Refusing Rescue

 There is a Television program that is on here in America, where a man, who is an expert in the food service industry is invited to come to failing business establishments. He then  reviews how they conduct, or rather don't conduct business  and then proceeds to help them,  that is , to  rescue and salvage their failing business.

What is astounding is the conflict that arises when this expert, who has either owned or lunched multiple highly successful businesses in the food service industry , encounters resistance from the very people he is there to freely help.

The various business owners at times are combative uncooperative, stubborn and at timers belligerent. The owners of failing business just do not want to let go of the ways they are conducting their businesses which have proven completely unsuccessful and placed them in a position of being on the verge of closing.

Often the business owners have invested large sums of money into the failing business, to the point of bankruptcy, yet   nothing is working.  It is when they after reaching this point of need they call for this expert who comes and freely offers to help, yet they almost always resist his freely given advice.

At times, this expert seems more interested in their success than they do. He will at, times offer some blunt evaluations of business owners’ personal practices and conduct which have caused for much of their quandary that are finding themselves in. Often they will recoil and be defensive and even self-justifying.

What is unfortunate, is ,  that  this expert knows what he is talking about and understands their problems better than they do. They need to heed his input. He is there to rescue them out of their bad situation.

Often after much conflict and resistance , and a time when the owner is finally  placed in a personal conversation with this expert  that the business owners will  come to see that this expert has their best interest at heart and is there to help and rescue them  and to salvage their business and succeed;  if they will just receive his free help.

When they set aside their pride,  stubbornness and self-justification and accept what is freely offered them and heed the input of this expert and allow him to make the needed changes, which often requires a complete change in the appearance and practices and most of the time even the name of the business,    they find that,  in the end ,  even after some stress in placed upon them and their staffs that , that this  expert was right all along.

Generally  at the end of each program,  there is short update on the businesses and owners , each time that the business owners followed  the input of this expert they have founded themselves positioned for success and  now succeeding  they have been rescued. They have been shown a better way of conducting their business. They have a whole new life to their business and it works.

No Market
 

On one episode there was a business owner who had their establishment dressed in an illogical theme that had no appeal to the market where their establishment was located.  The owner and the business were only a short time from closing down and being out of business. In the location which they were located in had the environment to succeed, but the establishment with its theme simply would not be sustained, there was no market for them as they were.

This owner, in desperation called to the expert who came and reviewed her, the staff and the whole establishment in general. He concluded that the whole theme of the business, and the poorly trained staff including this woman's' self-willed husband, were the leading demises of the business.  When the expert shared his conclusions with the owner and staff there was conflict, they argued and resisted, justified themselves and let him know that in spite of his expertise in the industry, they thought him to be wrong.

Guests were invited in o the establishments to see how the staff preformed under pressure. In a short amount of time, it became evident that they had a dismal failure on their hand. They were ill prepared for the test, ill-trained, ill equipped and no leadership, as the guest went away disappointed. How they conducted business did not work. 

After the evening was concluded the expert reviewed how they did. The owner still justified them herself. Many of the staff could see that a change was need and hoped that she would agree to the changes.

 Changes, But Not Changed 

After some stiff discussion with the expert, she agrees to allow the changes. The expert oversees the transformation of the moves forward in the end he has freely offered and provided for her a renovation and better positioned the business to  capitalize on the market.

The staff was enthusiastic and liked the changes and they could see the opportunity that was before them, there was chance to rescue this business. The expert's changes were implemented, there was a complete change undertaken. A new name, new everything it was "born again" as a business.

Guests were then, again invited in, the place was filled with genuinely pleased customers who asserted positively that they will return.  It looks as if   all would be well. The potential is great, there is now nothing to stop them from succeeding.

But, rather than embracing the all-new life of her business; the owner was unhappy and clings to her past ideas as to how it should be, she liked her old theme, which was apparent to everyone obviously not working. But she and wanted to hold on to it, even though it produced little profit. She becomes negative.

