In Acts 6:15-7:16, we read part of the story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He was arrested and brought before the Jewish council. The council levied four charges against Stephen: blaspheming God, Moses, the law and the temple. If true, all would have been worthy of death. These charges were false. Some people he was debating could not defeat him, so they made false accusations against him. This trial also violated the commandment to not bear false witness against your neighbour. His trial established a pattern of martyrdom that would define church growth for centuries to come.

When Stephen was brought before the Jewish authorities, did he know that he would be killed? We don’t know. What we do know is that he preached with an intuitive power, as if he knew that he might not have another chance. In his response, Stephen surveyed all of the Old Testament to show that what the Jews called blasphemy was actually a description of the changes God was bringing to Israel through the Just One, the long-awaited Messiah whom they had just crucified.

Stephen was a person whose witness was radiant with grace and graciousness. A description of what Stephen’s face might have looked like is found in Exodus 34, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai. Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit usually reflect something of that reality in their faces. Stephen was full of faith in Christ and the Resurrection. He believed that all things were possible through faith in Christ. That belief led to miraculous things happening to people who heard him preach and teach. He became a magnet to people in need and a target of opposition.

What did the Jews see as they looked upon the face of Stephen? They saw his wisdom coming out through the look on his face, and that look resembled the look of an angel. They saw the Holy Spirit in his words and actions. There’s something about being in the anointing of Jesus that causes a countenance to radiate with His supernatural glory. When we encounter Jesus, His glory gets on us. The more closely we abide in Jesus, the brighter our light becomes.

Stephen saw a chance to say what the Israelite leaders needed to hear. His sermon established three points:

1. Christ and His kingdom are the main point of God’s progressive plan, not the temple.
2. God has always blessed Israel throughout its history, regardless of whether it had a temple.
3. Israel has a long history of attempting to frustrate God’s plan and has always consisted of two groups: the righteous and the rebellious.

Why did Stephen take the approach of summarizing the history of the Jewish people? We don’t know. Perhaps he wanted to explain the deeper meaning, purpose, fulfillment, and culmination of the Messiah. He did know that the authorities were angry. The only way he could sway them and calm them down was to remind them about what they had in common. He also wanted to establish his credentials as a faithful Hebrew scholar. He also wanted to show God’s faithfulness through history, leading to the death of Jesus. Stephen was trying to tell the story of the freedom and deliverance God offers. He was trying to tell the story of how God overcame every obstacle that his people faced and how God will overcome every obstacle that His people continue to face today.

Stephen knew that he was being condemned without regard to evidence to justice, just as Jesus and the disciples were. His heart might have swelled at the thought of being identified with them in suffering. The love for the truth he was defending and the love for Christ were kindled afresh and inspired him.

God’s judgment on His chosen people was strict because He was guiding and disciplining them, preparing them for His ultimate blessing. Christians are protected from God’s wrath through the cross, but no one is exempt from God’s correction.

Stephen made the point that God does not want us to start out on His path and then stagnate. Obedience involves commitment and follow-through. How many times do we settle for something less than God’s perfect plan for our lives? How often do we set out in obedience only to stop at the halfway mark? When we start talking about God, do we stumble and hesitate, or do we take a bold, fearless stand against the foolishness of unbelief?

Hardships and difficulties, even tragedies, do not mean that God is absent. The Lord was with Joseph in the midst of his trials, shaping him into the man Egypt and his own people needed. God’s presence is never passive. The silence of God should never be attributed to the absence of God.

How can we defend our faith? Stephen gives us a good example. We can start by finding common ground with our opponents. This can calm their anger and create a situation in which reason and cooler heads can prevail. In spite of hostility, we must always do our best to remain respectful. Some people will respond favourably to such efforts, and civil and ongoing conversation may be the result. We must never abandon our efforts with those we are trying to reach for Christ because people are watching us.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New Kings James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 1497-1498)
2. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
3. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 12 Bible software package.
6. Vince Amlin, “Previously On….” Retrieved from dailydevotional@ucc.org
7. Michael Yousef, Ph.D., “Complete Obedience.” Retrieved from mydevotional@ltw.org
8. T.M. Moore, “The Face of Angel.” Retrieved from www.ailbe.org
9. T.M. Moore, “Common Ground.” Retrieved from www.ailbe.org
10. “Supernatural Under Fire.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
11. Bobby Schuller, “Glowing for God.” Retrieved from hourofpower@hourofpower.org
12. Bobby Schuller, “Giving Voice to God’s Heart.” Retrieved from hourofpower@hourofpower.org
13. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary: Acts (Carol Stream, Il: Tyndale House Publishers; 2016; pp. 126-130)

Three local ministers decided to go fishing one day. They got into a boat, went a short distance out on the lake, and started fishing. After a few hours, one minister ran out of bait. Since they were close to the shore, he stepped over the side of the boat and walked across the water to the bait shop. He bought some more bait, walked back to the boat and got back into the boat.

A little while later, the second minister ran out of bait. He stepped over the side of the boat and walked to the bait shop. He bought some more bait, walked back to the boat and got back in.

A few minutes later, the third minister, who was new to the area, also ran out of bait. He stepped over the side of the boat, and almost drowned!!!!! The other two ministers pulled him back into the boat. One of them said to the other, “I KNEW we should have shown him where the stepping stones were!!!!!!”

Matthew 14:22-33 is a story about taking a leap of faith. Peter took a leap of faith by literally getting out of the boat when he heard Jesus’ call.  This same call goes out to all of us today. We are called to take a leap of faith when Jesus calls us. It means getting out of the boats that we call our comfortable lives. Peter left the safety and security of the boat to face the uncertainty of Jesus’ call. When we leave our boats, we have to keep our focus on Jesus. Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off of Jesus, and like Peter, we will fail in our mission if we lose sight of the reason for our mission-Jesus.

Faith is never constant. It comes and goes with the varying circumstances in our lives. We will have our miraculous moments in life, our mountaintop experiences. But mountaintops prepare us for the valleys of life, and calm waters prepare us for the storms of life. Peter is the all too human representative of us all-daring, then doubting, and finally dependent on the Lord for what we need most, our salvation.

When we ride out the storms of life, we can take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is just an arm’s length away. The waves don’t bother him, and he is not shaken by the currents. He will help us conquer the storm if we focus on him instead of the storm. He is our anchor in times of trouble. In the words of the old hymn:

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift and the cables strain

Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move

Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love

There are times when we might think that we have lost Jesus, but he never loses sight of us. When faith reigns, fear has no place. There is no shame in asking for help from Jesus. When we ask for help from him, we can look back on any tough times and be comforted. We can continue forward with courage knowing that the blessed assurance we have in his presence is unconditional.

We are to build our faith on what the Word of God says. We don’t just step out and say, “By faith, I want this. By faith, I demand that.” Instead, we are to ask ourselves, “What does the Scripture teach? What should I be praying for? What should I be asking for?” Then we must pray accordingly. That’s what Peter did, and as long as he had his eyes on Jesus, he was able to do the impossible.

Faith is the refusal to panic, especially since there is no safety net. Faith is a quiet certainty that God keeps his promises, especially the promise to not leave us or forsake us. When our faith lapses, all we have to do is call out to Jesus through prayer. If Jesus found it necessary to pray, what more motivation do we need to pray, especially when life is difficult? When we walk in faith with the master of the wind and waves, we will survive. When we choose to focus on our cares and worries, we raise our worries to the same status as the promises of Jesus. But, which is more important-the ability of Jesus to care for us or the concerns we have about our circumstances?

The storms of life can be best managed through prayer. Jesus spent a great deal of his time in prayer. He made this a regular practice because he knew he could do nothing apart from his father. We need to have the same mindset. If we are rushing through our days, never taking the time to stop, pray and listen to God, we will become exhausted easily and burned out with life. Our refreshment begins with an intimate relationship with the Lord, and it can only be accomplished through prayer and frequent time spent in his presence.

Jesus’ presence does not result in instant miracles or answers to our prayers. Prayer may seem like a waste of time in the midst of the storm, but prayer shows our faith in God, and that faith gives us the strength we need to face the storms of life. For example, one night several years ago my mother had to be rushed by ambulance to the local hospital because of a medical emergency. I followed behind the ambulance in my own car. The doctor on call diagnosed the problem as a heart attack. After he spoke to the two of us, I went home, knowing that there was nothing more I could do for her at that time. After I called the rest of the family, I got ready for bed. Before I went to sleep, I had a serious talk with the Lord. I don’t remember the exact words I used, but the prayer went something like this.

