Galatians 3:23-29 Law Versus Grace

Who are we?

The answer to this question will be different for each of us because of the many roles we have in our lives. We could be a spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, doctor, dentist, lawyer or any one or more of thousands of roles. There is one answer that all of us who have come to faith have. We are Christians. There are no barriers of class or ethnic segregation. The Christian identity includes all of us, and that is the point Paul is making in Galatians 3:23-29.

Paul specifies the dimensions of the family of God: its height reaches up to God’s throne, its depth reaches down into baptism in Christ, forever loved and accepted in him; it is wide enough to bring natural enemies together; and it is long enough to trace its ancestry back to Abraham. All who accept Christ as their Saviour becomes members of this family.

This passage is a commentary on the struggle between law and grace. The law teaches people about God and brings us face to face with our sins, but it also keeps us locked up in sin. The law does not provide for salvation from our sins. Even the Old Testament sacrifices could not provide for salvation because they had to be repeated. The animals that were sacrificed had to be perfect in the eyes of the priest. The priest also had to atone for his own sins as well as for the sins of the people. Christ was the perfect, ultimate sacrifice for our sins. He was sinless in nature. All we have to do is believe in him and what he did for us on the cross.

In the Greco-Roman world, a guardian prepared a child for maturity. Once the youth came of age, he didn’t need the guardian any more nor did he have any responsibility to the guardian, although the two of them might remain friends. The same is true for the Old Testament law. The law served as a guardian for us. The law prepared Israel for the coming of Jesus, who was the ultimate fulfillment of the law.

The law’s inability to bring life did not mean that the law was useless. The law was put in charge as our teacher to lead us to Christ. It is like a straight edge to show us how crooked we are-and to highlight our need for a Saviour. It is the code by which our lives and society are kept in an orderly manner. When the law becomes destructive or conflicts with God’s will, we must obey God rather than man. It is our responsibility to teach others about the faith until they claim God’s promise of salvation for themselves. When we receive salvation, it means that we take up Christ’s cross and fulfill his ministry of salvation and reconciliation. When we receive Christ in faith, we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness and we receive garments of salvation and robes of righteousness.  

Following World War II, there were more than two hundred French soldiers with amnesia who returned to Paris. They had been prisoners in Japanese camps and suffered through horrible ordeals of privation and torture. These men had been so psychologically devastated by their imprisonment that they lost the conscious awareness of who they were and where they had lived before the war.

Most of the soldiers' identities were quickly established from Red Cross records or with the help of fellow prisoners, but after all known efforts were exhausted, there were still thirty-two men whose existence seemed impossible to trace. Not only were there no records of them, but none of the other soldiers knew anything about them. The doctors who were treating these thirty-two men believed that their chance for recovery would be impossible unless they were reconnected with family and friends.

Someone proposed publishing photographs of the men on the front page of newspapers throughout the country. A date, time, and place of meeting would also be given, hoping anyone having information about them would come. The plan was implemented and French newspapers soon published the pictures, adding that the Paris Opera House would open its doors for the potential identification and connection with loved ones.

On the assigned day, a huge crowd gathered inside the opera house to view the veterans. Every seat was taken and people spilled out onto the streets. Finally, in a dramatic entrance, the first of the amnesia victims walked onto the stage of the darkened room and slowly turned around under the glare of the spotlight, giving everyone a full view. Then, according to instruction, he and the other thirty-one soldiers who followed asked the same pleading question: "Does anybody out there know who I am . . . does anybody know who I am?"

Thankfully, many of the men were soon reunited with their families. 

This is the same question that all of humanity is asking---“Does anybody out there know who I am?”  So what is the answer? For Christians, the answer is clear. We are children of God. Let me explain.

At the time Paul wrote the Letter to the Galatians, only sons could receive an inheritance. Daughters got nothing. In contrast, Paul stated that both men and women who have been adopted into God’s family enjoy all the rights and responsibilities of God’s children-and that includes the right of inheritance. God includes all of us as his sons and daughters. Everyone who believes in Jesus for salvation is part of God’s family; brothers and sisters to one another and co-heirs with Christ.