At the end of the episode it is reported that she walked away from what was freely given, it was her’s there was nothing to stop her from having it , but,  her  own unwillingness to receive it,  and is now back to facing a bleak future.
There was change but she was not changed. She refused to be rescued. All the remodeling and name changes was merely cosmetic. There was no transformation of herself. She, and her business, has walked away from being rescued. At the end of the episode the update said that she returned to her old theme and things were not going well.

A Lesson For All of Us.
 

What can we learn from this?  The ideas which govern the business of our lives often lead us to be on the brink of failure and closure.  Humanity needs the help of an expert, One Who knows the industry of living and how things best operate for success in life.   That expert who knows the industry of living is Jesus Christ.

Jesus however is more than just a expert on "moral and ethical" living. Jesus is more than just a self-help teacher ( and the Bible  which speaks of Jesus, is more than a self-help book, though some treat is as one) ,  or one who teaches strategies for living or positive thinking  or practical philosophy.

Jesus is life itself and the Creator of all things.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made In him was life; and the life was the light of men."John:1:14

This One who designed and brought into being all things came to us , to rescue us and transform us, and the businesses of our lives.

"and the Word became flesh"(14)

Our God has come to us and offers to rescues us, if we will but freely receive it. This life that Jesus offers us is a life which we could never accomplish on our own. It is his life in us. he is our life as St. Paul wrote.

"When Christ, who is your life, ." Colossians: 3:4

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."Galatians:2:20


Jesus is our very life and if we will but freely receive it from him.  Jesus will do more than just give us a new look or upgrade to our existence, Jesus, like the afore mentioned expert will give us an all new life, we can experience being “ born again".   Even to the point of giving us a new name. We share in his son ship. This can be ours freely if we will just freely receive it. A new name as children of God. These changes however only reflect what God has made true for us in Jesus, they more than cosmetic.

 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" 1John:3:2

"To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it." Revelation:2:17

This tells us that we are being more than renovated we are all new, "born again" . Now we are now positioned to share in all that is our Lord's except His deity.

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" Romans:8:17

Jesus has given us all a new life that is made to take us into eternity.

Won't Let Go

Unfortunately, we can find that at times, we are like the owner who did not want to let go of old theme which produce little or no results, we want to keep the old theme of our lives as she did.  We can't put new wine into old skins. It will not work.

"No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins."Mark:2:22

Our old ways need to be let go of, left behind us we need to receive from Jesus all that He offers us, it is freely given if we will but freely receive it. Jesus offers us a whole new theme for our lives this new theme will bring us success, he knows for he lived it, and is it.   Jesus has positioned us for the best possible outcome that of eternity with him.

We need to embrace all that is offered us and not to be stubborn as the owner whose theme was leading to failure. Jesus is the expert that truly knows the industry of life. Jesus has come and provided rescue for humanity.  Jesus understands all our problems better than we do; we need to heed Jesus' input. Some sadly will refused to hear and accept what is given, and walk away from the cross of our Lord instant on their ways.... this leads only to heart ache and failure.... Please do not refuse to be rescued ..

Benediction: May we each and all never refused rescue from our Lord Jesus Christ, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

 

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

Topinabee Community Church

Topinabee, Michigan 

If You Would Like to Know More About or to Support the Ministry of Topinabee Community Church You Can go to Our Web Site.

https://topinabeechurch.org/index.html

You Can Follow Topinabee Community Church on Face Book 

https://www.facebook.com/Topinabeecommunitychurch

The Same Mind

 “Let the same mind be in you as was in Christ Jesus” Philippians: 2:5

St. Paul in writing his epistle to the Christian Church at Philippi Greece and giving the congregation needed instruction regarding the Christian life incorporates into the body of the epistle lines from one of the ancient Apostolic Church’s Creedal Hymns which were sung in the Church during the first century.

