Sermons From My Heart

Hello boys and girls!

Has anyone ever told you to get lost or go away? Has anyone ever told you that they didn’t want you around? How did that make you feel?

There is one person who will never tell us to go away. In fact, he wants all of us to come close to him. His name is Jesus. Let me explain by reading a story to you from Mark 10:2-16.

One day, Jesus and his friends were walking along the beautiful coast of Judea. As they were walking and talking, and discussing the news of the day, other people saw Jesus and wanted to hear what he was saying. Soon there was a very large crowd of people following Jesus. Some of them were sick, and Jesus touched them and made them well. Others had questions they wanted to ask and listened carefully as Jesus answered them.

There was a group of people called “Pharisees,” who were leaders in the temple. They liked to have long discussions and especially enjoyed arguing and trying to trick one another. When the Pharisees heard that Jesus was nearby, they left their work and rushed to join the crowd. They were having a good time asking questions and trying to trick Jesus, but, of course, Jesus knew what they were trying to do, and He gave them perfect answers every time. They could not trick Jesus!

While the Pharisees were having their discussion with Jesus, some mothers joined the crowd. They knew Jesus was a very important man, and they wanted their children to have a chance to see Him. Holding the hands of their children, they pushed through the crowd, trying to get closer.

When Jesus’ friends saw the mothers and children trying to get to the front to see Jesus, they scowled roughly. “Go away! Don’t you know that Jesus is an important man? Can’t you see that he is busy talking with the leaders of the temple? Take your children and go home!” Sad and dejected, the mothers turned to guide their children back the way they had come and away from the crowd.

However, Jesus loved children very much and had a different idea about the situation. He turned to his friends and kindly said, “No, don’t send them away. Let the children come to me.” Jesus’ friends quickly worked to make a path through the crowd so the mothers and children could get up close to Jesus. The mothers were full of joy and excitement as Jesus reached out his arms toward their children!

One by one, He scooped up the younger children into His loving arms, held them close, and prayed a special prayer of blessing. He gave each of the older children a tender hug and also prayed a blessing for them. He spoke gently to the mothers and gave them a smile of approval. After each one had seen Jesus and been blessed, Jesus spoke to his friends, the Pharisees, and the rest of the crowd, saying, “Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God as a child does, will not be able to enter into it.” He was trying to help them all understand that loving God is easy enough for a child to do, and all their long discussions and arguing were unnecessary.

Here’s another story about how much Jesus loves us. It’s a story about a little girl named Susie. One morning Susie’s mother said to her, “Do you want to come with me to Saturday School?”

“What’s that,” said Susie, “I already went to school.”

“Saturday School is a place for children who would be home alone all day on Saturday,” said her mother.  “How come?” said Susie.  “Because they don’t have a daddy or they don’t have a mommy and there is no one to stay home on Saturday,” said her mother.

“You mean they have to go to school another day because they don’t have a daddy or mommy,” said Susie. “That’s not fair. It’s not their fault. I wouldn’t want to have to do school work on Saturday.”

“We don’t do a lot of school work,” said her mother. “It’s fun. You’ll see. You can help.”

That night after Susie had taken a bath and tidied up her room, her mother came in for a Bible reading and prayers.  They sat together on the bed and opened the Bible to a picture of Jesus sitting down talking to children. A little girl was on his knee and others were standing around him. He looked happy and so did the children.

“Did Jesus teach Saturday School?” said Susie. “Well, you know,” said her mother.  “He probably did when he lived in Nazareth.”

“Are those children with Jesus because they don’t have a mommy or daddy?” said Susie.

“I don’t know,” said her mother. “But I do know that Jesus wants them to have mommies and daddies, and if they don’t Jesus would give them special attention.”

“Is that why we went to Saturday School today?” said Susie. “To give the children special attention like Jesus.” “Yes,” said her mother, “We were being like Jesus.”

“I like being like Jesus,” said Susie.

All of you are here today because someone loved you enough to bring you here. It doesn’t matter if that person is your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles or even a neighbour or close friend. We are thankful for each and every one of you and for the people who loved you enough to bring you here.

Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes for a moment of prayer. Dear God, we love the children just as Jesus loved them and we are thankful that these children have someone who loves them enough to bring them to Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Bibliography

1. Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards, “Fruit of the Spirit-Love: Jesus Loves Children.” Retrieved from stories@tscpulpitseries.is.to
2. Roland McGregor, “Children’s Sermon for McGregorPage 838 Pentecost 19 (October 7, 2012) Retrieved from childpage@mcgregorpage.org
3. “Let the Children Come.” Retrieved from www.sermons4kids.com

The Gospel passage from Mark 10:2-16 appears at first glance to be two unrelated stories, but there is a connection between the two of them. Both stories tell us how Jesus cares for the outcasts and the less fortunate in society and how he expects us to treat them.

In Old Testament times, children and women were on the lower levels of society. Women were seen as nothing more than property, and children were considered to be useless until they were old enough to help out around the property. Women could become the victims of divorce for reasons as minor as burning the meal, not keeping the house clean or for getting older. As a result, if they did not have another male relative to support them, they usually ended up in prostitution.

God intends for marriage to last forever, but he also knows our faults. He gave us a high standard to aim for, but he always keeps our weaknesses in mind when he deals with us. That does not give us an excuse to sin. He always calls us to obey him and refuse to compromise what he knows is right. When we honour him with our conduct, he blesses us with an abundant sense of peace, joy and goodness.

God knows that in some cases divorce is inevitable, especially in cases of physical, mental or emotional abuse. That is why Moses allowed divorce, but he made it as difficult as possible. The divorce document had to be written, and because most people could not read or write, the process took time. It was hoped that during this time both parties would work out their differences and save their marriage.

Divorce is painful. It hurts people other than the parties directly involved. Siblings and parents suffer. Friends sometimes have to choose sides. I’m speaking from personal knowledge, because my own late brother was divorced from his wife. The people who hurt the most though are the children. They are often caught in the middle of the proceedings and disagreements. It’s bad enough that some people think that children should be seen and not heard. Children are vulnerable enough as it is, and they are often the most vulnerable in a divorce.

Mark’s Gospel is the gospel of mercy, so it is appropriate that Mark follows Jesus’ teaching about marriage and divorce with Jesus’ calling of the little children. Broken marriages and little children represent the sad state of the human race and condition. When Jesus embraced the children, he embraced the human race and replaced its pain with the love he has in his heart.

All of us are hurting in one way or another. The only way we can get over our hurt and our pain is to come to Jesus like a little child-naïve, trusting, full of wonder and curiosity. We need to come to him with a simple faith. If this seems simple, it is because it is simple. All we have to do is remember the words of the 1970s hit song “Everything is Beautiful”:

Jesus loves the little children

All little children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white

They are precious in his sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world

To know the abundant life Jesus offers, we must let go of our control. We must stop protecting ourselves, because Christ is our defense. We must stop taking responsibility for ourselves, because God is our provider. The path to childlike innocence and trust is tricky, but it begins when we take the step of letting down our guard and allowing God to provide for us just like parents provide for their children.

Jesus came to heal the wounds caused by Adam and Eve and the original sin in the Garden of Eden. He came to heal relationships and broken marriages, our relationship with each other and our relationship with the less fortunate. Rather than establishing hopelessly high standards, Jesus is calling us to a high vision. He wants us to conduct ourselves in keeping with God’s will so that we might be a blessing to our families, our neighbours, and ourselves. When we fail to keep his perfect standards perfectly, our failures remind us that Jesus, the cross and the empty tomb is our only hope.

