The reading from Isaiah 6:1-13 asks a curious question: “Who will go for us?” Why was this phrase used? It is because it is a foreshadowing of the Trinity. This passage is the most famous call of a prophet in the Bible. It is regularly offered as one of the readings for Trinity Sunday, apparently due to the thrice-repeated cry of “Holy.” The three cries were made to the three members of the Trinity.

The Trinity is a necessary part of salvation. In John’s Gospel, Jesus talks about having descended from heaven, being the only-begotten Son of the Father (who loves the world and has sent him to save it), and of the Spirit who blows like the wind, bringing new life and new truth. The Trinity tells us who God is, what God does and what God is like. The relationship between the members of the Trinity is part of a crucial way of understanding not only God but His involvement in the world.

God eludes our grasp, so we make God into something we can manipulate. We try to fit God into the confines of reason or locate God in our established institutions, moral codes and household idols. We pay lip-service to God with hearts that are far from God. The Trinity was created in an attempt to describe God. God may be unseen, but He is revealed in Isaiah’s vision. Isaiah said that he saw the Lord. The doctrine of the Trinity is expressed here. We, like Isaiah, confess that God has been seen in Jesus.

The story of salvation in Jesus Christ teaches that we can’t talk about God in only singular terms. There is relationship with God. Three persons in a dynamic relationship that is held together by love. The relationship between God and the world flows out of a relationship of love that exists between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A changed world reveals the gracious God who walks among us in Jesus and is present in and with us through the Holy Spirit. This is the God who wants to draw us into the divine life. We can’t help but continually set out the clear invitation to come and find life. Come and love and worship the Living God-Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to whom be glory in the world and in the church forever.

Isaiah’s vision was one of the most powerful witnesses to an encounter with God’s breaking into human life in a life-changing way. God is always present, moving gently and sometimes dramatically in people’s lives. For Isaiah, being unclean relates to sin, or what people do to hurt others. Isaiah said he was unclean, lost and in desperate need of forgiveness-just like all of us. God heard Isaiah, and Isaiah was forgiven. Isaiah proclaimed God’s promise that those who have seen the Lord and confessed their sins are forgiven and made free. God’s presence doesn’t destroy. It cleanses, liberates and commissions. Jesus was God incarnate. The Holy Spirit is God among us today.

Isaiah’s vision revealed his own sinfulness. He saw himself as a man of unclean lips whose sinfulness disqualified him from joining the seraphim in praise. This experience of God’s majesty in verses 1-4 led to Isaiah’s repentance in verse 5 as well as forgiveness and commissioning for God’s work. Anyone who would tell God’s people to repent must first experience God’s forgiveness.

Isaiah sensed God’s holiness. Sovereignty is the powerful nature of God. Holiness is the moral nature of God. He is pure, complete and whole. Isaiah also saw that God’s holiness is a matter of “doing”. God’s will can’t be known. His purity can’t tolerate sin.

It is for these reasons that our worship must focus on God’s character. We must wait in God’s Holy presence until the Holy Spirit comes. We should expect a glimpse of His glory. Our holiness begins in His glorious presence. It gives us the promise that we are imprinted with His character.  God’s loving forgiveness leads to a response of service. That is our pattern as Christians: we love and serve and give in thankful response to what God has given us in Jesus Christ.

So how should we react when we see the Holy character of God? We should feel anguish for our sin. When we see God, our sin is exposed. We can only cry “woe” not for others but for ourselves. Our spiritual sensitivity to sin is dulled because we have lost sight of a holy God. We need to see His holiness, feel the shaking pillars and smell the rising smoke that causes us to cry, “Woe is me, for I am undone.”

If our lips are unclean, so are our hearts. When we see God’s holiness, we are reminded that we are unworthy and deserve judgment. For Isaiah, the term “unclean lips” had another meaning. Whether he had already been pronouncing “woes” upon the people of Israel, or would soon do so, he was called to speak for God. But, upon seeing the holiness of God and catching a glimpse of God’s glory, Isaiah asked, “How can I speak for God without a heart like God?” Every preacher, teacher and witness for the Word of God must ask the same question. If there is sin in our hearts, our lips will betray us.

We are spiritually bankrupt. We may have all the good works in the world in our bank account, but apart from Christ, they’re worthless. It’s like going to the grocery store and trying to pay with Monopoly money. The only solution we have is to trust in the currency we’re given in Christ, who credited our account with an unlimited supply of grace. In Him, we’re no longer bankrupt. We get to experience His riches for eternity.

The live coal from the altar of God reminds us that behind the love that takes our guilt and the forgiveness that atones for our sins is a Cross that extracted a cost-no less than the life of the Son of God. Once we are touched by God’s purifying fire, we can hear God speak with a passionate fire-a passion that is missing from many Christians today. Satan flees before people who are ignited by the fire of God.

All of Israel needed to be shaken by Isaiah’s vision of the Lord. The vision reinforced His sovereignty over all the universe. God promised to preserve a remnant through whom He would come to set up an ultimate reign of peace and justice. Scripture reveals the unfolding story of God’s plan to redeem the world. From the very start, the plan took shape in the lives of people like Abraham, Moses, David and countless others. God looks to people today to live out His plan. Will you let Him use you? You don’t have to be afraid. Our fear decreases as our understanding of God increases. God can do what we can’t do.

Our hearts need to be cleansed so we can represent Him with the words of our lips. This is a continual process. It’s easy to be swayed away and think we are being used by God because of our works of righteousness. It isn’t about us. It is about Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit. We need to ask them to send us. We need to respond to their call and set our eyes on their majesty, awesomeness and purity. We are not worthy to be used but they have made a way to wash us through the blood of Christ so that we can speak for them from a cleansed heart. All we have to say is, “Here I am! Send me.”

As Isaiah carried his message to his people, giving them a vision of hope in a time of judgment, so God today calls the church into action, to be a people with eyes to see, ears to hear, and consciences no longer dulled, moving into the world, like Jesus to touch others, bringing healing to the lost, sight to the blind, life to the dying, that all the world might bow down before the Holy One and then be lifted up to praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

So how can we be certain that we have a true call from God? We can’t rest until we step out from the safety of our lives and launch into what we believe God is calling us to do. A good test is to ask if we are gifted for what we believe we are being called to do. God will give us the skills and resources we need. We possess one of three things-time, resources and unique abilities. We can be the people God uses to reach the unreached.

Another test of God’s call is to try doing in a small way what we feel we are being called to do. For example, if someone feels called to be a teacher, he or she can learn a subject well and offer to teach a small class in his or her church. If God has called or led us to do it, He will help us. But we need to do our part too. No matter what skills we may have, we can’t help someone unless we are available.

Over 200 years ago, a humble shoe cobbler named William Carey stood before a group of ministers in London, England. He said to those men, “God has put it on my heart to reach the masses with the Gospel message and take seriously the command of Christ to take the Gospel to the world.” One minister stood up and said, “Young man, sit down. When God chooses to save the pagan, He’ll do it in His own time and in His own way.” That didn’t stop William Carey. He went to India, led countless people to Christ, and sparked the modern missions movement.

All it took was one little shoemaker in England to change the world for Christ. And he did it even though many people, even Christians, were against Him going. That was a bold testimony of faith!

What would our lives look like if we served God with that kind of enthusiasm? Where would we go? What would we do? We need to take a bold step of faith today and tell God, “Wherever…whatever…I’m yours!” Isaiah was told to go into the world. Our own involvement in the world, its people and its transformation can never be separated from our faith in the missionary God we discover in Jesus and through the Spirit.

There is so much that God wants to do in our lives through His word. He wants to change us by renewing our minds. He wants to empower us through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. There’s an aspect of the transformation He wants for us that doesn’t come from renewed minds, or by greater dependence on the Holy Spirit, but only through a personal spiritual encounter with God himself. God might not give us the same kind of vivid experience that Isaiah had, and He will probably meet us through His word and through prayer, or maybe in a meeting, maybe even in a totally unexpected place, but He will reveal Himself to us personally.

