27.06.10 - Five Steps To Deliver A Miracle

Earlier this year we looked at the book You Were Born For This by Bruce Wilkinson. We didn’t finish it because Easter came along and then we started talking about influence (which actually was the same topic under a different guise). Today I want to return to that book and discuss: Five step to deliver a miracle.

A title like that makes me cringe. I mentioned early on that I was very sceptical of the sub-title of this book: 7 Keys To A Life Of Predictable Miracles. Surely you can’t predict miracles. And surely miracles can’t be simply manufactured by the use of seven keys. Well, I think I was wrong. Wilkinson talks about personal miracles; the miracles the happen in people’s hearts when they know that God has done something for them because He loves them. I now think that God wants to do that often. He wants to be involved in people’s lives at the point of their need – be involved miraculously – and He wants to use us to deliver those miracles. I think God so much wants to, that miracles can be pretty much predictable.

I am still a bit uncomfortable about “Five steps to deliver a miracle” but, when we see them, I think that we will see that they are actually very obvious.

Here are the five steps:
1. Identify the person
2. Isolate the need
3. Open the heart
4. Deliver the miracle
5. Transfer the credit

I want to read a story from the Bible about Jesus’ ministry to one person. As I do, see if you can identify those five steps. READ Luke 8:42b-48.

If the miracle was the physical healing, then Jesus didn’t do any of those things first. The miracle took place without Jesus apparently doing anything. But I think there was a second miracle. If the healing miracle had already taken place, why was Jesus so insistent that this woman identify herself?

She would have been a social outcast, lonely and ashamed. She was ritually unclean, permanently. The second miracle was about restoring her and affirming her as a woman loved by God; a woman of faith.

Jesus identified her for her own good – that others might know what had happened. She told of her physical need. Everyone would have known the consequential emotional and social needs. Purely by insisting she identify herself and talk of her need, Jesus opened her heart. She was broken and in need, and forced to confess that. He delivered the miracle by affirming her.

Of course, Jesus didn’t need to transfer the credit off Himself onto God. He could take the credit but, even so, by mentioning faith he reinforced in her mind that God had touched her that day.

Let me relate another story from Wilkinson’s book. It is quite a long story so just enjoy it and, in fact, we will then just comment on the first two steps. We will, God willing, consider the rest next week.

Some years ago, Bruce Wilkinson was speaking to a group of about 80 men at a retreat centre. No more than five minutes into his talk, he felt an unusually powerful nudge from the Holy Spirit that directed his attention to one particular man. This man was seated four rows back on the left side of the aisle.

Wilkinson decided to go with the nudge. He stopped in the middle of his talk , walked down the aisle and introduced himself to the man whose name was Owen.

“I sense there is something unusual going on in your life. Is there anything I can do for you?” he said.

Alarm was written all over Owen’s face, “No! Not at all. Really, I’m fine.”

What to do? Wilkinson apologised and returned to the stage thinking, “Well Lord, that was unusual.” He also sensed that some other men in the room were looking suspiciously at someone who stops mid-sentence and walks into the audience asking point-blank, personal questions.

He gathered his thoughts and started again on his talk. But, almost immediately, he felt another strong nudge from God; same man. This time he started debating with God. I just did that Lord, and nothing happened! But the nudge was clear: Go again.

It didn’t make sense and he risked looking like an idiot, but what to do? His sentences stumbled then stopped as he battled with this decision. He decided to take a risk.

He picked up a chair from the front, carried it down the aisle and sat down right next to Owen. Very calmly Wilkinson said, “Sir, please don’t be offended but you’re not telling me the truth.”

You could have heard a pin drop.

Owen was again alarmed but when he finally found his voice, he said, “How on earth did you know?”

“I don’t know really, but God does and he has something in store for you tonight. I sense that something is deeply troubling you.”

“The truth is,” Owen said soberly, “I’m quitting the ministry tonight. I called my wife this afternoon and told her my decision. Right after your session tonight, I’m done.”

“Would you mind sharing why you are quitting?”

With everyone listening, Owen haltingly told his story. He had been a successful businessman who had felt God call him to work with men. He had given up his business and poured his heart and soul into his ministry. He said his wife and he loved what they were doing but, to keep the ministry afloat, they had gone broke, lost their saving and retirement, remortgaged their house, maxed out their credit card and were $16,000 in debt. Struggling to talk by now, Owen said, “I’ve had enough. After tonight, I quit.”

