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Saturday 31 May 2014

Spiritual Blindness

A farmer purchases an old, run-down, abandoned farm with plans to turn it into a thriving enterprise. The fields are grown over with weeds, the farmhouse is falling apart, and the fences are collapsing all around. During his first day of work, the town preacher stops by to bless the man's work, saying, "May you and God work together to make this the farm of your dreams!" A few months later, the preacher stops by again to call on the farmer. Lo and behold, it's like a completely different place -- the farm house is completely rebuilt and in excellent condition, there are plenty of cattle and other livestock happily munching on feed in well-fenced pens, and the fields are filled with crops planted in neat rows. "Amazing!" the preacher says. "Look what God and you have accomplished together!" "Yes, Reverend," says the farmer, "but remember what the farm was like when God was working it alone!"

The story of Bartimaeus is a story about the power of human faith and positive thinking. Faith shapes how we interact with one another and the world at large. Several attempts have been made throughout history to narrowly define who belongs in God's Kingdom. These attempts were also used to keep social outcasts and the powerless in line. For example, many times when African-American slaves came to Christ they had to declare that their decision had nothing to do with the desire to be free from slavery. God places a very high value on the marginalized people of the world. In the Book of Jeremiah, He promised to gather them up -and that promise was fulfilled by giving sight to Bartimaeus. We are called to get to know people and what they REALY want and need so we can help them solve their underlying problems. We need new eyes to see the invisible ones as God sees them. Even in physical blindness, Bartimaeus was able to see what is often not seen by other eyes that function quite normally. Bartimaeus had listened to the testimony of the sacred Scriptures and to what they had to say about Jesus and what He would do at Jerusalem to gain forgiveness and entry into Paradise for all sin-tainted human beings.

The story is also an explanation of how an interruption conveys a promise, a risk and hope for the future. Bartimaeus' life was interrupted when his sight was restored. He went from being a beggar to answering the call to be one of the "people of the way". We also meet Christ when we tell the Gospel story in which Jesus teaches, preaches and calls people to discipleship (like Bartimaeus was called when he was healed). This is a story of seeing with the eyes of faith-dimly at first and needing correction, but focused on the source of light and life. Bartimaeus, like other people who sought healing from Jesus, saw himself in humility as utterly dependent on God, the only hope. Bartimaeus is an example of the faith that comes from hearing the word of God. Jesus' simple words, "Your faith has made you well" were simple in nature, but powerful enough to transform someone who is broken into someone who can do much for Christ and others.

In coming to Christ for healing, we should look to Him as the promised Messiah. He encourages our hope that if we come to Him, He will grant our requests. In coming to Him, we must cast off the garment of self-sufficiency to free ourselves from every weight and sin. When He grants our requests, we must continue to follow Him, to honour Him and receive instructions from Him.

There are three types of blindness:

1. Physical

2. Spiritual blindness (OR the blindness of disciples)

3. Blindness of our generation to the needs of the world.

Gaining one's sight seeing again is the way of Jesus. It involves journeying with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the place of death and resurrection, of endings and beginnings. To see that is to have one's eyes opened. We begin our journey of faith by coming humbly to Christ and admitting our sinful lives. By doing so, we are admitting that we are poor in spirit. We want Christ to open our eyes to him like he opened Bartimaeus' eyes. We need to recharge ourselves with Christ's light and share that light with others.

Can we se ourselves in Bartimaeus? Or do we think we are better that he was? We are all beggars-blind to Christ, economically-challenged, powerless, silenced by our fears, short on inheritance by our unclean spirit and eventually quieted by death. Jesus, Son of David, takes care of the silencing powers that deprive us of our status before God. Placing our faith in Jesus brings both wholeness and light. It gives us freedom to spring up, follow Christ on the way, and to share His presence and peace with others. Mark 10 is all about what it means to be in God's Kingdom. What does it look and feel like to have God's rule in your interior life, so that your outside actions have roots that can support them?

Our lives can look clean and neat on the outside, but be a mess on the inside. God wants to clean us so that our internal lives can be the good soil that allows the outside to flourish. Some people don't pray because they are afraid God will change their lives. We go to church because we want God to change our lives. The courage we have comes from God.

There is an interesting contrast here between Bartimaeus and the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-31. The rich young ruler did not want to give up what he had in order to gain eternal life. Bartimaeus was willing and eager to shed everything to become spiritually sighted. The rich young ruler, like many people today, was spiritually blind and stayed that way. Bartimaeus was both physically and spiritually blind, but he was healed. Jesus' miracles are seen more about growing in faith than with curing spiritual blindness. He picks us up from where we have fallen and redirects us along the way. This process can be described in many ways. We are always moving from spiritual darkness to spiritual light, from darkness of faith to faithfulness. Arrogance is the root of our spiritual blindness. We need to cast off the cloak of arrogance and put on the cloak of humility and faith.

