3rd Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 114
Prayer to start
May the words of my lips and the thought of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
AMEN
Introduction
Go and Proclaim the message – “The Kingdom of Heaven is upon you – heal the sick – raise the dead – cleanse lepers – drive out demons –
You received without cost – give without charge”
Strong – words from Jesus – are we up to it?
Are we willing to go out and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ? – to go – where the Lord Leads?
One thing’s certain – we’ll get a lot of help from God – when we do
Our readings this morning – give us examples of people willing to put their trust and faith in God and go forward in His name –
We are going to look at what is said – to see if it helps us understand how we should respond – to Jesus
Point 1 Protection/ assurance – God the Father
Our OT lesson – takes us to the foot of Mount Sinai – the Israelites had been on the road for around three months – no doubt – still marveling at their miraculous – escape from Pharaoh –
They had seen God’s power – at first hand But- as God reminds them- what they had experienced so far had been little more than a preparation –
In verse 4 God compares Himself – to a fully grown Eagle – teaching His chicks – how to fly –
If you’ve been watching Spring-watch on TV for the last few weeks – and the development of those two white tailed sea eaglets on the island of Mull –then you’ll know all about – birds of prey and their chicks –
The parents are – always on hand – keeping a watchful eye on the nest –
constantly feeding – caring – nurturing – until the time comes – for them – to leave
For the eaglets – when the chick is ready – the adult bird will push it out of the nest –
And if its wings should fail – will swoop down – underneath – and carry it up again –
Here we have an image – of God ready to catch us when our own strength fails –
Leaving the nest for the first time – is testing for the young birds – but once mastered – it opens up a whole new world of freedom and opportunity
It’s the same with the disciples –
In our Gospel reading – we see Jesus sending out the disciples as representatives of the Kingdom – to put into practice what they had learned from Him
Up until this moment – He had been making all the running – He had been the driver – and they were the passengers – They had marvelled at what they ‘d seen – the tricky moments – He had steered them through – but now it was their turn – to go behind the wheel –
I’m sure – most of us drivers will remember how we felt – when we took the driving wheel for the first time –
God knows that once we have mastered our fears – we will soar to new heights –
Our OT reading – gives us a striking description of what He wants us to become –
We are to be – His treasured possession – each one of us an individual jewel – ready to sparkle in – His radiant Glory –
Nothing is more dear to Him – we need look no further than the cross of Christ to understand – our value to God –
We are to be His – “Kingdom of Priests – a Holy Nation”
Sent to ensure justice for others – to help provide – access to His presence – to reflect in our lives the very nature of God – who has come down to dwell in our midst
All this rests – on our willingness – to take that step out of the nest – on to His wings – to take to the driving seat – and trust in His guiding presence
We should realize – like the Israelites and the disciples – that God – has brought us this far – and wants to take us further – on a much bigger journey – one that He has prepared us for – and that we will undertake together
Point 2 Messengers of the King – (urgency) –
In our Gospel reading-
Matthew gives us a list of the twelve – calling them Apostles – people who are “sent out’
Notice Jesus – doesn’t send them out – to all nations – at this stage – but only to the ‘Lost Sheep of Israel” – this is an immediate and urgent need before the wider mission can be started –
The 12 signifies the restoring of the 12 tribes of Israel – but these 12 were not only a sign of renewal – but also the means by which – God was going to carry it out –
The healings and miracles they will perform – will not only important for the individuals – but also confirm the beginning of new life – breaking into Israel –
Jesus tells us that prayer is a priority – if we don’t do anything else – one thing we must do is pray –
no prayer – no workers –
no workers – no harvest
He reminds us that – its people who harvest people – and the people of this world are more ready to receive the good news – than we are to give – it –
Jesus –Himself – went out to the people – and experienced – their needs – at first hand – He was moved – by their cries – He calls them “ sheep without a shepherd – harassed and helpless”
He wants us to care – as He cares –
Listen to these words written by a schoolgirl:
I ‘ve often realised – it takes courage to care – caring is dangerous – it leaves you open to hurt – and looking like a fool – perhaps its because people have been hurt so many times- that they are afraid to care – You can’t die – if you’re not alive – but then who wants to be a stone inside –
Jesus wants us to get close to the harvest – close enough to see what He saw – and to make them aware of His saving presence –
Like the disciples – Its not strangers He is sending us out to – but those we live and share our lives with – we should remember that – most people come to know Jesus through their friends – and relatives –
The reapers are few – because it involves labour – – hard work – that costs time and effort –
If you’ve ever owned an allotment – or grown vegetables – or fruit – in the garden – you’ll know that you have to pick them – when the time is right – or they spoil – and have to be disgarded –
It’s the same for God’s harvest – people are hungry for the Gospel – and they have to be helped at the right time – else they too might be – lost –
Harvest is a time of opportunity – when workers are in great demand – a time of exertion – intensity – urgency – when everything else takes second place – Its also a time of tremendous joy – celebration – and excitement – at the size and success of the crop
Point 3 Hope – Promise delivered–
God’s presence in our lives brings with it all the answer to all our needs –
And in our NT reading – Paul – lists the help and the gifts – that come to us and to others as a direct result of being put right with God through Jesus Christ –
Jesus brings peace – which is very hard to find in our fast paced world – we grab it mostly in bits and snatches – five minutes of peace before the children come in from school – that last half hour at work after the phones have shut down – a quiet moment watching he sun set in the evening –
Peace comes to us – when Jesus has– reached the deepest point of our need – and taken on the burden of our sins – through His death on the cross
we don’t have to pretend with God – as we sometimes do with the people around us –
we can face ourselves and our situation without being driven to despair –
When we know that God forgives us – and accepts us as we are – then we can find peace with Him – and with others – and begin to become the people God meant us to be
Jesus brings hope – hope for the future –
– we all have hopes- about our health – our wealth – for a better world – for a better life –
but – Christian hope is not an uncertain hope – its a joyful – confident – expectation – almost a guarantee – secured in the promises of God – we know that such a hope will not disappoint us – because God loves us – and our hope rests in His Divine Glory
Next we have joy – a joy that is present even in the midst of suffering –
Unlike the Israelites who at times – were driven to despair because of the burdens they had to face – when we suffer because of Jesus – and respond positively – to Him despite the hardships – we know that God is using our suffering – to transform our character – to bring us to maturity – and to make us more like Jesus
And last – but by no means least – is the wonderful gift – of the life-giving Holy Spirit – who pours out the power and love of God in our hearts –
Through the Spirit we have truth – power – prayer – through the Holy Spirit and Jesus we can see what God is really like – we can see that accepting Jesus Christ as our Saviour means we have to change our behaviour – learn to love God and others with the love that God has gives to us
It is only through faith in Jesus and the love of God that we can be truly rescued –
Jesus came to bring – life – life to the full –life before death – life after death – when we put Jesus first in our hearts – and trust Him we enjoy a new freedom – a new power – we are transformed into His likeness – ready to meet the needs of those around us – and to respond to His call –
Ending What does it mean for us?
So – what do we say to Jesus?
Are we willing to be one of God’s harvesters? – to go out to others in His name? –
To take His message of love and salvation into the village – into the workplace – into our homes? –
We can count on God to do His part
Can He count on us to do ours.
Prayer to finish
In the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit
AMEN