Bibliography

1. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F.  Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2009)
2. Fr. Mark Edney, O.P., “Healing Our Original Wound”. Retrieved from http://torch.op.org/preaching_sermon-item.php?sermon=5706
3. Rev. Dr. Billy Graham, “Would It Be Wrong to Have an Affair?” Retrieved from ezines@arcamax.com
4. Dr. Jack Graham, “what is Marriage, Really?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
5. Michael D. Warden, “Looking to the Father” Retrieved from devotional@loi.org
6. Exegesis for Mark 10:2-16. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
7. Dr. Lanie LeBlanc, O.P., “Volume 2, Sunday 27 (B)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
8. Pastor Bob Coy, “Kingdom Qualities”. Retrieved from www.activeword.org
9. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 27^th Sunday (B)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org.
10. McKenna, D.L. and Ogilvie, L.J., The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 25:Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

I’m going to take you on a short walk down memory lane. Some of you may have heard of a singer/songwriter from the 1970s by the name of Ray Stevens. He was famous for writing and recording comedy songs such as “Bridget the Midget”, “Ahab the Arab”, “The Streak” and many others. He did record a few serious songs, the most famous of which was “Everything is Beautiful”. That particular song starts with a group of children singing words that tie in nicely with the topic of my homily today. The verse goes something like this:

Jesus loves the little children

All little children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white

They are precious in His sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

In Mark 10:13-16, the disciples try to prevent the children from coming to Jesus to receive his blessing. In his stern rebuke, Jesus reminds the disciples that the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Does this mean that the kingdom belongs to children, or does it mean that the Kingdom belongs to those who are LIKE children? I believe it’s the latter.

So what does it mean to receive the Kingdom like a little child? There is an apparent contradiction that can best be handled by those who are like children. God is all-powerful, perfect and hates sin, but at the same time He is good, free and full of grace, and He loves us. Adults often have a hard time accepting this. They try to make Him politically correct, middle class, sensible and safe—but we all know that Jesus is none of these. Those who approach Jesus like a child accept him for who He is, not for who they want Him to be. When Jesus says, “Come to me and receive…”, children come running, wanting more. Adults, on the other hand, say, “What’s the catch?” Those in spiritual poverty are the ones who have figured out that they are the ones who will be given the Kingdom of heaven.

So how do we become like children? We become like children through the sacraments of baptism and Communion. The water of baptism washes away the old life that is full of doubt, evil, etc. and cleanses us. Christ’s “blood” gives us a regular spiritual cleansing that we need and get through the Eucharist. Baptism and the Eucharist represent a new beginning and a new life. Life starts with childhood-spiritually and physically. Both physical and spiritual children are naïve, full of wonder and trust. What can be more moving than a small child holding out their hands to you in complete trust that you can pick them up? What can be more humbling than the way they ask you for something with a simple belief you can do it, or provide it, just like Jesus can?

In 1 Corinthians 13:11-13, Paul makes it clear that as we grow and mature, we put away childish things. We don’t stop being childlike in the sense Jesus talks about—trusting, humble, willing to follow His commands. We stop throwing tantrums when we don’t get our own way. We stop trying to “be the boss” in every situation, recognizing that our knowledge is partial and that only God deserves to be in control.

The children were brought to Jesus by their parents because they were helpless. They couldn’t do it on their own. Spiritual children are the same way. We need people to bring us to Jesus by being a Christ-like friend, by sharing what it means to follow Jesus and by carrying thanks to Jesus in prayer. We are challenged to bring people to Jesus so they can become spiritual children.

There is a story of a little girl whose mother had given birth to a baby boy. The little girl asked her parents to leave her alone with the new baby. They worried that she might want to hit or shake him, so they said no. Over time though, since she wasn’t showing signs of jealousy, they changed their minds and decided to let her have her private conference with the baby. The little girl went into the baby’s room and shut the door, but it opened a crack-enough to let the curious parents watch and listen. They saw the little girl walk quietly up to the baby, put her face close to his, and say, “Baby, tell me what God feels like. I’m starting to forget.”

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

1. A simple, unquestioning faith
2. A trusting view of life
3. Disregard for wealth and status
4. Taking pleasure in the smallest things

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

Children are honest and straightforward. They say what’s on their mind without thinking or worrying about what anyone will think or say. They are an example of how we must be before God if we want to receive his blessings. In other words, we must have a childlike heart with simplicity, the ability to learn, trust, forgiveness, responsiveness and humility.

Membership in the Kingdom is about grace. That’s why Jesus says in Mark 10:15, “Truly I say to you, whosoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it”. Baptism allows us to be like children. It washes away the dirt of our lives and replaces it with the childlike qualities of simplicity, the ability to learn, trust, forgiveness, responsiveness and humility. It enables us to be reborn—to start over. Every child born into this world is born helpless. Every child born into this world is dependent on others for food, clothing, protection and education. Every Christian is born helpless. Just as children depend on others to survive, so Christians need Christ to survive. Helpless dependence is what the Kingdom of God is all about.

Children are good judges of character. They can sense a reason to fear or a reason to be at peace. They are drawn to people with pure hearts. The children in Mark 10:13-16 could sense that Jesus was pure in heart. Jesus hugged them and loved them. His love was passionate, open and emotive. Jesus was child-friendly, and his church should be too. In a day when children can be physically, sexually and emotionally abused, abandoned, ignored, and forgotten, we must remember the one we call “Lord” loves all the children in the world. If Jesus loves the children we, who are his followers, should also love the children.

It is abundantly clear that Jesus’ attitude was welcoming, open, receptive, concerned for them, very much positive towards them. When they are excluded, he includes them. When they are rejected, he accepts them. When they are made to feel unwelcome, He opens his arms to them. We can enter the kingdom of God easily when we are like children. We can do it through:

1. Unwavering faith like a little child.

2. Knowing that Jesus’ priority is our souls.

3. Dealing with sins in a positive manner.

We become part of God’s family through baptism and the spiritual cleansing it gives us. Through the spiritual cleansing, we gain a new, child-like nature that allows us to be hopelessly dependent on Christ for salvation—the hopeless dependence children have. We must receive the Kingdom in weakness and powerlessness. We need to believe simply because our heavenly Father tells us, just like children do something when their parents tell them.

Children find the kingdom of God quite easily and enter it quite easily. The kingdom of God is so vast that the only way we can understand it is to be like children—naïve, trusting in God, and full of wonder. We receive the Kingdom of God when we ask for it to come. When it comes, we will enter it, if we are like a little child. It is easy for children to have faith because their minds are not cluttered and they believe what they are told. We too must believe what we are told about the Kingdom. Believing is the foundation of faith. Baptism allows us to believe with an uncluttered mind because the spiritual cleansing we receive through baptism cleans out the clutter from our minds. Faith needs to be based on a strong foundational understanding of the Word-a foundation that is based on baptism. We can’t see God, but we have faith that He is alive and living within our hearts as we look forward to the promises that are waiting for us—and we can only do this through the sacrament of baptism.

