Sermons From My Heart

There are few things that bring more happiness than the birth of a new baby. For weeks before the baby is born, the preparations are made. The parents make sure the baby will have everything it needs. They buy clothes, baby bottles, little blankets to keep the baby warm, soft, fuzzy pajamas for the baby to sleep in. After the baby is born, care is taken to make sure that the baby has everything it needs to grow into a strong and healthy child. Good parents will do everything they can to keep their baby safe.

The birth of a child is a miracle. It is the result of the uniting of male and female to create life. The birth of a child causes us to contemplate the mystery of it all and rejoice when its full impact hits us. There are special cases where the miracle is so profound that we know that God is involved. The case of the birth of Moses, which we read about in Exodus 1:8-2:10, is a good example. God worked through Moses’ mother and Pharaoh’s daughter to save Moses’ life so that He could work through Moses to save his people eighty years later.

The essence of the Christian faith is not certainty but trust, and we see that throughout this passage. There are three things that are certain in life-death, taxes and change. Change calls us to trust God. He is constant in His love and in His self-giving.

The Israelites were wise to remember this. A new Pharaoh came to power, and he did not know Joseph. He did not see the heirs of Joseph, whose shrewd policies saved Egypt in the midst of a terrible famine, and whose family came to live among the Egyptians in peace in the land of Goshen. He was afraid of the Hebrews, so he persecuted them. Three unsuccessful methods were used to limit the exploding population growth of the Hebrews:

1. Working the Hebrews to exhaustion.
2. Commanding the Hebrew midwives to commit infanticide.
3. Selective annihilation, with baby boys being cast into the River Nile while baby girls were spared.

Unfortunately for Pharaoh, he did not know that God was on the side of the Hebrews. The Hebrews had a purpose and destiny that could not be stopped. They were part of God’s larger, more important plan-a plan that was more important than Pharaoh’s. God will have the final word, in spite of Pharaoh’s belief that he is in control. God will bring down the powerful from their thrones and lift up the lowly. This text is resonant today in our congregations, our nations and our world. Issues of race and politics, religion and politics, gender and power, the war on terror, the inequities of our global economy, mission and hospitality to the stranger and all manner of suffering and bondage threaten us and our churches.

Speaking of God, where was  He? He isn’t mentioned in this story until Exodus 1:17, which speaks of the midwives’ fear of God. The story of the oppression of the Israelites was well underway. God’s first explicit action does not come until Exodus 1:20, and He remains in the background as abuse and oppression grow. It is through God’s providence that the Hebrews were fruitful and prolific, which was something God promised to Abraham and Sarah. This same source of blessing and promise of multiplication has become Pharaoh’s fear and the Hebrews’ oppression. The more God multiplies the Israelites, the more Pharaoh opposes them with abuse and death.

This passage is part of the larger story of the relationship between God and His people. The Hebrews will learn who God is, and they will learn that their identity is rooted in belonging to God. God will refer to them many times as “my people.” He will claim the,  hear their cries and deliver them. In Exodus 5:2, Pharaoh will ask, “Who is God, that I should heed Him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.” Pharaoh and the Israelites will need some convincing about who this God is and to whom the Israelites belong.

The Hebrew population multiplied during their long years of ease. Conflict and oppression took them out of their comfort zone. They were willing to risk a bold Exodus for freedom. Life’s sorrows and burdens give us a perspective that nothing else will. As long as we are happy and content, we will never move along in life. We need to be detached from everything we depend on and trust so that we can depend on God.

The snatching of victory from the jaws of unlikelihood is something God does regularly. He did it through Joseph. He did it through Moses so the Israelites could have a new life. He did it through Jesus so that we who were dead to sin could have a chance for a new life.

Shiprah and Puah-possibly leaders of the guild of midwives-refused to commit infanticide, fearing the real King more than their earthly ruler. These women were likely Egyptians who came to faith in Yahweh and were included in Israel. That is, Yahweh provided households for them.

When one Is faced with committing a great evil, it is permissible (even praiseworthy) to avoid it by committing a lesser evil, especially since some sins are worse than others. In this story, genocide is worse than lying. God sustained and blessed the Hebrew midwives in their commitment. He used them to do His work. They could depend on His power-a power that no one and nothing can defeat.

The word “ark” (in this case, a floating basket) alludes to Noah and, as in his day, served here as a vessel of divine deliverance. The basket was placed among the reeds by the bank of the Nile where the current was slight, so it would not wash out to sea. It was also placed where the women of the palace would see it when they came to dip in the waters of the Nile as part of their religious ritual.

The daughter of Pharaoh knew immediately that this child was a Hebrew because he was circumcised. Her adoption of Moses as her son, along with the selection of Moses’ own mother as his wet nurse, are two ways that God preserved the infant. The word “Moses” in Egyptian most likely means “born”,” but the Hebrew equivalent means “to be drawn out.” God would later use Moses to draw His people “from the water.”

Moses was saved by an individual act of kindness. Today, we must go beyond kindness to create compassionate institutions and compassionate communities. We must do everything we can to ensure the safety and flourishing of people who are at risk.

The key to getting through tough times is to trust God. We can’t just want to trust Him. Trust takes time, and that includes time with Him. Until we are ready to trust, obey and follow Him, we are not ready to be used by God, no matter how good our credentials or our intentions are.

Moses’ early life was part of the preparation for the work God had for his life. God has tasks for each of us to accomplish, and for these tasks we do not have to rely on our own strength and abilities. God has arranged things and handled all of the details so that we will be ready when He calls. Our responsibility is to trust Him rather than our own strength. We can always trust His wisdom and love to both know and do what is best.

This story may have taken place 3,500 years ago, but it’s familiar. All we have to do is look at the carnage that lies in fear’s wake. Fear brings down buildings, causes wars, and dominates legislative processes. One word about employment statistics or credit ratings sends investors fleeing and economies reeling. Fear also dominates our daily lives. How much of our energy goes into protecting, insuring and risk-managing? How often does fear dictate our parenting, our time-management, and even our churches, especially in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic? We would be well-advised to heed the words of Franklin Roosevelt when he said during the Great Depression that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself!”

