8th Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 163

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 

Who’s in charge? – Who’s the boss in our lives?

The wife? – the kids? – the bank manager? – our work?

What about in church – who’s in charge here?

Is it Keith – our churchwardens –

Who’s church is it anyway?

When the question is put like that – most of us have no difficulty in answering – we put God at the top of the list –

But do we really give Him the most important place in our lives ?

Do we really treat Him – with the Authority He deserves –

Our readings provide us with – two contrasting examples of peoples responses to God’s Authority – lets see if they can help us decide how we should respond

Point 1  David humbles himself before God

Our OT reading takes us to the time of the construction of the first temple in Jerusalem –

David dreamed of building a Temple for God – and thought it was the right time and that he was the right person to build it –

But God had other plans – and decided that Solomon would be the better builder –

David wasn’t completely out of the picture though – God gave him the role – of making ready all the preparations for the work that would follow –

He also told him – that He would set up a house or ‘dynasty’ – of his descendants – and a member of his family would succeed him – and build the temple –

David was extremely disappointed – but this latter promise brings a prayer of gratitude from David that typifies His attitude towards God –

David ‘went into the presence of the Lord’ – or in the words of the NIV translation ‘he sat before the Lord’ and prayed

Finding space and time to talk to God and for Him to talk to us – can be one of the most difficult things to do –

This Lady Chapel has been made available for private prayer for a few years now – but except for services its not that often used – There will be more spaces after our re-ordering –
but acting as David did really does require a positive response from us –

We all lead such busy lives – convenience – our first priority – to commit our time and space to God – rather than to something else – demands a real effort on our part –

David – responded in faith and humbly accepted his role – embracing the work that God called him to do –

The first thing we notice about his prayer – is that it’s about God – and not about Him – he prays with a passion and commitment –

acknowledges God as Sovereign over all –

acknowledges and thanks – God for what He has done for His people – his nation –

acknowledges and thanks God – that He keeps His promises – the bible is full of God’s promises – and to those who are faithful – God has kept them all –

David’s prayer expresses wonder that God – would make such promises and commitments to him and his descendants – he acknowledges that what God has pledged is for Israel’s sake – and that its effect will be – the honour and praise of God throughout the world –

God is truly at the centre of David’s life – He is the only one He is praying to – and he knows that it’s only by relying on God’s grace and influence – that truly great things will happen –

David’s life was transformed from that of a shepherd boy – to a King – his descendants ruled and influenced the nation for years to come – one of His descendants – became the greatest King of all – and the cornerstone on which God’s kingdom rests today

 
 

Point 2         Jesus’ Authority in the world

Which brings us on to our NT lesson and our second example – Jesus’ confrontation with the Jewish religious Authorities in Jerusalem – days before His trial and death by crucifixion –

Luke places Jesus in the Temple – teaching to the crowds – He had just ridden triumphantly through the streets on a donkey – He upsets the moneychangers tables in the Temple – and was now teaching to the crowds – when He was approached by the Pharisees and Scribes – “Tell us – by what authority you are acting like this?” –

Throughout His ministry Jesus had given them warnings – about who His and why He is here –

The temple from which the Pharisees and Scribes ruled – had become a thieves den – and the focal point of the people’s faith – and it was about to be toppled – so that the people could again – focus – on God –

He responds to their question with another question –

‘Was the baptism of John from God or from man?’

– it was not the trick question they thought –

He asked this because His Authority was given to Him at the time of His Baptism by John – with the descent of a dove and a voice from heaven –

But their motives were far from pure –

They knew John the Baptist was popular – so they couldn’t dismiss him – or his message – especially in the temple – they refused to answer –

The Pharisees thought they were in charge – as in the parable of the Vineyard – that follows – they were not interested in acknowledging God’s Authority – they wanted to overthrow – and kill the Son – and take His Authority for themselves

God weeps for us – because of our response to Him – He weeps for those who will be lost –

For those who are against Him – who refuse to accept the truth – the storm clouds were gathering – and God’s plan for salvation was about to be accomplished –

From now on – Jesus will exercise His Authority of saving and healing love – until we all acknowledge it –

  

Conclusions    What does it mean for us?

So – has God’s love – through the cross – changed our lives – and made us His?

Is the Kingdom of God and our relationship with Him the greatest treasure we could ever receive?

Our relationship with God is a constant learning and renewing process – through Bible Study – prayer – and depending on the strength of the Holy Spirit –-

We have to take our lead from Jesus and trust in His promises –

David recognized that God rewards those who are with Him – and his commitment was towards pleasing God – and he was ready to follow and receive God’s will – are we ready to do the same and put our future in Jesus’ hands?

When we start out with Jesus – we are under new management – all that we are and all that we have belongs to Him – He speaks with God’s authority – He is the cornerstone of all God’s activity –
to build our lives on anything other than a relationship with Jesus will result in failure and God’s judgment

For us there can only be one team coach – and only one way to follow – by loving – and serving God and others – completely – in the way of Jesus Christ – our Lord

Prayer to finish

AMEN