifice He made through the observance of communion until He returns and we celebrate with Him in heaven.  The scars that still remain in Jesus’ hands, feet, and side are a reminder of His love for us and the redemption that He purchased for us, as is the bread that we receive when we partake of communion.  May we never take for granted the price that Jesus paid for us, and may we humbly thank Him each time we “do this in remembrance” of Him.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Galatians 3:26-27Galatians 3:26-27
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
26 All of you are God's children because of your faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes.

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On Sunday we had the wonderful pleasure of celebrating the baptism of several people at The Mount.  It was such a time of joy as we witnessed their public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.  While we do not believe that baptism is the point of salvation (because that takes place prior to baptism when an individual invites Christ into their hearts and begins a personal relationship with Him), we do believe that it symbolizes the spiritual cleansing that Christ provided for all mankind through the shedding of His blood on the cross.  Through Jesus’ sacrifice, all those who give their lives to Him through repentance of their sins can be forgiven and united with all fellow believers into the family of God.

Baptism is a beautiful representation of that cleansing as those who have recently given their lives to Christ step into the water and are immersed in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  As each person is dipped below the water, it is a portrait of Jesus’ death and burial, and as they are pulled back out of the water, it is a picture of Jesus’ resurrection.  All who pass through the baptismal waters are united in their public declaration of what God has done for them in making them a new creation.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:172 Corinthians 5:17
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
17 Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.

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Though I do not remember the specific date, I do recall the day I accepted Jesus as my Savior in 1977.  I was listening intently to the lesson being shared in children’s church and after it was over the teacher asked if anyone would like to invite Jesus into their hearts.  I had attended children’s church for many months and heard many stories about Jesus during that time.  But this particular day, I felt a tugging on my heart and a need to make sure that I did invite Jesus to come and live in my heart.  I remember stepping into a side room with a few other people and saying a prayer to ask Jesus to forgive me for the sins I had committed up to that point in my life.  I remember people sharing what my decision meant and how Jesus now had a home inside my heart.  The memory of that day has lingered with me ever since.

Shortly after that our church held a baptism service at the home of one of the congregations members.  They had an in-ground swimming pool.  I remember being nervous as I entered the water, but there were other people there with me, so it wasn’t too bad.  That was over 32 years ago now, but that day in that swimming pool in the backyard of a home in North Central Ohio represents the day I gave my first sermon.  For, it was the day I was baptized in the same manner as my Savior, when I publicly declared in front of all who were there that I had accepted Jesus into my life and that I had entered into the joy of being in relationship with Him and everyone else who was a member of His family.  It was one of the greatest days of my life, and I am so thankful for the peace and strength having a relationship with Jesus has provided me over the years.  I cannot imagine life without Him and without my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

If you haven’t entered into a personal relationship with Jesus yet, what are you waiting for?  He wants to welcome you into the family and expose you to the joy that comes from being forgiven! In fact, Jesus even prayed for your unity…

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 17:20-23John 17:20-23
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
20 I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. ²¹ I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me. ²² I have honored my followers in the same way that you honored me, in order that they may be one with each other, just as we are one. ²³ I am one with them, and you are one with me, so that they may become completely one. Then this world's people will know that you sent me. They will know that you love my followers as much as you love me.

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Regardless of any man-made denominational labels we may wear in modern society, whether we call ourselves Baptist, or Presbyterian, or Methodist, or Lutheran, etc.  If you believe in Jesus Christ and that He is the only way to heaven, then you can enjoy the unity that God has provided for all mankind to have with Him.  Jesus paved the way for all of humanity to be united…through His death and resurrection, and all of us who accept Him as Savior live in that unity.  And baptism simply punctuates that we have entered into that unity.

Give, and you will receive.  Your gift will return to you in full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.  The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

Luke 6:38Luke 6:38
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
38 If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.

