This Week's Light Service Sermon

Light Service Sermons for the Month
Maximize Your Life
Energize Internally
DATE: February 28, 2001
TEXT: Revelation 3:20

Since early January we have been looking together at Biblical principles that can help us maximize our lives. Using the word maximize as our outline, we have talked so far about how to:
Make Things Happen
Achieve Personal Significance
X out the Negatives
Internalize the Right Principles
March to a Mission
Integrate all of Life
Zero in on Caring for Others

Today, as we wrap up, I want to look with you at perhaps the most important question raised by this series, and that question is this: When all is said and done, what is the one thing that keeps you going in life? What keeps you motivated? What keeps you energized when life around you is draining you? What gives your life meaning and purpose when nothing around you seems to be working? What keeps your life maximized in the midst of all of the ups and downs life throws your way? Bottom line, what or who is your source of strength?
Today, as we look at these questions, I'd like to invite you to consider Jesus as the answer, because I believe that ultimately, he's the one who makes sense out of life. He's the one who keeps our lives maximized through life's downturns. He's the one who enables us to see each day as a gift no matter how good or bad that day might be. He's the one who enables us to believe that everything will be all right in those times when it seems all is wrong.
I know there are a lot of voices out in the world today that promise us that if we follow their advice, if we internalize their systems and principles, if we commit to their faith perspective, we'll find the internal energy we need to make the most out of life. And quite honestly, some of those voices have some very good things to say to us. But I'd like to invite you to consider today what Jesus has to offer, because I've found in my life that he gives me all I need and more in order that I might enjoy maximum living no mater what's happening around me. And I'm convinced that once you hear his proposal, you'll discover for yourself that his voice is the most compelling and most energizing.
So today, as we conclude our series, I want to look with you at how Jesus can energize us internally and keeps going through it all. But before we go on, let's pray together
(PRAYER)
While he was here on earth Jesus made a rather startling claim about himself and his reason for coming. He said, "I have come so that everyone would have life and have it in its fullest." (John 10:10) It's remarkable claim because, quite honestly, we're all looking for someone or something that can give us that kind of life. And that one person can actually carry out that claim seems a little too good to be true. So it's important to look at exactly what it is Jesus is saying by that claim and how he can back it up.
Now, by giving us life in its fullest Jesus isn't talking about offering us external riches. And he isn't talking about insulating us from the more difficult aspects of life. Instead, Jesus is offering us what we all long for in the depths of our hearts: Meaning in a world that doesn't often make sense. Hope is a world that sometimes seems out of control. Significance that lasts beyond my successes and failures. In other words, Jesus claims that he can energize us with the king of life we all dream about--a life lived from the inside out.
The fact of the matter is, life, as you know, is filled with all kinds of ups and downs. Sometimes it goes out way. Sometimes it doesn't. And those who are able to maximize their lives are those who have that one stable thing in their lives that keeps them going through it all. That's what Jesus is talking about. He claims that he is the one thing that will keep up energized no matter what life throws our way.
So what I'd like to do today is briefly share with you how Jesus can energize you internally so that you can enjoy the life God created you for.
First of all, Jesus energizes us internally by giving us grace in the midst of life's failures.
Charlie Brown was standing in the outfield minding his own business when he noticed everyone looking at him and screaming at him. As they yelled they pointed to a spot in the sky above him. As he looked up, Charlie Brown saw a baseball floating toward him. And suddenly, his big moment had arrived. The moment to redeem himself, to make up for all of the balls he had dropped over the years. So he put out his mitt and kept his eye on the ball. He concentrated as hard as he could. And just when the ball was about to fall into his glove, he pulled the glove away and the ball dropped onto the field.
Lucy ran out onto the field yelling, "Charlie Brown. What happened? The ball was right there in your glove. What happened?"
Charlie Brown, his head hanging, said sheepishly, "I guess the past got in my eyes."
Few things in life demotivate us more than failure. Failure has a way of robbing us of our confidence and dignity, and in the process knocks the wind right out of us. And without confidence, without a strong sense of value and worth, it's hard to live a maximized life.
When I came to Faith back in 1982, I found a church that was not all that healthy spiritually and physically. Based on my previous experience in Mansfield, I confident that I could reverse both those trends by implementing everything I learned in seminary. Twelve years later not all that much had changed. Oh, we were better off physically--mortgage paid off, roof didn't leak, grounds looked better. But still, I felt the spiritual soul of Faith had not improved all that much. We had done much to lower the dissatisfaction of the members but had really done little to raise the satisfaction of people visiting our church. And so we continued to hemorrhage members through attrition, moving, transfer, this in spite of the fact that 73% of the people who lived within 5 miles of Faith were unchurched. We were working like crazy to just hold our own. And still we were falling behind little by little. I felt awful, like a failure. Nothing I had been taught to do in seminary was working. I was blowing it. I even wondered whether I had what it took to be a pastor. To be honest, and only a few people know this, I considered quitting not only Faith but also the ordained ministry.
