Isaiah 50:4-9, Philippians 2:5-11 How to Live Like Christ

It is February 15, 1921. In the operating room of the Kane Summit Hospital, Dr. Evan O'Neil Kane  is performing an appendectomy, but this is no ordinary appendectomy. First, it marked the first use of local anaesthesia in major surgery. Dr. Kane believed local anaesthetic was much safer than general anaesthetic, and while many colleagues and patients agreed with him, no one was willing to be the first person to have an appendectomy under local anaesthesia. Because he wasn't able to find a volunteer for the procedure, he operated on himself!

Dr. Kane put his own well-being at risk to gain his patients' trust and show his care for them. Jesus did the same thing. He humbled himself by taking on human form and subjecting himself to a cruel, human death. 

The readings from Isaiah and Philippians talk about how we are live like Christ, including suffering for our faith. The reading from Luke's Gospel talks about how Christ suffered for us so we can have a renewed relationship in faith with Jesus. Isaiah talks about the servant who submits to the father's will. Paul tells us in Philippians to be like Christ. Christ was the suffering servant Isaiah referred to-the servant who submits himself to the father's will and a cruel, painful death to save us.

Suffering tests our faith and our relationship with God. When we suffer, we often ask ourselves why God is allowing us to suffer. In cases of accident or sickness, we don't have any choice in the matter. The suffering servant is suffering because he or she is God's servant. Somehow the suffering servant has heard that his or her suffering is for the cause of right and therefore he or she believes that God will not abandon the one trying to be faithful.

Christ humbled himself and emptied himself of his deity to obey his father's will. He emptied himself of his glory. He emptied himself of independent authority. He released the voluntary exercise of his divine attributes. He gave up eternal riches. He gave up his intimate relationship with God the Father

Obeying God's will for his life also meant that Christ had to submit to the voluntary humiliation of the cruellest form of torture known at that time-crucifixion. Crucifixion was not simply a convenient way to execute criminals. It was the ultimate indignity, a public statement by the Romans that the crucified person was beyond contempt. The unbearable pain was magnified by the degradation and humiliation. No other form of death could match crucifixion as an absolute destruction of the person. It was the ultimate contrast to Christ's divine majesty and therefore it was the ultimate expression of his obedience to God.

By lowering himself, he was exalted by God. We must also submit ourselves to God's will. Paul used Christ's example to teach us how to live the Christian life. Because Christ was an obedient servant, he serves as a good example for us to follow. When we become servants, we give up the right to be in charge of who and what we serve. When we do, we will be free, but we will also be vulnerable.

Christ calls us to service for three main reasons. First, he wants to rid us of our human pride and selfishness so we can focus our lives on him. Second, by serving others in humility we show our love for Christ. Third, God tests and purifies our hearts through service.

Christ is the ultimate example of selfless humility. He submitted himself to God's will like a servant submits to the will of his or her master. Jesus calls on us to deny ourselves and follow him through sacrificial service to others.  Jesus believed in the Law, taught the Law and lived the Law on the cross. In other words, he didn't just "talk the talk". He also "walked the walk". Just like Jesus submitted himself to God's will, we are called to submit ourselves to God's will by worshipping him in true faith and by serving others just like Jesus served others.

The way we act reflects our faith. If we claim to be Christians, people around us will equate our actions with Jesus. In other words we are to act like Jesus would act. We are to follow the Golden Rule. When we lead lives of humble servanthood, when we follow God's plan and direction, and when we bow down before him we become the disciples that he wants us to be. Only then can we be exalted by God. Only then can we build God's kingdom here on earth. 

In order to be like Jesus, we have to spend time with Jesus. The more time we spend him by reading and studying his word and talking with him through regular, earnest prayer, the more we begin to think like him. We also become more like Jesus by studying what has been written by other Christian leaders. For example, when I prepare homilies I always consult commentaries and other articles written by pastors such as Dr. Charles Stanley, John MacArthur, Rick Warren, Billy Graham, Charles H. Spurgeon and others. Finally, we can be like Jesus by studying the Bible with other Christians. In my own life, I attend Trinity's Monday night Bible study, and I get a copy of the notes from the Wednesday morning Bible study thanks to Sandra,  our hard-working church secretary.  