In Jesus’ time, fathers were the ones who took responsibility for the spiritual growth and well-being of the children—just like our heavenly Father does for His children. The Kingdom is really about caring for the weakest, rather than engaging in political or military victories. It represents true greatness. The blessings God has for us in life belong to those who are like children. We can only come to Jesus in our humble state like children do, looking to Him and His grace alone. God designed us to be dependent on Him like children depend on their parents. Children represent the poor, the needy, the downtrodden, and the ordinary human beings. We are told to come to Jesus as a child—without prejudice, with nothing held back, with the innocence of a child—to experience God’s love for us.

It is often hard for us to come to Jesus as a child—with innocent trust. We like our independence. We like to think of ourselves as sophisticated and in control. We are too childish in our self-esteem to be childlike. If God helps us today, we will be able to see with eyes of faith the truth behind the scenes. So much of life is beyond our control and we need God to protect and bless ALL of us—children and adults. Baptism doesn’t save anyone, but bringing infants to Jesus does bring spiritual blessings from God to the child-like faithfulness of the parents.

The touch of God on a child’s life is like a divine tag in which Jesus says, “This child is mine. She may wander all over the world, but she has the tag, the early impression of Jesus in her life, the touch of Christ on her life”. This touch comes through baptism into a new life in Christ. We do not make the rules about who comes to Jesus—Jesus does. We do not discriminate in who hears the gospel. We must reach all with it. Moreover, we must not place barriers in the lives of those who desire to come to Christ. We can hinder believers by our attitude, inconsistencies, hypocritical living, or by selling a brand of religion that does not show God’s grace and His free offer of eternal life. When we are dependent and trusting, there is a mutuality of bonding that can occur and allow the Spirit of God to flow into our lives in ways that are not blocked. Baptism removes everything that hinders believers.

We begin the proper training of children by making sure our heart is right with God long before they come into the world. When they come into the world, we begin to exert that influence upon their lives. Bringing children to Jesus is like bringing Him a diamond in the rough—a diamond that can be cut and polished and become of invaluable worth. We have a choice to make. Jesus can do the polishing and cutting, or our corrupt, sinful world can.

Baptism gives us the spiritual cleansing that we need to begin our new life in Christ, but we also need the regular spiritual cleansing that is provided when we partake of Christ’s body and blood through the Eucharist. Just like our clothes need regular cleaning, or our physical bodies need daily cleaning, our spiritual lives need the regular cleaning that we get when we partake of the Eucharist. We all need a good spiritual cleaning on a regular basis, just like Jesus cleaned the money changers and vendors from the temple. When Jesus saw evil in the temple of the Lord, He gave it a good cleaning. If Jesus inspects our lives, will he find things that need to be cleaned out? Baptism allows the Spirit to get into every nook and cranny, every crack, every crevice of our souls and clean out the dirt of our evil, sinful, corrupt previous life.

It is never a pleasant experience when the Holy Spirit shows us what we need to change in our lives, but we aren’t left to do all the work ourselves. In fact, on our own we can’t overcome the sin that needs clearing out. We need God’s power in order to change, and the Spirit works in us to make sure we do. The Spirit’s job is started through the waters of baptism, and continues with the spiritual cleansings we receive through the Eucharist.

Jesus taught that we are to be nothing, and the less we are and the weaker we are, the better. The less we have of self, the more room there is for His divine grace. We are to be like children—weak and having nothing. When a child believes in Jesus, it cares nothing for critical points. That is the way we must come to Christ. When we come to Him, He will make heaven our home, and He will take us in His arms.

I’d like to close this message with these words from an email I received a few years ago. They accurately describe how we are to come to God like a child and not keep others from coming to him. The poem is entitled:

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN’T LOOKING

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher or friend) influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today? Have you come to Him completely? Are you resting safe in His arms, or are you hesitating? Are you being hindered or prevented by someone or something in your life? There is no sorrow when we completely rest on Him like a child—a true child of God.

A cowboy was driving down a dirt road late one night in his pickup truck. His horse was riding in the trailer behind the pickup. The cowboy failed to make a curve and his truck tipped over and landed in a ditch. The cowboy was knocked unconscious.

Several minutes later he awoke to the flashing lights of a police car. The officer walked up to the horse, saw that his leg was broken, and did what only he could do. He pulled out his service revolver and put the horse out of its misery.

The cowboy heard everything and felt terrible about losing his horse. But more painful was what he felt from is own leg, which was surely broken. The officer walked up to the cowboy and asked, “Are you okay?”

The cowboy looked at the smoking revolver in the officer’s hands and replied, “Never felt better!”

This story is a picture of a stark reality for many Christians. They walk around broken, but when they are asked by fellow believers how they are, they put on their best smile and say, “I’m fine.” The Christian life is meant to be lived among believers who are open and honest about what’s really going on, especially when they suffer. We don’t have to put on happy faces when we are suffering. We can trust fellow believers and share what’s really going on. We can be sure that they will pray for us.

James 5:13-20 begins by referring to two ends on the spectrum of life-suffering and cheerfulness. Suffering refers to affliction of any kind-physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. It includes anything that causes trouble or affliction. James’ remedy is to tell us to pray. This passage focuses on the life-transforming power of prayer. Every state of mind or mood is a call to prayer.

It’s easy for us to turn to God when our lives are unraveling or when we feel overwhelmed. It’s also easy for us to see prayer as the last option or treat it like a time-waster that keeps us from solving our problems on our own. James argues that the best solution to our problems is prayer. Prayer doesn’t mean that God will end our pain, but it does mean that He will give us patience and perseverance. In James 5:7-12, the word patience is used seven times. In verses 13-20, the word prayer appears seven times. Prayer is the key for dealing with situations that require patience. Take the apostle Paul, for example. Several times he asked God to remove the thorn in his flesh but God said that “my grace is sufficient for you.”

When anyone faces hardship and stress, the answer is to pray. Failure to pray cuts the believer off from God’s power, leading to greater distress. Praising God, especially in song, is also a form of prayer. Praising God is just as important as praying to God. In verses 17 and 18, James, for the fourth time, uses Old Testament characters to illustrate his point. He mentioned Abraham in James 2:21-24, Rahab in James 2:25 and Job in James 5:11. Now he cites Elijah, whose prayers God used to do a miraculous thing in Israel in 1 Kings 17-19. James’ message to the scattered believers is that God still answers prayers, even on a national scale.

The next area James talks about is one that most Christians know well. Who hasn’t called out to God for healing from sickness, either for themselves or for others? In fact, this is what James tells us to do. He tells us to follow these steps when someone is sick:

1. Call for the spiritual leaders of the church. Sometimes ministers are the last to know when someone is sick. James argues that we are to give the body of Christ the opportunity to minister to us. After all, ministers can give us spiritual pain relief.
2. The elders/ministers are to provide prayer and anointing. Oil had two uses in the Bible: consecration (as in the anointing of David as king of Israel in 1 Samuel 16:13) and medicinal or hygienic purposes. For example, in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan poured oil on the victim’s wounds. The medicinal use of oil provided physical comfort and promoted the healing process. Similarly, prayer provides spiritual comfort.
3. Leave the results to God. The sick are healed not by the elders’ power, not their faith, nor by the anointing oil but by the Lord’s intervention-either through indirect means such as medical treatment or by His supernatural healing. We have to accept the fact that He might not heal the sick person. We have to accept His plan and purpose.

The work of healing takes many forms. Sometimes there is physical healing. Sometimes there is spiritual healing where God comes into our lives and our sins are forgiven and we are made whole. Sometimes there is relational healing-healing withing families, among friends, within a church. I saw this happen when my brother was on his deathbed. He had a strained relationship with his younger son, but when he arrived at my brother’s bedside, my nephew regretted the strained relationship and was able to forgive his father.