In addition to being children of God, Paul stated that since we have been baptized we have died to the old ways of law, sin and death. We have risen to a new life in Christ. In this new life, there are no distinctions. Jews and Gentiles are the same. Free men and slaves are the same. Men and women are the same. All divisions have been abolished. All Christians are the same in the eyes of Christ. Since we are all equal, we do not have to observe ancient rituals such as circumcision.

For example, there was a church in the Jesus movement of the 1970s that was growing among the young street kids of the neighbourhood. They had long hair, were dirty and never really wore shoes, but they were just flocking to the church.

One day the church decided to put some new carpeting in their sanctuary. The first time those kids came in, they tracked dirt all over that brand new carpet. The building committee was furious and demanded that a sign be put up in the church lobby that said, “No dirty feet allowed.”

The next Sunday the chairman of that committee walked into the building for the Sunday service. He was shocked to see that the sign had been removed and the church pastor was on his knees with a bowl of water and a towel washing those kids’ feet right there in the foyer-just like Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. This is what is means to be equal before God. We are to love our neighbours by welcoming people of all backgrounds into fellowship with the body of Christ.  

God doesn’t deal with us with a performance/requirement method. We don’t have to do good deeds to earn salvation. God deals with us by means of a promise in response to faith. If we come to him in faith and receive him as our Saviour, we will be blessed with eternal life. Even if life has been hard for us and we are messed up, God still loves us. We can still become children of God.

Being whole in life and having meaning in life are not the result of what we own or don’t own or what we have done or what we have not done. Our lives are complete and have meaning because we are children of God. The only equation that works in our lives is us plus Christ equals wholeness and mercy. God wants us to continually pursue the reign of his kingdom in our lives where we submit to his will. When we do this, we will see new ways to respond.

Bibliography

1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 1627-1628)

2.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

3.      Dunnam, M.D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 31: Galatians/Ephesians/Philippians/Colossians/Philemon (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; pp. 69-76)

4.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

5.      Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)

6.      Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)

7.      Dr. Neil Anderson, “Wholeness and Meaning in Life.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

8.      Dr. Jack Graham, “What It Means to Love Your Neighbour.” Retrieved from www.jackgraham.org

9.      Dr. Steven Davey, “Does Anybody Know Who I Am?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

10.  Doug Fields, “The Enemies of Patience.” Retrieved from Crossswalk@crosswalkmail.com

11.  Dr. Tony Evans, “Daughters of the King.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

12.  Jill Carattini, “The Shape of Affection.” Retrieved from www.sliceofinfinity.org

13.  George Hermanson, “Who Are We?” Retrieved from www.georgehermanson.com/2007/06/who-are-we.html.

Luke 8:26-39 Giving Thanks to Jesus

What do you do when someone does something nice for you?

Well, the most important thing you should do when someone does something nice for you is to say, "Thank you." In most houses, people keep a good supply of thank you cards so that we will not forget. I hope you will always remember to say, "Thank you" when someone does something nice for you. I can remember my mother telling me as a child to write thank you notes to people who gave me gifts, especially at Christmastime.

What else should you do when someone does something nice for you. Another thing you should do is to tell others about the nice things that person has done for you.

Jesus spent his life on earth doing good things for people. He was loving, kind, and compassionate. The Bible tells us that he came not to be served, but to serve others and to give his life for them. Wherever Jesus went, he healed the sick and the lame. He gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. Why, he even raised some from the dead! Sometimes the people remembered to say, "Thank you" and sometimes they forgot.

In our Bible lesson today, Jesus met a man who was controlled by evil spirits. He had not worn clothes for a long time and he did not live in a house, but spent his days and nights roaming among the tombs and in the mountains. People in the town where he lived were afraid of him and tried to bind him with chains, but he was so strong that he broke the chains.

Jesus saw that the man was tormented and he felt compassion for him. There was a large herd of pigs on the hillside nearby, so Jesus let the evil spirits enter into the pigs, and the entire herd ran into the lake and drowned.