St. Paul reminds the Philippians of their shared connection with one another and himself all through their Lord Jesus , who is the true source of all good which they were experiencing and every blessing which they have been given and the true basis for all human relationships.

“Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love,” Philp:2:1-2a

The Apostle then speaks about the preservation of this relationship among them, and with all Christians.

“being one in spirit and of one mind” (2b)

Having this “being one in spirit and of one mind” is the way that unity and all human relationships are preserved and even made better. This “being one in spirit and of one mind” goes far beyond the acceptance of a particular set of doctrines, theology, tradition or anything else. It is a union and sharing in the person of Jesus, not just the fact that he had assumed our humanity, but because he became fully human with a whole human “person-hood” just as we do, yet, Jesus still is fully God without any diminishing to his deity.

Mind of Christ

Jesus then showed us what the life of deity looks like and how it would be lived out in the natural world in which we live. The life which Jesus demonstrated and lived out in our natural world however is the same life which is lived out in eternity within the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

St. Paul is reminding Christians that Jesus has not just accomplished our salvation unto eternal life, he is also showing that Jesus has brought salvation into human relationships here and now not just in eternity.

Jesus showed us the mind of God lived out through a “human personhood” revealing God’s eternal intent and purpose for humanity. Jesus is showing us what God’s life looks like in everyday living. This is what St. Paul is writing to the Church throughout the ages, not just in Philippi.

Jesus’ “personhood” was, and is, the mind of God being expressed in a wider community of and in relationships and interactions with other persons. The mind of which St. Paul admonishes Christians to have is the very mind given expression in and by Jesus, which builds human relationships and makes these relationships fruitful and filled with joy.

St. Paul gives instruction on how these joy filled salvation relationships are fulfilled and lived out here and now. He begins with the individual person and each and all of our relationships and where they find their origins, within the human heart and mind.

The Motivation of the Heart

 St. Paul address the very motivation of the heart that it should not be self-focused only for the self-good, but rather, looking to needs of others. Now, understand, there is a difference between self-preservation and the preservation of the self, one is necessity the other is vanity.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.” (3a)

This over coming of selfishness which often motivates the behavior of humanity, and from the fact that St. Paul is led by the Holy Spirit to mention it, shows, that, even among Christians there can be posturing and actions taken to establish an echelon of relationships wherein one dominates others for their own desires and purposes or advancement.

It is very unfortunate that as a pastor I have seen first hand and know of circumstance in which fellow believes in Jesus falsely accused others. Insulting other believers , gossiping and cause division within a Church and have lied to and about others. I know of Christians praying against other Christians asking God to shut down Churches and attempting to get people to leave a Church. One situation that I know of a person said that they would do anything to get people to leave a particular Church and see it shut down. This type of behavior is a far cry from the admonitions of Scripture. I have seen these things and even worst things.

St. Paul is led to present the proper approach which Christians should have with all whom we interact with.

“Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, (3b)

The Apostles is saying that when we value ourselves more then others, then there can be problems which arise between and among us and bring disunity. The solution is to see others as having a higher value then ourselves. We should look out for others and even choose to sacrifice what we want for the good of those around us.

“not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others”. (4)

St. Paul is not selective in this instruction, he states it as a blanket approach to all with whom we interact. There are no qualifiers, we are to deal in this way with all persons in and out of the Church. This was the way Jesus related with all.

Jesus acted always for the good of others, for all humanity. He was the one “person” who truly could claim a greater value above all others, yet, Jesus did not conduct himself in that manner. Jesus walked in humility and selflessness looking out for the interest of us all, even to the death and shame of the cross all to demonstrate that our God has acted for all of our good in and through Jesus.

Jesus sacrificed his whole life, his whole life, all his life, all his life, for the interest of us all. This way of living was manifested in all Jesus’ interaction, this way of living reflected the mind of God in action. The very mind which guided Jesus' life is the very mind which St. Paul admonishes Christians to live out in relationship with all others.

