June 28-29, 1997 Sermon

June 28-29, 1997

Mike Slaughter

Acts 4:1-12
1: And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sad'ducees came upon them,
2: annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3: And they arrested them and put them in custody until the morrow, for it was already evening.
4: But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
5: On the morrow their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem,
6: with Annas the high priest and Ca'iaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
7: And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"
8: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,
9: if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed,
10: be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well.
11: This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner.
12: And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

What's The Difference
Will you open your Bibles to Acts, the fourth chapter? Peter and John had just healed a lame beggar at the temple. The beggar had asked for money. Peter and John said, "Silver and gold, we do not have, but what we do have we give you -- In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk." Well, the guy got up and walked. It caused quite a disturbance. Now in the first verse we read, while Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the Sadduccees came to them ticked off because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is resurrection from death.
It is quite controversial to get specific about God. We live in a culture that is in a God rush. They are excited about being spiritual, but they do not want to get specific. So eventually Peter and John get arrested. Now this is what we read, 8th verse, "Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them, ‘Rulers of the people, and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man was healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health, by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead.
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you the builders. It has become the capstone, the keystone or the cornerstone.’"
Now here is the verse that is so controversial: This has been a hard week for the staff, because this has caused us to really work and look at what we believe, and I hope that tonight becomes kind of hard for you...to help you really focus on what you believe. "
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven, given amongst people by which we can be saved." Now, that is a controversial verse.
This is the heart of what it means to be a Christian. The one thing that I am willing to live my life for and die for is that statement. "There is no other name under heaven or on earth by which we must be saved, other than the name of Jesus Christ."
Some people in my denomination call me "narrow" and "dogmatic" and "exclusive." American Demographics magazine says that right now spirituality is in, but we do not want to get specific about God. We want a generic god. If and when you get specific about naming the name of Jesus Christ, people are going to get ticked off. People are going to get upset. After all, what difference does a name make?
I mean, right now, if the world is so open to God, does it make any difference if we love people in Jesus’ name, or Buddha’s name, or Mohammed’s name? It makes a difference! There is a name that is higher than other names. This is why, my brothers and sisters, I want us to wrestle with this. This is why I am willing to live and die for this "one thing."

I. God’s Choice
Why is Jesus not equal with the other names? Why is Jesus higher than other names? Jesus is God’s choice.

The Capstone
Now this illustration of a capstone that we saw (Wasn’t that a great clip that we saw of Len’s visit to an architect’s office when he asked him what a capstone is?) It is really a principle of physics - a universal principle - that when you build an arch that the force of gravity pushes against that one stone. You don’t need cement or anything to hold that together. You just need that one stone, that capstone, in the center...and it holds everything else. It is a principle of physics. And then you can build on top of it. Not only will it hold everything together, it will hold everything up. And it’s done at the discretion of the architect. The capstone is designed at the initiative of the designer.
Now hear me - Why Jesus and not other names? Because Jesus is God’s choice. God is the creator, the architect, and He has chosen Jesus to be the capstone of the universe -- the universal principle that holds everything together.

Philippians
2:9-11
9: Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,
10: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11: and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

John 14:6
6: Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.

Now for this reason -- and I want us to look at Philippians the second chapter, 9th verse -- "...God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." Why? Because that’s what God chose.
Who am I to argue with God’s choice? I may not like God’s choice, but it’s not something that I’m going to get to vote on. And in America, we sometimes have the opinion that if it’s right, it’s going to get the majority vote. I am going to tell you something, what it means to be a follower of Jesus. It’s going to get minority vote. You see it’s based upon God’s choice, not mine.

