You
notice the sermon title, Good News Is Always Good News, and if you have your
choice between good news and bad news, which one you going to pick, if you're
smart? Good news! Good news! And so we look at that in Ephesians 4:32, that scripture there is
a powerful scripture for us as Christians. Now you might get away with it if you're not a Christian. But if you wear the title of a Christian
you're committed to Jesus Christ. This
text becomes very important to us because we are representatives of Jesus
Christ. How would He treat and relate
to people, and He's our master model in that.
So
we look at this. It talks about before
that some things we need to put away, but then it says in that verse that was
just read there, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted.” Don’t you like the sound of that? Tenderhearted. Has a good sound to it.
You try it, you know, sometimes. Tenderhearted. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another
just as God in Jesus Christ forgave us.” Be kind to one another.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the ultimate in good news. It can't get any better than that. That is good news at its very best, the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. But as
committed Christians to Christ our Savior,
we have a sphere of influence, you knew that, didn't you? We have a sphere of influence as we mingle
with people and an obligation to make a sincere effort to share the good news
of Jesus’ love, here it is, as well as the good news of kindness, speaking
encouraging words and doing acts of kindness for family, friends and
neighbors. And that's good news too,
kindness.
In
bringing happiness to others, when Jesus was on earth, in bringing happiness to
others, Jesus demonstrated how much could be done with very little in way of
material things. He had very little of
the goods of this world. You know some
people say, “If I had a million dollars I would really make a difference in
evangelism. If I had a million dollars I’d
put a bunch of kids through church school.”
But because we don't have a million dollars, does that mean we can't do
anything to be a help? Jesus had very
little and He did a lot.
You
know, just to get the picture, if you look in Matthew, chapter 8, verse 19 and
20, of what Jesus said about what He had of this world's goods. Matthew 8:19 and 20, it mentions down there
in verse 19, it says, “And a certain scribe.” Now scribes were people that were
well-educated, quite wealthy in most cases, and he came and said to Jesus, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Now if you read in some of the commentaries
in different places they really doubted whether that was a real deep sincere
thing or kind of a rash thing of the moment.
I'll follow You wherever You go, and then Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes for their house.” They live in the
ground in holes, “and birds of the air, they have nests
to live in, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” In the material things of this world, Jesus
didn't have much and He shared that with His disciples, those that were following. But notwithstanding His meager earthly
possessions, Jesus brought joy and happiness to all who came under His
influence.
You
know, sometimes, sometimes we’re prone to think that everything Jesus did was
in terms of miracles. That in
supernatural ways He ministered to the people, and it is true, on many
occasions He did bring happiness to those who mourn by raising the dead or
those who were sick by bringing miracle healing. Did that. But much of His
time was spent in doing the little, everyday things that cheer people on. Now when we get into that area, the little
everyday ministries that cheer people on, we can do that. As Jesus’ representatives, as Jesus’
witnesses, we can do that. The little
ministries that cheer people on.
It
may be a letter that you write to somebody that you know, could use a letter. Might
be a phone call. Could be an email, in
the day in which we are living, of some kind words, encouraging words to cheer
people on. Perhaps a word of
appreciation. Now, we don't overdo this
in our society. We don't overdo the
thing of appreciating people. We've
still got a little ways to go on that and people kind of like that. Did you ever notice? People kind of like little words of appreciation
that come to them. A word spoken at the
right time may turn defeat into victory for some struggling soul. My wife saw this quotation on a church
sign. Keep kindness in mind with
this. This is really for husbands. This is really speaking to husbands so you
need to this listen to this. “Treat
your wife like a thoroughbred and she'll never be a nag.” It was the famous evangelist Billy Sunday,
who said, “Cast your bread upon the waters and it will come back to you buttered,”
and I add, maybe even peanut buttered.
Human
beings created in God's image may not always respond positively to the offer to
sit down with you for an hour a week in a formal Bible study. Some people would refuse to do that. They wouldn't do that. About maybe, where people go when they die or
why we like a diet of wham versus ham and all that. But the good news of a warm smile and a hearty handshake and a
bag of fully ripe tomatoes or some juicy peaches, most people will cordially
open to you in a positive response. You
try it and see if it doesn't work.