As I mentioned earlier, when we become servants of God, we will be free, but we will also be vulnerable. We can't please God if we don't have faith. That involves taking risks. Peter took a risk when Jesus told him to get out of the boat and walk to him on the water. He took a risk, and was able to do amazing things. There is an old adage "No risk, no reward". If we are willing to take risks, God can do amazing things for us, to us and with us.

When we have a sense of Christ's love, we will be humbled. That doesn't mean that we are weak. Jesus showed us that humility in fact requires great strength and courage, both of which come from an unshakeable faith in God. When we are determined to follow Christ's example, Satan becomes more determined to stop us. He will use every trick he knows to divert us from godly pursuits. We must be careful not to let interruptions keep us from our time with God.

Even when we follow Christ, we can become discouraged when life deals us challenges. When this happens, it can be easy for us to forget all the good things God has done for us. The only way to correct this attitude of defeat is to do something else Jesus did regularly-pray.  

By humbling himself, Jesus was exalted by God. Those who humble themselves before God will be exalted by God. One day we will also exalt him by bowing down before him, but right now we can exalt him by serving others in humility like he did. We suffer and serve with Christ so that we may share Christ's glory. Those who face the greatest struggles in life hold on to God with all their heart and have the greatest confidence in sharing Christ's glory.

Nothing is beneath us since Jesus humbled himself and served others. Christ taught us this valuable lesson, so we would be well-advised to listen to him. We need to have humble hearts. Christ valued humility and service, and this should be our model for daily living.

Those of you who are sports fans have seen how some players celebrate great plays. They dance around in the end zone of a football field or get slapped on the back by their fellow hockey players. Others simply toss the puck or the football back to the referee and return to the bench or the sidelines without any fuss. Some Christians are like that. They hope that the few big plays they make in their walk of faith will earn them a spot on Jesus' team.

When it comes to serving in the church, people rarely ask for positions where they will go unnoticed. If they want to serve in the church, they usually ask for positions of leadership. Now there is nothing wrong with serving in a leadership capacity if that's what God calls you to do, but God calls us to have a servant's heart. He wants us to glorify him and not ourselves. God places us where he wants us to serve, and we must give our all in everything he asks us to do. God wants our obedience and our best effort.  

Our congregation here at Trinity Anglican Church is full of examples of people who serve in humility and to the best of their ability in the areas where God has placed them to be. Our Sunday School teachers have been given the job of teaching our young people how to walk in faith. Our organist and choir serve faithfully by leading us in our singing. Shirley and Marion serve the sick and shut-ins by visiting them and taking food to them. Pam serves God faithfully by being our Primate's World Relief and Development Fund representative-a position she has held for many years. In fact, when she was recently made an Honorary Director of the National PWRDF, she gave the credit not to her own efforts, but to the people of this parish. Our Altar Guild members such as Barbara are the unsung heroes who make sure that our hangings, silverware and altar are in tip-top shape for weekly worship services.

Even ordinary people can be humble servants for God in their daily lives, and there is no greater example than mothers and fathers. The best example I can think is my own mother. Many times she sacrificed her own ambitions and goals to serve the needs of her own children and grandchildren. Now that she is elderly and enjoying her golden years, her children and grandchildren are returning the favour. I have been spending a lot of time lately helping her as she recovers from her recent knee replacement surgery, and for me it is a labour of love and humility.

Eventually, every knee will bow before Jesus and confess him as their Lord and Saviour, as Paul mentions in Philippians 2:10-11. At that time, people who have already humbled themselves before him as a part of their daily lives will not hesitate to bow down before him and give him praise. It will be like they have always been there, and there will be no penalty for excessive celebration.

Bibliography

      1.            ESV Study Bible

      2.            Dunnam, M.D. & Ogilvie, L.J., The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 31:Galatians/Ephesians/Philippians/Collosians/Philemon (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.; 1982)

      3.            Dr. Charles Stanley, "What is the Meaning of the Cross?" Retrieved from Jesus.org@crosswalkmail.com

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

      5.            Dr. Charles Stanley, "Christians in the Workplace". Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

      6.            Gary Sims, "On Bended Knee". Retrieved from www.MyInJesus.com

      7.            T.M. Moore, "Paths to Mature Thinking". Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org

      8.            Bayless Conley, "Making a Priority of Faith". Retrieved from answersweekly@answersbc.org

      9.            Joni Eareckson Tada, "Distraction". Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org

  10.            T.M. Moore, "Nurtured and Refined". Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org

  11.            Joni Eareckson Tada, "Therefore...". Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org

  12.            Anne Graham Lotz, "The Way Up is Down". Retrieved from www.angelministries.org

  13.            Jude Siciliano, O.P., "First Impressions, 24th Sunday (B)". Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