For people today to answer the call of God, there must be an awareness and acceptance of the pain and suffering that comes with the call. It is a tough place to live, especially in a world that is engrossed in comforts and pleasures. Why answer God’s call if we don’t have to? We can be saved, live a nice life and wake up in heaven. Why answer God’s call? There is only one reason, one answer, to that question: to have the experience of standing before the throne of God and hearing His voice. We must be willing to step out and be sent. Are you ready? Do you want more? if so, then start praying. Read the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah to learn more about their lives and how God called them. You will never know all God has for you until you let go and ask Him to send you out. That is our great Commission.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 887)
2. McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 17: Isaiah 1-39 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1993; pp. 106-116)
3. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
4. “Use Me.” Retrieved from support@leadlikejesus.com
5. Max Lucado, “God is Able.” Retrieved from com@crosswalkmail.com
6. “Here am I! Send Me.” Retrieved from dailydisciples.org
7. Jack Graham, “What It Really Means to Surrender Your Life.” Retrieved from www.jackgraham.org
8. Harold Sala, “Missions.” Retrieved from www.guidelines.org
9. Richard Innes, “The Baffling Call of God.” Retrieved from actsweb.org
10. Jack Graham, “The Only Cure for Spiritual Bankruptcy.” Retrieved from www.jackgraham.org
11. “To See Him Face to Face.” Retrieved from dailydisciples.org
12. Epiphany Esources, Trinity Sunday (B). Retrieved from info@epihanyesources.com
13. Micah Pearsons, “Isaiah 6:1-8.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu
14. “Choose Somebody Else! Reflections on Isaiah 6:1-8.” Retrieved from http://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/choose-somebody-else
15. “Disclosing New Worlds, Trinity Year B.” Retrieved from http://disclosingnewworlds.net/trinity-year-b
16. Ron Starenko, “Holy Trinity Sunday.” Retrieved from http://crossings.org/text-study/holy-trinity-sunday-2/
17. Pastor Ed Markquart, “An Awesome Holiness: Isaiah.” Retrieved from http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_c_awesomeholiness.htm

The entire third chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Galatians was devoted to the subject of justification. The word “foolish” refers not to inadequate intelligence but a lack of wisdom. It is living by the world’s rules rather than according to God’s Word.  Paul realized that the Galatians didn’t lose faith because of judgment and reason. He knew that they were influenced by false teachers. He emphasized the fact of Christ’s death and resurrection should have had the same influence on the Galatians as if they had seen Him die in person.

Paul knew the Galatians began their walk of faith with the Holy Spirit, but they soon fell under the influence of the world. The simplicity of their early faith was gone. The Galatian believers were spiritually dull, not understanding the impossibility of salvation based on works. Paul had preached so vividly that the Galatians could almost see Jesus crucified for them on the cross. If the Galatians had only kept their eyes fixed on Christ, they would have been immune to the deceitful words of their opponents.

Paul talked not about the content of faith, or the believer’s state of mind, but of the believing kind of hearing that is open to the Gospel, welcomes it and leads the hearer to yield to Christ and entrust his life to Christ. To put it simply, faith comes by hearing. In verses 2-5, Paul asked a series of rhetorical questions designed to cause the Galatian believers to return to the true foundation of their faith: Christ alone. Circumcision is not the mark of God’s people; the reception of the Spirit is the true mark. No other is needed!

The Galatians had already received the Holy Spirit. He is every believer’s most unmistakable proof of salvation and greatest guarantee of eternal glory. The presence of the Holy Spirit comes at the moment of belief, not later, as a result of obedience. Any Christian who believes he or she does not have the Spirit is either untaught or unsaved.

The word “perfect” means mature, not sinless. Spiritual maturity has the same starting point as salvation: faith in Jesus Christ. Faith changes the motivation of our hearts from seeking to be acceptable to God through our own efforts to wanting to live for Him.

One reason why the Galatians lost faith was that they were persecuted for their faith. If they returned to the law, their suffering would have been meaningless. Paul reminded them that they came to faith because of God and not because of obeying the Old Testament law. If someone broke one law, they broke all of the laws. This is the curse of the law-a curse that Christ freed us from. He paid the sin debt. He did something that we can’t do for ourselves.

The law is like a chain that ties a ship to the dock. Just like a broken link causes the entire chain to fail, so one transgression of the law breaks the entire law. Since this is an all-or-nothing proposition, no amount of work can save us-only God can declare us just.

Abraham represented faith. He showed both Jews and Gentiles what was meant by faith. He responded to God’s call. He trusted in God’s promises. He obeyed God’s commands. The fact that Christ died outside of Jerusalem means that there is no one outside the domain of His powerful, suffering love. The Cross shows that God is free to justify the whole human race. His justification doesn’t depend on our readiness or our achievements or on our own merits. It depends on God’s grace alone.

The Jews were proud of being children of Abraham. Paul asked them how Abraham was justified or made right with God. The answer was that Abraham was counted as righteous when he believed God’s promise to give him descendants as numerous as the stars.

There was no stronger argument for a Jewish Christian at that time than that Abraham had been justified in exactly the same way Paul was declaring. Faith is not a work that makes one righteous, but by faith we are united with Christ who is our righteousness. Like Abraham, we are justified, or counted as righteous, by believing God.

When Paul refers to Genesis 12:1-3 in Galatians 3:8-9, he states that Abraham was taught the good news of salvation is for all people, not just the Jews. Therefore, Gentiles were not required to become Jews in order to be saved-that would be salvation by works, which Paul has already said is not the truth of the Gospel.

The phrase “under the curse” is taken from Deuteronomy 27:26. The phrase “works of the law” refers to an argument Paul made in Galatians 2:16. The Jews were in a tough spot. They could not live up to God’s law, yet they would not submit to His grace. Our only hope is to receive God’s grace.

In order to be considered a keeper of the law, one must obey the law perfectly and completely. Only Jesus Christ has ever accomplished such perfect obedience.  To be justified or declared righteous before God, we must place our faith in Jesus and His sinless perfection, letting Him bear our rightful curse and be our righteousness. The Christian experience is to be lived by faith from start to finish. We are justified, sanctified and glorified by grace through faith.

The Jews boasted of being sons of Abraham-direct descendants of the father of their faith and thus members of God’s chosen people. But now that Christ has come, all who put their faith in Jesus receive the promise of the Spirit and become spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham. The gift of the Holy Spirit-and His mighty power working in us-depends on faith. The Christian life is a supernatural one that shows the supernatural power of God.

Faith is linked to forgiveness. Forgiveness occurs when we go to Christ and confess our sins. He forgives us. We are justified when God acknowledges the forgiveness that Jesus has extended and accepts Christ’s payment of our sin debt. We plead “not guilty” to God the Father because Jesus the Son has paid our sin debt. We have sinned, but He deals with us as if we are sinless. He treats His Son as the sinner and us as the righteous, and we receive the riches of His grace.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p.1626-1627)
2. Barnes, Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 12 Bible software package.
3. Dunnam, M.D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 33: Galatians/Ephesians/Philippians/Colossians/Philemon (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; pp. 51-66)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. Ed Young, “The Debt Jesus Has Paid for You.” Retrieved from ministry@winningwalk.org

There was once an evangelist named Billy Sunday. He was the Billy Graham of his generation. He was conducting a crusade in a particular city, and in one sermon he said something critical of labour conditions for workers in that city. After the service, several businessmen sent him a message which read as follows: “Billy, leave labour matters alone. Concentrate on getting people saved. Stay away from political issues. You’re rubbing the fur the wrong way”. Billy Sunday sent this message back to them: “If I’m rubbing the fur the wrong way, tell the cats to turn around”.

I wonder if the congregation in this morning’s gospel reading was just as upset by Jesus’ comments as the businessmen were by Billy Sunday’s message. After all, here was Jesus, a simple, common local man who was saying such profound things………things that they didn’t want to hear. He was welcomed as a hometown hero……..until he exposed the darkness of their souls. That darkness included the view that they were “holier than thou”. They thought that Jesus should save his miracles and teachings for them, instead of including people they regarded as human trash; namely the Gentiles and others who were rejected by society.

