Allen's Sermons
Go Back to SermonsDay of Hope 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Basic Training 4: The Sufficiency of Christ Allen R. Hunt 3/18/07
Ephesians 1.1-3 Day of Hope Mount Pisgah
I. I love to get mail – always have – so much better than email
Something exciting about running out to the mailbox and peeking in
Some days, a wonderful letter or Sports Illustrated; other days, junk mail
Best thing are surprises – unexpected
Maybe that is why I like Paul so much – missionary apostle
Wrote letters – sent by courier to churches he started in Europe and Asia
In fact, Paul’s letters – big part of my passion – focus of my doctorate
Some basic things to learn about his letters – start the same way
Signature – common practice then that signature came first
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
Then address To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus
Salutation Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Been habit for number of years to end my letters the same way – Grace and peace
Grace – foundation of life in Christ – God’s good grace
Has made Peace possible – peace with God, peace in ourselves, peace with each other
Grace and Peace
Usually moves into a thanksgiving next – but here Paul praises God
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Pretty big statement, huh? Every spiritual blessing – in Christ
Means that Christ is our sufficiency
I. Sufficiency: What does it mean? (Eph. 1.1-3; 2 Peter 1.2-4; 2 Tim. 3.16-17; Phlp. 2.12-13)
1) We already have everything we need to succeed spiritually
Now these are bold statements – everything we need, we already have in Christ
2) Allen’s Biblical Word for Sufficiency: EHAFLRIG (Eph. 1.3-14)
Altar overflows today in abundance – evidence of what we receive in Christ
Every Spiritual Blessing(1.3) – Given us every blessing
Holy and Blameless(1.4) – big plans for you
Adopted as sons and daughters (1.5) – His child
Forgiveness of sins (1.7) – fresh start, wash away old
Lavish grace of God (1.8) – God’s generous grace washing over you
Revealed will and mystery of God (1.9) – know the destiny of world
Inheritance (1.14) – know your future
Guaranteed seal of the Holy Spirit (1.13) – know He is with you now
When I was very little, my family lived in Nashville for several years
One of the few memories I have of Nashville was church – Calvary UMC
I remember vividly the face and fiery style of pastor Doyle Masters
A few years after we left Nashville, Doyle got news – at 48, brain cancer
At Thanksgiving 1978, he wrote his congregation a letter
“The options open to me, medically, are minimal…The other option is to turn this whole matter over to God, in faith, for his healing and ultimate will. What the future holds, we do not know, but we know God holds it…These past few days have rolled over us like an avalanche, leaving in their wake some central certainties which make up my thanksgiving list. Out of the dark night of the soul has come the sunlight of God’s love. I’m thankful for God who is real and personal, for Jesus Christ who is present in power, and for the Holy Spirit who is by our side in every struggle…My Thanksgiving list this year is made not from what I have but from WHO has me. A God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above everything we ask or think.”
At worst moment, Doyle knew – he possessed every blessing
Sufficiency
Doyle died not long after that – but he died an immeasurably wealthy man
II. When we get into trouble
We are sinful folks – get confused – sometimes forget, resist, or reject God
1) When we substitute material things for spiritual things
Peter in Mark – rebukes Jesus just after Jesus has instructed the disciples on who He is
Peter sees no way that Son of God would suffer and die
Jesus says, “Get behind me, Satan, for you have your mind of earthly things rather than on things of God.”
Peter was substituting earthly ambitions for eternal - poverty
And it still occurs today
2) Harvard Med School and WHO just released a study
The richest country: the saddest people
America is the richest nation and we are the saddest people
10% of us say we struggle with major depression, bi-polar, or chronic minor depression
And just over 18% found to experience mood and anxiety disorders like OCD and panic
Survey of 14 countries – USA highest – high number in Ukraine (expect) and France
But lowest rates were places like Italy (3.8%), Mexico (4.8%) where 50MM live below poverty line and Nigeria – desperately poor, famously corrupt, violent divides between Muslims and Christians, and filthy – depression rate of 0.8%
Depression is serious matter – as is mental illness – experienced that personally
But might it just be true that our happiness and contentment are not tied nearly so much to what we have as to WHO has us?
That maybe we are looking for meaning and purpose and happiness in the wrong places –
When we substitute material things for spiritual – end up spiritually poor and hungry
Remember that book, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom?