  14.            Tim Hall, "Heavenly Connection". Retrieved from forthright@fastmail.fm

  15.            Tracie Miles, "What Has God Done for ME Lately?". Retrieved from Encouragement_for_Today@crosswalkmail.com

  16.            Dr. Charles Stanley, "The Call to Serve". Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

  17.            Rebecca Barlow Jordan, "Humility". Retrieved from Christianity.com@croswalkmail.com

  18.            Dr. Charles Stanley, "Fully Submitted". Retrieved from In_Touch_With_Charles_Stanley@crosswalkmail.com

  19.            Joe Gibbs, "Take a Knee". Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

  20.            Joni Eareckson Tada, "The Interests of Others". Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org

  21.            James MacDonald, "How did Jesus 'Empty' himself?" Retrieved from Jesus.org@crosswalkmail.com

  22.            Dr. David Jeremiah, "Becoming Like Christ". Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org

 

Luke 19:28-40. Jesus, Our Hero

Good morning boys and girls!

Can anyone tell me what a hero is?  A hero is someone who helps someone else, especially when the person being helped is in danger. Who are your heroes?

 

Sometimes we like to imitate our heroes by copying the way they act or the way they dress. Have any of you ever tried to imitate your heroes? There is someone who is also considered to be a hero by many of us today, and he actually wants us to imitate him. His name is Jesus. We worship our hero Jesus every Sunday. Now many heroes are honoured with huge parades and admiring crowds. When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm  Sunday, he was honoured with a parade where people spread their coats and palm leaves on the road, but he didn't ride in a chariot or on horseback or on the back of a camel. He rode on the back of a donkey.

Donkeys were lowly, humble animals. In Jesus' time they were used to carry things or plough the fields. They were lowly servants. Jesus came to serve people by healing their sickness, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and teaching them about God. By doing so, he proclaimed that he was the long-promised Messiah.

Some people were disappointed. They wanted a Messiah who would drive out the Romans. They did not want a Messiah who would tell them that their laws, rules and ways of worshipping God were wrong. The powerful people saw Jesus not as a hero, but as a threat, so they had him crucified. Our hero won the battle though when he rose from the dead on that first Easter Sunday morning. When he did, our hero Jesus saved everyone who believed in him, and he still saves everyone who believes in him today.

Jesus calls on us today to be heroes like him. We can be heroes like Jesus by doing things such as making our beds, washing the dishes, helping our parents with chores around the house or doing things for our friends or neighbours, especially when we do these things without being told to or by being paid to do them.

Let us bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for being our hero. Thank you for serving us and saving us when we walk away from you. Help us to serve others like you serve us, and help us to walk with you in faith, hope and love. We ask this in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Matthew 4:12-23 Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It…

Today, we are celebrating two special occasions in the life of our Diocese-Mission Sunday, and Anglican Church Women Sunday. Anglican Church Women Sunday also celebrates an important ministry in the life of both our Parish and our Diocese. It is appropriate that both ACW Sunday and Mission Sunday are celebrated during the season of Epiphany. The season of Epiphany emphasizes mission and ministry, and the Gospel reading from Matthew that we heard a few minutes ago is especially appropriate for today.

Our ACW members are some of the hardest working members of the congregation. The old saying “Idle hands are the devil’s playground” certainly does not apply to them. They have been called to a unique Christian ministry, and it is similar to the call Jesus issued to the first disciples-a call we heard in our Gospel reading. Jesus and the disciples combined ministry that met people’s physical needs with ministry to the minds and hearts-namely, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom). Our ACW members also minister to the physical and spiritual needs of people, and they do it in their unique, individual ways. Their ministry, like that of Jesus, leaves no areas of human lives untouched-family relationships, friendships, and our perspectives on life, work, leadership and our world.

Being an ACW member is just one of many calls to ministry that Jesus issues to us. He has called all of us to serve others as he did, to follow him, to sacrifice comforts, to bless the lives of others, to minister to the sick, and to proclaim the good news of the kingdom. ACW members and all who answer Jesus’ call live in the light God gives them.