They did not realize something that we often fail to realize today. The church is not a club or a membership organization. It is a place where Christ is preached and proclaimed, where disciples are made and nurtured, and a place where we confront ourselves. We have to realize that we are not who we think we are, but instead we are sinners who have been redeemed by a God who sent his son to die for us. The church is where we gather as sisters and brothers who are different from each other but who are one people gathered at the font and the table and sent out to serve in so many different ways.

Jesus came to free sinners from the bonds of guilt, sin and corruption. He is the servant referred to in the passage he read from Isaiah. Now the Jews had been waiting for centuries for a Messiah to rescue them from the bonds of oppression, but they weren’t ready for him when he came. They expected a military-type of Messiah who would drive the Romans out and return Israel to the glory days of the reign of King David. Instead, what they got was someone who was far from their expectations-a simple, common man from a simple, common background who would do extraordinary things such as heal the sick, cure the lame, save sinners and associate with outcasts such as sinners and tax collectors. They did not realize that in fact they were the ones who needed healing and saving.

When someone is different or doesn’t meet our expectations, how do we treat them? Do we accept them for who they are, or do we reject them because they are different or because they don’t belong? I found myself in a situation like this when my family moved in 1973. When I started school that year, I was shunned to the point of being bullied, largely because I didn’t fit in and because of where I was from.

The people in the congregation were indeed “holier than thou”. They thought that they were better than everyone else. They wanted to keep Jesus for themselves and away from the social outcasts. We are the same today. We sometimes think that we are better than others because we belong to the right church or club, or go to the right schools, or live in the right neighbourhood. When we meet other people who do not go to the same church, club or school, or live in the wrong neighbourhood, we sometimes look down on them. For example, I heard my father tell the story one time of an incident that happened before my family moved here. One day he was in the post office in the community we were living in when a lady came in and started having a conversation with him. At one point, she asked him which church he went to. When he told her, she said, “Well, that’s what I was afraid of!” and stormed out of the post office.

We often judge people because of prejudices that are caused by the other person’s family, social status or other reasons. Jesus met with a similar reaction. He was welcomed by the hometown crowd when he returned, but when he turned the spotlight on their sins, they wanted to kill him.

Jesus told the crowd what they needed to hear instead of what they wanted to hear. He challenged their way of thinking and the status quo. He came to “upset the apple cart” called their way of life. He told the crowd that they did not have an exclusive relationship with God. He reinforced John the Baptist’s claim in Luke 3:8 about God being able to use stones to raise children of Abraham. Jesus reminded them of times when God passed judgment on Israel but saved a Gentile woman. He reminded them of God finding favour with Naaman the leper-a leper who was a Gentile. All told, his message was a reminder of the old adage that “the truth hurts”. In this case, the truth hurt the congregation.

Jesus dragged the margin boundaries of race, creed and colour to include all people. This was part of his ministry. The Jews were not necessarily at war with Jesus the man. They were at war with his ministry, just like the world is often at war with modern Christian ministry. The Jews felt threatened by the Christian movement, just like many in our world today feel threatened by the Christian climate. Christians are threatened throughout the world today, especially in places such as Iran, India, China and North Korea.

For centuries, people in India have lived under a rigid caste system in which every person is born into a set social group or caste. People who are born into the highest social group receive the benefits of honour and respect. Then there are different levels below this. A person’s caste at birth will determine what job he can have, who he can marry, and what rights he has in society. The very lowest caste is the Dalits, whose name actually means “broken, crushed”. The Dalits are targets of violence and discrimination in Indian society.

And now, they are targets for discrimination for another reason: their faith. The Christian faith is quite attractive to the Dalits. In fact, 80% of Christians in India are Dalits. They choose to follow Christ even when they know the consequences they might face. Why would they invite this treatment by becoming Christians? They do so because in Christ, we meet a God who loves and lifts up those who would be torn down by society. His heart is with those who suffer. He cares about those who are hurting, who are helpless, who are brokenhearted, and who are in bondage. He will not abandon us to despair. God is a God of hope. God is a God of justice.

Today, where do we see the church behaving like the congregation in the synagogue? Where do we see any group suffering from a toxic case of in-group loyalties, otherwise decent people making furious fools of themselves? Any group that considers itself to be favoured can behave in this way, from a congregation to a nation. Where do we see outsiders who welcome the good news and new life that Christ offers?

Jesus read the hearts of the congregation just like he reads our hearts today. How do we respond to war, abortion, divorce, conspicuous consumption, concern for the poor, racism, sexual orientation or child abuse and exploitation? Do we respond out of prejudice or out of Christian love? In our hymn book there is a hymn with this line: “Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?” Jesus calls us to come and go with him, to become servants, fishers and followers, witnesses—in other words, to become more than we are.

We are called upon to speak and act on God’s behalf, especially when we see injustice in our world. Do we feel up to the task? Can we face opposition? Can we do anything to bring about change? Yes, we can, especially with faith and God’s help. We are to see that the broken, bound and bruised are set free and made whole. By doing so, we show the radical nature of God’s love. God does not love just US. God does not love just people WHO ARE LIKE US. God does not just love people WHO LOVE US. God loves even OUR ENEMIES—people who hate us—people who hurt us

When we reject Jesus, we miss the opportunity of a lifetime. There is no guarantee of a second chance. Today, there are only two continents in the world on which Christianity is not growing–Europe and North America, two of the most prosperous places in the world where our faith was planted long ago. Today, many refuse to believe in the miracles of the Bible, including the resurrection, so God has sent the Gospel elsewhere. Jesus asks us the same question he asked Peter long ago at the shore of the Sea of Galilee; namely “Do you love me?” What he is really asking is “Do you love me more than anyone or anything else? Do you have faith enough to let me cleanse you of myth and prejudice, rearrange your priorities and set your agenda?”

Works Cited

ESV Study Bible

International Christian Concern (2010, January 15). North Korea on Top Persecution List-Again. Retrieved January 15, 2010, from Persecution.org: http://www.persecution.org/suffering/newsdetail.php?newscode=11488

Dunnam, M. (n.d.). The Word and Words. Retrieved January 13, 2010, from eSermons.com: www.esermons.com

“Even when there’s a will, there’s no way house sale can be discriminatory, court rules”, The Halifax Chronicle-Herald, Jan. 27, 2010

Exegesis of Luke 4:21-30. (n.d.). Retrieved January 13, 2010, from Sermonwriter.com: http://www.sermonwriter.com

Henry, M. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary.

Kegel, Rev. D. (n.d.). Not Just Inside. Retrieved January 13, 2010, from Sermonwriter.com: http://www.sermonwriter.com

Molin, Pastor  S. (n.d.). What About Us? Retrieved January 13, 2010, from Sermonwriter.com: http://www.sermonwriter.com

People’s New Testament. (n.d.).

Have you ever been afraid?

It doesn’t have to be an occasion when you were physically scared. It can be an occasion where you were afraid for your health or your finances or even for a loved one. How did you feel? How did you react? 

There are different ways to react. Some say God is dead. Some say God is in control. Some can withstand the grasp of their situation because they pray to God like the writer of Psalm 71 did. They pray to be delivered from their situation, and if we are Christians that is the proper way to respond.

Psalm 71 is an individual lament. It’s suitable for a faithful person who is in danger. The psalm seems to be an elderly person’s plea. One of our greatest challenges as we get older is the decline of our physical strength. For example, people who lead worship services in nursing homes, care facilities and hospitals know the staying power of the psalms and familiar hymns. People who struggle with Alzheimer’s or dementia may have forgotten almost everything, but some of them still remember the psalms and hymns they learned as children.

The psalmist’s enemies plan to hurt him by taking advantage of his weaknesses. The Hebrew word for cruel suggests leaven or yeast, and just like yeast ferments, the wickedness of the psalmist enemies was fermenting. One of the reasons for life’s trials is ungodly foes. Our wise response is to fully rely on the character and compassion of God. James reminds us in James 1:2 and 12 that God uses trials to refine our faith. God can take someone who is overcome by stress and build into his/her life insights which will enable them to live above and beyond its paralyzing grip. The faithful person receives assurance from God’s covenant promises. God is faithful. He keeps his promises, and these promises give us hope.

