4-14-24 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

LOVE REIGNS: Love Reigns Over Our Past 4-14-24

LOVE REIGNS: Love Reigns Over Our Past 4-14-24

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Last week, we began a new series titled Love Reigns. We celebrated together the miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ because his victory over death is proof that he is the true King over everything. We committed once again to live under the reign of Jesus’ love so we might become more like him. Today we continue in this new series as we consider the ways that the love of God reigns over our past. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we do not have to be controlled by the mistakes or miscues that happened long ago.

 

Many people believe that their past is a hinderance to their present and future. It can be a heavy burden to bear when you feel weighed down by previous choices you made. One area in life where the past can have such difficult consequences is sports.  

 

Story: Almost every sport on earth has some story about a team, franchise, or organization that has bad luck because of their past. One of the most famous streaks of misfortune came upon the Boston Red Sox, when, in 1919, Harry Frazee made the decision to sell the famous Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Many fans believe that that decision was the inauguration of an 86-year drought in World Championships. It was not until 2004 that it was finally broken. For 86 years they bore this burden, believing that they could never get past their past. There are many other supposed legends of bad luck based on the past, such as the so-called Madden Cruse or the Sports Illustrated Cover curse or the Chicago Cubs curse of the Billy Goat.

 

The past does not just weigh us down in the sports world, many of us can probably point to one or two decisions which we have made that we have trouble living down. Some decisions are just honest mistakes that do not have many consequences, while others can have devastating effects that last for years. Though we cannot change our past, though many would love to, we can ensure that our past does not control our present nor our future.  

 

The gospels are full of stories of individuals with shady pasts experiencing a fresh start because of their interactions with Jesus. The New Testament often speaks about the transforming power of Jesus’ selfless sacrifice on the cross and His triumphant resurrection from the grave. When people placed their trust in Jesus, they were different, they were forgiven, and they were made new. It is the greatest news of all that all of our decisions, that have caused such guilt and shame, can be nullified by Jesus’ love. Paul speaks to this truth in 2 Corinthians.

 

”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!“

            2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

 

Paul sets up this verse by bragging on God’s amazing love that would offer Jesus’ life to rescue ours. This is where we find this word “therefore”. It is because of God’s love that we who are in Christ is a new creation. This phrase, “in Christ”, is used often within the New Testament. In fact, it is used nearly 216 times in Paul’s letters. It is a way of showing connection to Jesus and union with Jesus. When we are united with Jesus because of our faith in him, we experience a transformation that makes us new. In order for this newness to be a reality, the old has to then be removed. 

 

I.  OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW

 

            A.  God removes the old

 

The love of God removes all of the old sin, shame, guilt, mistakes, and failures from our lives. When God’s love reigns in us, it overpowers the hold that all the old things used to have in our lives. However, it has to be cleaned up, and space made for the new things God wants to do in us.

 

Story: Paula and I had an opportunity 14 years ago to remodel our home.  Granted we had no choice as vandals destroyed 3 of our 4 floors.  The restoration company came and pulled everything out.  When doing your own restoration, you start by tearing out all the old that has to go.  Chip Gaines and his show Fixer Upper made the phrase “demo day” famous. Demo Day is when a remodel begins and everything old is removed, often by force, to make way for the new materials. 

 

When God comes into our lives, he does not simply overlook our sinful past. Instead, he forgives it and removes it so that it does not have power over us anymore. We confess our past to Jesus in order to experience his radical forgiveness. To confess means to agree with God. When we confess, we acknowledge the old sinful ways as just that, old and outdated. When we confess, we agree to allow God to replace those sinful ways with godly ways that are new and better. We go from telling lies to speaking truth, from being selfish to being selfless, from spreading gossip to offering encouragement, and from burning with anger to being filled with joy.

 

When remodeling a house, it is important to remove any of the old and rotten pieces and replace them with new and fresh materials. If you do not take out the old parts, then they are destined to come back to haunt us. When we try to live as a new creation while holding on to our past vices, we end up frustrated, and our relationship with God and others always suffers. We have to allow God to remove it all, start us fresh with a renewed heart, and instill within us a desire to live for Him.

 

The Bible says it like this.

 

”For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.“

            Psalms 103:11-12 NIV

 

We do not have to walk around defeated and full of shame anymore. If you are a Christian and a disciple of Christ, you can be confident in the fact that you have been forgiven, and your sin has been removed as far as the East is from the West. You are a new creation. Your past does not control your present nor your future. 

