SOLD OUT & ALL IN Eulogy Written & Preached By: Rev. Johnny R. Calhoun Homegoing Celebration for Angela Johns Wednesday, May 28, 2014 Mount Olive AME Church, Annapolis MD
I CORINTHIANS 6: (KJV)
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God,
and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. CEV: 19 You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. 20 God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God. NLV: 9 Do you not know that your body is a house of God where the Holy Spirit lives? God gave you His Holy Spirit. Now you belong to God. You do not belong to yourselves.20 God bought you with a great price. So honor God with your body. You belong to Him. NLT: 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body I CORINTHIANS 7: 17 In every church I tell the people to stay as they were when the Lord Jesus chose them and God called them to be his own. Now I say the same thing to you.18 If you are already circumcised, don’t try to change it. If you are not circumcised, don’t get circumcised. 19 Being circumcised or uncircumcised isn’t really what matters. The important thing is to obey God’s commands. 20 So don’t try to change what you were when God chose you. 21 Are you a slave? Don’t let that bother you. But if you can win your freedom, you should.22 When the Lord chooses slaves, they become his free people. And when he chooses free people, they become slaves of Christ.23 God paid a great price for you. So don’t become slaves of anyone else.24 Stay what you were when God chose you. NLV: 17 Everyone should live the life the Lord gave to him. He should live as he was when he became a Christian. This is what I teach in all the churches.18 If a man became a Christian after he had gone through the religious act of becoming a Jew, he should do nothing about it. If a man became a Christian before, he should not go through the religious act of becoming a Jew. 19 If it is done or not done, it means nothing. What is important is to obey God’s Word.20 Everyone should stay the same way he was when he became a Christian. 21 Were you a servant who was owned by someone when you became a Christian? Do not worry about it. But if you are able to become free, do that. 22 A servant who is owned by someone and who has become a Christian is the Lord’s free man. A free man who has become a Christian is a servant owned by Christ.23 He paid a great price for you when He bought you. Do not let yourselves become servants owned by men. 24 Christian brothers, each one should stay as he was when he became a Christian.
SOLD OUT & ALL IN SCRIPTURE: I CORINTHIANS 6:15-20; 7:17-24 CONCEPT: GOD BOUGHT US WITH A GREAT PRICE AND WE ARE NOT OUR OWN THE WORLD HAS BECOME SO COMMERCIAL. EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE. EBAY, QVC, HSN, MEMORIAL DAY SALE, BLACK FRIDAY, CYBER MONDAY… OUR LIVES ARE CLUTTERED WITH ADVERTISING, PROMOTIONAL INSERTS, COUPONS, PROMO CODES, ONLINE DISCOUNTS, …
IT’S ALMOST AS IF THE WORLD IS TRYING TO MAKE OUR LIVES LOOK AS IF WE LIVE IN A STORE. STOCKING THE SHELVES OF OUR LIVES WITH THINGS, AND STUFF. BARGAINS AND TWO FOR ONES. OVERSTOCKED AND EXCESS INVENTORY. TOO MUCH.
THE WORLD MAKES US FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO GET ALL OF THIS STUFF TO BE NORMAL. TO BE SATISFIED, TO BE ACCEPTABLE. GOT TO ALWAYS BE PAYING FOR STUFF. SO WE CAN GAIN MORE AND MORE. WHAT PROFITETH A MAN TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD…? WE BUY WHAT THE WORLD IS SELLING AND ALWAYS FIND OURSELVES HAVING TO PAY MORE AND MORE FOR WHAT THE WORLD SAYS IS A BARGAIN, AT A DISCOUNT,