If we have faith in God and believe in his kingdom, we will face hardships, including hatred and persecution. God will deal with those who attack and persecute him and his followers. These hardships won’t last, but God’s strength will last. The psalmist’s cry for deliverance is based on God’s character. When he delivers his people, the results will be praise and worship. God has been faithful, he is faithful, and he will be faithful.

The psalm is a declaration of our trust and the hope we have in God throughout our lives. Psalm 71 is a sturdy statement of hope and trust. It will only happen when we depend on God and his righteousness.

It’s in God’s nature to provide refuge, deliverance and rescue to those who believe in him. In return, we are to depend on him. He is our one true source of hope and support. The only possible response to God’s steadfastness and grace is to make praising God the most important part of our lives.

Psalm 71 brings forth the theme of childlike trust. We have to trust God just like a child trusts a parent. Trust is not easy. We have to confront our reluctance to trust God. That reluctance is a barrier and an enemy to our faith. We have to confront all of our enemies constantly. When we fail to praise God, frustration builds. God is saddened. We miss a great opportunity to be blessed. God has been with us forever. He never forgets his promises. He never abandons us when we need him, and that gives us confidence.

Children build their child-like trust in God by coming to God, and that is how we as Christians are to build our trust in God. Some people argue against leading children to Christ at an early age, and some denominations will not baptize children or infants. If we don’t teach our children to have faith in Jesus, someone else or something else will convince them to trust something else or someone else.

When we take time to praise God, fear, doubt and frustration fade. Praising God doesn’t mean that our problems aren’t serious or that our problems won’t go away, but praising God forces us to lift our eyes to God. He has the power to lift our hearts and offer us eternal hope. He is our refuge and our strength, especially in times of trouble.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 751-752)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Williams, D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 13: Psalms 1-72 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1986; pp. 511-514)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publisher; 2006)
5. Eric Mathus, “Commentary on Psalm 71:1-6.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2753
6. Bobby Morris, “Commentary on Psalm 71:1-6.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1532
7. David Jeremiah, “Digging Deep.” Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org
8. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Life Gets Better with Praise.” Retrieved from leadingtheway.org
9. Selwyn Hughes, “When Broken by Stress.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
10. Mark Ellingson, “Lectionary Scripture Notes, Proper 16, Ordinary Time 21, Pentecost 13, Cycle C (2016).” Retrieved from http://www.lectionaryscripturenotes.com
11. Johnson, “Bible Study, Proper 16(C)-August 21, 2016.” Retrieved from http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/stw/2016/08/01/bible-study-proper-16c-august-21-2016
12. JoAnn Haynes, “Commentary on Psalm 71:1-6.” Retrieved from http://www.aplainaccount.org

As Ryder and Josh set plates and forks on the table for lunch, a dog started barking outside. “There Sarge goes again,” said Ryder with a sigh. “He’s always barking.”

“This bark sounds different than usual,” said Mom. “Maybe one of you boys should go check it out.”

“Aw, Mom, we’re busy,” said Josh. “Besides, Sarge barks at everything–squirrels, people, cars. You name it, he barks at it.” Since Mom didn’t insist, no one checked to see why Sarge was barking.

When Josh and Ryder went out to ride their bikes later that afternoon, they stopped and stared at the empty garage. “Where are our bikes?” asked Josh.

“I don’t believe it!” cried Ryder. “They’re gone! Who would have the nerve to come into our garage in broad daylight and take our bikes right out from under our noses?”

“After all the work we did mowing lawns to buy those bikes,” said Josh. “Now this!”

The boys rushed into the house. “Our new bikes are gone! Someone stole them!” Everyone hurried out to see for themselves.

Dad returned to the house to call the police department and report the loss. When he came back outside, he stopped to pet Sarge. “Didn’t we hear Sarge barking a couple hours ago?” he asked. “He was trying to warn us, and we didn’t listen to him.”

That evening Dad read aloud from Psalm 19. “Warnings are important,” he said after he finished reading. “Today Mom warned you boys to check on Sarge, but you didn’t. Sarge was warning us about the bikes getting stolen, but we didn’t listen. In this psalm, we see that God speaks through His Word not only to teach us about who He is and how much He loves us, but also to warn us about sin.”

“You mean how sin separates us from God, and only trusting in Jesus can free us from sin and give us eternal life?” asked Josh.

Dad nodded. “Yes, the Bible definitely warns us about sin in that way. But it also warns those who already trust in Jesus about the consequences of sin and how disobeying God can mess up our lives and keep us from living the life God wants for us. Let’s be sure to listen.”

How about us? Do we take warnings seriously? God warns Christians about the dangers of sin in the Bible. Listen to Him and obey His commands. Is God warning us about something today? If we think He is, we must pray and ask Him to help us know what action to take and get advice from someone we trust. God’s warnings are one of the ways He helps us and guides us through life.

Psalm 19 points out two areas where God has chosen to reveal Himself. The entire universe testifies of the Creator and brilliantly displays the glory of God. If we look for Him in the beauty of the world around us, we will find Him. God has placed the sun (which was an object of worship among the pagans) in the heavens and is therefore supreme over it. The figures of the bridegroom and the runner picture the sun’s glory and power as it moves across the sky. Since it is so glorious, how much more glorious must its Creator be.

Psalm 19 reveals a God who always communicates through His word and His works. They show us the loving heart of God seeking our hearts. As we listen to the heavens and nature, we hear God’s glory. The heavens and nature worship God with their praise and witness His glory to us.

God isn’t limited to words in His communication with us. He uses dreams, angels, visions, impressions and mental pictures. Since He is the communicator, we need to hear Him speaking to us beyond our limited mental capabilities.

God communicates with us through the Old Testament law. The law converts us and restores us to God. It drives us to despair so that we may be driven to Christ. The process is completed when we accept the crucified and risen Christ as our Saviour.

All of the means God uses to communicate with us have the same goal. God wants us to know Him, to worship Him, to love Him, and to obey Him. When God speaks, He speaks the truth. His commandments are just and righteous. They tell us what to do and how to please God. The knowledge of God is for the worship of God. His commandments are pure. They transmit the light of God to our souls. In Christ we become light and we are to live in that light.

Testimony, statutes, commandments and judgments are all synonyms for God’s law, the Bible. The connection between the previous verses with their references to creation and God’s Word here is that as the sun is the centerpiece of creation, so must God’s Word be the centerpiece of believers’ lives.

David prayed for cleansing and help that he might be blameless and innocent. He wanted more than just forgiveness. He prayed that his future words and thoughts would always be acceptable in the sight of God, who was the source of David’s strength and redemption. This is a good prayer for us as well. Words are powerful and rarely neutral. If we want our words to bless other people, they must always be spoken in truth and love. We should think before we speak and look for ways in which our words will bring God glory.

David’s question in verses 12 to 14 expresses that without God’s Word, it is difficult for people to know if or when they violate God’s will. The Word brings hidden faults to light and offers strong warnings about what displeases God so that the believer’s actions, words and thoughts may receive God’s favour. We need God’s Word so that we can understand the works of God. General revelation holds us accountable, but it also condemns us because in our sin we deny the Creator. But in the darkness, God speaks. When we commit our lives to Jesus and trust Him alone for our salvation, God forgives us of all our sins, even the ones we don’t remember.

Because of sin, God’s Word is not our natural instruction nor our natural delight. The real reason why many people in the Western world reject Jesus is repression and rejection of what they instinctively know to be the truth-that there is one, true, living God who created us all and has revealed Himself through the Person of Jesus Christ. God’s Spirit has to bring conviction of sin and cleansing of sin. The Holy Spirit will control our lives.

The liberating message of God’s Word is ours every moment. Satan may attack us, but we have the Sword of the Spirit. The world may tempt us, but we can hide God’s Word in our hearts. Obeying God’s Word gives us three rewards:

1. The reward of doing God’s will.
2. The reward of living a fulfilled life.
3. The assurance of being ready to stand before Christ’s judgment seat.

