That is enough!

 (Mal 3:13-18 NIV) "You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?' {14} "You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? {15} But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.'" {16} Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. {17} "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. {18} And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

Last weekend after church I dropped my son "little Manfred" off at his friend’s Matt house where they wanted to work on the Derby Car.

A little later I called Jenny and Bill, Matt’s parents and I invited myself to a cup of coffee as I had done before. We had a wonderful discussion, but out of the blue Bill asked me if I would ever return to going into business.

I hesitated answering because often I see my ministry as a ‘godly" business. Not to make money, but to save souls and to educated and comfort those who accepted God.

I said I am very focused in my ministry and my objective is to find ways to reach those who have never given their live to Christ. And I truly feel that I am called to do that.

We as a Church have to align with our times, not to adjust to it, but to find the language and the tools to minister to those who need us and to reach out to the world with the mechanisms of today’s times.

First we must face the facts of our society. What state are we in? What do people believe and how do they come to a certain conclusion?

When we are willing to listen to their side, and we are willing to look at scripture . . . only then can we minister.

I will give you an example from Barna Research: By a margin of 3:1 (64% vs. 22%) people believe that truth is ALWAYS relative to the person and their situation. Teenagers believe by a margin of 83% that truth depends upon circumstances.

Within the 2000 years after Christ this is a "new revelation," because it changes everything!

It changes how we observe authority. It changes how we handle situations, what we say, how we say it, our relationships, etc.

The term: "Whatever" Barna Research mentioned arrived out of that understanding!

When many believe that nothing matters and it is always relative to our situation, we then seek instant gratification.

"Now, I want it now, I deserve it, I want it."

We as the church have never given instant gratification on the basis of our faith.

Eternal life is far down the road, prayer may or may not work, going to church takes away from my resting time, adult bible study is for older folks, singing in the choir is singing songs I hate, the minister doesn’t give me what I need . . .

Yeah . . . there is no instant gratification.

For a time it worked for Moody, and B. Graham in their revivals where people were not obstructed by other events in their life and they were able to stay focused on the hour.

Before I go any further, I would like to make it clear that we do not have to adjust the message of God to people. I have experienced that in seminary and in some liberal circles. The message is the same and has been the same.

As you may know, this church has made a new effort to work within the denomination of the CoB to make its voice heard and to proclaim new ways and understanding to those who present voices which were not the voices of most of the churches.

You see those voices which we often think is the majority is not truly the majority, but the ones who proclaim their own personal agenda.

So, in our effort to work with the denomination I was appointed as the CoB representative on the Council for the Ohio Churches, where all denominations are represented.

As I was sitting at a recent Board Meeting at the Council of Churches, I was thinking: "Would it not be wonderful if we could all agree to run an infomercial about "church" and the message of God for humanity!"

I was thinking about us. Would it not be great if we could deliver instant gratification coming from this church to the people who seek it?

How?

Well, what do people seek in life? What do we as individuals seek?

Everyone seeks to be welcomed and important enough to be asked their name and being to how glad we are that he or she is here.

Instant gratification can be given when we tell them that THEY are welcomed as they are, because we are one of them.

Instant gratification can be given when we truly care for them personally in every level. Islam did not grow because Mohammed was a Prophet . . . and he was not. (At the age of 53 he had a pedophilic relationship with a 9-year-old girl Aisha, he massacred Jews . . . the Koran tells Muslims 2:191 to murder and slay unbelievers you see this is nothing like what our Jesus is about).

But the reason they are growing is because they care about their neighbor who is Muslim or is willing to be converted. Why have we neglected that?

Instant gratification can be received when we allow ourselves to be in tune with our emotion. It is OK to cry, it is OK to say Amen, it is OK to lift your arms, it is OK, because it feels good. And you know what if you don’t feel like it . . . don’t do it, because that is OK as well.

Have you ever wondered why charismatic evangelical churches are so full and people flock there? It is because they feel God’s presence immediately, they allow themselves God’s presence to take over and God touches them deep on a level where only God can touch them. No, that is not for everyone . . . but don’t deny God to touch you.

Instant gratification is given when we are present. What does that mean? We are able to give to others when we attend worship on a regular basis. We on a personal level do not only to be here for ourselves, but also for others to give them instant gratification.

Our presence is also important in our giving. Because the Muslim faith is very strict about their believers giving to the cause of the needs of the whole faith community. We often give left overs. I do not want us to be known for that! God does not want us to know for that. We must give toward the cause so we can spread instant gratification.

God is saying: "I can give instant gratification, you are my hands and my feet, don’t hold back. Because if you do not hold back for my sake people will know me better and will receive me as their Savior.)

God also is saying "That’s enough" Because God’s ways do not change for us. God wants us now . . . He does not have time to wait. He waited long enough.

God’ people at the West Alexandria Church of the Brethren are saying: That’s enough, we are the people of God and we want to bring the message of Christ to all the people in this world. We want to give instant gratification!

Christ is saying: That’s enough I want to come to you now, I want to give you instant gratification in my mercy, my love, my grace and my forgiveness.

Are you ready?

read more sermons >>