The other Wednesday night before our high school youth ministry program, we had guitar hero hooked up in the youth rooms... Any parents remember this game? If you had a high school male living under your roof from the years 2006-2010 you've likely endured countless hours of guitar hero racket.
Now, if you can imagine myself and my three best friends taking turns on guitar hero career mode for countless hours every Friday and Saturday night (in my buddy Noah's basement)... you've basically grasped my Senior year of high school in its totality. We were so into this game that we even drove out into the middle of no-where to take a band pic... no really we did. That's me on the far left in the cowboy hat...
The four of us were pretty much the sheltered churchy kids... and let's just be real... those aren't exactly the dudes that the ladies are crazy about in high school... which is suuuuper surprising considering our tremendous ability at the fake guitar...
We did absolutely everything together. Here's another picture of us from youth group that year... We had each other's backs. Bro's till the end, right! Well, that is with one small exception... that's if a girl ever came into the picture. Because it seemed that out of nowhere every so often, one of us went MIA for a few weekends.
And then after that was over (and the girl figured out what she was getting into), it was the walk of shame back to the basement and endless hours of guitar hero... We'd be all over the returning band member's case... that is until we pulled the same exact move the next weekend.
I don't know if you've noticed this... but adolescent young men... and adults as far as that goes, have the capacity to be loyal to their crew until a lady comes into the picture. And then everything changes! All the priorities shift, the friends get put on the back burner... and they essentially fly off the radar until the girl is no longer in the scenario.
We've been learning an incredible amount about what it means to submit ourselves to God in our most intimate relationships... our families and marriages... throughout the course of our true love series. But perhaps I'm speaking for a significant portion of our congregation with this thought: "how does this apply to me!?"
I feel like that's a totally legitimate question. Many of us... young people in particular, have no idea how our love life is going to turn out. Or perhaps you were a part of a marriage that ended in divorce and you're just trying to get your bearings straight. Maybe you're in the midst of a marriage right now that has turned out to be far less glamourous than your expectations led you to believe.
Regardless of where you find yourself today, I think we're all on common ground in the fact that we're all searching for wholeness and contentment in life. How is it that I am to be made whole? Where do I find contentment for this season of life?
We all need to come to realize that beyond the reality of our families, our relationships, or any circumstances of our past present and future – beyond it all, wholeness and contentment is found in Jesus alone.
But before we get there we have to answer this question:
For you, and for me... "Is Christ Enough for us?" Lets pray.
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When we ask, "is Christ Enough?" What exactly are we asking? The question itself seems to come from a place of emptiness. It's like we consider who Jesus is, or what we've heard of Him, and we think to ourselves... "is Jesus really enough for me... can he fill this void? How is it that I am to be made whole?"
In one sense we're totally on the mark when we ask this question. There is a true void that exists in us that must be filled. So "what's missing?" is a good question to start with. "What's missing?"
As always, the Apostle Paul, inspired by God through the Holy Spirit, writes divinely inspired words that totally hit the mark. Listen to this from Ephesians 2:1-3 "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."
So what's missing? For one... we're dead! So life – life in general – is missing. That's a problem.
"Following the prince of the power of the air..." that's a fancy way to say Satan. So we're not just a little misguided... we're literally on a path to hell. That's less than encouraging. And in case if you think that only applies to the worst of us, Paul makes a clarification "among whom we all once lived..." so we're all in the same boat. But the problem isn't that we're following the prince of the air, although that's a problem in itself... the issue at hand is that we're under the wrath of God.
Last year I was a youth minister at a Church in north-central Illinois, and I had been getting to know a couple of middle school students. I thought a great way to break the ice with those guys would be to take them out to eat some wings. So we were on our way to buffalo wild wings when out of nowhere I hear that huge pop... and right away I know I have a flat tire. Flat tires are inconvenient enough, but when it's 5 O'clock along a major state highway, with no more than half a shoulder to work with, it's even more inconvenient. So I pull over and before I can even give instructions one of the students hops out of my car and starts running across the other side of the highway...
