4th Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 56

Bible References :

 

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

Pressure, pressure, pressure
There’s certainly a lot of it about – particularly at Wimbledon this week –

Life is full pressures – And you don’t have to be a tennis star to experience it –
We get pressures from work – from money –
pressures on our time – and from the people around us

Often pulling us at the same time – and in different directions –
Sometimes it can feel like we are living in a pressure cooker – and the heat is getting too much – we feel manipulated by the situations around us – and we want to stop – and get off –

It’s a times like these when we are most vulnerable to sin – when we simply react to a situation – instead of acting in a way that we believe God is leading us

Sin is a little word but it can have a big effect on our lives – how we deal with our sins can affect our whole future –

Point 1   Jacob

Our OT lesson continues the story of Jacob’s search for stability and security in his life

As Ian reminded us last week – his father Issac sent him packing because he deceived him – and cheated his brother Essau out of his family birthright – He told him to find a wife and stay with his uncle Laban in the north –

The reading takes up the story as Jacob arrives at a well – surrounded by shepherds – waiting to water their sheep. The well is protected by a large stone – and there are strict rules – laid down by the well owner about when the stone – can be lifted and the water used – no one is supposed to water their animals until all the shepherds are present –

While he was there Laban’s daughter Rachel arrives with her father’s sheep – and Jacob is bowled over by her looks – it was love at first sight – Jacob now a spritely 77 year old – feels he has to impress her – so he defies the well convention and lifts the well stone – by himself – to allow Laban’s sheep to take water.

Jacob’s feat of strength would also serve to show Laban how helpful he could be to him – and – if he was welcomed into his household – he would be an asset and not an extra dependent –

Jacob the opportunist – was at it again – using every means he could to achieve his aims –

Laban agrees to take Jacob in – and after a month – with his feet firmly under the table – Laban asked Jacob if he wanted to make things more permanent

Jacob now sees his chance to gain the hand of Rachel in marriage – since he couldn’t offer Laban a dowry – because he had to flee empty handed – and – he offers to work for him for 7 years to gain her hand

That was some offer – he wasn’t taking any chances of losing Rachel

But Laban’s response was deliberately non-committal
“Its better that I give her to you than anyone else, stay with me”

Yes – he wanted Jacob to work for him but he had other ideas about the marriage –

Laban had two daughters – and he saw an opportunity to marry them both off to Jacob and increase Jacob’s dependence on him still further –

Jacob loved Rachel so much that the seven years flew by – but- when it came to the wedding Jacob was in for a shock –

Laban substitutes Leah for Rachel and then forced Jacob to work another 7 years in order to marry Rachel –

The results was that Jacob had to accept two wives – one he loved and one he didn’t – and he had to work twice as hard for the one he wanted

Whenever people try to deceive, cheat or manipulate others for their own selfish purposes, there will always be consequences –

Or as Dot Cotton from Eastenders put it – what goes around – comes around –

we reap what we sow

Jacob who had deceived Issac – had now experienced the deception of Laban – Jacob who achieved the status of first born by trickery – was tricked by Laban to take his first born

– but through it all God had promised to watch over Jacob and although it might seem that he got a raw deal – he didn’t –

Jacob learned some very valuable lessons during those 14 years – and it kept him away from Essau who wanted to kill him –

It was God’s plan that he would have a large family – his children would establish the 12 tribes of Israel – and Rachel was not strong enough to provide such a family – Leah on the other hand would prove to be a wonderful asset to him as his wife and mother – and although for most of her married life, she was forced to live in the shadows of her younger sister – she did provide Jacob with four of his sons – and it was Leah not Rachel who would become the mother of Judah – the heir through whom the Messiah would come –

God balances out our blessings and our difficulties according to what is best for each one of us – He is in control – and despite our mistakes – He fulfills His promises – which for the nation of Israel – see their ultimate fulfillment through the gift of His Son

Point 2   The disciples

Our NT reading begins with Jesus instructing His disciples on how to – go out – and take His message – to the people –