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING, MORE FOR LESS. BUT HAVING TO PAY DEARLY FOR WHAT THE WORLD HAS FOR SALE. PAYING FOR THE WORLDS GOODS, WITH OUR PEACE, PAYING FOR IT WITH OUR JOY AND OUR ANOINTING. PAYING FOR THE WORLDS STUFF, WITH THE BLESSINGS WE NEVER RECEIVED OR THE PROSPERITY WE EXCHANGED FOR POPULARITY. THE DEVIL SELLS STUFF SAYING BUY NOW AND PAY LATER. I MET A MAN WHO LIVED IN A STORE, SAID HE HAD LOVE ON SALE, THEN HE CHARGED ME MORE… I MET A WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A STORE, I PAID FOR A PRINCESS, BUT THEY SOLD ME A WHORE. I MET A FAMILY WHO LIVED IN A STORE. THEY SAID I’D PAY LESS, BUT THEN THEY CHARGED ME MORE. THE DEVIL TRAPPED THE WORLD AND MADE US LIVE LIKE WE LIVED IN A STORE. AND GOD, IN HIS INFINITE WISDOM, SET A PLAN IN MOTION TO BUY US BACK. HE MADE THE DEVIL AN OFFER HE COULDN’T REFUSE. HE SOLD HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO THE DEVIL FOR 30 PIECES OF SILVER. WHAT A DEAL! JESUS BECAME THE STONE THAT SEEMINGLY HAD BEEN REJECTED, BUT NOW WAS THE CHIEF CORNER STONE. SATAN THOUGHT THAT HE HAD THWARTED GOD’S PLAN OF REDEMPTION AND KILLED GOD’S ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. HE TOOK GOD’S OFFER, HOOK, LINE AND SINKER AND THEN DEPOSITED JESUS INTO THE BANK OF HELL. AND LIKE A HOLY
COMPUTER VIRUS. JESUS TOOK CONTROL OF THE SYSTEM. HE CANCELLED THE DEBTS WE OWED TO THE DEVIL. HE DISMISSED THE CASE THE DEVIL HAD AGAINST US. HE BECAME THE PAYMENT FOR SIN. THE WAGES OF SIN, THE DEATH WE WERE SUPPOSE TO PAY, JESUS PAID IT FOR US. HE PAID IT ALL. AND THEN TO SHOW THE DEVIL THAT HE HAD BOUGHT MORE THAN HE HAD RECKONED FOR, JESUS BROKE THE POWER OF DEATH OVER HUMANKIND BY GETTING UP FROM THE GRAVE. GOD DID THE OKEY DOKE, THE ROPE A DOPE ON THE DEVIL AND USED JESUS TO BECOME THE PAYMENT FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. HE PURCHASED BACK EVERY BELIEVER FROM THE CLUTCHES OF THE DEVIL AND BOUGHT US BACK FROM HELL. HE BOUGHT ALL OF THE STUFF WE HAD ON THE SHELF. HE PAID FOR ALL OF OUR INVENTORY AND THEN ONCE HE BOUGHT US, HE TURNED US FROM A STORE, INTO A TEMPLE. THAT’S RIGHT. GOD BOUGHT US FROM THE DEVIL. LIKE SLAVES, HE PURCHASED US FROM THE AUCTION BLOCK, WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND THEN HE TURNED US INTO A TEMPLE AND GAVE US THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LIVE IN US. WHAT’S THE POINT, WE’VE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE, WE ARE NOT OUR OWN. YOU DON’T BELONG TO THE DEVIL ANYMORE, NOR DO YOU BELONG TO YOU. WE ARE NOT OUR OWN. YOU DON’T BELONG TO OTHER PEOPLE OR UNDER SOMEBODY ELSE’S CONTROL. NO YOU’VE BEEN BOUGHT AND JESUS PAID IT ALL. WE HAVE
BEEN PURCHASED AND SET FREE. AND HE WHOM THE LORD SETS FREE, IS FREE INDEED. THE BIBLE SAYS, WE ARE THE TEMPLE OR HOUSE OF GOD AND WE HAVE BEEN PURCHASED. WE NO LONGER BELONG TO OURSELVES. WE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT WITH A GREAT PRICE. ANGELA AND I THROUGH IT ALL LOVED TO LAUGH AND I DID MY BEST TO MAKE HER LAUGH SO HARD, THAT SOMETIMES I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BUST MY GUT. I’D GO THERE, TO JOHN HOPKINS HOSPITAL, THINKING THAT I WAS GOING TO BE CHEERING HER UP, AND GOT CHEERED UP. LIKE GOING SOMEWHERE THINKING YOU WERE GOING TO HOOK SOMEBODY UP AND WIND UP BEING HOOKED UP. THINKING THAT YOU’RE GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE AND ENCOURAGE SOMEBODY, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT SAME SOMEBODY WOUND UP ENCOURAGING YOU. THAT’S THE KIND OF PERSON ANGELA WAS. SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT SHE HAD BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE AND SHE NO LONGER BELONGED TO HERSELF, NOR DID SHE BELONG TO ANYBODY ELSE. SOME PEOPLE WILL PURCHASE YOU WITH