The question "What do you want" is God's way of asking us if we really want to see who we are. Will we want Him more than comfort, avoidance of pain, or the pretence of control? If not, we will remain spiritually blind and begging from what will never satisfy us. Mercy= undeserved pardon, replacement of judgment with grace and acceptance. In Biblical terminology, clothes represented casting off the old so you can get ready for the new. Seeing leads to the responsibility to repent, to forgive, to follow Jesus, to suffer in new ways, to have a soft heart, to trust as a child, to clear any priorities other than God (something the rich young ruler refused to do), and to demonstrate God's commitment unto death. We are all in some type of need. There are ways and times for all of us in which we are blind. We have all cried out for help and mercy in some way.

Bartimaeus is also an example of the power of prayer. Prayer means coming before God with empty hands and opening ourselves to His merciful presence and to what He wants to give us-namely, His mercy. Jesus wants to answer our prayers because He wants to answer them. In turn, we must let Him look at us and let ourselves be prayed for by Him. Jesus could not perform miracles unless the people who received the miracles had faith. Faith means awareness of God and a relationship with God. We need to be like Bartimaeus. We need to become blind so that we can see ourselves and those around us as well.

Everyone has a blind spot; namely, our area of awareness and areas where growth can still take place. Bartimaeus is an example of how we can get help with our own blind spots by doing these three things:

1. Listening

2. Taking initiative

3. Being softer

Bartimaeus also serves as an example of those who have shut the eyes of their minds to Christ's calls for repentance.

To move from suffering to faith, we MUST capitalize on the opportunities God gives us. These opportunities only become opportunities when we embrace them as opportunities. Bartimaeus embraced the opportunity to be cured from both physical blindness and spiritual blindness-the rich young ruler did not. We must also minimize the negative voices that clatter around us. We must not judge people by what we see on the outside. We must also exercise the faith that is available to us. If you ask Jesus for something, you must be prepared to follow Him. The blessings of the Kingdom are for those who, in faith, persistent faith, cry out to God in mercy. How many people in the history of the church have so wittingly thrown off the cloak of their past life to put on the new cloak before they knew what faith could do for them? Jesus' restoring of Bartimaeus' sight reaffirmed the salvation implied by the faith which prompted Bartimaeus' request.

Those who have authority are those whom people have learned to respect and honour because they have been served by them, in one way or another. This is where authority lies within the church. Of course Jesus himself is our great example, especially when he said, "For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many ". (Mark 10:45)

The process of becoming a disciple involves three steps:

1. Admitting that we don't know the answer to the most profound issues of life, and we must ask for help.

2. Taking heat

3. Following Jesus

The healing of Bartimaeus was used as a miracle to help the disciples understand their own blindness and feed the flame of their faith. This mirrors both faith that breaks through blindness and God's mercy. God places mirrors in our lives so that we can see ourselves, fan our faith, and share in the fellowship of Christ's sufferings.

Faith is a matter of a relationship with God in Christ, so that through faith a believer is related to the source of life, to the author of life who can restore wholeness to broken lives and fulfill our hopes of eternal life. This allows us to begin a life with Him forever, beginning now in the faith relationship. The story of Bartimaeus is a living memory of an event that deeply impressed the people who witnessed the miracle. To be on the way with Jesus leads followers into a deeper understanding of the Way of God. To come to know God is to "see" things one never "saw" before. Bartimaeus gained physical sight and spiritual sight.

Where and how is there blindness in us? What hood do we wear that hides our faces from each other and from those whom God names as our neighbours? What cloak do we wear that covers up our own humanity and keeps us from hearing what God desires for all of us? For us it is not about poverty, race, discrimination, oppression, starvation or illness of some sort. Instead it might be our addiction to busyness that blinds us to opportunities to care. It might be the subtle arrogance that we pull over our heads that leaves little room for new learning or understanding or seeing life and world from a large perspective. It might be the affluence that we wrap around our lives that has a tendency to stifle both genuine gratitude and compassion. We need to ask ourselves these questions:

1. When and how are we blind like Bartimaeus?

2. What hood do we need to push back from our face in order to see?

3. What cloak do we need to unwrap from around our lives?

4. How might we need to stumble towards God?


In the end, this story tells us that we are not human until we are human together, and that blindness is not just about our eyes, but also about our hearts and minds.

