1 09/27/15—Avondale—Meute
“Gospel Fresh”
Psalm 124; Mark 9: 38-50
Pearl: A gospel that is big enough for everyone.
Function: To have worshippers embrace the gospel economy which is a gospel of plenty enough
for everyone.
What are you possessive of?
1. What are you concerned to protect, to keep safe, so that it will be there for
you when you need it?
a. The character, Gollum, from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings fantasy was
possessed by “his precious” ring. He became a hostage of this
precious ring and when he lost it he pursued the repossession of it for
the rest of his life. He was consumed by his fascination, his “fatal
attraction” to the ring. This ring held a powerful spell over all who
came into possession of it.
b. It was an evil spell which sought to enslave the one who possessed it.
2. The disciples of Jesus were possessive of their leader and they were
possessive of his mission.
a. Someone was practicing a ministry of deliverance in the name of
Jesus and the disciples were put off. They were dismayed that
someone who was not “one of them” was carrying on ministry that
“was their domain.”
b. They were clearly “possessive” of what they had with Jesus.
i. When you are possessive of something it comes from a place of
fear of losing it.
ii. When you are possessive of someone it stems from a fear of
losing their attention, affection, or favor.
iii. This can be a form of “hero worship.”
1. I was a part of a staff of college students who worked
with the Dean of the Chapel. He was a very large
personality on campus. He was admired, feared, and
loved by many, many of the students. There was
2 competition among our staff for his attention and
approval.
2. I imagine some of that very same kind of thing occurred
among Jesus’ disciples.
c. Perhaps this very same kind of thing happens around Pope Francis. As
powerful a figure and role is the Pope, many likely elbow each other
to get around him and to get his blessings and to get his favor. Even
though he is a humble and personable person, it is the power of his
office which holds such sway.
How did Jesus respond to this spirit of possessiveness of him and his gospel?
1. Jesus surprised his disciples and others by saying that this person
ministering in his name was no harm. He said, “Whoever is not against us
is for us” (9:40).
a. The real problem for Jesus’ disciples was not that this usurper was not
following Jesus but that he was not following them! Typical human
nature, eh?! They were not only possessive of what they had with
Jesus but they were possessive of what they had themselves because
of him.
2. Jesus demonstrated great openness with his name and with his gospel of life.
a. He said, “No one who does something in my name will be able to
speak evil of me” (9:39). That meant that there is a good power in the
gospel which can only be a force for good for those honestly trying to
do the good with which it is intended.
b. What else did Jesus’ attitude reveal about the gospel?
i. There was and is plenty enough of it to go around and around
and to bless and bless and keep on blessing!
This brings us now to a lesson in “gospel economics.”
1. With God there is plenty of refreshment and plenty of life for all!
a. Human economics revolves around a limited supply which gets
transferred around among people, and among businesses, and among
nations, and so on.
b. Gospel economics revolves around an unlimited supply which will
never run out and which will always be available for all.
3 i. The gospel of Jesus Christ is always fresh. Jesus used an image
of a “cup of cold water” which gives true refreshment.
ii. Such water springs from a well which is eternal.
2. Listen to some of the biblical images for the refreshment of God that is
available for all:
a. “Hey there! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you
that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1).
i. How about that for “gospel economics?”
b. “As the deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you,
O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:1,
2).
c. “O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my
flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no
water” (Psalm 63:1).
i. God quenches the soul!
d. In that same Psalm 63, we read: “My soul is satisfied as with a rich
feast…” (63: 5).
i. God is the One who satisfies and nourishes.
e. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never
be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John
6:35).
i. People need to drink water and eat food but the gospel of Jesus
Christ satisfies and nourishes in ways that nothing in the world
can!
f. He also said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying
heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,
and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you
will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden
is light” (Matthew 11: 28-30).
3. There is a freshness to the gospel which can always and forever restore and
nourish. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never
come to an end; they are new every morning; great is his faithfulness”
(Lamentations 3:23).
4. The gospel is a vast well which will never run out. In a world of diminishing
resources, this is not a problem with the gospel.
4 a. Recall what Jesus did with the five loaves and the three fish. He fed
5,000 people with them. In this he demonstrated the capability of God
and the capability of his gospel.
b. When there was no money to pay a tax that Jesus and his disciples
owed he told one of them to go fishing. Cast out for a catch. You will
catch a fish. Look into its mouth. Find a coin. Take it out and go pay
the tax. God provides!
Have you ever tried to take the ocean into your hands? You can step into the
ocean and it is deep and wide and huge! There is more ocean over the face of
the earth than there is land. So you can step into the ocean with your whole
body. You can put your entire self into the ocean. But if you try to hold it in
your hand it will slip through your fingers and fall away from you.
You can wade in the ocean; you can swim in the ocean; it will hold you up and
you can float upon it. But if you try to possess it, it will fall through your
hands and it will elude you. You can have the ocean, but you cannot possess it!
So it is with the gospel of Jesus Christ. So it is with the refreshing of God that
is meant to be enjoyed by all. It is plenty big enough for everybody and
anybody. But if you try to keep it to yourself and if you try to keep it only
among a select group, it will fall away and it will elude you.
You and all people are meant to swim in the great, refreshing ocean of God’s
love and grace; you are all meant to live off of God’s provision of what you
need for life. This is the wonderful and amazing way of the gospel.
There is enough gospel for all; beware of trying to possess it and of trying to
hoard it. For then it will elude you and you will become possessed by your
lack.