THEIR SYMPATHY OR THEIR PITY. THEY’LL BUY YOU AND TRY TO CONTROL YOU WITH THEIR “O POOR THING”. BUY YOU WITH THEIR WOE IS YOU ATTITUDE. MAKE YOU FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF AND GIVE YOU COUPONS TO GET DISCOUNT TICKETS TO A PITY PARTY. NO, ANGELA DIDN’T BELONG TO ANYBODY BUT GOD. SHE WOULDN’T TAKE WOODEN NICKLES OR LET YOU MAKE HER FEEL SORRY FOR HERSELF. NO SHE BELONGED TO GOD. SHE KNEW THAT GOD PURCHASED HER BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND SHE WILLINGLY ACCEPTED JESUS AS THE FULL PAYMENT FOR HER SUFFERING, FOR EVERY TRIAL, FOR HER PAIN AND YES, FOR HER SOUL. SUFFERING THAT IS PROTRACTED. I MEAN SUFFERING THAT LASTS A LONG TIME AND WON’T GO AWAY KIND OF SUFFERING, IS THE KIND OF SUFFERING THAT CAN TAKE THE OY OUT OF JOY. IT CAN DARKEN YOUR SPIRIT AND MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE DOING WHAT JOB’S WIFE TOLD HIM TO DO, “CURSE GOD AND DIE”. IT’S CALLED A THEODICY. MAKING SENSE OUT OF YOUR FAITH, WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO THRU GREAT SUFFERING. I TOLD HER I KNOW IT’S HAD TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO GO THROUGH ALL THAT YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH AND STILL FIND YOURSELF GOING THRU. IN THE HOSPITAL FOR MONTHS AT A TIME. OVER SEVERAL YEARS. SHE TOLD ME YES. SHE AGREED BUT THEN SHE SAID, BUT REV. I’M SOLD OUT.
BEING SOLD OUT IMPLIES THAT YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO SELL. WHEN YOU’RE SOLD OUT, THE DEVIL CAN’T STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY YOU, BECAUSE YOU’RE SOLD OUT. YOU’VE BEEN BOUGHT AND THERE’S NOTHING LEFT FOR THE DEVIL TO TAKE FROM YOU, NOTHING HE CAN CLAIM FROM YOU. SOLD OUT. HE CAN’T BUY YOU OR MAKE AN OFFER FOR WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT. BECAUSE YOU’VE SURRENDERED IT ALL, YOU’RE SOLD OUT. THE DEVIL WANTS TO BY US, BEING BOUGHT BY SEXUAL OR IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION. A FULL BELLY OR A SATISFIED EGO. BUYING THINGS OUR SOUL CAN’T AFFORD. (LIST SINS…) TAKING A CHECK THAT ONLY OUR SOUL CAN CASH. SELLING OURSELVES FOR THE WAGES OF SIN. BEING BOUGHT WITH THINGS THAT HAVE NO ETERNAL VALUE OR WORTH. PURCHASED WITH CURRENCY MADE BY THE DEVIL, THAT CAN ONLY BE CASHED OR ONLY REDEEMABLE IN HELL. I SAID ANGELA, YOU’RE SOLD OUT, SHE’D SAY SOLD OUT. GOD BOUGHT EVERYTHING, SHE’D SAY HE GOT IT ALL. ANYTHING LEFT FOR THE DEVIL TO GET. SHE’D LAUGH AND SAY NOTHING LEFT. I’M SOLD OUT. I’D LAUGH AND SAY SO YOU’RE ALL IN. AND SHE’D SAY YEAH REV. I’M ALL IN. NOTHING LEFT TO SELL. I’D