The Face Of God
Why Jesus? He is the face of God. You know, I don’t know what God looks like. God’s just kind of an abstract thought until I see Jesus Christ. And then, when I see Jesus Christ, I say, "Wow!" When I look at the other religious leaders of the world, they look a whole lot like me. Like Buddha -- I can relate to Buddha. Buddha was a great teacher, but Buddha had some problems, like I have some problems. Like he, in mid-life, left his wife and kids, kind of went through that mid-life crisis, to go out and find life. Now can’t you cut him some slack? I mean, I know a lot of people who have gone through that. I know that in my own life, there are times that seem like a desert. But I hope God is better than that. I hope God’s better than Buddha, don’t you? I can call Buddha my brother, even.
Mohammed was a warrior. He had a lot of people’s blood on his hands. I mean, he killed a lot of folks. Mohammed said some great things about God, but I hope that God is better than Mohammed, don’t you? But, you know, when I look at Jesus, I go "Wow!" There is something different about Jesus from me. Mohammed looks like me. Buddha looks like me. But there is something different about Jesus, and you know what? I hope God’s as good as Jesus, don’t you? If God is as good as Jesus, you and I are going to be okay. It’s amazing! When I look at Buddha, I can call him my brother, but when I look at Jesus, I have to say, "My God!" For no one ever spoke like Jesus. No one ever did the things like Jesus. He is different! You know that anybody who could say "Turn to him and let him do it again," when someone comes up and smacks him on the side of the head, isn’t human. You see, I hope that God is as good as Jesus. You see, Jesus is the face of God.
What does the Bible call Jesus? It calls Jesus the "Word of God." If I am standing up here thinking something, you can’t tell what I am thinking, right? But if I speak, the word is the expression of the hidden thought. You see, Jesus is God speaking. Jesus is God simplified -- in a form that you and I can understand. Jesus is God speaking to the person on the street. You see, we don’t know what God looks like until we see Jesus. Every religious teacher, including myself, gives you the best idea they have of God. You know what Jesus is? God says, "That’s what you think I am? Here let me show you." Jesus is God’s best idea about himself. You see the difference? Jesus is the face of God. It’s why there is no other name that’s been give in heaven or on earth, by which you and I can be complete, because Jesus is God’s choice.

The Author of Life

Colossians
1:16-17
16: for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.
17: He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

You know what else the Bible calls Jesus? -- the "Author of Life." Look at Colossians 1:16-17, "For by him all things were created . . . He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." What does a capstone do? It is a principle of physics. It’s a universal principle -- the force of gravity pushes against it and it holds everything together. You can build on top of it. It holds everything up! Now, you say to me, "Mike, this is great, but how do you know it’s true? I mean, it’s in the Bible, but how do you know the Bible’s true?"
We live in a culture of easy believism. I mean, in our culture right now, we believe almost anything -- unless it is in the Bible. We do!
I am doing research right now for a book that I am writing this summer and I’ve found that astrology is hotter right now than it has been in 400 years. It’s been 400 years -- in search of extra-terrestrials. "Psychic-Friends Network" -- I can’t believe it! Have you seen that, folks? Five bucks a minute, and people are calling by the millions! We are a culture that has gone from a culture of the doubt to a culture of superstition. We’ll believe anything -- unless it’s in the Bible.
Well, I want to tell you something, my brothers and my sisters. God has spoken, in former times, through prophets, and in later days, through His Son. Whether we like it or not, God can speak any way God wants to speak. It’s not a matter of vote. I may not even like what God chooses, but it’s not up to me what God chooses. And God has chosen to speak through the prophets, and through His Son.
Why Jesus’ name above every other name? Because Jesus is God’s choice.

II. God’s Presence
Now here is the second reason why I’m a Christian -- and I’m willing to live and die for this. The reason we’re doing this sermon today is because of a United Methodist book that came out this week, asking what difference does it make what name we pray in as long as we love and honor God? It ticked me off! So I said, Let’s get together and examine who we are and why we are who we are. We’re the people of Jesus. Only in Jesus can you know the presence of God -- now. Every other religious leader in the world virtually taught that somewhere, some day, out there, you can experience God. If you are a Hindu, you can keep coming back in who knows how many thousands of lifetimes until you finally earn your way and get there. And if you’re a Buddhist you’re not really sure if there is a god. Buddha said just before he died, "I’m still looking for the truth." Right? That’s why he left his wife and kids -- in pursuit of truth. When he died, he was still looking. Six hundred years later, a man by the name of Jesus came and said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." And then he goes, "No one comes to the father, but through me."
Today, you can know. You don’t have to wait till later -- when you die, somewhere out there, or when you come back in instant karma. Today, you can know the presence of God.