 

            B.  God reconciles with us

 

”All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.“

            2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NIV

 

This is all God’s gracious gift. It is all from him. This means that getting past our past is not something we can do on our own. We cannot overcome our mistakes or make up for them by doing good things. God has reconciled us to himself. Though our sin broke our relationship with him, his love reigns over our sin and makes us right with him. 

 

Story: I was told a story a few weeks ago about a son who liked to take his mom’s car out at night without her permission.  Actually, he didn’t even have a license yet.  One night he got into an accident and left the car right where it happened.  When mom saw the car was missing, the son said that someone must have stolen the car.  Eventually the car was found, but the “thief” was never apprehended.  When the son grew into a successful adult, he confessed to his mom what he had done and paid her for the car.  

 

When we confess our sin against God and receive his forgiveness, we experience a restored relationship with him. Love reigns in us and we are made new.

 

Not only that, but we then become conduits of this reigning love for others around us.

 

II. GOD’S LOVE FOR US AND GOD’S LOVE THROUGH US

 

            A.  God’s love is understood through the sacrifice of Jesus.

 

”He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world“

            1 John 2:2 NIV

 

            B.  God’s love is transmitted through the lives of those who have been reconciled.

 

”We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.“

            2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV

 

God is interested in the entire world being reconciled to himself. He does not want anyone to live a life weighed down by a sinful past or shackled by shame and guilt. God extended grace to us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Now we are to be ambassadors who implore others to confess their sin and be reconciled to God as well. 

 

”God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.“

            2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

 

Jesus took on our sin, mistakes, brokenness, and past shame and nailed it to the cross. He became sin on our behalf, even though he was perfect and sinless. It was an act of love for him to die for us, even as we were still sinners. 

 

            C.  God’s love is shared through the messiness of life.

 

Jesus wants to make his appeal to the world through the way we live and the things we say. It has been made possible through the person of Jesus Christ.

 

A love for God is better caught than taught. People want to SEE you live it out. We can tell people all day long about being a Christian and what it is like to have our past wiped clean. However, people do not want to have you lecture them, they want to see you live it. If they see the joy that comes from knowing God and the freedom from being united with Christ in your life, then they may be drawn to a reconciled life with God as well. 

 

A love for God is contagious. People want to HEAR that it means something to you. 

 

Illustration: Turn to someone next to you and tell him or her about your favorite movie, sports team, family member, or something else you really care about. (Let the congregation share about their passion for something.) This was probably not a challenge. It would have been different if I told you to tell the person next to you about your last visit to the DMV or your recent meeting with your tax accountant. Our passion is evident when we share with others. 

 

When a person really loves something or someone, they cannot help but tell other people about it. It just oozes out of them. When we really love God and his love truly reigns in our lives, talking about him and celebrating his love for us should be second nature. Tell your story. Share how your past has been forgiven. Let people know who you were before you met Jesus, how you met Jesus, and who you are now since He has changed your life. 

 

III. OUR WRONGNESS IS REPLACED BY GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS

 

            A.  You are the righteousness of God.

 

There is an incredible exchange that takes place at the cross of Calvary. Jesus takes on our wrong way of living, and we are given the righteousness of God. The Greek meaning behind this righteousness is the idea that we are approved in the eyes of God. His righteousness is his divine approval. Maybe some of you in this room need to hear this today. If you are united with Christ, if you are in him by your profession of faith, then God does not see your sinful past. He looks through the blood of Jesus Christ and sees you as forgiven. It seems too good to be true, but that is the good news of the gospel.

 

”This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.“

            1 John 4:10 NIV

 

            B.  You don’t need to add anything to God’s atoning sacrifice.

           

Story: I recently read a story about a company that made cake mix for sales in grocery stores. They expected to be wildly successful because their ingredient list and instructions were so simple. All the public had to do was add water. To their surprise, sales slumped. They did not sell as they had anticipated. After doing some research, they found that their customers were uneasy about buying a cake mix that only required water. It seemed too easy, and therefore it must not be trustworthy. So, they changed the ingredients and instructions to include a single egg. Sales spiked, and the cake mix was very successful. 

 

I have found that often the truth that God has forgiven us our past by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is too good to be true and far too simple to trust. Many of us think we have to add to it somehow with penance that is not required or by trying to earn something that is priceless. Rather, we are invited to simply receive the love of God and allow it to reign in our lives. Then, and only then, will we experience the joy and freedom of new life. 

 

CONCLUSION

 

We are new creations, created to love.  Our wrongness has been exchanged for His righteousness.