ASK HER, YOU PUT IT ALL ON THE ALTAR. SHE’D LAUGH AND SAY EVERY BIT. I’M ALL IN… SUPPOSE HE COMES WITH A SPECIAL DEAL! SHE SAID, IT’S TOO LATE. I SAID WHY, AND SHE’D SAY, BECAUSE I’M SOLD OUT, I’M ALL IN. I AM NO LONGER MY OWN. I’M ALL IN. WHAT DOES ALL IN MEAN, SOMEBODY MIGHT ASK. IN WHAT? IN CHRIST, IN HIS HANDS, IN HIS ARMS, IN HIS SPIRIT, IN HIS WORD, IN HIS NAME. I’M ALL IN. THE BIBLE SAID, WE WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE, WE ARE NOT OUR OWN. WHEN YOU’RE ALL IN, YOU’RE SAYING THAT YOU SOLD EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAD LEFT AND THERE’S NOTHING LEFT TO SELL. YOU PUT UP EVERYTHING AND GOD HAS BOUGHT YOU OUT. I BESEECH YE BRETHREN BY THE MERCIES OF GOD THAT YOU PRESENT YOUR BODY AS A LIVING SACRIFICE… GOD WANTS IT ALL. ALL OR NOTHING. SOME PEOPLE HOLD BACK. THEY PUT OUT THEIR GOOD STUFF, BUT THE REAL GOOD STUFF, SOMETIMES FOLK WILL HOLD BACK. FLEA MARKET, KEPT TAKING STUFF BACK. I KNEW I HAD A LOT OF STUFF I NEEDED TO GET RID OF, BUT EVERY SO OFTEN, I KEPT TAKING THINGS BACK. THE
GOOD STUFF, THE STUFF I THOUGHT I COULD USE LATER. THAT WOULD COME IN HANDY LATER, THAT I WOULD NEED LATER. WE HOLD BACK FROM GOD, OUR BEST EFFORTS, OUR GREATEST COMMITMENT, OUR MOST QUALITY TIME, OUR DEEPEST DEVOTION. WE HOLD BACK THINGS FROM GOD. WE HOLD BACK OUR GREATEST PRAISE, OUR BEST PRAISE. TO GIVE TO OUR CHILDREN AT GRADUATION. NUBIA’S GRADUATION OR TO OUR FAVORITE TEAM. WE HOLD BACK OUR BEST TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE AND INSTEAD OF BEING ALL IN, WE TRY TO BE MOSTLY IN, OR IN TO A DEGREE, BUT NOT ALL IN. ANGELA WAS ALL IN. SO OFTEN, IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL, WE LET OURSELVES BE PURCHASED. WE LET OUR SOUL BE BOUGHT, FOR PHYSICAL GRATIFICATION OR TEMPORARY SATISFACTION. WE LET OUR RIGHT TO ETERNAL LIFE BE BOUGHT WITH FEELINGS OF SUPERIORITY OR VENGEANCE. LET OURSELVES BE BOUGHT. BUT ANGELA DIDN’T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT TO SELL. SHE WAS SOLD OUT AND ALL IN. WHEN GOD MOVES IN, IT’S ALL OR NOTHING. WHEN GOD MOVES IN, HE’S ALL IN. JESUS PAID IT ALL. WHEN GOD GIVES US THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE BECOME HIS AND HE BUYS EVERYTHING WE HAVE. HE PAYS FOR ALL OF OUR SIN, PAYS FOR OUR BAD HABITS, AND SHORTCOMINGS. HE PAYS FOR ALL OF OUR MISTAKES AND MESSES
WE CAUSED. JESUS PAID IT ALL. AND NOW WE HAVE TO LIVE OUR LIVES LIKE WE’RE SOLD OUT. ARE YOU ALL IN. ARE YOU SOLD OUT. ONE OF MY LASTING MEMORIES OF ANGELA WAS OF THE LAST TIME I SAW HER IN CHURCH. I SAW HER PUSH TO PRAISE! THE SPIRIT GOT HIGH AND GOD STARTED MOVING THROUGHOUT THE SANCTUARY AND THERE WAS ANGELA, TRYING TO GET UP. IT WAS LIKE SHE WAS SAYING,” I, I GOT A PRAISE, I GOT A PRAISE AND I GOT TO LET IT OUT, I GOT A PRAISE” AND SHE KEPT PUSHING, PUSHING AGAINST THAT PEW TO STAND. SHE WAS PUSHING TO PRAISE. SO OFTEN IN LIFE WHEN WE GO THROUGH GREAT TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, SICKNESS AND SUFFERING, THE DEVIL WILL TRY TO DISCOURAGE YOU AND YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUSH TO PRAISE. WHEN HE TRIES TO HOLD YOU DOWN OR MAKE YOU FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF AND OR MAKE YOU FEEL THAT GOD HAS GIVEN UP ON YOU. WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A LOW PLACE AND THE DEVIL IS TRYING TO STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY YOUR FAITH IN GOD, YOUR PRAISE IT’S TIME LIKE THAT YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUSH TO PRAISE. PUSH2PRAISE! TELL THE DEVIL HE’S A LIAR AND PUSH TO PRAISE. PRAISE HIM ANYHOW AND ANYWAY.
ANGELA TAUGHT US BY HER EXAMPLE AND THROUGH HER SUFFERING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SOLD OUT AND ALL IN. SHE KNEW SHE HAD BEEN BOUGHT WITH A GREAT PRICE AND SHE WAS NOT HER OWN. SHE SHOWED US THAT SOMETIMES WE’LL HAVE TO PUSH TO PRAISE. LAKYRA, TAHAKI,… PAUL, MICHAEL, ARE YOU SOLD OUT? ARE YOU ALL IN? YOU’VE BEEN BOUGHT…