Everyone in the room could identify with Owen’s dilemma. If God wanted him in this ministry, why were the circumstances making it impossible? Wilkinson voiced those thoughts to Owen and said that he and his wife had faced similar testing many time. He then said, “I have only one question: When you changed course and launched your ministry, was that a career move on your part, or would you say it was a response to a divine call?”

“God called us,” he said, “I have no doubt.”

“Okay. Would you say that God is now calling you out of this ministry? Is he asking you to leave?”

“No.”

“Are you sure you want to leave?”

“Well, I’m up to my ears in debt. I have to quit. How am I supposed to do this?”

“I understand but has God asked you to leave?”

There was a long pause.

“No.”

Wilkinson asked Owen, “What are you going to do?”

Suddenly there was an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the room in peace and power. Many of the other men were struggling with their own emotions. Owen’s eyes filled with tears, then, with great effort, he said, “I shouldn’t quit unless He asks me to leave. I won’t quit.”

Wilkinson wanted to test his resolve. “But what about the $16,000 debt?”

“No, I won’t quit.” He had decided.

They shook hands on his decision, then Wilkinson asked some of the audience to gather around and pray for him. Scores of men poured out their hearts in prayer for Owen and they heard him pray an emotional, humble prayer recommitting himself to his calling.

As they were going back to their seats, the man in charge of the meeting (who had earlier been a bit opposed to the idea of letting God do anything and had wanted the meeting strictly limited to half an hour) said, “It’s not right! This man is $16,000 dollars in debt. My wife and I are going to give him a thousand dollars. What are you going to do?”

The men contemplated that challenge and then, without a word, began opening their wallets. One by one they walked over to Owen with their gifts. In no time at all, Owen had sixteen thousand dollars.

He was speechless, awestruck by what God had just done. The rest of the men felt grateful to have been a part of it. It was an unforgettable experience.

Standing beside Owen in the aisle, Wilkinson said, “Do you recognise the order of things that just happened? What did you have to decide before God gave you the money?”

“Unless God calls me to, I’m not leaving.”

“When you made a decision of loyalty to God,” Wilkinson said, “the powerful arm of God was outstretched from heaven. Do you recognise who was behind this test?"

“God was. He was testing my loyalty,” Owen said.

“How did you do in the test?”

“I almost failed it.”

“Yes, but you didn’t,” Wilkinson responded, “Isn’t it interesting that God sent me here on the very night you were going to quit and gave me a supernatural nudge – twice – because He didn’t want you to fail the test? And He prompted all those men to meet your need.”

The first step is identifying the person. It is obvious, is it not, that if we are going to deliver a miracle to someone, we have to identify who the someone is.

Wilkinson’s attention was directed to Owen by a strong impression – what he calls a nudge – God suddenly alerting us to a particular person. Sometimes that might seem to be out of context or to be surprising. If it is unexpected, that strengthens the likelihood that it is from God.

It might happen in many different ways. The person might come up to you and talks about a pressing need. It might be a complete stranger. It might be a friend. It might be in the supermarket or at church. But the point is that people are not just people. They are people with needs that God wants to meet through you today. God wants to alert you to the right person.

Bruce Wilkinson advises that we don’t get hung up wondering if every person we see or talk to is the right person. We don’t have to make the miracle appointment. God will alert us. We just have to be listening and ready to respond when He does. Maybe it is that nudge. Maybe you see or hear the cues that indicate a need. Maybe you ask a question and the response indicates an opportunity that God has created.

In the book, Wilkinson says, “Especially during your early days as a delivery agent, God will make your appointments obvious. Your job is simply to grow into your role as Heaven’s ambassador and to be awake to Heavens agenda for your day.

“In the meantime, you’re not doing anything socially unacceptable if you approach a person and start a conversation. If in doubt, proceed – all you risk is being friendly.”

Once we have identified the person, we need to know what the need is that God wants to meet. A person might have many needs. We need to know what the specific need God wants to meet now is. We are not asked to meet every need or even the person’s greatest need but we are looking for that need that is at the top of God’s agenda for this person right now.

It might be very obvious but maybe we need to be sensitive to the tone of voice, or the body language or the circumstances or the expression of emotion or the words spoken – all of the verbal or non-verbal clues (or what Wilkinson describes as “cues”) that help us see what is happening inside the person.

Sometimes we can ask a question that brings a response from the person. Wilkinson calls these “bumps” i.e. we bump the person to see what response there is. We could just ask, “How can I help you?”

