https://www.angelfire.com/mi2/robhenderson/
robnaomi@oceana.net
The Provision
Isaiah 53:4-7
December 10, 2000 am
I must begin by saying that I consider this opportunity to stand before you a honor. I am humbled to be called your pastor. I love each one of you and will do my very best to see that you benefit from God’s fullest blessings.
To just think that my life seemed to hinge on that moment in time back in August of 1978. When I wavered between running away from an abusive home or staying. Almost as though a Hand was guiding me I made my way to a different home.
Who I am is not is not a result of what I have accomplished but what others have done in my life. I am surrounded by great people. And great people have given me the tools to do what I do. But more importantly, my life is led by the One with the nail-scars in His hands. And one day, when I grasp His in heaven I want to be able to sing with all my might, “Jesus led me all the way.”
We live in a strange land. Times have changed. Church ministry has changed. There are those who shop on by telephone rather than venture into the marketplace. There are those who prefer shopping from the confines of their office using the Internet rather than have a phone glued to their head. Things are different now. But in a strange land with so much going on I believe that there are those who cry out for a Savior. They long for something more meaningful in life. Deep in their heart they want to have a life of purpose.
Jesus came, not to break the bruised reed or snuff out the smoldering wick but He came to bring a new life to those who believed on Him.
With all of the shopping hoopla there is beneath the surface a lining of need within the hearts of the people we encounter. I enjoy just observing what takes place in the stores during this holiday time. In fact, there is some phenomena to take notice of.
I have discovered three things during this shopping season:
Some things never change, there is no need for hunger in America, and there is nothing sacred.
The crowded stores have not changed from last year. I have bumped into carts, heard children wail, and nearly got ran over by a reindeer. (Maybe we could write a song “Pastor got run over by a reindeer, shopping at Meijers on Christmas Eve.) All right, it wasn’t a reindeer but a harried mother. But just the same, some things have not changed. We’re a mess in the stores. But I suppose that this is the most fun part of shopping. Except for the guy who smashed a cart out of his way as he pushed his by. He needed to get a grip but I wasn’t going to tell him.
I also saw that there is no need for hunger in America. Just go to Meijers. You can sample twice baked Christmas cookies, Summer sausage, cheese, and meatballs. Make the rounds a few times and you will be full. Then go to Sam’s club for dinner and sample some soybean and cheese lasagna. The hunger problem is solved! Eat and be filled!
And then I discovered that nothing is sacred anymore. Now I love chocolate and coffee. I love my plain old cup of joe with cream and I love to eat a bowl of chocolate ice cream. I have even went and had those expresso latte’s with chocolate and coffee together. Wow! And for a relaxing change I will sip a cup of hot tea with a dash of sugar. hey, I’m an easy guy to get along with. But then, guess what some smart-aleck guy came up with? Chocolate tea. Are you kidding me? I tried it and nearly... well, never mind. Tea is no longer a sacred drink. They have tried to jazz it up with chocolate. But there is a market for the stuff. My three year old nephew, Eddie, loves it. “I like it. Can I have sommore?”
I say all that to say this:
Yes, the holiday can get to us. But I figure that I can be a moron and miserable or make everybody mad at me or I can just enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas in America.
But as I traverse through the stores with squalling kids and people in a hurry I wonder what is beneath the surface: The many needs within the so many homes that are represented. The financial strains that Christmas brings, the relationship strains that the holidays bring, and the overall stress that we create and burden ourselves with. Who will save us from our own hands?
The prophet Isaiah points to his future and sees the Servant of the Lord who will not only come but come with a hand of love.
I stand before you who has been healed and is walking a journey through this world that is a journey of healing. As a child my heart was broken and my spirit was bruised. But this bruised reed He did not break. There have been times in my life when the flame was barely flickering but He did not snuff out the smoldering wick. And all because of the wounds that our Savior Jesus Christ took on my behalf.
