Why Have you Forsaken Me

During his darkest hours, Jesus craved connection.

Matthew 27:45–46 (ESV)

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

In the darkness Jesus kept crying out to God, “Why have you forsaken me?”

Craving

We crave connection when things are the darkest.

Being alone makes everything worse.

Jesus nearly died the night before the crucifixion.

Matthew 26:38 (ESV)

Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”

“… watch with me.” Do you feel his desire for connection?

Jesus desire for connection is scattered through the New Testament.

• “I am the vine. You are the branches.” Jn. 15:5
• “I in them and You in me.” – Jn. 17:23
• “Remember me.” – Lk. 22:19 (Lit. “In remembrance of me)

The human craving for connection finds it’s roots in a God who embraces and looks for connection.

“Where are you Adam.” Gen. 3:9

Connecting factors:

• We only connect with those we trust.
• Transparency and vulnerability fuel connection. Fakers can’t connect.
• Connection suggests acceptance.
• Judging others destroys connection.

Glorify God and Pass the Salt

Christians say, “Glorify God,” as easily as, “Pass the salt.” Actually, pass the salt may have more meaning.

We exist to glorify God. The Church exists to glorify God. Even, nature exists to glorify God. But, glorifying God isn’t a mystical experience that happens in isolation.

One behavior best exemplifies what it means to glorify God.

One purpose:

Everything the Church does has one purpose – winning people to Jesus and helping them grow so they can win people to Jesus. We are here to win people.

Paul teaches us that the Church is the body of Christ. Luke tells us that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. So, if we are the body of Christ, we are here to seek and save the lost.

Lets give teeth to religious language and say that everything the Church is here to do one basic thing - win people to Jesus and help them grow so they can win people to Jesus. Nothing less. Nothing more. Nothing else.

Everything:

What the Church does:

1. Teaching
2. Fellowship
3. Worship
4. Support
5. Encouragement
6. Friendship
7. Social engagement
8. Meeting needs
9. You name it ….

Everything we do traces back to one objective, win people to Jesus.

The “edification of the saints,” is so they can win people.

Teaching the Bible loses it’s ultimate purpose if it doesn’t equip us to win people. Furthermore, fellowship isn’t just for our comfort and enjoyment. It’s to enable us to win people.

Winning people gives purpose and meaning to everything believers do. Without the objective of winning people, we’re just going through the motions and God is not glorified, regardless of what you do.

Method:

The method is as clear as the mission. Love people.

Now that I think about it, glorifying God is a bit like passing the salt.

Stop Making it Difficult

The first church fight addressed issues we grapple with today.

Who can be part of us?

What do you have to do to belong?

The issue, back then, was do you have to keep the law to be/become a Christian?

The fight is recorded in Acts 15. After the fight, James summarizes the key principle in verse 19 (NIV):

It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

In other words, make it easy. The rule applies to those who have and those who are turning.

Make it easy:

1. Invite people to turn TO God. It’s easy to point out what’s bad. Turn away from drugs, sex, and rock-n-roll, for example. But, the gospel is good news, not bad.
2. Forget about fixing people. Let God fix.
3. Err on the side of grace. When in doubt choose compassion over confrontation.
4. Avoid arguments on peripheral issues. Trusting Jesus is THE issue. Nothing else matters until that issue is resolved.

Four rules:

The four rules James gave gentile believers in Acts 15:20 (NIV) illustrate the “make it easy” rule.

Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.

1. No “idol” food.
2. No sexual immorality.
3. No strangled animals.
4. Drain the blood.

Why these rules? Acts 15:21 (NIV):

For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.

James says the principle of “don’t make it difficult,” applies both ways. Jewish believers in Jerusalem are working to make it easy for Gentiles to turn to God. Gentile believers should be concerned for the Jews in their communities. Make it easy for them to turn to God, too. Avoid offensive behaviors for the sake of the Gospel. 

Praying for Boldness

We have forgotten that we are believers today because of a long line of men and women who boldly spoke up when silence would have been easy, even desirable.

They were told to shut-up, but they would not and could not.

Acts 4:20, “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.

In situations where we would pray for safety and protection, they prayed for boldness.

Acts 4:29, “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”

After severe beatings, Dr. Luke, the careful historian, writes that they rejoiced rather than whining. When it would have been smart to shut up, they kept talking.

Acts 5:42, “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”

Their message was simple: Jesus

Their mission was simple: Talk about Jesus.