God clearly showed Bruce Wilkinson that he had a plan for Owen that day but finding out what the need was was more difficult. The first question (“Is there something unusual going on in your life?”) didn’t work. He had to take the risk of another bump (“You are not telling me the truth. I sense there is something deeply troubling you.”)

It may be that God can work without you knowing much of the detail. You have possibly experienced doing something, or saying something, and not realising that God was in it until the other person commented on how much it meant. Sometimes we are being used when we don’t even know it.

But often more information helps us know what God wants to do or why He has chosen us for this assignment.

Wilkinson says that when he has isolated the right need, there is often a sense of peace but he will often confirm it by asking something like, “Is this the one area that is bothering you most right now?” Maybe he didn’t have it right and he needs to switch focus.

Maybe you, like me, question there being five steps to deliver a miracle but it is obvious, isn’t it, that, if we are going to be part of what God wants to do miraculously in people’s lives, we need to identify the person and identify the need. In both instances, we need to be open to the voice of God but there are also very practical things we can do: look for the signals; ask questions.

But behind it all is the question: Do we want to? Do you want to be used by God to bring miracles into other people’s lives? Do you want to because you love God and want to be obedient to Him? Do you want to because you love people and want to see them happy? We have to ask ourselves that question first: Do we want to be involved in personal miracles?

If we want to, are we willing to? Are we willing to have our antennae up and listen to God for that nudge that indicates the person? And are we willing to then approach that person and make ourselves available?

Next week we will look at how we open the heart, deliver the miracle and transfer the credit.

20.06.10 - Go Bless

On Thursday morning, Nichi asked me for the sermon theme. I then finished an email. Normally I sign off “God bless” but I made a mistake and typed “Go bless”. It occurred to me that that was perhaps the perfect theme for today. In fact, I think the typing error was a God thing.

Go bless. I am not sure if it has been obvious to you or not, but this year I have focused on only one thing. We started the year, at a January combined service, talking about being salt. Then we talked about changing the world and watched the DVD of Jessica Jackley and the Kiva organisation. We spent some time looking at Bruce Wilkinson’s book You Were Born For This which was about partnering with God to deliver everyday miracles. Since then the theme has been “influence”.

Can you see any pattern in what we are doing? I really just want to re-cap. It has all been about ministry – about how we might have a Christian influence in the lives of others. It is about “Go bless”; go and bring the blessing of God into someone else’s life. If you want to know what my agenda is, that is it: Go bless.

You might remember that You Were Born For This was about partnering with God to deliver every day miracles into the lives of people whom God loves. He wants people to know that they are loved and that God Himself cares enough to do something for them. It was about us wanting and praying to be used; about being willing to go to whomever God chooses despite our preferences; about being open to the Holy Spirit if we are to see the miraculous power of God; about being willing to be obedient even when that means risks and about looking for the signals – the nudges, cues, bumps, prompts and alerts – that indicate to us what God is doing and what He wants us to do.

After Easter we started talking about influence; about being salt and light and yeast and God’s expectation that we will make a difference for other people. We talked about the cost of influence.

We asked why we want to be influential. What is our motivation? Is it for our benefit or is it for the other person’s benefit? And, if we are reticent, why do we not want to “go bless”?

Then we discussed the need for a close relationship with Jesus, the need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, the need for our influence to be born out of love and, last week, the power of our example.

My agenda through all of this has been to talk about ministry – about us serving others in the name of Jesus; about not just living private, self-contained lives but living lives dedicated to helping others; about being used by God to make a positive difference in other people’s lives. So, go bless.

Here is another story from the book, You Were Born For This. Look for the willingness to be used, the partnering with the Holy Spirit, the risk-taking and the nudges and prompts. One morning Toni asked God to send her to do His work that day. That is where it starts – asking to be used.

Later, in a meeting, a woman she didn’t know made a comment about sons being a challenge. Toni pricked her ears up. Possibly no one else had noticed it but Toni did. She asked God to show her how she could help and she felt a clear nudge saying, “Write her a note.”

Toni took out a pad and pen and started writing. Dear Sonya, your son is in a ... She didn’t know what to say next. Then God prompted her. A picture came to mind so she continued writing: Your son is in a wrestling match with God. He’s fighting hard but it won’t be long till he goes limp. God is going to hold him tight till he gives up completely. It will be the love of God that wins.

Toni passed the note along the row. Sonya read it and began to quietly weep. Toni wasn’t sure if she has done the wrong thing. When the meeting ended Sonya came up to Toni and asked, “How did you know?”