James 5:15 sets forth three specific results of prayer and anointing offered in faith: restoration, raising up, and forgiveness. James might have had in mind someone who is sick as the result of sin. Physical illness can be the result of sin such as smoking, drinking to excess, overeating, or lying. If that is the case, God’s restoration can include both physical and spiritual recovery. The reality that sin can lead to sickness and death is behind James’ instructions to confess our sins to one another. That means making amends to those whom we have wronged and forgiving those who have wronged us. If our soul is plagued by guilt, it will consume us until it is cleared through confession and prayer. When our sins are released, the garbage in our inner lives will be cleared and we will be able to pray more effectively.

Prayers of faithful people or prayers prayed in faith have an effect. God responds. Prayer is appropriate for any situation in life, not just in times of sickness and affliction. We tend to pray in terms of “why.” We often cry out to God and ask Him why we are sick or in trouble. A better prayer in times of suffering is that of “what.” We should ask, “Lord, what are you saying to me through these difficulties?” or “Father, what do you want me to learn, or what do you want me to do?”

So how can we pray effectively? First, we must know the Scriptures and pray in keeping with God’s Word. Second, we must be specific. We have to deal directly with the specific issue and ask for specific results. Finally, we must have faith in God’s ability, timing, and wisdom. We must trust that He will provide the right answer to our prayers. We are helpless when it comes to others’ problems. The only thing we can do is pray to God and seek His wisdom.

What must we do so our prayers will be effective?

1. Our prayers must flow from a heart filled with love, compassion, and forgiveness.
2. We must recognize that our prayers are the link between another person’s need and God’s inexhaustible resources.
3. We must identify with the needs of the people we are praying for.
4. We must want the highest good in the lives of the people we pray for.
5. We must be willing to be part of God’s answer.
6. We must be willing to persevere. We must not give up when God does not answer our prayers right away. God will answer our prayers in His own time and in His own way.

Our prayers must be ones of faith. They must not waver. They must be followed by corresponding actions. They must be prayed from right motives.

Prayer must be continuous. We have to talk to God throughout the day, responding in prayer and praise to whatever occurs. Prayer is desired for every part of our lives. It has to be applied in both good times and bad times. Prayer is not a substitute for responsibility. Prayer and actions go hand in hand. Prayer is for the imperfect, not the perfect. Since we are not perfect, we need prayer.

Genuine prayer is not the same as passive permissiveness. Real faith calls for intervention. This does not mean that we are to hypocritically judge, slander or speak against another person. Jesus warns us in Matthew 7:3-5 about removing the speck in another person’s eye when there is a plank in our own eye. Only those with clear vision along with patience, wisdom, and humility should criticize another person, but it must be done in love.

James makes the church body responsible for wandering believers. Christians do not live to themselves. When one part of the body falls away, the entire body suffers. Therefore they must do what they can to help fellow Christians remain true to the faith. When we turn a sinning Christian from sin we will save his or her soul from spiritual death. We will also cover a multitude of sins.

How can we pray for other people? When I was doing the research for this message, I came across what is known as the “Five Finger Prayer.”

1. When we fold our hands, the thumb is nearest us. We are to begin by praying for those closest to us-our loved ones.
2. The index finger is the pointer. Pray for those who teach-Bible teachers, ministers and those who teach children.
3. The next finger is the tallest. It reminds us to pray for those in authority-national, provincial, and local leaders, even our bosses at work.
4. The fourth finger is usually the weakest. Pray for those who are in trouble or who are suffering.
5. Then comes the little finger. It reminds us of our smallness in relation to God’s greatness. We are to ask Him to supply our needs.

How can we connect with God when we pray? There are three guidelines:

1. Pray with expectancy. We can come to God as a little child and cry out “Father, I’ve got a need, a problem. I need your help.” We can do this because we are His children.
2. Pray with faith. We can trust God. We can believe what He tells us.
3. Pray with fervency.

James 5:16 tells us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” What are the characteristics of a righteous person? A righteous person has a personal relationship with Jesus as his or her personal Saviour. A righteous person seeks to obey God and yield to the direction of the Holy Spirit. Righteousness is manifested in a person who wants what is right according to God’s Word. He or she wants to see God’s Truth and will established on earth.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 1778-1779)
2. Swindoll, Chares R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights: James, 1&2 Peter (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010; pp. 117-119)
3. Cedar, P.A. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 34: James/1&2 Peter/Jude (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1984; pp. 97-102)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. Bayless Conley, “The Prayer of Faith.” Retrieved from Bayless@AnswersBC.org
6. Daniel Darling, “The Best Thing You Can Do For a Friend.” retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
7. Jim Burns, “Accountability and Support.” Retrieved from www.HomeWord.com
8. Anne Cetas, “Five-Finger Prayers.” Retrieved from donotreply@email.rbc.org
9. Harold Sala, “3 Guidelines to Connecting With God When You Pray.” Retrieved from info@guidelines.org
10. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Effective Prayers.” Retrieved from web@ltw.org
11. “How to Build an Authentic Faith Community.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
12. Bruce Epperly, “The Adventurous Lectionary: Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost, Sept. 26, 2021.” Retrieved from www.patheos.com/blogs/livingaholyadventure/2021/09/adveturouos-lectionary-eighteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-september-26-2021
13. Bishop Kenneth Carter, “To Make the Wounded Whole.” Retrieved from www.day1.org

In 2012 Dr. Michael Youssef, who is the founder and President of Leading the Way Ministries, wrote an article about a Christian Sunday school teacher who was leading a class of boys. After a conversation with one of the boys, the young man prayed and received Christ. That young man was D.L. Moody, who became one of the greatest evangelists of his time.

On one of his trips to England, D.L. Moody preached at a church pastored by another great evangelist named F.B. Meyer. Moody invited him to come to the United States to preach. At one service, a man named J. Wilbur Chapman gave his life to Christ and became a great evangelist. One of the people he led to Christ became his travelling companion. That companion was evangelist Billy Sunday.

After Billy Sunday preached in Charlotte, North Carolina, a group of farmers asked God to do something great for the world, starting in Charlotte. They invited an evangelist by the name of Mordecai Hamm to preach in Charlotte. During one of his services, three young men came forward to receive Christ. Their names were Billy Graham, Grady Wilson and T.W. Wilson. Billy Graham became one of the most respected evangelists of our time, and the Wilson brothers became administrators with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

While we are on earth we will never understand what God is doing through each and every one of us. We will understand this only when we get to heaven. One lone Sunday school teacher impacted generations of Christians by doing God’s work. If that one Sunday school teacher can have such an impact, just think of how our ministries or our gifts can be used by God to impact the world.

In Mark 9:38-50 we read that in their struggle for position, the disciples were upset to find that an exorcist was casting out demons in Jesus’ name, especially since recently they were not able to heal a demon-possessed child. Every mature Christian can be drawn into “turf wars” in the church. Jesus said that anyone who does God’s work in his name is a partner in ministry, not a threat to ministry. There will be no peace in our world until we have peace in our hearts. God loves us all the same. God’s will is for liberty and justice for everyone. We do not have peace in our lives if we try to protect our turf and destroy the weak among us.