“Lord, I’m leaving the situation in your hands now. Please bless the doctors and nurses who are caring for her. If it’s your will that Mom gets better, then please heal her. If it’s your will that she not survive, please don’t let her suffer. If her condition gets to the point where I have to make the important decisions that Mom and I have discussed, please give me the strength, wisdom and courage to make the right decision; and please give me the strength and courage to accept the consequences of my decision-especially consequences from other family members”.

Thankfully, God answered my prayer in the way I wanted him to answer it. Medical tests the next day revealed that the doctor made the wrong diagnosis. Mom did not have a heart attack-she had blood clots in both lungs. With proper treatment, Mom slowly got better and stronger, and she was released from the hospital after one week. The unexpected way God often does things may startle us and even frighten us. We may not understand why he works in a certain way. That is why he continually tells us, “Do not be afraid. It is I”.

When we put our faith in Jesus, he will carry our burdens and sooth our hearts. A soft-spoken God is an appropriate companion when life is difficult. Sometimes it is only after a difficult period that we can look back at recent events and realize God was here all the time with us. It is like the story of the footprints in the sand. It goes like this.

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he asked the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.” The Lord replied, “My son, my precious child, I love you, and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you”.

Sometimes we have to take a leap of faith, even when everything is peaceful in our lives. Life comes with plenty of risks, and sometimes we have to take calculated risks to get ahead in life. People who start a business take a risk that the business will not be successful, but this risk can be managed with proper planning. When children leave their parents’ home, they take the risk that they will not be successful in life, but even this risk can be managed with proper planning. In some cities, women are at risk of being a victim of a crime such as rape, especially when walking at night, but this risk can also be managed with proper planning. In each case, risk is a part of life. It can be managed, but it can never be eliminated. Without risk, there is no reward. Our faith must be reckless, but the risks we take must not be reckless.

The same is true in our Christian life. Faith is the willingness to take risks, embrace the unseen and step away from the shore. When we put our faith in God, and keep our eyes on him, there is a risk that the world will reject us. It is better to be rejected by the world and be loved by God than to be loved by the world and rejected by God. Wherever we find ourselves today, and we hear Jesus call us, we must put our faith in action and get out of the boat, especially if we want the greater security that Jesus offers. When we step out with faith and trust Jesus, we take him at his word, put him to the test, and just do it! The result is the thrilling adventure called the Christian life.

Faith and doubt can live in the same heart. After all, they lived in Peter’s heart, especially when he walked on the water and began to sink. That’s what happens when we take our eyes off of Jesus. So it is with us. Many times we sit on the sidelines watching someone do something, and decide to try it ourselves, just like Peter decided to walk on the water after he saw Jesus walking on water. Perhaps it looks like fun. Perhaps we think we could do it better. Perhaps we’re just looking for a challenge. And then we learn that it isn’t as easy as it looked. We feel the wind and the roughness of the waves underfoot and wish that we had kept our comfortable seat in the boat.

Or we feel Christ’s call. It might be a call to feed the hungry. It might be a call to serve as a church officer. It might be a call to tithe. It might be a call to speak on behalf of an issue. We begin to answer the call, and then realize it is tougher than it looked. We feel the wind and the roughness of the waves and wish we had kept our comfortable seat in the pews.

We might be safely perched in our easy chairs in front of the television, but that is not what God has created for us. He has created us to be his hands and his voice in the world-and that is seldom easy. Sometimes, when we answer Christ’s call, we will feel the wind and the roughness of the waves and be afraid. When that happens, we need to remember this story of Peter stepping out of the boat and walking toward Jesus, and the leap of faith he took. If he could do it, so can we.

Bibliography

1. Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASV
2. Dr. Harold Sala, “What God Most Desires”. Retrieved from www.guidelines.org
3. Lisa Wingate, “Bad Boats”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
4. Greg Laurie, “A Well-Timed Rescue”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
5. Greg Laurie, “No Place for Fear”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
6. Greg Laurie, “Just Ask for Help”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
7. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions: 19^th Sunday (A)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org.
8. Charles F. Stanley, “God’s Provision”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
9. Greg Laurie, “Muscular Faith”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
10. Greg Laurie, “Spectacular Failure”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
11. Jim Penner, “Time Out”. Retrieved from www.hourofppower.cc
12. Mary Southerland, “Faith Believes in God”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
13. Leslie Snyder, “Dancing on the Waves”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
14. John C. Maxwell, “Stepping-Stones for Success”. Retrieved from www.hourofpower.cc
15. Anne Graham Lotz, “A Thrilling Adventure”. Retrieved from www.angelministries.org
16. Jon Walker, “God Uses Obedience to Develop Our Faith’. Retrieved from www.newsletter.purposedriven.com
17. Jon Walker, “Look at Jesus, Not at the Waves”. Retrieved from www.newsletter.purposedriven.com
18. Stan Mast, “Faith and Doubt”. Retrieved from www.backtogod.net
19. Mary Southerland, “Step Away from the Shore”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
20. Exegesis for Matthew 14:22-33. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
21. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Part of Wordsearch Bible software package.
22. Notes from Peter Anthony’s Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew.
23. John Shearman’s Lectionary Resources, Eighth Sunday after Pentecost. Retrieved from http://seemslikegod.org/lectionary/aarchivess/eighth-sunday-after-pentecost-august-7-2011
24. Dr. Lanie LeBlanc, OP, “Volume 2: 19^th Sunday (A)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

When I led a weekly worship service at a local nursing home a few years ago, I talked about memories and how they can be both good and bad, depending on the memories. I talked about how Joshua told representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel to take 12 stones from the Jordan River and make a monument after the Israelites entered the Promised Land. This monument was intended to help the Israelites remember God’s faithfulness to them during the forty years that they wandered in the wilderness.

The writer of Psalm 85 also talks about memories. Memories give us hope. For example, people who are grieving the loss of a loved one are often comforted by their memories of their loved ones. Memories let us recall with gratitude what God has done in the past, and they give us the hope that God will do good things for us again in the future. That makes our present sorrows and sufferings bearable.

Psalm 85 is a community lament. God was not pleased that his people were unfaithful, and he showed his displeasure. The people repented and asked God to forgive them. The six verbs-been favourable, brought back, have forgiven, covered, taken away, turned down-highlight God’s redemptive work in Israel’s history. God’s gracious dealings with Israel in the past justify the hope that He will once again show grace and forgiveness. The psalm closes with the confidence that God will forgive his people.

The psalmist also urges us to make sure that our repentance is genuine. He urges us not to make the same mistakes that caused God’s displeasure. The word mercy literally means “lovingkindness” or “steadfast love.” It is a powerful word used elsewhere in the Old Testament to describe God’s unconditional love and His covenant commitment. God’s promise of salvation is available to everyone who believes in him in faith, but that provision is not automatic. It only comes if we repent and turn to God in faith.

God’s judgment is the result of his righteousness and our sins. There will never be any reconciliation without repentance and forgiveness. Reconciliation was made possible by Christ’s death on the cross. Since he bore our sins and our punishment on his shoulders, we can come home to God. His wrath has been lifted, but it will return every time we sin. Every time we repent, God will forgive us, but that does not give us a license to sin.

Spiritual revival involves getting right with God and returning to a place in our lives where we can delight in God and celebrate his goodness, love and mercy. It will rescue us from the penalty of sin and the urge to practice our sins.

Jesus is like water. Both can go where we can’t go. Throw something against a wall, and it will hit the wall and drop. Throw water on a wall, and the water will spread. Jesus is the same. He is a spirit who is not limited by an earthly body. He enters our souls and quenches our spiritual thirst just like water quenches our physical thirst.

There is a spiritual thirst in the world today. Both the world and the church need revival. They need to heed the words of the old song, “That Old Time Religion”:

 Give me that old time religion

 give me that old time religion

 Give me that old time religion

 It’s good enough for me

 Makes me love everybody

 Makes me love everybody

 Makes me love everybody

 It’s good enough for me

 It has saved our fathers

 It has saved our fathers

 It has saved our fathers

 And it’s good enough for me

 It was good for the prophet Daniel

 It was good for the prophet Daniel

 It was good for the prophet Daniel

 And it’s good enough for me

 Give me that old time religion

 give me that old time religion

 Give me that old time religion

 It’s good enough for me

 It was good for Hebrew children

 it was good for Hebrew children

 It was good for Hebrew children

 And it’s good enough for me

The church needs to have the same impact that the church in the first century AD did. We and the church need to pray, evangelize and give faithfully of time, talent and treasures.