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.  

S.U.M. It Up ! 4-10-24

               

4-7-24 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

LOVE REIGNS: Love Reigns 4-7-24

LOVE REIGNS: Love Reigns 4-7-24

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Today may not be Easter, but it is Resurrection Day!  It is also the beginning of a powerful sermon series called “Love Reigns.” Together, for four weeks, we will be discovering all the ways that God’s amazing love transforms our past, present, and future. 

 

Story: Many people underestimate the power of love. I would argue, however, that it is the most powerful force on earth. Many men in the room may be able to relate to the kind of things that love drove them to do in order to win the hearts of their girlfriends or wives. I remember when I first met my wife, I was unsure how to start a conversation with her. We had been introduced.  She saw me compete in manly competition (actually a contest to see who could drink a Pepsi the fastest with a baby bottle nipple on the bottle).  When I finally worked up the guts to speak to ask her out, she was passed out in the van.  But I found the courage and the rest is history. I have heard harrowing stories of men risking total embarrassment to try and impress the ones they love.

 

Love is the driving force behind our sacrificial actions toward our family and friends. We will gladly pay any price in order to demonstrate how much we care. Love is powerful, and it moves us to do amazing things. Before there was ever an Easter Sunday, there was a Good Friday. Before there ever was a resurrection, there first had to be a death. 

 

I.  THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE KING

 

        A.  Rome controlled the Ancient Near East.

                   1.  Herod the Great was installed as King of Israel.

 

For 33 years, Jesus Christ walked the earth while serving the hungry, healing the broken, and delivering the oppressed. He announced the coming Kingdom of God and the restoration of all things. He claimed to be the Son of God, and many believed him to be the true King of all things. This kind of thinking and teaching caused a lot of conflict in the area that Jesus served in. You see, at that time, the ruler of the Ancient Near East was Rome. Rome had installed a vassal king named Herod the Great to keep things in Israel under control. Herod was a tyrant and was constantly afraid that his authority would be undermined. Another potential king would be a threat to Roman rule and therefore, had to be eradicated. Both Herod and Jesus could not reign over Israel. 

 

          B.  Jesus was a threat.

                     1.  Jesus threatened to destabilize Palestine.

                     2.  Jesus threatened to oust Herod.

                                 a.  He was the King of the Jews.

                                 b.  He was the favorite of the people.

                                 c.  He was the momentary choice of the Zealots.

 

”As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews. Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.“

        Matthew 27:32-42 NIV

 

          C.  Jesus was the scapegoat.

                      1.  He was humiliated.

                      2.  He was officially condemned.

                      3.  He was eliminated as a threat.

 

         D.  Jesus was the king.

                     1.  Their treatment could not change him.

                      2. Jesus was not subject to their expectations.

                      3.  Even in death he could reign.

 

Illustration: (Have a chair on stage with you to demonstrate the Lordship of Jesus.) In our lives, there can only be one king as well. It has been said that on the throne of our hearts sits the one who reigns in our lives. We must choose whether that will be Jesus or whether it will be ourselves. (Sit in the chair.) When we are on the throne of our hearts, we make decisions based on what we want. We often live selfishly. The other choice we have is to put Jesus on the throne of our lives. (Get out of the chair and leave it empty.) When Jesus is on the throne of our lives, love reigns. We listen to his leading. We put others first. We live sacrificially. So, when it comes to the way you speak, act, and live? There can only be one king. 

 

If Jesus is dead, then none of this matters, but if he is rose from the dead, then that changes everything! He is King.

 

II.  LOVE OVERCAME DEATH

 

           A.  The resurrection demonstrates the power of God’s love.

 

Three days after Jesus was crucified and laid in the tomb, to everyone’s shock and amazement, he appeared in bodily form to many of the disciples and others. This had never happened before. They had seen him killed. They knew he was dead and now he was eating with them, walking with them, and talking with them. Jesus’ love for humanity had overcome death and defeated evil once and for all. His resurrection is the proof that he was indeed, the true King over all

 

           B.  The resurrection demonstrates the work of God.

 

Story: The renowned artist Paul Gustave Dore (1821-1883) lost his passport while traveling in Europe. When he came to a border crossing, he explained his predicament to one of the guards. Giving his name to the official, Dore hoped he would be recognized and allowed to pass. The guard, however, said that many people attempted to cross the border by claiming to be persons they were not. He needed proof.

