I want to speak a message this morning entitled, "Vintage Virtues". The Lord gave this to me awhile back and I believe it will encourage the church today. Jeremiah 6:16 says this, "Thus says the Lord, Stand in the way and see, and ask for the old paths where the good way is and walk in it, then you will find rest for your soul".
Father, this morning we thank you for your word which is full and good. Spirit of God, let your life and your joy fill us, let this word stir in us that we will never be the same. May you increase and may we decrease, amen.
Many things come and go either with the wind of change or the whim of preference but some things, though they are old, never go out of style but only increase in value as time goes on. When I was growing up, lime green leisure suits were in style. How many are thankful that it has never ever come back? The Ford Mustang Mach I that came out in 1961 through 1979 in it's original run has only increased in value and it's a beautiful car. Have you noticed that the car styles that are coming back are all vintage? The Shelby, the Mustang, and the Camaro.
God's ways, though they are old, will never ever go out of style. I'm thankful that this word that comes from the ancient of days, our God and Savior, has never lost its power. Mark 13:31 says, "Heaven and Earth will pass away but my words will by no means pass away". There are certain speeches that have echoed throughout the ages that have lasted and inspired men. But there has been nothing like this Word of God that has been from the beginning of time and has never ceased to change the life of men. His Word will never ever lose its power, its relevance, or its ability to make us holy, wise or free. This Word has never changed and it doesn't need to change; It is something that will last and will always have its way. The same principles that changed lives then still changes people today.
2nd Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away and behold, all things become new".
When I look at people who have given their life to Jesus, you can see that the old is gone. If you have truly given your life to God, everything that used to matter to you will stop mattering as much when compared to Jesus. All those things that weren't right about our life will be left in the past and we're going to live that new life that God has. It's been fun over the past couple weeks because somehow I've become reacquainted with different people that I grew up with. I've begun to find out what has happened in their lives since we were growing up. Many of them had grown up with me in church and had given their life to the Lord and you can see something different in them now. It's one thing when you give your life to Jesus as a child and another thing when you continue to live for Jesus as an adult. You can see it and it has been fun to watch the difference as that old life is gone and that new life of Christ begins as they surrender their life to the Lord.
The Bible says that Jesus makes all things new. We're made new and His Word which is from the very beginning of time is made fresh everyday. This old Word is a fresh Word and it still restores the old man. He is merciful and that mercy that the Bible says is part of his character is new every morning. Each generation, each person must rediscover the time worn truths and virtues that impact each life. They are old but they are new and they are relevant for today. People all over have been trying to make this word into something that it's not because somehow they feel that it's out of date. I've got good news for you, this Bible is not out of date, it is still fresh for today; It's something important that we must remember as the body of Christ. I don't remember a time ever in my life when I've found that people have found it necessary to begin to change what this word says because somehow they feel it hasn't kept up with society. How many know that this word has kept up just fine? This word is still making an impact today on a society that more than ever before needs it. God is doing a new work in our day but He's doing a work with His word that has never changed.
Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 says, "That which has been is what will be; That which is done is what will be done and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new? It has already been in ancient times before us".
I was watching the Discovery Channel the other day as I usually do when I want to relax and they were saying how we think computers are new but the Mayans built the first computer a long time ago. They actually discovered it and how it worked; it was very simple and not electronic. But it's interesting how we think that things today are new when really many things are just being redone.
Virtue is the purity of life and it is the values that are evident everyday. They are those things that every culture throughout time cannot be argued with. They are the purity of life that are easily recognizable and no law could ever be against them. They are proof in the life of every person of a God controlled and God centered life. Virtues are the moral landmarks that we can look to and that others can see. In this day and age when it seems that there is nothing that a person can look to or count on because everyone seems to have their own opinion about things,
the virtues of God's word still haven't changed so we have a point of reference in our life. They are the landmarks so that we know we are living on the right path for God. These virtues do not change over time. As much as many would like to redefine or change them, they do not change so that through generation after generation there is a consistency of what God finds pleasing in man and so man can determine whether they are growing in the Lord.