Pardon

Luke
5:20-26
20: And when he saw their faith he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
21: And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?"
22: When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts?
23: Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?
24: But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --he said to the man who was paralyzed--"I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home."
25: And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, and went home, glorifying God.
26: And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen strange things today."

It is only through Jesus that we can know God’s pardon, now, today. Did you know that? Today! You don’t have to wait until you die to see if God is for you and has forgiven you. Today! Today! You know the greatest need that you and I have is that God, our creator is not our adversary. We are all carrying a boat load of guilt around with us. Counselors know this. One of the greatest needs we have is to realize that our creator is not our adversary, but our advocate. So, people go to counselors today and are told, "You’re suffering from guilt. Now that you know that, pay me a hundred dollars and just don’t feel guilty." It doesn’t work! Right? Because for a good reason we feel guilty. I mean, we have been created by this incredible creator, yet we go through our days with God being no more than a footnote to our week. Right? I mean, we believe in God, but often we give as much attention to yard work as we do to our relationship with God, so we feel guilty for good reason. Yet, it’s Jesus, the capstone, the author of life. When a man was brought to him for healing, Jesus knew what his real need was. His real need wasn’t for physical healing. What was his real need? To understand, through the presence of God, now, God is my advocate, not my adversary. So Jesus said, "My son, your sins are forgiven." No religious leader in the world ever had the authority to pronounce those words, but one. It makes a difference what name you name.
Everyone went, "Wow! How can you say ‘Your sins are forgiven’ for you’re just a religious teacher? No one but God and God alone can forgive sins. " Jesus went, "Exactly! In order that you may know that the Son of Man (Son of Man was a term that he took for himself out of scripture that referred to the Son of God in the Old Testament) has authority on earth to forgive sins on earth, I say ‘Get up and walk.’"
You see, it’s only through Jesus. There is not another religious teacher in the world, including myself, that can let you know through God’s presence that you have total forgiveness and acceptance by God right now. It doesn’t matter who you are, or what you’ve done, or where you’ve been, or if you were caught in the very act of adultery. Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more."

Power
It is only through Jesus Christ that you can know power through God’s presence, right now. I went to India and visited one of Buddha’s eight tombs. When Buddha died, he was cremated and they put his remains in eight different graves. So I went close to the Ganges River, to one of the places where Buddha was buried. I went right up to the tomb. I said, "What’s in the tomb?"
They said, "The remains of Buddha."
I said, "The real remains?"
They go, "The real remains."
"Part of Buddha’s body is in that grave?"
"Yes!"
"The real deal?"
They went, "The real deal!"
I went, "Whoa, I’m standing next to the real remains of Buddha!"
I went to Jerusalem. Stood next to the tomb. "What’s in the tomb?"
You know, it’s the only tomb of any religious leader that is empty? And it has ticked people off for years, including the enemies and critics of Jesus Christ, who would have liked nothing better than to have produced the remains. But no one has ever been able to produce the remains, for, "He is not here. He is risen!" That’s controversial! And it will tick people off!

Acts
3:6
6: But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

It is why Peter and John could say in Acts 3:6, "Silver and gold we don’t have, but in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!" You know what they were saying? They were saying - We’re not just going to give you somebody’s teaching, or a book, or ideas. We pronounce now, that Jesus Christ, the capstone of the universe, the universal principle that holds everything together, is here and alive and in his name and presence, get up and walk!
You know, my brothers and sisters, I don’t know what you are dealing with, but sometimes we follow a religious teacher and ideas. But, you know what? The capstone, the author of life, the architect of the universe is right here in this room. I don’t know what your need is, but whatever your need is, I say - In the name of Jesus -- the presence of Jesus is here -- get up and walk!

