A Man for All Seasons - Heb 12:2

A Man for All Seasons

March 6, 2011

Heb 12:2

Introduction

• In the 1970's there was a movie about Sir Thomas More
• He was the lord Chancellor under Henry VIII, in the 1500's, and he was responsible for the judiciary in England
• The plot of the movie is based on the true story of Sir Thomas Moore, the 16th-century Lord Chancellor of England, who refused to endorse King Henry VIII's wish to divorce his aging wife Catharine of Aragon, who could not bear him a son, so that he could marry Anne Boleyn, the sister of his former mistress. The play portrays More as a man of principle, envied by rivals such as Thomas Cromwell and loved by the common people and by his family
• Thomas More lived as a man of principle, and did not veer either to the right or the left in his responsibilities as the Chancellor of the English judiciary
• More represents "a man for all seasons", because he remains true to himself and his beliefs under all circumstances and at all times, despite external pressure or influence
• This character trait is something we all need to develop
• Today we will look at how Jesus was truly a man for all seasons, and how he lives his life through people who are similarly true to their beliefs

Jesus had a clear understanding of his mission

• Jesus was very clear about his mission
• Isa 61:1-3
• Jesus came to bring healing to a broken world
• This is a foundation stone of our beliefs
• This is why people come to Jesus, they want change in their lives, change back to the way things should have been all along
• Jesus invites us to be a part of this
• He tells us, as the Father sent me, I am sending you
• We go out with the same mission statement as Jesus
• What was that mission?
• Luke 4:18
• This means that we are ready at a moment's notice to be an instrument of Jesus' intervention in someone's life
• When we speak to a neighbor and find out her marriage is falling apart, we point her to Jesus and pray with her
• When a colleague at work is broken up because someone has passed away, we tell that Jesus is ready to comfort through this difficult time
• When our own life seems to fall apart, we turn to Jesus
• Why do we turn to Jesus?
• Because he is the same yesterday today and forever
• With him there is no inconsistency or ambivalence
• He is there for us, if we turn to him

Jesus did not allow pressures to distract him

• Sometimes when the waves of doubt and pain wash over us, we lose sight of Jesus
• The world around us seems so real, and yet it is only such a small part of the whole spectrum of existence
• When we see light, it seems so simple - just white light
• But when we pass that light through a glass prism, it is broken up into its seven constituents - red, orange, yellow, green, blue indigo and violet
• But this is only a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
• There are radio waves, sound waves, x-rays, all of which we cannot see
• It is the same with the creation
• There is a spirit world out there which is every bit as real as what we see with our eyes
• there are angels in this room right now
• The Holy Spirit is here at this moment, blowing through this church like an invisible wind
• Sometimes he becomes visible as the shekinah glory of God
• Don't allow the cares of this world to crowd out the place where our focus wants to be, on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
• Don't be distracted by the pressures of life, allow Jesus to carry your burden

Jesus was a man of principle

• Jesus said in the OT, I am the LORD I change not
• The principles Jesus stands for were the same in the OT as in the new, and they still have not changed
• He inspired David to write Psalm 15
• He inspired it because this is how God is
• These are the principles he lives by
• A man who swears to his own hurt
• God himself will keep his promises
• This evening we will be talking about some of God's promises about healing, part of our Foursquare heritage
• we stand firm on the mission on which God has sent us
• Jesus has not changed, he still has the same mission, to bring healing to a hurting world, and draw all men unto himself
• We too want to be consistent in our walk with God, not on again off again
• God desires people who walk together with him in spirit and in truth and sincerity
• Be a man or woman of principle
• People know us for who we are, because the fruits of our life will be evident

Conclusion

• Thomas More was known for being a man of principle who would not weaken under pressure
• Jesus set us an example as one who does not change, who promised to always be with us
• The mission he started continues in us, he has invited us to partner with him
• The principles of that mission have not changed
• We too have been called to be men and women of God, standing as lights in the world
• We too have been called to be men and women for all seasons, never changing, always standing for what we believe