Jesus walks by all of us, observing our efforts on the job and in our communities, and he calls us. He calls ordinary people, including the ACW members, to do extraordinary things. He asks all of us to love him above all else and fully commit to obey him. When we do, he will accomplish more through us than we could even imagine. Through him, we can make something of our lives.

The kingdom of heaven is the place where God rules. If God rules in our hearts, that the kingdom of God is in our hearts, and it is certainly in the hearts of our ACW members. God speaks to us through their words and deeds, among other ways. They are the example to follow when we want to learn how to live our lives with honour. 

An orchestra was giving a concert in a large church hall in England. The place was packed. Afterwards a casual member of the church very flippantly asked the pastor of the church when the hall would ever be filled like that for Sunday morning worship. The pastor answered solemnly, “It will be filled when like that conductor I have eighty well-trained, committed and disciplined men and women to work with me.” Oh, how the church needs that today!

When we answer his call, we show that we are willing to leave everything to follow the way, the truth and the life, just like the first disciples left everything to follow him. ACW members are the same. They all have other commitments, but they set them aside to do the work that God calls them to do when he calls them to do it. Jesus invites us to reform and reshape our lives and look at things through the gospel lens. ACW members turn to the needy with acceptance and compassion and whatever form of healing and comfort they can offer.

ACW members are ordinary people just like all of us are. They are called to follow Jesus and grow with him just like all of us are, but there also comes a time when we have to move from being followers to being leaders. A church should never have trouble finding people to teach Sunday school, or work with youth, or sing in the choir, or to take on leadership positions. God blesses all of the work we do in his name, including the work of the ACW. God calls us each in our own way to do his work in the world.  

A minister was delivering a series of sermons in another pastor’s church. While there, a young boy took a special interest in him and sat beside him every evening. I the minister was on the platform, that’s where the little boy sat. If the minister was in a pew, the little boy sat with him in the pew. The minister said later that the little boy was not a bother---he just wanted to sit where the minister sat. Later, the minister found out that he boy’s parents did not attend church.

                                                                                
One evening, when the minister was sitting in the first pew, the boy came and snuggled up very close to him. The boy looked up and asked the minister, “Why are you a preacher?” The minister replied, “Because that is what God told me he wanted me to be.” The boy paused for a moment and said, “God told me just to be a kid”. The minister later wrote, “His response stuck me. I wonder how many of God’s people really know just what God wants them to be.”

In 2006, U.S. President George W. Bush hosted the 64^th annual National Prayer Breakfast. During this interfaith event, Christians, Jews and Muslims are included and given time to make a few remarks. The guest speaker that year was the rock star known as Bono, leader of the group U2.  During the breakfast, he said, “A number of years ago, I met a wise man who changed my life. In countless ways, large and small, I was always seeking the Lord’s blessing. I was saying, you know, I have a new song, look after it…I have a family, please look after them… I have this crazy idea…and this wise man said: stop. He said; stop asking God to bless what you’re doing. Get involved in what God is doing, because it is already blessed”.

Bono believes God is calling him to be an advocate for the poor. He said to the National Prayer Breakfast, “Well, God, as I said, is with the poor. That, I believe, is what God is doing. And that is what he is calling us to do”. All Christians should be committed to helping the poor, but it might not be our chief emphasis. Not everyone receives the same call from God. As I mentioned a few moments ago, God is calling each of us in our own way to do his work in our world. ACW members answer that call, each in her unique way.  

Some of you might remember a TV series from the 1960s called “Mission: Impossible”. If not, some of you might have seen the “Mission: Impossible” movies starring Tom Cruise. In either case, there is a point near the beginning of each episode or movie where the main character receives a message from his superiors telling him what his mission is going to be, and the message always includes the words, “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…”.

Jesus gives us a similar message. Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to proclaim the good news of the kingdom to our world today. That does not mean that we have to seek an active role in ministry such as mine or Rev. Judy’s or Chaplain Lawton’s. We are all given gifts from God to use in our mission. For example, our ACW members are called to use their gifts for their particular ministry. Some of us are called to leadership roles on our church and parish councils. Still others are called to ministry in the community as lawyers, doctors, accountants, fishermen, mechanics or plumbers. While at first glance these roles in the community might not seem to be a call from God, it is how the people in these jobs perform their daily duties that shows God’s ministry, especially if these tasks are done in an honest, caring and compassionate manner.

