Crown of Life Sermon -- 6 July 2008

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
July 6th, 2008
Sermon Text: Isaiah 55:10-11

Two days and 232 years ago, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, holding these truths to be self evident: "All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator certain unalienable rights that include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And when a Government becomes destructive of these ends, the people have the right to alter or abolish it and institute a new Government."

Two hundred thirty two years and two days later, we are still celebrating and commemorating the adoption of this declaration, because we still find this declaration to be relevant and effective in 2008. Two hundred thirty two years later, we still hold these truths to be self-evident as shown by the fact July 4th is a national day of celebration.

While America contends the declaration is still a relevant and effective document for 2008, what is the charged levied against the Bible? It is out of date, antiquated, and irrelevant for a modern society, ineffective. If that is true, then our time spent here is a big waste of time, and God’s Word should go the way of the records, the eight track, cassette, VCR players and regular gasoline, and the belief that the world is flat. Now, while there are no national holidays such as July 4th celebrating the relevance and effectiveness of God’s Word, know this -- God’s Word is still effective.

If it had rained, or worse yet, snowed on July 4th, it would have ruined or rendered ineffective the outdoor plans people made. The effect rain would have had on people’s psyche is that July 4th is ruined. But notice what God’s thought is in regard to snow and rain: As the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater.

God sees rain as a good thing, even if it rains on July 4th, for it is effective in watering the earth, making plants grow, making them fertile to provide food. And rain will not evaporate and go back into the clouds without first watering the earth. Rain and snow are still as effective as ever in watering the earth, making it grow. The effectiveness of the rain and snow watering the earth the Lord compares with the effectiveness of his word: "so is My word that goes out from My mouth, it will not return to Me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Just as God sending rain and snow on the earth is effective in accomplishing why He sends the rain -- for watering the earth to make plants grow -- God sending His Word to the people is effective in accomplishing what He desires. God’s Word is still effective in 2008. You ask what is the purpose God has given us His Word? What is God accomplishing by giving us His Word? Many make the claim God has given us His Word for the purpose of making a moral society. That God giving us His Word is nothing more than a moral handbook by which to live.

And there are others making the claim that the purpose of God’s Word only creates strife and division, and takes the fun out of life.
But when it comes to the purpose of God sending His Word we need look no further than in John 20:31, ? But these are written that you may ?a? believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."

God has given us His W,ord so why might have life, which is the reason why God’s Word is still relevant for society today. For only God’s Word is effective in giving us life. There are no other words out there that can create faith to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we might have life. Only God’s Word can penetrate these rock solid, heartless, loveless hearts for God and turn them into warm, soft and loving hearts for our Lord.

It is only the Word of the Lord that can convince us that Jesus is the Savior God who shed His blood and died for me, who also lived a holy life for me. Only the Word of the Lord is effective in giving us life in the name of Jesus. And the Word is still effective in accomplishing what the Lord desires. You are living proof that God’s Word is effective in accomplishing what the Lord desires.

For why is that you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and you have life in His name? Was it because your intellect was effective in convincing you Jesus is the Savior? Was it that someone had this life changing effect on you that brought about your faith? Has the world been effective in leading you to believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God? Only the gospel found in God’s Word has the power to be effective in accomplishing the Lord’s desire of wanting all to come to faith and be saved.

How ironic and sad it is that the one thing that will accomplish what God desires for the purpose which He sent it is by and large considered to be ineffective, irrelevant and out of touch by the world in which we live. To say as God's Word says that Jesus is the way, truth and life no one comes to the Father except through Him, is brushed aside as being out of touch in a world that accepts many ways and truths about God and salvation.

Even within the church, God’s Word is being abandoned and replaced with methods and programs and man’s word to bring people into the church, because God’s Word is considered a hindrance, a barrier, and ineffective in making the church grow. It would also be good to ask ourselves how effective and relevant do we believe God’s Word to be for our life. Right away we would say, "I believe God’s Word to be important, relevant and effective. How dare you ask such a question!"

But do are actions match our confession? Do we really consider God’s Word to be relevant and effective? If it is the gospel in God’s Word that is effective in bringing us to faith and strengthening our faith and keeping us in the faith, and through faith giving us this most awesome glorious life, then I assume we take time to actually read and study and proclaim God’s Word that is so effective in keeping us in and bringing us to faith.

If God’s Word remains on our shelves collecting dust next to our outdated collection of records and VCR tapes, what message is that sending? Do we really believe God’s Word to be effective in accomplishing the purpose for which he sent it? Or is there a more disturbing question on our minds -- "Does God’s Word really affect and accomplish anything?" By our actions, haven’t we shown that our confidence in the Word is waning?

But I say again, God’s Word is effective. That is not just a hopeful statement from a pastor, but the promise from our God. For we know that the rain and the snow are effective in watering the earth and making it bud and flourish producing food to sustain life. So is the Word that comes from the mouth of our Lord is effective in accomplishing what God desires. And what God desires is for us to have life with Him. So He has given us His Word.

His Word has power to affect a change within us. His word has the power to lead us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, that Jesus is Savior, that Jesus is the one who has endured the guilt and punishment for our sin of questioning and doubting the effectiveness of God’s Word. And God’s Word is effective in convincing us that because of Jesus' holiness and righteousness, not my holiness and righteousness, I will one day stand before God and serve and praise Him for all eternity in the heaven.

From the very beginning, when God said, “Let there be...” to today in dealing with us, God’s Word has been and will always be effective in accomplishing the purpose for which He sent it.

The declaration adopted by the Second Continental congress on July 4th, 1776 has proven to be a relevant and effective document for the United States of America, as shown by our celebrating the adoption of this document 232 years later. But the day may come when the Declaration becomes out of date and irrelevant and will need to be changed and altered to make it relevant for society.

But that will never be a concern for God’s Word. God’s Word will never need to be changed. The Word of God is effective as it stands and will remain so no matter if the year is 1900, 2008 or 3015. Amen.

Back to Sermons Page 2008