“How did I know what?”

“My son is a wrestler. He loves to wrestle. You’re right. Lately he’s been wrestling with God. In fact, in just one hour he will stand before a judge on an assault charge. My husband and I can’t be there to help him, so we’ve been praying that God will be his advocate in that courtroom.”

The two women went out for lunch. While they were eating Sonya’s son called. The charges had been dismissed and he said that he knew God had been watching out for him. He said, “I get a chance to start again – and I am going to.”

We can easily spend a day, doing what we want to do and not be intentional about using that day to bless others. But the word “Go” means that we have been sent. Is it fair to use that word? Have we been sent?

On the outside of our front doors we have the words, “Jesus says Come” It has sometimes been suggested that, on the inside, we should have “Jesus says go.” Sometimes churches have had above the door, as people leave, “You are now entering the mission field”. We come to church to worship God and to receive from Him but as we leave church, we enter the mission field to which we have been sent.

We are well aware that at the end of His life, Jesus sent the disciples out. He commissioned then with the words, “Go and make disciples of all nations” or “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” or “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” There is a very clear sending.

But those weren’t the only times Jesus said, “Go”. As part of their training, the disciples had been sent out on short-term missions. They had little missions in preparation for the Great Commission.

Matthew 10:5-8 5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

At this early stage Jesus limited the disciples’ mission to Israel. He specifically said not to go to the Gentiles. But when it came to the Great Commission, it was “Go to all nations. Go into all the world.” The “go” has become global. We are sent into all the world.

There is also not the same emphasis on healing the sick, cleansing lepers and casting out demons in the Great Commission. It is about salvation – preaching the gospel. Only Mark’s version mentions those sorts of things: “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

The Great Commission focuses on proclaiming the gospel and making disciples but if we assume that Jesus provides our example and that the life of the early church is also an example then healing and deliverance and the raising of the dead are part of the proclamation of the gospel.

Healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing lepers and driving out demons sound daunting for a training exercise. “We’ll start with the easy stuff, like raising the dead!” Yet, if we look back a few verses, v.1 says that Jesus gave them the authority to do these things. God empowered them to do the impossible.

If these were the ways in which people were in need, then the disciples were to meet that need. If the people were oppressed by sickness, death, leprosy and demons then the relief they needed was healing of sickness, raising the dead, cleansing of leprosy and deliverance from those demons. So the disciples – even these trainee disciples – were sent out to bring relief to suffering people.

But the disciples were also to preach the message of the Kingdom. In fact, preaching the gospel is stated first. “The Kingdom of God is near” is great news for those who will repent and be reconciled to God. It means God is close at hand. It means that the kingdom where there is no sickness or death or leprosy or demonic possession, is close – can be experienced now in part and will be revealed in its fullness.

Equally, it is bad news for those who refuse to repent. If you are out of sorts with God and God is close at hand, that is bad news. But the offer was there for everyone: repent now and enjoy God’s Kingdom.

And so, the mission was a combination of preaching the gospel and bringing relief for the suffering. Wilkinson says the last step in delivering miracle is to transfer the credit; help the person see that it was God who acted. Ultimately the purpose of the miracle is for people to know they can trust God.

Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” We who have received freely are to give freely, so yes, we are sent. All of us are sent. Sent out to give; to minister; to bless. We have not been called to be God’s children so as to sit around doing nothing. We have been recruited to be sent out.

Mark 3:14-15 14He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons.

They were called to Him so that He might send them out; to preach and cast out demons.

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last...

We have been chosen to bear fruit. We haven’t been called to be God’s children so that we can simply wait for heaven. We have been called so that we might be sent out. The “come” is followed by “go”.

Galatians 3:14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

God redeemed the Jews so that the Gentiles might be blessed. The Jews were called to faith in Jesus so that they might take the gospel to the Gentiles. It was so that the blessing might be spread – not kept for themselves – but shared with the Gentiles. The “Come” was followed by “Go.”

What picture are we getting of the reason for going? Go to people who need to hear the gospel – need to hear the good news of God’s love and forgiveness and of eternal salvation. Go to people who are oppressed and needy, and bring relief. We who have so freely received God’s grace are to freely give.

The disciples were sent out to bring blessing into people’s lives – both relief from sickness or grief or demon possession and the blessing of the gospel of being reconciled to God.

When we looked at the book You Were Born For This that is what it was about: being sent into different situations to be used by God to bring some blessing. Often meeting a need resulted in a realisation of the love of God. It wasn’t ‘meet a need’ or ‘preach the gospel’. It was both: meet a need and make sure that people know that that need was met because God loves them.

