6th Sunday of Easter – Sermon 69
Prayer to start
May the words of my lips and the thoughts of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ
AMEN
Introduction
What do we value most in life?
The house we live in? the money we earn? The car we drive? The holidays we experience?
Or the people we share them with?
God has not made us to be alone – He wants us to mix, to belong – to share – to love –
Our friendships and relationships are the most important things we have –
What about our relationship with God?
In our Gospel reading Jesus tells us: “If you love me, you will obey my commands”
For Jesus our Love for Him – is one of the most important tests – of our disipleship – and the basis of everything we know and understand about God
Through the help of our readings we are going to look at what Jesus is saying and what it might mean for our relationship with Him –
Point 1
Love was certainly not in the minds of the people of Athens – their thoughts about God were more like – those of an insurance policy –
Athens was once one of the great centres of Art – Culture – full of high marble buildings – home to many of the worlds great philosophers – a city dedicated to truth and wisdom –
But in Paul’s time – things were changing – instead of certainty – there was confusion – and when it came to worshipping God – they didn’t know who to embrace –
They were frightened of getting it wrong – so to be on the safe side – they erected an altar to “an unknown God”-
Today – many people take the same attitude – they hedge their bets – offer a token gesture of themselves and their resources – just in case – so that even if they are unsure about getting any blessings – at least they hope to avoid any judgment –
To help them understand – Paul gives a simple but comprehensive message about God – that – He is our creator – our sustainer – our Father and judge
God gave life to man – not the other way round – we are accountable to Him – not He to us – He calls the shots –
He revealed Himself through a redeemer not in images of gold or silver or stone – but the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ –
A created man is not a saved man – but a sinner who needs to be saved – we can’t save ourselves – only God can save us –
the only wealth we can take from this world – is spiritual wealth – God commands us to repent and focus on the treasures of heaven –
Athens was not exactly top of Paul’s missionary list – but while he was there – his heart was stirred by the lost-ness of the people – desperately searching for meaning in stone objects and a stone cold religion – man made substitutes for the true living God –
Today – Idols still dominate our world – not in the form of statues on every street corner – like in Athens – but in more subtle forms – money – people – ambition – greed – materials goods –
sometimes we get so caught up in them – that we don’t realize that God’s truth is being watered down –
Anyone or anything that occupies the place where God should be – is an idol –
It must have been hard for the people of Athens to believe – that the future lay not with their high marble buildings – and statues –but with the warmth of their love for a vulnerable and rejected God –
Genuine worship is not about what we get from it – but about celebrating who God is – and rejoicing in Him – love comes first –
Paul reminds us that we are all God’s children – and He cares about each one of us – and He wants us all to respond in love – to the love He gives us
– which leads us on to the message from Peter –
Point 2 Peter – says we have nothing to fear –
Although this is one of the most difficult passages in the NT – it begins with something that every Christian can understand –
And when we take on the challenges of our Christian faith – we know that are walking the way that Jesus has already walked
God has been there before us – and He has already shown us the way –
Loving God and obeying Jesus’ commands – involves taking risks – trusting in Him – overcoming our fears –
Peter tells us that when we stand up for Jesus we must “hold Christ in our hearts in reverence as Lord,” and “always be ready to justify the hope which is in us in courtesy and respect.”
Paul is a perfect example of this – He started from where they were – and led them to a new understanding of God
He didn’t know what reaction he would get – but by making proclaiming the Gospel – he gave them the opportunity to think again about changing –
Baptism alone does not save us – we are saved because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ – if we don’t understand that then – we must be ready for whatever comes –
Jesus will bring us through any difficulties to safety – we have to trust Him and hold on to the hope and love that He brings –
“Jesus suffered for our sins once and for all – the just for the unjust – that He might bring us to God”
“Although He was put to death in the body – He was brought to life in the Spirit.”
Which brings us back to our Gospel reading –
Point 3 God will help us
Our love for God – means that we are not alone –
I’m sure we’re all familiar with the story of Pinnocchio – how he dreams of changing from “an ugly wood boy” – to a “wonderful sophisticated handsome teenager”
He kept on – going off the rails – led astray by fame and fortune – and would have failed miserably in his quest – if it hadn’t been for the help of “a little cricket”
“If only I could get inside him” – Jiminy cricket would say – “then I would be with him all the time – and help him” –
Well God didn’t send us a Jimminy Cricket – He sent us someone much more powerful – and trustworthy – He sent us Himself – in the form of the Spirit of truth-
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another to be your advocate, who will be with you forever – the Spirit of truth”
If we love Jesus – the Spirit will take up residence in our hearts – and in our lives
We will become a holy temple – for God to reach out to others –
The Spirit will be a source of a whole new relationship with God – and Jesus –
Through the spirit we will be given life – and power that will help us be more like Jesus –
God is at work in all places and at all times – where there is love for Jesus – the Spirit is present
Our first task as we try to help others – is to realize that – We must tread carefully – take off our shoes – and remember that the place we are approaching is Holy –
Conclusion
The two most important commandments – Jesus gave us are to love Him with all our heart –with all our soul &n
dash; with all our mind – and with all our strength – and to love our neighbours as ourselves –
In John – Jesus gave the disciples just one commandment – to love each other as He loved us –
Love is at the center of everything we do as a Christian –
For Jesus – true love – is practical love – its not just a question of reading the book – and talking about the words – its about doing something with the instructions –
Our love for Jesus starts – with our understanding – of who God is – gives us the courage to grow – and develop and to reach out to others – it brings us the Holy Spirit – to live within us and guide us through our lives –
In a book called “The call of the Wild” there’s a story of a young dog called “Buck” – who becomes part of a team of dogs that pulls a sledge through Alaska –
The dogs are maltreated – and beaten – and many of them die – but Buck gets rescued – by one man who couldn’t stand by and watch –
For days Buck wouldn’t leave his new master’s side – everywhere he went – he would follow – content to be there with Him – he would do anything for him –
Each day before they would set out to work together – the man would whisper in Bucks ear –
“As you love me, Buck, As you love me”
And each day the dog would do his best for his master –
Everyday Jesus whispers in our ear
“As you love me, Christian, as you love me”
What kind of response do we give?
Closing prayer
In the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit
AMEN