 

Dore insisted that he was the man he claimed to be. "All right," said the official, "we'll give you a test, and if you pass it, we'll allow you to go through." Handing him a pencil and a sheet of paper, he told the artist to sketch several people standing nearby. Dore did it so quickly and skillfully that the guard was convinced he was indeed who he claimed to be. His work confirmed his word. (Our Daily Bread January 6. 1993).

 

           C.  The resurrection confirms the Word of God.

 

Jesus’ work confirmed his word as well. Though many doubted him and mocked him, death did not have the last word and final say. Love did. The scripture tells us this is true in one of the most famous passages of all. 

 

”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.“

           John 3:16 NIV

 

God so loved the world that he sent Jesus to live and to die. When we put our faith, hope, and trust in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we will be saved. This is why we celebrate today. We have been given an opportunity for eternal life. We know that because of Jesus, the worst thing that will happen to us will not be the last thing that happens to us because we will experience resurrection and new life. 

 

           D.  The resurrection validates our calling.

 

After Jesus had resurrected, His final words to his followers reveal to us the truth behind the Easter story. 

 

”Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”“

        Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

 

Easter is the day that Jesus was given all authority on heaven and on earth. No matter how many doubted, he is the King of the Jews. No matter how many mocked him, He was able to rescue himself, and the entire world, as well. No matter how many questioned his power, he did defeat the cross, once and for all. The love of God was the authority and was now reigning over the entire world and our lives as well. 

 

His final instruction for all of his followers was to go into the whole world and make disciples. He told them to spread the good news of his resurrection and love to all who would listen. We have been invited to teach the way of Jesus because it changes the world. 

 

III.  LET LOVE REIGN IN YOU

 

          A.  Love reigns when we follow Jesus’ instructions.

 

Today, if you consider yourself a Christian, this instruction has been given to you as well. You are to be a part of making disciples. The Greek word used in this passage for disciple is a form of the word mathetes, which means learner or student. We are to allow ourselves to be students and learners of the way of Christ and to help others become learners and students as well. It holds with it a feeling of progression. To be a disciple is to be in a life-long process of becoming more like Jesus. Over time, we learn to live generous lives, we learn to forgive, we learn to serve others, we learn to practice self-control, and we learn to be people of peace. When we submit to the love of Jesus in our lives, we are compelled to live life like him and to invite others to join us. This is what it means to let love reign in us. 

 

Story: I became a believer when I was 14. I was fully aware of the decision I had made.  I had held off for years because I knew that He required everything. I wanted to give him my life. Since I gave my life to Jesus, I have seen my life change in so many wonderful ways. I have spent 30 years of my life allowing God to have more and more of my life. I am a better husband, father, friend, and pastor because of the decision I made to be a disciple. (This story needs to express a personal experience with discipleship.)

 

           B.  Love reigns when we love one another.

 

”Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.“

           1 John 4:7-12 NIV

 

           C.  Love reigns when we trust Jesus.

 

The final reminder that we are given by Jesus before he ascends into heaven, is that he will always be with us until the very end. Maybe today you feel like God has forgotten about you. I want to remind you that you are never alone. Jesus lives and dwells inside of those who trust him by the power of the Holy Spirit. This means that no matter what you go through and no matter what you face, you are not alone. 

 

CONCLUSION

 

There can only be one king.  Love overcame death.  Let love reign in you.

 

I am convinced that in the room today there are two types of people. 

 

One: there are some here who have never made the decision to let love reign in their lives and to follow Jesus. Maybe you have been waiting for Jesus to prove himself to you and it has not happened yet. Maybe you don’t want to give up control of your life and so you have never submitted to Jesus. Today, I want to invite you to give your life to Jesus. I want to invite you to offer him your heart and to become a disciple and a student of his for the rest of your life. To do this is very simple. Let me lead you in this prayer. 

 

Two: there may be some here today who have trusted in Jesus before but have grown tired of obeying him. Maybe you have strayed from Him and have lived for yourself. Easter reminds us that we can once again repent and obey. If this is you today, I want to remind you that Jesus promised never to leave us. He still loves you and is still with you.  Commit once again to live for Him.

 

This Easter, may you see the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the proof of his love, and may you let that love reign in your life. May you join God in spreading this good news with the entire world. He is risen. Happy Easter!

 

My family has deep trust in the resurrection of Jesus.  That has been demonstrated powerfully in this past 2 weeks.  The hospitalization and death of my father-in-law tested what we claim to believe.  Our faith gives us hope that what was promised is true.  Life is more than just living and dying.  It is more than life and death.  Life in Jesus is life eternal.

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.