16th Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 165

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

 

True or false?
If the month starts on a Sunday it will always have a Friday the 13th? (TRUE)

Easter is the first Sunday before the first full moon after March 21st (FALSE) – (after the first full moon)

Christianity is the only way to God? (TRUE)

We’ve all played – True and false trivia games – before – maybe as part of a quiz or test – and often we can work it out – given time – and a bit of logic-

But for some of the more important questions – like the last one – which are crucial to our salvation? – the answer might not always appear so straight forward

When confronted with difficult questions or situations – how do we find out the truth? There’s lots of voices around – but they are not all truthful – who should we believe or trust? – What should we read? What or who should we be looking for? What are the consequences if we get it wrong?

Our readings this evening describe two incidents involving false prophets or prophecies – where the Christian message became diluted or misrepresented – we are going to look at what happened to see if it helps us decide who or what we should put our faith in? 

 
Point 1 

 

Ezekiel lived during one of the most difficult times in Judah’s history – as a young priest he was called by God to proclaim God’s message to the Israelites taken into exile –

For generations – the people had ignored God’s messengers – who warned them that if they didn’t listen to God – they would be destroyed –

Eventually the Babylonian army arrived and deported large numbers including Ezekiel – who was in one of the first groups –

Alongside Jeremiah who was still in Jerusalem – They predicted that the Babylonian oppression would get even heavier – and it did –

but there were some that were claiming the exact opposite – that Ezekiel’s visions were for another time – and Jerusalem and Judah would soon be restored to their former glory –

The problem was – that the people didn’t like what Ezekiel and Jeremiah were saying –

they didn’t want to believe that God would personally call them to task –

so they started to trust these new prophets – who were telling them what they wanted to hear – that everything was OK just the way it was –

Ezekiel could see that his people – were compromising their faith and heading for disaster – he knew they had to repent and change their ways – and quickly – or they would be destroyed – drastic situations needed drastic measures –

and so he went to great lengths to get his message across – he would often – act out God’s messages through some bizarre behaviour – everything had a meaning – the actions he performed – the words he used – all directed towards one end – to disclose the whole purpose of God – to his people

In our reading Ezekiel confronts the false prophets
‘who follow their own enthusiasms’ – he calls them jackals among the ruins – looking after their own interests while all around them is crumbling –

They were not looking to repair and rebuild – but to get what they can out of the situation –

Ezekiel predicted that Nebuchadnezzar would break down the walls of Jerusalem – and he did-

but in his visions – the words wall and Jerusalem also had a much deeper meaning –

the city of Jerusalem was symbolic of the people of God – and the wall surrounding it their protection –

What Ezekiel was saying was ‘ In what are we placing our trust?’ – the flimsy whitewash wall of these new prophets – or the firm steadfast promises of God –

by not relying on God – the people were in effect causing God to put a wall between Him and them –

but for those who believed and gave heed to Ezekiel’s words there was life –

God promised through Ezekiel – that in exile He would destroy these prophets and their false promises – and cleanse Israel of its wickedness – just as He did in the wilderness before their settlement in Canaan – each would be responsible for their own actions – and only a purified remnant would return

  

Point 2       Paul  

 

In our NT reading – we have Paul confronting false prophets at Ephesus –

Ephesus was renoun as a great centre of religion – with one of its temples – to the goddess Diana – considered to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world –

When he entered the city – Paul had a clear intention – to approach the Jews – and proclaim the gospel message – to them –

But first he meets some new Christians – who had received water baptism from John – but new nothing of the Holy Spirit – after giving them – instruction and guidance – he baptizes them in the name of Jesus Christ – and through the laying on of hands – they receive the Holy Spirit –

The men were transformed – spoke in tongues and prophesied – and no doubt were a great support to him in the months that followed –

It was Jesus Himself who said that no one enters the Kingdom of God without being born of water and of Spirit – The Holy Spirit – is fundamental to our faith – without the Spirit our steps forward will be just blind leaps of faith – through the Spirit we are reminded of God’s truths – and can develop the closest possible intimacy with God – through the Spirit we are changed into God’s likeness – receive His love, joy, peace – It is the work of the Spirit of God that makes us more and more like Jesus – so we can carry the fragrance of the knowledge of Him – wherever we go –

During the next few months Paul preached to the Jews in the Synagogues and spoke boldly about the Christian faith and God’s Kingdom –

but when they rejected the message – he turned to the Gentiles – and continued to witness and settle with them for more than two years – and Paul’s great work radiated out to both Jews and Gentiles in other cities in Asia –

God worked extraordinary miracles through Paul –
and the belief and faith became so strong – that even articles of his clothing became instruments for God’s healing –

but there were many like the Jews – that opposed – and attacked the Christian faith –

A lot of money was being made out of the old religions – the silversmiths in particular regarded their guild as having a special patronage with Diana – and they sold a lot of miniature silver shrines – to the people – because of it –

The new Christian – religion didn’t need such idols – so they acted to suppress it

there was rioting – demonstrations – attempts to corrupt or modify the Christian message – and worship – and to paganize its practices – they even went as far as trying to use the power for their own ends –

All this of course prompted a reaction from God – who though the seven sons of Sceva – and their dabbling in magic – turned the situation on its head – to make people realise what it meant to try to use His power without permission –

Christian ways have many things in common with other religions – and God makes use of many different types of revelation – but Christianity is unique – because of God’s revelation through Jesus Christ – ‘Through Jesus God became a man – to enable men to become sons of God.

Jesus warned that the way for Christians was not broad and easy – but narrow and difficult – finding and understanding the truth will not always be easy – He sent us the Holy Spirit – to guide and help us to do this on our path with Him –

We need to seek help from the Holy Spirit – from Prayer – from the Bible – make sure we are as close as possible to God – so that He knows us and can provide His protecting hand – when we need it

 

 

 
Conclusion     So what does it mean for us ?

 

So when confronted with difficult questions or situations about our faith – we need to remember that its God through Jesus Christ that we should turn – and to no other –

Whenever and where ever the gospel message is preached and spread – there will be mixed messages – and some of them will be false –

we need to be careful and prayerful – use our bibles – and seek the help and support of the Holy Spirit before deciding or acting –

Christianity is not one way among many – but the only way – to God – and its through Jesus that we will be kept on the right path – and there can be no greater truth than that –  

 
Prayer to finish

In the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit

AMEN