We need revival daily even thought we may say to ourselves, “I’ve confessed, tried and failed so many times. Revival doesn’t last.”  Someone said the same thing to evangelist Billy Sunday in the early 1900s. He made the point that since personal revival wasn’t a permanent end to temptation, sin and failure, times of revival weren’t important. The man complained to Billy Sunday that revival just doesn’t last. Billy Sunday just smiled and replied, “Well, a bath doesn’t last either, but it’s good to take one occasionally!” Daily revival is like a daily bath. Both get rid of dirt and grime. A bath gets rid of physical dirt and grime, and daily revival gets rid of the spiritual dirt and grime called sin. When we are restored, we can rejoice at having been restored and forgiven. At the same time, we can anticipate with joy the fulfillment of prophecy and our promised salvation.

We can’t do anything to earn our salvation except repent and accept God by faith. Salvation is a gift from God that was paid for when Christ died on the cross. When God forgives us, we will know that God keeps his promises. God’s mercy and righteousness will always triumph over sin and death. Lovingkindness, righteousness and peace are characteristics of God, and they are also characteristics of our eternal, heavenly home.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN; Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 762-763)
2. Houston, David: “Old Time Religion.” Retrieved from http://www.metrolyrics.com/old-time-religion-lyrics-david-houston.html
3. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
4. Williams, D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 14: Psalms 73-150 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1989; pp. 108-113)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
6. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010, pp. 785-787)
7. Pastor Greg Laurie, “Revival is Personal.” Retrieved from www.harvest.org
8. Joel Osteen, “Ask to Hear Him Better.” Retrieved from www.joelsoteen.com
9. Dr. Stephen Davey, “Taking a Bath-Daily!” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
10. Dr. Billy Graham, “Does God Give Up on a Nation That Turns Against Him?” Retrieved from www.billygraham.org
11. The Rev. Margaret Leichester-Stoddard, “Bible Study, Proper 12 (C)-July 24, 2016.” Retrieved from http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/stw/2016/07/11/bible-study-proper-12-c-juolu-24-2016/

Imagine for a moment that you’re part of the crowd in the story of the miracle of the loaves and fish. You’ve been listening intently to Jesus’ words all day. You’ve traveled a long distance. It’s been a long day, you’re tired and hungry, and you realize that you didn’t bring anything to eat. You have heard Jesus tell his disciples to find food for the people. To make matters worse, you realize that the only food available to feed the people is five small loaves of bread and two small fish. You see Jesus take the food, bless it and give it to the crowd. After the meal, you see the disciples gather up the broken, leftover pieces—enough to fill twelve baskets.

God the teacher feeds our minds. He teaches us not only through His Word, but also through the priest, the celebrant, the organist and choir, the lesson readers-in fact, He teaches through EVERYONE who does his work in the church family. His teaching materials (teachings, laws, etc.) are never used up. In fact, they are multiplied because those of us who are taught by Him can go out and teach others. By doing so, we do our part to fulfill the Lord’s Great Commission, namely “Go forth into the world and make disciples of all nations”.

God also doesn’t care what we offer to Him, as He can use anything and everything we offer to Him in faith. Most people today give in the form of money, but that wasn’t always so. Some of you might have heard stories about how in past years ministers were paid in the form of livestock, fruit or vegetables. A few years ago I read a story written by a minister in the United States about his experiences in a church in a Third World country. He wrote that on one particular Sunday the congregation arrived at the church and was greeted by three turkeys and a pig that were tied up outside the door. The previous week’s sermon had been about tithing-giving one-tenth of your income to the church. The three turkeys and one pig represented one-tenth of the income of the farmer who gave them, but he gave them in faith because he knew that God’s mission required resources to get it done.

In order for God to feed the crowd spiritually, He needed to feed them physically, for without the resource called physical food, the people could not receive the spiritual food. The same idea applies to the Holy Eucharist, for it is through the physical food of the bread and wine that we receive the spiritual food Christ offers, just like the disciples did at the last Supper.

God accepts us for who we are, and in doing so accepts whatever we offer to Him in faith and thanksgiving. Our offering can be big or small. God doesn’t care how much we offer, because He uses whatever we offer to do His work in our world and in our daily lives.

When God accepts our individual offerings, he blesses them and combines them with the offerings of fellow believers. He uses this combination to bless and multiply what He gives to his people in return. This is like the parable of the mustard seed-God takes something very small like our individual offerings, and makes it grow into something bigger and better-namely, faith in Him. The loaves and fish represent more than just physical food-they also represent the spiritual food and nourishment God offers us.

God is all-seeing, all knowing, and His love knows no limits. He shows his love by offering spiritual nourishment to His people. The spiritual nourishment is so vast that we can’t absorb it all at once. There are always leftovers, just like there were leftovers that were gathered up in baskets by the disciples. Just like we need to eat physical food several times a day to live physically, we need to keep partaking of the spiritual nourishment in order for our faith to live. Our human inability to absorb every single item we are taught forces God to keep reminding us about His love and power, just as our human ability to ignore what He has to teach us forces Him to keep reminding us.

The sharing of the loaves and fishes also represents God sharing His wisdom and love with his children. The leftover food reminds us that God’s love and wisdom overflow our mind and soul, as well as our capacity to absorb what He offers to us. Whatever overflows can still be absorbed by us, as long as we continue to seek His spiritual nourishment.

God doesn’t offer spiritual food without requiring something from us in return. When He feeds us, He also asks us to nourish, teach, rule and lead others. He asks us to feed the multitudes by offering what we can. As we distribute the spiritual food, it increases and fills the soul, much like the physical food of the loaves and fishes increased and fed the crowds who gathered to hear Jesus. There is an interesting parallel here involving the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Eucharist is a physical representation of the distribution of the spiritual food God offers us. Just like the crowd received the physical food of the loaves and fishes in thanksgiving, we receive the food of bread and wine in thanksgiving for the spiritual food of our Lord’s most precious body and blood when we come to Him in faith.

God always likes to know that we have faith in Him. When we don’t show this faith openly, He asks us to prove that we have faith. That is why Jesus asked the disciples where they could find food for the crowd. He could have simply made manna rain down from heaven like He did for the Israelites after Moses led them out of slavery in Egypt, but He didn’t. He knew that even the disciples couldn’t understand everything He had taught both them and the crowd, but their understanding was caused not by ignorance, but by lack of faith. After all, they had been by His side for a long time and had heard His teachings and seen His miracles, whereas the crowd gathered to see Him that one time, much as we would gather to see a famous musician who might come to perform in a major city only once or twice in his entire career. The small amount of loaves and fish that was offered to Jesus in faith led to a bountiful harvest for the multitudes. Even a small amount of faith in Jesus leads to a bountiful harvest of spiritual food and blessings for His people. Jesus used the request for food to prove the old saying that “big things come in small packages”.

In John 6:27, Jesus tells us to “Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the father, even God, hath sealed”. What this tells us is that spiritual food is much more important than physical food. Spiritual food is necessary for the survival of our spiritual life, just like physical food is important for the survival of physical life. Spiritual food allows us to understand what God has in store for us, what He wants us to do in our lives, and what is in store for us in our heavenly home. God wants to give us this food because He loves us. All we have to do is come before Him in humility and faith.

Spiritual food is not limited to the Holy Eucharist and God’s teachings. Weekly church services fill the void, especially at times where the Eucharist is not celebrated. We can’t to come to church only a handful of times in our lives and expect that the small amount of spiritual food we receive at those times will sustain us forever. Just like we have to eat physical food several times a day in order to live, we need to receive spiritual food on a regular basis. That is why many of us attend services every week–because we need to hear and receive the spiritual food offered by regular worship. Those who attend worship services only on special occasions such as weddings funerals, baptisms, Christmas or Easter receive a small amount of spiritual nourishment, whereas those who attend worship services regularly and worship in sincere faith receive the honour of having a seat at the Head Table of God’s Holy Feast.

Have you ever heard of the saying, “Every dark cloud has a silver lining”? If so, then the story of the loaves and fishes is a good example. Let me explain.