Proverbs 22:28 says this, "Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set". I want to say this, do not remove the ancient landmarks that God has set. These virtues are those landmarks; these qualities of character that develop in the life of a person that prove God is doing a work inside of them. Just this last week, the Presbyterian Church of America has become another in the growing line of churches that have decided that homosexuality is ok among its clergy. They are voting to redefine marriage and have tabled that particular idea so they can study it further. You don't have to study it any further than what is in the Word of God. I know I might be preaching a little bit to the choir this morning but if I don't continue to really instill these words then at some point we might decide that's not the way it should be. Listen, this Word has never lost its power.
Virtues are the values that has God as their source. They deal with our morals, our habits, our customs, our behaviors and our attitudes. These virtues will affect every way that we live. Virtues and values do not spring from opinion polls; they do not change. Throughout history, man has had many different opinions about what is good, moral and right but the word of God has never changed. Our virtue gives us the ability to be a conduit in which God works through our life. Out of a virtuous life flows the very power of Heaven itself.
When Jesus did His work on the earth and performed miracles, he recognized when power went out of Him. In the New Testament, when virtue was mentioned it is interchangeable with the idea of power. In Mark 5:28-30, the story of the woman with the issue of blood; she said "If only I may touch His clothes I shall be made well. Immediatedly the fountain of her blood was dried up and she was healed of the affliction. Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that power had gone out of Him turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?". Out of all the people that were gathered around Christ, he recognized when someone reached out for what he had. There is power in a virtuous life and you can know the power. We as believers can know that power of a life that is surrendered to God because out of it flows the very annointing of God himself. In the midst of that crowd Jesus recognized when power left Him.
Many today wonder where the power has gone from people's lives; why people have less of a postive impact or have lost a positive influence; why the church of Jesus Christ has even begun to make less of an impact on a society that it had in generations past. If you have a virtuous life and a life that is surrendered to God then that same power that Jesus had will flow through us and make a difference in those around us. When we reach out to help others and when they reach out to us then we will know that power has left us just like it did Jesus. I can tell you how many times where we've prayed for the sick or when we've been ministering to someone in need who has needed the counsel of God, I have felt the power of the Holy Spirit flow through my life not even like electricity. Some people may describe it like an energy but it is not so much of a new age concept as it is simply this, the annointing of God desires that he will only flow through the life of those who are fully surrendered to Him.
I want to talk about some of those virtues that help us to walk in the power and the life of God. the first one today is wisdom. One of the greatest virtues that you and I could ever carry in this life is the wisdom of God. Proverbs 2:10-11 says this, "When wisdom enters your heart and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you and understanding will keep you". How many have ever wondered why some people's lives are such a mess? It's because they have not yet walked in the wisdom of God. if the wisdom of God is in your life, you will know how to be directed and led by the spirit of God. Proverbs 4:7-8 says, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her and she will promote you and she will bring you honor when you embrace her".
We need wisdom today. This used to be a prized posession and something that people sought to attain. We need wisdom in the life of believers again. Today we take great pleasure in foolishness and it has become a great source of mindless entertainment. As a matter of fact if you were going to have true joy or comedy you'd actually have to be pretty good at it today. But now we just laugh when people get hit with something or fall down. I admit that can be funny but there's a whole lot more to enjoy in life.
To be knowledgable, wisdom deals with understanding, good and evil, knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is gaining both spiritual and natural knowledge and knowing what to do with it. It is more than an acedemic education. I thank God that we live in this great country and even with all the troubles that our schools are going through it is still the best education system in all the world. The dedication of most of the teachers and our academics want to give our nation a good learning. But what is missing from the school system is the wisdom that is taught along with the academics. You might not be able to teach common sense but you can pass along wisdom and when you get wisdom then common sense will go along with it.