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New Kings James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 76-77)
2. Dunnam, M.D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 2: Exodus (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1987, pp. 28-42)
3. T.M. Moore, “Which Sins Are Worse?” Retrieved from noreply@ailbe.org
4. T.M. Moore, “Where is God?” Retrieved from noreply@ailbe.org
5. Dr. Ed Young, “Good Intentions.” retrieved from ministry@winningwalk.org
6. Dr. Paul Chappell, “God Has Already Made the Arrangements.” Retrieved from daily@dailyintheword.org
7. Thea Lunk, “Floating Moses.” Retrieved from today@thisistoday.net
8. “Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Unlikelihood.” Retrieved from http://churchintheworld.com
9. John Holbert, “Pharaoh Goes Bonkers, or the Stupidity of a Tyrant: Reflections on Exodus 1:8-2:10.” Retrieved from www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/pharaoh-goes-bonkers-john-holbert-08-18-2014.html
10. Amy Merrill Willis, “Commentary on Exodus 1:8-2:10.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=972
11. Rick Morley, “Fear Versus Compassion.” Retrieved from www.rickmorley.com/archives/721?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=fear-versus-compassion-genesis-18-210
12. Dennis Olson, “Commentary on Exodus 1:8-2:10.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=131
13. Cameron R.B. Howard, “Commentary on Exodus 1:8-2:10.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2169

The events in the Gospel reading from Matthew 16:13-20 took place in the region of Caesarea Philippi. It was a territory where pagan gods were worshipped, and it is there that Jesus asks Peter a question about his identity, not in some safe territory, but in a non-believing location. Perhaps that is why Jesus told the disciples not to tell anyone that he is the Messiah, but I think the real reason is because Jesus had a special sense of timing about his ministry. He did not think it was time to reveal his true identity to the world. He was well aware that his claim was volatile in nature, and it was the claim that ultimately led to his crucifixion.

We as believers today have to answer the same question Jesus asked the disciples- “Who do YOU say I am?” We also have to answer it in a similar location-a world which is often hostile to Christianity. We can’t just coast on our faith, for it is not merely something handed down to us from our parents which we automatically carry with us for the rest of our lives. Our answer will not be made in words or church doctrine. It will be made by how we live and die. Peter’s faith gave him strength to follow Christ all the way to dying like Christ. In fact, the story is that Peter was also crucified, but he was crucified upside-down because he did not feel worthy enough to die in the same way Jesus did. Peter imitated Christ in his daily dying to himself and living for Christ. It is on faith and example like Peter’s that Christ has built the church. 

Peter expressed the full belief he and his fellow disciples had that Jesus was the long-expected Messiah. This contradicts the view that others had of him at that time, and the view some people have of him today; namely, that Jesus was the reincarnation of Elijah or John the Baptist, or that he was a prophet or a good person. Peter did not know the theological implications of his words, and we might not know them either, but we can still make a commitment to know him and follow him until we do understand them. Jesus will teach us about what they mean.

God was the one who put those words into Peter’s mind and mouth. God’s actions were a product of Peter’s faith and reflection. The revelation that opened Peter’s eyes to see and his tongue to proclaim Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God” is our gift as well as we run into the gates of hell. We can see the inscription over these gates: cynicism in dealing with others; despair as we face the issues of violence, war and terrorism; greed that puts ourselves first on the list; indifference to the pain of others; cowardice when our faith is challenged; conformity when prophetic witness is called for; and lukewarm religious practice that has stalled through neglect and other reasons.

Peter took a leap of faith when he answered Jesus’ question, and we also have to take a big leap of faith when we answer the same question today. Peter reminds us that even when we want to do our best and when we are sure we can handle things, we are prone to our own human weaknesses. If we are to call ourselves Christians, then we will accept Christ crucified and rose from the dead not only two thousand years ago, but crucified and rises inside our own lives as well. If we do, we will be dead to our own sinful lives and alive in Christ. Then and only then are we dealing with the real Jesus. The only way we can come to confess Jesus as the Son of God is by the road of faith.

What does the word “church” mean to us? It means the body of people and the congregation, and not buildings or properties. For example, Christians thrived in the first and second century, under persecution, when they met secretly in small, informal home settings. The same situation still exists in many countries today, especially because of persecution. Denominations were formed when groups of people formed. The church is not ours to build as we like. It is God’s church, and we as humans have to build it the way he wants us to build it. That means making difficult decisions. As the rock of the church, Peter and the disciples had to make decisions that would not please people, just like Jesus had to make decisions that did not please people. Church leaders today still have to make decisions that do not please everyone.

Peter became the rock of the church and just like Jesus was his rock, Jesus is also the rock on which we can build our faith. Living rocks are the building material of Jesus’ church. Peter himself called Christians living stones who serve as building material for a spiritual house and priesthood. All the living stones are fitted into place around a living cornerstone, Jesus Christ.

Just like Jesus overcame his foes, we as the church will be triumphant over our enemies. God wants to give us the keys to his kingdom to help us spread the Good News of his love and forgiveness and to help us to fulfill the Great Commission. The problem is that we often do not know how to unlock the doors. The master key will open these doors, and it is the same key Peter used-namely, our confession. If we confess God’s Word in our lives, we will open kingdom doors and release God’s power in everyday situations. The other keys are faith, love, obedience, prayer and witnessing.

The keys Jesus promises Peter are meant to unlock the world’s longing for celebration and liberation. They were never intended to keep undesirables out or to rid God’s realm of the unworthy. If that was the case, Jesus would never have promised them to someone like Peter, and they would never have landed in pockets like ours. It’s like the loving parent who hands over the keys of the family car to someone he or she loves dearly and whom he or she knows has not always fared well in training and has yet to be tested by the hurdles of real life. Knowing this, Jesus still promises Peter and us the keys and says, “Use them wisely”.

Peter and the church will open the door of faith to the world, and it is our duty as Christians to keep that door wide open to the entire world. We have the keys to open the doors and windows of the church to the world, but we have to figure out what to do with them, what doors to open and what windows to unlock. We must make sure that they are open to everyone, not just people like us.

Jesus calls on us today to answer the question, “Who do you say that I am?” He is not interested in dispassionate, hypothetical views regarding his life and work. Instead, he wants to know what his followers and disciples think of him today. He demands a decision-accept him or reject him. He demands a clear answer that does not have to be certain. Jesus is outside the dogmas of neat religious minds. He is free, and we are truly free only when we allow Jesus to be free. Cage Jesus and we imprison ourselves. Categorize Jesus and we find ourselves in another pigeonhole, another religious clone. Maybe the image in our churches should not be an immoveable Jesus on a statue or a cross or a stained-glass window.  The best image for the church should be the empty tomb with the inscription, “Christ is not here. Christ has gone before you”.

The only way we can adequately answer this question is to study the record of his life as it is found in the four gospels. Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. He made astounding claims concerning himself-claims that he backed up with deeds because he IS the Son of God. He had supernatural powers to perform miracles because he IS the Son of God. He rose from the dead and transformed lives because he IS the Son of God. Jesus asked the disciples who the people say the Son of God is in order to give us a hint of his concern for the whole world-a concern that he will make explicit in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20.

Jesus is the Son of God-a member of the Trinity. The role of Jesus in the Trinity is to show us what God is like. The primary word of God is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We are to imitate Jesus’ life, death and resurrection in our own lives by dying to ourselves and our old, sinful ways of life and rising to a new Christian life in Jesus. He is the Saviour of the world. He is our High Priest. If we do not accept this reality, if we do not act on our belief and commitment to follow him in our everyday life, we are automatically against him.