In Jesus’ time, salt both preserved and seasoned food. It also came with impurities that could make it useless. Jesus tells us to get rid of the impurity of selfishness and show the purity of self-sacrifice for the benefit of others. Any little thing we do in Christ’s name will be rewarded. Jesus tells us that if there is nothing distinctive about our lives, it is no good for us to be followers of Jesus. There is no use in following him if we don’t make any real contribution to the life of the world, or if there is no redemptive power flowing through our lives and our actions.

So what does it mean to be a “salty believer?” Let me give you an example. Legend has it that a missionary was swept overboard while traveling on very high and rough seas and was subsequently washed up on a beach at the edge of a remote village. Nearly dead from exposure and lack of food and fresh water, he was found by the people of the village and nursed back to health. He lived among them for twenty years, quietly adapting to their culture and working alongside them. He preached no sermons and made no personal faith claim. Neither did he read scripture to them.

But, when people were sick, he sat with them, sometimes all night. When people were hungry, he fed them. When people were lonely, he gave a listening ear. He taught the ignorant and always took the side of the one who had been wronged.

The day came when some missionaries entered the same village and began talking to the people about a man named Jesus. After listening for a while to their story, the native people began insisting that Jesus had already been living in their village for many years. “Come,” one of them said, “We’ll introduce you to him.” The missionaries were led to a hut where they found their long-lost companion.

All sacrifices we make to serve Jesus are accompanied by hardships, suffering or persecution, so we should not be surprised when these things happen. Believers are purified through suffering and persecution.

Jesus was not commanding self-mutilation when he said that if your tongue, foot, hand or any other body part causes you to sin, cut it off. He was talking about the importance of doing whatever it takes to actively oppose sin. For example, if an addiction to pornography causes you to sin, cancel your Internet service and stop buying adult magazines.

Professing Jesus’ name means living the life that Jesus lived. This means driving out the demons of intolerance, injustice, strife, grudges and poverty, to name just a few. We as Christian disciples are to focus on what we are to do in Jesus’ name and not be quick to criticize others who also follow Christ but who do not belong to our church, church group or denomination. We must not fault people or churches who do things differently than we do. We must assume that what they do is “in His name.” There are many different ways to do things for God, and if someone chooses to do something that is different from the way we do things, we are not to stop them from doing it their way.

We are not to be like the lady who cornered my father one day and asked him which church he belonged to. He did not belong to either of the two churches in the community. When he told her which church he belonged to, she replied, “Well! That’s what I was afraid of!” She turned around and walked right out of the post office.

We must not look for labels or titles. We must look for attitudes, actions and spirit. Jesus rejoices when he sees mercy, justice and compassion in our lives, because when he sees them he sees God at work in our world. How we live the life Jesus lived is more important than having the right documents or the right membership cards. Jesus has invited us to join his eternal family. The invitation means that he lives through us so that our words and deeds might be a loving response to his grace.

Jesus’ love knows no limits. His compassion never runs out and it isn’t limited to a select group of people with the right credentials or disposition. There is plenty of his love for everyone. Jesus is the face of the God we can’t see; the God who wants to forgive all sinners, and not just a few; the God who wants to reach out and heal everyone who is sick physically and/or spiritually, not just a select few.

We must be very careful about how the example we set influences other people. Every person is a role model for either good or evil. The best way to show love for the children of God is by loving God and keeping his commandments. Our commitment to Christ affects how we live our lives. Our lives are enhanced when we follow Christ. Our lives will be more effective and have more impact. Christ will give us the strength we need to fight our sinful nature. The burden of our sin runs away at the foot of the cross. The Kingdom of God is a treasure that is worth giving up everything to get.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
3. McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
4. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 26^th Sunday (B).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
5. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “A Powerful Perspective.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leadingtheway.org
6. King Duncan, “The Ultimate Solution for Sin.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
7. King Duncan, “Losing Favor or Losing Flavor?” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
8. King Duncan, “About Other Denominations.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
9. King Duncan, “Can’t We All Just Get Along?” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
10. Brett C. Blair, “Be At Peace with One Another.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
11. King Duncan, “Choices.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
12. Thomas Peterson, “The Needle’s Eye.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
13. Donald Strobe, “Radical Surgery.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
14. Exegesis for Mark 9:38-50. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
15. Dr. Keith Wagner, “Salty Believers.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
16. Pastor Dave Risendal, “Do No Harm.” Retrieved from http://onelittleword.org/?p=7337
17. Jude Siciliano, O. P., “First Impressions, 26^th Sunday (B), September 27, 2015.” Retrieved from firstimpressions@lists.opsouth.org

Hello boys and girls!

How many of you have ever eaten something that didn’t taste very good? What did you do to make the food taste better? Did you put any salt on the food?

Improving the taste of food is one of many uses for salt. Salt is used to keep dyes from washing out so our clothes will always look nice. Salt is also used to make leather, and without it we would not have things such as leather belts. Salt is also used to make plastics, and without salt we would not have toys made out of plastic.

Salt has been important throughout history. In fact, at one time people used to be paid with salt. Because salt has been so important it’s not a surprise that Jesus told us in Mark 9:50 that we are to be like salt to the world. In particular he said, “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with each other.” What he meant is that we should flavour our world with both our love and Christ’s love. The world needs that love because there is a lot of bitterness and hatred in the world today. He also meant that we should allow him to use us to make the world a better place. If we show Jesus’ love in everything we do, we can do much to reduce bitterness and bring peace to our world.

Let’s bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to flavour the world with his love. Help us to add flavour to our world by letting you use us to make the world a better place. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

Bibliography

1. “Pass the Salt, Please.” Retrieved from www.sermons4kids.com/pass_the_salt.htm
2. “A Pinch of Salt.” Retrieved from www.sermons4kids.com/a_pinch_of_salt.print.htm

What is the one human quality that drives us to success while causing all sorts of problems at the same time? It is ambition. Ambition is one of the driving forces in our lives. It propels us to excel in our jobs. It pushes us to reach our goals. It can give us a reason for living. Ambition is one of the tools that the world uses to measure success.

There is another way to measure success-one that is not of this world-and that is the topic of the Gospel reading from Mark 9:30-37. We sometimes think that we can measure success the way the world does. We mistakenly believe that if God receives glory for what we do, then it should be glorious for us also. We must remember God’s faithful servants from the Bible, and we must remember that their situations were far from easy or glamorous. For example:

• Noah built.
• Abraham moved.
• Moses led.
• Josiah restored.
• Rahab protected.
• David conquered.
• Nehemiah repaired.
• Ruth stayed.
• Jeremiah preached.
• The poor widow gave.
• The Apostles went.
• The early church persevered.

Ordinary people did extraordinary things and even though they may have thought their actions were insignificant at the time, the Lord through his word, has allowed us the opportunity to see the role these good people played in the greatest story ever told.

I read a story a few years ago about a couple of school kids. One had gotten into some trouble and was going to have to walk a few laps at recess and wasn’t taking the news very well. Another student who wasn’t even a close friend stepped in to offer encouragement. She informed her peer that she wouldn’t have to walk alone. She’d stay by her side, cheering her on the entire time. When the teacher remarked what a wonderful thing she had just done, the student shrugged and replied, “It’s no big deal. It’s what we’re supposed to do.”

Can you image a world if everyone had the same attitude? Can you imagine a church if everyone had that attitude? It’s those Kingdom-minded thinkers who change the world. Those who forgive, love, go the extra mile, and live righteously, not out of a sense of obligation, not because they’re trying to earn their salvation, not to be seen by others, but because that’s what they’re supposed to do.