Many of you have probably heard the old saying, “No man is an island”, and nowhere is that more applicable than in Jesus’ call to mission. He calls us to do his work as members of the body of Christ and not just as individuals. Lay people and ordained people share the same discipleship or call to ministry, and we are called to complete this mission as a team. We are not always singled out as individuals. In fact, with the exception of Peter (who was often singled out by his failures that were caused by human weaknesses), Jesus rarely singled out any one of his disciples for a special role or function.

Jesus has called us today to be part of the fulfillment of Isaiah’s promise: to bring light into the darkness, joy to those in distress. We are the ones called to smash “the yoke that has burdened them”. Perhaps someone we know who is: going through a harsh divorce; lost a loved one; is looking for work; being put out of their homes; has a runaway child; is in jail; homebound; losing a struggle with a terminal illness, etc. Can we hear Jesus’ personal invitation, “Come after me…”? How should we respond? Where can we strike a light of hope for someone “dwelling in a land overshadowed by death”?

In some ways, ACW members are like essential personnel who still have to report to work in the event of a strike or bad weather. They are the people who have to be absolutely necessary. They are among the people who are modern-day disciples. Jesus saw the talents of the ACW members, and he called them. He said the word that transformed their lives. He set them to their tasks.

Epiphany is a season about proclamation and the power of God at work in God’s people, to be sure; but it is also a season when the church examines its life and witness and how it understands itself to be the incarnated Christ planted in a local community. Our job is to look outward, to see the opportunities for mission, and engage in them. That is how we proclaim the Good News to a community, and that is how we avoid pettiness and conflict. ACW members are a good example-an example that each and every one of us should try to follow in our Christian lives.

 Bibliography

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

2.      Lead like Jesus Daily Devotional, Monday, Jan. 10, 2011 Devotional. Retrieved from www.messagingstudio.com

3.      Exegesis for Matthew 4:12-23. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

4.      LWF Daily Devotional. Retrieved from www.lwf.org

5.      Stan Mitchell, “A Calling”. Retrieved from www.forthright.net

6.      Dr. Charles F. Stanley, “An Ordinary Person”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

7.      Joe Stowell, “Making the Cut”. Retrieved from www.rbc.org

8.      Kelly McFadden, “’B’ Team”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

9.      Jude Siciliano, “First Impressions, 3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

10.  King Duncan, “Called to be Disciples”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

11.  King Duncan, “A New Calling”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

12.  William B. Kincaid III, “Essential Personnel”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

13.  Charles l. Aaron, Jr., “Letting Go of Our Nets”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

14.  Joe E. Pennell, “The Called Ones”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

15.  Thomas A. Pilgrim, “The Man from Galilee II: The Transformation of His Call”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

16.  John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, 3^rd Sunday after Epiphany. Retrieved from www.seemslikegod.org/lectionary/archives/thrid-sunday-after-epiphany-%e2%80%93-jan.

 

 

Matthew 4:1-11 The First Temptation of Christ

Have you ever faced temptation in your life? Each and every one of us has faced life’s temptations at some point in time, and we are always faced with the issue of how we are going to face them. Even Jesus was tempted, as we have heard in today’s Gospel reading. We can be tempted at any stage in life. Do we fight temptation or give in to it? Today’s reading from Matthew’s Gospel gives us instructions about how we as Christians are supposed to deal with temptation.

The Gospel reading from Matthew 4:1-11 takes place shortly after Jesus’ baptism-a baptism that included the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus from heaven. Now, the Holy Spirit has led Jesus to a barren place where the devil waited to tempt him. You might wonder why the Holy Spirit did this. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to face temptation so that he would know what it is like to be tempted and so that he could emerge sinless and perfect-and thereby become the perfect, sinless lamb that would be slain for our sins. Our own wilderness experiences are an important aspect of our spiritual walk because they are designed to test us and teach us. We can look temptation in the face because Jesus has entered our desert experience and come out triumphant.

                                            
This happened at a spiritually significant time in Jesus’ life, and like Jesus, many of us are tempted at a spiritually significant time in our lives. Temptation is an active force today. If God calls us, we will be tempted. We are often tempted to see evil as the product of social problems such as poverty, racism or ignorance; however, the church teaches that evil exists because the Gospel writers taught that the devil existed and that Jesus had to deal with such an existence. Evil is a personal and sociological issue that lives in both our neighbourhoods and our hearts.