This story happens just after the death of John the Baptist. When Jesus heard that his cousin was beheaded, he did what some of us do when a friend or relative dies-he went off to a quiet place to think, pray and grieve. Unfortunately, to paraphrase the words of that great Scottish poet Robbie Burns, Jesus’ best laid plans were led astray by God.

You see, Jesus wasn’t the only person who was mourning the death of John the Baptist. His followers were also in mourning. They had lost their powerful leader. If he could be killed, then no one was safe-not even Jesus. They were seeking a new leader.

People had heard of Jesus and his teaching and healing, and they wanted what he had to offer. They searched for him and found him just when he wanted to be alone. Was he angry with them? No. On the contrary, he had compassion for them and taught them and healed the sick. By night time, the people were still there, and they did not have anything to eat all day. The disciples wanted Jesus to send them away so they could get food in the nearby villages, but Jesus had other ideas, and just like the crowd interrupted Jesus’ plans, Jesus in turn interrupted the disciples’ plans. He told them to feed the crowd.

Now, the disciples had a problem. Where were they going to get enough food? All they had was five loaves of bread and two fish, and that certainly would not be enough to feed everyone-or so they thought. Jesus took the food, blessed it and had the disciples distribute it to the people. Low and behold, there was MORE than enough food-in fact; there were 12 baskets of leftovers!

The miracle of the loaves and fish is not so much what Jesus does as what happens among the crowd in Jesus’ presence. Jesus’ compassion was contagious in the way the people cared for each other and shared the food. The miracle shows us God’s character, the nature of the coming Kingdom, and the nature of the Kingdom in our hearts when it has transformed us. Our heavenly Father, as the head of the household, establishes the household, sustains and liberates us and guides us to spiritual fulfillment. The foundation of God’s household is the duty he imposes on us to care for each other.

Jesus always seems to be asking more of us than we have to give-as spouses and parents and students and workers and on and on. He calls on us to love, even when love is difficult; to forgive, even when we have been wronged; to stand fast and firm on our principles, even when it mean standing alone. And those things are not easy to do. After all, we are not Jesus, and our powers are not unlimited, as his were.

God’s abundance is right here, right now, wherever right here and whenever right now may be. We think we don’t have enough not because our supplies are too small, but because our “we” is too small. The “we” includes God and the gifts of all those among whom we are sent as Christ’s body. Indeed, far more of the gifts are “out there” than “in here”. That’s how it is that ministry in God’s kingdom grows by becoming viral and multiplying. God meets daily needs daily. He will give us what we need when it is needed. Matthew 6:32-33 reads, “Your heavenly Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Jesus bore witness to our spiritual duty to care for each other. There is enough for everyone when we live in right relation and harmony, but in reality there are millions of people who live in poverty and are starving. What can we do? Well, we can do what Jesus did. Jesus took the small amount of food that was offered and used it to do his work by using it as an example for the disciples and for us. When we work together and use what we have to do God’s work, God will multiply what we offer. For example, those of you who donate food or money to a local food bank might not think that your small contribution will make much of a difference, but all of the donations, when combined, go a long way to feeding the hungry in your community.

We are not to be a band-aid that provides a small amount of healing and protection for the hurting people around us, only to be taken off and once again made separate. The church must be fused with those who have been hurt by society, working as a unit to bring about healing. Part of our strategy is to become a vital part of life in our region, not just a place for people to visit on the weekends but truly to be a healing place for a hurting world.

For example, our ministers take the bread of communion to those in “deserted places”-the sick, dying, imprisoned and elderly. They often feel on the fringe of life, less than appreciated, less than valued. When they receive Communion, the ministers are essentially telling them that they are part of our church community, part of the people who are fed by God.

This story is the only one that appears in all four gospels, although there are some slight differences. For example, John 6:9 mentions the involvement of the small boy. Some scholars propose that the boy’s generosity inspired the crowd to share the food which they had brought-with the result that there was plenty for all. Unfortunately, there are some problems with this proposal. First, the boy is only mentioned in John’s Gospel. If his gesture was the key to understanding this story, surely it would have been included in all four Gospels. Second, this proposal seems to be motivated by discomfort of the supernatural. If we explain away the supernatural in the Bible, we are not left with much. Finally, Matthew’s version clearly emphasizes the great size of the crowd, the need for great quantities of food, and the great miracle that fills the need.

Every one of us has a hunger for something-a hunger we try to fill with food, houses, spouses, careers, cars, sex, drugs or something else. This hunger is why many of us go to church. We have a hunger that only God can satisfy, and it can only be satisfied by regular weekly church attendance. Those who only go to church on special occasions, or who refuse to go because they don’t like the minister or the service book that is used will never have their hunger completely satisfied. God gives us strength, because we get discouraged. God gives us grace because we don’t always feel accepted. God gives us generosity because we tend to be selfish. God gives us love, because we want to be loved.

This story shows a contrast between two different parties-a party hosted by Herod and a party hosted by Jesus. Herod’s party was one of lust, cowardice, rash words, hatred and murder-all because he was so enamored by the dancing of his step-daughter that he made a rash promise that led to the death of John the Baptist. In contrast, Jesus’ party as shown by the miracle of the loaves and fish is one that leads people to freedom and life.

Those who serve the Lord get to enjoy the fruit of the abundant supply that Jesus gives. God’s rewards are for anyone who commits themselves to his kingdom work. Jesus is the example we are to follow. Each and every one of us is invited to follow him, to take and eat of his life, of his love, of his forgiveness. This story is a witness to the power of God. It is a story of grace that is sparked and motivated by the love and compassion of Jesus.

Jesus is going beyond feeding the people. He is transforming this moment on this remote hillside into a holy moment-a sacred celebration. He intends to offer these people something to eat, but he also intends to offer them something more. He plans to involve them in a holy occasion-a moment when they can experience the presence of God in their midst-a moment when they can see Jesus revealed to them as the Son of God.

When we dine together at the Lord’s Table, God’s power is alive. His power produces an abundance of grace, power, love and the fulfillment of our needs-just like there were twelve baskets of leftovers after everyone in the crowd was fed. This can only happen when everyone is included. Only then will the faith community become a beacon of welcoming light to the disadvantaged and the less fortunate.

We remember the bread every time we return to the Communion table and see the blessing given, the bread broken, and the food shared. We again commune in memory of and in the presence of the one who gazed towards the crowds and us with compassion. Sharing a meal creates and maintains a sense of community. When we gather together to celebrate the Eucharist, Christ satisfies our deepest hungers, heals our brokenness, binds us together as if one body and strengthens us to do his work in our world.

God has given each of us different gifts, talents and abilities. We are different parts of the same body of Christ. Architects, engineers, volunteers, teachers, pastors and evangelists all stand together to help slow the spread of famine and accomplish the work of the kingdom. Some are called by God to make great sacrifices, but God wants all of us to respond to his call in our lives. For those who have little, they can pray for those who are willing to serve in a foreign field, and the wealthy can help out of their abundance to support those who have walked away from well-paying jobs to serve the less fortunate in society.

Jesus’ actions with the crowd are actions that even the playing field, actions that make sure everyone is taken care of. They were radical actions at that time, and they are radical actions today. They seem foreign to our culture driven by dollars and profit, and they were so foreign in Jesus’ time that he was put to death over them. But following Jesus is a radical lifestyle, and Jesus asks us if we are willing to do the same. Are we willing to give up some of what we have, that others might not go hungry? Are we willing to give out of what God has given to us?

Bibliography

1. Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASV
2. Lectionary Homiletics, Volume XXII, No. 4 (2011: Lectionary Homiletics-Preaching Conference, Midlothian, VA, pp. 73-79)
3. Exegesis for Matthew 14:13-21. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
4. The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “The Parties People Put On”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
5. The Rev. David E. Lenninger, “Hungry People”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
6. The Rev. Dr. Randy L. Hyde, “Send Them Away”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
7. Bishop Stephen Bouman, ELCA, “HIC”. Retrieved from www.day1.org
8. Bishop Woodie White, UMC, “I Love a Mystery”. Retrieved from www.day1.org
9. Max Lucado, “Count to Eight”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
10. Mike Benson, “Bandage’. Retrieved from www.forthright.net/kneemail
11. The Voice of the Lord for Nissan 6. Retrieved from www.studylight.org
12. Marybeth Whalen, “Bring It to Me”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
13. Dr. Jack Graham, “Finding God’s Blessings through Service”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
14. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions: 18^th Sunday (A)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
15. Preaching Peace. Retrieved from www.preachingpeace.org/lectionaries/yeara_proper13/
16. The Rev. Billy Graham, “Compassion and Stewardship”. Retrieved from www.billygraham.org
17. The Rev, Beth Quick, “They Need Not Go Away”. Retrieved from www.bethquick.com/sermons8-4-02.htm

Good morning boys and girls!