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Our family gives financially to God’s Kingdom.    We have made that a non-negotiable practice from the time we first began managing money together.  And the amount we give is sacrificial.  It is not given from the left-overs of our resources, but from the first-fruits. God says we are not to rob Him, and that we are to give Him the first-fruits of our labors,  our income (Malachi 3:6-11Malachi 3:6-11
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
6 . Descendants of Jacob, I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I never change. That's why you haven't been wiped out, ⁷ even though you have ignored and disobeyed my laws ever since the time of your ancestors. But if you return to me, I will return to you. And yet you ask, “How can we return?” ⁸ You people are robbing me, your God. And, here you are, asking, “How are we robbing you?” You are robbing me of the offerings and of the ten percent that belongs to me. i the ten percent ... to me: The people of Israel were supposed to give a tenth of their harvests and of their flocks and herds to the Lord . ⁹ That's why your whole nation is under a curse. ¹⁰ ; I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing. j open the windows ... blessing: This may refer to rain, since there seems to have been a terrible drought at this time. ¹¹ I will also stop locusts k locusts: A kind of grasshopper that comes in swarms and causes great damage to plant life. from destroying your crops and keeping your vineyards from producing.

WP-Bible plugin).  I know this is a controversial subject and that many people would just as soon avoid it, but did you know God talked about money more than just about any other topic in the Bible?  Do you know why? Because what we do with the money we’re given (notice I didn’t say “our money”) is a barometer of our heart.  Jesus knew that, and if you want to get a clear indicator of what’s important to a person, just track where they’re spending their money.

I know lots of people who are more adamant about the appropriate 18% tip we’re supposed to leave on the table for a waitress or waiter than they are giving a sacrificial portion of their resources to God.  Interesting.  But, once we’ve learned how to make giving a matter of loving worship and obedience, we’re also freed from trying to figure out how little we can give so we can focus on trying to give even more for the right reasons.

Nothing we have really belongs to us.  All of it is a direct result of God’s unmerited favor and blessing on our lives, and He deserves the credit and gratitude for everything.  We have certainly not earned it, regardless of how much time, energy, and thought we’ve put into amassing “stuff.”  All of us, regardless of our position or paycheck, have fallen short of God’s standard for righteousness and holiness, so anything we’re given by Him is a gift, not an entitlement.

Why does our family give?  It’s simple, actually.  Because God first gave to us, and continues to give to us. He sacrificed for us, so how can we not do the same for Him?  And our biggest sacrifice could never compare with His.  He spared no expense to purchase our redemption.  He sacrificed the blood of His one and only Son so that you and I may have eternal life.  No matter how much we give to God, we will never and can never out-give Him.

So, does that mean we don’t stretch ourselves to give more because we know we can never out-give God anyway?  Of course not.  What it does mean is the more we give to God, the more evident our trust and faith in Him is, because we know that He will be faithful to always provide all we need, and the more He has the opportunity to prove His promise to bless us.  As we give to God, it demonstrates our recognition of Him as the Source of all we have and our gratitude to Him.  And God, in turn, gives back to us manifold blessings for our obedience.  He gave, we give in grateful return, and He gives even more.  It is a cycle of perpetual love and those who are obedient to God in this regard often find themselves blessed to the point of being able to give more and more.  The Bible also clearly states that those who are faithful in little will be faithful in much (Luke 16:10Luke 16:10
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
10 Anyone who can be trusted in little matters can also be trusted in important matters. But anyone who is dishonest in little matters will be dishonest in important matters.

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I can speak from experience, you can never out-give God.  He always provides, always supplies, and always blesses beyond our comprehension, often in ways we never saw coming. I urge you to take a careful look at your finances.  Is God and His Kingdom a priority in your budget? Does your level of giving reflect an immense trust and dependence on Him?  Be sure of this, you can never out-give God.  He stands ever ready to bless your faith in Him and has promised to always supply all of your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

We give because we’re grateful. We give because we’re in love with Jesus. We give not because we have to, but because we want to in light of all God has given to us.  How ’bout you?