The Creedal Hymn

To bring clarity to his point and perspective, St. Paul quotes from one of the Apostolic Creedal Hymns which were sung in the early Church, it’s words speak of Jesus, who being fully God, willingly and in great humility and lowliness condensed to the low estate of humanity and divested himself of the glory of deity, yet without diminishing of his very deity, all so, that we might come to see the mind God and come to know our God and as a result believe that Jesus is the very Son of God.

This belief in Jesus as the Son of God would free humanity to relate to God and one another in a way of unity and love preserving all our relations with God and humanity. This where true unity is found.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!” (5-8)

After presenting the first stanza of the Hymn, which reveals the humility of Christ, St. Paul tells us through the inspired lyrics that this valuing of others higher than oneself led Jesus to the cross and to death. Why? because he valued humanity higher than he did his own self, the Apostle does this to emphasizes that we too should live this same way toward others.

The cross reflects how Jesus thinks of us all, and the high value which he assigns to each and all.

St. Paul then tell Christians in the second stanza of the Hymn what the end result of Jesus’ valuing others higher then self, that this humanity found in the very mind of Jesus ultimately led to the highest place of exultation of the name and person of Jesus by the Great God.

“Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.” (9-11)

The Apostle presenting the glorifying and exaltation of Jesus is showing all believers the end result of their living out of the mind of God, of having the mind of Jesus, seeing others of higher value and looking out for others best interest, the result is  experiencing and sharing in the glory of Jesus, as beloved Children of God all through Jesus.

St. Paul is saying, so-to-speak, that when we have the mind of Christ and suffer momentary humiliation it ultimately will lead to great glory in eternity to come. This is a way for St. Paul to prevent posturing and negative ambition which breeds contention and disunity among believers; preserving harmony among brethren.

St. Paul is ,by inserting the Hymn, showing that Jesus is no mere “good example” that we follow , but rather, Jesus is the means to accomplish what God has purposed in him for us.

Work it Out

St. Paul reminds Christians that he is giving this admonished with authority as an Apostle of the Lord. He then, as if knowing, that there will be some who will either disregard his words or find them too great a thing for them to experience, address both issues before transitioning into other matters fond in his epistle of which this served as natural bridge. He starts with his admonishment to take serious what he has written and then gives them hope that God himself will render all needed assistance, reminding Christians that salvation is the work of God alone, of which, we provide nothing but our reception and acceptance of the salvation accomplished for us in and by Jesus, and even this acceptance is given to us by God, we on our own selves could not receive it.

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—” (12a)

St.Paul then gives them and us the admonishment that they should “work out your salvation”, this at first glance, may seem to suggest that somehow salvation is in question, however, when read in proper context it is understood that what he is admonishing is for Christians to “live it out” or to “give it expression to the salvation” given to us already.

St. Paul is not speaking about earning of salvation given through works, but works because of salvation is given, “work it out”, live it out, give expression to the mind of Jesus in your life in “fear and trembling”, that is, true humility.

St. Paul then gives assurance that God himself will act within the believer and will bring each Christian’s life to a successful conclusion and accomplish his “good purpose”, that it is not left up to us.

“continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (12b-13)

This all should give us great peace with God and others as we live out the life of our Lord Jesus as we read the Holy Word of God, as we worship with fellow believers, fellowship and pray, as we do the mind of Christ grows with us and fosters unity and the building up fellow believers whom we value above our selves.

Jesus had a mind which looked out for the interested of others and valued others higher than himself. This is mind that all Christians are called to share in. 

“Let the same mind be in you as was in Christ Jesus” Philip 2:5

Benediction: May we each and all have the mind of Christ, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

 

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

Topinabee Community Church

Topinabee, Michigan 

If You Would Like to Know More About or to Support the Ministry of Topinabee Community Church You Can go to Our Web Site.

https://topinabeechurch.org/index.html

You Can Follow Topinabee Community Church on Face Book 

https://www.facebook.com/Topinabeecommunitychurch

                    "If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"