After Jesus freed the man from the evil spirits, he was like a different person. People saw the man sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and speaking calmly. He was so happy that he wanted to go with Jesus and follow him wherever he went, but Jesus told the man to go back to his home and tell everyone what God had done for him. The Bible tells us that the man went back and told all the people in of the city what great things Jesus had done for him.

You and I should always remember to give thanks for all that Jesus has done for us. The greatest gift we have ever received is the gift of eternal life. Jesus made this gift possible by his death on the cross. We should also tell others what he has done for us so that they might come to know the he loves them too.

Let’s pray. Dear God, we thank you for all that you have done for us. We are especially thankful for the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, your son. Help us to always show our gratitude and tell others how much you have done for us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Bibliography

1.      “Go and Tell.” Retrieved from www.sermons4kids.com

Galatians 2:15-21 Salvation is by Grace, Not by Deeds

Have you ever been in a gathering where you felt that you did not belong? Have you even been in a club where you had to obey the rules? If so, then perhaps you can understand why Paul wrote the passage from Galatians that we heard earlier in this morning’s service.

 

Paul has just recalled what must have been the most awkward dinner party of all time. The Gentile believers tried to join the Jewish believers for dinner and things got very awkward, especially when Peter made a scene of refusing to eat with the Gentiles. Paul was shocked by Peter’s hypocritical behaviour. You see, Peter welcomed Gentiles when he was with Paul, but he refused to welcome them when more conservative Christians-namely, Jewish believers-came near. Paul gave Peter a stern lecture about this behaviour, and in doing so he defended his position on the issue of new believers having to follow Jewish customs.

The Jews believed that in order to be acceptable to God and have a right relationship with him, it was necessary for people to obey the law. There are people today who have the same belief. Obeying the law meant doing deeds that were listed in the Laws of Moses instead of doing things according to one’s own will. In the eyes of the Jews, obeying the law meant that they were justified in the eyes of God. Being justified means conforming to a standard of acceptable character or conduct. Unfortunately, being justified under the law meant being made right, not being made just, fair or equitable. 

Paul distinguished between those who observed Old Testament laws (Jews by nature) and those who did not (sinners or the Gentiles). The law always reminded people of God’s standards and our inability to meet them. Paul argued that observing Old Testament laws could not justify a person; therefore, Gentile believers should not be required to keep these laws but should be taught to obey Jesus’ teachings instead.

Paul argued that the era of winning God’s favour by following the law has ended. The law was only necessary to help believers before the time of Christ. If Christ is in human beings, the law is unnecessary. Christ’s death and resurrection have ensured our salvation. To believe or act otherwise is a sin.

Paul’s experiences, and in particular his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, proves that God does what the law can’t do. God justifies and rectifies. It’s as if we ae in a court of law because we have been accused of committing a crime. God is the judge, Satan is the prosecutor (or Crown Attorney), and Jesus is our lawyer. Under the law, we would have to admit that we are guilty as charged and throw ourselves on the mercy of the judge. Under God’s grace, God as judge acquits us, accepts us as his children and makes us with Christ heirs of his kingdom. God’s righteousness is his justifying action in relation to the people. All of this can only happen when we have faith in God.  

God’s standards are perfect, and because we aren’t perfect people we can’t meet those standards on our own. New Christians in Galatia were being persuaded that faith alone was not enough. They needed to add certain works of the law in order to be saved. That was a step backward in their spiritual growth. Paul argued that if we could earn our way back to God by our own efforts, Christ would not have had to die for our unrighteousness. Adding human works to faith would be the same as setting God’s grace aside. It would be hypocritical. We can’t do anything to earn our salvation. We can’t be justified or declared righteous on our own merits. We are justified by faith. The law can’t give us salvation. Only faith in Christ can give us salvation.

There are three ways in which we can deal with this hypocrisy when it occurs:

1.      By being accountable to one another. God’s standard of living applies to all of us, and we need help trying to meet this standard. Rebukes must be made with love and concern for those who falter.

