Jesus is the way! The only way!

(This is the text of the sermon I delivered on July 3, 2011 at Beaver Creek Church of The Brethren)

Gifts… Do you have gifts that you consider special?  I do!  Here are a few that are special to me…

 

1.    Mom's last Christmas gift to me (1962) … a manicure set (Mom died Feb 6, 1963 from the effects of breast cancer.)

 

2.    Evy Kaye's Christmas gift to me (1963) … Omega watch (I had been wearing my Timex that I bought during college)

 

3.    Randall's gift to me (maybe 1982)…  he made me a leather belt. I still wear it with my jeans! (He was at John Wayland Middle school)

 

4.    Miles Whitehurst Bible (We have a bunch of Bibles.  This one is very special to me.  It belonged to my Great Grandfather from whom my first name derives. Do you all have Bibles?  I mean each and every one of you!  I believe everyone should have their own Bible or Bibles. You need to be able to read at your leisure and underline what is important to you!)  

 

5.    God's very special gift to me… Jesus  (My family belonged to The First Baptist Church of Clarendon in Arlington VA. It was a physically big church.  My pastor was Dr. M. Jackson White.  One Sunday I was walking down a hall from Sunday School to Church by myself.  Dr. White stopped and confronted me.  As I remember it, he asked or stated “Miles, you know it’s time for you to make a public confession of your faith in Jesus and to become a member of the Church.” WOW! I don’t remember what I replied but it was probably something like “Oh, oh, oh… OK” and I hurried on my way.  I didn’t tell my parents or anybody about this.  That Sunday Evening after Baptist Training Union (one of my parents dropped me off) I of course attended the evening service.  There was always an alter call after each service, I went forward.  My parents didn’t know until the weekly bulletin was received in the mail.  I remember Mom asking me why I hadn’t told them of my intentions.  I don’t remember what I told her.)    

For some time now I have looked for a list of questions and answers that expressed what I felt and believed about my Christianity. I finally found what I was looking for in the back of my latest Bible. (NASB Study Bible - John Macarthur).  I was looking for short answers for the big questions like:

1. Is the Bible true; can we trust what it says? My quick answer… YES!
2. Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit? What is the Trinity?
3. What are Justification, Sanctification and Glorification?
4. Just what is The Church? My answer… It can be the building, but the real answer is a gathering of people who profess and believe Jesus as their personal Savior!
5. What is Election and Predestination?
6. What are angels; fallen angels; demons? What do they do?  How many angels are there? How many “fell” with Lucifer?
7. What is heaven, what is hell, who is and will be in them?
8. Where will I spend eternity?
9. What happens when we die?
10. Do all religions worship the same god?
11. What is the Rapture?  What is the Tribulation? What is the Second Coming? What is the Millennial Reign? What is the Final Judgment? What is Eternity?

OK, relax I’m not going to talk about all of those!  There’s definitely not enough time. Evy Kaye told me I should be through by 11:15, so I set my Blackberry to ring in case I get on a roll!  In our Sunday School Class and in our Bible Study we have touched on many of those questions.  If you were given a test to discuss them, how would you do?  How many would you feel comfortable explain to someone’s teenage child?



To me, the first thing is to understand the significance of the Holy Scriptures, our Bible.  For within them we can find answers to all the rest of the questions.

For this first question, my answer is: I believe that the Bible is God's written revelation to man, and thus the 66 books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the plenary Word of God (Is plenary in your vocabulary, it’s wasn’t in mine; I had to look it up.  It means - complete in every respect; inspired equally in all parts) (l Co 2:7-14; 2Pe 1:20, 21).

^{Now, turn to 1 CORINTHIANS 2:6-16.  This is The Apostle Paul writing to the Church (a body of believers) in Corinth which is in present day Greece.}

⁶ We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ However, as it is written: “What no

eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—  ¹⁰ these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. ¹³ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. ¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. ¹⁵ The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, ¹⁶ for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Let’s look carefully now…



 ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Paul is saying that proof that the Jewish leaders do not understand God’s message is the fact that they crucified Jesus.  The New Testament had not yet been compiled.  The Old Testament points directly to Jesus’ arrival and mission.



 ¹³ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. Paul is stating that what he and the disciples are preaching is from the Holy Spirit, not just what they think!¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. Paul says that only people who have received the Holy Spirit into their lives are able to understand the Scriptures.<sup>Now turn to 2 PETER 1:16-21. Peter is writing to the Churches in Asia Minor which includes present day Turkey.

16</sup> For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

¹⁸ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. Here Peter emphatically declares that what they are saying are not stories but rather eyewitness testimonies. Later in the evening of the “Last Supper”, they were in the “Garden of Gethsemane” and heard God’s voice at the “Transfiguration”.                         

 ¹⁹ We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Here Peter is emphasizing further that what they say and write is inspired by the Holy Spirit.  I believe that this pertains to all of the Scriptures.  His words ”you will do well to pay attention to it”  is an admonition for us even though we may not yet fully understand them.  

Next, I believe that the Bible constitutes the only infallible rule of faith and practice (Mt 5:18; 24:35; Jn 10:35; l6:12-13; 17:17; 1Co 2:13; 2Ti 3:15-17; Heb 4:12; 2Pe 1:20, 21).

 Now turn to Matthew 5: 17-20

The Fulfillment of the Law

    ¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Here Jesus is clarifying his role. God & Jesus are to be obeyed!

john 16: 12-15

 ¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will be available to Believers and through Him Only will we be able to discern The Truth.

Jesus is The Way, the Only Way.

