9th Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 180

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 

During our lifetime we will probably spend over 35,000 hours eating –

That’s the equivalent of 8 years non stop meals – 12 hours a day –

Imagine having to cook that amount of food never mind consuming it!

The problem is of course – that even after a big meal we get hungry again – At best our food only satisfies us for just a few hours –

Yet in out Gospel reading Jesus talks about food that will satisfy our hunger forever – Food that we can only get from Him –

So what sort of food is it? – and how do we get it? – and what sort of difference will it make in our lives today?-  

Point 1       What is this food?

 

A man was a regular customer at a restaurant – he came most nights – and the owner always did his best to please him –

One evening he complained – that he had only received one piece of bread with his meal – so the waiter promptly brought him 4 pieces-

That’s good said the man – but its not enough – I love bread – so the next night – he was given 6 pieces of Bread –

great said the man – but aren’t you still being a bit stingy!

Well the man wouldn’t let the subject drop – every night he came to the restaurant he would always make a remark about the bread he received with his meal – and how it was never enough –

So the owner decided – he would have to put an end to it – and knowing that the man was coming again that evening – had a huge loaf of bread baked – nearly six feet long and 3ft wide – and placed it on the man’s table for when he arrived –

The owner stood there smiling waiting for the man’s reaction –

The man looked at the gigantic loaf of bread and said – so we are back to one piece again are we?

Our Gospel reading his morning contains some amazing truths – that many of us – find difficult to accept –

Key statements about food that will be important for the Spiritual developments of our lives

‘I am the bread of life’ – says Jesus, ‘that came down from heaven’

‘ but surely this is Joseph’s son’, came the reply, ‘whose mother and father we know – how is it that He has come down from heaven?’

Accepting Jesus’ moral teachings and self denying attitude is one thing – but believing that He is effectively food from God – is another – Jesus was sent by God as a suffering servant to transform us through the cross – to turn us into people God wants us to be – the real question to answer – is whether we are willing to let Jesus be the chief provider in our lives?

‘No one will come to me – unless He is drawn by the Father who sent me – and I will raise him up on the last day’

without God’s grace – we are Spiritually dead – and can never be a true Christian – we have no power to give ourselves life – All are invited – but only those who are drawn to Him by the Father – and are humble enough to recognise God’s unique revelation in and to Jesus can truly taste the bread from heaven –

‘In very truth I tell you – whoever believes (in me) – has eternal life’

Many of us think that forgiveness and acceptance are things that can never be achieved – yet here Jesus says that it can be – if we simply accept and believe in Him – are we ready to put our future in Jesus’ hands? –

‘I am the living bread- that has come down from heaven – if anyone eats this bread – he will live forever’ – the bread that I shall give is my own flesh – given for the life of the world’

As he tells the Jews- He’s not talking about bread – like the manna that the Israelites received in the wilderness – that too was sent by god – but it only had a short term purpose – the bread that Jesus now brings – has eternal benefits –

If we want to profit from what Jesus is doing – we must consume all that He brings and all that He is – Jesus was broken and shared in His death – so that those who eat – will not die –

Eternal life – begins in the present – when we believe in Him – and it takes the form of a resurrected life – after we die – pioneered by Jesus Himself –

everything about Jesus is food for us – the way He lives – the truth of His words – the sacrificial way He died – and accepting the truth about the bread He provides – is really the first and most important step to receiving it –

there will be times – however when we will need His bread more than most – as the example of Elijah – shows us – and that’s when we need to understand that what He provides will be exactly what we need –  

Point 2    Elijah – How we get it?

From time to time – whether because of circumstances, our own actions – or the actions of others – we can find ourselves in difficult situations

and knowing what to do – and how to overcome our problems – can be a frustrating and heartbreaking experience

Having just experienced one of the high spots in His ministry – when the prophets of Baal – were humiliated on Mount Carmel – Elijah – now flees into the desert – to escape the clutches of Queen Jezebel

– and after a day’s journey into the wilderness – he finds himself under a broom tree – feeling lost – isolated – even to the point of despair –

Yet even in these circumstances – when God appears distant – He is actually surprisingly close – sharing our sorrows- and guiding us through them –

Elijah’s prays for a solution to his problems – and God answers in the form of an angel or helper who brings rest and nourishment – not once but twice –

The Christian faith is like a long journey – at times exciting and rewarding – and sometimes wearing and discouraging – it is important that we stop at an oasis – on the way and take the rest and food God provides – to take stock and to recharge our batteries –

When things go according to plan – its easy to trust and live in God’s Kingdom – but when things go wrong – and our faith is really tested – that’s when God makes sure our needs are cared for –

God’s nourishment comes to us through prayer – through other Christians, through our knowledge of Jesus’ life and word (in our bibles) – through the Holy Spirit who is there to guide and direct us – and through our own experience of Jesus with us – transforming our lives today –

and its often – the times when we are most tested – that we are most ready to receive and be nourished by Him – when we put down our defenses – and open up our selves to His will and care –

Point 3     What does it do for us? – Ephesians

which brings us on to our NT lesson – where Paul reminds us that whilst only God can change our hearts – its our responsibility to change our behaviour –

In this passage – Paul describes what should happen to us – when we truly eat the food Jesus brings –

its a case of – out with the old – and in with the new – not just in terms of an inward transformation – but also as an outward change – a bit like putting on new clothes –

Most of us have a choice as to what we wear – and often what we wear reflects the person that we what to present to the world –

On Mondays and most weekdays I wear a suit and tie – telling the world that on these days I expect to be at work to earn my daily crust –

On Saturdays – I might dress more casually – in tee shirt – and hopefully the demands of work never enter my head –

On Sundays we put on some different clothes again – this time to present an image of our willingness to worship and go to church –

Like the clothes that we wear our behaviour also tells others what’s going on inside – we can choose to lie or speak the truth – we can choose to live for ourselves at the expense of others – or put ourselves out in the service of others- such things will be noticed and present an image of who we are and who we belong to –

Also just as clothes are put on daily and by decision – so too is our behaviour –

Living as a Christian also demands that we need to grow up with regard to our thinking – learn to identify our own moods and patterns – to see which ones are going in the right direction and which ones in the wrong direction –

A new nature will show itself in a new behaviour – but the reverse is also true – the way we behave can also shape the person we become –

The way to becoming a loving person – is to do loving things – The way to becoming truthful person s to always speak the truth –

This passage is full of practical advice on how to be a Christian – and also warnings on how not to be one –

Paul reminds us that Jesus’ death on the cross should influence all we do – our conduct should be the same as Jesus presented to us – an offering of sacrifice and love well pleasing to God –

We are destined for full redemption – for resurrection – and knowing this should determine the way we live our lives today- 

 

Conclusion

Jesus offers us food from God – that will shape and transform our lives – and bring eternal satisfaction – Food for good times and bad – that we can only get from Him – that will bring everlasting benefits –

Eating the bread that He provides will not only transform our inward nature but also shape the way we behave in the world today

The food that He offers just shouldn’t be missed-

So -next time we come before Him for a meal – lets make sure that He knows just how eternally grateful we are to Him for providing it-

Prayer to finish

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

AMEN