He sends them out in two’s – so they can encourage each other – when under pressure – where one might give up – and admit defeat – two might succeed

They were to take – no money – little clothing – and must give and not to take from their hosts – Hospitality was sacred in the East – and if they were refused – they were to shake the dust from their feet – as a sign of the peoples denial of fellowship –

The disciples were relatively poor – not highly educated – and had a lot to learn about their understanding of Jesus – and how to turn His teaching into the way we live each day – but Jesus told them they must go as they are – you can image what sort of pressure they must have been under –

But along with this instruction Jesus gave them His authority and power over unclean spirits – which He aid was all they needed – Jesus not only showed them what to do – He also gave them the power to do it –

The remedy for the pressures of life is clear – we must depend upon Jesus to show us what to do – and allow His authority and power to work through us –

during the time when He walked on this earth – there were many who wanted Jesus to jump through hoops and perform for them, to say the right things in the right way – but He was having non of it – He responded only to the will of God –

Jesus endured great suffering and humiliation for God – even to the point of death on a cross – so that our sins – can be forgiven – and our relationship with Him restored – Jesus is the only way to God – He brings us the truth about God – and leads us to salvation with Him

Jesus tells us that our first step must be repentance – we must be willing to admit our mistakes – and to change – to do things differently – to succeed in this we must ask God for help – ask Him to provide us with the power to overcome our situation and the opposition – so that we can focus totally on carrying out His will –

To be a true disciple we have to do what Jesus tells us to do – we must not let the world get us down – but serve Him with all our heart with all our soul an
d with all our mind – and keep working for Him
Point 3 Death of John the Baptist

Mark tells us that disciples were extremely successful – and spread the name of Jesus far and wide
“they drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and cured them”

but we must not forget that true discipleship is costly – and requires great courage and commitment – Mark illustrates this through the example of John the Baptist – who preached repentance and refused to compromise the truth – even under extreme physical and emotional pressure –

He describes how John died at the hands of Herod Anitpas – after pointing to specific sins that Herod had committed in marrying his niece (which as our OT reading implies was perfectly acceptable in Jacob’s time) –

Herod locked him away – to keep him quiet – rather than kill him – because –
“Herod went in awe of him, knowing him to be a good and holy man”

But Herodias – his wife – had different ideas – she decided that the only way to silence the message – was to silence the lips of the accuser – and she used her daughter and Herod’s pride – to achieve her aim –

What she did not understand was that dealing with the accuser was no solution to her problem – she would still have to answer to God –

It may be fashionable to say “I couldn’t help it “ or “don’t blame me its the way I was brought up” – but in the end such an approach – doesn’t solve anything – we still have to answer to God for our failings and mistakes –

In the eyes of the world – Herod was one of the most powerful and ambitious men in the country – he was rich and used to getting what he wanted –
But when his time of testing came he was weak and – allowed himself to be manipulated and put under pressure to do something he didn’t want to do – he failed to respond as he should

Others at the party didn’t fair very well either – they looked on – and kept silent while the deed was done –

Only John stayed on the right path and followed God’s will – and although his death reminds us that justice is not always served here on this earth – it marks in a dramatic way – the fulfillment of God’s purpose and John’s wish about Jesus – “that Jesus must become greater, and John must become less”

Conclusions    what about us

Sin is a word that is easily misunderstood – we tend to link it with serious crime or immorality – but in fact – we commit a sin whenever we miss God’s mark – and fall short of His purposes – whenever we allow the pressures of life to come between us and Him –

Jesus tells us that to overcome our sins – we must totally depend upon the grace and power of God –
God’s love will enable us to overlook the faults of others – and stay true to His will – the powerful love of His Holy Spirit will motivate us to serve Him with gladness despite – our difficulties and our circumstances

Jesus calls each one of us to take up our cross and follow Him – which means dealing with our problems His way –

If we are prepared to do that – then Jesus will not only provide relief but will also transform our lives – and in God’s eyes – we will all become stars

Prayer to finish

In the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit

AMEN

Video of Sermon 56 on You Tube