We are expected to have an influence – to be the salt and the light – but clearly God’s purpose is that we are a good influence – that we bring blessing. Go bless. That is our mission. Go bless.

Every day we should remember what our mission is. Our mission is to go to the people God sends us to and bless them. It is easy doing what we want to do each day. It is so much better if we see that day as an opportunity to bless some other people. Let’s remember at the start of each day that God is saying to us, ‘Go bless” and let’s plan our day so as to do just that. Every day is an opportunity to bless.

Toni started her day with the attitude “Go bless”. She was obedient to the nudge and God demonstrated Himself to Sonya and to her son. Do you hear God saying to you, “Go bless. Go and make a positive difference in someone’s life. As you leave the church today, go bless.”?

13.06.10 - The Power Of Example

At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

The power of example. People copy what they see others doing. In the 1934 film, It Happened One Night, Clark Gable removed his shirt and he wasn’t wearing an undershirt! Every man wore an undershirt! It is said that the sale of undershirts in the United States dropped by 75% as a result. People copy.

The makers of the 1982 film E.T approached the confectionary maker, Mars, about having M&Ms used in the film. Mars, for some reason, said “no”, so the film makers went to Hershey’s. The result was that E.T. ate Hershey’s Reece’s Pieces which were relatively unknown at the time but sales went through the roof. People copy even aliens.

If you live in another country for any length of time, you will pick up an accent. How does that happen? Is it something in the environment. Is the air different or the water different? Do your vocal chords change shape? No, people copy what they see (or, in this case, what they hear.)

That is why people will often say our example is more powerful than our words. Actions speak louder than words. A person can say impressive words, but people take notice of what he/she actually does.

Parents say to their children, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Either they are joking and acknowledging that their actions don’t match their words, or they are serious and you have to ask why they say one thing for their children to do while they do another. In fact, are those children going to take more notice of their parents’ words or their parents’ actions? Their actions.

Parenting is a good illustration of the power of example. Children imitate their parents in everything from learning to speak to their ethical and lifestyle choices. Speaking of learning to speak, parents very seldom teach a child to speak by sitting down and talking about the theory of speech. They just speak and their children copy. They also copy how their parents speak. Have you ever heard yourself in your child?

Mix with people who swear a lot and you will probably find yourself swearing. Or you will have to make a major effort not to and remain constantly vigilant – because we tend to copy what other people do.

We become like the people we mix with – sometimes subconsciously; sometimes by a deliberate choice. Sometimes we just drift into the behaviour of those around us. Sometimes we see someone we admire doing something and we say, “I am going to do that too.” Or “I am going to be like that too.”

That is why advertisers use celebrity endorsements. If Rachel Hunter uses Pantene maybe I should too.

It is why advertisers tell us that a certain car is the best selling in its class. If other people are buying it, maybe I should too. People copy.

How much are we influenced by what other people do? How much do we copy? Possibly more than we realise. Are we copying good things? Or are we copying bad things? Who is influencing you?

But on the other side of the coin there are questions about our influence:
• If people copy me will they be better people?
• Can I more intentionally be an influence by my example?

In other words, what unintentional influence am I having? And could I have a more intentional influence?

Let’s get back to Jesus (which is always a good idea.) When He said, “I have set you an example that you should do what I have done for you” what had He just done?

He had washed the disciples’ feet and so had modelled incredible humility. Washing feet was the job of a slave. Jesus was the Son of God; the Messiah. Moreover, He was about to be killed, yet here He was washing their feet. Do you think that action had a powerful effect on the disciples? Do we read about them regularly washing people’s feet?

Well, no, but was Jesus meaning literally wash feet or was He meaning be the servant; humble yourself; put others’ needs ahead of your own. The disciples became servants. They dedicated their lives to taking the gospel to people and making more disciples. They lay down their lives for others. Almost all of them were martyred for their faith. They had seen Jesus wash feet and they had seen Jesus’ willingness to die and they imitated Him.

But if example is so powerful, why was so much of the Last Supper talk? John dedicates five chapters to the Last Supper. Most if it is Jesus’ words: His teaching; His instruction; His encouragement. In fact, much of what we have recorded about Jesus, throughout His ministry, is His teaching.

True, but Jesus wasn’t all talk, was He? We also have huge amounts about His example. He embraced the unlovely; He healed – even on the Sabbath; He spoke the truth fearlessly; He spent regular time with God.

Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

Even the way Jesus prayed inspired the disciples. They wanted Him to teach them to pray. Do you let people see you pray? Are they inspired by how you pray? Do they ask you to teach them to pray?

This is the point. We surely want people to understand more about knowing God. One of the most powerful ways we can influence people towards that is by our example. Actions speak louder than words. So can people see us relating to God? We have an opportunity to influence. Example is one of the most powerful ways of influencing. Are we modelling what we want to see in others? Are we showing them what it is like knowing God? In our culture we tend to think that is personal and private. I think Jesus challenges our culture. He modelled His life being an open book for others to see and imitate.

Even in the Last Supper, which seems to be largely words, I think there is a lot of example. There was the very dramatic example of going around the circle washing the disciples’ feet. What else? What about the fact that Jesus spent so much time caring for, and re-assuring, the disciples and readying them for the future, when He could have been preoccupied with His own impending death? Jesus modelled putting others before Himself. He modelled love and gentleness.

There was a bit of interplay too between Jesus and Judas. I can’t prove it but I think Jesus was appealing to Judas to change his mind – to just think once more before he acted. If so, Jesus modelled concern for Judas’ salvation and a willingness to still care about the person who was about to betray Him. Jesus celebrated the Passover. The Last Supper was a Passover feast. And so, Jesus modelled worship and that obedient remembrance of God’s deliverance of His people out of Egypt. He modelled honouring God. At the end of the meal, He prayed for the disciples, modelling both compassion and prayerfulness.

Then, of course, He went from that upper room to the Garden of Gethsemane where he wrestled with God in prayer but all the time saying, “Yet may it not be my will that is done, but yours, Father.” Then He walked out to meet those who would arrest Him. He modelled submission, selflessness, obedience, peace at doing the will of God.

Then we have the trial and the crucifixion and His forgiveness of those who killed Him and so on – massive amounts of example. Mark 15:39 tells us that it was when he saw how He died that the centurion realised that Jesus was the Son of God. Even the manner of His death was influential. Someone was converted by seeing how He died. People are influenced by what they see.

So, we need to be very careful about what people see in us. Do they see Christlikeness? Do they see that same concern for others before ourselves; that submission, selflessness, obedience, peace, prayerfulness, joy, servanthood, worship?

We are to be shining examples. READ Matthew 5:14-16

We are to be the light of the world. Jesus is very explicit that we are to be seen. We are definitely not to be hidden. You don’t light a lamp then put it under a bowl. On the contrary, you put it on a lamp stand. You actually show it off. You give it prominence. And, in case we haven’t yet understood, Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds, and glorify your Father in heaven.” Let people see your example.

Jesus modelled modelling. He modelled being a shining light. He said, “I have given you an example. Follow it.” The disciples did the same thing. They allowed their character and their deeds to be seen and people were influenced. Paul did the same thing. His life was transparent. He let people see into his life and then he said, “Be like me. Do what I do.” Seven times in his letters recorded in the Bible, Paul says, “Imitate me.”

What does that tell us? Firstly, that Paul was confident his example was a good one. He was living in a way that pleased God and would be a good example. And maybe that doesn’t mean that he always got it right. Maybe it means that when he got it wrong, he would do the right thing by acknowledging it and sorting it out. People would see godly repentance in him – and he would let them see that.

That is the second point: Paul very intentionally put his life out there and told people to watch and follow. He was very intentional about using his example to influence – about being a shining light.

People will watch us whether we like it or not. And people will be influenced by what they see. We might as well make sure that influence is as positive as it can possibly be. That means that we live in a way that will be a good influence. In other words, first we attend to our own lives How are you living? Would you be happy that people imitate you? Would God be pleased if people imitate you?

So first, we attend to our own lives. But secondly we take an interest in others’ lives. We want to influence others and so we let our light shine. We want people to trust God and so we show them what that looks like. We want people to be compassionate and so we model it.

Example is powerful. We have a tremendous opportunity to influence by our example.

As we come to Communion, we might consider those two things.
1. Attend to our own lives. Am I following Jesus’ example? Is there anything we need to seek forgiveness for? Is there anything we need God’s help with if we are to be a shining light?
2. Attend to other people’s lives. Is there someone you should try to influence by showing a good example? We have opportunities. We should be taking those opportunities.

06.06.10 - Character Counts

On Wednesday night I flew into Invercargill. We were coming down to land when up we went again and turned around and flew back to Christchurch. There was thick fog at the airport. In Christchurch, Air New Zealand put us up in a very nice hotel for the night.