But grace got me back on my feet again. I decided I needed to go back to school. I began to go to seminars, to workshops, to classes being offered by people who were doing church differently. I was reminded in prayer that God had created me for something special. And I resolved to get back to a Jesus oriented ministry and to do things differently. And here we are having grown by 17% in the last four years but what is more we are touching the lives through all of you with people literally all over the world.
That's how Jesus energizes us internally. He continually reminds us that no matter how often we fail, he still loves us. He still sees worth and value in us. He still sees the potential in us. That grace wipes off the dust of failure and empowers us to start again and again. And that grace, that unconditional acceptance of us no matter what, keeps us motivated and our lives maximized.
Second, Jesus energizes us internally by giving us peace in the midst of life's storms.
Many years ago a contest was held to find the perfect picture of peace. The contest was sponsored by a wealthy man who wanted the picture for his art collection. The contest and the prize money, along with the challenge of the subject, captured the imaginations of artists all over the country.
The judging was extremely difficult, as many excellent paintings had been submitted. But eventually the judges whittled the choices down to two.
The drape was pulled off the first picture and the crowd reacted with an audible sound of awe. The painting was beyond beautiful. It pictured a mirrored, smooth lake, which reflected lacy green birch trees. The sky was filled with the warm oranges and purples of sunset. Along the shore sheep grazed on deep green grass. The picture radiated peace.
Then the second painting was revealed. And again the crowd reacted audibly, this time with a sound of shock and surprise. For on first inspection, the picture was anything but peaceful. It showed a tumultuous waterfall cascading down a rocky precipice. Stormy, gray clouds threatened to explode with lightening, wind and rain.
In the middle of the precipice a bony, spindly free jutted out, reaching toward the waterfall. And in the elbow of one of its branches a mamma bird had built a nest. In the midst of that violent, ugly scene, the bird sat contentedly on its nest, its eyes closed, peacefully undisturbed by the storm around her.
And that was the painting that won.
Jesus once said, "I give you peace, the king of peace that only I can give. It isn't like the peace that this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid."
You see, the peace Jesus gives is not the absence of the storm, but the confidence that he is always there with us to get us through. And his presence with us energizes us and keeps us going, enabling us to maximize our lives even in the face of life's storms.
Thirdly, Jesus energizes us by giving us joy in the midst of life's disappointments.
Leo Buscaglia tells of a time growing up when his father came home with the news that his company was going bankrupt after his partner had taken off with all of the company's funds. As you can imagine, the family was absolutely devastated. But Leo's mom did a surprising thing. She immediately went out and sold some of her jewelry. She used the money to buy food for a feast. Her family scolded her for being so wasteful in light of the fact they now had no money. But she said to them, "The time for joy is now, when we need it the most, not next week."
Leo's mom knew the secret of joy. She knew that joy is not some kind of giddy happiness that comes only when times are good. Joy is the promise that the tough times of life won't have the final word. That when everything seems all wrong, God will make it all right once again.
Jesus guaranteed that kind of joy for us when he gave his life for us on the cross. At that moment everything seemed all wrong. All of the hopes and dreams Jesus brought suddenly seemed meaningless. But three days later he rose from the dead, making things all right once again. And because of his death and resurrection he can energize us with joy in the midst of life's disappointments--giving us the certainty that he will have the last word, not life's difficulties, and that that word will be good.
Finally, Jesus energizes us internally by giving us faith in the midst of life's uncertainties.
Usually, when we think of faith, we think of something we have to do, a belief we have to ascribe to, or feeling we need to conjure up on our own. But Jesus offers us something much better. He tells us that faith is first and foremost a gift that he gives to us--a gift that he produces in us as he proves himself faithful.
You see, faith is being supported by Jesus when life seems uncertain. It's having him as our foundation to walk on. Even though we may not see or even feel him, faith assures us that we are not alone, that Jesus is there holding us up, supporting us, getting us through. Here's a clip from Indiana Jones to illustrate what I mean.
(CLIP)
Jesus came 2000 years ago to ensure that we might live a life full of grace, peace, joy, faith, significance, and meaning. He gave his life to make that dream a reality.
And today, as the Risen Savior, he has a special invitation for you. He says, "Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together."
As I said, there are many voices out there encouraging us to consider their principles, their systems, and their faith, promising that they can offer us the one thing that will keep us motivated through it all.
But there's another voice, a voice that for 2000 years has been energizing people with life, hope, and joy. A voice that I believe rises above all the rest. It's the voice of Jesus. And he's standing at the door of your heart inviting you to experience a life that goes beyond your greatest dreams--a life maximized by grace, peace, joy and faith. I've found his offer of life far surpasses anything out there. I think you will, too. So I encourage you to listen and respond by welcoming Jesus to come and be the one thing that will make your life count.
AMEN