 

 

Saturday 24 May 2014

John 14:15-21 Jesus’ Final Instructions, Part 2

What would qualify a person as a “real Christian?” What daily practices would they have to observe? What would they have to know? These questions and others like them would be interesting topics for an information session or a class for new believers. There is one basic thing that each and every Christian must have to be a real Christian, and Jesus mentioned it in the reading we heard from John 14:15-21, and it is the Holy Spirit.

John 14:15-21 is another part of Jesus’ farewell discourse to his disciples. Jesus has just told the disciples that he is going to be crucified. Now he is telling them that he will not leave them alone because he will send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will guide them and remind them of everything Jesus said, taught and did. In that sense, Jesus will be with them forever.

The disciples saw the risen Christ and knew the truth about Jesus and his relationship to them. They would live because Jesus lived. In other words, Jesus would live on because of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit would live in the disciples just like the Holy Spirit lives in all believers. Because the Holy Spirit lives in all believers, they will show their love for Jesus by keeping all of his commandments. By keeping his commandments and doing Jesus’ work in our world, the Holy Spirit and Jesus live in all believers.

The Holy Spirit’s role in our lives is the same role the Holy Spirit had in the lives of the disciples. He is a helper, teacher, guide and encourager. He continues to do Jesus’ work. He gives us gifts that are based on the character of Christ. In return, we are to work in the Spirit and obey God.  

John 14:15-21 marks a change in the relationship between believers and the world. Until this point, Jesus has defined the world to include all of humanity that is opposed to him because of sin. Now, there arises a difference between the world and those who believe in Jesus. Both groups are opposed to each other.

Those who believe in Jesus and his death and resurrection are inseparable from Jesus, especially through the Holy Spirit. We will see Jesus in heaven, but in the meantime we have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit allows believers to see Jesus even though he is no longer with us. Since we “see” Jesus, it stands to reason that he can “see” us. Therefore, he can see whether or not we are obeying him. As we continue to obey him, our spiritual sight gets stronger.

The Holy Spirit came into the world just like Jesus came into the world, the only difference being that the Holy Spirit could not come until Jesus completed his work of salvation. Just like Jesus is under the authority of God, the Holy Spirit is under the authority of Jesus. Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit are the same person, but they are also three different people at the same time. They are like the three sides of a triangle, hence the term “Trinity.”

The Holy Spirit will always stand beside God’s people. The Holy Spirit is referred to as “the Spirit of truth” because truth is part of the nature of the Holy Spirit’s mission. The Holy Spirit testifies to God’s truth and brings people to the truth through conviction that leads to repentance and faith.

When the Holy Spirit is present, Jesus is present. When Jesus is present, God is present. John 14:15-21 helps us to understand the Christian life and God’s will for our lives. It allows us to see things as Christ sees them. The Trinity teaches us to love unconditionally and respect boundaries and roles. John’s Gospel sees love as the key to following Jesus. 

At this point in our church year we are getting ready for Pentecost. During these weeks between Easter and Pentecost we have been describing what it means to be a Christian and a church. Jesus’ resurrection has changed us into a people who are living beyond the power of death. The Scripture readings we have heard since Easter Sunday are full of references to the Holy Spirit and the work the Holy Spirit will do among believers. In John 14:12, Jesus said that the disciples would do greater works than he did. That is because Jesus in his human body could only be in one place at one time, whereas the Holy Spirit can dwell within all believers, wherever they are, all the time. To do this, Jesus said in verses 14 to 16 that the disciples would need prayer, obedience and the Holy Spirit. The greater works referred to are the proclamation of the fact of deliverance and the hope and promise of salvation.

God wants to reveal himself to us and he reveals himself to us through Jesus, but only if our hearts belong to Jesus. That’s why Jesus revealed himself to only a select few people after his resurrection. He knew that there were a lot of people who refused to believe that he rose from the dead. In other words, their hearts did not belong to Jesus.

Loving Jesus means wanting him because he is desirable. It means admiring him because he is infinitely admirable. It means treasuring him because he is very valuable. It means enjoying him because he is enjoyable. It means being satisfied with all that he is because he is infinitely satisfying. It is the response of the reawakened human soul to all that is true and good and beautiful and embodied in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is just like Jesus, so following the Holy Spirit is no different from following Jesus. The only difference is that the Holy Spirit’s leadership is invisible instead of physical. The Holy Spirit is the exact image of both Jesus and God.

No one can produce the love we need to do God’s work except the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us obey Jesus’ instructions because it gives us revelation from God’s word. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are controlled by the Holy Spirit, he changes us and his love flows from us. This lifestyle of obedience will increase our trust in God. We will be able to commit to obeying God, and our study of the Scriptures will be consistent. 

The Holy Spirit can transform us once we understand it. It will help us to model the type of Christian behaviour that we want to teach other people. If our behaviour is unbelievable, we will deceive ourselves in the long run. When the Holy Spirit changes us, we will be able to withstand all of life’s problems. We will have peace in our hearts. We will have hope when we are hurting. This will only be possible when Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the centre of our hearts and thoughts.