The Lord might also call us to do simple, humble acts that show compassion toward other people and which display God’s character. These deeds are not done for personal gain. They are done out of an outflow of God’s love in us and for his glory.

Jesus argued that the way to be successful or get ahead in the spiritual world is to become like a child. In Jesus’ time, children and women were seen as little more than property. Little children were considered useless until they were old enough to help with housework. In other words, they were humble and lowly. The child in this passage represents all of God’s people. The greatest people in God’s kingdom are not the rich and the powerful, but the poor and the helpless; not the ones with the most servants, but those who serve others the most. Jesus argued that if we help those who are humble, lowly, poor, or oppressed we will be successful from a heavenly point of view.

The disciples did not realize this. They were still thinking of success in worldly terms. They were concerned with using earthly ambition to get ahead in heaven. Jesus knew that this was what the disciples were talking about, even though they did not answer his question. You see, Jesus knows everything about us-what we think, what we feel, what our thoughts are, etc. He knew what their problem was and he also had the solution. The disciples tried to hide their discussion, but you can’t hide anything from God.

The disciples could not understand the true meaning of power described by Jesus because they were afraid to ask the right questions. Instead of asking how they could better understand and fulfill Jesus’ mission, their main concern was finding out how each of them could become the greatest. The disciples’ attitude was one that Jesus had to address. We have to do the same. If not, we will end up conspiring with sinners to defeat righteousness. God disciplines his children by speaking the truth to power and offering correction. We and the disciples need to learn that the true heavenly power that Jesus inaugurated is in the form of service to others.

It can be difficult for us to let go of our desire to succeed in earthly ways. It is part of our human nature for us to be in control. We want to be independent. We want to be in control of our lives and our goals, and this includes the desire to succeed. We need to let go and let God control our destiny and successes if we want to be first in his eyes. We need to let go of our desire to get ahead and replace it with a desire to serve others, especially the less fortunate.

A good example of this type of success is Franklin Graham. He is the president of Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian relief organization. He got involved with that organization in the 1970s when he was asked by the organization’s founder, Dr. Bob Pierce, to accompany him on relief missions throughout the world. Franklin Graham rose from humble servant to the organization’s president by following God’s path to success. Along the way he became a born-again Christian. Later, he became an associate evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and eventually President of the Association when his father, The Rev. Billy Graham, stepped down. Franklin Graham once said that God called him to the ditches of the world and his father to the stadiums of the world.

Billy Graham is another example of God’s definition of success. He humbly answered God’s call as a young man and became one of the world’s greatest evangelists, leading untold thousands to Christ while at the same time running the Association and his team of associates in a humble, moral manner.

If Billy Graham and Franklin Graham are examples of God’s definition of success, there is another member of the Graham family who best represents the lowly and suffering people whom God calls us to serve. In her book “In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart”, Billy Graham’s youngest daughter Ruth shares the story of her struggles with divorce as well as her children’s problems with drugs, rebelliousness, eating disorders and teenage pregnancy. She also shares how all of them were helped by God’s love as shown by concerned friends and family members who were ready, willing and able to help her and her children.

Jesus constantly challenges us to be a servant, to think of others instead of ourselves. If we feel unhappy and unfulfilled in our lives, perhaps it is time to take a long hard look at our lives. We have to ask ourselves if we are I-centered or others-centered, because our decision will affect our eternal destiny. The child in this Gospel passage represents the new birth or new start necessary for real leadership and real life. The road to happiness is the road of service. The way to greatness is not possible without a servant heart, a servant hand, a humble heart and a humble hand. Jesus himself is a good example of the greatness of service and humility. He came to earth as a servant. He humbled himself to the point of death on a cross, and thereby became highly exalted by God.

Some of us might think that serving someone is beneath us or that somehow the act of serving others diminishes us. On the contrary, those who serve the most are the greatest people on earth—and in heaven. Jesus asks us to embrace those who are in need. We are to show concern for the less fortunate. To welcome a child is to welcome one of low status who might not tell anyone else of the welcome or mention the name of the host to others.

Those who would be first must be last. This is the opposite of our ambitious ways, but we have to admit that Jesus was right. Our ambitions are compulsive, suspicious, obsessive, jealous, resentful and full of revenge. The only ambition that truly gives life is the ambition to serve others. In God’s eyes what is important is not what we have to offer, or what we do not have to offer, but who we are. It means relying on God’s strength instead of our own. As God said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”.

There is an interpretation of Exodus that teaches that Moses not only put the tablets of the law that he received on Mount Sinai into the Ark of the Covenant, but also was commanded by God to add the broken pieces of the first tablets that he broke in anger after seeing the Israelites worshipping a golden calf. The broken and the whole were together in the same ark. Likewise, the broken and the whole are together in the embrace of a loving God. The image of God is upon all of us. If we want to be successful in God’s eyes, we must show the image of a serving, humble God.

Faith is not about a church doctrine or power or privilege. It is about service to others-service to the point of sacrifice. It can be expressed equally through individual actions and experiences as it can be in churchwide attitudes, actions and public declarations. Each and every day we will have the opportunity to show how Christ’s love can bring healing to our hurting world. The only way we can do this clearly is with the greatest humility-just as Jesus did when he set the little child among the disciples.

Bibliography

1. Stanley, C.F., The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2009)
2. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible software package.
3. ESV Study Bible.Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible software package.
4. Notes from Peter Anthony’s Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark.
5. Graham, Franklin:  Rebel With a Cause: Finally Comfortable Being Graham (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1995)
6. Graham, Billy: Just As I Am (Toronto, ON: Harper Collins Publishers Ltd.; 1997)
7. The Rev. Stephen Lewis, “Insignificant Greatness”. Retrieved from www.day1.org
8. Graham, Ruth: In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Inc.; 2004)
9. Jim Burns, “The Road to Happiness”. Retrieved from Crosswwalk@crosswalkmail.com
10. Pastor Bob Coy, “Down is up”. Retrieved from www.activeword.org
11. T.M. Moore, “Truth in Everyday Relationships”. Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org
12. Berni Dymet, ‘The Guillotine”. Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
13. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 23^rd  Sunday (B)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
14. McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 25; Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc; 1982)
15. MacArthur, J.: MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.: 2006;2008)
16. Carl L. Schenck, “Ambition”. Retrieved from www.ministrymatters.com/all/article/entry/3075/ambition
17. Alyce M. McKenzie, “Commentary on Mark 9:30-37”. Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching_Print.aspx?commentary_id=393
18. The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “The Kid from Capernaum”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
19. Dr. Philip W. McLarty, “The Greatest of the Kingdom”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
20. Rabbi Marc Gellman, “The Broken and the Whole: God Knows and Loves Us All”. Retrieved from www.arcamax.com/religionandspirituality/godsquad/s-1198200
21. John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, Year B, Season After Pentecost, Proper 20 Ordinary 25. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod.org/archives/year-b-season-after-pentecost-proper-20-ordinary-25.html
22. Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible software package.
23. Jamieson-Fawcett-Brown Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible software package.
24. Paula Harrington, “The Big Deal”. Retrieved from http://forthright.net/2012/09/12/the-big-deal/

Hello boys and girls!

