3rd Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 162
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
What’s the most frequent command Jesus gives us in the Bible?
Love God? Love our neighbours?
Say your prayers? – all very important –
But the most frequent command He uses – is the one found three times in our Gospel reading this morning –
Do not be afraid –
Fear is something that overpowers us all at some time or other – whether – its through the risk being hurt – losing our lives – doing something new – stepping out of our comfort zone
In our Christian Faith Jesus is continually challenging us to do something New for Him –
and without God’s help our Fears can get the better of us
Point 1 Jeremiah’s Lament-
In our OT reading we have a passage that is sometimes described as Jeremiah’s Lament
Jeremiah has often been described as – the prophet of doom of gloom – He proclaimed God’s word boldly – but – it wasn’t an easy message to proclaim
God chose him to uproot and tear down – to destroy and overthrow – to build and to plant –
To accomplish it he had only one resource – his mouth – but even with that he didn’t stride forward – he barely hung on and wanted out of the job –
He never learned to like his role – throughout all he remained reluctant – insecure and unhappy –
he feared death – he wearied of ridicule – he hated standing alone against the crowd – and he told God how he felt –
He desperately wanted his people to listen to him – to take him seriously – to learn from God – and be spared of the pain of judgment and a life lived in exile –
But they were hostile towards him – they beat him – put him in stocks – humiliate him in front of the world –
But when others might reel at the prospect of what lies ahead – Jeremiah turns to prayer – In his Lament we see him opening his heart out to God –
he feels victimized not only by his peers – but also by God – when he speaks he feels God doesn’t back him up – when he doesn’t speak – he doesn’t feel comforted –
Even though speaking out brings him nothing but agony and pain – he can’t help but speak because – when he’s silent God’s word is like a fire burning inside –
He feels dammed if he does and dammed if he doesn’t
His only encouragement is God’s promise to support and uphold him against those who oppose him –
Whatever else is said about the bible – examples like Jeremiah’s lament – shows us that its nothing if not honest – when it comes to describing the costly nature of God’s work –
Yet despair like Jeremiah’s s not necessarily an enemy to faith – it can be and often is a pathway to spiritual growth and understanding –
The personal dilemma of Jeremiah and the full measure of what it teaches finds its fullest expression in the acts and words of Jesus in our Gospel reading:
‘No one is worthy of me who does not take up his cross and follow me – whoever gains his life will lose it; whoever loses his life for my sake – will gain it’
Jeremiah was a giant of his time – but his success was not to be measured by the extent to which he was able to persuade his hearers to listen to the word of God –
but – by the firmness and consistency with which he stuck to it – and bore his testimony – to the righteous purpose and design of God –
Despite all the opposition he faced – he realized that having God on his side was like having a mighty Champion in your corner – and his doom and gloom was eventually overtaken by hope and joy – confident again that God’s presence will make him strong enough to face it –
The message from Jeremiah – is that our burning desire – to serve God must remain stronger – than the fear or the strain of anything we come up against –
Point 2 Messengers of the King – (urgency)
In our Gospel reading- Jesus is preparing His disciples for the opposition – they will face – as they go out to spread His message –
He gives them a simple check list – to help them in their mission –
no servant is above his master –
there’s nothing covered up that will not be uncovered
You are to give the truth – to those who will listen – and what you say must be shouted from the rooftops
fear what God can do – more than what man can do –
the voice of the people – is not the voice of God – I am – Whatever you do for me – you are doing for God
you are more precious to God than you could ever imagine –
you will face opposition – even from within your families –
Remember the promises I have made to you – take up your cross and follow my ways –
Jesus’ sharp challenges are matched by equally remarkable promises – made to those who accept Him and live – by His challenges –
God knows and cares about the details in our lives – as we face danger and temptation that surrounds us – but the one we are serving is stronger that the strongest opponent we will ever meet –
Jesus’ central message – is one of priorities –
He came to begin – and establish a new way of living as one of God’s people – and those that were happy with the old way – and who didn’t want it disturbed – were in for a shock – for them division was bound to follow –
God’s priorities are for the whole of our lives – not just for a part of it – He wants us to see beyond our present situation –
As His followers we can be shunned – bypassed – isolated – talked about – ridiculed – mocked- considered strange – joked about –
It was no different for the disciples – Peter denied Him – Judas betrayed Him – the rest ran away and hid when He was crucified – so it will be no different for us – but the challenge remains – and the message is urgent – and it needs to be proclaimed loud and clear –
we are to embrace everything – demand everything – offer everything – knowing that Jesus will fulfil everything He promised –
the results are not our ultimate responsibility – our job is to deliver the message – not to worry about the results –
Following Jesus will bring division – it will also bring an amazing discovery – as we learn from our passage in Romans –
Point 3 Romans –
Victor Hugo’s novel – Les Miserables – tells the story of a man who is sent to prison for 19 years hard labour for stealing a loaf of bread – and when he is finally released – becomes a tough ex-convict
but one day his life is transformed by forgiveness – a Bishop invites him to stay at his home for the night – but he steels the family silver – and when he is finally captured and brought back – the Bishop’s response is not what he expected- ‘ I’m delighted to see you’ he says – I’d forgotten that I gave you the candlesticks as well – did you forget to take them? ‘
When the policemen had gone – the Bishop said to the man – who was speechless and trembling – ‘ Do not forget – do not ever forget – that you promised me to use the money to make yourself a new man’
When God’s grace touches us – we are given the opportunity of a new life – it can be dramatic – like this man – or gradual – but it will transform us –
In our reading from Romans – Paul uses many illustrations to describe our lives before and after we become Christians – he uses the visible and public sign of baptism – to help explain his case –
we have died to sin – and are alive to Christ
our old-self is crucified along with Jesus – and just as He came out of that tomb – transformed – by the Father – so do we – transformed by the Son
we are changed by Him – and renewed by His Spirit-
Not only that – we become part of the new community of God’s people – and share in their promised inheritance – eternal life
and the certainty of all this – brings with it
an overwhelming presence of joy and peace and love – that only Christ can give –
Today we live in a world that seems to have lost its way – Nothing seems to matter as long as we get our own way
Jesus commands us – to live our faith in everything we do – to show that being a Christian is something wonderful – so wonderful that we want everyone to share it –
sometimes it will be easy – sometimes hard – sometimes we will surprise ourselves – when something we do inspires someone to listen –
Sometimes we don’t feel we are gifted enough – but its not our ability – but our availability – that matters –
sometimes we will back away and hide – but that’s still OK – because when we are weak and admit it to God – His strength and forgiveness will lift us up again –
The seeds of God’s kingdom and proof of His love – are all around us – bursting into new life – God will remind us of it – and show us that we are part of it too –
Ending
So – are we upfront about our faith – ready to nail our Christian colours firmly to the cross (mast)
Jesus calls us – to speak out boldly – so that others will take their lead from Him –
The Christian life can be a mixture of battle and blessing – and when fear tries to get the better of us – we just have to remember whose we are –
with God on our side – we know we can’t lose –
do we burn with His message – like Jeremiah –
Lets set the world on fire!
Closing Prayer
In the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit
AMEN