2.      By impacting others. Our actions as Christians will be seen by others and will affect their attitudes toward Christ. Our lives must be lived in conformity with what we believe and teach. To put it another way, we must “practice what we preach.”

3.      By being committed to the truth. If we claim to be followers of Jesus but we live in ways that are the opposite to that claim, we aren’t living in keeping with the truth of Jesus’ teachings. God wants us to live lives that demonstrate that we are committed to what is true and right.

People who have not experienced God’s grace often attack it as a license for sin. Paul was horrified that some might think that faith in Christ somehow encouraged people to sin. God’s grace does not give us a license to commit sins. It is a strength to live in righteousness. When a person is declared righteous, he or she changes radically and his or her standing before God changes. When we are justified by God, we have an obligation to live the life God wants us to lead. People who have the Holy Spirit living in them don’t think or act like they did before they were saved. God gives Christian a new desire for holiness. 

The law can only bring us to the threshold of grace. It can’t get us through the door. The law administers death, but Christ gives us life. The law commands by saying things such as, “Do! Try! Behave!” The gospel comforts us by declaring, “Done! Trust! Believe!” The law shows us that we can’t solve the problem of sin ourselves, but the gospel of Christ provides us with the solution.

Just as Christ died and rose again, we die to our own, sinful lives and rise to a new life in Christ when we come to Christ in faith. Christ makes us into new people. Our own agenda becomes subordinate to Christ’s agenda for our lives. Dying to sin gives us a pardon from past sins and the law. It also gives us a passion to never sin again. Dying to sin brings power to resist temptation. We will still have the urge to sin, but God’s power in us will give us the power to overcome these urges. When we die to sin, we become partners with Christ, and that includes becoming partners with Christ’s suffering, sharing his way of life, living by his purpose and sharing his motives.

Being crucified with Christ has both a legal and a relational component. Legally, God looks at us as if we had died with Christ. We are no longer condemned for our sins because Christ paid the price. Relationally, we share in Christ’s sufferings and have died to our old way of living. Christ now lives in us through the Holy Spirit and empowers us to live a life of obedience. When we allow the Holy Spirit to live and work in our lives, we become vital representatives of Christ.  

Several years ago, a noted violinist was playing a concert to a very prominent crowd. He walked out on stage and showed the audience his violin. He told them, “This violin is a Stradivarius, one of the rarest and most valuable violins in the world.” The violinist then proceeded to play one of the most beautiful tunes the audience had ever heard on his violin. But after he was finished and the crowd had applauded heartily, he took that violin and broke it into a thousand pieces.

A collective gasp could be heard throughout the auditorium. So after a few moments of silence, that violinist said, “That wasn’t actually a Stradivarius violin. I bought it today at a pawn shop for 40 dollars. But I did this to make a point: the violinist is much more important than the violin.” With that, he brought out the real Stradivarius and finished his concert.

What’s true in music is true with people. It’s not the talent or charisma of people, but the one who’s making the music that matters. We are just like that old violin… completely inadequate on our own. But in the hands of the Master, He can make beautiful music in our lives. Living the Christian life is hard. We can’t do it on our own. Only God, living through us in the person of the Holy Spirit, can do that. God’s peace and power can only be experienced when we say no to ourselves and our ambitions and yes to God. God sacrificed Jesus for our sins, so it is only fair for us to make the sacrifices we have to make to love God and show that love to the whole world.

 Bibliography

1.     Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1624-1626)

2.     Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary: Galatians/Ephesians (Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers Inc., 2015: pp. 51-57)

3.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

4.     Dunnam, M.D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 31: Galatians/Ephesians/Philippians/Colossians/Philemon (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982, pp. 42-50)

5.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

6.      Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles, 2005)

7.      Dr. Jack Graham, “How God Can Turn Your Mess into a Masterpiece.” Retrieved from www.jackgraham.org.

8.      Dr. Jack Graham, “Why is the Christian Life So Hard?” Retrieved from www.jackgraham.org.

9.      Pastor Ed Young, “The Center of Love.” Retrieved from www.edyoung.com

10.  Stephanie Dyrness-Lebdeil, “Commentary on Galatians 2:15-21.” Retrieved from www.aplainaccount.org/

11.  Janice B. Scott, “Are you a Pourer or a Disapprover?” Retrieved from www.sermonsuite.com/printer.php?i=788017045

12.  The Rev. Dr. John J. Lynch, “Justified by Faith.” Retrieved from http://episcopaldigitalnetwork,com/stw/2016/06/02/justified-by-faith-proper-6-c-2016/