If we believe that Jesus is the Messiah, he will call us to serve. We might have to serve dangerously. We might have to serve uncomfortably. We might have to serve quietly. If we obey his call, our lives will be a blessing to many, and we will contribute to the building of God’s kingdom, and we will have a special place in God’s kingdom both now and for eternity.

There are challenges and conflicts in our lives today that do not reflect the Holy God in whom we believe. They are placed in our lives as tests to examine what we will declare about Jesus. Can we say that despite the hardships, conflicts, struggles and stresses in our lives, Jesus is our Christ, the son of the living God? Does Jesus impact our lives daily, making a difference in the way we think and feel and what we say? If our faith is wavering in belief, all we have to do is ask God to reveal to us who Jesus is, just as he did with Peter. People and circumstances will change with seasons and times of life, but when all is said and done, we want our faith and convictions to be as solid as rocks so that the gates of hell shall not prevail against us.

Is Jesus Christ the Lord and Saviour of our lives? Can we also say, “You are the Christ…?” Only you can say, one way or the other, but make no mistake-professing our faith is of utmost importance. If we can, are we willing to make the life-changing investment Jesus requires of us as disciples? If we say “You are the Christ…” we as individual members of the church are saying to him, “I believe you are here with us today, in this congregation, calling us to be a loving and just people. I believe the poor have a priority in your plans and I will do my best to serve them in your name. I believe you are offering me freedom and a truer self, so that I can turn from false, worldly securities and look to you for my true identity as a child of God, and an important part of God’s people. I believe that as you were anointed by God to do God’s will, through my baptism, so am I—called to be a sign of God’s kingdom on earth where all are brothers and sisters.”

Answering this question is the sign of mature faith. We can’t let others answer for us, nor can we let others’ answers stand as our own answers. We have to decide, we have to say it and claim it and live who Jesus is. Like Peter, we are followers of Jesus. Like Peter, we sometimes have deep faith, and, at other times, a lack of faith. Jesus saw in Peter the same thing he sees in us-building material that can be shaped into a people of faith to serve his reign.

Bibliography

1. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament, Matthew 16:13-20. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.
2. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.
3. Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.
4. Phil Ware, Heartlight Daily Verse, Matthew 16:15-16. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
5. Notes from Peter Anthony’s Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew.
6. Dr. Ray Pritchard, “Who is Jesus Christ?” Retrieved from www.keepbelieving.com
7. Exegesis for Matthew 16:13-20. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
8. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 1^st Sunday (A)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
9. The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “Can You Keep a Secret?” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
10. Dr. Mickey Anders, “What and Where?” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
11. The Rev. Amy Butler, “Remembering What We Believe”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
12. Dr. Philip W. McLarty, “The Unspoken Question”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
13. T.M. Moore, “Whose Church? Whose Vision?” Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org
14. J.M. Njoroge, “The Recalcitrant Jesus”. Retrieved from www.rzim.org
15. Dr. Charles F. Stanley, “The Name of Jesus”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
16. Dr. Charles F. Stanley, “Jesus: To Believe or Not to Believe”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
17. Dr. Bill Bright, “Don’t Forget Your Keys”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
18. Richard Inness “Is Jesus the Son of God, Part III”. Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
19. The Very Rev. Dr. Ian Markham, “How Do We Know What God is like?” Retrieved from www.day1.org
20. The Rev. Dr. Gary Charles, “Keys”. Retrieved from www.day1.org
21. The Rev. Luis Leon, “Sermon for the 13^th Sunday after Pentecost”. Retrieved from www.day1.org
22. Carey KInsolving, “Is Peter the Rock upon Which the Church is Built?” Retrieved from www.arcamax.com/religionandspirituality/kidstalkaboutgod/s-928200?print
23. John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, Aug. 21, 2011. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod.org/archives/tenth-sunday-after-pentecost-august-21-2011

How do you think of yourselves? There are two options. We can allow our lives, values, attitudes convictions and relationships to be influenced by the world, or we can be remodeled, transformed, reshaped and redesigned from the inside out by the Holy Spirit.

How can we know God’s will for our lives? If we are not careful, we can mistake God’s will for something else, and we will be intimidated by fear. Well, fear not, because the will of God is realized by the direct influence of the Holy Spirit. To find God’s will in our lives, we don’t have to be supernatural. All we have to do is know how God speaks to us and how we hear him. It’s about learning how to spot his will when we see it and then choosing to follow it.

What is God’s will like? God’s will is good. That means that God has the highest and best goals in mind for us. God’s will is also acceptable, which means that it is well-pleasing and agreeable. God’s will is also perfect, which means it meets the needs of the person.

So how can we know we are in the will of God? There are four steps:

1. Be sure we are already in the habit of obeying God.
2. Decide to always glorify God spiritually and physically.
3. Read and study the Bible constantly.
4. Associate with fellow believers in a church where we can receive faithful teaching based on God’s Word.

There is a note of authority in the words we read from the apostle Paul in Romans 12:1-8. He reminds all Christians that we must be careful in how we evaluate our own lives. This evaluation must come from a mind that has been transformed by faith in Christ, and not by a mind that has been influenced by the world. This evaluation must be based on the gifts God has given us and how we use them.  We need to have a godly sense of self-worth. It provides a safe, stable middle ground while being at the heart of a peaceful life.

Paul uses the analogy of the human body to describe the unity all Christians have in Christ. We are the eyes, ears, head, hands, legs and feet of Christ. All Christians are part of one body of Christ, all of whom have vital parts that work together. Each part is different, but the parts need each other. Christians have individual gifts, and these gifts are really a gift of God’s grace. They are like parts of a human body. When one part of a body disappears, we look for it. Do we look for a member of the body of Christ when that member disappears?

If we truly understand the price of our salvation, we will want to give back to God out of gratitude and thanksgiving. When we truly understand God’s mercy, we will want to worship him with every ounce of our being. God’s love and sacrifice for us will motivate us to love and to sacrifice ourselves in return. That sacrifice involves using the gifts he has given us to do his work in our world. If we want to be the people God wants us to be, we will do what God wants us to do.

Once we are consecrated to God, we must not allow ourselves to be conformed to the world and its sinful nature. We must be guided by the Holy Spirit. This guidance involves two aspects. First, as committed followers of Jesus all of our actions must be in harmony with the will of God as spelled out in the word of God. If we meditate on God’s word daily, it will shape our thoughts and help us to be more Christ-like. Then we will act in a way that pleases God. Second, we need to know what our gifts are and how we can use them to serve God. We have to get the best training we can to sharpen these gifts and use them to serve others. We serve God by serving others.