If we want to live lives that honour God, we must put God at the centre of our lives and we must do things God’s way. God’s Word should be the most valuable thing in our lives. To hear His Word and to do it is to build our spiritual lives upon the rock. Seeking, studying and obeying His Word helps us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

Are we living in fear because we aren’t following God? Could it be that peace won’t come because practical obedience isn’t the pattern of our lives? Is disobedience producing fear and dread in our hearts? It’s time for us to come home to God. On the way back, God will drive, we will ride shotgun, and our fears will be packed in the trunk.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p.718)
2. Sarah Young, “You Will Find Me.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
3. “A Curious Incident (Part 1)” Retrieved from info@keysforkids.org
4. Williams, D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol.13: Psalms 1-72 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1986; pp. 157-166)
5. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
7. Steve Arterburn, “The Power of Words.” Retrieved from com@crosswalkmail.com
8. The Rev. Billy Graham, “How Can You Ask Forgiveness for Things You Don’t Remember?” Retrieved from arcamax.com
9. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Champions Do Things God’s Way.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leaadingtheway.org
10. Anne Graham Lotz, “Instinctive Recognition.” Retrieved from info@angelministries.org
11. David Jeremiah, “Turning the Page.” Retrieved from turninngpoint@davidjeremiah.org
12. Ron Moore, “Clean and Clear.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

There is a common thread in Nehemiah 8:1-10 and Luke 4:14-21 and it is freedom from slavery. In the case of the reading from Nehemiah, the story takes place after the Israelites have returned from captivity in Babylon. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus mentions that he has come to free us from the captivity of sin.

Jesus came to give us our jubilee-our freedom.  We are all captives to our sinful, human nature. The readings from Nehemiah and Luke show us that we as Christians have to come together to hear God’s Word and be taught what it means and how it applies to us. The only way the passage from Isaiah that Jesus read can be fulfilled is if we all come together and work together. We are all part of the one body of Christ that Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 12:12-30. We are stronger when we are united and work together. Locally, we are stronger when we work with other churches in such ventures as the recent Shepherd’s Walk and the annual Good Friday Walk of the Cross.

The story from Nehemiah is part of a story about rebuilding. The temple has just been rebuilt following the Israelites’ return from captivity in Babylon. There were roughly 50,000 people in the congregation that day. They were hungry for God’s Word. They were not anxious for the service to conclude-unlike many churchgoers today. God gave the Israelites some wonderful gifts: land, security, abundance and prosperity. The memory of those gifts bound the people together; but over time they grew cynical and careless about their faith. The people called on the prophet Ezra to read from the Law of Moses, and they responded to God’s Word. They were eager to hear the Word of God. When they heard the Word of God, they cried because when they looked at their history and compared it to God’s Word, they realized that they screwed up big time!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the congregation Jesus preached to in the reading from Luke’s Gospel. In Luke 4:22-30, the crowd was ready to kill him after he said that he was the long-promised Messiah. They could not accept that he was the Messiah. To them, he was just a gifted preacher who was the son of a carpenter. They were ready to hear God’s Word, but in contrast to the congregation who heard Ezra’s preaching, they were not moved by the Holy Spirit. They were out for profit and the status quo, even though both Jesus and the passage from Isaiah told them that the status quo wrong! Jesus dared to tell them that God’s love was for everyone. He illustrated that his message was for everyone by referring to Elijah being sent to the widow of Zarapeth, who was a Gentile. Elisha healed Naaman the Syrian-not a Jew, but a Gentile. If God can be so gracious and quick to attend to the needs of a poor widow in Sidon and an undeserving Gentile in Syria, what gave the Jewish elders the right to say who belongs in the kingdom and who doesn’t? They wanted to hear how the Jews were God’s chosen people and how salvation belonged only to them.

We can understand a little of how they felt. They were God’s chosen people. They had been persecuted all of their lives because they maintained God’s word and kept up the Jewish customs. They built the temples and synagogues and tried to live as God wanted them to live because they were God’s chosen people. It is true that when you are persecuted people you have to develop a sense of pride in order to survive. When pride becomes exclusive, it becomes dangerous. It’s hard for persecuted people to hear that others will be included in the same grace that they will know and feel they have deserved.

It’s hard for us also. It’s okay as long as food is delivered to our door, but what about when grace is extended to our neighbour. It’s hard for us to accept that Christianity is growing in all areas of the world except for North America and Europe. It’s hard for us to hear that other people are prospering in the Word of God.

The people of Nazareth rejected the Gospel because its vision included both Jews and Gentiles. Paul even argued in 1 Corinthians 12:14 that “For the body is not one member, but many”. We are all members of the one body of Christ. Jesus came to restore sight to the blind, but the people of Nazareth wanted to keep their narrow vision.

The people in Galilee had an expectation of what the Messiah could be. They expected him to be a military ruler who would drive out the Romans and restore Israel to the glory days of the reign of King David. They did not expect a Messiah who would urge them to care for those whom they considered to be unclean-the poor, the sick, prostitutes, etc. Unlike the congregation Ezra preached to, the congregation in the synagogue did not accept the concept of grace.

The Scriptures were long neglected by the Israelites, and they were neglected by the people in the synagogue. The people were nearly illiterate when it came to the Scriptures, and many of us are also scripturally illiterate. It is like the story of the pastor who visited a Sunday School class one day. He asked the students, “Who broke down the walls of Jericho?” One child answered, “Not me, I didn’t do it, Pastor”. The pastor asked the teacher if that answer was typical of her students, and the teacher replied, “I know that student. If he said he didn’t do it, he didn’t do it!”

The pastor then went to the Sunday School superintendent and told him what happened. The superintendent replied that it was the best class, and that he was sure that no one in the class was guilty. A few days later the pastor told the story to the church’s board, and the treasurer spoke up, “Pastor, I move that we pay for the damage and charge it to upkeep!”

We, like the people who heard the prophet Ezra speak, need to be always ready to hear God’s Word. The only way we can discover God’s true nature is to study and hear Scripture and apply it in our lives and our world. By worshipping on our knees or with our faces to the ground, we remind ourselves that he is our sovereign and we are his subjects. While we need to study God’s Word on our own, we also need to gather with fellow believers on a regular basis to hear God’s Word explained-just like Jesus and Ezra explained God’s Word to the people. God’s Word and God’s joy give us strength because when we feel weak (as we often will on our Christian walk of life) he loves us enough to step in and help us. He loves to save us and forgive us. He loves to show his love to all believers.

The reading of Scripture has great influence on each generation that hears it, but how each generation hears Scripture and interprets its relevance is always a source of debate and conflict. Scriptures are often complex and rooted in a particular time, and therefore they require interpretation-interpretation provided by people like me and our ordained clergy. We need to know not only how the Scriptures applied in the time they were written, but also how they apply to our lives today, especially since we live in a different time and place.

The crowd in the synagogue knew that the text Jesus read from Isaiah was a prophecy about the coming of the Messiah. Jesus announced to the crowd that he was the Messiah Isaiah referred to. Jesus ushered in a new age with his words, just like Ezra’s words ushered in a new age. When the people heard the Word of God from Ezra, it became a source for reform and a means of new life for the community. The people in the rebuilt temple were prepared to throw a party to celebrate their return to a godly way of life, and they were prepared to share their goods with the poor. The passage Jesus read from Isaiah said the same thing-show concern for the poor. The Israelites longed for the world to be a better place, and we also long for the world to be a better place. The only way it will be a better place is if we hear and obey the Word of God, especially the part about showing care and compassion to the poor.

When Ezra and Jesus read from the Old Testament texts, they preached in God’s power. God’s power was unleashed, but the people had to stop and listen. We also have to stop and listen to God’s Word carefully. Paul said in the reading from 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 that we have to listen carefully to God’s Word without distraction. The freedom promised in God’s Word is only available when we are not absorbed in ourselves or self-centered or isolated. The freedom comes when we come together as part of one body of Christ. The people who heard Jesus speak in the temple did not know how to listen to the Word of God because they were isolated. They believed that they were God’s chosen people, and they also believed that they were better than other people, especially the Samaritans and the Gentiles and other people that Jesus cared for. The people who heard Ezra speak were hungry for the Word of God. God’s Word has the power to change the lives of those who hear it.