1. Jesus is the provision for my sin.
“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities...” We saw Jesus on the cross. We saw Him, the Innocent One, beaten and then nailed to two wooden beams. He was spit upon, cursed, and abused. All for our sin. All of this for you. Why? Because of His love.
My sin, the sins I commit and the sin I inherited, has been nailed to the cross. Those terrible things that I have done or could have done have been nailed forever. The songwriter had it right when he wrote: “My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought. My sin not in part but the whole. Is nailed to his cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord O my soul.”
2. Jesus is the provision for peace.
But not only was Christ’s death a provision for sin but it was also a provision for peace. “The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him...”
As sinners we are at war with God. We are against God. There is was within ourselves and with Him. But Christ’s punishment brings us peace with God and within ourselves. When you accepted Christ into your life you accepted a life of renewal and freedom. your life took a new route and a new course. The old passed away and all things became new. you exchanged the old coat for a new coat. You were bought with a price. You have been paid for.
All is quiet on the western front. Your surrender to God’s love provided for by Christ on the cross has brought you peace.
Christ’s death was a provision for sin, peace, and healing.
3. Jesus is the provision for my healing.
My life was scarred by sin. Not simply the sin that I committed but also because of the sin of others. So many Christians are frustrated because they expect that everything will be all okay because they are saved. What they forget is the long reach that sin has in their life. They wrestle with hidden sin caused by forces unknown their whole life. Sex, anger, fear or other sins have hampered the spiritual growth of so many good Christians. These scars of sin have long lasting effects and results.
What you need is a healing. “By His wounds we are healed.” This healing is both instant and lifelong. It happens when a person recognizes their own need of not only salvation but of healing in their heart. A healing that begins to close those wounds of hurt as a child and the wounds of guilt as an adult.
Here is a true story by Paul Harvey.
Years ago a hardworking man took his family from New York State to Australia to take advantage of a work opportunity there. Part of this man's family was handsome young son who had aspirations of joining the circus as a trapeze artist or an actor. This young fellow, biding his time until a circus job or even one as a stagehand came along, worked at the local shipyards which bordered on the worse section of town. Walking home from work one evening this young man was attacked by five thugs who wanted to rob him. Instead of just giving up his money the young fellow resisted. However they bested him easily and proceeded to beat him to a pulp. They mashed his face with their boots, and kicked and beat his body brutally with clubs, ! leaving him for dead.
When the police happened to find him lying in the road they assumed he was dead and called for the Morgue Wagon. On the way to the morgue a policeman heard him gasp for air, and they immediately took him to the emergency unit at the hospital. When he was placed on a gurney a nurse remarked to her horror, that his young man no longer had a face. Each eye socket was smashed, his skull, legs, and arms fractured, his nose literally hanging from his face, all is teeth were gone, and his jaw was almost completely torn from his skull.
Although his life was spared he spent over year in the hospital. When he finally left his body may have healed but his face was disgusting to look at. He was no longer the handsome youth that everyone admired.
When the young man started to look for work again he was turned down by everyone just on account of the way he looked. One potential employer suggested to him that he join the freak show at the circus as The Man Who Had No Face. And he did this for a while. He was still rejected by everyone and no one wanted to be seen in his company. He had thoughts of suicide. This went on for five years.
One day he passed a church and sought some solace there. Entering the
church he encountered a priest who had seen him sobbing while kneeling
in pew. The priest took pity on him and took him to the rectory where
they talked at length. The priest was impressed with him to such a
degree that he said that he would do everything possible for him that
could be done to restore his face and dignity and life, if the young man
would promise to be the best Catholic he could be, and trust in God's
mercy to free him from his torturous life. The young man went to Mass The young man:
Mel Gibson. His life was the inspiration for his production of the
movie "The Man Without A Face." He is admired by all of us as a God
fearing man, and an example to all as a true man of courage.
I won’t vouch for the complete accuracy of this story but what I will vouch for is
what Jesus has done in my own life. You see, I was ugly with the ravishes of sin. But
then Jesus found me. He took me and cleansed my heart. He gave me peace within my
heart. And he healed my broken spirit.