Peace
Why Jesus? It is only through Jesus Christ that we can know the peace of God, right now. We don’t have to wait. Carolyn, you are sitting there. Every week you have blood transfusions because of cancer. We say, "Jesus is here...the risen Lord. In the name of Jesus, get up and walk." I don’t know how you have been doing it, but you have been getting up and walking -- forever.
This past week, my wife and I went to see Marlene. Marlene is really in bad shape with cancer. So when we went to her at home, I said, "Marlene, right now, you are caught in the gravitational pull of God’s love and grace. You may be a little bit afraid." (All of us are going to go this way, my brothers and sisters. One hundred percent of us in this room are going to die. I guarantee it!) "You right now, are caught in the gravitational pull of God’s grace and love. We have done everything that we know to do and all you can do right now is let yourself go. Do not be afraid."

John
16:33
33: I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Do you know how we can know this? Here’s what Jesus said, (He said this to His disciples the night before He was crucified.) "What are you guys so worried about? In my Father’s house are many living places." John 16:33 (I love this next phrase. Listen to this, folks.) "If it wasn’t so, I wouldn’t tell you it was." That’s exactly what Jesus said. "If it wasn’t so, I wouldn’t tell you it was."
And His disciples went, "How do you know?"
He said, "Because I’ve been there and I’m going back there. I will come back again to take you there, that where I am you may be also."
You see, it is only through Jesus Christ that you can know the peace of God, right now. Here’s the promise, "I’m not going to leave you with teaching or a book. I will be with you, always, even to the end of the age." That’s an incredible promise! Right? Hear me!

Purpose

John
20:20-22
20: When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21: Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
22: And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

It is only through Jesus Christ, that you can know God’s purpose. Let’s look at John 20:20-22. This is right after the resurrection. Now Jesus shows them -- no other religious leader in the world has ever done this, but one, and that’s because He is the capstone -- He showed them His hands and His side, right? Hey, this is really me! I have come from the grave!
Now look at what He says to them. "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I send you." What’s He doing? He is giving them God’s purpose, just as God gave Jesus God’s purpose.
"And He breathed on them and said ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. (What is the Holy Spirit? The presence of God with us and in us.) If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Religious teachers, Mohammed, Buddha, etc. -- who are equal to all of us, can give us only general ideas about life. (Were they right? Yes! and No! They were right about some things and they were wrong about some things.) But there is only one, and His name is Jesus, who can give you God’s specific plan for the way God created you.
When I first came to this church, a young pastor called me to come over to Brandt United Methodist church -- a little tiny church. He was getting ready to graduate from United Theological Seminary. I was 27 years old and had been in full time youth work, so I went to speak to his youth group.
The pastor began to tell me his story. He had been a slow learner and had spent all of his educational years in special education classes. He had graduated from high school but had always been in special education classes.
He said, "I worked in a factory. While I was working in a factory, one of the men who worked with me introduced me to the Lord of Life, (the architect, the capstone, the one universal principle that holds everything together). Jesus Christ changed my life. So, Jesus then called me to go into ministry. I went to find out what I needed to do."
Well, in the United Methodist Church, you have to go through four years of college and then three years of seminary. Now, what’s the problem? He’s never been in anything but special education. But, the resurrection, folks! If Jesus is God come in the flesh, then anything is possible. Do you know what he did? He went through four years of college. I think it took him six, seven or eight years. He went through three years of seminary. I think it took him five or six. And he was graduating and going back to West Virginia to serve in the area from which he came.

The Real Difference
Why is there one name above every other name? Because there is only one grave that is empty! My brothers and sisters, too many times in the church, we forget that. We make this no more than a Sunday School class, where we try to follow information. I want to say something. In the name of Jesus, whatever is holding you back from being everything that God created you to be and do, get up and walk. Because it is not just a name we name. It is the presence of the architect of the universe who is with us right now.
Consider in prayer: Unless the capstone is in the right spot, the center, everything will fall down. Where is Jesus Christ in your life? I don’t know what you need, but all of us need to know the pardon of God. All of us need to know the power of God. All of us need to know the peace of God. All of us need to know the purpose of God. Don’t be ashamed -- name the name. For there is only one name to which the presence of God can fill you fully. Name the name! Live the name! Give the name! In the name of Jesus! Amen!