The light of Christ that resides in us should attract others to us. We need to be the most positive people on earth, and we need to see opportunity in the midst of life’s challenges. That is what Jesus tried to tell the congregation in the synagogue. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 that we are all part of the one body of Christ. We are all united. We have to work together to do his work in the world.

Jesus and the Word of God will fix everything that sin has ruined. They will make everything new, including the reversal of Satan’s curse. This is done through the church, the body of believers. The anointing of the Holy Spirit will give us the tools we need to turn to God and do his work in our world. The readings from Nehemiah and Luke show us that it is one thing to quote the Scriptures, but it is another thing to believe in what the Scriptures teach us. The good news is not just for the poor, the blind and the oppressed. They will receive it more gladly than others because they have much to gain and little to lose. The rich, the powerful and the elite will not be nearly as receptive.

The Scriptures should fill us with the Holy Spirit so we can spread joy in the world, just like Jesus came to spread joy in the world. By referring to the Holy Spirit, we express the active presence of God in the world. The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus for his task in the world, and it empowers us to continue to do his work in our world.

Both readings also symbolize the renewal of covenants between God and his people. Nehemiah led the Israelites in the rebuilding of the temple, and in the process there was a spiritual renewal. Jesus came to restore our relationship with God by projecting a vision of hope. God’s Word restores our relationship with him when we take part in the Eucharist. We become different people when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. We celebrate and share with humanity’s children. We have been set free and we enjoy the special favour of God. God’s Word shines a light into our darkness and continues to set us free. Since we have experienced the freedom God offers to us, we must encourage others to seek and accept the freedom God offers to everyone.

Bibliography

1. Preaching Magazine, November/December 2012 (Nashville, TN: Salem Publishing Inc.; pp. 55-56)
2. Stanley, C.F., The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. Inc.; 2009)
3. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 3^rd Sunday, Year C”. Retrieved from preacherexchange.org
4. John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, 3^rd Sunday After Epiphany, Year C. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod.org/archives/third-sunday-after-epiphany-year-c.html
5. Exegesis for Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6,8-10. Retrieved from sermonwriter.com
6. Mark D. Roberts, “Mardi Gras?” Retrieved from Newsletter@ThehighCalling.org
7. Michael Demkovich, O.P., “In Your Hearing”. Retrieved from torch.op.org
8. Diane Swinger, “The World is About to Turn”. Retrieved from colsoncenter.org
9. Os Hillman, “How is Your Joy Quotient?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
10. Michael Craven, “Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?” Retrieved from caw@donationnet.net
11. B. Meyer, “Our Daily Homily”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
12. Mike Benson, “Memorize”. Retrieved from http://forthright.net
13. Rebecca Barlow Jordan, “Joy”. Retrieved from com@crosswalkmail.com
14. Charles F. Stanley, “How to Listen to the Word of God”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
15. Jimmy Gentry, “A Lifetime of Days Holy to the Lord”. Retrieved from preaching.com
16. The Rev. Dr. Mark Anschutz, “Sermon for the Third Sunday”. Retrieved from day1.org
17. The Rev. David Jones, “Everything Depends on Remembering”. Retrieved from day1.org
18. Lectionary Worship Resources, Year C-Epiphany 3. Retrieved from http://sacredise.com/lectionary/2010/01/year-c-epiphany-3/
19. Sarah Dylan Breuer, “Dylan’s Lectionary Blog. Third Sunday After Epiphany, Year C”. Retrieved from http://www.sarah;aughed.net/lectionary/2007/01/third-sunday-after-epiphany-year-c.html
20. Exegesis for Luke 4:14-21. Retrieved from sermonwriter.com
21. Swindoll, Charles R., Swindoll’s New Testament insights on Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Inc.; 2012)
22. MacArthur, John, et al: How to Preach Biblically (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2005)
23. Gary L. Carver and Tom Garrison, “Prophet or Profit?”. Retrieved from esermons.com
24. Cynthia E. Cowen, “Love Walked Across the Field”. Retrieved from esermons.com
25. Robert A. Hausman, “The Call of the Tradition: Remember and Return”. Retrieved from esermons.com
26. Ron Lavin, “The Water Gate and The Word Proclaimed”. Retrieved from esermons.com
27. Philip W. McClarty, “When Preaching Turns to Meddlin'” Retrieved form http://www.sermonwriter.com
28. Philip W. McClarty, “Jesus’ First Sermon”. Retrieved from http://www.sermonwriter.com
29. Gary L. Carver and Tom Garrison, “The Bible: Head and Heart”. Retrieved from http://www.sermonwriter.com
30. Exegesis for 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Retrieved from http://www.sermonwriter.com

Hello boys and girls!

How many of you like to go out on a nice, sunny day and play with your friends? Has anyone ever said that they can’t play with you because they don’t like you, or because of where you live, or because of who your parents are? Well boys and girls, I certainly know how you feel because I was shunned at times when I was your age.

Jesus also knows how you feel because he was often rejected because of what he told people. For example, in Luke 4:14-21 he attended worship services in the synagogue in his hometown. He was asked to read a portion of Scripture, and the reading he chose was written by the prophet Isaiah. That particular reading talked about the long-promised Messiah.

After he finished his reading, he told the people that he was the long-promised Messiah that Isaiah talked about. The people couldn’t accept this statement because they saw him only as the son of Mary and Joseph, or as the son of a carpenter. That was a shame, because when they rejected him, they rejected someone who was part of the body of Christ that the apostle Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 12:21-31.

Boys and girls, someone else who knows about rejecting people is a  little boy named Johnny. Johnny was lying in his bed after a nice bath getting  ready to go to sleep. His mommy and daddy were seated on the bed beside him.  They were talking about things that had happened that day. Johnny’s daddy  asked him, “Did you play with the new boy next door, today?” “No, he’s weird,” said  Johnny.

“What do you mean?” asked his  father. “He talks funny.” said Johnny  trying to copy the way the new boy talks. Johnny made himself laugh, but his  parents didn’t laugh. “I think the boy has trouble starting  words,” said his Mother, “but if you wait for him, he can say anything anyone  else can say. You just have to wait for him.”

“I still think he’s weird,” said  Johnny.

“Well,” said his father, “God gives  different gifts to different people. You learn soccer fast, but you learn piano  slowly. You start words quickly, but he starts words slowly. Starting words is  not one of his gifts. Do you know what gifts God has given him?”

“No, I didn’t think about it,” said  Johnny.

“When you think someone is weird, you  aren’t looking for the gifts God has given them, so you won’t find them,” said  his mother. “Tomorrow, you can find out one of his gifts. Maybe he is good at a  game.”

“Maybe he can play marbles,” Johnny  said.

“Remember in Church the story of  Pentecost where God gave something to each of the disciples that made their  faces light up, gave each one something wonderful?” asked his father.

“Yes!” said Johnny. “They all  caught on fire.”

“The Bible doesn’t say they caught on  fire,” said his mother. “It says there was something like fire on their heads.  Maybe it was like fire because it was a bright light.” “Maybe it was like fire because it  warmed their hearts,” said his father. “We do know that God gave them the gift  to love one another, and God has given you that gift too, Johnny. God has  given you the gift of playing nicely with the boy next door.”

Johnny had never thought about  that. He’d thought about other gifts from God but never the gift of playing  happily with the boy next door. So, he thought about that. But first they said a  prayer , and boys and girls, I’d like to you to close your eyes, bow your heads and repeat that same prayer after me.

Dear God, thank you for  giving us the gift of loving you and loving each other. Help us play happily  with the people next door. Amen.

Hello boys and girls!

How many of you like to do things for yourselves, such as tying your shoe laces or getting dressed or brushing your teeth? Do you like it when people try to help you when you don’t need their help?

Boys and girls, there are some things that we can’t do by ourselves. For example, could you run a relay race by yourself? Could you play basketball or football if you were the only person on the team?

The church is the same. Jesus tells us that all of us are members of the Body of Christ, also known as the church. We don’t come to church as individual people and then leave. Jesus tells us that we are to be a team of people who work together for Jesus. Each of us is an important part of that body, and all of the things we do are just as important.