No one can even begin to imitate Christ’s ministry on his own, because his abilities and ministries were so varied. When we come together as one body we can collectively demonstrate the many and varied forms of ministry that he wants to perform through our united effort. The Holy Spirit gives each of us the correct portion so that we can fulfill our individual roles within the entire body of Christ.

We have to consider our roles within the body of Christ because each of our roles is different. Each role is represented by the individual gifts believers have. One of the spiritual gifts is the gift of prophecy. Old Testament prophets along with some of the New Testament prophets, had the gift of addressing the future. Modern prophets don’t have this gift. Instead, they are teachers and proclaimers of God’s truth. My own ministry is a good example. When I preach, I teach and proclaim God’s truth.

Another gift is the ability to exhort or encourage those who are hurting, weak or discouraged. People with these gifts give them sacrificially. The church also needs the gift of leadership. In particular, the church needs the gift of leadership that has a sense of what the church needs to do. People naturally follow leaders who have that gift.

The most important gift is the gift of mercy. It is the spirit-given ability to extend love and compassion to those who are suffering. It also involves reaching out to the outcasts of society and other people who are ignored by society.

Regardless of the gift we have been given, we must not be full of pride, but at the same time we must understand how much each and every one of us is valued by God. Satan can use discouragement to keep us from using our gifts for God’s work. On the other hand, pride causes us to attribute our contribution to God’s Kingdom to ourselves and not to God.

Paul encourages all believers to consecrate themselves to a Christ-like way of life. This doesn’t happen automatically when we come to Christ. Our consecrated bodies are to be sacrificed to God constantly, undefiled and pleasing to God and his character. We live for Christ because we are grateful for what God has done for us. Transformation is a positive view of the place where God’s redemption unfolds. This transformation occurs because of God’s grace, and therefore we are to give ourselves entirely to God. This is what Paul means when he tells us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God.

The world was originally clean, but it became corrupted by sin, and when Christ returns the world will be transformed and cleansed. We are part of the sinful world even though we have been transformed by God’s grace. We learn to see the world through the Scriptures and respond to the world as the Scriptures tell us. Our minds become more and more like God’s mind and accomplish God’s will.

In ancient times, salt was used to preserve and add flavour to food. When Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 5:13 that they were the salt of the earth, He meant that they could stop the moral decay of society and impact generations for Christ as they ministered his truth to the world. We are to be reflections of Christ on earth. This will mean that we will be different from the world, but our mission is to change the world for the better.  We can’t change the world until we change ourselves. We must not become arrogant by thinking too highly of ourselves. We are to be servants in the world, not its doormats. We are to have a balanced view of ourselves. We are to see ourselves as God sees us and not in comparison to others. All of us are the same in the eyes of God. He chose all believers and the choice is made on the basis of grace.

Transformation causes us to believe God’s truth instead of listening to our feelings. It will take time, but eventually God’s truth will become part of us. When it does, our relationship with God will be stronger and the way we think about ourselves will change. All of this can only happen when we feed on God’s word.

Doing God’s will with certain conditions is not obedience. Obeying and following God’s will means surrendering everything in our lives to God. If we are not surrendering everything to God, we are not obeying God. Our different gifts must be offered humbly to the body of Christ. Only within the body of Christ can our thoughts, desires and behaviour be renewed and changed.

Paul uses God’s mercy to appeal to us as Christians. God’s mercy is the key part of a Christian’s commitment to God. In return, we are to show mercy to others. Christian life is marked by transformation and growth in discernment and understanding.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2013)
2. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Romans (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010)
3. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
4. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2006)
6. Steve Arterburn, “The Struggle against Worldliness.” Retrieved from www.newlife.com
7. Richard Innes, “Being vs doing.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
8. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “God’s Success Formula.” Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org
9. Pastor Bobby Schuller, “Willing to be Weird.” Retrieved from www.hourofpower.org
10. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “The Importance of Salt.” Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org
11. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Opportunities to Serve.” Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org
12. James A. Harnish, “Squeezed or Transformed?” Retrieved from www.preaching.com
13. Richard Innes, “Square Watermelons.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
14. Richard Innes, “Discerning the Will of God for Your Life.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
15. Dr. Charles Stanley, “Peace with Ourselves.” In Touch Magazine, September 2014, P. 51 (Atlanta, GA: In Touch Ministries Inc.)
16. Exegesis for Romans 12:1-8. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
17. The Rev. Dr. Charles Reeb, “I Wonder about God’s Will for My Life.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
18.  

Have you ever wondered how you can share the Good News with the people you meet? If so, the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40 is a good teaching manual. Philip was leading a revival in Samaria that was leading multitudes of people to Christ. God called Philip from evangelizing the crowds to evangelizing to one person, but that one person-the eunuch-led to the spread of Christianity to the African continent. Philip must have wondered why God would take him out of a revival and place him in a desert, but he trusted God.

Evangelism is like that.  Evangelism is a team effort that involves each and every member of the body of Christ, but it eventually comes down to a one on one encounter between a follower of Jesus and a person who is following his or her own way. We do not have to be a Billy Graham, or a Franklin Graham or a Will Graham and lead crusades in major cities and large stadiums throughout the world. We can do the same thing in our own communities with the people we meet every day.

We don’t know anything about the eunuch’s spiritual background other than the fact that he travelled 1,200 miles to Jerusalem. Jewish law would have excluded the eunuch from the temple. This is an example of the Gospel spreading to the Gentiles. The passage the eunuch read was the passage from Isaiah about the suffering servant. There is no better passage with which to introduce someone to Jesus.

The eunuch’s baptism confirms that baptism is for those who profess faith in Jesus. Immersion equals death to sin, coming up out of the water equals rising to a new life in Christ. The eunuch’s joy represents a new spiritual state.

Philip had to overcome a lot of barriers to get to the eunuch’s chariot, but the barriers did not matter to Philip. Barriers should not matter to us either. We must be willing to go, sit and spend time with people who want to get to know God. Differences in race, colour, creed or culture must not be barriers to our mission. We need to pour out our lives for their sake.

The only way to reach people for Christ is to preach Christ crucified, dead, buried and risen again. Clever stories or preaching methods or living our lives in front of lost people won’t do the job. We are called to make disciples. It requires our willingness to become a mentor for new believers. We have to take the goodness God has poured into our lives and pour that goodness into the lives of the lost.

This story is fast-paced and full of action. These might not be the first words we think of when we think of the word “church”, but the intention of the Book of Acts is to show us that the Spirit is alive and we are too. If we are alive in Christ, we will obey when the Spirit says to us, “Get up and go.” We must be prepared to seize each and every opportunity to proclaim the Good News, like I am when I’m given an opportunity to preach. If we are to discover God’s guidance for our lives, we have to be receptive to the Spirit, even if it does not fit into our plans, goals, prejudices, etc. Philip is a good example. He wanted to continue the revival in Samaria, but the Holy Spirit had other plans.