No man-made idols will be able to withstand the truth of God’s love if we open our hearts and invite the Holy Spirit to live in us. Money will not make us happy, because the Holy Spirit teaches that happiness can’t be bought. Power and control are not important because the Holy Spirit teaches us that truth, kindness and love are more important.

When the Holy Spirit is in us, it shows that we love Jesus. We must always ask ourselves what the condition of our love for God is. How do we respond to God’s love for us by loving others? We often think of God’s love as being unconditional, but this passage from John’s Gospel concludes with two conditions for receiving God’s love-keeping Jesus’ commandments and loving Jesus. These two conditions are so interdependent that Jesus binds them together as if they were one. When we love Jesus, we will obey his commandments and we will not find them burdensome. On the contrary, we will obey them joyfully, because the Holy Spirit inspires us to go into the world and share God’s love, even if the world can’t or won’t accept this message. The world doesn’t know the Holy Spirit of truth and love yet, but if we allow God’s truth and love to speak through us, the world will know this life-changing, life-saving message.

 Bibliography
 
1.      Exegesis for John 14:15-21. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
2.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)

3.      Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on John (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010)

4.      Frederikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985)

5.      White, J.E. in Holman Concise Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1998)

6.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible Software package.

7.      Rick Renner, “Jesus’ Last Lesson for the Disciples”. Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

8.      Dr. Charles Stanley, “A Lifestyle of Obedience.” Retrieved from www.intouch,org

9.      Dr. Charles Stanley, “Our Constant Companion.” Retrieved from www.intouch.org

10.  Dick Inness, “Show Me-Don’t Tell Me.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org

11.  Jim Cymbala, “The Power to Love.” Retrieved from www.billygraham.org

12.  Pastor Ken Klaus, “Taking God’s Hand.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org

13.  John Piper, “If Anyone Loves Me He Will Keep My Word.” Retrieved from www.desiringgod.org

14.  Dr. Ed Young, “Do You Love Me?” ”. Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

15.  Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, Sixth Sunday of Easter (A).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

16.  Lectionary Homiletics, Vol. XXV, No. 3 (St. Paul, MN: Luther Seminary; April/May 2014)

17.  Johnathan Shively, “Evangelectionary for Sunday, May 25, 2014.” Retrieved from www.evangelismconnections.com

18.  The Rev. Jason Cox, “Paul: Appealing or Appalling?” Retrieved from www.episcopaldigitialnetwork.com

 

 

 

 

John 14:15-21 Our One True Comforter


Good morning boys and girls!

Do any of you have a special toy or stuffed animal or blanket? Why are they special?

Boys and girls, all of us have something special that comforts us. For you, it’s a special toy or a favourite stuffed animal or blanket. For many of us adults, it’s something like a doughnut and cup of coffee from Tim Horton’s! J

The one thing that all of us as believers have is the Holy Spirit. It guides and comforts us, especially when we are sad or having problems. Even the disciples had the Holy Spirit, and they were with Jesus since the start of his ministry.

The disciples were sad because Jesus was going to leave them. He was their friend and teacher. He told them not to be sad, because he was going to send them another helper who would remind them of everything he did, said and taught. That helper’s name was the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would help the disciples grow the church by helping them to do God’s work in the world.

Boys and girls, we can also have the Holy Spirit. All we have to do is believe in Jesus and confess him as our Saviour. If we do, he will send us the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit will help us to do God’s work in our world. That work can be anything from caring for the sick, helping around the house, or telling other people about Jesus. Are you ready to help Jesus?

Let us bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for your love. Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for us. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us. Help us to teach, guide and comfort others, just like you teach, guide and comfort us. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

Saturday 17 May 2014

John 14:1-14 Jesus’ Final Instructions, Part 1

“Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know and the way you know.”

Isn’t that comforting? It is not surprising that these words are often read at funerals. Jesus said these words to his disciples shortly before his arrest and crucifixion. He knew that they would be upset by his death and ascension, and he wanted to comfort them.

These words are part of his farewell discourse as written in John 13-17. Jesus was preparing his disciples for his departure. Jesus came to earth from his father, and now he was preparing to go back to his father’s house. It is the same house all believers will go to one day.

These same words comforted the early Christians, especially when they were being persecuted. They also give us comfort today. When something terrible happens, we often as “Where is God?” This is only natural. Jesus asks us to trust him in the midst of our confusion. The special comfort is to believe and trust in Jesus. When life gives us hard knocks, we can let go of uncertainties and believe that Jesus has prepared a place for us in our heavenly home because we can trust him.