Morrie was Mitch’s favorite prof in college – diagnosed with terminal illness
Mitch began meeting with him on Tuesdays to record his final words of wisdom
One day, Morrie, said, “Wherever I went in my life, I met people wanting to gobble up something new. Gobble up a new car. Gobble up a new piece of property. Gobble up the latest toy. And they always want to tell you about it – Guess what I got? Guess what I got?....These were people so hungry for love that they were accepting substitutes. They were embracing material things and expecting a sort of hug back. But it never works…”
Christ is our sufficiency - EHAFLRIG
III. The Cure (Eph. 2.10; Col. 1.10)
Eph. 2.10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Cure comes in knowing you were created by God for a purpose – good works
How can this be?
1) We are people with every spiritual blessing
My Thanksgiving list this year is made not from what I have but from WHO has me
EHAFLRIG – I have it all
2) We are people of grace and peace (1.3)
Remember – we are people of grace and peace – Paul always started that way
That grace and peace is lived out in how we use and enjoy every spiritual blessing
Jeanette
“I’ve shared with some of you that my mother died in childbirth with me and my father left 5 children two years later with my grandmother and eldest brother Paul, who was sixteen at the time. We were on welfare and lived in a public housing project. My grandmother’s faith saw her through much as she had already raised seven children on her own because her husband had left her for another woman.
We had nothing by material standards but my grandmother said God loved us just the same as anyone else. People from our church picked me up for any night functions and on Sundays we walked to the church. Everyone in that church knew the Milling children and made sure we never felt left out.
One summer my church was joining with other churches to send kids to camp. The cost of the camp was $15 (for those of you wondering, I really am only 29). I was sure I couldn’t go because we got $93 a month from welfare. I was really surprised when my grandmother said she thought I could go. She said she would do her best to save the money and try to send me. I did get to go and the highlight of the camp was the bonfires we had where the counselors shared their love of Christ with us.
The first night we did this a lot of kids accepted Christ and I didn’t go forward, I remembered crying for a long time that night. I talked to the counselors telling them I wish I had gone forward to accept Christ and shared how much I loved Jesus. The next night I was one of the first ones to go forward. I told everyone I wanted to be a missionary so I could share the love of Christ I had experienced with others.
Now most of you probably think that’s a good story but the story doesn’t end there. When I got home I couldn’t wait to tell my grandmother I had accepted Christ but before I could tell Grandma this she wanted to show me something. She took me into our bedroom because we shared a bedroom and there on the bed were five new outfits. My grandmother was so excited. She said, “Jeanette, I was able to buy the material for these dresses and make them for you because the church took up a collection for you to go to camp.” All these years later, I see the dresses laying there, my grandmother’s excitement, and remember how full I was in that moment because I rarely ever got anything new.
That church reached out to me and my brothers and sisters in so many ways, they fed us when we were hungry, gave us transportation when we had none, clothed us by passing down clothes to us, but by far the most important thing they gave me was the love of Christ. You see, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for that church. That church embedded in my heart that I mattered and it created a need in me to give generously just as I have been given to. God has blessed me in untold ways and I never forget that I am just a steward of all that I have been given.”
People of grace and peace
Aldred Pruden Wallace – odd name for a man
Pastor in WV – father of my friend, Peter
Lived his last year and a half in a nursing home – surviving financially on Methodist pension – he had nothing else
Nothing else but a wonderful spirit – staff loved him, do anything for him
So engaging, so warm, so gentle and kind
Last 6 to 8 months, dementia set in – increased almost daily
Created scenarios in his mind – he assumed they were true
President Bush had come to see him – consulted him
But a lot of scenarios were around money
$200MM in WW2 in China
Now he really wanted to bless his caregivers and church members who came to see him
Wanted to share all that he had received
So several times on most days, he would walk up to a caregiver or visitor, and pull them aside and say quietly in their ear,” I want to give you a million dollars because you’ve been so kind, so good to me…”
Staff would chuckle when Peter, son, came to visit, and say, “Your dad has been so generous with his money!”
But one day they found Aldred very quiet and withdrawn – out of character
He was like that for several days in a row – then he died
Turned out he had had a stroke – and no one really knew it
Changed his personality
When Peter arrived, nurse said, “We knew something was wrong. When he quit giving, we knew something was clearly wrong.”
Let me simply say this: What I want FOR you not FROM you
Personal – to ENJOY what you have, experience grace of giving, life as God intends
Corporate – to be the people God intends us to be, transition coming, what better time to step up and say “We’re in. Count us in for the mission of God’s grace and peace people.”