 

 

 

 

 

1 Kings 17:8-24 Putting Faith to the Test

Have you ever had an occasion where you thought that your faith was being tested, especially in unusual circumstances? If so, you’re not alone. Sometimes God uses unusual circumstances to test a person’s faith. For example, in 1 Kings 17:8-24 he told Elijah to go to an unlikely place-Zarapeth, the very centre of Baal worship and the home of Queen Jezebel. He told Elijah to go at the unlikely time when King Ahab of Israel wanted to kill him. Then God sent him to an unlikely person-a poor Gentile widow from a Baal-worshipping nation. In addition to testing Elijah’s faith, the circumstances provided God with an opportunity to demonstrate his power and his compassion to people living outside of Israel.

Elijah is in foreign territory where the people worship a different god. They were very different, but they taught him something about God. God sends people like Elijah to tell us about God all of the time, and sometimes they come from the unlikeliest of places. Elijah heard God’s commands and acted on them. To hear God, one must first adopt a discipline of listening for God’s word.

Elijah went outside of Israel’s borders to provide for a widow’s needs and to heal her son. The church has to go outside of its comfort zone in order for its members to find true faith in God. The widow in this story is a good example of faith found in someone who wasn’t a Jew.

The widow’s resources were too limited to meet the need in her own family. Elijah asked her to act in faith, feeding him first, and when she put God first, he provided. People often worry about future needs, but Elijah’s experience reveals God’s miraculous provision for each day, just like he provided every day for the needs of the Israelites when they spent 40 years in the desert. When God is the supplier, he has what a person needs. He does not run dry. With God, a little goes a long way. A good example of this is the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus took the lunch of one small boy-a lunch that was just enough for the boy-and used it to feed the multitudes. God’s choice of a widow to feed Elijah is a demonstration of his power. He uses the least and the unlikeliest to accomplish a seemingly impossible task.

The widow was convinced of the truth of Elijah’s religion by the demonstration of God’s power. In a world where there is only one true God, everything in the end must rely on his power. When Elijah asked the widow to use her last supply of oil and flour to bake a cake for him, it was a true test of faith. She stepped out in faith, giving up the certain for the uncertain and obediently trusting his word. Her reward was an unending supply of oil and flour.

Those who suffer will receive comfort from God, even in dire circumstances. We might be standing in front of an almost empty cupboard, staring at the very little we have when God is inviting us to participate in his generous, life-giving abundance. If that's the reality we're living by, then we have given in to life-stealing circumstances and world-imposed limitations and forgotten that God's reality for our lives can be so much different.

Our love for God is measured and tested by the hold we have on our possessions. Everything we have starts from God. He gives us our possessions and our jobs. If we put God first in our lives like the widow put God first, we will give him the first fruits, not the leftovers. If we put God first, he will take care of us. 

The ultimate test of her faith was the resurrection of her dead son. Her faith was immature, and she assumed that her son’s death was God’s punishment for sin in her life. That was a common belief at that time.  Unfortunately, some people have the same belief today. She believed that Elijah’s saintly presence drew God’s attention to her. When the boy came back to life, the miracle reinforced Elijah’s faith. It gave him courage to face King Ahab. Ahab would only be a puppet in God’s hands. As Elijah later prophesied, God played a role in Ahab’s death.

Tragedy comes into the lives of both believers and the ungodly. Part of life involves dealing with the unexpected circumstances life sends our way. When her son died, the widow blamed God. In contrast, Elijah took the situation to God and asked him to restore the boy’s life. In the lives of believers, God can take tragedy and use it for his glory. He will wipe away our tears. He is a friend who is closer to us than a brother.