The phrase “Do not let your hearts be troubled” might seem a little ironic to us as we gather for worship. After all, whose heart isn’t troubled? All of us have had turmoil in our lives at one time or another. It doesn’t matter if the turmoil is caused by problems within our family, at work, among our friends or even within our churches. I know, because my mother and I have been dealing with some personal trouble this week. My brother had to undergo surgery in Edmonton to deal with a couple of blockages in his veins. Needless to say, it has been a couple of difficult days for us, but we have been praying to God, and God has been with us. I’m pleased to report that that the surgery went very well and my brother is recovering nicely. 

Jesus has already made many dwelling places for us here on earth. Some of these places are places of worship such as this building. Here we can be unburdened from past wrongs. Here we can be ourselves and get help carrying life’s burdens. It is at times like these and in places like this building where God shows us unconditional love, mercy and surprises.

These places are tailor-made for all of us, both as individuals and as a faith community. They remind me of the words of a song that was popular in the late 1970’s. It was recorded by Peter Frampton and is entitled “I’m In You” It describes how Jesus comforts us here on earth. The first verse goes like this:

I don’t care where I go

When I’m with you

When I cry you don’t laugh

‘cause you know me

I’m in you, you’re in me

I’m in you, you’re in me

‘cause you gave me the love

Love that I never had

Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament teachings that there is only one way to God and one way to see God. Jesus’ ministry and character reveal and reflect God’s character of love, forgiveness and grace. God works through Jesus and he works through us thanks to the Holy Spirit that lives in us. We, like the disciples, can do even greater works than Jesus did thanks to the Holy Spirit.

The disciples could do works that would be greater than the works Jesus did because they could go out into the world. Each and every one of us can also do great works because we can go out into the world and do what Jesus and the disciples did. The disciples had the privilege of working for God and knowing the purpose for their lives. We can also have the same privilege and purpose. Jesus will guide us in the direction he wants us to go. He will help us to “keep our eyes on the prize.” 

The reason why Jesus went away was to secure our future. He prepared a heavenly home for us. Jesus is the only way to heaven. Most people today, if asked why they think God will let them into heaven, would say that God will let them into heaven because they try to be good and go to church. They also believe that if their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds then God will let them into heaven. Man’s pride believes that God somehow owes him a place in heaven or eternal life as a reward for good deeds, earnest effort or sincerity. We can’t earn our way to heaven. Belonging to a particular church or a particular denomination won’t get us into heaven. Jesus is the only way to salvation. Jesus is the only way to heaven.

We, like the disciples, dread death and the separation it creates. Death and separation are Satan’s stronghold, and the only remedy is faith in an unshakeable God. This faith will help us to do God’s work in our world. When we pray to God in faith, we glorify God. When we glorify God, we can do great things for him. Praying to God in faith is the cure for anxiety. We pray because we believe in prayer. Prayer is the result of our deepest belief in God. In order for us to believe in God and do his work in our world, we have to have intimacy with God.

 Sometimes we are afraid to pray to God because we are afraid that God will turn down our requests. Prayer is not about getting God to do what we want him to do. It is about releasing God’s will on earth. God even said “no” to Jesus when Jesus prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus had to submit to God’s will, and we must obey God’s will. That is the only way God can be glorified in life.

Jesus is exalted by God to the highest place in the universe. That is why everyone has to bow down before him. That is why Jesus said that no one can come to God except by going through him. Jesus bridged the gap between God and man that was created by the sins of Adam and Eve. In return, we are to spread the Good News of salvation.

Jesus and the Father are one. Jesus is the perfect representation of both our heavenly Father and our heavenly home. In fact, one reason why Jesus came to earth was to show us the Father. Jesus showed us what God is like and what God likes. God likes to be glorified and when our prayers glorify him, they will be answered in his own time and in his own way. Our prayers glorify him when they are offered in Jesus’ name. Jesus will return one day to take us to our heavenly home. Will he find us doing what he told us to do, or will he find us doing nothing?

If we follow Jesus, we must obey his instructions. We have to surrender our way of doing things, even if it means suffering for his sake. We have to trust that his promises will come true, even of other people say that Jesus is no longer relevant. He is the way to eternal life even when we are surrounded by death. We must keep our eyes focused on heaven so we won’t be distracted by the things of the world. In other words, we must have an eternal view of life.  

The way to God means following the narrow road to salvation instead of the wider road to damnation. The wide road is travelled by people who follow the ways of the world. The narrow road is travelled by people of faith. Sometimes we don’t know what lies ahead on the narrow road, but we can be thankful that Jesus has laid out the steps we have to follow. He won’t lead us astray. He will provide for our needs. He will shape our character and define how we are to live godly lives. He will show us the words, deeds, characters, and attitudes we are to have in life’s joys, sorrows and difficult moments.

