Asbury Church

Jim Stovall is one of the most impressive people I have ever known. This Tulsa native started going blind when he was a high school student. He became completely blind when he was an ORU student. Jim told his father that being blind meant he would never have a normal life. His dad had a classic response: “I never thought being normal was anything worth aspiring to.” Jim nearly collapsed into despair, but the Lord used the great Ray Charles to change Jim’s life. He got a new script and refused to live in that cave. Instead, he became a world-famous author, screenwriter, entrepreneur and motivational speaker. Drive down 81st Street headed east, and you can see Jim Stovall’s name on a building on the ORU campus. His generosity is helping future generations.

Jim gave an interview in his home, and I wrote down his words, “We need three things in life to be happy…” I will tell you this Sunday what this remarkable man said in that interview. His quote is now one of my favorite axioms. I have used it in a variety of applications, including memorial services.

The Apostle Paul wrote young Timothy, “so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” Paul knew that far too many people believed the accumulation of wealth was the meaning of life. When the actor, Jim Carrey, made a fortune, he observed: “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” While we need money to pay our bills, relationships make life meaningful. “Stuff” is not “truly life.” We can live in a far more robust kingdom. Seniors will tell you how quickly life passes. That is why we should put our treasure in the right places.

An Israeli tour guide, David, claimed Jesus gave only eight Beatitudes but David knew there was a ninth: Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be broken. That makes perfect sense for a tour guide who has constant disruptions over things he cannot control. (I’ve added this to my axioms, too.) While Matthew recorded eight, Paul truly did give us Jesus’ ninth Beatitude in Acts 20:35.

I have yet to meet anyone who said they intentionally want to live a miserable, rotten and cursed life. However, we often set ourselves up exactly for that if we follow the wrong script. Our culture tells us many false things. Believing that life is about grabbing instead of giving is easy to do. However, if I can give to others that means I have a surplus. If we can give, we are not dependent on another. If we can give, we have an abundance we can share. In Acts 20, the Apostle Paul is vulnerable in describing part of his struggles. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for him to live out his faith (which of course, ended in martyrdom).

Most of us can recall a time when we were struggling with something financial, emotional, relational or physical—then someone did something that gave us a boost. They said an encouraging word, gave us a gift, listened to us talk, changed a flat tire, gave up their seat, or held open a door. We can remember how their courtesy and kindness made us feel, whether it was a big deal or quite trivial. We can also recall doing that for others—and how that made us feel, too.

Our theme this week is GENEROSITY. Few of us find that generosity is our natural response because we are inherently selfish. Although it is not our natural inclination, we will find tremendous joy and fulfillment through acts of generosity. We do not have to be rich to be generous: abundance is a matter of the heart.

“The Paradox of Choice” is a concept that describes how we feel when we are overwhelmed by our number of choices. There are 613 laws in the Old Testament. When someone asked Jesus which commandment was the most important, He did not have a “paradox of choice” moment. Despite having so many laws before Him, Jesus had a simple answer: love God and love people. Those laws are found in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. We will read some of them on Monday and Tuesday this week.

“Overflow” is one of Pastor John Vick’s favorite words. When we have God’s love in us, that love will overflow into all we say and do. Our words and actions reflect the love of the Lord that is filling our hearts. When that happens, obeying the Lord’s commandments is not a burden. Instead, following Jesus will be the expression of His love in us.

In our readings this week, we will look at one of the two most beloved stories Jesus told. He responded to a lawyer’s question about “who is my neighbor?” by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. The bottom line of Jesus is “to show mercy.” In Romans and Galatians, Paul illustrates love of neighbors by showing them mercy.