Our church body is just like our human body. All of the parts have to work together, and all of the parts have to be there. Suppose we were missing an eye or an ear or a hand or an arm or a foot or a leg. What would happen?

Let me tell you a story about how important it is for people to work together for Jesus. It’s a story of a little girl named Shelly.

I like being on our youth group planning committee, thought Shelly as the members shared ideas for making their meetings more interesting. But she frowned when Cole offered his suggestion. “How about planning a mission program that reaches out to kids in our community?” he asked. “And let’s give everyone in the youth group something to do. You know–get everyone involved.”

Mr. Gray, the youth leader, liked the idea. “That sounds good,” he said, “and it will fit in nicely with the Bible study I’m planning for the next several weeks.”

“But some of the kids never want to do anything,” objected Shelly. “I don’t see how we can we get them involved if they’re not really interested, so what would we do about them? Or doesn’t it matter? Do we really need them?”

“Nah.” Zoe, another committee member, shook her head.

Cole disagreed. “We want them all to have a part,” he insisted.

“Let’s think about that, kids,” said Mr. Gray. “Let me ask you something.” He turned to Shelly. “You broke your thumb a few days ago. Does it matter?” he asked. “How important is your thumb?”

“My thumb?” asked Shelly in surprise. She laughed as she looked down at her bandaged thumb. “I didn’t think I used it much . . . until I couldn’t use it at all,” she said. “Now that it’s broken, I see how much I really need it. It’s way more important than I ever knew!”

“Yes, I thought it might be.” Mr. Gray smiled. “And God says that’s exactly how it is with the body of believers. All who believe in Jesus are referred to as the Body of Christ, and every single member is important–just like every part of our physical bodies is important. Each person has a job to do for the Body of Christ to function properly.”

“That makes sense,” said Shelly, “but . . .” She frowned. “I still don’t see how we’ll get kids to help if they don’t want to.” She looked at her thumb again. “Or do you think they will want to if we show them that we need them?”

Cole nodded. “Yeah, and I think we should be careful to not complain about anything we’re assigned to do, but act like we’re enjoying it ourselves,” he said.

Zoe grinned. “That part should be easy. I think we will enjoy it,” she said.

“Good,” Mr. Gray approved. “Let’s put those ideas into action.”

Let’s close our eyes and bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for the chance to come together and work together to do what you want us to do. Help us to remember that what each one of us does is important to you. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

Bibliography

1. “The Broken Thumb.” Retrieved from sermons4kids.com
2. Mark A. Hultquist, “Many Parts-One Body.” Retrieved from sermonsuite.com

Do you know that you have spiritual gifts from God?

That’s right. Each and every one of us has spiritual gifts from God. These gifts come in many different forms. Some are greater than others, but they are equally important. Each gift is essential for the benefit of all believers. The danger is that someone who possesses a public and “impressive” gift might lord it over the one who possesses a private gift of service. Those who have the gift of helping others rarely seek recognition or attention. Their instincts are to reach out and serve other without reward or recognition.

The theme of Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians is unity. The church in Corinth had many issues, but the greatest problem was the lack of unity within the church. In the section of First Corinthians that is just before the reading we heard today, the diversity of the body illustrated the diversity of the gifts within the body of believers. In this section of the Letter, attention is cast on the fact that many members are required to make up one body.

The church today sometimes finds itself in a similar situation. Sometimes there is fighting about who is most important in the church body. This wastes time that would be better spent demonstrating unity to a world that needs a model of genuine community and unity.

One sign of unity is when all members equally care for one another. Spiritual gifts are not just a matter of figuring out what one is good at so he/she can be satisfied in serving. Spiritual gifts are intended to promote unity and working together to share the Good News.

One example of spiritual gifts is the gift of prophecy. Prophets in Old Testament times were those who proclaimed the very words of God before there was a written text. A prophet today is one who proclaims the very words of God as revealed in the Scriptures. Paul listed apostles first and speaking in tongues last. The Corinthians were putting speaking in tongues first and casting aspersions on the apostles, especially since the apostles were acting in a similar manner to Old Testament prophets.

Some believers have the gift of preaching while others have the gift of leadership. Not everyone has the same gift, and not everything we do will satisfy us 100% of the time. Not all roles or gifts are equally exciting, but they are equally important. Everyone works together and they are firmly planted on the foundation of their faith in God.. Being a Christian is like being a part of a human body. Each Christian is unique, but each Christian is part of something bigger, namely, the Body of Christ. If we aren’t connected to the church, we won’t know the purpose of our lives. We won’t know our role or our function. We won’t know our value or our meaning. We need to be in relationships with other people. We have to learn from others if we want to fulfill our potential and our role within the Body of Christ.

God creates people to carry out specific kinds of work in order to meet human needs. God uniquely designs each of us. He fits each of us for certain tasks. He distributes skills, abilities, interests and personalities among us so that we can carry out his work in the world. That work includes spiritual tasks and secular tasks such as health, education, business, law and so on.

In light of what has gone before within the Corinthian church, Paul’s exhortation to desire the best gifts may seem contradictory. As the following verses will reveal, what Paul considers the best gifts will be quite different from what the Corinthians had been pursuing. The best gifts are those that glorify God the most.

The church is the body of Christ. Every believer is part of that body, so every believer should make the church a priority. When church isn’t a priority, believers deprive themselves and fellow believers. That foundation helps us work together, especially when one member is suffering. Believer are encouraged to come together to help fellow believers when they suffer. The best way to help is for each believer to use his/her gifts. When we use our gifts to do God’s work, we strengthen each other and the Church as a whole.

We need to be connected to a church family so that we can fulfill our calling to serve other believers in practical ways. We need the church and the church needs us. There are no insignificant roles to play in either the church or the body of believers. Every role is of equal importance, because all of the roles are connected. This is something for us to seriously consider at this time of year. It is time for church and parish annual meetings, and during these meetings people are elected to various positions of leadership within a church or the parish. If you are asked to consider running for a position, it means that the people who are asking you think that you have gifts that are especially suitable for the position.

Most of us will never be in a position to influence a lot of people. When we act or speak, only those who are close to us will notice, but our actions will ripple outward to affect an entire community. When we serve God and others, we steady the whole body as we support each other. We must always look for needs that God can meet through us. We don’t have to depend on our own personality or powers of persuasion. Christ will work through us. We are his eyes, ears, hands and feet in the world.

The measure of a Christian worker is not the ability to speak or the worker’s personality. It is the enduring work which he/she accomplishes. That work won’t be manifest or completely recognized until Jesus returns. Only Jesus can truly judge the merits of our efforts.

Some people are multi-talented and well-rounded, but they rarely commit to doing one thing well. They are spread so thin that their impact is minimal. All Christian workers need to stay focused on what they are good at. Here’s a good example of why we need to stay focused.

A sea captain and his chief engineer argued as to which one of them was more important to the ship. They couldn’t agree, so they decided to switch roles. The Chief Engineer came to the bridge and the Captain went to the engine room. After a couple of hours, the Captain come on the deck. He was covered in oil. He waved a monkey wrench at the Chief Engineer and shouted, “Chief, you’ll have to come down here. I can’t make the ship go.”

The Chief Engineer replied, “Of course you can’t. We’ve run aground!”