Supernatural events in the Old Testament were uncommon. They were mainly used by God to show the weakness of pagan religions and call the people of Israel to repentance and faith. God heard Elijah’s cry to restore the boy to life. Similarly, he will hear and answer our prayers. Miracles don’t happen when things are comfortable. They happen when things are uncomfortable. They don’t happen when we are in our comfort zone. They happen when we’re on edge or scared to death or insecure.

The Canaanites believed that Baal had to submit periodically to the god of death, Mot. But here, deep in Baal country, God demonstrated not only his power to sustain life in a time of drought, but his power to overcome death. This is the first time in the Bible when a servant of God raises a dead person to life, but it won’t be the last. Like Elijah, Jesus raised a widow’s son from death, and he also raised Lazarus from the dead. All of these resurrections demonstrated that God came to help his people.  

The true focus of this story should be on God. It is God who caused the drought, sent Elijah to Sidon, and provided food for the widow. Why does the story commence with God saving this poor Phoenician woman? There are probably many answers to that question, but let me offer three in particular:

1.      Saving a Phoenician woman demonstrates God’s care for the world. Although God will judge the Phoenician Jezebel, this is not a judgment on all Phoenicians.

2.      In this story about competing religious claims, God’s ability both to commence and to end drought undercuts the claim of both Israelites and foreigners that Baal is the only effective weather god, not only in Israel, but also across the globe.

3.      This is a story about the effects of economic injustice. The powerful, like Ahab and Jezebel are not starving, although they live in the same drought-stricken area. While they claim that the gods are on their side, the story reveals that God is on the side of those ignored by policy-makers. Time and time again God breaks the rules and blesses the younger and not the older, the least important and not the most privileged, the poor and not the rich. Pope Francis has declared 2016 to be a “Year of Mercy”. He has called us to be in solidarity with the poor and find ways to reveal God’s love for them through our words and actions. When we help the people in the world who need it, we proclaim the Good News of the Gospel.  

Elijah’s real power, the Lord’s truth in his mouth, is that he can bring about life. This is the truth that is more difficult to believe, the one that flies in the face of all we know about the world, where death always seems to have the last word. Elijah’s miraculous, never-ending oil jar hints at such life-giving power, but it is the widow’s witnessing of her child’s renewed life that convinces her.

The widow’s doubt, as well as her profession of faith, may also be our own. It is easy to believe in death-dealing powers, for that is what we witness in the world every day. It is much harder to imagine the power of love that conquers death. Read anew in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the story of Elijah and the widow adds to that “great cloud of witnesses” who affirm God’s ultimate sovereignty over even death itself.

Do you believe the gospel? Do you believe that God loves you? Do you believe that Christ died for the forgiveness of your sins? Are you willing to trust him to lead and guide you and use you as an instrument of his peace and love? Are you willing to go where he sends you and speak and act in his name? It all boils down to a matter of trust.

Bibliography

1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 466-467)

2.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

3.      Dilday, R. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 9: 1,2, Kings (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1987; pp. 185-190)

4.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

5.      Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)

6.      Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010; pp. 460-461)

7.      Dr. Tony Evans, “Giving Reflects the Spiritual.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

8.      Quinn G. Caldwell, “Elijah.” Retrieved from dailydevotional@ucc.org

9.      Butch Odom, “Proper 27/Ordinary 32 2015-1 Kings 17:8-10.” Retrieved from comment-reply@wordpress.com

10.  Dr. Harold Sala, “Elijah-The Iron Prophet.” Retrieved from info@guidelines.org

11.  Dr. Rick Warren, “Path to Miracles: Goes Through Uncomfortable Territory.” Retrieved from connect@newsletter.purposedriven.com

12.  Cameron B.R. Howard, “Commentary in 1 Kings 18:17-24.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1705

13.  Corrine Cavalho, “Commentary in 1 Kings 17:8-16.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1681

14.  Pastor Edward Markquart, “Old Testament Analysis: Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son.” Retrieved from www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_c_elijah_raising_the_widows_som.htm