I haven't felt so helpless in forever... So (after retrieving the student) I get out my crank set and remove the bolts and start taking my wheel off to put on the spare...
But looking back I could have easily done something else! I had a first aid kit in my glove box that I could've snagged a Band-Aid from!(Maybe a little gauze... maybe a little tape) All I'd have needed to do is slap that on the tire and drive away. Seems reasonable right?
No?
When you have a flat tire, a Band-Aid won't do the trick. How absurd is the thought of that! In the same way, spiritual deadness can't be fixed with spiritual Band-Aid's.
We have a mortal wound and there's nothing that can be done about it. So this is what God does for us in Christ... Paul Continues in verses 4-5 "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--"
Death can't be overcome by Spiritual Band-Aid's. Only Jesus can do that. So God... in an act of Love... not a mere obligation... makes us alive TOGETHER with Christ. And that's important to remember.
Our life is wrapped up in Jesus. We have been made alive TOGETHER with Him. He himself is life. And nothing else is life.
Relationships are the primary spiritual Band-Aid of humanity. And it makes sense. As humans we retain the glory of the image of God because scripture leads us to understand that we are created in His image. So it only makes sense that a wounded people would turn to the closest replication of their creator that they could find.
But to quote Taylor Swift... who many believe to be a relational sage "Band-Aid's don't fix bullet holes."
Single people: are you trying to fill the void with the idea true love with a human who is created in the image of God rather than Jesus, the very image of God Himself. Married couples... are you seeking to abide in your spouse rather than the true Vine, Jesus himself? No matter how mature we become in our relationships, we have an obligation to Christ first, and Christ alone... he alone is the source of life.
We find wholeness in Christ alone.
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As great as this news is, there is always temptation to forget, or move beyond this glorious new reality. It becomes as if Christ isn't enough. Like wholeness in Christ isn't enough. At that point we've come down with a case of the Christ-And's... The Christ And's
What I mean is we know that we have been changed... we know we have been brought from death to life, but it's like we're still striving for something else. Christ and... true love. Christ and... financial stability. Christ and...a new set of golf clubs. Christ and... a vacation home
The number one symptom of the Christ-And's is discontentment. In it's the most aggressive form we find ourselves to be bitter towards God because we think He's withholding something from us. So we go out and get it for ourselves.
I'm thinking about the young woman who has been attending church faithfully for years... she's lonely, isolated, working as hard as she can just to stay afloat... so some guys comes around and shares interest and affection toward her that she hasn't experienced in years. And the next thing you know the young woman in on an extended hiatus from her church family.
This isn't just single people though... I'm thinking about that Dad who decided he'd take his entire family – wife, children and all to Easter service last year... It was like a fresh breath of air. The truth communicated and redemptive relationships were already beginning to build up the life and health of that family. But a few months later, and a few 65 hour work weeks down the road, being a vital part of the body of Christ ceased to be a main priority.
At the moment where Christ is no longer enough – where you find yourself striving for something else – whether true love, prosperity, peace, or wholeness – you know you have the Christ-And's – A practical case of discontentment. (You fill in the blank)
Circumstantially, we will not always have what we desire. But what if wholeness in Christ truly was enough? Is this possible? The apostle Paul grasped this perhaps more profoundly than any other individual. From the famous New Testament passage (Philippians 4:11-12) listen to the following Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Paul was SOLD OUT to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was the vision of his life... He had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus that changed him forever. You might be messed up forever too if you saw the risen Lord Jesus in the midst of a blinding light. He went from striving – persecuting the Church with more rage than anyone else – to complete contentment in the very man Jesus who he was persecuting. But Paul had something in his back pocket... a secret to life.
What's the secret?
From Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
Unlike popular belief, this is not some sort of biblical permission slip for super-powers. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me...wsssshhhh! This is also not a free pass to do whatever you want like... "God has my back no matter what good or bad things I do because he gives me strength." No.
