Trinity Sunday – Sermon 113

13th February 2011 Off By Derek Buckthorpe

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

Mention Christmas, Easter, Advent, Holy Week – maybe even Pentecost – to some Christians – and we might see a sparkle of interest –

But mention Trinity Sunday – and all we’re likely to get is a blank expression –

Its an occasion that few people warm to – and for some Christians passes unnoticed –

When it comes to – the doctrine of the Trinity – and describing – our experience with the living God – most of us feel out of our depth

 

Point 1     Isaiah &Holy God

 

For Isaiah – his personal encounter with God – was a mind blowing experience –

He sees God seated on a throne – high and exalted – with the train of His cloak filling the temple –

He sees Seraphims – which in Hebrew means – burnings – each with six wings – covering their faces – and their feet – flying – and calling to one another –

‘Holy – Holy – Holy is the Lord of Hosts – The whole earth is full of His Glory’ – the temple was filled with smoke and shaking with their sounds –

It would have been amazing just to have – been in the presence of these Seraphims – but Isaiah’s vision brought Him into the presence of God Himself –

And he wasn’t thrilled about it – instead – he became so filled with his own sense of unworthiness – and the certainty that seeing God – would cause Him to die –

that he cried out – “Woe is me!”
The closer Isaiah got to God – the more clearly he saw his sins – and – the more aware he became of just how far short of God’s glory he and His people had fallen –

In the year that a great king had died – Isaiah’s vision showed him – just how low – the peoples interpretation of greatness really was –

Outwardly Judah seemed strong and healthy – but inwardly the peoples commitment to God was weak – they had allowed pride and self interest to dominate their lives –

Isaiah too saw himself as never before – with all his flaws and faults fully exposed – When we really look to God – it causes us to look at ourselves – and be challenged by His presence –

But that’s not the end of it – In his vision Isaiah also saw something of God’s nature and character – a realization of God’s redeeming power and forgiveness –

A live burning coal – symbolizing cleansing and purification – was brought by the Seraphim – from the altar of sacrifice – to touch Isaiah’s lips –

This part of the vision tells us that no matter what we have done in the past – God will forgive us – and – although we sometimes feel hopeless – and inadequate – God is always ready to take the initiative and offer us a fresh start –

Although Holy, separate and distinct from His creation – and His created people – God does not leave the world to wallow in its sin – but reveals Himself to be a God who saves and redeems all who turn to Him –

Here too we see the link between sacrifice and forgiveness – and perhaps a foretelling of the sacrifical lamb who is to come –

The heart of the Christian message is one of forgiveness rather than judgment – its about a God who is ready to accept us as we are – rather than as we should be –

Isaiah’s revelation of the greatness of God changed his life forever –

In the final verse we see his response – to God’s call

I heard the Lord saying “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’

Isaiah’s encounter with God – led to one of the most remarkable prophetic ministries of all time – his words touching the hearts of generations across the centuries –

We too need to respond – to discover the new beginning – that God longs to bring us to – a new beginning not of our making – but entirely of His grace –

 

Point 2      Jesus & The Holy Spirit

 

Which brings us on to our NT lesson

Nowhere is the fulfillment of God’s saving grace more clearly seen – than in His coming to this earth – as a human being – as Jesus the Son of God – and – in His providing – of salvation for His people through His death – on the cross –

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son Jesus Christ – and whosoever believes in Him shall not perish – but have eternal life”

The worst act committed by satan and the most terrible sins committed by mankind – led to the crucifixion of Jesus –

Yet even this was the determined will of God – in order to provide atonement for all who turn to Him –

Jesus is – God’s free gift of love – to His people – through Him we are reconciled with God – through Jesus we see what God is like – and how He wants us to live our lives – He is the interpreter of the Father and – stretches out his hand to us – so that He might raise us to heaven along with Himself –

God’s ultimate goal for our lives is not comfort – but character development – we often use the phrase – like Father like Son – well – God wants His children to bear His image and likeness – by growing up spiritually and becoming more like His Son Jesus Christ –

In our reading – Jesus knows He only has a short time to live – His disciples are afraid –and filled with grief – and He responds by talking to them – about what will happen when He returns to the Father –

“Now I am going away to Him who sent me” – says Jesus

“Nevertheless it is in your interests that I am leaving you”

Have you ever thought how amazing it would have been – to have been around – when Jesus walked on the earth? – to be near Him – to hear Him – to see Him? – it would have been fantastic

But what – if instead of coming to our village He went to the next one – and we missed Him altogether – not so fantastic –

Here Jesus tells His disciples that – when He goes to the Father the world will be better off –

“If I do not go – the Advocate will not come – whereas if I go – I will send Him to you”

As a man – Jesus can only reach those who see and hear Him – He is limited in time and space – As a Spirit – He is available to anyone – who is willing to receive Him –

Jesus calls Him the Advocate – “The Councellor – the Intercessor – the helper – the comforter”

“When He comes – He will convince the world of its sin – and of God’s righteousness – and of the coming judgment”

“The prince of this world – stands condemned”- says Jesus – the Spirit will draw us into believing Him – and into the righteousness only He can provide.

 

Point 3     Our experience with the Living God Today

So what about experiencing the Living God – today?

Well for something to happen we must first discover God – meet Him – like Isaiah – like the disciples – as a person – and today we meet God – through the presence of His Holy Spirit – God’s invisible presence – within us –

As Jesus tells us – we can be assured that – He speaks not on His own Authority – but takes what belongs to the Father and the Son – and makes it known to us”

When we have the Holy Spirit within us – we have as much of Jesus as those early disciples had

The Spirit is constantly with us – and is especially available to us through prayer – when we read our bibles – when we respond to God’s call –

Last week we were reminded about the similarity of the Spirit and the wind – we can’t see Him – but we know He is there because of the effect He has on us –

He can be like a gentle breath – or a mighty wind – ready to guide – and take the strain of our troubles – constantly working within us to change our hearts towards God –

In some ways the Holy Spirit – can be likened to a pair of glasses – not to be seen – but to be seen through –

And if we lose them – we are in trouble – we have not only lost Him – we can’t see to find Him again –

The Ancient Celts had a different image for the Spirit – a bird – not a peaceful serene dove – landing on Jesus at His Baptism – but a wild goose – uncontrollable – loud – strong – and challenging – a little bit scary!

If we think of the impression the disciples made on the crowd at Pentecost – when people thought they were drunk and disorderly – then we realize that God spirit can be demanding – unsettling – altogether different when the spirit descends like a wild goose –

Sometimes we think – our faith is more about what God can do for us – rather than what we can do for God –

And we need a Spirit that will reminds of the error of this – and convince us of our sins – and as we learnt from Isaiah’s vision – God never uses anyone without first bringing them to an awareness of their own weaknesses

Ending

 

In the Creed we affirm our faith to one God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,- Trinity Sunday tells us that they are totally united – We do not worship three Gods but one – in our Christian experience three persons but in nature one God
joined in a unity of love – working together for our salvation

We encounter God as a loving Father – and sovereign over all – as a human being who lived and died among us – yet rose again and is exalted to the right hand of the Father – as an inner reality – that fills us with peace – joy – hope and power for the future –

We cannot properly explain how all the pieces fit together – but we know that they do – because we have experienced them for ourselves –

So – no more blank expressions about the Trinity –

When we think of the Trinity – lets have a big “F” for the Father – a big “S” for the Son and big “S” for the Spirit

and lets celebrate a great – diverse and wonderful God

  

Prayer to finish

AMEN

Video of Sermon 113 on You Tube