Tomatoes are going to be coming on, pretty soon. You take some of those vine ripe tomatoes and
you share those with somebody as a representative of Jesus, as a kind act, and
see how they respond to that. Try it on
me if you have a question. It’ll work.
I
want to share with you a quotation that is taken from Desire Of Ages about
Jesus when He was on the earth. It’s so
many beautiful little things that we see. “His life was as leavening working amid the elements of society.” Now Jesus mingled with the people. Now I want you to look at the classes of
people that Jesus mingled among. Sometimes
we have a narrow circle of people we mingle with. Look at the classes of people that Jesus mingled with. He said, “Harmless and undefiled He walked
among the thoughtless, the rude, the uncourteous. Amid the unjust publicans, the reckless prodigals, the unrighteous
Samaritans. You mingle around with any
of those people? Our circle’s a little
more narrow than that, isn’t it? “The
heathen soldiers, the rough peasants and the mixed multitude.” What did He do when He was mingling around
with all those people? Look what He did.
“He spoke a word of sympathy here and a
word of sympathy there. As He saw men
weary yet compelled to bear heavy burdens, He shared their burdens.” Now look what, here is something that's
astounding. I appreciate that. Here is something that's astounding. As He mingled around with the people. He learned something from nature, and He used
those lessons in mingling with the people.
Now
have many of you have been Pathfinders and how many love nature? I think probably we all do. Have you learned some lessons from nature? Probably have. But here's what Jesus learned from nature that He was
sharing. It says, “He shared their
burdens and repeated to them lessons He had learned from nature.” Here's what He learned. “From nature of the love, the kindness and the
goodness of God.” Is that amazing? When He looked into nature that's what He
saw, and then He shared it with the people.
Good news. Jesus shared the good
news, and good news is always good news.
The good news of kindness, the good news of the Gospel. It's all good news and Jesus shared it all.
Now
you’ve got to turn to Proverbs, Proverbs chapter 16. Proverbs, chapter 16 and verse 24. When we talk about the good news, the good news of kindness,
which is always good news. Now I want
you to, you know in our scripture this morning it said, “and be kind to one another, tenderhearted.” Look at this. Proverbs 16:24. “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb.” Now what do we know about a honeycomb? What does a honeycomb taste like? Sweet! Yes, it is sweet and the next little phrase says that. “Pleasant words are
like a honeycomb. Sweetness to the soul
and health to the bones.” Did
you know that? You got anybody around
you that's got sick bones. You know how
to help them get better? I mean according
to the scripture? Pleasant words. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb. Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
Makes a person feel good deep down with
pleasant, kind, sympathetic, tender words, through and through the whole body.
The
medical people tell us that it's hard to feel good and be really healthy unless
the bones are healthy. And here we've
got the wise man saying, if you want to help people be healthy way down to the
bone, you use pleasant, kind words. “’Ye are My witnesses,’ saith the Lord,” and so that's
what we can do. Now those are the
little ministries that we can do as Christ's representatives.
In Guidepost
Magazine, everybody ever heard of that?
There's a story here that to me is a classic. I thought when I first saw that that it happened, because it called
Bacon Station post office, I thought it happened in New York City, that sounds
like a New York, Bacon Station post office, but it happened to be in
Indianapolis and the lady that wrote it was from Indianapolis. And here it is. Now I want you to keep in mind, “and be
kind to one another.”
Mr.
G., a regular, approached my window at the Bacon Station post office. Other clerks usually slowed down their
transaction or closed their windows looking for any excuse to duck him. This morning I was ready for him. “Give me a book of stamps,” Mr. G. snapped
at me. He slammed down his money and
said, “Hurry up about it.” I gave that man a look he'll never forget, and
I took my sweet time handing him those stamps, too. I'd had it with nasty customers. I wished I had my old job back at the main post office sorting
flat mail. It was monotonous work, but
at least I didn't get any lip from the public.