Are you having a good summer? What fun things have you been doing?

Have any of you taken any trips? Are any of you planning on taking any trips this summer?

I’m going to take you on a little trip this morning. I want you to close your eyes and imagine for a moment that you’re part of the crowd in the story. We’ve been listening eagerly to Jesus’ words all day. We’ve traveled a long distance. It’s been a long day, we’re tired and hungry, and we realize that we didn’t bring anything to eat. We have heard Jesus tell his disciples to find food for the people. To make matters worse, the only food available is five small loaves of bread and two small fish. Surely that won’t be nearly enough to feed 5,000 men plus women and children! We see Jesus take the food, bless it and give it to the crowd. After the meal, we see the disciples gather up the broken, leftover pieces—enough to fill twelve baskets.

I’m sure that your parents have been in the same situation. Company arrives unannounced and when meal time comes your parents are rushing around in a panic trying to find enough food for everyone. Now you know what the disciples were thinking when Jesus told them to feed the people. Can you imagine trying to feed all of those people with such a small amount of food? We can, if we remember that with Jesus anything is possible. He can take whatever we give to him, no matter how small it is, and do more than we can possibly imagine. Little becomes much when we place it in God’s hands.

Let’s bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for loving us. Help us to remember that when we give what we have to you, even a little bit is more than enough. Just as Jesus used a small amount of food to feed more than 5,000 people, we pray that you will use the children here today to bless everyone they meet each day. We ask this in the Name of Your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, AMEN.

Bibliography

1. The Real Life Devotional Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008)
2. Craig Condon, “Parable of the Loaves and Fish.” Retrieved from the author’s personal sermon library.
3. “A Feast for All.” Retrieved from www.sermons4kids.com
4. “Feeding the 5000.” Retrieved from www.sermons4kids.com
5. The Standard Bible Storybook (Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing; 2009)

Emma laid in bed listening to her parents’ voices on the other side of the wall. “How are we going to pay this bill, Ben?” Mom asked with a worried tone.

Emma huddled deeper under her blankets. She knew her parents didn’t want her to worry, but her stomach hurt.

Everything was different. First, Dad lost his job, then Mom worked longer hours. Emma packed her own school lunches and helped Dad with chores and simple meals. Dad searched for a new job every day, yet Emma had overheard her parents say that they may need to move. “God, can’t you give my Dad back his job?” Emma prayed as she drifted to sleep.

Mom poked her head into Emma’s room the next morning. “Time to get ready for church, sleepyhead.”

“Why?” Emma asked. “If God can do the things we learn about in church, why doesn’t He give Dad back his job?”

“Get ready,” Mom told her. “We’ll talk some more after breakfast.”

After Emma rinsed her cereal bowl, Mom led Emma outside. “Look at the bird feeder.”

“Mom, we haven’t filled it since Dad lost his job,” Emma objected.

“Are the birds worried about the empty feeder?” Mom asked. Emma looked around. She saw sparrows nibbling in the trees. Others roosted in the gutter, and still more perched on her neighbour’s feeder.

“No,” Emma answered.

“For years, God provided for our family though Dad’s job,” Mom explained. “God is still providing, but in different ways.”

“Like how the birds that used to come to our feeder now go to other places?” Emma asked.

“Yes,” said Mom. “The Bible stories we learn in church remind us how God has helped many people through many hard times in many different ways. Church is also where we can connect with Christians and hear them thank God for what He’s done to help them. Their words remind us that God is with us and cares for us even though our situation may be different from theirs.”

“And thanking God at church for providing for us might help someone else,” said Emma as she headed for the car.

Memory is an important part of our lives. Our past forges our future. We celebrate national holidays so we can remember our moments of triumph and be bonded together by them again. We remember birthdays and anniversaries for the same reason. Psalm 105 is filled with the memory of what God has done.

The psalmist seeks to excite the people’s gratitude by recalling God’s goodness to them in former times. He urges us to always give thanks to God regardless of our circumstances. We are to give thanks for everything He has done in the past, especially in delivering His people from bondage into freedom. We are to rejoice because He is holy. Gratitude looks back on the many tings God has done in our lives and recalls how good and kind He has been to us, especially through trials, challenges and disappointment.

We are called to praise God because He has intervened on behalf of His people. He provided for the Israelites in the desert because He remembered the covenant He made with Abraham. By remembering God’s work in history, we can be encouraged to praise God.

Praise is both a spiritual and a practical experience. It forms deep within our souls and comes forth in song or proclamation and shows itself just as real in delivering a meal to a family in need. How can we make known to others what God has done? How can we tell of His wonderful acts? There are several ways. We could visit someone who lives in a nursing home, read Scripture and pray with them. We can take a meal to someone who can’t come to church and encourage them with the ministry of God’s presence. We can shovel snow from a neighbour’s driveway or mow their grass when they are away on vacation. We can drive someone to a medical appointment and stay with them. We can volunteer in a church ministry. We can use our spiritual gifts up front or behind the scenes. The possibilities are endless.

Cultivating a thankful heart is key to overcoming discouragement, grief, pain or discontentment. The greatest benefit of a grateful heart is not the blessing that it brings to us, but the witness it is to others, especially during life’s trials. When God tells us to have a grateful heart, it is for our best. God has a good plan for us, one to prosper us and keep us walking in His promises. Gratitude is part of that plan.

Joy is a by-product of love. If we concentrate on getting joy, it will elude us. If we concentrate on getting love, then joy will seek us out. We will be automatically joyful. If we get into the habit of putting the right thoughts in our minds-thoughts such as joy, faith, victory and praise-then our minds will be transformed and renewed. We will find ourselves positive, hopeful, strong and courageous. We will see God’s hand of blessing and increase, and we will live the abundant lives He has in store for us.

Psalm 105:1-3 summarizes what we should do each day:

1. Give thanks.
2. Pray.
3. Communicate
4. Sing.
5. Testify.

How long are we to do this? Psalm 105:8 tells us to do this “for a thousand generations.” In other words, we are to do this until we die or until Christ returns-whichever comes first. We are called to be Christ’s ambassadors to all nations and a blessing to all nations.

As finite human beings, we can only see the present and the past. The future is scary. We need to hold on to God’s hand and trust Him to calm our fears. At those times God shakes us by the shoulders to get our attention. God has a plan for us, and we want to be in the centre of it.

If we are unsure about God’s commitment to us, all we have to do is look at Jesus. He spent His life winning our salvation and His resurrection proves His work was successfully completed. Jesus often stopped what he was doing to answer the prayers of a cripple, a blind man, a leper, or a possessed person. He responded favorably to the needs of those who were abandoned by the world.

When life changes, do you think about how God has cared for you in the past? Do you spend time with people God has helped? Have you thanked Him for how He is caring for you now? Remember that God can care for you and your family in many different ways. No matter what your situation is, God is always with you. His love never fails.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New Kings James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 775-776)
2. Heidi J. Schmidt, “A Different Way.” Retrieved from info@keysforkids.org.
3. Barnes’ Notes on the Old Testament. Part of Wordsearch 12 Bible software package.
4. Williams, D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 14: Psalms 73-150 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1989; pp. 242-246)
5. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010; pp. 805-807)
6. Charles R. Swindoll, “Hold on To God’s Hand.” Retrieved from www.insightforliving.ca
7. “Day 13: Gratitude.” Retrieved from Oneplace@crosswalkmail.com
8. Kenneth L. Samuel, “Somebody Say Something.” Retrieved from dailydevotional@ucc.org
9. Selwyn Hughes, “Always a Reason to Rejoice.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
10. “Psalm 105:1-3.” Retrieve from www.100words.ca
11. Joni Eareckson Tada, “Gratitude Strengthens Your Faith.” Retrieved from communications@joniandfriends.org
12. Pastor Ken Klaus, “Opinions May Vary.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org
13. Kim Potter, “A Heart of Gratitude.” Retrieved from bre@anewthingministries.com
14. Joel Osteen, “Meditate on Him.” Retrieved from devotional|@e.joelosteen.com
15. Ron Moore, “Practical Praise.” Retrieved from http://www.ronmoore.org

Have you ever tried to describe a difficult or abstract concept to someone, especially when you know that the person you are speaking to doesn’t know anything about what you are talking about? If you have, you know what Jesus is trying to do in these five parables from Matthew’s Gospel reading. Jesus is trying to describe the abstract concept of God’s Kingdom in terms that his audience could understand.