Those who follow the narrow road will rejoice when Jesus returns because they have been redeemed by his blood. His return will fulfill our hopes and dreams. Those who follow the wide road will mourn because his return will bring their judgment. They did not believe that he died and rose again for their sins, so they are doomed to spend eternity in hell. If we follow Jesus, our hearts will not be troubled.

How many of you remember a children’s TV show called “The Friendly Giant?” It ran on the CBC Television Network from 1958 to 1985. At the start of each show, the Friendly Giant said that he would “hurry over first and go in the back door so I can lower the drawbridge down and open the big front doors for you.” He would then arrange the furniture for his guests. In other words, he prepared his home for visitors. Similarly, Jesus went to heaven to prepare a place for us to go to when we go to our heavenly home. Going home fulfills the longing we have for God. Only God can fulfill the emptiness of our souls.

Thanks be to God, AMEN

Bibliography

1.      “The Friendly Giant” Retrieved from www.en.wikipewdia.org

2.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible (Brentwood, TN: Worth Publishing; 2013)

3.      Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on John (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010)

4.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.

5.      Frederikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985)

6.      Radmacher, E.D.; Allen, R.B. & House, H.W.: Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1999)

7.      Barry, J.D., Grigoni, M.R.; Heiser, M.S.; Custis, M; Mangum, D.; & Whitehead, M.M.: Faithlife Study Bible (Oak Harbour, WA: Logos Bible Software; 2012)

8.      Os Hillman, “Father, Son and Holy Scriptures?” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

9.      Pastor Jack Hibbs, “Words to the Wise Devotional, John 14:1-3”. Retrieved from wttw@calvarycch.org

10.  Selwyn Hughes, “Christianity is Unique” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

11.  Jim Burns, “Good Intention, Wrong Destination” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

12.  Pastor Bob Coy, “Eternally Covered” Retrieved from www.activeword.org

13.  Calvin Aardma, “Revealing the Father” Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net

14.  Anne Graham Lotz, “He Will Be Looking for You” Retrieved from www.angelministries.org

15.  Berni Dymet, “Boarding Pass” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

16.  Pastor Bob Coy, “Eyes on Eternity” Retrieved from www.activeword.org

17.  Gwen Smith, “Don’t Say No” Retrieved from www.girlfriendsingod.com

18.  Reginald Smith, “Trust Me” Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net

19.  Skip Hertzig, “Purpose” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

20.  Joni Eareckson Tada, “Word of the Father” Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org

21.  Anne Graham Lotz, “God Reaches Down to Man” Retrieved from www.angelministries.org

22.  Exegesis for John 14:1-14. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

23.  Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 5th Sunday of Easter (A), May 18, 2014.” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

24.  Rev. Grace Imathiu, UMC, “Room Enough for All.” Retrieved from www.day1,org

25.  Lectionary Homiletics, Volume XXV, Number 3 (St. Paul, MN: Luther Seminary; April/May 2014)

Saturday 10 May 2014

Exodus 20:1-21 The Love of God and the Ten Commandments


The Ten Commandments define the life God wants us to have with him and with each other. Every aspect of our lives is to show that we belong to God. The Ten Commandments are minimum standards for a just society and are the framework for how we are to live our lives. We are to reflect God’s righteousness and justice by obeying God’s Commandments. They are the building blocks for a functioning society. These rules will never be out of date. These rules will never change. These rules will never budge because they are eternally the same.

The phrase “I am the Lord Your God” is mentioned twelve times in Exodus 20:1-21. It emphasizes his authority and his relationship with his people. They show the love he has for us. God knows that it will be almost impossible for us to perfectly obey these commandments, so he can heal the broken relationship when we break one of the Ten Commandments.

These rules deal with our relationship with God. For example, God is a jealous God. That is why he does not want his people to worship other gods. He loves us so much that he wants the very best for us, and the very best for us is worshipping the one true God. God loves us so much that he wants us to keep his name sacred. That’s why we are told not to take his name in vain. God loves us so much that he wants us to set aside one day a week to worship him. That is why he tells us to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

These rules also deal with our relationships with other people. Honouring our parents means loving them as much as God loves us. God wants us to love one another as much as he loves us. If we do, we will not kill, commit adultery, steal, covet our neighbour’s goods or lie. Our love for God will bring us to our knees because of our need to be loved. If we obey God, it shows our love for him and it is good for us as well.