Just that morning over coffee, a newspaper editorial had caught my eye. ‘Bacon Station has the rudest clerks in town,’
it charged. “No,” I corrected, “Bacon
Station has the rudest customers anywhere.” I was rude to people because they were rude to me. Mr. G. had asked for that look I’d given him. What goes around comes around. And then it dawned on me. If I answered rudeness with rudeness, how
would others respond if I treated them with courtesy?
After
my lunch break, I imagined that my window was a mirror and the person on the
other side reflected my demeanor. “Lord,
I'm going to need your help to make this work,” I said. My first customer looked gloomy. While digging in her purse for her wallet, she
mumbled her order. I felt awkward, but
when she looked up I forced a smile. One
side of her mouth curled up slightly. “She's
trying too,” I thought.
For
the rest of the week I concentrated on getting to know my customers, addressing
them by name when I could and thinking of them as people just like me with
problems and worries and a little good news.
By Friday, the smile on my face had become genuine, I felt better.
And
then I saw Mr. G. in line, a true test. He walked up to my window and barked his order. While handling the transaction I said, “How's
business, Mr. G.?” He looked startled. “Terrible,” he growled. I placed his order on the counter. “It’ll get better,” I said, smiling. He grumbled and walked away, but I saw him
glance back over his shoulder.
Slowly
Mr. G. began to change and so did the clerks. A new mood of cheerfulness seemed to pervade Bacon Station, and
Mr. G. became one of our favorite customers.
In trying our best to live the Golden Rule on the job, I learned it's
not only the customers who are being better served.
Isn't
that amazing? Biblical principles. She was kind and courteous to other people,
and she said, “by Friday, I felt,” what?
“Better.” I felt better. It comes back. The blessing comes back to us when we share that good news and be
kind. Kindness is good news, and it's
always good news. You know, it's never out
of season. Never out of season. People like it. People like kindness, dogs like kindness, everybody likes
kindness.
Now
I want to go back to the Desire Of Ages, back to Jesus, who, we see how He dealt
with situations on the earth. And we
are His witnesses to share the good news.
“Jesus was the healer of body as well as the soul. To every sufferer He brought relief.” Now I want you to catch this. “Jesus was healer of body as well as of the
soul. To every sufferer He brought
relief.” Did Jesus, do we have the
account that Jesus worked miracles on everyone that was suffering and healed
them. Don't think we do, but I think we
have a picture of it when we see this. He
was a Healer. Note how He did it. Note how He healed body and soul. Here it is.
“His kind words.” You didn't
miss that did you? “His kind words had
a soothing balm. None could say that He
worked a miracle.” “Naw,” they said,
“He didn’t work a miracle here,” but His
kind words seemed to work a miracle. “But
virtue, the healing power of love, went out from Him to the sick and distressed.”
Love went out from Him to the
distressed through kind words that He spoke. “Thus in an unobtrusive way He worked for the people from His very
childhood.” Now catch this. “And this is why after His public ministry
began so many heard Him gladly.” Jesus
was kind to people. Jesus was courteous
to people, and we are His representatives.
Now,
how many of you have used the word ‘unobtrusive’ lately? Is that something that just pops out, you
use that word often? I don't think I've
used it lately. I don't think I've ever
used it, that I know of, but I wondered exactly what it was. “Jesus worked,” it said. He did his work, here, it said “in an
unobtrusive way.” Now I think, I mean I
kind of had an idea of what I thought that was, but I looked it up. Went to Google, looked it up. High-tech definition, and it said ‘unobtrusive’,
and this is the way Jesus worked, ‘not showy, not a showy way, in a quiet way,
restrained way, subdued way, keeping a low profile.’ And here's one I like best. ‘Tasteful.’ Tasteful. The way He went about relating to
people.
I
guess there's a time to be pushy with people. Push your diet on them.