True wisdom is having knowledge and insight and being able to practically apply it to daily living. Wisdom can discern between true and false, right and wrong and the difference between making a lasting decision or just stepping out on a personal whim. The truth is wisdom will guide us in right decisions and in proper living. Proverbs 3:13-15 says, "Happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding, for her proceeds are better than profits of silver and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her". Happy is the man who finds wisdom. Have you ever met more people with more blessings and prosperity in all your life who live an unhappy life? We live in the greatest state in the world; we have great weather, a great place to live, great people and they all want to flock here to be us. Happy is the man who finds wisdom. You can do everything else but there is a virtue that we can have that begins to help you with understanding. Wisdom will help settle the mind; it will give you the life of God and the word of God; it will help you apply it to situations. Instead of trying to figure it out in your own ways, you've got the life of God working through you to figure it out so there can be calmness and peace.
The second virtue that I want to speak about is integrity. Many times when we think of integrity we simply think of honesty but I believe that integrity is much more than honesty. It is spiritual and moral excellence. Proverbs 11:3 says, "The integrity of the upright will guide them but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them". Those who walk with integrity are never walking on a slippery slope. Those with integrity are always faithful in what they do and say because they are going to live a life that is right according to the word of God. Those who have this virtue can be trusted, counted on and they can keep their word. It's so wonderful when you can find people that not only do what they say when they say they'll do it but will do it to the best of their ability. It's good to meet people like that because in this day and age they are very rare. How many believe that the Christian who has integrity should be the norm within the body of Christ?
Integrity has at its heart the priority of life, motives and intentions, thoughts and purpose, being pure in every one of them. It's heart is focused to do right in all ways. The purity of intention is powerful because it will not pollute any area of life. When I was thinking about integrity I came up with this idea, that integrity is the unpolluted life, that in every area we have not allowed the pollution of the world or sin to come in; in our marriage, our business dealings, with our children, with our words and thoughts. Integrity is more than who we deal with or how we deal with people, it is how we live when no one else is looking, but God is always there.
Vintage virtue #3 is courage. Another great word for this is fortitude, never giving up or giving in, never say "die" and never say "I can't". It's great to have courage today, it is the valor to rise up and rise above the situations of life, adversity and challenges. Courage is standing up for what's right when it is not popular to do so and when it is time to do so. We need courage today, it deals with a noble spirit and the truth of an invinceable will, one that will not be defeated, one who understands that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them. Psalms 31:24 says, "Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord".
Have you ever found that when you are discouraged, and you decide to take courage and stand for what God stands for, to be all that God would have you to be, then all of a sudden the strength of God begins to flood us? Somehow we think courage is the absence of weakness and that courage is strength and you always have it. Courage is actually bravery and you don't have to be brave if you're not scared of anything. Courage comes in when you're nervous, when you're unsure and don't know what's going on but it's choosing to trust God and to be that one that will stand up and declare what is right. It's choosing to be the one who will be different when everyone else around you is going the easy way. Courage says I'm going to do it God's way then that strength will come. God says take courage and God will strengthen you.
Why does God have to strengthen you if you're not going to do anything with the strength he gave you? But if you'll take courage, God will give you the strength to do it. Courage has at its core a distinct virtue that is called hope. Courage finds its strength in the truth and certainty of God; hope and courage go hand in hand. Courage sees impossibilities in life yet chooses to press through. Today, many are despondent and hopeless and have begun to approach life with reluctance and even with a sense of cowardice. Courage is not reckless risk taking just for the sake of taking the risk; courage is knowing what God has spoken to your heart and what God's word says, daring to believe it and then deciding to live it. Those who have courage will stand out among all those who don't. I believe that God's people should be the most courageous in all the world; it is confident trust in God and His way. Courage is the result of faith when you trust God and His word.
Another vintage virtue is self control or temperance. I believe that we live in a generation where there is a lack of this virtue which has led us into many troubles in many areas. Years ago, America decided they were going to try and legislate virtue and started the temperance movement where they were going to outlaw alcohol. How many understand you can't legislate a virtue? Self control has to come from within the individual. Self control is in your hands. Today, obesity is a problem like never before. People spend in excess and get in debt not always because they've had difficulties like medical emergencies or car repairs but because of a lack of self control. Banks and CEO's give out loans to people who can't afford it and then they give themselves raises. How many know we live in an interesting country?
