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Philippians 2:1-5 (HCSB)

Philippians 2
1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus…

I received a call from a fellow Pastor while I browsed the aisles of a local Good Will Store. “David, they’ve fired me.” Over the next 2 hours, and many months afterwards, I helped this dear friend put his life back in perspective. I prayed for him, sent resume’s to local Churches, and lifted him up when I could. Could I have done more? Certainly. We all get busy, and we all get covered up with the affairs of life. But in my heart I tried my best to lovingly encourage him every time we spoke. I listened. I didn’t critique, but cared, and became the willing ear. Eventually the Lord led him from this valley and back to another congregation, a place of service, a place of blessing.

Then I had a need, was going through a valley, was suffering. As I tried to share with my friend he began to critique and not listen. He judged, he did not care. I could have done better. If I had done right, then I wouldn’t be where I am now.

What happened? Why do we forget mercy? Why do we receive grace from God and mercy from others, but so quickly forget to minister these things when we are on the mountaintop? And sadly, those who profess to be Christians are the worst at showing mercy. For some reason – I know not why – the most devoted Church members are the harshest in their treatment of others failures, but ready to receive mercy by the bucket when they themselves fail. They wish balm from Gilead when they err, but hell fire and mockery on those who err beside them.

I heard someone relate this as true. A biker, a young man who rode with the Hell’s Angels came to Church one Sunday and received the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. He attended Church off and on for a few weeks, then left never to return. When a fellow Church member saw him one day he stopped him and asked why he had ceased attending Church. The biker said “When I heard about Jesus I came forward and received Him, and was excited to be a part of such a wonderful group of people. But in time I noticed something. When I rode with Hell’s Angels we supported one another. We looked after one another. We cared for one another, and worked together at whatever we did. I expected the Church to be like this, but for the glory of Christ. It wasn’t. It wasn’t. Though I believe in Jesus, I can’t believe in any group that doesn’t love at least as much as a lost biker’s gang loves”.

Think about it.

The Most Important Question You Will Ever Answer

Matthew 16:15 … {Jesus asked} “Who do you say that I am?”

What we THINK ultimately effects what we DO. What you BELIEVE drives your actions.

You can hardly turn the television on today without hearing about some new poll that’s been taken. Political polls are on every channel, with people trying to guess who is going to be our next president. One poll will put the Republican candidate in the lead, whereas another poll will show the Democrat to be ahead. Truthfully, I don’t think anyone knows the future but our Lord. I’m going to go and vote my conscience – and I pray you do, too – and trust the Lord to protect us all afterwards!

I was having a quick lunch at a fast food restaurant the other day and watching CNN because that’s what was on. Across the bottom of the screen is the news ticker – a ribbon where they put little snippets of news. As I watched the ticker it read “1 in 5 Americans have HIV and do not know it”. That got my attention. I don’t know how they figured that out or even if it’s true – but that’s a scary figure. Immediately after this the next news ticker stated “1 in 5 Americans have no religion”. Think about that for a minute and let’s see if we can connect the dots.

“1 in 5 Americans have HIV”
“1 in 5 Americans have no religion”

Do you think there’s a correlation there? Our society is becoming more and more and more secular, more and more divorced from God. The Bible tells us ….

Psalms 10:3-4 For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings; the one who is greedy curses and despises the LORD. In all his scheming, the wicked arrogantly thinks: “There is no accountability, since God does not exist.”

When people do not think that God exists, when they think that they can only live for themselves today, then this belief in non-belief effects the way they live. If your world-view is that there is no God or that there is a God but He could care less what you do, then that world-view will effect how you live.

If to you God is standardless God or a non-existent God then you will live your life without regarding Him. But if to you God has standards – standards by which you will be judged – then this will influence how you live your lives.

The most important question you will ever be asked is the question that Jesus asks us in our text today. He asks:

Matthew 16:15 … {Jesus asked} “Who do you say that I am?”

Who is Jesus Christ to you? How you answer that question will determine how you live your life when you walk away from Church this morning. How you answer that question will effect how you talk to others, and what you cherish. How you answer this question will determine your success in the business world, and your success or failure as a Church. For I tell you, brothers and sisters, the local Church is failing to reach America! Dr. Jim Denison of the Denison Forum wrote:

“Fewer than half of Americans can identify Genesis as the first Book of the Bible. Only one third know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Only one half can name even one of the Gospels. … 60% of young people ages 15-29 have left active Church involvement.”

God calls His Church to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) and His people to “shine as bright lights in a world filled with darkness” (Philippians 2:15). That’s the goal.

Who do you say that Jesus is?