Ephesians 1.1-3 Day of Hope Mount Pisgah
I. I love to get mail – always have – so much better than email
Something exciting about running out to the mailbox and peeking in
Some days, a wonderful letter or Sports Illustrated; other days, junk mail
Best thing are surprises – unexpected
Maybe that is why I like Paul so much – missionary apostle
Wrote letters – sent by courier to churches he started in Europe and Asia
In fact, Paul’s letters – big part of my passion – focus of my doctorate
Some basic things to learn about his letters – start the same way
Signature – common practice then that signature came first
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
Then address To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus
Salutation Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Been habit for number of years to end my letters the same way – Grace and peace
Grace – foundation of life in Christ – God’s good grace
Has made Peace possible – peace with God, peace in ourselves, peace with each other
Grace and Peace
Usually moves into a thanksgiving next – but here Paul praises God
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Pretty big statement, huh? Every spiritual blessing – in Christ
Means that Christ is our sufficiency
I. Sufficiency: What does it mean? (Eph. 1.1-3; 2 Peter 1.2-4; 2 Tim. 3.16-17; Phlp. 2.12-13)
1) We already have everything we need to succeed spiritually
Now these are bold statements – everything we need, we already have in Christ
2) Allen’s Biblical Word for Sufficiency: EHAFLRIG (Eph. 1.3-14)
Altar overflows today in abundance – evidence of what we receive in Christ
Every Spiritual Blessing(1.3) – Given us every blessing
Holy and Blameless(1.4) – big plans for you
Adopted as sons and daughters (1.5) – His child
Forgiveness of sins (1.7) – fresh start, wash away old
Lavish grace of God (1.8) – God’s generous grace washing over you
Revealed will and mystery of God (1.9) – know the destiny of world
Inheritance (1.14) – know your future
Guaranteed seal of the Holy Spirit (1.13) – know He is with you now
When I was very little, my family lived in Nashville for several years
One of the few memories I have of Nashville was church – Calvary UMC
I remember vividly the face and fiery style of pastor Doyle Masters
A few years after we left Nashville, Doyle got news – at 48, brain cancer
At Thanksgiving 1978, he wrote his congregation a letter
“The options open to me, medically, are minimal…The other option is to turn this whole matter over to God, in faith, for his healing and ultimate will. What the future holds, we do not know, but we know God holds it…These past few days have rolled over us like an avalanche, leaving in their wake some central certainties which make up my thanksgiving list. Out of the dark night of the soul has come the sunlight of God’s love. I’m thankful for God who is real and personal, for Jesus Christ who is present in power, and for the Holy Spirit who is by our side in every struggle…My Thanksgiving list this year is made not from what I have but from WHO has me. A God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above everything we ask or think.”
At worst moment, Doyle knew – he possessed every blessing
Sufficiency
Doyle died not long after that – but he died an immeasurably wealthy man
II. When we get into trouble
We are sinful folks – get confused – sometimes forget, resist, or reject God
1) When we substitute material things for spiritual things
Peter in Mark – rebukes Jesus just after Jesus has instructed the disciples on who He is
Peter sees no way that Son of God would suffer and die
Jesus says, “Get behind me, Satan, for you have your mind of earthly things rather than on things of God.”
Peter was substituting earthly ambitions for eternal - poverty
And it still occurs today
2) Harvard Med School and WHO just released a study
The richest country: the saddest people
America is the richest nation and we are the saddest people
10% of us say we struggle with major depression, bi-polar, or chronic minor depression
And just over 18% found to experience mood and anxiety disorders like OCD and panic
Survey of 14 countries – USA highest – high number in Ukraine (expect) and France
But lowest rates were places like Italy (3.8%), Mexico (4.8%) where 50MM live below poverty line and Nigeria – desperately poor, famously corrupt, violent divides between Muslims and Christians, and filthy – depression rate of 0.8%
Depression is serious matter – as is mental illness – experienced that personally
But might it just be true that our happiness and contentment are not tied nearly so much to what we have as to WHO has us?
That maybe we are looking for meaning and purpose and happiness in the wrong places –
When we substitute material things for spiritual – end up spiritually poor and hungry
Remember that book, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom?