Ministry is simple: love God, love people. The chief characteristic of a Jesus follower is love.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 is seldom a Mother’s Day text, but it is also rare to hear a Mother’s Day sermon on one of my favorite axioms. Lower Your Expectations, Raise Your Commitment has been the one piece of advice I share with couples getting married. This does not mean to lower our STANDARDS, just our expectations. Some expectations are legitimate and appropriate. However, the reality is that people often do not meet (or exceed) our expectations and that can cause conflict. Furthermore, if someone meets my expectation (which may be lofty and unrealistic); they do not get kudos—they are only doing what I think they should do. Ironically, our lofty expectations can crush gratitude.

As an Oral Roberts University graduate (two degrees, one wife), I always feel a bit chagrined when I use this axiom. The motto of ORU was “Expect A Miracle.” Miracles are a positive aspect of our faith. While miracles happen, that is what they are—miraculous. They are rare. If we expect them to happen or feel entitled to them, we may set ourselves up for extreme disappointment. Many people are angry with God because life did not turn out as they expected. A friend in my ORU Doctor of Ministry class, Dr. Thomas Mathew, preached, “What Happens in Between Miracles?” I think Habakkuk 3:17-19 expresses it so well—I am committed to the Lord and joyful in Him regardless of whether things go my way or not.

Moms, the truth of the matter is your kids will not always make “straight As” or have straight teeth. They will misbehave, make bad choices, and may break your heart. Being a mom is one of the most difficult roles in all of life. Please know this: you do not have to be perfect. Your kids do not have to be perfect. You may not be the Proverbs 31 woman. You want your kids to succeed, but your identity is more than their performance. Being committed means to celebrate your wins, learn from your mistakes, grow and love together. Being committed means to stay calm, stay connected, stay the course, and above all else, to stay in Christ.

Graduation often marks a significant change in life. While we move ahead when we graduate, we also leave some things behind. Like flying on a trapeze—soaring in midair has an uncertain ending. Graduation puts us in a neutral zone of trying to figure out what will happen when we reach the other side.

Our family of origin holds the greatest influence on us when we are young. However, a shift in the most influential voices often occurs in our teen years. Those we hang out with and listen to shape us to be like them. Scholars study with other scholars. Athletes run with other athletes. Partiers hang out together. People of faith lean into that community.

In northern Israel, we visit the remnants of an altar built to worship a false god. The story from 1 Kings 12:1-15 is the exact illustration of this axiom: Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future. Our friends, regardless of our age or position, exert tremendous influence on us. King Rehoboam trusted the wrong people. As President Reagan said about the Soviets, “Trust, but verify.” Rehoboam did not consider the source. He listened to the wrong voices. Another axiom is: Big doors swing on small hinges. Rehoboam’s decision had a devastating effect. Had he listened to wisdom, not folly, the north-south split of Israel and Judah might have been avoided.

Our theme this week is about FRIENDSHIP. Our daily scripture readings will revolve around this topic. The axiom is true for any age: Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future.

Mount of Olives is a key geographical spot in the Bible. The location and elevation of the mount provides a scenic overlook into Jerusalem. David fled barefoot from Jerusalem, through the Kidron Valley, and up Mount of Olives when his son, Absalom, had his coup d’état. Bethany, the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, is just east. The Palm Sunday Road begins here and passes by Gethsemane, where Jesus loved to pray. This mountain is the site of the ascension and the promise of power when the disciples would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This mountain is also where thousands of Jews have been buried through the centuries. Mount of Olives is a perfect description of “Mountains, Valleys and Caves.”

We uphold our loyalty to Jesus through Asbury by five actions: our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Asbury exists to help others follow Jesus. A witness has had some type of experience. A major reason Christians become bored with their faith is because they have ceased to be witnesses. Jesus told us to be a witness. Witnessing is core to our identity as His followers. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) And 1 Peter 3:15-16 says: “…but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience….”

One illustration says, “Witnessing is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” Jesus is the bread of life. The story is not about us, but what He has done in us. In a quote attributed to the author of “Amazing Grace,” John Newton, said: “I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be. But I thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say with the great apostle, ‘By the grace of God I am what I am.’”