How many of you play sports? How many of you won or were on a team that won? It’s fun to win, isn’t it? Now, who actually lost or was on a team that lost? That wasn’t fun, was it? Everyone likes winning or being first, but no one likes being last or losing.

The disciples felt the same way at times. For example, in Mark 9:30-37, they argued about which one of them would be first in God’s Kingdom. Jesus said that anyone who wants to be first in God’s Kingdom must be last on earth by serving everyone, including the less fortunate. In a moment I’m going to tell you a story that shows what he means, but before I do I’m going to ask you a question. Do any of you know what an obstacle race is? Well, for those of you who don’t, it’s a race course where at points along the way you have to do things like walk across a log, climb a rope, climb over a wall or run through a set of tires.

One day at a church Bible Club party, the teacher announced, “Next we’ll have an obstacle race. Let’s go outside, and I’ll give you the instructions.”

“Cool!” exclaimed Andy. He bolted for the door. “I’m going to win!”

Drew frowned. “Andy always wins,” he muttered. “I never do.”

When everyone was at the starting point, the teacher explained that they all would be following the same course, and they would have to overcome the same obstacles. “At some of them, you’ll find directions that you must follow before you can move on,” the teacher said. Then he blew his whistle, and the kids dashed off.

“I hate crawling,” moaned Drew when he reached a tunnel.

“Me, too,” agreed Tamara. “Guess we’ll be last together.”

“Whoa!” yelled Drew a little later as he slipped off a rail that had to be crossed. “Don’t wait for me. I’m used to being last alone,” he joked.

Drew finally puffed up to the last obstacle–a wall. “Why is everyone just standing here?” he asked when he saw everyone waiting. “What’s the problem?”

Andy frowned and pointed to the directions. “I got here first and have to help everyone over the wall in the opposite order that they got here. You’re the last one, so that means you get to go over the wall first,” he said.

When Andy finally dropped over the wall, all the other kids had already crossed the finish line. He frowned at the teacher. “It’s not fair,” Andy complained. “I was winning, but now I’m last!”

“Hey, Andy, look what I got for coming in first,” said Drew, holding up a trophy. He read aloud the inscription on it. “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.” He grinned. “Thanks for helping me win, Andy.”

The teacher smiled. “You did very well, Andy,” he said, pulling another trophy from a box and handing it to Andy. “This is for your great job at the wall.”

After the kids applauded, Andy read out loud the inscription on his trophy. “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Andy looked at the teacher. Then he grinned at Drew. “Thanks for helping me win, too, Drew!”

So you see, boys and girls, by helping the other kids during the obstacle race, Andy was a true winner. Jesus would be very proud of him.

Let us bow our heads and close our eyes for a moment of prayer.

Dear God, thank you for reminding us that in your eyes, we are first if we help those who need our help. Open our eyes for chances to help other people and show them the love you have for us. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

Bibliography

1. “No Losers”. Retrieved from keys@lists.cbhministries.org

I want to take you on a trip down memory lane for a minute. Some of you may remember a famous comedian named Flip Wilson. He had a TV show in the 1970s, and on this show he had such famous characters as Geraldine Jones and Brother Leroy. He also had some famous lines, including one that ties in nicely with the reading we heard from the Book of James. That line was, “The devil made me do it!” The characters in Flip Wilson’s comedy routines often blamed the devil for leading them into trouble, and they were partially right. The devil can’t make anyone do anything, but he can definitely tempt us and influence our choices.

The devil is part of earthly wisdom, and James contrasts earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. People’s lives reflect the source of their wisdom. There is “earthly, unspiritual, devilish” wisdom that leads to “envy and selfish ambition” in the individual and “disorder and wickedness of every kind” in society. Against this, there is “wisdom from above” that is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits…” Trouble arrives, he tells us, when we act based on earthly wisdom and not out of faithfulness to God.

The Letter of James was controversial for much of Christian history, largely because its emphasis on doing good works seemed to clash with parts of Paul’s writings that emphasized salvation by faith alone and not by works. This passage can help us understand that faith in God and charity towards our neighbor are inseparable. It is our faithful adherence to the “wisdom from above” that spurs us to act gently, justly, and in ways that will yield “good fruits.”

If we have a right relationship with God, we will be understanding people and show concern for others, and therefore we will demonstrate heavenly wisdom. Heavenly wisdom is shown through Jesus, available through the Holy Spirit, written in the Bible and delivered in a steady flow from God to us. Heavenly wisdom is the foundation for our Christian lives. When we draw close to God, he will draw closer to us in response. If we put ourselves under God’s control, we will be open to God’s grace. This will be the ultimate challenge for proud people.

If we trust in God’s wisdom, we will be seen as meek. This is not to be confused with the world’s definition of meekness, which is cowardice and passivity. Earthly wisdom comes from sin and Satan. Earthly wisdom causes chaos, self-ambition and the playing of the “blame game.” Peace is the opposite of selfish ambition. If we bring peace, we will harvest a rich crop of righteousness.

Selfish desires cause people to make war against each other, even in the church. For example, James talks about murder taking place in the church. How could that happen? One possible reason is that the rich were taking the poor to court and basically stripping them of all they owned. Without food or the necessities of life, the result was death. In addition, how many churches have been divided because of selfish desires?

Another example is people who leave a church because they don’t like the Order of Service or the music or the minister or something else. We don’t come to church because of the Order of Service or the music or the minister. We come to church to worship with both God and fellow believers.

We show earthly, sin-filled wisdom when we are estranged from God. James tells us that if we try to get what we want through our own efforts instead of asking God, we will end up being frustrated. Worldly pleasures never satisfy us. They provide short-term pleasure and long-term pain. External conflict is often a sign of internal conflict, because if we are not at peace with ourselves, we are not likely to be at peace with others, especially within the church.

One of the deepest problems in our world is the problem of the human heart. If there were no greed, jealousy, anger, covetousness or any other sin, the world would be a much better place. If we truly loved one another and treated each other with respect, the world would also be a much better place. Unfortunately, this will be wishful thinking unless and until we put others first instead of ourselves. This will be wishful thinking unless and until we seek God’s will for our lives

Wisdom is more than understanding something intellectually. Wisdom must be demonstrated in our Christian lifestyle. Wisdom must be pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruit, without hypocrisy or partiality, and show true justice. This type of wisdom comes only from God. James is concerned with our ability to understand the truth of God’s Word and live it by faith. We do these things by submitting to God, denying ourselves, taking up our crosses daily and humbling ourselves before God. When we humble ourselves before God, we grow closer to him, and when we grow closer to him, offering forgiveness becomes easier over time, our faith will increase and our concern for the spiritual conditions of others will expand. Heavenly wisdom is full of sacrificial earthly action. We must use our circle of influence or friends to make a difference for God. After all, wisdom is not what we know but what we sow.

The main way we humble ourselves before God is through prayer. God makes us ask for what we want and need, even though he already knows what we need and want. He makes us ask because he wants to have fellowship with us, and the only way he can have fellowship with us is for us to talk to him through prayer. Those who humble themselves before God and trust him to provide for their needs will receive his grace. That grace will give us the desire and ability to obey God and respond in a way that pleases him.

Prayer is the lifeblood of our relationship with God, but sometimes we have questions about its power and effectiveness. We will find the answers to those questions when we take them to God, study the Bible for answers and talk to a trusted spiritual mentor. Some of these answers will cause us to question the motives behind our prayers.