Morrie was Mitch’s favorite prof in college – diagnosed with terminal illness
Mitch began meeting with him on Tuesdays to record his final words of wisdom
One day, Morrie, said, “Wherever I went in my life, I met people wanting to gobble up something new. Gobble up a new car. Gobble up a new piece of property. Gobble up the latest toy. And they always want to tell you about it – Guess what I got? Guess what I got?....These were people so hungry for love that they were accepting substitutes. They were embracing material things and expecting a sort of hug back. But it never works…”
Christ is our sufficiency - EHAFLRIG
III. The Cure (Eph. 2.10; Col. 1.10)
Eph. 2.10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Cure comes in knowing you were created by God for a purpose – good works
How can this be?
1) We are people with every spiritual blessing
My Thanksgiving list this year is made not from what I have but from WHO has me
EHAFLRIG – I have it all
2) We are people of grace and peace (1.3)
Remember – we are people of grace and peace – Paul always started that way
That grace and peace is lived out in how we use and enjoy every spiritual blessing
Jeanette
“I’ve shared with some of you that my mother died in childbirth with me and my father left 5 children two years later with my grandmother and eldest brother Paul, who was sixteen at the time. We were on welfare and lived in a public housing project. My grandmother’s faith saw her through much as she had already raised seven children on her own because her husband had left her for another woman.
We had nothing by material standards but my grandmother said God loved us just the same as anyone else. People from our church picked me up for any night functions and on Sundays we walked to the church. Everyone in that church knew the Milling children and made sure we never felt left out.
One summer my church was joining with other churches to send kids to camp. The cost of the camp was $15 (for those of you wondering, I really am only 29). I was sure I couldn’t go because we got $93 a month from welfare. I was really surprised when my grandmother said she thought I could go. She said she would do her best to save the money and try to send me. I did get to go and the highlight of the camp was the bonfires we had where the counselors shared their love of Christ with us.
The first night we did this a lot of kids accepted Christ and I didn’t go forward, I remembered crying for a long time that night. I talked to the counselors telling them I wish I had gone forward to accept Christ and shared how much I loved Jesus. The next night I was one of the first ones to go forward. I told everyone I wanted to be a missionary so I could share the love of Christ I had experienced with others.
Now most of you probably think that’s a good story but the story doesn’t end there. When I got home I couldn’t wait to tell my grandmother I had accepted Christ but before I could tell Grandma this she wanted to show me something. She took me into our bedroom because we shared a bedroom and there on the bed were five new outfits. My grandmother was so excited. She said, “Jeanette, I was able to buy the material for these dresses and make them for you because the church took up a collection for you to go to camp.” All these years later, I see the dresses laying there, my grandmother’s excitement, and remember how full I was in that moment because I rarely ever got anything new.
That church reached out to me and my brothers and sisters in so many ways, they fed us when we were hungry, gave us transportation when we had none, clothed us by passing down clothes to us, but by far the most important thing they gave me was the love of Christ. You see, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for that church. That church embedded in my heart that I mattered and it created a need in me to give generously just as I have been given to. God has blessed me in untold ways and I never forget that I am just a steward of all that I have been given.”
People of grace and peace
Aldred Pruden Wallace – odd name for a man
Pastor in WV – father of my friend, Peter
Lived his last year and a half in a nursing home – surviving financially on Methodist pension – he had nothing else
Nothing else but a wonderful spirit – staff loved him, do anything for him
So engaging, so warm, so gentle and kind
Last 6 to 8 months, dementia set in – increased almost daily
Created scenarios in his mind – he assumed they were true
President Bush had come to see him – consulted him
But a lot of scenarios were around money
$200MM in WW2 in China
Now he really wanted to bless his caregivers and church members who came to see him
Wanted to share all that he had received
So several times on most days, he would walk up to a caregiver or visitor, and pull them aside and say quietly in their ear,” I want to give you a million dollars because you’ve been so kind, so good to me…”
Staff would chuckle when Peter, son, came to visit, and say, “Your dad has been so generous with his money!”
But one day they found Aldred very quiet and withdrawn – out of character
He was like that for several days in a row – then he died
Turned out he had had a stroke – and no one really knew it
Changed his personality
When Peter arrived, nurse said, “We knew something was wrong. When he quit giving, we knew something was clearly wrong.”
Let me simply say this: What I want FOR you not FROM you
Personal – to ENJOY what you have, experience grace of giving, life as God intends
Corporate – to be the people God intends us to be, transition coming, what better time to step up and say “We’re in. Count us in for the mission of God’s grace and peace people.”