During this series on “Mountains, Valleys and Caves,” we’ve looked at sites in the Bible where people experienced mountaintops of faith, victory, triumph, and vision. We have also looked at those valley times—like walking through the valley of the shadow of death. While caves are not as prevalent in the Bible as mountains and valleys, they are places where two things happen. First, it is the place where people hid when in trouble. Second, the soil in Israel is so rocky that it would be hard to bury people underground so they would put the body into a cave until it decomposed and then collect the bones and put them in an “ossuary,” a type of urn. Ancient ossuaries continue to be found in Israel. When Jesus was crucified, they laid him in a type of cave before the Sabbath. The women went to the tomb on Sunday morning. Something miraculous had to happen for fiercely Sabbath worshipping Jews to shift their day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. This change is another testimony to the truth of the Resurrection. The empty tomb did not convince the disciples: they believed because of the other sounds, sights, and touches they experienced. Ultimately, the disciples experienced the resurrected Christ. Jesus was not a “caveman” for long. He triumphed over death, our final enemy.

Our theme this week is confident humility, which is the first of Asbury staff’s core behaviors. The term sounds like an oxymoron—how can a humble person be confident, or a confident person be humble? “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3) Moses accomplished much. His experiences had stripped him of arrogance. Instead, he learned to rely on the Lord.

Because Jesus knew who He was, He could reach the dregs of society, play with the kids, touch unclean lepers, hang out with stinky fishermen, talk to women with a checkered past, or stoop to wash the dirty feet of His self-absorbed and competitive disciples. He was so confident and so humble that He rode a donkey down the Palm Sunday Road while the crowds cheered. He didn’t need a stallion with a military escort, like the Roman governor, Pilate. Verse 10 says, “And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, ‘Who is this?’” Jesus was one of a kind. He excelled because He was supremely confident and supremely humble.

Humble people have certain traits. Paul said it so well in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Jesus delayed going to Bethany when He learned Lazarus was sick. Why? This confused Martha. She did not hesitate to share her opinion with Jesus (Luke 10:38-42). She was a hardcharging force with a dominant personality. She could also be wrong. Her sister Mary was far more tender-hearted. Both sisters had broken hearts. Where was Jesus when they needed Him most? His actions did not make sense. They were disappointed and hurt.

Asking questions is part of life. We have questions like this all day long— not only about Bible stories but concerning events in our lives. Our questions often go unanswered. We may never understand why certain things happen. Paul’s quote is appropriate: “For now, we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Lazarus coming out of the cave and back to life was unprecedented. Believe it or not, it was also the final straw for Jesus’ opponents. He was too popular for them. Sadly, they preferred a funeral to a party.

Jesus delayed His trip to Bethany so people could grasp more about His identity. We also perceive His compassion. The shortest verse in the Bible packs a wallop: “Jesus wept.” He came to redeem the sting of sin from us.

Peter figured out the identity of Jesus: “you are the Christ, the son of the living God.” Jesus responded with stunning news. He would suffer, die, and rise on the third day. Peter, who had done so well earlier, made a rookie mistake when he tried to dictate the rules to Jesus. Jesus was not “nice” in His response. Peter got a serious and public rebuke. Not only would Jesus be put to death, but they would have to take up their crosses and follow Him. However, Jesus also let them in on big surprise. Some would not die until they saw Jesus coming in His kingdom. Then the story of the Mount of Transfiguration follows. The traditional site of the transfiguration is Mount Tabor, but it is probably NOT the actual site. Moses, representing the Law, and Elijah, representing the Prophets, are shown in subordination to Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment to the Law and the Prophets. Both Moses and Elijah had mountaintop, valley, and cave experiences, too. However, this passage is clear: Jesus is Lord of all.

We see the highs and lows of following Jesus. On the one hand, disciples may suffer and die for their commitment. On the other hand, disciples will experience the glorious kingdom of God for all eternity. Abundant life comes to those who worship the eternal God.