You don't need money, don't take fame Don't need no credit card to ride this train It's strong and it's sudden and it's cruel sometimes But it might just save your life I attended High School in the greatest decade of popular American music ever; the sensational 1980's. There will never be another time like it. Musical geniuses of the highest caliber could be found everywhere, it was raining melodic bounty. Devo, Flock of Seagulls, Boy George, Men Without Hats, Duran Duran and of course Baltimora with the song "Tarzan Boy." But one artist in particular had more than a just a good voice, he was also a spiritual luminary. This person is none other than Huey Lewis. He had many chart topping hits like: "The Heart of Rock and Roll", "Hip to be Square", Back in Time", and his most famous song was "The Power of Love." It is this last song that contains the answer every pastor, parent, teacher, psychologist is looking for to change the world. It is sheer brilliance! Just let the mastery of thought sink in a second... The power of love is a curious thing Make a one man weep, make another man sing Change a hawk to a little white dove More than a feeling that's the power of love This past month I have been preaching on the book of Galatians and the major theme is that "Grace alone saves." Leaning on religion and human effort to curry favor with God is useless. If you try to impress the Lord on High with your hard-work and blameless living, Paul says you are perverting the gospel. The gospel is simple: Jesus did everything for you by dying on the cross and rising again. His death is a gift, and you are to receive it by faith. That is it. However, if you try to add his work by religious duty and piety, it will not impress God in the least. You are inadvertently saying, "Jesus didn't do enough. I have to help him out." Who are you to think you can improve upon perfection? Are you better than Jesus? Can you offer more that will impress God? Now here is the struggle for many people: "If all I have to do is receive Christ's payment on the cross by faith, then I don't have to do anything else. What then will happen to tithing and getting volunteers to run all the programs at church? Who will come and listen to the pastor? Who will stack chairs? Many church people, especially deacons and pastors, fear that the message of Grace will make for lazy, no good, apathetic bums in the church. If we don't motivate by guilt, shame, anger and loudly express our disappointment then nothing will get done. Grace turns people into couch potatoes. Or does it? This is where the power of love comes in. Huey is right, love makes one man weep, another man sing. When you understand what has been done for you by Jesus, he finished everything you need to do, love starts bubbling up inside of you. We love because he first loved us. We forgive because we have been forgiven. We do good works because we have been saved by grace through faith. Grace makes you "want to" and "get to" participate in the life of the church. Love responds to needs. Love perseveres. Love washes feet. So what if you are a no good, lazy bum, and don't do anything at church? What if you isolate yourself from people? What if you become a spiritual couch potato? What if you nonchalantly walk by people stacking chairs without lending a hand? Three things may be happening: (1) Maybe you have misunderstood purpose? You are not saved simply to be saved, buy you are saved to shine. Jesus saved you to display him. Jesus saved you to bring truth to the lies that are killing those we love. Jesus saved you to set you free from the bondage of sin. Walking up to the alter to accept Christ is not the finish line, it is the starting blocks. You now get to run for team Jesus. (2) Maybe you are feeding your flesh more than your spirit? What do you watch, listen to, read, and who do you hang out with? Bad company does corrupt good character. In other words, you need to give fuel for the fire of love to burn hot. In Revelation Jesus told the church at Ephesus, "You are a great bunch of people, but I have one thing against you, you have lost your first love." We need to keep stoking to keep the fire burning. (Oh, that is another good 80's song by Reo Speedwagon!) (3) Maybe you don't have love in your heart? Have you received Christ's payment by faith? The most religious people are often the most lost because they have never rested in Christ's final work. But when you believe in Jesus by faith, the reality that Whitesnake talks about starts coming true in your life: "I can't stop the feeling, I've been this way before, But, with you I've found the key, To open any door." When you really believe, you really know! So, my suggestion, stop trying so hard and believe. Love will then start moving you and you wont be able to stop it. Take the band "Tears for Fears" advice.... Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
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