Philippians 4:13 is the bold claim of the Apostle Paul that no matter what comes to pass in His life he can endure it and be perfectly content. The most lavish blessings and the greatest valleys of despair that the world has to offer didn't have a hold on the Apostle Paul.
The secret of life for Paul is that Christ IS ENOUGH. His contentment is unshakable.
Contentment is found in Christ alone.
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It's widely accepted that Paul wrote his famous Philippians 4:13 passage from the chains of prison. So these weren't just trite words from the mouth of a religious elite...Paul knew contentment in the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. But in the very next verse... we find that contentment in Christ works itself out in a very familiar place – We experience this contentment in the Church.
Paul says in Philippians 4:14-15 "Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only."
It's like you can almost hear the emotion and gratitude in his voice. Right on the heels of the most beautiful statement about contentment in Christ, Paul acknowledges his humanity: "Yes I'm completely content in Christ – but I am so thankful for your partnership in making his name known.
As Christians, we experience Christ as we experience each other.
The Philippian Church was a source of great encouragement and joy for Paul. Yes, Paul brought the wholeness and contentment of Jesus with him everywhere he went, but he also brought the encouragement of knowing that his brothers and sisters in Christ were constantly supporting him in his ministry – even financially.
As a Church – the gathered body of those who call Jesus Lord and Savior – we have a deep obligation to one another. Our obligation is to Christ first and foremost. In Him we are whole and content. Yet as we strive to know Christ completely, we must build one-another up to wholeness and contentment in Jesus. This is so necessary.
Whether you are single, widowed, or divorced (Or whatever circumstance) – I understand that this season of life may be isolating and discouraging at points. My gentle encouragement to you would be this will you give yourself a chance to experience the joy of fellowship with Christ in His Church during this present season? I have no idea how long this present season is going to last... if it will be short or extended... but you are standing in the midst of the church. You've come here to worship this morning... and for many of you that's where your fellowship with the Church ends.
Will you devote to prayer and action stepping into redemptive relationships here at Lakeside? This applies to everyone. There are at least 14 life groups that are presently meeting here at Lakeside. Additionally, there are age and life-stage specific classes that meet here weekly on Sunday mornings. As you experience relationships with others – you experience Jesus. Please consider using this life stage to invest into the Church – even right here at Lakeside.
Consider these words, also from the Apostle Paul from 1 Corinthians 7 "Only let each person lead the life[c] that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him."
Please understand that this season of your life is not just a stage before another stage. This day, this season, is an opportunity to participate in who God is, and in relationship with his children – the Church. Give yourself an opportunity to be a part of the life of His Church.
Now I want to speak to our families as well. There are numerous incredible families that are a part of the fellowship of our Church here at Lakeside. I am deeply encouraged by the way that I am seeing you step out in faith and in love to serve our community here at Lakeside. I want to encourage you to continue to keep your head lifted up to see opportunities to be a source of life to the isolated members of our congregation. Perhaps the Lord is placing on your heart right now, to reach out to an individual who is disconnected from family-like fellowship in our Church. Do it.
God has built your family up to be a source of strength for the lives of hurting and isolated people around you. The opportunities are sitting right across the aisle from you. Will you grant yourself the opportunity to experience Jesus as you serve and love your single, widowed and divorced brothers and sisters in Christ?
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We know that Wholeness and Contentment are found in Christ alone. Our obligation is to Him first and foremost – to abide in Him and to find our life in Him. And as the body of Christ – we experience the life of Jesus as we experience each other. By serving and loving one another we build up the Church.
Now I mean this all very specifically in the life of the Church. I'm talking about Christians relating to Christians. No matter what your life circumstance is, as a follower of Christ, you have a core obligation to your brothers and sisters.
Consider these words from the Gospel of John (13:34-35) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
This is true love.
When our wholeness and contentment in Christ bears fruit in our love for each other – we'll have begun to grasp what true love is. And the people around us will start to figure it out to. We're following Jesus.
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