Those of us who are gripped more by fear than faith cannot imagine a boldness like theirs. But, we can step toward it.

Step one: Pray for boldness. (When was the last time you did that?)

Step two: Go beyond praying for opportunity to praying, “Help me seize opportunities to speak up.”

Step three: Go beyond praying to seize opportunities to praying, “Help me make opportunities to speak for Jesus.”

The story of Jesus escaped the first century because of bold people who spoke up when they were told to shut-up. Without their boldness, we would not have heard the story of what they heard with their ears,  saw with their eyes, and touched with their hands.

No Demands – No Obligations

Christianity is not about demands and obligations. It’s about love and love can’t be demanded.

Life, on the other hand, is filled with never ending demands. Do…do…do, go…go…go, work…work…work. But, grace can’t obligate.

The only demand of grace is receiving it by faith. The more I talk about grace the more I enjoy grace and the more I want to talk about it. I’m addicted.

Grace means gift. Gifts exclude compensation.

Any attempt to pay for grace blocks it. 

Rewards:

God protects free grace by rewarding service. Rewards remove any hint that obedience is payment for grace.

God pays for service – rewards – so no one can brag they are paying for grace.

Illustration:

Think of God as a graceful dancer. Our maker dances His way to us. The melodies of grace permeate His presence.

He risks looking foolish by dancing alone. All we do is take it in. As the music sinks into our hearts, He invites us to join.

He leads. We follow.  We respond. It all starts and ends right here in the dance of grace.

Grace cannot demand love.  Grace enables love.

How to be a Friend of “Sinners”

It’s a great compliment to have self-righteous Christians complain that you’re too friendly with non-Christians. The religious elite made a similar complaint about Jesus – the friend of sinners (Lk. 7:34).

But there’s another side to this issue.

1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV) “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Our friends predict our future.

How can you be a friend to “sinners”?

The inner circle:

Cultivate and develop an inner circle of three deeply committed believers. One of them should be a visionary like Peter. One should be a doer like James. And the other, should be a lover like John.

Questions to ask before becoming a “friend of sinners”:

1. Do you know who you are?
2. Where do you look for approval? Or, who are you trying to please?
3. Are you deeply connected to committed believers?
4. Can you explain the gospel quickly, simply, and clearly. (The best way to do that is tell your own story of trusting Jesus.”
5. Do you deeply love “sinners”? If God loved the world, so can you.

Three attitudes:

Every believer who aspires to be a friend of sinners knows they are:

1. “One of” not “one above.” Christianity isn’t morality. Christianity is Jesus. Everyone is in the “falling short” bucket. The fact that you may sin less doesn’t make you sinless.
2. Not trying to change or reform “sinners”. Your job is sharing Jesus. Changes are his business. Getting people to sin less, might make life better, but it doesn’t help in the long-term.
3. Dedicated to serve others, not be served. Jesus came as one who serves and you aren’t above Him. The path to influence is the path of service. Solve a problem. Meet a need.

Embrace these attitudes or you’re doing more damage than good.

Be a friend of sinners. But, fasten your spiritual seat-belt. You’re in for a challenging ride.

The Tongue Rule Challenge

Of all the people in the world, Christians should use words more skillfully than anyone.

Ephesians 4:29 (GNB)

Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.

Sadly, we have a reputation for speaking against things rather than for. Frankly, we are often known for negativity.

Positive speech, in some Christians circles, seems like a sin. We go so far as to suggest that railing against something indicates strength and holiness. In reality, tearing down is unbiblical, misguided, and weak.

Yes, there are exceptions. Jesus hammered the religious elite. If you’re inclined to fight, attack denominational leaders who choose law over grace. Call them pretty coffins full of dried up bones.

But, the tongue rule may be a better option.

The tongue rule:

“Only open your mouth to make something better.”

Other than that, be quiet.

Even if you’re pointing out a problem, only point it out so you can explore how to make it better.

Sounds simple enough. But, James, the brother of Jesus said,

But no one has ever been able to tame the tongue. It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison. James 3:8 (GNB)

Developing a graceful tongue:

If you enjoy challenges, adopt the tongue rule challenge.

1. It’s a journey.
2. Receive and enjoy God’s favor.
3. Treat others the way God treats you.
4. Find some friends who are on the “tongue taming” journey with you.
5. Start again after you screw up. Grace is beginning again, again.
6. Talk less. But, realize silence isn’t the goal, building up is.
7. Only speak to make things better.