In the morning I showered and used some of the little bottle of shampoo and opened a cake of soap and then popped what was left in my toilet bag. Then I thought about the pen on the bedside table. I am always losing pens so I like gathering them up as well. But then my conscience kicked in. It was only a plastic pen –nothing special. Obviously you can’t just take what you like from a hotel. You can’t start taking the towels and the bed linen. So what is legit and what isn’t, I wondered.

I reasoned that the shampoo and soap had been opened. They weren’t going to be given to the next guest. They would possibly only be thrown out. But the pen wasn’t mine to just take away, so I left it there.

I have no doubt that some people take what they like from hotel rooms and some people probably do take the towels and the bed linen. But for me to have taken that pen would have been wrong.

That was a tiny thing but I was thinking about the topic for this sermon and realised that my character was being tested - by a plastic pen.

Character is who you are. What sort of person you are. Someone has said, “A man's reputation is what other people think of him; his character is what he really is.” Your reputation is what people think of you. But do they really know you? Do they really know what is in your heart and what is on your mind?

Thomas Babington Macaulay said, “The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out.” If no one would ever know, what would you do? That’s your character.

Of course, while we might keep some things hidden, most of our character is very visible. Everything we do is a demonstration of our character. Even if we pretend and people see only the good version of us, pretending says a lot about our character.

Joseph (the Old Testament one) was sold into slavery in Egypt and lived in the house of Potiphar, the captain of the guard. Several times we are told that the Lord was with Joseph and he succeeded in all that he did. Consequently, Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his whole household. Potiphar didn’t concern himself with anything because he trusted Joseph. Potiphar must have seen more than Joseph’s success. He must also have seen Joseph’s loyalty and his honesty. His success was outwardly visible but that is not enough to trust someone with all of your possessions. He must have also seen those inner qualities. With Joseph in charge, Potiphar prospered. Joseph wasn’t looking after his own interests. He was looking after his master’s interests. That is character.

And then Joseph’s character was tested. Potiphar had given Joseph control over everything – except his wife. But Potiphar’s wife began seducing Joseph. He refused to do what she wanted until, one day, she grabbed his cloak and pleaded with him to go to bed with her. Joseph ran away, leaving his cloak in her hands. He maintained his integrity despite the opportunity and the constant appeals but Potiphar’s wife accused him of having tried to rape her and Joseph was thrown into prison.

Sometimes, doing the right thing results in trouble. Very often it is easier doing the wrong thing. Very often there is more to be gained (in the short-term at least) by cutting corners or compromising a little. Joseph’s integrity meant being falsely accused and spending several years in prison. He could have chosen to sleep with Potiphar’s wife – but he couldn’t! He said to her, “My master has trusted me. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Gen 39:9) He could have but his integrity wouldn’t let him. He would rather go to prison, falsely accused.

In prison, the story repeats itself. Again, God was with him. The warden saw the character of this man and put him in charge of everything. Well it is a long story but Joseph was eventually appointed Prime Minister over all of Egypt. Talk about influence! Pharaoh said, “There is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” Pharaoh gave Joseph his own signet ring. That gave him authority. Pharaoh said, “I am Pharaoh but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”

Why did Potiphar trust Joseph? Why did the jailor trust Joseph? Why did Pharaoh trust Joseph enough to put him in charge of the whole country? Because Joseph had a track record – a track record of impeccable character. The servant who has been faithful with a few things will be given greater responsibilities.

We have been talking about influence – how to make a difference in the world and in other people’s lives – how to finish and hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” And there are things we can do to be influential. We can learn skills. We can read Dale Carnegie’s book How To Win Friends and Influence People and learn how to smile, how to listen; how to make people feel important and we will have success. They are good techniques. But far more important that what we do, is what we are.

Trust is built on character. What happens if people discover that we lie? What happens if people see that we are selfish and not really concerned about them at all? What happens if people notice that we are not honest in our taxes? Or that we are arrogant? Trust disappears. They don’t trust what we say. They are suspicious of our motives. They no longer listen. When they don’t listen, we have no influence.

The little things matter. A little white lie is a lie. If you ring someone up and you talk to his child but you hear him saying in the background, “Tell him I’m not here” it undermines your trust in that person. It was only a little thing but it demonstrates a flawed character and you certainly won’t trust him with a bigger, more important thing. Stealing a pen is stealing.