There are two issues in this reading-obedience and preaching the Good News. As I mentioned earlier, the eunuch spread Christianity to Africa. In the case of Philip, he obeyed God’s call to meet with the eunuch at that particular time and in that particular place. The eternal life of someone who would play a key role in the worldwide expansion of Christianity was at stake.

All believers have direct access to God through faith and the Holy Spirit. All believers are able to understand the teachings of the Scriptures and gain the benefit God intends-namely, the ability to share the Gospel with others. Sometimes we wonder about the people and situations God has guided us to. That’s only natural, because we can’t see “the big picture” that God sees. Sometimes the people and situations are difficult for us, but they often lead to blessings. God uses anything he can to convince us to follow his directions. The key for us is to be prepared to follow him, and that preparation includes openness, prayer, Bible study and surrendering to God’s will. If we are prepared we will be ready when opportunities arise. For example, I was a lay minister for several years before I felt the call to preach. God used that time to prepare me through working with other team members and learning from them. As a result, I have had the opportunity to preach over 400 times in different locations.

If we, like Moses, don’t know what to say, that’s okay because the Holy Spirit will tailor our message to the needs of the people we speak to. It’s like advertisers who tailor the message of their products to a particular audience. For example, you rarely see ads for fishing gear in fashion magazines!

We need to consider the needs, background and experience of our audience when we are called to share our faith. When we find out about our audience, our natural desire to help takes over. When that desire kicks in, we have to start where our audience is in relationship to Christ, and not where they should be. When we are nearing the end of our witnessing, we have to wait for signs of readiness and response. If that readiness indicates belief in the resurrection, the audience is ready to begin their new life in Christ.  All of this is only possible if we are willing to talk about Jesus and if we are willing to go anywhere to share the Good News, just like I am prepared to go anywhere God wants me to go and preach. If we let God direct us where he wants us to go, he will give us the courage and the words. All we have to do is to step out in faith.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
2. Tony Robinson, “Get Up and Go.” Retrieved from dailydevotional@ucc.org
3. James MacDonald, “Seize the opportunity.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
4. T.M. Moore, “Read with the Saints.” Retrieved from wwww.colsoncenter.org
5. Lysa Terkeurst, “Might We Dare to be a Little More Common?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
7. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983)
8. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2005)

Have you ever been to a family reunion? A reunion is a wonderful time seeing aunts, uncles, and cousins that you haven’t seen fora long time. If you haven’t seen them in a long time, it may be hard to recognize some of them. There is something else you should know about family reunions. There is plenty to eat and lots of hugs and kisses at a family reunion.

Today’s Bible lesson is somewhat like a family reunion. It is a continuation of the story of Joseph and his brothers. I’m sure you remember the story about how Joseph’s brothers beat him up, threw him in a pit, and sold him to some merchants who were on their way to Egypt.

When Joseph arrived in Egypt, a lot of things happened to him – some good — and some not so good. For example:

•Joseph worked in the house of Potiphar and was placed over all of Potiphar’s wealth.

•Potiphar’s wife told some terrible lies about Joseph to her husband.

•Because of his wife’s lies, Potiphar had Joseph thrown into jail.

•The head jailer took a liking to Joseph and placed him in charge of the other prisoners.

•Joseph used his God-given gift to interpret the dreams of the other prisoners.

•Joseph was stuck in jail for more than two years.

•Pharaoh heard that Joseph had the ability to understand dreams.

•Pharaoh released Joseph from jail to explain his dreams.

•Pharaoh believed what Joseph told him and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt.

Now, let’s see what happens next.

Just as Joseph had told Pharaoh, the dream he was having meant that there would be seven years when the harvest would be great and there would be plenty of food. Then there would be seven years when there would be nothing. God was telling Pharaoh to set aside grain during the good years so that there would be plenty of food during the bad years. That is exactly what Pharaoh did. When the bad years came, there was plenty of grain in Egypt, but all the countries around them were starving.

People came from all the surrounding countries to buy grain from Joseph, because the whole world was in need of food. Some of those people were Joseph’s very own brothers. When his brothers came, Joseph recognized them, but they did not know who he was. After all, it had been many years since they had seen him, and they probably didn’t expect to see him in such a position of power.

Joseph met with his brothers several times without telling them who he was. Finally, he could keep it to himself no longer. He told his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father alive?” But his brothers were speechless because they were afraid. But Joseph said, “Come closer. I am your brother, the one you sold! Don’t worry, and don’t be angry at yourselves for selling me into slavery. You see, it wasn’t you who sent me here. God has put me here to save people from starving.”

“Now, go and tell my father all about the high position I hold in Egypt, tell him everything you’ve seen here, but don’t take all day—hurry up and get my father down here.”

Silence followed the words, “I am Joseph.” Previously, Joseph only spoke in Egyptian through an interpreter, but now he spoke in Hebrew to his brothers. The object of their hatred and the evidence of their sin stood before them, and they were dismayed and terrified in his presence. Joseph’s statement that “God sent me before you…to save your lives” showed his ability to see God at work, turning the tragedies of life into triumphs.

Bad people can serve God’s purposes and unknowingly execute His plans. What Joseph’s brothers did is a good example. His story could be our story. Only when we get to heaven will we understand the role we played in God’s plan.

For years Joseph’s brothers assumed they had escaped all accountability for their behaviour. Now their fate was in Joseph’s hands. It was for their own good that they had to face what they did, but they were in for a big surprise. Instead of being punished, they were welcomed and blessed. They were at the mercy of Joseph, and he showed them mercy.

The brothers changed over the years. The hatred they had for their father’s favoured son was gone. They didn’t hate Benjamin for the special place he held in their father’s heart. They bore the guilt of what they did to Joseph. They saw their current situation as punishment for what they did to Joseph. It is this change of heart and the compassion they showed for their father that moved Joseph to reveal himself to them

Joseph refused to blame his brothers for what happened to him. Instead, he wanted them to see that God sent him to Egypt and that God had done so in order that many people might be blessed. Joseph was referring to the famine, but he could have been referring to God’s eventual plan to save the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Joseph’s brothers were invited to see how an understanding of God can deal with bitterness and put sweetness in its place.

God’s promises to Abraham in Genesis 12 were fulfilled in Abraham’s descendants. Jacob’s family came to Egypt, and they were the great beginning of the great nation promised to Abraham. In Joseph, we see the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” God made everything Joseph did prosper, even in slavery and in prison. When Joseph became second-in-command in Egypt, God used him to save the world. 

Joseph chose not to live in his past. Instead, he chose to live in a new future. All of us are products of our past and our family origins, and they exert powerful influences on our lives. Some of us have good pasts, but most of us don’t. Joseph’s story may be a way out of the generation to generation of family disfunction. 