Jesus was tempted to turn stones into bread to satisfy his physical hunger, just like some of you might be tempted by my mother’s cookies in a few minutes or by candy or other snack foods. They satisfy our physical hunger for a short period of time, but in the long run too much “junk” is not good for us. The same is true of our spiritual hunger. We need spiritual nourishment as well as physical nourishment. God will provide us with the spiritual nourishment that we need. As long as we stay close to him, we will overflow with blessings and joy.

God has much to give us to feed our spiritual hunger, but today we are distracted from receiving his word by things such as shopping malls, catalogs, faster computers, TV shopping channels, men’s and women’s’ magazines and much more.  Only God can fulfill our longings. He is the hope we have when we look into the world and see so much evil. He is the hope we have when we look at ourselves and see our evil side.

If Jesus had given in to temptation, he would not have satisfied his spiritual hunger. He would have turned his back on God. He would have started his ministry by following the devil’s lead. Instead, he chose as his first duty the feeding of others on God’s word-a duty that must also be our first duty as Christians. In order to do this, we do not have to preach hellfire and brimstone. We can do this by serving others as Christ and the disciples served others.

Jesus was also tempted by Satan to jump from the roof of the temple. Satan even uses Scripture as a weapon! The three temptations are not incentives to do bad things. They are invitations to be someone else, to live some life other than that of the beloved son of God. While the devil and his disciples quote Scripture and thereby appeal to our lower nature, their strongest appeal is to our sense of right and wrong. They try to persuade us to do not what we know is wrong, but what we think is right. The devil hides his temptations. He will tempt us to do good deeds by using some sort of underhanded method. He offers us shortcuts that sound so good at the time, but work out so poorly for eternity. He will be like “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”, so we must stay alert at all times and always pray for guidance. We must not be fooled by the beautiful package that the temptation comes in, because the contents are ugly. Temptations are everywhere-just like the devil and his fallen angels.

Sometimes even our worship is directed to man when it should be directed to God. A good example of this is the extravagant lifestyle some TV evangelists lead-a lifestyle that is financed by the offerings received from their followers. Of particular concern are evangelists who proclaim that Jesus will bring prosperity to our businesses, families, dreams and lives, especially if you send them money! They are the devil in disguise. Jesus will bless these things only if they are in line with his will for our lives and if we worship him in true faith. In contrast, evangelists such as Billy Graham and Franklin Graham live modest lifestyles while they do God’s work in our world.

Finally, Jesus is tempted with all the kingdoms of the world, but God has already promised them to him. In reality, the devil has a stake in all the kingdoms of the world. Many people willingly serve him today. Can we trust Satan to deliver anything, let alone the whole world? The answer is “NO!”. The offer is only the bait for a steel trap. The only thing that Satan can deliver is a one-way trip to hell for those who refuse to follow the narrow path God has laid out for their lives.

                         
Jesus fights fire with fire by quoting Scripture back at the devil. Our greatest weapon in our fight against temptation is the word of God. It is the true armour of God that Paul refers to in Ephesians chapter 6. It will prove to others that God is more important than the world. God occupies the first-place space that we have reserved for him in our lives.

We should never doubt God’s leading us just because we run into temptation. Though God will never tempt us, he will test our faith to see if we will stay on the course that he has set for us to follow. If we are uncertain and need his assurance, all we have to do is ask him to confirm his will to us. He will answer whenever we pray and ask his guidance.

There will be times when we need his strength and guidance when we face temptations. Satan will never give up. He will stop at nothing to tempt us into doubting God’s word and his promises. Just as he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden, he will whisper words of doubt saying the Lord can’t be trusted or what he says is not the whole truth. We know Satan is a liar. When God speaks to us, we can believe whatever he says because he is the sovereign God of the universe.