We must not allow our gifts to be greater than the fruit of the Spirit. When our gifts are greater than the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, our lives will crumble. When we grow in faith, God’s power will work in us to make us more Christ-like.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p. 1588)
2. Ed Young, “Body Builder.” Retrieved from www.edyoung.com
3. Carolyn Dale Newell, “No Member is Too Weak.” Retrieved from com@crosswalkmail.com
4. Christine Caine, “Gifts and Fruit.” Retrieved from Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com
5. Pastor Rick Warren, “Where Do You Believe God Can Use You?” Retrieved from connect@newsletter.purposedriven.com
6. Charles Stanley, “How to Serve the Church.” Retrieved from www.intouch.org
7. Michael Brooks, “Standards.” Retrieved from forthright.net
8. Jack Graham, “How to Maximize Your Kingdom Impact in 2015.” Retrieved from www.jackgraham.org
9. Joel Osteen, “Know Who You Are.” Retrieved from joelosteen.com
10. Os Hillman, “Is There Hierarchy in Calling?” Retrieved from com@crosswalkmail.com
11. Jim Liebert, “Partners of Equal Value.” Retrieved from homeword.com
12. David Jeremiah, “A Helping Hand.” Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org
13. David Jeremiah, “The Body of Christ.” Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org
14. David Jeremiah, “Uniqueness and Unity.” Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org
15. Rick Warren, “You Learn Your Purpose Through Relationships.” Retrieved from connect@newsletter.purposedriven.com
16. Rick Warren, “God Created You to Need Other People.” Retrieved from connect@newsletter.purposedriven.com

Jesus’ first miracle-that of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana-is a significant moment in Jesus’ ministry. It’s also an important explanation of God’s character and mission. Throughout the Scriptures God’s relationship with His people is compared to a marriage. God wants an intimate connection with us in which we are loved, known and made known.

What we have here us the power of God showing itself in the world to bring about something only God could do. It’s about God acting through Christ in a way that gives us a sign that God is at work here. John wants to show us what Jesus says, does and means. Jesus means life, joy, abundance and peace. John believes that the Christian life is meant to be a comedy, not a tragedy. Despite how dark things appear to be in the world, despite the fact that the path of life will lead Jesus and us through death, things will turn out bright in the end. God is in control, and He will lead us to light and life in Jesus.

Jesus performed His first public miracle, not in the temple but in a Jewish home in Cana; not at a funeral but at a wedding; not at a fast, but at a feast. This is a reminder that the life of a Christian should reflect the joy that characterized Jesus.

The miracle at Cana was the first sign, or evidence, of Jesus’ glory, and the disciples saw and believed. God’s glory was revealed through a miracle that did not heal anyone or cast out demons. It was a miracle of abundance. It was part of His plan for us. Jesus was a man of sorrows and grief, but He was also a man who went to parties and had a good time. His presence at the wedding in Cana is an invitation for the rest of us to join Him at His party and to enter into His joy. Jesus wants to be invited as a vital part of every relationship. Inviting Him at the beginning will strengthen and set the direction for it.

The servants were the only people who recognized what happened. Everyone else enjoyed the wine without knowing where it came from. The servants knew what happened in that situation. If we want to know what Christ is doing in a particular situation we have to be a part of that situation. The work of God’s kingdom comes through those who bring its light into places that are ravaged by sinful human nature.

Jesus was asked by Mary to get involved in an unusual problem. Have you ever asked Jesus to get involved in an unusual problem? No matter what problems we have, Jesus invites us to seek Him as the solution. Mary saw the shadow that she knew could be answered by Jesus’ light. She invited Jesus to change the situation of poverty into a celebration of love that was shown in a wedding that ran up against human limitations.

Jesus performed His first miracle not merely to replenish the wine supply but to save a humble Galilean family from disgrace. Running out of food or wine at a wedding feast was considered a terrible mistake on the part of the groom’s family. In Jesus’ time, a wedding day was a great celebration. The ceremony usually took place late in the evening after a feast. Then there was a procession to the groom’s home, with an open house that went on for at least a week. No wonder the people ran out of wine! We don’t know how or when Jesus turned the water into wine. He simply moves in His own time and in His own way.

Mary spoke to Jesus as her son, but Jesus changed the relationship from son to Saviour. His response- “What does your concern have to do with Me?”-was not meant to demean her but to refocus her perspective. Notice the emphasis on timing when Jesus says, “My hour has not yet come.” Everything Jesus did had a purpose and was on schedule.

Jesus’ response to Mary’s request might seem to be rude or indignant, but it wasn’t. It might have been spoken in a tender manner. He did not intend to refuse to provide wine, but only to delay it a little. Mary’s response indicates that she did not consider Jesus’ words a rebuke. Jesus is still looking for those who will respond to Him with the same simplicity of obedience.

The meaning of Jesus’ comment was that He has started His mission on earth, and all other activities were not as important. He was following a schedule that God created before the creation of the world. The Old Testament prophets described the Messianic age as a time when wine would flow liberally. Jesus was likely referring to the fact that the blessings of the Messianic age would come after His death and resurrection. Jesus’ actions show how vastly different God’s ways are from the world’s. The world starts with the better, which often becomes bitter in the end. But God starts with something ordinary and makes it extraordinary. Whenever Jesus enters a life, He transforms it.

This miracle showed His power and character as the Messiah. It showed His divine power and that He was commissioned by God. This miracle caused many people to believe that He was the Messiah. Those who believe in Him can take comfort in the knowledge that He is always present and He is always with us. We should welcome His presence.

The waterpots were large, low basins for the purpose of Jewish purification. Six of them would have held enough wine for more than 2,400 servings. This miracle foreshadowed the day when Jesus would replace the water of Jewish ritual with new wine that was superior in every way.

The old and new wines represent the old and new creation. The old wine of the law has given out, but the new wine, representing the new creation, has come. Jesus pours out the wine of the “end times” and there is enough for everyone. Jesus is the good wine that allows our lives to grow. As we get older, our faith gives us a taste of life in new ways. We drink a wine that keeps getting better and better. It gives us a longing for the best wine we will drink at God’s banquet table.

When we invite Jesus into every aspect of our lives, He can change our past pain for present comfort and turn our deep sorrow into joy. He can take our wounds and turn them into fresh wisdom. The miracle of turning water into wine reveals Jesus as:

1. One who honours the bond of marriage by His presence at the wedding.
2. One who bestows His gifts lavishly; if in the physical realm, how much more in the spiritual?
3. One whose infinite love is made effective by His equally infinite power
4. One who, accordingly, is the Son of God, full of grace and glory.

This was the first of Jesus’ miracles on earth, but it wasn’t his last. When we walk with Jesus every day, we become accustomed to the miracles he performs. He does so many great and wonderful things for us. He supplies everything we need — a roof over our head, and a nice warm bed. We have clothes to wear and plenty to eat and drink. Oh yes, He is so good, but do you know what? He is saving the best for last. What is it? Eternal life. If we put our trust in Jesus as our Savior, we will live forever in heaven with him. Now, that’s what I call “saving the best for last!”

This story is about more than turning water into wine. It’s a sign, and each sign reveals who God is so that people would accept him and the nearness of God that he brings. The people are gathered and want to celebrate, but they don’t have the means to do so. Jesus allows us to celebrate the nearness of God. God has come close and given us the reason and means to celebrate. God has saved the best wine until last.

So what can we do? What is our place in a miracle of plenty? We can be like Mary. We can notice, name, persist and trust. No matter how profound the scarcity, no matter how impossible the situation, we can interfere, pull Jesus aside, ask for help and ready ourselves for action. We can tell God hard truths, even when we’re supposed to be celebrating. We can keep human needs squarely before our eyes, even when denial, apathy or distraction are easier options. Finally, we can invite others to obey Jesus, who we have come to know and trust.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp.1443-1444)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 12 Bible software package.
3. Fredrikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol.27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 64-77)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 2^nd Sunday in Ordinary time -C-.” Retrieved from preacherexchange.org
6. Vikki Burke, “The Miracle of Abundance.” Retrieve from dbm@dennisburkeministries.org.
7. Os Hillman, “How Would Jesus Impact Your Wedding Party?” Retrieved from tgif@marketplaceleaders.org
8. The Rev. Jason Cox, “Come and Dine: Epiphany 2-C- 016.” Retrieved from epipscopaldigitalnetwork.com
9. “The Wedding Guest.” Retrieved form BibleGateway@e.BibleGateway.com
10. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 2^nd Sunday -C-, January 20, 2019”. Retrieved from preacherexchange.org
11. “Saving the Best for Last.” Retrieved from Sermons4KIds.com
12. Debie Thomas, “They Have No Wine.” Retrieved from journeywithjesus.net/lectionary-essays/current/essay
13. Dominic Ryan, OP, “Water into Wine.” Retrieved from www.english.op.org/torch/water-into-wine
14. “Marriage for All.” Retrieved from noreply+feedproxy@google.com