What we have just heard is a series of pictures that show what the Kingdom of God is like. The Kingdom is not easy to understand or explain, so Jesus has to use several different analogies to get his point across to different audiences. All of these parables are about transformation-specifically, how the Kingdom of God transforms believers.

The first parable Jesus uses is the parable of the mustard seed. On a personal note, this parable has a special place in my heart because I preached my very first sermon on that parable. The growth of the mustard seed is a good description of how my preaching ministry and skills have grown since 2006.

The radical concept in this parable is the idea that God’s world is different from many aspects of the world we live in. It is an inclusive, merciful and egalitarian community based on practical, merciful, loving service to others. For example, the ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has served God and man by bringing the Good News to millions of people around the world, and that ministry started in 1934 when God planted the seed of the Holy Spirit in heart of Billy Graham.

The parable shows that big things come in small packages. The Kingdom comes to us in small ways such as through the ordinary people we meet on our Christian walk of faith. Whenever we serve the poor, the elderly or the sick, we are serving God and His Kingdom. A good example is the work of Franklin Graham and the Christian relief organization he is the president of-namely, Samaritan’s Purse. It has spread the Good News of the hope of the Kingdom through its relief work in areas that have been affected by war, sickness or disaster.

Jesus intended to use this parable to encourage the early disciples as they faced overwhelming odds, and this parable continues to encourage disciples today. Most of the church’s work gets done in ordinary circumstances. Our mission seems overwhelming, and our resources seem too few, but Jesus promises that God’s power makes everything possible.  

The Kingdom also comes in hidden and unexpected ways, as described in the parable of the yeast. Today, yeast comes in neat little packages, but Jesus was talking about leaven, which was a rotten, moldy lump of bread. The woman in the parable hid the leaven in good flour. This sounded unclean to the people of Jesus’ day because of the prevailing attitudes regarding cleanliness and women, but the point of this parable is that God’s Kingdom takes hold in hidden and unexpected ways.

The parables of the treasure and the pearl show us what our allegiances should be and where they should be. Was the treasure seeker behaving in an unethical manner? Maybe yes, maybe no, but that isn’t the point. The point is that both the treasure and the pearl can’t be kept secret. God’s Kingdom also can’t be kept secret, and it must not be kept secret. We are to spread the Good News about the Kingdom-just like the mustard seed grows and spreads out. When we do this, we have to pay a cost. We have to give up something of worldly value in order to gain something of even more value.

There is an even greater cost that we must be prepared to pay. Following Jesus can lead to rejection by society and/or our family, as many Christians in the Third World know all too well. There might be jail time, beatings or worse. There’s no way to follow Jesus without a cross, but guess what? Some people, just at Jesus’ warning, drop everything they are doing, desert their parents, let their work go down the drain and follow Him. That’s what the Kingdom of God does to those who find it, says Jesus.

The Kingdom starts out small and grows into the Good News, a treasure worth giving up everything else to get. Why is that? It is because our old way relies on a false God who likes to punish people, a false God who justifies the ways in which we punish each other. In Jesus we meet a God of forgiveness and grace and love. We meet him in our daily lives as he hosts us in the meal of forgiveness and grace, the meal of peace for this world.

The parable of the net of fish means that God’s kingdom is available to everyone. It catches good and evil, and our job as Christians is to pull that net through the water of our communities and grab whatever we can. This is God’s way. Some undesirables will grow into genuine Kingdom people, and some who seemed promising in the beginning will betray God in the end. We are not responsible for keeping out riff-raff. The evil is tossed back by tossing it into the fires of hell, and God’s Kingdom is accomplished in the end.

Jesus is encouraging us to live the kingdom in every aspect of our lives because the kingdom is here and now on earth. It also promises an eternal reward. Between the minute beginning when the seed is planted in us and the grand culmination, there is continuity. God’s Kingdom is pervasive and priceless. Within God’s Kingdom, we get more than we bargain for. The seed and the yeast represent God’s pervasiveness in our lives. It is worth selling all that we have just to enjoy it. We have to make room for the Kingdom in our lives. We must allow it to take over our lives in a big way. When we allow God to be significant in our lives, we create a path for him to be significant in the lives of other people.

The Kingdom involves four things:

1. God’s kingship, rule or recognized sovereignty
2. The rule of heaven is spiritual in nature
3. It is visible today in the Lord’s church.
4. It is in both the present and the future.

The message of this portion of Mathew’s Gospel is that God’s Kingdom has come near. The kingdom is present when God’s sovereignty, actions and presence are felt. It is where and when God’s will is being done and God’s rule accepted and acted upon.

We must look at our lives. Do we realize what we have found in God’s reign? Has it deeply affected our lives, given us a sense of priorities, filled us with gratitude for having been “netted” for God? We must be patient, and we must exercise discernment. God does not see things as we see them. What is important to us is insignificant to God, and what is unimportant to us is important to God. Things aren’t always what they seem to be.

We do not live according to the prevalent standards around us. We choose honesty, even when it means not making extra profits on the job. We treat all people in a loving way even if others don’t think these people are worth it. We are faithful in marriage and friendship, even though the world treats promises casually. We help people who need us, even if we don’t owe them anything. We have hope as we look into the future, even though there is a lot that could make us despair. We forgive those who offend us, even though our world keeps a long memory of wrongs.

We are like the Pharisees, but only to the extent that we are responsible for studying the scriptures and teaching them to others. We are to be trained for life in God’s Kingdom through worship services, Bible Study and Christian fellowship. We need to engage in spiritual disciplines such as praying and reading the Bible.

When we feel alienated, separated and estranged, maybe by others or maybe by our own selves, when it feels like everyone and everything is against us, it’s easy to forget that God is unequivocally for us. Sometimes we get dirt in our eyes and the deep realities of divine love are hidden from us. When that happens, we must remember that the subtleties of God’s kingdom require a discerning heart in order to find them.

Finding the Kingdom of God within and between us, spread out before us, requires dying-dying to that God who hides in heaven or waits in the wings until we have pulled all the weeds. Dying to such a faraway God of righteousness means coming alive to a God of compassion as well as goodness. If Jesus is right, and we know that he is right, God is waiting in the weeds of our lives to bind up our wounds and mend the disease that separates us from ourselves and one another and from all that is holy.

Bibliography

1. Mark G. Vitalis Hoffman, “Lectionary for July 24, 2011; Sixth Sunday after Pentecost”. Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching_print.aspx?commentary_id=983
2. Proper 12A. Retrieved from www.processandfaith.org/print/resources/lectionary-commentary/yeara/2011-07-24/proper-12a.html
3. Dale Allison, “Lectionary for July 27, 2008”. Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching_print.aspx?commentary_id=107
4. Paul J. Nuechterlein, “The Irresistible Seed of Peace”. Retrieved from http://girardianlectionary.net/year_a/proper12a_2002_ser.htm
5. Craig Condon, “Parable of the Mustard Seed”. Preached at trinity Anglican Church, Liverpool, NS, June 2006
6. The Rev. Beth Quick, “Lectionary Notes-11^th Sunday after Pentecost”. Retrieved from www.bethquick.com/pentecost11anotes.htm
7. The Rev. Beth Quick, “Keys to the Kingdom”. Retrieved from www.bethquick.com/sermon7-28-02.htm
8. The Rev. Beth Quick, “Kingdom Come”. Retrieved from www.bethquick.com/sermon7-24-05.htm
9. Notes from Peter Anthony’s Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew
10. Bishop William H. Willimon, UMC, “Go for the Gold”. Retrieved from www.day1.org
11. The Rev. Dr. William L. Dols, TEC, “Looking for the Kingdom of God Too High Up and Too Far Away”. Retrieved from www.day1.org
12. Greg Laurie “Caught Alive”. Retrieved from http://www.crosswalkmail.com
13. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions: 17^th Sunday (A)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange,org.
14. The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “The Work of the Baker Woman”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.org
15. The Rev. John Bedingfield, “The Great Prize”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.org
16. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament
17. Jamieson-Fawcett-Brown Commentary
18. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
19. People’s New Testament
20. ESV Study Bible
21. Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASV
22. Wycliffe Bible Commentary
23. Exegesis fort Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.org
24. Daniel Clendenin, PhD, “Discerning the Depths of Love of God: Nothing Can Separate Us”. Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus,net

Why God Allows Bad Things to Happen

(Text: Romans 8:26-39)

Have you ever wondered why God allows bad things to happen to his people? Well, God uses all of our circumstances to work for our good when we have faith. In other words, when we are Christ-like, God can take the negative circumstances of our lives and use them for our good, especially if using them for good fulfills his will for our lives. It’s like an oyster taking a grain of sand-something that irritates the oyster-and turning it into something of great value-a pearl.