Too many do what they want when they want to but self control understands the wisdom of moderation and abstinence from those things that are not good. Self control is thoughtful, considerate and loving and it thinks of the consequences not only to self but what it will do to others. I know as a preacher, when I begin to speak on self control in our American culture, a lot of people get uptight but the church should not be upset about preaching the virtues that set people free. This virtue of self control will help people to know the power of a well lived life. Self control takes hold of desires and impulses and submits them to wisdom in every area: money, relationships, business dealings, marriage and all work need to come under self control.
1st Corinthians 6:12-13 says, "All things are lawful for me but all things are not helpful; all things are lawful for me but I will not be brought under the power of any. Food for the stomach and stomach for foods but God will destroy both, it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord and the Lord for the body". This is the virtue of self control.
The greatest virtue that we could ever carry is that of love. Love values God and people and the life that God has given you. Our motto at Harvest is to "Love God, love people and love life". Love God with all your heart, with everything that's in you, with a true desire for a relationship with Him; to truly love other people, not just those whom you know but even those whom you don't know. How many know it will change your life all the way around, from the people you may run into and never see again to those you run into on a regular basis? You need to care for them.
Yesterday a guy was riding his bike across the street from the ocean right through traffic and I thought he was crazy. Then God told me to look at him and I realized he was one of our homeless guys; instead of getting angry I just felt a love for him and asked God to be with him, bless him, and take care of him. He comes here most every Thursday to get a good meal and the truth is that it didn't matter if he was someone I knew or didn't know, we just need to care for people.
Another word for this virtue is "Charity" but today charity has simply been reduced to helping the poor and the needy. But love is true concern and help for all; it's not simply an emotion but it is a virtue that always works. It is that purposeful decision to care for people. For some of us that comes naturally, we're just loving people, whoever we see, whenever we run into them, it doesn't matter, we just don't think anything bad about anybody and are just glad to see them. For others that's a chore. The Bible says in 1st Corinthians 13:8, "Love never fails". You and I have run into some of these people who seem like the sweetest people in all the world, wherever they go they just seem to ooze the love of God. I've seen it in both men and women and it's not an emotional thing with them; they're just so in love with God and when they meet other people they just can't help it, it kind of rubs off on them. I remember as I was seeing that in those people's lives, I said I wanted to be that kind of a person because love never fails. Love will always make the difference and will always touch someone's life.
Many times when love is brought up in church we see it as a nice thing and we expect to hear that in church but the truth is that love never fails, it is the most powerful force in the world. If you want to see power go out of your life, then love somebody. When you're in the grocery line and see a cranky person, you love them and watch the power of God begin to change that situation. When you're travelling on the road and get out at a rest stop, just truly love people, begin to care for people, say some nice things and genuinely begin to care for them as Jesus would. Do you realize that when that woman touched him, Jesus didn't even see her, he just knew that she reached out to him. People are out there just reaching for anything and sometimes that life of God, that power and virtue will come from us and may be the only thing they'll ever see.
When we go to restaurants we'll just start caring for the waittress. When we're on vacation, my wife just wants to stop and eat but usually when we stop to eat we wind up having the waittress and about 3 of the kitchen staff around our table talking, it's fun. Always there's a chance to share Christ and there's always a chance to just be kind. It's interesting because there are certain times when you can just sense that power of love begin to be picked up throughout the rest of that place. That's the kind of virtuous life that God has called all of us to live. You may not be the most outgoing person in the world but the kindness that you show will begin to make a difference in the life of those around you.
Old school is not out of date. Jeremiah 6:16 says, "Thus says the Lord, stand in the ways and see; ask for the old paths where the good way is and walk in it, then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, "we will not walk in it". If you read the rest of that chapter in Jeremiah, it begins to address that. But today I came to speak to people who will walk in it, who will walk in the old ways, God's word and His truth.