Joseph was able to look upon the hardest days of his life and see the hand of God working for himself and all of God’s people. Joseph was able to look upon his awful experiences and see them as God moving to save His people and all the people of that corner of the world from famine. When he received God’s grace, Joseph could see that God had worked in all of his circumstances. Joseph was able to look beyond his brothers’ actions to see the larger picture. All the years of toil and trouble came to the point where grace and love could be extended and heal the wounds of the past.

Joseph showed wisdom and self-control, which are not natural traits. They have to be developed by a person and in a person. Wisdom is given by God and self-control is the last attribute listed in the fruits of the Spirit. It is through life experiences that we gain wisdom and it is through intense trials that we learn self-control, but experience and trials do not necessarily mean that people become wise and self-controlled. God wants to develop these traits in all of us. When God can trust us, He entrusts us with greater gifts and callings.

Joseph learned this lesson the hard way. People with wisdom and self-control bless God and others as well as themselves. God gave us an example of a man who endured years of trials and abuse but overcame the circumstances to be entrusted with governing Egypt. God does not promise to take away our pain and discomfort. He does promise to make great things happen, but they won’t come easily.

Joseph prefigured Christ in many ways, but the most important way was that Joseph forgave those who hurt him just like Christ forgave those who hurt Him. Both Joseph and Christ set a good example for us to follow. It’s a hard example for us to follow because love is daring and intimidating. It’s natural for us to want to seek revenge on those who hurt us, but that isn’t what God wants us to do. His grace doesn’t return hatred with hatred. His grace returns love to those who hate.

Most touching is Joseph’s reunion with his younger brother Benjamin. Joseph kissed all his brothers to demonstrate forgiveness: Reuben, unstable as water; Simeon and Levi, who brought trouble; and Judah, who saved Joseph’s life by suggesting that he be sold. Reconciliation brings peace, protection, provision, and proximity. Joseph forgave his brothers because God called him to forgive. Similarly, God calls us to have forgiving spirits.

This story teaches two important lessons. First, God is in control and He will prevail with or without our cooperation. God doesn’t ask us to sit back and wait for Him to lead us to success. He asks us to trust Him, obey Him and learn the lessons He is trying to teach us. Second, when we meet God our hearts will be so full of His love that love will easily flow from our hearts.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New Kings James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 63)
2. “A Family Reunion.” Retrieved from info@keysforkids.org
3. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 1: (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1987; pp. 349-354)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. F.B. Meyer, “Our Daily Homily.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. Joni Eareckson Tada, “God Meant It for Good.” Retrieved from communic@joniandfriends.org
7. Alan Wright, “Love Like You’ve Never been Hurt (Part 2).” retrieved from www.sharingthelight.org
8. “Wisdom with Self-Control.” Retrieved from info@dailydisciples.org
9. Rick Morley, “When God Sends You.” Retrieved from www.rickmorley.com/archives/693
10. Kathryn M. Schifferdecker, “Commentary on Genesis 45:1-15.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=121

There is a story of a group of the very pious who are waiting in heaven for judgment. As they are waiting and complaining about the wait, they begin to see some of the “sinners” they knew on earth coming into the waiting room: a corrupt politician, an itinerant woman who had been convicted of shoplifting many times, a prostitute, a drug addict, a criminal, etc.

With each of these arrivals, the feeling of hostility increased in the first group. They glare at the others. They talk among themselves. Within a short time, words were spoken to those others, “What makes you think you’re going to get in with the evil, sinful lives you lived on earth?”

“We are relying on the mercy and grace of God. What makes you so sure you’re going to get in?”

“Our good lives, of course.” They turned their backs to the others.

Time began to drag on for the first group. They began to complain to one another. “If those other people get in, there’s no justice. After all the sacrifices we’ve made. It’s not fair.”

The Lord arrived. He turned toward the first group, “I understand you’ve been wondering why there has been no judgment.”

“Yes!” they cried out. “We want a judgment. We want justice.”

The Lord replied, “The judgment has already taken place. You’ve judged yourselves. By judging these, the least of my brothers and sisters, you have judged yourselves. In rejecting them, you have rejected me. You have shown yourselves unworthy of the Kingdom of God”.

The issue in Matthew 15:10-28 is true holiness. Specifically, what constitutes true holiness? Is it strict observance of the law or rituals, as the Pharisees or some church-goers think? After all, the Pharisees were so concerned about obeying God’s law that they wrote countless rules to cover every conceivable situation. It makes me wonder if some government bureaucrats are descended from the Pharisees!

Or perhaps true holiness comes from the heart instead, as Jesus argues. He is right when he says that evil thoughts and deeds come from the heart. One only has to read the comments made by the man behind the terrorist attacks in Norway a few years ago to see that this is true. On the other hand, we only have to look at people such as Mother Theresa or Desmond Tutu, or organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse and our local food banks to see that good thoughts and deeds also come from the hearts of people, especially people who are willing to work for social justice.

Jesus continually pointed out the conditions of the Pharisees’ hearts. They held on to outward religious practices, but God wanted their hearts, which were hardened and cold. He wants the same thing from us today. Often times our hearts are hardened because of the world we live in and Jesus warns us of what will happen if we do not soften our hardened hearts. In Matthew 12:33-37, Jesus states:

The good man brings good things out of the good stored in him, and the evil man brings evil out of the evil stored in him. But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.

Purity also affects the issue of just who can be admitted to God’s kingdom, as we can see from the discussion Jesus has with the Canaanite woman. His reaction to her request shocks us, but it should not surprise us when we consider the culture of Jesus’ time-a culture that treated women and children as second-class citizens. For example, Jews also thought that Gentiles were “dogs”.

In Jesus’ time, people did keep dogs as pets, but dogs were mainly scavengers who ate garbage and the carcasses of dead animals. Dogs that were pets were often fed food scraps from their owner’s table, as they sometimes do now-hence the Canaanite woman’s reference to dogs eating the crumbs from the master’s table. The Canaanites were also considered to be dogs in the eyes of the Jews because they were descended from Noah’s son Ham. He was the son who saw his father naked and passed out from being under the influence of alcohol. Instead of doing the sensible thing by covering Noah and keeping his mouth shut, Ham went and told people what he saw. Now there’s a good example of someone having an unclean heart!

In contrast, the Canaanite woman had a pure heart. She was motivated by concern for her daughter and she knew that Jesus could heal her. While Jesus did open the door of God’s kingdom to the Gentiles in his Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, his priority at this time was the Israelites. Jesus represented God’s faithfulness to the covenant he made to the Jews in the Old Testament.