15.  Commentary on 1 Kings 17:8-24. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

16.  Rev. Amy Butler, “Giving Our Best: It’s the Least We Can Do.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

17.  Dr. Philip W. McLarty, “A Matter of Trust.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

18.  Daniel Clendenin, Ph.D., “The Miracle of the Mundane.” Retrieved from http://journeywithjesus.net

19.  Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 10^th Sunday -C-, June 5, 2016.” Retrieved from firstimpressions@opsouth.org

 

 

 

1 Kings 18:20-39 One Plus God Equals Victory

Have you ever been in a spiritual battle where you thought that you were on the losing side? Well, you’re not alone. The Bible is full of stories of God’s people and their struggle with spiritual battles. Often they thought that God had abandoned them, when in reality he was always with them. One example is the story of Elijah. He often thought that he was alone, especially when he was running away from the evil Queen Jezebel, who wanted to kill him.

 

Before this, there was the confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, which we heard in the reading from 1 Kings 18:20-39 earlier in this morning’s service. It shows what can happen when one’s calling from God conflicts with strong-willed people or influential people who are used to having their own way. This story has frequently drawn the comment, “One person with God is always a majority.” This story is a story about God and his promise to never leave us alone.

If anyone could answer by fire, it should have been Baal, the storm god. His worshippers believed that he controlled lightning, but when they prayed to Baal, he didn’t answer.  According to their customs of Baal worship, the dancing, shouting, and self-mutilation were meant to arouse Baal from death, from sleep, or call him back from a journey. The phrase, “He is busy” was a euphemism for either going hunting or going to the restroom.

The fire from heaven dramatically revealed the power of God-the true God of the storm-who responded to a humble servant praying for Him to be known. The people fell on their faces, prostrate, in acknowledgement that Elijah’s God was real. Those who see God as He truly is will fall before Him in humility and reverence. God is real and is only known in a direct encounter with him. He is greater than all of our idols who can’t deliver as God does.  

The followers of Baal could not evoke a miracle, and our modern, worldly “gods” such as money, power or sex can’t help us when times are tough. During these times God is not busy or off travelling or taking a nap. His love is changeless and constant. There will be times when he leads us through difficult situations when his joys aren’t evident, but we are always close to him, and he is always close to us.

Elijah soaked the altar, the offering and the wood with water in order to remove any chance of spontaneous combustion or any claim that he cheated once the offering was consumed with fire. God didn’t need the water. He could answer Elijah’s prayer without it. The prayer of Elijah does not centre on the activities of the followers of Baal. The prophet highlights the character of God and his relationship with God.  When God answers a prayer, he answers completely so there could never be any doubt. The prayer was able to put Elijah and the people in a place to look to God and not themselves.

God wants us to study, pray and witness by our lives and our actions, but we can’t make people believe or change. Only God can do that. He doesn’t need our manipulation to get us to move toward the truth or do the jobs he sends us to do.  

Some scholars argued that Israel’s enemies like the Canaanites or the prophets of Baal were evil and deserved their fate. When Baal was defeated, it marked an end to the judgment of Israel. God doesn’t punish us for sin. He chastens us in the hope that we will repent and turn to him.

In ancient times, each tribe or clan had a god, and each region had a god. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel (or Jacob) was unique in that He was identified with multiple persons, not a shrine, locale or particular clan. The people realized that the fire was a special work of God since it consumed everything, even the stones.

The core message of this passage is that the war against Baal and his prophets represents a rejection of anything that separates people from God. It is a message for us to choose wisely, especially in light of the available facts. The absolute God deserves our unconditional obedience. Elijah wanted Israel to choose who was God-the Lord or Baal-and then serve God wholeheartedly. Rather than decide by his message, Elijah sought a visible sign from heaven.

We have a similar choice today. God wants us to serve him instead of serving man. Jesus even said in Luke 16: 13, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” We can’t be indecisive or neutral. Indecisiveness and neutrality in matters of faith are sins. God turns our hearts back to him. He reaches out to us and invites us to come home. Elijah’s call to choose sides rings into our hearts today. There is no place in the Word of God for the middle of the road position.