And it doesn’t matter that most people will say, “Oh everybody does that.” It is not a question of what everybody does. It is a question of what is right.

In Paul’s first letter to Timothy in the New Testament, he lists the qualities that are required in an elder in the church. Listen to the list from 1 Timothy 3. READ 1 Tim 3:1-7.

In that list there is only one skill mentioned. Elders must be able to teach. You might think that Paul would be concerned about the skills a person needs, but he is not. He is concerned about the person’s character. Without character, he will have no influence.

He says the elder must be above reproach. There should be nothing in him or her that can be justly criticised. He must have a good reputation with outsiders so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. Even non-Christians should think highly of the elder. If they know that he is hot tempered or immoral or argumentative or gets drunk, they will have no respect and he will have no influence.

And notice how Paul looks for a track record of having done the smaller things well. How can an elder take care of God’s church if his/her own family is out of control? Be faithful in the little things.

In the last few weeks I have based what I have said about influence on the Last Supper. The Last Supper was an occasion when Jesus told the disciples lots of things about how they could be influential even when He would no longer be with them. Is there anything about character in the Last Supper? The Last Supper is filled with character. Jesus got up from the meal and washed the disciples’ feet. What does that say about His heart? It is a powerful demonstration of humility and servanthood. He told them to do likewise. They too must be humble. He said to them “Servants are not greater than their master.”

Then Jesus said that one of them would betray Him. It seems that He quite deliberately indicated to Judas that He knew it was him. Jesus gave Judas a piece of bread and said, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” The others didn’t understand but Judas left the meal and went to the High Priests to betray Jesus. What does that say about character? Judas demonstrated disloyalty and greed and a willingness to sell the person who had shown him the greatest love.

Judas was a man of poor character but he was influential. He influenced the history of the world and, in fact, eternity. How can I say that without character we cannot be an influence? People of bad character can be even more influential than people of good character. We see the influence of evil people all of the time. Maybe they have an even more immediate and more dramatic influence by doing the wrong thing. What caused that gunman in Cumbria to go on a killing spree? Do you think he thought, “I’ll show them. I’ll teach them a lesson”? He wanted to have a profound influence in a short time, and he achieved it.

Yes, you can be of poor character and have a profound influence. It depends what sort of influence you want to have. Is it going to be for good or for evil?

In the events of the passion, Jesus and Judas are contrasted. Judas did what was evil and it appeared that he had won. Jesus did what was right. He acted humbly and submitted to God. He showed a willingness to suffer, and love for the world more than love for Himself. He chose the path of obedience. He died. In the end, who had the greater influence – Judas or Jesus?

After Judas had left the meal, Jesus urged the disciples to also choose the path of obedience – and love.
John 14:23 Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.

John 15:12 My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.

John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.

What sort of person are you? Are you the type of person who remains in Jesus; who demonstrates the humility that says that you need Him; who demonstrates the perseverance to maintain that relationship instead of simply doing what is easy; who is a person of the scriptures (God’s word remains in you)? If we are like that, then we will receive whatever we ask for and we will bear fruit.

Jesus said that the world would hate the disciples. They would have to decide whether to remain true or to side with the world. There is a wide, easy way and there is a narrow way. It is our character that will determine which route we take. And which route we take will determine what influence we have.

Jesus referred to us being branches in a vine and said, “Every branch that does bear fruit, God prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” What is that pruning about? Isn’t it more about character? Isn’t it about the types of people we are? Isn’t it more about being changed by the Holy Spirit even when we have to face up to painful things in our own character? I think it is. I think it is about opening ourselves up to God and letting Him cut out from us those things that are not what they should be.

We are pruned so as to bear more fruit. The more our character is transformed, the greater our influence.

To finish let’s reflect on one little bit of the prayer Jesus prayed that night. READ John 17:15-19.

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” The disciples were to be different. A different type of person. Not of the world. Not worldly people. People of a different character. In fact, not of the world in the same way that Jesus was not. People of a Christlike character. Holy people.

Jesus’ prayer to God was, “sanctify them.” That mean “make them holy”. And “holy” essentially means 100% dedicated to God. Jesus’ prayer was that they be holy people in the world. He said, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world... but that you make them holy.” Why are we not taken out of the world? So that we can continue to influence the world.

But what is essential if we are to influence? Character. Christlikeness. What sort of person are you? What sort of person you are, will determine what influence you have.

What sort of person do you want to be?

Let’s pray the same prayer Jesus prayed: Lord, sanctify us. Lord, change us.