Sunday May 31 was a special day in the lives of the 15 youth who were confirmed. Pastor Jim’s message during the 11:00 Am service was directed towards them. God is committed to you. Are you committed to Him?
Click the following “Play” Button to start the recording, then scroll down to follow along…
The Scripture was 1 Samuel 2:26 and 2 Corinthians 1:17-20. Open the following Drop Down box to read.
Scripture Reading
1 Samuel 2:26
And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men.
2 Corinthians 1:17-20
=== New King James Version ===
17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?
18 But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us — by me, Silvanus, and Timothy — was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
=== The Message ===
17 Are you now going to accuse me of being flip with my promises because it didn’t work out? Do you think I talk out of both sides of my mouth — a glib yes one moment, a glib no the next?
18 Well, you’re wrong. I try to be as true to my word as God is to his. Our word to you wasn’t a careless yes canceled by an indifferent no. How could it be?
19 When Silas and Timothy and I proclaimed the Son of God among you, did you pick up on any yes-and-no, on-again, off-again waffling? Wasn’t it a clean, strong Yes?
20 Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident.
True Friends say “Yes!…
There’s a cute story about an incident which took place in a Kindergarten classroom. A boy was sitting at his desk doing an art project when all of a sudden, there is a puddle under his chair and he was wet. No he didn’t spill any water on himself…
He is embarrassed, and he can’t imagine how this has happened. It’s never happened before, but he knows that when the other kids find out he will probably be laughed at and he’ll never hear the end of it. He puts his head down in embarrassment fighting back tears.
He peaks and notices that the teacher is coming in his direction from across the room, and he’s fearful that his accident has been discovered. But as the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a container of water with paint brushes in it. Susie suddenly “trips” and curiously dumps the container of water and the paint brushes down the front of Adam and on to his lap.
All of a sudden, things have changed. Instead of being laughed at, everyone gasps and feels sorry for him. The teacher sends him to the office to get dry clothes. The teacher’s assistant mops the floor and when the boy returns to the classroom the other kids kindly ask him if he’s OK. Even Susie, who had caused the upset, receives sympathy as her friends assure her that it was just an accident.
At the end of the day as they’re waiting for the school bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispered, “you spilled that water on me on purpose, didn’t you? Thank you so much for helping me.” Susie whispered back, “Once I had an accident too, and I just wanted to help you through this.”
It’s great to have friends we can count on. Friends who have your back when you’re in trouble. Friends like Susie who will share your problem. Friends like… Jesus, who knows what we’re going through and took our place by receiving God’s wrath.
Proverbs 18:24…
A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. NIV
John 15:14-15…
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. NIV
It’s one thing to have many “companions,” but quite another to have true friends. Jesus has identified Himself as a Friend. Are we a true friend, or just a companion of Jesus?
During the most difficult and challenging times of our lives, people are there to help. People reflect the love of Jesus Christ, and God uses them to help clean up the mess we make.
Warning: Hairspray + Sweaty Hands = Trouble
When we mess up, Jesus is right there to help us carry on. God uses people from the church to reflect Jesus Christ to us.
Jesus says “Yes” to us… not “yes but”…
Friends Keep Their Promise…
Jesus is consistent. In fact, He’s consistently annoying to those who think they know it all. He welcomes the outcast, or “eats with ‘sinners’ ” or commands forgiveness of Roman soldiers (even asking us to “go the 2nd mile”). His words and actions are consistent.
He is also consistent in His promises. He never did or never will break His promises.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28:20
When you were baptized, Jesus promised to be the best friend that you could ever have. He promised to stand by you not only in the good times, but also to be a true friend when things get really tough.
God has promised to place His mark on you and you’ll never be out of his sight or reach. On this Confirmation Sunday, you’re confirming the promises He made.
Friends Stay Committed to Their Purpose…
We’ve only just begun. Today isn’t a day to make promises celebrate and walk away. Today Jesus is making a commitment to you. He’s saying YES to you. Are you willing to always say YES to Him?
Are you willing to say YES to God when-
- When you’re faced with peer pressure? When “friendships” are threatened if you don’t go along?
- When the culture says yes to things that God says “no” to.
- When you may experience pain or loss by remaining true to God?
But remember this: How much does Christ hold back? He didn’t, doesn’t, and won’t hold back God gives us His full total 100% commitment. 
When you get married, you commit to each other. You say “Yes”… not “Yes, but…” But even after the wedding, do we continue to say Yes, or do we get hung up on a series of “yes buts”? Do we value our relationship more than the thing we’re doing at the moment? Is watching the end of an Eagles game more important than responding to your wife? Is that phone call more important than your husband’s immediate needs?
What if Jesus said “yeah, but” to God before going to the cross?
God Can’t use People with a Motorboat Theology….
God is calling everyone to say “Yes” to His will and “Yes” to His ways. God is looking for people to say “Yes” and to be a friend to Him.
- YES- I’ll go
- YES- I’ll tell others
- YES- I’ll be an active part of the church.
- YES- I can make a positive difference.
- YES- I can live my life by God’s moral and ethical codes
Because God keeps His promises and stands by us, we can boldly make our own promises and stand by them with the help of the Holy Spirit.
God is looking for people to “Stand in the Gap”…
I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it… Ezekiel 22:30
God is looking for people like….
God is looking for committed, faithful, “YES People.
God is not looking for people who answer like the put, put, put of a motor boat engine…
“Yes, but… but… but… but…”
God IS calling us to drop our fears, cast the net on the other side of the boat and to say YES with total commitment.
Yes! But- He also promises to be our Friend who will stand with us throughout the whole process. Don’t let anyone say “you can’t__”. God says you CAN do all through Him. Know that you have a true Friend in Christ. Say YES to Him. He keeps saying YES to you.
Quiz Time!
As you reflect on what you’ve just heard/read, give this quiz a try. If you don’t understand an answer (or if you disagree with the “correct” answer, post a comment)…
+ + + + + + +
Click Here to view other sermons.