Take a look at Romans 10:9-13

⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 

That’s what happened to me when Dr. White encouraged me.  I went forward and declared to the congregation that I accepted Christ and believed in him.  I did it again when I was baptized a few weeks later.  I stand here now and declare that I accept Jesus is my personal Savior.

 

Now look at John 3:16-18

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

This is the most well know verse in the Bible.  John follows up in v18 the absolute truth about the saving grace available only through Jesus.

Now look back at John 14

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

 ¹ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.”

The middle of v3 describes “The Rapture”.  This is a most important concept.  When this occurs, all Christians will be removed from the earth in an instant.  The only people left will be those who have not accepted Jesus as their personal Savior.  At this point the Tribulation begins and the “End Times” clock starts ticking.  Major events will occur during the two 3 ½ year periods of the Tribulation.  It will literally be “Hell on Earth”.  This is not just Miles talking, this is what the Scriptures say.

We need to jump over to Matthew 24:36-44 for just a moment…

³⁶ “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son but only the Father. ³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

   ⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

An interesting thought… if as Jesus says, only God knows when the Rapture is going to occur, then Satan doesn’t know either.  Yet the scriptures say that the Ant-Christ will come to power right after the Rapture.  Does that mean that Satan always has someone ready to assume that role, all down through history? Think back trough history, who were the most evil people…

OK, back to John 14…

Jesus the Way to the Father

 ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” ⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” ⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

In v6, Jesus says it all.  You cannot be any clearer than this!

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

    ¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”  ²² Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”  ²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. ²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ²⁸ “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹ I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. ³⁰ I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, ³¹ but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.  “Come now; let us leave.”

What is important to me?  What is important to you? 

At age 25, Evy Kaye and I were different then we are today.  Our wishes, wants and activities were very different.  We were not involved with The Church. We both had been raised in The Church; we both attended and graduated from Bridgewater College which is affiliated with the Church of the Brethren. During the summer of our 25^th year, we spent Saturdays and Sundays water skiing on the Susquehanna River above the Conowingo Dam.

After we moved to Bridgewater and became involved in the life of Beaver Creek, we have gradually changed.  Son Randall was born and our obligation to involve him in the life of the Church was very strong.

I was blessed to have two special folks in my life as spiritual mentors; Hiram Knopp with whom I worked for oh so many years and Evy Kaye’s sister Eleanor Gene.  With both I had so many wonderful talks about things spiritual.  E.G. passed away in December 1994.  She wanted me to have her library of books.  I had to build floor to ceiling book shelves in my office and in the basement to hold them all.  Most were religious books.  They are fascinating.  Some of the authors have become my favorites and I have added more to the collection.

Back in the spring of 2010, our Sunday School class was using the book “I Saw the Lord” by Anne Graham Lotz.  It was about Isaiah. I had signed up for her email list for periodic updates.

One day I received an announcement about a videotaping to be done at The Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg VA.  Now The Thomas Road Baptist Church is no longer on Thomas Road but is located on the campus of Liberty University.  It was to be a teaching and discussion of Anne’s new book “The Magnificent Obsession” which is about Abraham.  The CD would then be made part of the teaching materials.  It would be all day Thursday and Friday. 

I filled out the application and included a resume.  One of the questions involved something to the effect of how would people answer the question “How important do you think God is to Miles?” I decided to test this on son Randall.  I sent an email telling him what was going on and I was stunned by his answer… “The most important thing in your life”!  Wow, I must have changed and I hadn’t thought about it.  Age 25 to age 69 has involved some changes!

I was accepted into the group and it was marvelous to meet and talk with Anne and also her assistant Carole Inman.  Carole’s message was an intimate part of the text for the “I Saw The Lord” book.

I was indeed blessed by the experience.

Now turn to Matthew 28:16:20. I think this is what we as “The Church” should be working on…

The Great Commission

 ¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This is what it’s all about.  This is what Jesus told his disciples to do!  I believe this extends to us too.  As a denomination we seem to be involved in things ridiculous.  Right now in Grand Rapids Michigan, do you know what they will be discussing… listen to this…

1.    Query: Language on Same Sex Covenantal Relationships.

2.    Query: Guidelines for Implementation of the Congregational Ethics Paper.

3.    Query: Guidance for Responding to the Changing of the Earth’s Climate.

4.    Query: Proper Decorum.

What in the world is going on? I don’t think Alexander Mack would believe what has happened to The Church of the Brethren.  I don’t think my father-in-law; Galen Miller would believe what is happening. I know I can’t believe what is happening.  I am thankful that Beaver Creek Church seems to still have a handle on what Christianity is all about.

I am going on the record saying “They are making it difficult for me to show much enthusiasm and support for the denomination!”  We can do better!

We need to be in prayer!  Prayer for the people of the world! Prayer for the people of our denomination! Prayer for the people of Beaver Creek Church!  Prayer for our families! Prayer for ourselves!  What should we pray for?... Pray that the Holy Spirit will come into lives, opening eyes and opening ears!

A few months ago, Louise Dunn, Faye Wampler and Evy Kaye started a Wednesday evening prayer session.  It runs from 6:30pm to 7:15pm.  We pray silently and we pray out loud.

A few days ago I received an email from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  In it they told about the July 1953 edition of “Decision” magazine.  Included in it was a square 78 rpm plastic record.  On it was Billy’s special July 4^th message.  Please Listen to it! 

http://www.billygrahamlibrary.org/PGView.aspx?pid=37

How appropriate is it for today? 58 years ago… Wow.

Thank you.

Join with me now in prayer.