How should we respond to temptation? Jesus gives us a good answer in his responses to Satan’s temptations. Jesus appealed to the unchanging word of God: “It is written!” If we want to successfully overcome temptation, we must also use God’s word as our offensive weapons against an inferior foe. This means we must take time to read and study his word. We can’t go into battle each day unarmed-and yet many people today do this very thing by ignoring the Bible and the principles it contains. In addition to the word of God, we have other ways to deal with temptation. First, we can face it for what It really is-an attempt to turn us away from God’s will. Second, we can flee from it-specifically, we must stay away from situations that always tempt us or cause us to stumble. We must follow the instructions Paul gave us in Ephesians chapter 6 and put on the armour of God when we do battle with evil. Only then can we follow the lines of the old hymn, “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war…”

Lent provides us with the training we need to fulfill our spiritual mission. Jesus was strengthened by his wilderness experience, and so are we. Jesus left the wilderness, called his disciples and started doing God’s work. We can also leave the wilderness and do God’s work, all the time being confident that we can face temptation by relying on God’s strengths.

Bibliography

1.      Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASV

2.      Exegesis for Matthew 4:1-11. Retrieved from www.sermonwwriter.com

3.      Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “All about Angels”. Returned from www.leadingtheway.org.

4.      John E. Werhan, “What We Worship”. Retrieved from www.forthright.net

5.      Billy Graham, “Why Do I Still Have Temptations?” Retrieved from www.arcamax.com

6.      Pastor Ken Klaus, “Don’t Try This At Home”. Retrieved from www.lhm.org.

7.      Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 1^st Sunday of Lent, Year A”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

8.      The Rev. Michael J. Fish, “Victory over Temptation”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

9.      The Rev. Dr. George Mason, “Training Days”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

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

11.  King Duncan, “As the World Turns”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

12.  King Duncan, “Beyond Temptation”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

13.  Thomas Long, “Facing Up to Temptation”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

14.  James McCormick, “Jesus’ Forty Days, and Ours”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

15.  King Duncan, “Waiting for the Angels”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

16.  James Merritt, “When I Am Tempted”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

17.  Dr. J. Howard Olds, “Why Doesn’t God Do Away With Evil?” Retrieved from www.esermons.com

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

19.  ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch Bible software package.

 

                                         

Mark 10:2-16 God’s Love for the Hurting

At first glance, the reading from Mark 10:2-16 seems a little disjointed. It starts with a discussion about divorce and ends with a discussion about entering God’s kingdom like little children. While they seem to be disconnected, they really are connected. Let me try to explain.

Mark’s Gospel was the first of the four major gospels to be written. In fact, if you compare the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke, you will find that they are very similar. John’s Gospel is different for reasons that I won’t get into right now. Mark’s Gospel was not intended to be a daily diary of Jesus’ activities. Rather, it was intended to teach us about how we are to live our lives as Christians. In order to do this, Mark often puts two or more stories that are seemingly different side-by-side because of the deeper connection between them. 

Such is the case with the Gospel reading from Mark 10:2-16. Jesus is trying to tell us that we are to show concern for the less fortunate in society. In Jesus’ time, women and children were among the least fortunate in society. They had very few rights. In fact, women were seen as the property of their husbands. A man could divorce his wife for seemingly petty reasons such as burning the meat, not keeping the home clean or getting older. All he had to do under the Law of Moses was to write a bill of divorce, give it to the woman and send her on her way. It is no wonder that prostitution is mentioned so many times in the Bible. It was the only way a divorced woman in that society could support herself and her children, especially if she did not have any other male relatives who could support her.

Society is the same today. There are many divorced women who are working to support themselves and their children without the support of their ex-husbands. Marriage is often seen today as nothing more than a social contract, but God sees marriage as a sacrament uniting a man with a woman. Society and some churches are trying to change their interpretation of God’s plan. One only has to look at the current debate within the Anglican Church of Canada regarding performing same-sex marriages to see an example.

While God’s plan is that marriages last until death, God also realizes that divorce is a reality because of our frail, sinful, human nature. That is why Moses allowed divorce, but he made it as difficult as possible. You see, the bill of divorce had to be written. Since many people at that time were illiterate, the process was a long and difficult one. God also realizes that there are situations where divorce is necessary, such as in the case of abuse. While every possible effort should be made to save marriages, we as Christians MUST also work with those who have been hurt by the pain of divorce to show them that God loves them and shares their pain. 