Take Joseph, for example. He was sold into slavery by his brothers and ended up in jail in Egypt, but God used all of these experiences to prepare Joseph for his ultimate role of saving his family and the people of Egypt from famine. While still in prison, Joseph correctly interpreted dreams for two of Pharaoh’s servants-his cupbearer and chief baker. As the dreams had predicted, the baker was executed, and the cupbearer was restored to service.

Two years later, Pharaoh had two dreams that disturbed him, but no one could tell him what they meant. The cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about him. Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who told him that God was warning that a famine was coming and that preparations had to be made. Joseph was released from prison and put in charge of the preparations.

When the famine came, it was widespread and affected Joseph’s family. The same brothers who sold Joseph into slavery came to Egypt to find food. Joseph still loved them and forgave them. He arranged for all of the family to move to Egypt. Pharaoh promised them the best of the land.

Joseph trusted God through many years of hardship, and God worked all of those painful circumstances for the good of Joseph, his family and God’s chosen people in the generations to come. His chosen people grew from a few to millions.

Satan is often called “the accuser,” but any charges Satan makes against us will never stand up because the Jesus who sanctifies us is also the Jesus who judges us. We are protected by Christ’s death and resurrection.  Anyone who would take away our salvation would have to be stronger than God, and since no one is stronger than God, we can never lose our salvation. God speaks of love as Christ’s love for his people. Christ’s love protects us from the trials of life. No one and nothing can separate us from God.

A believer can never be condemned by God because of Christ’s death and resurrection, Christ’s exalted position and his continual intercession for us. We are part of the body of Christ, and he loves us so much that nothing can separate us from him. God’s love is not human or normal. God loves us because of who we are-his children.

Paul affirms the incredible power of the love of Christ in Romans 8:26-39. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we can’t find the words to pray. When believers are hurting so much that they can’t mention their desires, the Holy Spirit intercedes with groans that words can’t express. Paul urges us to recognize the depths of our despair, but we must remember that we are not alone. God is always with us, even when we feel alienated, separated and alone.

When we are saved, God doesn’t stop with justification. He gave up his son, so he will freely give us everything we need for sanctification and glorification. When we are redeemed, we receive a new heart and we begin the lifelong process of transformation. Then we have to immerse ourselves in the Scriptures so that God can use his word to transform our minds.

God will take our negative experiences and use then to shape us and use us for his purposes. That doesn’t mean that God is pleased with all of our negative circumstances. He gets mad when people drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He is sad when we are persecuted for our faith. God loves us enough to be with us and walk with us when we face the storms of life.

God sees our sin and hates it. We need to repent for our own sake. We need to repent because we need to acknowledge that we do not want to keep on sinning. We have a duty to pray for ourselves and anyone who has been affected by our sin.

Sometimes we can only learn great lessons of faith when we face difficulties. God’s plans are not always our plans, because his plans carry a greater purpose. Sometimes he has to let bad things happen to us so that our lives and plans are realigned with his plans for our lives. God chips away at our lives like a sculptor chips away at a block of stone. In both cases, excess waste material is removed so we can become more like Christ.

We do not always know why God allows bad things to happen to us. It is enough for us to love him and know that he is there for us. God’s values and our values are not always the same. God speaks so that we may be made more like Jesus. When we trust in Christ, we are his forever. Because he paid the penalty for our sin on the cross, we are eternally secure. Nothing can take that away from us, and nothing can take us away from him. We gain the healing Spirit of God.

We are created in the image of God. The choices we make in life will either make us more Christ-like or more like the world. The key is how we choose to respond to our circumstances. We have to look at God’s promise that if he is there for us, nothing can be against us. Christ reversed our condemnation and enabled our salvation, and nothing and no one can undo his work. If Christ is our advocate, no one can win a judgment against us.

When we face times of trial, we can turn to God’s Word and ask him for help. God knows our needs. He won’t let anything happen to us without supplying the grace we need to turn the stumbling block into a stepping stone of faith. When God puts hard times together like a baker puts the ingredients for a cake together, they can work out for our good, including our failures and our hopelessness. God is at work in our lives. He undoes Satan’s messes and leads us where he wants us to go.

When our faith in Jesus operates in our lives, we are more than capable of handling whatever approaches us. He will give us the victory because of what he did for us on the cross. We can live happy, contented, joy-filled lives when we live in his goodness and with him in proper perspective.

When Christ returns, he will use the world’s destructive tools such as disaster, disease, death and decay as tools to accomplish his good will. As believers we will also be made into something good because we will be glorified. We can face life’s trials with the knowledge that God can use our trials for good and make us into something better than we can be on our own, and that is a life that is as Christ-like as possible. We can then be an example for others who are facing hardships. They can look at us and see that if faith can help us remain strong in the face of adversity, faith in God will help them as well. Our presence can sprinkle God’s healing love onto others wherever we go.

We must remember that when bad things happen, God is in control. He loves us and wants us to be saved. He allows events for his good purpose. People who love God and are called according to his purpose are assured that God will transform a bad situation to bring a good result. Our spiritual struggle will help us to move toward the greater good of salvation. Because God raised Jesus from the dead, our present experience of suffering and what we can expect of the future are changed. There will come a time when even the worst suffering we endure now will pale in comparison to the glory that will be revealed to us in heaven.

Bibliography

1. Anne Graham Lotz, “According to God’s Purpose.” Retrieved from www.angelministries.org
2. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
3. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2006)
4. Lucado, Max: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2010)
5. Dr. Neil Anderson, “Help from the Holy Spirit.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. Jim Burns, “God Knows What He is Doing!” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
7. Dr. Charles Stanley, “The Pathway of Spiritual Growth.” Retrieved from www.intouch.org
8. Dr. Ray Pritchard, “Can We Still Believe in Romans 8:28?” Retrieve from www.keepbelieveing.org
9. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2008)
10. Briscoe, D.S.  & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
11. Ron Moore, “I Am His Forever.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
12. Rick Warren, “The Wild Card: Your Choices.” Retrieved from www.purposedriven.com
13. Mary Southerland, “Can We Really Trust God?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
14. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Romans (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010)
15. Dr. Charles Stanley, “Answers in Times of Great Disaster.” Retrieved from www.intouch.org
16. Exegesis for Romans 8:26-39. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
17. Jesse Gutsgell, “Bible Study, 7 Pentecost, Proper 12 (A).” Retrieved from http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
18. Daniel Clendenin, PhD, “Inseparable Love.” Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net
19. Paul S. Berge, “Commentary on Romans 8:26-29.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
20. Mary Hinkle Shore, “Commentary on Romans 8:26-39.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org

Mr. Dutten, a lawyer, opened a folder and cleared his throat. “The last will and testament of Andrew Philip Blackburn,” he read. “I, Andrew Philip Blackburn, being of sound mind . . .”

What a strange thing for Grandpa to say, Andrea thought. She glanced around the lawyer’s office. She missed her grandfather so much! Everyone looked very solemn, and even the children were quiet.

“To each of my grandchildren, I leave $5,000 to be used toward their education,” read the lawyer, and Andrea’s eyes widened. Wow! All that for me? She could hardly believe it. Mr. Dutten was still reading. “To my grandson Wyatt, I leave . . .”

And so it went. Grandpa had remembered everyone–and all the children had received something special to help them remember their grandfather.

“Can we go to the farm, Dad?” Andrea asked as they got into the car after saying goodbye to the other family members. “I want to see Princess!” Grandpa had left his horse to her.

Dad nodded. “We’ll do that,” he agreed. “I want to pick up Grandpa’s Bible. I’m glad he left that for me.” So they headed for the farm, where Andrea petted her horse while Dad went to get the Bible he had inherited.