These rules also deal with our ethics of life. God sees that the issues addressed by the Ten Commandments are wrong because they go against moral laws. God wants us to respect the hazards of sin. Appropriate fear of God makes us reverent, obedient and worshipful so that we will not sin. We will obey the Commandments because our commitment to God gives us an overwhelming desire to obey him. In fact, we are required to obey God when we hear his voice. The Ten Commandments force us to take responsibility for our actions. They are to be part of our response to what Jesus did for us on the cross.

God is a mystery. He has hidden many things from us. These hidden things combined with our sinful human nature to create a gap between us and him. Throughout the Old Testament several of God’s prophets such as Moses tried to close this gap. The only person who has successfully bridged this gap is Jesus. Jesus is the mediator between us and God. God tries to restore our relationship with him through the Ten Commandments and the two Great Commandments. We can’t ignore this relationship. If it is to be an exclusive relationship, God must be our number one priority. The Ten Commandments are the required response of a grateful people.

We are grateful, but we are not perfect. That’s okay, because God sees us through the eyes of love-the same love that caused him to send his son Jesus to pay the price for our sins. God hopes that we will look at others through the same eyes of love. We are not perfect, but God has prepared a place for us with his saints.

Bibliography
 
       1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)

2.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible Software package.

3.      Dunnam, m. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 2: Exodus (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1987)

4.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.: 2006)

5.      Radmacher, E.D.; Allen, R.B. & House, H.W.: Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2009)

6.      Robert L. Allen, “Rules for Living.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com

7.      King Duncan, “Responsible Living.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com

8.      King Duncan, “Etched in Stone.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday 3 May 2014

Romans 12:1-8, Colossians 3:12, Romans 16:1-27 Together We’re Better

Several years ago, when I was working for a local lumber mill, the company had a contest where the employees were encouraged to come up with a slogan that portrayed the company’s mission. The slogan was to be used on all of the company’s promotional material. The winning entry was “Together We’re Better”, and it reflected the employees’ desire to work together to produce top-quality products.

Christianity can use the same motto, because together as Christians we can go a long way to fulfilling God’s call in our world. In Romans 12:1-8, Paul tells us about the internal life of the Christian community and its relationship to the surrounding world. In Colossians 3:12, he goes on to tell us how our Christian life is transformed into a life of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We are to adopt these qualities, but we can’t do it on our own. As we surrender our lives to God’s control, he changes us so that our lives become a reflection of Christ, thus exemplifying each of these qualities. This gives us a spirit of submission in the fear of God.

Jesus is the reason we have been forgiven of our sins. He is the author of our salvation. Forgiveness is just the beginning. The Christian life is a journey in which we take thousands of steps to become more like Jesus.

God is never pleased when someone says, “I love Jesus, but I don’t need the church”. No Christian can walk alone in his or her faith journey. We need each other and should serve and support each other with love and gladness. Christians are part of one body-the body of Christ. Each Christian has a part to play in that body, and if one Christian doesn’t perform his or her function to the best of their ability, the entire body loses its effectiveness. Our unity is built on the Church’s body of truth-the Scriptures. They tell us that we are not to live independently of one another, but dependently, as members of a body. We have a hunger to belong-a hunger that can only be satisfied by our new life in Christ. We need each other. Just as eyes can’t provide hearing and ears can’t provide sight, we provide for the rest of the body the gifts which others lack.  

Unfortunately, even the best of families have conflict, and the Christian body is no exception. Jacob and Esau did not get along. King Saul tried to kill David. Paul wanted nothing to do with his former traveling companion Mark. The New Testament is full of advice on resolving difficulties, but it can be summed up in this three-step process. First, be factual. Relationships grounded in the truth are helpful to all, but not all truth is ours to tell. Truth told in confidence must be kept in confidence. Also, truth must be told at the right time and in the right way. Second, be flexible. It will be a happier day when we stop demanding perfection from others, especially when we ourselves are far from perfect. Finally, be forgiving. Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you have with one another. Forgive as the Lord forgives us.

We are what we are by the grace of God. As such, we are to be transparent vessels of God’s anointing. We are to dress in his robes of righteousness and his countenance of glory. We are called to a different standard of living. We are never going to be able to wear the uniform of the world without realizing that underneath it we also wear our relationship with Jesus Christ. It means that there will be times when we will not fit in with other crowds…when we will look different…unusual…odd.

That’s OK, because whether they know it or not, the world is echoing what the Apostle Peter says. “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people”. We are actually fulfilling what Paul encouraged us to do: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed”. We are only accidentally in this world. We are really part of the Body of Christ. We are part of the people who are transformed by the renewing of our minds. The ways of the world, the way the world judges and evaluates things are not the way things really are. And that is precisely Paul’s point.

