Reasons for Faith - III

Daniel 3: 3-6; 16-18, 28; John 17: 6-19, 23-26

Recall that we began two weeks ago with the B-I-B-L-E. Then, we lifted up Jesus, who loves you and me, as two basic reasons for our faith in God through Christ. Today we close with THE CHURCH. We are here because JESUS PRAYS FOR US, PROTECTS AND PREPARES US...so that HIS CHURCH UNIFIED, WILL PROCLAIM HIS WORD OF FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE TO THE WORLD.

Come with me. Return to the prayer of Jesus for us. Let me highlight a few key words and phrases. Here is how we shall be known!

First - We are a church who has Christ praying for us! What a tender prayer we have before us. Time does not allow a full development. Each time I need prayer and no one is close to pray for me, I read this prayer. Holy, sacred, tender, and yet, powerful! Notice how Jesus addresses God. He builds a crescendo of love for His Father and ours. He shows us how accessible God is:

1- Father...11- Holy Father...and Jesus closes His sacred prayer, 25 - Righteous Father! Sense the wonder and majesty of God. Our Lord knew how to talk to His Father for us! Hardly do we need to go beyond here. He knows our every need and desire. "Look at Ken, Ralph, Alice. Father, Holy Father, Righteous Father, hear them pray for their needs. Answer them, Father." First and foremost: We shall be known as people for whom Jesus prays! We meet Jesus, as we stand in need of prayer. But He does not stop there.

You see, Jesus knows something more about what we will be facing. So...How shall we be known? We shall be known to act like visitors here on earth. This is not our final home. So Jesus takes us through a holy drill before we get into battle.

We are a Church who is prepared to live IN THE WORLD (11)... but we are NOT TO BE OF THE WORLD (14)...just like Jesus! Like it or not, this is the only place where we are going to live our years. Many people want to escape...have an easier life, a better life. That won’t happen, if you claim Jesus in your life. Ever notice how our values get turned around? The things we held dear to us before Christ, now become available for His use...more than our own! His life in us - a taste of heaven while alive here! But to be prepared to face this world, Jesus reminds us that now His Father protects us!

Don’t take them OUT OF THE WORLD, BUT KEEP THEM FROM THE EVIL ONE! (15) We have God our Father protecting us! Our protection - His Word built into our lives. His Word becomes our strength and our joy! So, then...How shall we be known?

We are sent INTO THE WORLD, SATURATED (sanctified), in the Word of Truth! (18) And the reason? So that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me! (21) Your love and Mine ... may be in them...and us! (26)

We shall be known as HIS CHURCH WHO CAN NOW PROCLAIM JESUS CHRIST AS LORD...THE ONLY WAY TO THE FATHER. Others will see through us that God loves them! His love, His grace to our culture in our time. And right there, right at the culture we live in, becomes the battleground. We can win or lose, depending on how we are known. We are in a battle! Some think the battle is to get more members and keep the ones that we have. The battle is bigger than that! We better be sure how we are known.

Since 1978, our denomination has been faced with a desire by a minority to include as candidates for church office, those who are avowed, practicing homosexuals. Until now, the Church has stood against this desire. But many are wearing down, or out! The idols of our culture press in for their demands to be worshiped. Bow to political correctness, just like bowing to the idol of King Nebuchadnezzar. That idol was 90 feet tall by 9 feet across. Hard to miss! The issue is not whether we ordain certain identified persons to the gospel ministry. The issue always will be: will God of our Bible be our God? How shall we be known? Some Presbyterians are still willing to stand...to burn rather than bow, like those three young men facing the King of Babylon.

Sweeping across our denomination today is a movement that has emerged from churches just like ours. The Confessing Church Movement was birthed out of a cry to God that our denomination lost its footing, or was slipping away from basic truth. Summit Presbyterian Church, near Butler, Pennsylvania, became the first church to speak up. They voted to affirm the classic Reformed position regarding Christ, the Scriptures, and living by the grace of God. Beaver-Butler Presbytery made a similar "Confession," and challenged the rest of us to prayerfully consider what we will do. No one calls for leaving the Presbyterian Church. Simply take a stand on His truth.

What is that truth? Here is the "Confession."

1-That Jesus Christ is the only way to God;

Those three phrases were not invented by any church or session. They reflect the three basic tenets of Reformed theology: solus Christus, solas scriptura, sola gratia. Jean Calvin understood the three tenets of our faith. He lived by them. They were the framework for allowing the Word of God to speak to his culture.

Your elders on the current Session have two great challenges before them. They voted to take some positive steps about our building and future ministry needs.. Architect drawings can be seen in the fellowship hall. People from the committee will help you understand them. Sometime in the near future, we hope to come to you with an invitation to consider your building needs. We have ministry to do. New buildings may help us!

Your Session also received some information on the Confessing Church Movement at our last stated meeting in August. During this month they have been challenged to do their own study, ask questions, and especially seek God through prayer and His Word. I do not know what the discussion will be. Both issues are vitally important to our church.

What to do? We have ministry to do, but we must be clear how we shall be known. If we are unclear or uncertain about Jesus Christ, His Word and His power for living each day, we risk losing the battle to our culture.

This issue comes before our presbytery in February, 2002. Amendment A, if passed by a simple majority of our nation’s presbyteries, will repeal Form of Government 6.0106b:

So, if 87 presbyteries vote "yes," it will be gone. Our presbytery votes February, 2002. If this section disappears, each presbytery and local church session will determine the qualifications of candidates for church leadership.

The high priestly prayer of Jesus seems powerless in the face of culture accommodation. I disagree. Return to that Babylonian king. The fires were hot. The men were not!

Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of the blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand...but if not, let it be known to you, O king, we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. (Daniel 3.17,18) We may burn, but we won’t bow!

Want to know where I stand? Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. The Word of God is the only infallible rule of faith and practice. I will strive to be holy in all aspects of my life. "Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego! Got room for one more to stand with you?"

I will stand with men like that in this time. You see, I have Jesus praying for me. I know I am protected by His Father ... My Father. I have His Word saturating my life. I can proclaim Him without fear! I know Him...and He is able to give hope to any person who thinks that they cannot be changed! There is hope in Christ!

I want to be know as one who stood up for Jesus Christ as part of His Church. That is how I want to be known. Question: where will you stand? How will you be known?