Back home, Andrea asked to see the Bible. She leafed carefully through the pages of the old book. “The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” she read aloud. “That’s something like what Mr. Dutten said this morning,” she told her mother. “I think he called Grandpa’s will a ‘testament,’ didn’t he?”

Mom nodded. “That’s right. It’s an important document telling what your grandfather left to each of his family members–what they inherited. The New Testament is an important document, too. From it, we learn that those who trust Jesus as Savior become members of God’s family. They also have a valuable inheritance–everlasting life and heaven–waiting for them.”

“And everyone can have it, right?” asked Andrea.

“Right,” said Mom. “God offers it to all. It’s too bad so many refuse to accept what Jesus has done for them and miss out on the inheritance.”

Imagine for a moment that you discovered that you had a long-lost relative who made you the heir to their estate. They left you riches beyond count, your financial worries are over, and you do not have to worry about the future. If that scenario happened, how would you feel? What would you do? Would you do anything differently? What would be different about your daily activities, practice, habits, and outlook? How would knowing that your future is absolutely secure change your present? This is what the Apostle Paul is describing in Romans 8:12-25

The Greek word for adoption means to be legally installed or placed as a son or daughter. Christians have been taken from the family of Adam and placed into the family of God. Well-known preacher Donald Grey Barnhouse explains the difference between an heir and a joint heir: “If a man dies, leaving a large farm to four heirs…each heir receives a percent of the whole. But if a man leaves a farm to four …joint-heirs, then each one owns the entire farm. Each one can say, ‘this house is mine; those barns are mine; those fields are mine’…Thus when God tells us that we are heirs of God and joint-heirs of Jesus Christ, we are being informed that everything that God the Father has given to the Lord Jesus Christ has been given to us also.” God doesn’t adopt us because of what we have. He doesn’t give us His name because of our wit, our wallet or our good attitude. Adoption is something we receive, not something we earn.

As children of God we enjoy His life and resources. If we live in defiance of or indifference to the Holy Spirit, we are spiritual imposters. If we follow the Spirit’s prompting, we will be led, liberated, loved and taught. Only then will we reach our full potential.

Believers are to share the gospel with the world and to live a righteous life. Believers are responsible to live according to the Spirit, not according to the flesh. No one can destroy the flesh in this life, but they can destroy the deeds of the flesh. The indwelling Spirit gives people the ability to kill the corrupt deeds that once defined them, enabling them to taste life imperishable.

Every time people pray and call God “Father,” the Holy Spirit does the same thing-dual evidence of people’s Sonship. Sonship does not rest alone on one’s changing spirit for affirmation. The affirmation of Sonship rests on the unchanging testimony of the Holy Spirit

The rewards of Sonship are being children and heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. An heir has not yet received his inheritance but anticipates it in the future. The biblical idea of heir implies possession in part here and now, with the promise of complete possession and enjoyment in the future.

The word translated as “futility” means the inability of something to fulfill the purpose for which it was created. It can also mean emptiness or absurdity. In contrast, to hope for something is to expect that we will get it. Hope is like faith because we can’t see hope, so we must believe in what we can’t see.

Christians groan negatively because of sin’s presence in the world, its power in their bodies, and the practice of sin around them. They positively groan for the gift of the Holy Spirit to guarantee their glory and because they are looking forward to their adoption being final and the redemption of their bodies.

Everything in our spiritual lives is important. We must not take it casually. This is dangerous for those of us who are leading comfortable lives with few (if any) challenges. They see little or no need for defining their spiritual lives. They have ceased to be ambitious for the things of the Spirit.

As believers we have two clear choices. Either we aspire toward the things of the flesh or we aspire to the things of the Spirit. Unless we can understand and identify both of them, there is the possibility that the flesh will take over. That is because the secular world that we live in is dominated by selfish interest. Believers who mind the flesh exhibit nothing but dullness and deadness.

The Bible never minimizes our difficulties or sufferings. Instead, it magnifies the rewards that accompany our faith. We can learn from our suffering. We don’t need to be angry or bitter. It is an opportunity to sense Christ’s love and compassion. He is like a parent who misses a child. He wants to communicate with us. He will always be with us. He will welcome us with open arms if we come to Him.

A young pilot had just passed the point of no return when the weather changed for the worse. Visibility dropped to a matter of feet as fog descended to the earth. Putting total trust in the cockpit instruments was a new experience for him, for the ink was still wet on the certificate verifying that he was qualified for instrument flying.

The landing worried him the most. His destination was a crowded metropolitan airport he wasn’t familiar with. In a few minutes he would be in radio contact with the tower. Until then, he was alone with his thoughts. His instructor had practically forced him to memorize the rule book. He didn’t care for it at the time, but now he was thankful.

Finally, he heard the voice of the air traffic controller. “I’m going to put you on a holding pattern,” the controller radioed. Great! thought the pilot. He knew that his safe landing was in the hands of this person. He had to draw on his previous instructions and training and trust the voice of an air traffic controller he couldn’t see. Aware that this was no time for pride, he informed the controller, “This is not a seasoned pro up here. I would appreciate any help you could give me.

“You’ve got it!” he heard back.

For the next 45 minutes the controller gently guided the pilot through the blinding fog. As course and altitude corrections came periodically, the young pilot realized the controller was guiding him around obstacles and away from potential collisions. With the words of the rule book firmly placed in his mind, and with the gentle voice of the controller, he landed safely at last.

The Holy Spirit guides us through the maze of life much like that air traffic controller. The controller assumed the young pilot understood the instructions of the flight manual. His guidance was based on that. Such is the case with the Holy Spirit. He can guide us if we have a knowledge of God’s Word and His will established in our minds.

The Holy Spirit takes hold together with us against the weaknesses in our lives. But we must be against that area of weakness first, otherwise the Holy Spirit has nothing to take hold of. He can’t do it for us. When someone says they don’t have the strength to overcome a weakness, they have said one of two things:

1. “I don’t know God well enough to know if He would help me,” OR
2. “I am not yet willing to turn my back on that area of compromise and take hold of God’s strength.”

God will take hold with us, but we must initiate it.

Romans 8:14 says, “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” The word “led” comes from the Greek word ago, which described “the act of leading about an animal, such as a cow or a goat, at the end of a rope.” The owner would wrap a rope around the animal’s neck and then tug and pull until the animal started to follow him. When the animal decided to cooperate and follow that gentle tug, it could then be gently led to where its owner wanted it to go.

As Christians, God urges us to follow the tugging and pulling of the Holy Spirit in our hearts like a parent has to gently lead a small child. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and does not force us to obey Him. He prompts us, tugs at our hearts and pulls on our spirit to get our attention. Sometimes His tugs will be so gentle that we may miss them. If we develop our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, He will gently lead us exactly where He wants us to go with our lives.

The hope that keeps us going is not simply a belief about the future. It is already something of a pleasant reality. The Spirit is a component of a future hope which has already been given. What difference does it make that along with this hope we are unconditionally loved? What difference does it make that that no matter what we do, or what is done to us, and no matter where we go, God always loves us and cares for us.

So what does it mean for us to live knowing that we are children of God, adopted and chosen and named co-heirs with Christ? What difference does it make now? What difference does it make to know that we are unconditionally loved or that we have immeasurable value in God’s eyes? No matter what we do, or no matter what is done to us or no matter where we go, God always loves us and cares about us.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New Kings James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 1555-1556)
2. “Grandfather’s Will.” Retrieved from keys@lists.cbhministries.org
3. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1989; pp.155-170)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Lile Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
6. Dr. Neil Anderson, “The Holy Spirit’s Guidance.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

• Steve Arterburn, “Learning Through Suffering.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
• Vikki Burke, “End Bad Habit Patterns.” Retrieved from dbm@dennisburkeministries.org
• Pastor Greg Laurie, “Abba, Father.” Retrieved from www.harvest.org
• “Our Only Hope.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

1. Rick Renner, “Is the Holy Spirit ‘Tugging’ at Your Heart Today?” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
2. Rev. David Lose, “Three-in-One Plus One” Retrieved from www.davidlose.net/2015/05/trinity-b-three-in-one-plus-one/
3. William Loader, “First Thought on Year B Epistle Passages from the Lectionary.”  Retrieved from http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/BEpTrinity.htm
4. Rev. David Lose, “Three-in-One Plus One.” Retrieved from www.davidlose.net/2015/05/trinity-b-three-in-one-plus-one/