God wants us to look at our own spiritual lives and determine who or what the object of our worship is. We make that determination by measuring our lives against the principles and tests of God’s Word. There are two tests for us to consider:

1.      Are we really saved? Have we put our trust in Christ by faith? We can’t experience real life and the power of Christ if we are not children of God by faith.

2.      De we experience God’s power in our lives in transformed living? In particular:

 

                   a.      Are we growing and changing?

b.      Are there marks of Christ-like change taking place in our lives?

c.       Are we learning to control our tempers and tongues?

d.      Are we ministering to others? 

What keeps us from being wholehearted followers of God? Regardless of the reason Christians will eventually reach a point where they have to push back against society. To paraphrase Elijah’s words, “If Jesus Christ be God, follow him. If anyone else or anything else be God, follow him!” Christians have to make up their minds.

For many people, God doesn’t exist. They are more concerned about the daily concerns of life. They think that only they can solve their daily problems. They have made gods of themselves. Because they have not chosen for God, they have chosen against God. Their powerless Gods are laughable. Worshipping an idol does not mean that God is not real.

The people wanted a sign that Yahweh was the true God. Similarly, the Pharisees wanted a sign that Jesus was the Messiah. People still want signs today, but Jesus doesn’t work that way. Jesus argued that reason follows to support and confirm.

Elijah was a man of great faith. He saw increased challenges as opportunities for God to do his work, and he believed God for the supernatural. We can also believe that God can do miracles. He might not do every miraculous thing we ask him to do, but he does extraordinary work in and through everyone who believes in him in faith. Prayer is not to convince God. It is to confess before God our faith in him.  

The title of servant reveals Elijah’s function as a prophet and his status before a holy and righteous God. Elijah’s request was twofold:

1.      That people know Yahweh is God, the Creator and Redeemer. When God’s people pray for God’s glory and honour, they are praying for the same thing-that the world will recognize God as God.

2.      That the people would turn back to the Lord. Their hearts needed to be as aflame with the power of God as Elijah’s altar.

Religion that tells people that they have to do something to earn salvation is false. We can’t do anything to earn salvation. It is a free gift if we believe in Christ, who paid the price for our sins on the cross. Elijah is an amazing example of what happens when believers pray with authority, when they come to God and ask him to do something that glorifies him. God wants us to come boldly into his presence, and we can do so because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We can be confident that God will do what he wants to do and what he says he will do.

 Bibliography

1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2103, pp. 468-479)

2.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

3.      Dilday, R. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 9: 1,2, Kings (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1987; pp. 193-198)

4.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

5.      Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)

6.      Dr. Charles Stanley, “Building Muscles of Faith.” Retrieved from www.intouch.org

7.      Joni Eareckson Tada, “Dry Wastelands.” Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org

8.      Pritchard, Ray: Fire and Rain: The Wild-Hearted Faith of Elijah (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group; 2007, pp. 105-118)

9.      Roger Nam, “Commentary on 1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29), 30-39.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1712

10.  “The Ineffectual Prayers of the Baal Priests (1 Kings 18:23-29).” Retrieved from https://bible.org/seriespage/12-inneffectual-prayers-baal-priests-1-kings1823-29

11.   Dennis Bratcher, “A God You Can Trust: Reflections on 1 Kings 18:20-39.” Retrieved from http://www.crivoice.org/1king18.html

12.  Daniel Clendenin, Ph.D., “’If The Lord is God, Follow Him’: Elijah and the Prophets of Baal.” Retrieved from http://journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20130527JJ.shtml

13.  “Lectionary Scripture Notes, Proper 4, OT 9, Pentecost 2.” Retrieved from http://www.lectionaryscripturenotes.com/proper-4-ordinary-time-9-pentecost-2-cycle-c-2016

14.  Butch Odom, “Proper 4/Ordinary 9 2016-1 Kings 18:20-21.” Retrieved from comment-reply@wordpress.com

15.  David Coffin, “Response to the Call.” Retrieved from http://www.sermonsuite.com/printer.php?i=788040702