Memorial Day Message: Integrity and Faith

With this being Memorial Day weekend where we are supposed to take time to remember those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, I have been thinking about some things, and as most of you know, my mind is like an assortment of random thoughts that pop in and out all the time.

Anyway, I was thinking through some what if scenarios.

• What if you were a superhero with no superpowers, what would your name be? (Averageman or Batman)

• What if animals could talk, which one would never shut up?

• What if I was 9 feet tall? Would I play basketball or football?

• What if I could run 100 miles without stopping, but hated to run?

• What if I could eat anything without consequences, what would it be?

• What if I could change one thing about my past, what would it be?

• What if the founding fathers thought that having their independence was a great idea, but wouldn’t fight for it?

Life is full of options that sometimes we choose the good way, sometimes the easy way and sometimes the hard way that is not the good way. But we have options. Let’s read our main test about a couple of brothers that had options. Matthew 21.

When I read this parable, I think why wasn’t there 3 brothers, one that said he would not go and actually did, one that said he would go but actually did not, and one that said he would go and he did? Why not 3? Why not? I will tell you why, because Jesus is smarter that we are. Because Jesus knew that the people that would read this or hear this would be like one of those brothers at some point in their life and would be able to relate to the parable.

Sometimes we have good intentions, but life gets in the way. Sometimes we just want to get people off our back and we lie about what our intentions are. Which brings me to point #1.

1. Empty words are pointless.

Matthew 21:30, James 2:14-17

Empty words are not only pointless, but they can also be detrimental.

I heard a story about a pastor who was walking down the street and came upon a group of boys, all between the ages of 10 and 12. They were standing around a dog, and the minister thought they might be planning to hurt it. So, the reverend yelled out, “What are you doing to that dog?”

One of the boys said, “He’s just a stray dog from our neighborhood and we all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So, we decided whoever tells the biggest lie gets to keep the dog!”

The pastor was livid, and launched into a 10-minute message against lying. He ended by saying, “Don’t you boys know it’s a sin to tell a lie? Why, when I was your age, I never told a lie!” The boys looked at each other for a moment and said, “Alright, alright, you can have the dog!”

Very doubtful that he never told a lie. His whole message was destroyed by making a statement like that. If you tell someone that you will help them do something and then you don’t do it, that’s horrible. Just be honest and tell them you can’t or won’t. It is okay to say no, but it is not okay to tell them that you will do something and not do it.

Anyone ever have someone tell you that they would help you or do something and that person didn’t do what they said they would do for you? How does that affect the thoughts that you have about that person? Not trustworthy right? Not reliable. What do you think the world thinks when Christians do it?

Matt. 12:36 says that we will give an account of (explain) every idle word. The NIV says, every empty word.

As Christians, we should never speak an idle word. I know there will times when circumstances get in the way of your plans to do something, but it is up to us to make it right with the person that told we could do something. If not, the words we speak are pointless and empty.

Point 2 goes right along with 1.

2. Be a person of your word.

Matthew 21:28-30, Matthew 5:33-37

I love the looks on some of your faces when I ask questions during the sermon. Some of you are eager to answer and some of you will get that look of guilt and not want to answer and then others just roll their eyes and I am okay with that.

So, question time? Anyone wished they lived in another country? How many of you wish that you lived in Russia or China? Anyone go to sleep at night worrying about an attack from these countries or any country? Do you know why? Because almost all of the people that join the military, not only take an oath, but they live that oath. And many have died fulfilling that oath.

“I, Mark Turner, Do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So, help me God!

What if Christians had to take an oath?

I, Mark Turner, will live my live according to the teaching of Jesus Christ. I will no longer live my life for myself and my wants, but I will live my life as Jesus lived His, as a servant. I will show true faith and allegiance to God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit even when it goes against my nature. I will love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. And I will love my neighbor as myself. I do not make this promise lightly, and I understand that it could cost me everything.

Many of us say that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves but our actions say that we are very selfish. I love God as long as I don’t have to get uncomfortable doing it. I love God as long as I have all the things that I want. I love my neighbors as long as they stay over there and don’t need anything or I don’t have to share my faith with them.

Talk is cheap and if your words are empty, they do not mean anything. If your talk isn’t backed up with action then you’re only fooling yourself and believing the lie.

The points that empty words are pointless and that we need to people of our word are really one in the same and they lead us to point 3…

3. It all comes down to obedience in believing.

Matthew 21:31-32, Romans 1:2-5

True obedience is doing the right thing no matter what. Obedience when bad things hit us makes us stronger. When God brings you through a storm, you have a testimony to share and you need to share it. Speaking of testimonies, Kyli has one that she wants to share.

Life is full of opportunities to fail or succeed and I do not mean by worldly standards. I am talking about biblical standards. I mean we are given opportunity after opportunity to be faithful. I am not talking about loyalty to God, nor am I talking about fulfilling a promise, even though those are very important. I am talking about being full of faith. Not having a little faith. Full of faith.

If God tells you to do something, no matter the cost, you need to be full of faith, knowing that it, even though it may not be easy, it will be to glorify His kingdom. God gave up Jesus for you. What do you give up for God. What do you hold on to? When you think about serving God, is there anything in your life that you are like, “Just don’t tell me to do this.” I will follow You wherever you go as long as you go where I want to go.

I will give you everything, as long as it is the things that I am willing to give you control over. What are you holding back? Your time, maybe. Your finances, maybe? Your possessions, maybe?

Talk is Cheap