We are called to look at the world with different eyes-the eyes of Christ, because as Christians we are called to be the eyes, ears, hands and feet of Christ in our world. We are to do what we can to save others’ lives-physically and spiritually. We are called to be witnesses through our testimony-both verbal and non-verbal. Both types of testimony must be clear, visible and consistent. Paul calls us to live our lives not by conforming to the the standards of this age, but by allowing ourselves to be changed and live by Christ’s standards. We must rid ourselves of and forget about those things which have been an obstruction in our lives. We are to sacrifice our lives to God at all times and in all places. We have to go through spiritually what Jesus went through physically. We must die and be buried in order to experience a resurrection into a new, free, full life.

In Colossians 3:12, we are called to be meek, but we must always remember that meekness does not mean weakness. For example, consider the story of Moses. In Numbers 12:3, the Bible says that “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth”. He was meek, but he was not weak. He killed the Egyptian who beat his Hebrew brother unjustly. He fled to the desert and built a fortune over forty years. He faced Pharaoh and demanded “Let my people go!” He led the Israelites to the Promised Land. When God was so angry with Israel that he was going to kill all of the Israelites, Moses stood in intercession and said, “If you kill them, Lord, kill me also!” God changed his mind because of Moses. That’s meekness, but it’s anything but weakness.  

We are going to give our lives for something, whether it is a career, a sport, a hobby, fame or wealth. None of these will have lasting significance. Service to others is the pathway to real significance. It is through this that we discover the meaning of our lives. As we serve together in God’s family, our lives take on eternal importance. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:14, “I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less…because of what you are a part of”. God wants to use us to make a difference in his world. He wants to work through us. What matters is not the duration of our lives, but the donation of them. Not how long we lived, but how we lived.

At every critical turn in our lives, we must ask ourselves, “Does the fact that I am a follower of Jesus Christ have anything to say to me here?” If we do that, some good things are going to happen. First, we will occasionally find ourselves doing some “lowly” work. For example, on the night before he died, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet-and that was lowly, dirty work. Love sometimes stoops down in order to do the simplest things for the neediest people. If we follow Jesus, we will never again be able to look at someone else’s needs and say, “I don’t care. It’s not my problem. No sweat off of my back.” To be a follower of Jesus means looking out for other people, including our brothers and sisters in Christ. It also means looking for Jesus in the presence in other people, including our Christian brothers and sisters.

Second, Jesus will ask us to make some hard choices. These choices will shape and form the lives of boys, girls and adults, including all of us. They will touch hearts and change the lives of those who are here in church and those who have not even thought about becoming part of a community of faith. The present age is knocking at our doors. It is seeking comfort and counseling in these troubled times. It asks, “Can I find love in a world of hate? What can I do with this fear? What is the reason for the hope that lies within us?” God trusts us to answer these questions by helping each other and working together with our brothers and sisters in Christ to do his work in our hurting world. The body of Christ can accomplish great things when we work together to fulfill the mission and vision God has put before us.

As we read the Scriptures they reason with us. They tell us not to react instinctively to things, but to think them through. They give us a new framework for our understanding, a new context in which to reason. The more we draw our understanding from the Scriptures and learn to think God’s thoughts after Him, the more secure and the more effective our lives become.

 
Bibliography

1.      Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New American Standard Version

2.      Pastor Steve Molin, “Rearranged…or Changed?” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

3.      Abingdon Commentary. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

4.      Heartlight Daily Verse, March 16, 2008. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

5.      Adrian Rogers, “Put on the Righteousness of Christ”. Retrieved from www.lwf.org

6.      Heartlight Daily Verse, Aug. 20, 2007. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

7.      Adrian Rogers, “One Body in Christ”. Retrieved from www.lwf.org

8.      Rick Warren, “What Excuse Have you Been Using?” Retrieved from www.purposedriven.com

9.      William Ritter, “On Dancing a Confirmation Dance” Retrieved from www.esermons.com

10.  Dr. J. Howard Olds, “Doing Our Best” Retrieved from www.esermons.com

11.  Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn, “Living in ‘Oddville’ with ‘Peculiar’ People”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

12.  Jeff Wedge, “Body Parts and Pride”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

13.  Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn, “Dare to DV8” Retrieved from www.esermons.com

14.  Dr. J. Howard Olds, “Conflict Resolution”.  Retrieved from www.esermons.com

15.  Exegesis for Romans 12:1-8. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

16.  Selwyn Hughes, “Warm Goodwill to Others”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

17.  Selwyn Hughes, “The Future-Safe with Him” ”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

18.  Frederick R. Harm, “Ah, the Sweet mystery of Life”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

19.  Steve Davey, “Living Dependently”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

20.  Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Part of Wordsearch Bible software package

21.  ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch Bible Software package.

22.  Selwyn Hughes, “Think, Man, Think”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com