Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
December 22, 2013 - W1351

The Bible says, “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11)

Did you know that everything about Jesus is good news? 

I'm going to talk about giving permission. And I was thinking about that because, you see, we live in a society that is a permission?squashing society.  It's a faith?hostile society in which we live, especially of late.

Phil Robertson from the TV show “Duck Dynasty” was banned from his own show by the A & E network because he voiced Christian views on homosexually.

We live in a permission?squashing society that on the one hand says there's free speech but apparently not for Christians.

Listen, the church is the last bastion of hope to give permission to people to live their faith out loud, and if we don't give permission, nobody else will.

I don't know if you heard about the ESPN commercial that was to be run last week by a Catholic children's hospital, and ESPN banned the commercial because it talked about God. In the commercial the narrator says, “Each Christmas thousands in our community send messages to ?? of hope to the sick and injured children of our hospital who may not be able to go home for the holidays.  At Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the season of giving bringing home to many children.  Our patients are filled with hope as they receive a message each day from the treasure chest beneath the tree of hope.  So will you reveal God's healing presence this Christmas? Send your message of hope today to a child.”  That was it. 

Commentator Bill O'Reilly said, “ESPN, where's your beef?  Does the birth of Jesus offend you?  Haven't you heard of this federal holiday we experience every year?” O’Reilly was also upset that the hospital gave in to ESPN by deleting God from the commercial.

But I was thinking, our society is indeed a permission stealer, and if we don't give people permission to live their faith out loud, if we don't give them permission, no one else will.

I remember riding in a car with an elderly Christian man, and he was telling me about the problems of his church. I said, “Well, you know, what are some of the best practices, systematic strategy systems that we have to employ?” 

Out of the blue he said, “Jesus, what do you think about that because your opinion is the most important, isn't it?  What do you think, Jesus?” 

And then he said, “Well, what do you think, Wayne?”  When we were done, I thought, that he was somebody that was so natural about his relationship with Jesus that it reminded me it's not about strategic leadership systems or best practices.  It's about what Jesus thinks.  And bang, it was like he gave me permission to get back to being authentic – to get back to Jesus.  He gave me permission to do that. That really, really helps.

So I wanted to say something on this right before Christmas service; I want to ask us to be permission givers.  So how do you do that?  We live in a society that's permission squashers. 

1. KEEP THE GOOD NEWS GOOD NEWS.

As the Bible says, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to love and good works.” (Heb. 10:24)

How can I speak in such a way that it's good news of great joy for all peoples?  Because often we turn the good news into bad news

When someone says, “Happy Holidays”, don't say, “Hey, don't take Jesus out of the season.  He's the reason for the season.”  No.  Just say, “Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas” right back.  It's all right.  Keep the good news good news.  Otherwise we'll make good news bad news. 

One preacher balanced me off when I was getting really upset about something.  He said, “Wayne, you know, one of the things I learned when I was a young man? Don't preach nothing down but the devil, nothing up but Jesus.” 

“How can they believe in Him if they have not heard His message? And how can they hear if no one tells the Good News?” (Rom. 10:14)

People need to hear some good news.  That's what the word gospel actually means, literally translated, good news.  And so we got to work really hard on keeping it good news.

2. BE A PERMISSION GIVER.

You know where you start?  Where do you give permission?  At home. 

As the Bible says, “And these commandments I am teaching you today, you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” (Deut. 6:6-7)

In other words, start with your family and just talk about God. The more we just talk about God, you know what we're doing?  We're giving permission for people to talk about God.  If we don't, who will?  It's going to be stolen.  Church, we've got to do it.  We've got to be permission givers, and we start with our family.

But you see, when you're a permission giver …

3. DON’T BE AFRAID TO GO FIRST IN SETTING THE CULTURE.

Remember, the Bible says, “I’m not ashamed of the Good News. It is God’s power to save

everyone who believes … God’s approval is revealed in this

Good News.” (Rom. 1:16-17)

I am not ashamed of the good news.  It's God's power to save everyone who believes.  God's approval is revealed in this good news. Just think about God's approval.  Everybody needs God's approval.  We want, we wait for, we yearn for God's approval.  Think about it this way.  Whenever you meet someone, just think that around their neck they have a huge sign here that says, "Please make me feel valuable today."  Because in this society, we don't feel that way.  You see, God's approval is going to be revealed in good news. 

When I was working with high school kids, I would go to high school and I'd carry a pocket Bible with me. One of the teachers once came by and said, “Hey, you can't be reading that here.”  And then one of the other teachers came by as I was walking out.  He said sarcastically, “Hey, see you later, Mr. Gospel.”  I became angry but the Lord said, “What would you rather be known for than the only message that brings hope to mankind?  What other identity would you rather be called by than the only thing will give men and women an eternal life?  Do you understand the honor and the privilege to be known as someone who opens the door for the good news of God's approval?”  I sunk down in my seat and thought, “What an honor.  What an honor to be known as someone who is a person of good news.”

We've got to be permission?givers to let people live out their faith and to not be afraid.

I was at the airport and met a very seriously ill man on his way to the hospital so right there in front of the other travelers I laid hands on him and prayed. If we don't do it as a church, who's going to do it?  I thought, Lord, may we be permission?givers, and may we go first in doing that. 

That's why I tell people in Starbucks in devotions, if you've got your devotions out and you're reading the Bible, don't be afraid.  I'm not ashamed of the gospel.  For it's the power of God and the salvation.  It reveals God's approval through the good news.

So as I'm doing devotions in Starbucks with my Bible, how many people are going to walk by and see this?  50 a day?  Let's say I do devotions there four days a week.  That's 50 times four is what?  200.  Okay.  Just checking.  200 times four weeks a month is 800.  800 ?? let's say I do it ten months out of the year.  800 times ten, 8,000 people a year without you having to say a word, just reading the word of God in public.  How many of those 8,000 will go by and say I need to go home and start reading the Bible.  I need to hear what God has to say.  Maybe I wouldn't be in the situation I am if I would be doing that. 

You understand how we're just giving permission to people to live their faith like they want to and not be afraid?  We need to be permission?givers, and this Christmas can I encourage you to be a permission?giver for the good news?

Lori, one of our church custodial servants was scrubbing the floor one day, and I said, “Lori, let one of the guys do that.”  She said, “Oh, no, this is my ministry.” And I walked up to the office and I was having a bad day, and I thought, “Wait a minute.  I need to see everything the same way.  This is my assignment.  God's given this to me, and I'm going to do the best I can.”

Do you understand how one lady gives permission by her genuine authenticity and her love for God? She gives permission to everyone around her to love God more, to talk about God, to be spontaneous in our relationship with God.  She just gives us permission to speak candidly.

“Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others He has redeemed you …” (Ps. 107:2 NLT)

This Christmas, give the best gift ever.  Give permission.  It doesn't cost you a dime.  You don't have to wrap it up.  Just give permission by saying, “Let's pray.  Let's stop and ask God what He thinks.  Hey, look at this devotional thing that I read today.  Take a look at this.  Isn't this cool?  Hey, look at that rainbow.  God created that for me and for you.” Just begin talking.  What you're doing is you're giving people permission.  How?  Work really hard at keeping the good news good news and give people permission by living their faith out loud because you're going to go first.  And once you do that, everything around you changes.  This year, give the best gift of all.  Give permission for people to love Jesus more.  Amen?  Amen.  

Study Suggestions

1.   What do we mean by keeping the Good News Good News?

2.   How do we do that?

3.   How do we be a permission giver?

4.    What would be a great gift this Christmas season?