Overcoming the World

PASTOR MILT SERMON OUTLINE

FOR MAY 13TH, 2012

SERIES:  LIVING AND LOVING AS EASTER PEOPLE

PART 4:  OVERCOMING THE WORLD

FOCUS TEXT:  1 JOHN 5:1-9

I.  TODAY'S QUESTION:  HOW CAN WE OVERCOME THE "WORLD?"

·       How can we find our way through this turbulent, radically changing, twisting world  . . where a million voices call out to us to define who we are, and what we desire, and the real forces that drive our lives?

·       What do we mean in this context, by the word "world"?

o      By "world" we mean the cultural space in which we live out our lives here on earth . . . a space of turbulence, and radical change. This "world" is a space in which our lives are driven by powerful forces. The "world" is the earthly space  where we experience beauty and joy as well as ugliness, sorrow and death. We can get hopelessly lost in this world.  

·       THE WORLD:  AN EVER CHANGING SEA

o      This world is a vast sea. Always moving. Always changing.

o      The sea can be calm and beautiful at times. 

o      There are times when we find prevailing winds moving us forward into the future and we are full of hope.

o      There are other times when dark, threatening clouds gather and a great storm breaks upon that sea threatening our little ship with powerful waves.

o      The changing winds can blow us far off course and we feel that we are hopelessly lost at sea.

·       Experienced sailors of old found their way across vast oceans by charting their course by the stars.  The North Star gave them a fixed point from which their could determine their course.

II.  THE FIXED POINT:  JESUS CHIRST

·       Spiritually, Christians understand that Jesus is that fixed point in the vast space of the heavens that will guide us through this ever changing world.

o      5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  6 This is the one who came by water and blood — Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

·       John makes it very clear here that if we are to overcome the world we must believe in Jesus Christ! This is a critically important point for John, and he takes a few verses here to help us understand what he means by believing in Jesus.

·       John is saying that  Jesus is this fixed point, our Savior and our hope in this world and that three things testify to that truth and define. These three are water and blood and Spirit.

o      By "water and spirit" John is referring to Jesus' baptism. John is saying that Jesus was a real flesh and blood man baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptizer. 

o      Jesus was a real man who felt pain and weep bitterly over Jerusalem. He was a real man felt pain. He suffered and died like all humans do. He was LIKE US in every way! 

o      He goes on to say the "Spirit of Truth" testified that this Jesus was his Son and the Savior of this world. When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River just like any other ordinary man or woman, a voice from heaven rang out saying:  "You are my beloved Son in whom I am well please."
 

o      Why does John stop here to make such a powerful point upon the importance of this belief? Because there are those in the early Christian community who were suggesting just the opposite. They were saying Jesus was only a "spirit."  

III.  HOW ARE GOING TO MAINAIN OUR FOCUS ON JESUS AND OVERCOME THE WORLD?

·       This matter of believing in Jesus in not set out there in space without any context!  John makes his argument within the framework of loving relationships. Believing in Jesus is directly connected to our willingness to love God and others. These are intimately connected. They cannot be separated. If they are, you have something very different that a true believer in Jesus.

·       Those who believe in Jesus are born of God and are formed by the Spirit of God into a FAMILY or COMMUNITY OF FAITH.  Our faith is RADICALLY RELATIONAL!

·       One of the chief functions of our faith family is to keep us all FOCUS UPON THE FIXED POINT OF JESUS CHRIST in a ever changing, turbulent world. 

·       To return to the sea analogy for a moment.  The Church of Jesus Christ is a Ship of the Spirit following that fixed point in the sky, the North Star, the Light of Jesus that will guide us home to God's Promised Land!

·       ILLUSTRATION: SAILING STORY - FOLLOW THE NORTH STAR

o      The captain of a small ship sailing far out to sea asked a young sailor to take the helm while he took a brief nap. It was in the middle of the night and the stars were shining brightly. "All you need to do," explained the captain, "is follow the North Star," which he carefully pointed out to the young man. "Do you think you can do it?" said the captain. "Yes, sir!" said the sailor proudly. "You can count on me." And he put his hands on the big wheel and the captain disappeared below.

o      Several hours later the captain woke up from his nap and came up to the helm. Glancing at the sky he knew immediately that something was wrong. "Hey, sailor. What are you doing? Why aren't we headed toward the North Star?"

        

o      "Oh," said the sailor, puzzled at the captain's amazement. "We passed that an hour ago!"

o      The captain knew that the only reliable point in the midst of the wind and the waves, the only steady point in the world of confusion and emotions and guess-work over direction and currents and relationships, was the Polar Star, the North Star. To stray from that star was to stray off course, period.

IV.  WE ARE CALLED OF GOD TO BE  SPIRITUAL MOTHERS AND FATHERS.

·       In this faith family, we are to be mothers and fathers to those who need guidance.

o      We are to keep our eyes focused upon the Light of Jesus shining in this ever changing world

o      This is a very difficult task.  It requires our up most attention.  It requires a faith disciplined by the Word of God.

·       One again let me make this point clear.

Faith in God defined by Jesus is  

RADICALLY RELATIONAL!

We are not saved individually. 

We are saved individually in community with others.

·       None of us will make it through this world spiritually alive without the gift of SPIRITUAL MOTHERS AND FATHERS.  In this divided world which places so much emphasis upon the "individual" this concept is often ignored.  Personal self-determination is important.  Personal discipline is critical.  We need strong individuals to build a strong community.  Yet, even these seemingly individual character traits are in fact, radically relational.

V.  CLOSING STORY:  MOTHER TERESA

·       Mother Teresa was speaking to a group of people who had come from around the world to see her and her work. When she asked for questions, one person from a religious order asked, "How is it that your religious order is gaining members by the thousands and most of our orders are losing members?"

·       Without hesitating, Mother Teresa answered, "I give them Jesus."

·       "Yes, I know," pursued the woman. "But take habits, for example. Do your women object to wearing habits? And how do you set up the rules of your order?"

·       "I give them Jesus," Mother Teresa replied. "Yes, I know, Mother, but can you be more specific?"

·       "I give them Jesus," she repeated. "Mother," went on the questioner, "we are so very much aware of your fine work. I want to know about something else ..."

·       Mother Teresa said quietly, "I give them Jesus. There is nothing else."

·       Mother Teresa was able to stay focused on "the least of these" and was able to inspire others to do the same because, while she was not afraid to speak out on matters of policy and root causes, she had a center. She had a still point.

o       Story above from The World's Still Point; Sixth Sunday of Easter from the book Sermons On The Second Readings For Sundays In Advent, Christmas, And Epiphany;  Paul E. Robinson

VI.  CONCLUSION

·       Six young people are coming on board our Ship of Faith today.

·       They will not overcome this world without the help of spiritual mothers and grandmothers . . . fathers and grandfathers. . . sisters and brothers who will keep them focused on the one thing that matter, Jesus Christ and the life of love God has given us.

·       We are to live and love as Easter People!  We are to be "little Christ" or "little anointed ones" to each other.   

·       If you choose to call me your captain, then let me ask for God's grace and guidance to always point you in the direction of the Star of Jesus.

·       Together as one family, undivided by our differences, united in love, our hearts focused upon  our North Star, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, we will OVERCOME THE WORLD! 

THANKS BE TO GOD!

PASTOR MILT