Push your exercise on them. All
that. But Jesus did it in a very kind,
kind way. Unobtrusive way. And then it
says that is why. You're going to have
some evangelistic meetings here, and we have an opportunity to invite some
people, you know, to come to that. Now
if you have a neighbor or somebody, business person, that you just had a big
argument with, chances are they won't come if you invite them, unless the Holy
Spirit really gets on them strong. But
the one that you’ve just taken the vine ripe tomatoes to, you might go back and
say, “Boy, I've got something going on there. I'd like to invite you to come.” They might think about it at least, you know. They probably won't just turn you down.
You
know, there's another Christ’s method. Christ’s
method of soul winning, dealing with people.
And you know, when we’re kind to people, that’s soul winning. Did you ever think, you think sometimes, well
you have to be giving a Bible study to be soul winning. No, if you’re kind to people like Jesus was,
with pleasant words that heal their bones and all that, you know, that's Jesus’
method. In fact, it says, “Christ.” Here it is. Ministry of Healing, 143 “Christ’s method alone will give true
success in reaching the people. The
Savior mingled with men as One who desired their good. He showed His sympathy.”
“And
be kind to one another, tenderhearted.”
You know what another definition for tenderhearted is? Sympathy! Jesus, the Scripture says, he looked upon the multitude and He had
what toward them? Sympathy. Compassion for them. “As One who desired their good He showed His
sympathy for them, ministered to their needs and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” That's Jesus. That's the way He operated, and we are His witnesses of the good
news. The good news of kindness, good
news of the gospel of Jesus, and all that good news is always good news. Never, never out of season.
Now
let me ask you a question. Do you think
being kind and gentle to people the way that Jesus did works today? Would it work today? Do people like to hear kind words and be
treated gently? How do you feel about
that? Does it make you angry and upset
when people are kind and gentle to you?
That doesn't bother you too much, does it? You know, it makes people feel good. Still, still does.
Jesus
went about doing good. Isaiah 54:40
said, “My kindness shall not depart from you.” God's kindness will not depart from us. Now here is one. Here’s one that's called the Golden Rule. Matthew 7:12. Now that is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The Golden Rule, without looking it up, what
basically does it mean? What does it
say? Anybody want to just say? What's the Golden Rule that we, what is it? Okay. Be kind to one another. Treat
other people the way you'd like them to treat you. Now that was good way back in Jesus Day. People liked it. They related to that. Is
it still Golden? Is that still a Golden
Rule in 2008. Do you like it when
people apply the Golden Rule that Jesus gave to you. Most people do.
If
you were going to just rewrite that Golden Rule, be kind to one another, treat
other people the way you'd like them to treat you, how would you rewrite it or
redefine it in one word? Anybody brave
enough to tell me what a one-word? What?
You have an apple or something you’ll give that person? Kindness. Yeah, kindness. That's the
Golden Rule. If you’re kind to
people. That's the way you treat them. That's the way we like to be treated. With kindness.
Now
I'm going to close with the really
good news. It's John, the 14th chapter.
The Gospel of John, chapter 14. You
know, I like the way, I’ll tell you, we have all that to memory, I know. But when you look at this, words of Jesus. Jesus said, “Let not
your heart be troubled.” You
know, kindness alleviates some of that. Kindness and gentleness helps people’s heart not to be as troubled. Now it may be a little out of the context of
what He was saying, but Jesus said, “Let not your heart
be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe
also in Me.” And then He said, “In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not, so, I would've told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will,” do what? “Come again.” Is that good news? That is the ultimate in good news, in Jesus. “I will come again
and receive you to Myself that where I am there you may be also.”
You
know, as much as we try I don't think we have, can get the idea of the grandeur
and the full impact of that promise.
Jesus is building a mansion for us.
He's coming back again for us!
He's coming back again for us! That
is really good news, and it is always good news. Always! I want to be
there, don't you? I want to live in the
house. We can all be there. Praise the name of Jesus who paid the price
and made it possible that not a one of us need miss being a part of heaven, when
He comes.
213
is our closing hymn, Jesus Is Coming Again.
Hymn of Praise: #240, Fairest Lord Jesus Scripture: Ephesians 4:32 Hymn of Response: #213, Jesus is Coming Again
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Sermon at McDonald Road transcribed by Steve Foster 6/13/08