Divorce does not just affect the spouses. It also affects their parents, siblings, friends, co-workers and most importantly their children. I know, because the pain of divorce and separation has affected a member of my family. I have seen how the particular situation has affected the children that are involved. All children are vulnerable, but the children of divorce can be even more vulnerable. Marriage was not intended to be ended by man, just like we can’t separate ourselves from the love of God. Our relationship with God is like a marriage, and just like every marriage, it requires work on our part; namely, faith and commitment.

Jesus knew that people suffer in divorce, so it is no accident that Mark follows Jesus’ debate with the Pharisees with Jesus calling the little children to him. We can see Jesus put his arms around the whole human race and condition. He does realize that divorce is sometimes necessary because of our human weakness. To the divorced, as to every person who is hurting, He offers insight, help, healing and forgiveness.

Jesus has a special fondness for the vulnerable members of society. That is why he had the debate with the Pharisees in the first part of this morning’s Gospel reading. One of God’s intentions for marriage is protection of the vulnerable-namely, women and children-from divorce caused by any reason. Jesus placed women, children and all vulnerable people on an equal footing with the rest of society. By doing so, he showed them that God’s love and God’s kingdom are for everyone. All we have to do is believe in Jesus and accept him in faith. 

So how do we accept Jesus in faith? We do so by coming to Jesus like a child. Let me explain this by taking you on a short walk down memory lane. Some of you may have heard of a singer/songwriter named Ray Stevens. He is famous for writing and recording comedy songs such as "Bridget the Midget", "Ahab the Arab", "The Streak", “Osama, Yo’ Mama”, and many others. He did record a few serious songs, the most famous of which was "Everything is Beautiful". That particular song starts with some children who are singing words that tie in nicely with the topic of my homily today. The verse goes something like this:

Jesus loves the little children

all little children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white

They are precious in His sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Children by nature are trusting, naïve at times, and full of curiosity and wonder. They always want to know “Why?” (As those of you who are parents probably remember from your child-rearing days!). They have few worries, if any. They have an enthusiasm for life that we tend to lose as we get older. They have a sense that anything is possible. They trust other people implicitly. They have little if any control over their lives and depend on their parents. In other words, they are humble, just like Jesus teaches us to be humble.

.

I wish I could say that we as adults are the same way, but we are not. We have been hurt by some of our life experiences. Other experiences have hurt us. We are committed to fending for ourselves. In order to know the love that Christ has for us, we must let go of our control. We must stop protecting ourselves because Christ is our real defense. We must stop trying to provide for ourselves because Christ is our provider. In other words, we must travel the path that leads toward the innocence and trust that a child has.

We must be like children in our service to God. We must trust and obey Him without fail. We must live as children of God SHOULD live. In Jesus' time, children were seen as nothings until they were old enough to be useful. Jesus appreciated and valued them for who they were and what they brought as children:

1.      A simple, unquestioning faith

2.      A trusting view of life

3.      Disregard for wealth and status

4.      Taking pleasure in the smallest things

 What is our outlook as Kingdom people on life, possessions, people, those who might be neglected? It should be like a child's.

 

I'd like to close my sermon this morning with these words from an email I received about a year and a half ago. They accurately describe how we are to come to God like a child and not keep others from coming to him. The poem is entitled:

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."

When Christ comes into our lives, we become enthusiastic and God-filled. We can’t sit still. We want to get out and do something about it. We want to reach out to others just like God reached out to us through Jesus. We must not place barriers in the lives of people who desire to come to Christ----not even the barrier of a broken marriage. We need to bring people to Jesus by being a Christ-like friend, by sharing what it means to follow Jesus, and by carrying thanks to Jesus in prayer. In the scene of children in the arms of a loving Jesus, there is a story to be told, lessons to be learned, a key to unlatch eternal life, and a promise to bring us ultimate happiness---the happiness that is even greater than the happiest marriage on earth.

 

Bibliography

1.      Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions” for Sunday, October 4^th, 2009. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

2.      Unknown, “A Christ in Our Midst”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.org

3.      Michael Warden, “Looking to the Father”. Retrieved from www.loi.org.

4.      Donald Strobe, “Childish or Child-Like”. Retrieved from www.sermons.com/theResultsPage.asp?user_id=31971

5.      Donald Strobe, “God’s Strange Arithmetic”. Retrieved from www.sermons.com/theResultsPage.asp?user_id=31971

6.      Michael Milton, “Children in the Arms of a Loving God”. Retrieved from www.sermons.com/theResultsPage.asp?user_id=31971