The reference to dogs eating the crumbs from their master’s table is a metaphor for the way in which the early Gentiles heard Jesus’ message. Although Jesus’ ministry was aimed at the Jews, some Gentiles did hear his messages and believed. These Gentiles were the “dogs” who ate the crumbs from Jesus’ table. In the eyes of God, we are all dogs, and we are all dependent on free scraps from God’s Table.

The Canaanite woman and the woman in the parable of the widow and the unjust judge prove that persistence pays off. Both of them refused to give up until they got what they wanted, and in both cases they showed true faith. God will grant our requests in his own time and in his own way if it falls within his plan for our lives, especially if our requests show true faith and holiness that comes from the heart.

Matthew’s Gospel was written for a Jewish Christian audience, but by the time it was written, the church had long since begun opening its doors to the Gentiles. The Gospel reflects the tension between the Jewish community, where the church had its roots, and the Gentiles who were being admitted to the church’s membership. Jesus unites what divides us. In him our many causes of exclusion become opportunities for embrace. Jesus, himself a man on the margins of society, brings the outsider inside.

A similar tension exists within some churches today, especially when they deal with issues such as the blessing of same-sex marriages. God breaks through such tensions. God is much bigger and more inclusive than any religious box people might use to contain God. When we turn to Jesus like the Canaanite woman did, and we receive a favourable response like she did, we learn to reflect on our shared religious customs and life together.

The story also reminds us that we too have come to Jesus through the Jews. We share the same faith; we see the hope this faith gave our ancestors in their wait for salvation. We are reminded that we have no claim to priority with Jesus. We are all equal in the eyes of God. We are recipients of grace-all has been freely bestowed on us. What we see is the God Jesus reveals to the woman; a God who would draw us close, sees our distress and helps us.

Those whom Christ wants to honour must be humbled to feel their unworthiness. The Canaanite woman turned this into an argument to support her request. God’s original plan was to bring salvation first to the Israelites and then to the Gentiles, but he responds to all who call on him in true faith and humility.  For example, one night several years ago my mother had to be rushed by ambulance to the local hospital because of a medical emergency. I followed the ambulance in my own car. The doctor on call diagnosed the problem as a heart attack. After he spoke to the two of us, I went home, knowing that there was nothing more I could do for her at that time. After I called the rest of the family, I got ready for bed. Before I went to sleep, I had a serious talk with the Lord. I don’t remember the exact words I used, but the prayer went something like this.

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

Thankfully, God answered my prayer in the way I wanted him to answer it. Medical tests the next day revealed that the doctor made the wrong diagnosis. Mom did not have a heart attack-she had blood clots in both lungs. With proper treatment, Mom slowly got better and stronger, and she was released from the hospital after one week. Faith comes from an abundance of trials, not from the lack of trials. Great faith achieves great victories over these trials.

Only two people in the Gospels are said to have had great faith, and both of them were Gentiles. Great faith does not depend on background or position, but on the attitude of the heart. If we are fully committed to God, our entire lives will be expressions of worship and adoration to Him.

As I mentioned a few moments ago, God’s original plan was to bring salvation first to the Israelites and then to the Gentiles, but he responds to all who call on him in true faith. Those who call on him in true faith have some degree of both faith and spiritual poverty. This is nothing new in Jesus’ ministry. From its very beginning he insisted that his message was directed to the lowest of the low in heart, to the emotional down-and-outers, to those knocked down on all fours and willing to crawl. In other words, his message has been directed to “dogs”. The Canaanite woman took this to heart, groveling and grateful for any crumb that might fall from his table. She became a dog, and this was exactly the humility Jesus was looking for.

Legalism destroys spiritual life, makes us narrow and causes us to miss what is most important to God. We condemn those who differ from us in style of worship, language and culture because of legalism. While legalism stresses external behaviour, Jesus emphasizes the motives of the heart. By focusing on the motives of the heart, rather than the legalistic purity, Jesus makes religious observances both easier and harder. It is easier because broad guidelines have replaced legalistic complexity. It is harder because we have to let our devotion to God affect us in the innermost parts of our being.

We live in a world that still needs a Saviour. The Canaanite woman points us to a greater resource than human love. It’s God’s infinite mercy in the person and work of Jesus. He is God’s love in action for her and for us. When she cries out to Jesus, she does so because she knows who he is and what he can do.

This story reminds us how the Church, which is Christ’s earthly body, is repeatedly taught, not so much by respectable insiders, but by those on the margins, the people without power and credibility. These marginal people storm in, insisting that the church should live up to the pattern offered by Jesus. They rock the boat, and in so doing they force the church to remember its reason for being. Often these and others like them come to the church with a commendable faith, even as the Canaanite woman drew near to Jesus. They might come from outside the bounds of power and acceptability, yet they’re eager even for scraps from the table. What they need, what they deserve, is a seat with the rest of us at God’s Table. There is much we can learn from them. Will we acknowledge them, listen to them, welcome them?

Bibliography

1. Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASV
2. Exegesis for Matthew 15:10-28. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
3. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament-Matthew 15:10-28. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.
4. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.
5. Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.
6. ESV Study Bible. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.
7. Selwyn Hughes, “When Evil Thoughts Oppress”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
8. Dr. Philip W. McLarty, “The Faith of a Dog”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
9. The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “A Fool for Love”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
10. The Rev. John Bedingfield, “Who Are the Dogs in Your Life?” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
11. The Rev. Dr. James D. Kegel, “Those People”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
12. The Rev. Gregory Seitz, “Count on Christ’s Mercy for you”. Retrieved from www.lhm.org
13. Micca Monda Campbell, “Great Faith”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
14. “The Voice of the Lord” for Shevat 24. Retrieved from www.lists.studylight.org
15. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions: 20^th Sunday (A)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org.
16. Trygve David Johnson, “Faith to Fire Back”. Retrieved from http://christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2008-08/faith-fire-back?print
17. The Rev. Brian P. Stoffregen, “Matthew 15: (1-10)21-28”. Retrieved from www.crossmarks.com/brain/matt15x110.htm
18. The Rev. John Ortberg, “True Grit”. Retrieved from www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2899
19. Sharon Jaynes, “Changing the Way We Speak by Examining the Heart”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
20. Daniel B. Clendenin, PhD, “Thinking About Norway”. Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net

Have you ever thought that you were alone on your walk of faith? Have you ever thought that you were the only Christian in the world? If so, you are not alone. Many of the Old Testament prophets felt that they were the only Christians in the world. Many Christians today sometimes fee that they are the only Christians in the world.  They even feel that they have been rejected by God.  At the end of Romans 10, it seems that the people of Israel have been rejected. It seemed that God’s plan and purpose for Israel had ended, when in fact nothing could be further from the truth as Paul argues in Romans 11:1-2,29-32.