God is very concerned with those motives. He’s interested in the state of our hearts. We need to check our motives from time to time. James points out that there are two problems in prayer lives-lack of prayer and wrong motives. Believers don’t get what they ask for when they do not ask or when they ask with selfish motives. Some of us have promised God that we will walk closely with him or that we will spend time in his word only to find that we became busy or tired and therefore broke those promises. We became disappointed with life’s circumstances, so we gave up on the promises we made.

Resisting the devil means that we have submitted to God, and that means going to his word as written in the Bible to counteract our earthly thoughts, feelings and wants. If we obey his word, he will draw near to us, and when that happens, wars will cease. We will not be at war with God, so we will not be at war with ourselves or with others. Prejudice, bitterness, anger and hatred will be uprooted at the foot of the cross. We as Christians must not have any of these things in our hearts because we are all sinners in need of a Saviour in spite of our differences.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
2. David Jeremiah, “Defeating Temptation.” Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org
3. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. Cedar, P.A. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 34: James/1&2 Peter/ Jude (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1984)
6. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
7. Dr. Charles Stanley, “Spiritually Satisfied.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
8. Bayless Conley, “The Motive of Faith.” Retrieved from Christianity.comn@crosswalkmail.com
9. Pastor Ed Young, “Make the Most of Your Opportunity.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
10. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Coming Back to the Cross.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leadingtheway.org
11. Stormie Omartian, “Maturing in Prayer.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
12. Dr. Neil Anderson, “Your Position in Christ.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
13. Alex Crain, “Not What You Wanted?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
14. Dr. Charles Stanley, “Does Prayer Make a Difference?” Retrieved from Jesus.org@crosswalkmail.com
15. Billy Graham, “What is the World’s Greatest Challenge?” Retrieved from www.arcamax.com
16. Steve Arterburn, “Fellowship with God.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

The scene in Mark 8:27-38 is the climax of the first half of Mark’s Gospel. This first half focuses on miracles and gradually reveals Jesus as the Messiah. The second half explains the nature of that Messiahship and has far more teaching and far fewer miracles.

Caesarea Philippi was located well into the heart of Gentile territory. Why would Jesus choose this location instead of Jerusalem to reveal himself as Israel’s Messiah? The most likely reason was to state that his followers were not to remain in Jerusalem but were to go to the ends of the earth and proclaim the Good News of the Gospel.

Jesus did not want the disciples to reveal his identity right away because they did not completely understand what that meant, as Peter demonstrated when he rebuked Jesus. Peter’s reasoning was demonic. He was influenced by Satan, hence Jesus’ demand to “Get behind me, Satan.”

Three times Jesus mentioned that his death and resurrection were part of God’s plan, and each time the disciples misunderstood his meaning. They thought that the kingdom meant Israel’s return to power and the end of Roman rule. Christ’s way meant suffering and sacrifice, not political maneuvering. Jesus knew that the freedom people need the most is spiritual freedom from sin and God’s wrath, not freedom from political oppression.

Christ’s death represents atonement for sin, and the beginning of God’s eternal, messianic rule. Nothing can make up for the loss of our soul, but there are many times when we exchange our souls and our lives for worldly things instead of spiritual things. Worldly things do not lead to eternal life. Those who give up their lives for the sake of Christ and the Gospel will find eternal life. This concept was very evident to the readers of Mark’s Gospel because they faced persecution and conflict. They saw this as a challenge to be faithful. We have the same challenge today. The world is still hateful to both Christians and the Good News of the Gospel. 

I read a news story some time ago about a group of young people who were arrested for trespassing and attempted burglary. They drove to a car lot late at night and removed a set of tires from one of the cars on the lot. Unfortunately for them, the lot’s owner saw them on closed-circuit television. While they were busy trying to steal his tires, he picked up their vehicle with his forklift and hid it inside a building. When they finished their dirty work and were ready to leave, they had no transportation.

Many people today are the same. They spend all of their time trying to get material goods that they think will make them happy, when what they really need for happiness is a personal relationship with God. That relationship will provide us with the transportation we need to get to heaven when we die.

We must not let anything or anyone worldly take control of our lives. Self-control is the fruit of the Spirit that the apostle Paul refers to in Galatians 5:22-23. When we have self-control, we can stand up to people and things who try to tell us what we should be and what we should do.

Jesus taught that being great in God’s kingdom means self-denial and sacrificial service. These values are opposite to the world’s values. Self-denial means letting go of self-determination and becoming obedient to and depending on Jesus. Happiness comes from service, and we need to practice service and generosity today. These two things will bring more happiness to our lives than anything else, and they also define what it means to be a Christian. Jesus is calling us to carry the cross of sacrificial living. Words come easy and living the life is more of a challenge, but in today’s world people need to see that sacrificial living leads to fulfillment and real life.

Sacrifice does not necessarily mean martyrdom. It also means doing small tasks such as giving food to a hungry person or a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty. It also means doing things in the church such as teaching a Sunday school class or singing in the choir. Our willingness to do the small tasks as they are needed is more important than our willingness to die for Christ when that is not needed.

We do not have to do this alone, and we can’t do this alone. We need strength, and Jesus will give us that strength. This strength will allow us to live a life that will bring us blessing and fulfillment beyond our wildest dreams.

If we become suffering servants like Christ was, there is a danger that we might assume that the saving work of Christ is automatic. Mark’s Gospel reminds us that this assumption is false. Christ’s suffering servanthood teaches us about the Incarnation, but the passion of his suffering teaches us about his redemption. Too much emphasis today is placed on the healing of human hurts, which reflects Christ’s loving care for us when we hurt. More emphasis needs to be placed on righting of human wrongs, also known as sin.

This might makes us uncomfortable in the short term. We like our worship to be comforting and uplifting, and while this is a necessary part of worship, it must not be the most important part. The main emphasis must be on redirecting our lives, our values and our priorities. This disruption in our lives is necessary if we truly believe that the heart of Jesus’s message is change or repentance. If we accept this, we have to let go of the lives we have now, no matter how painful the process will be.

Jesus’ message of self-sacrifice won’t always fit neatly into our earthly lives. Words like “Come die with us,” or “Follow Jesus no matter what the cost,” or “Called to sacrifice for the world” aren’t heard very often in churches today. These words are the heart of what Jesus taught. He wants us to follow him by giving of ourselves so that others may know his grace. Believers have resisted this call since it was first made over 2,000 years ago, so it isn’t surprising that the same call is resisted today. How do we as Christians see it?

Our attitude as children of God must centre on a life that is lived in him. In return for his sacrifice we need to make good use of the opportunities Christ sends our way. God wants to be an active presence in our lives, and it is because God has been an active part of the lives of men and women throughout history that the church has survived and thrived. If the church is to survive today, God needs to be active in our lives today. If more people made God an active part of their lives, the world would be a better place (and our churches and offering plates would be full to overflowing every Sunday!).

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
3. McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006
6. Paul Estabrooks, “The Cross-Choosing to Follow Jesus.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
7. Rick Warren, “You’re Happiest when You Give Your Life Away.” Retrieved from connect@newsletter.purposedriven.com
8. Exegesis for Mark 8:24-38. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
9. Pastor Ken Klaus, “Let Us Follow Jesus.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
10. Steve Arterburn, “Will You Have a Ride?” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
11. Pastor Dave Risendal, “What does it mean to be a Christian?” Retrieved from donotreply@wordpress.com