God knew that the Israelites would reject him, but he chose them anyway and made a covenant with them. He could not make a covenant with them and then abandon them because they turned away from him in sin. To do so would go against his nature, because he does not go back on his word. God did have a “loophole” in his covenant. He was not bound to save the whole nation of Israel. He was only bound to save those who remained faithful. Those few that were faithful are the remnant referred to in Romans 9:27. Just as God reserved a remnant of his people when Elijah thought in 1 Kings 19:1-8 that he was the only faithful person left when in fact he had over 7,000 brothers and sisters in Christ, God has preserved a remnant of Christianity for Paul and for all of eternity. This remnant has been preserved by God’s grace.

Sometimes God uses the disobedience of one group of people to show mercy to another group. The people of Israel rejected God, so God decided to show mercy to the Gentiles by calling on the most hated, hardened Jew-Paul-to spread the Good News to the Gentiles. God surrounds his people with their sin with no means of escape so he can show his people grace. God stands off from his people when they rebel against him, but he never ignores people who cry out to him in faith. When we look beyond the struggles of this life we will see him waiting for us with open arms. When the lost cry out to him, he hears their cries and joyfully carries them to eternity.

God showed mercy to the Israelites even though they were ungrateful. Why? It can’t be explained. Such is the nature of grace. It can only be received with gratitude just like the Gentiles received God’s grace with gratitude.

The apostle Paul is proof that God is not finished with Israel. Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin and he believed in Jesus after his encounter on the road to Damascus. In Romans 11:1-2, 29-32 Paul uses various texts in Scripture to prove that God keeps the promises he makes to believers, unbelievers, disobedient and contrary-minded people, and this is a key part of Paul’s theology. After all, if God was not faithful to the people of Israel, Christians would not have a good reason to repent. God has the power to bring the Gentiles and the Israelites into his kingdom. Paul warns the Gentiles who have received salvation not to become proud and boastful because they can also be punished. The Gentiles were tempted to hate the Israelites because God found them to be unworthy, but Paul reminded the Gentiles that they needed to understand that they were the beneficiaries of Israel’s unfaithfulness. God made the same promise to the Gentiles, including the “loophole” that only the Gentiles who were faithful to God would be saved. These faithful Gentiles are also part of the remnant referred to in Romans 9:27. The Israelites also benefitted by Gentile obedience, because it caused the Israelites to become faithful to God.

God’s grace preserved people of faith throughout history. Noah and his family were preserved during the Great Flood thanks to the Ark. Joseph was preserved by God during years of hardship and imprisonment in Egypt, and in turn Joseph preserved his family and the people of Egypt during the famine. Daniel and his friends were saved from the lions’ den. Jonah was preserved even when he was in the belly of the fish. God always saves a remnant of his people when he punishes his people for their disobedience because this remnant consists only of people who have obeyed God in faith. God’s compassion is the last word when he is dispensing justice. His justice is always balanced by mercy for the people who obey him.

We are in the same situation today. Our world is full of sin. We as individual Christians may feel that we are alone, but God has preserved a piece of Christianity through our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world.  Justification is by faith for everyone.

Israel was willing to accept the special status of being God’s chosen people, but the people did not want to accept the responsibility of obeying him in faith. In other words, they wanted the benefits of the special status but they did not want to do any of the work that came with it.  In spite of this, God made a promise to his people that he would deliver them from sin and evil, and he kept that promise through Christ’s death and resurrection. The Gentiles should not have been upset because God blessed Israel, because God’s promise of salvation was made available to both Jews and Gentiles.

Both Jewish disciples and Gentile disciples thought they were better than less enlightened people, but God’s true Israel includes Jews, Gentiles and any other human group we can think of.  All of the members of God’s kingdom share in the same basis of membership-that is, the mercy of God in Christ. The historic people of Israel did reject God’s work of salvation, and that rejection allowed its acceptance by the Gentiles. The acceptance by the Gentiles prompted acceptance by the Jews. This proves that there is no basis for believers to be conceited, because where there is no merit, there can only be mercy.

God can turn disobedience and the negative circumstances of our lives to redemptive purpose today. For example, a celebrity smoker dies of lung cancer, and other smokers are motivated to quit. An alcoholic loses a spouse or a job and finds the motivation to stop drinking. Our disobedience is never good and often produces terrible suffering, but God always works behind the scenes to turn our disobedience to redemptive purposes. For example, God used the suffering of my father from lung cancer to return me to the church and to the role of lay ministry. God uses our disobedience to motivate us to change our ways. In effect he says to us, “Turn, or burn.”

God makes the same promise to his people today. It is God’s will to save his people and to be faithful to them. He promises to save us from our sins if we believe in him by faith. God’s mercy is always a gift. Mercy is kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly. We know that we could be treated harshly. Our sin indicates that we should be treated harshly, but by the grace of God we are loved and forgiven anyway.

Those who have been called and who have responded to the gospel in faith have become both the remnant of Israel who were God’s elect in ancient times and the new Israel God has created in Christ. If we believe in him by faith, we receive the special status of being a member of God’s chosen people.  In return, we must do God’s work in our world by spreading the Good News and by showing Christ’s love to a hurting world.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
2. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Romans (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010)
3. Rev. Brian Findlayson, “The Conversion of Israel.” Retrieved from www.lectionarystudies.com
4. Rev. Brian Findlayson, “God Has Not Cast Off Israel.” Retrieved from www.lectionarystudies.com
5. William Loader, “First Thoughts on Year A Epistle, Pentecost 16: 17 August Romans 11:1-2, 29-32.” Retrieved from www.staff.murdoch.edu.au
6. Paul S. Berge, “Commentary on Romans 11:1-2, 29-32.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
7. Matt Skinner, “Commentary on Romans 11:1-2, 29-32.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
8. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible Software package
9. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
10. Exegesis for Romans 11:1-2, 29-32. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
11. Preaching Magazine (Nashville, TN: Salem Publishing Inc.: May/June 2014, pp. 61-62)
12. John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, 10^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod.org
13. Amanda Shultz, “God Pause for Wed., Aug. 13, 2014.” Retrieved from www.luthersem.edu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bibliography

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift and the cables strain

Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move

Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bibliography

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Give me that old time religion

 give me that old time religion

 Give me that old time religion

 It’s good enough for me

 Makes me love everybody

 Makes me love everybody

 Makes me love everybody

 It’s good enough for me

 It has saved our fathers

 It has saved our fathers

 It has saved our fathers

 And it’s good enough for me

 It was good for the prophet Daniel

 It was good for the prophet Daniel

 It was good for the prophet Daniel

 And it’s good enough for me

 Give me that old time religion

 give me that old time religion

 Give me that old time religion

 It’s good enough for me

 It was good for Hebrew children

 it was good for Hebrew children

 It was good for Hebrew children

 And it’s good enough for me

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

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

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

Bibliography

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