Wednesday, July 28, 2010

“Do not be afraid!”

Hebrew Bible Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8



In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings; with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.


And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.”


The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."


Then one of the seraphs flew to me holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth wit it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.”


Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”






Gospel Reading: Luke 5:1-11


Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret and the crowd was pressing in on hem to hear the word of God, hew saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of boats, the belonging to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon. “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”


When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.


“Do not be afraid!”


I learned, in our Wednesday morning Men’s Bible Study that “Do not be afraid!” is the most often repeated command in the Bible.

Do Not Be Afraid.

What would your reaction be if you found yourself in the physical presence of the Almighty God?

Awe? Reverence? Love? Fear?

I come from a hugging family, so I’d like to think that I’d hug him like a brother. However, I think I would be like Peter and drop to my knees! In fear with the realization of my sinfulness. I’d like to think that I’m a good man. I’d like to think that I’m a good Christian. However, standing in the presence of the Christ would HE be able to see the Christ in me?

Do not be afraid!

Suddenly, you realize your unworthiness to stand before the Lord God of creation.

Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, God was always approached with a mixture of Fear and Love.

The temple priests worked on a rotating schedule when they entered the “Holy of Holies” or the most innermost section of the temple/tabernacle. This is where man went to commune with God. It was an honored position. It was also a frightening one. Much preparation was made before the priest went behind that last veil. The last thing the he did was tie a rope to his ankle. Once he was behind the curtain, other priests listen for the tinkling of the bells sewn to the hem of his garment. If the tinkling stopped for too long of a time, they would know he had been found unworthy and died. They then used the rope to pull him from behind the curtain.

Do not be afraid!

It isn’t really the holiness of God that is feared, it is our unholines.

In Isaiah chapter 6 he says, "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

And again. In Luke chapter 5 Peter says, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”

Peter was still reacting to God in an Old Testament way.

God in the New Testament is revealed in a new way!

Christ Jesus was totally approachable. People reached out in crowds to touch and be touched. He rebuked his disciples when they tried to keep the children from coming to him.

Remember the story of the paralytic man who was lowered through the ceiling by his friends? In the gospel of Mark it is recorded that HE, Jesus was at home when this happened! That means that the roof that was torn off was of Jesus’ own home. Jesus didn’t react the way I would if someone destroyed my home. No. he said to the paralytic,” Son, your sins are forgiven.”

God who from the beginning has sought fellowship with mankind was separated by man’s sin. God in his perfection was fatal to sin. And thus man had to be kept at a fearful distance. God the incarnate, Jesus Christ, had taken on the flesh of a sin-free man so that he could once again enjoy that perfect fellowship he desired.

Do not be afraid! May be the most often issued command however I’m sure that the next most often command is “Go!” For no one comes into the presence of God and is not issued his marching orders.

From the beginning God has partnered with man to do His will.

Adam and Eve were told, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it”

Noah was told to build an ark and fill it with creatures to be saved.

Abram was told “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to land I will show you.”

God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to bethel, and settle there.”

In Egypt, Joseph revealed to his brothers, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.”

Isaiah was told to deliver God’s words to His people.

God spoke to Joseph husband of Mary, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Peter, James, John & Andrew were called by Jesus to become fishers of men.

We have been saved by grace from our sins.

Our home eternal has been provided!

But we’re not just saved from sin, we are also saved for service.

Everyone!

There are people who love to quote all the promises that God has made in ages past. Promises of wealth, and health. One of the difficulties with this “religion of prosperity” is that these were promises made to specific people for specific purposes. And always the abundance was to be passed on as a blessing to others.

If God has blessed you with abundance in money, time, ability, etc. it is because he expects you to use it.

This is a very active church.

We participate in many outreach and community service programs like:

2 worship services each week.

Sunday School for all ages.

UP Kids Wednesday after school program.

Vacation Bible School in the park – open to everyone

United Methodist Women and all of their various programs

Camperships

Camping and Conservation Club

Computer Training

Job Search and Resume help

Weight Loss

Spanish Language GED Classes

Men’s bible study

Food Pantry

UMCOR

Emergency Food & Gas assistance

Mitten Tree

Family and Children’s Urban Ministry

Dog Show

Safe Harvest

Concert Series

Easter and Christmas programs

Work with Bidwell

And Redbird Mission

Volunteers In Missions

We’ve partnered with: United Way

Women at the Well

Voices to be heard support group

Gamblers anonymous

Other Union Park Churches

Other United Methodist Churches

These only begin to show the activities of this congregation

and there are even more things in the planning stages.

You are amazing! Give yourselves a hand!

Now … Give God a hand!

He needs workers!

The harvest is ready but the workers are few.

If you are not actively engaged in service to God and the church, I encourage you to do so.

We need prayer warriors,
inviters,
hand-shakers,
mentors,
carpenters,
electricians,
liturgists, ushers, greeters,
UP Kids workers,
cooks, cleaners,
readers, listeners,
marketers, artists,
painters, planners,
drivers,
planters, weeders, mowers,
flower arrangers, communion helpers,
carpet cleaners, window washers,
baby sitters, shut in visitors,
singers, musicians,
audio visual helpers,
envelope stuffers, general office workers
and the list goes on and on!

Do not be afraid!

Are you too old, too young, too sick, too healthy, too busy, too tired, too much time, too tall, too short, too thin, too fat, too hairy, too bald, too sinful, too holy?

Stand before God and give Him your best excuse! What would He say?

God has used righteous men and women, He’s used courageous men and women.

He’s also used murderers, liars, cowards, prostitutes, thieves and more. 
There is no limit to what God can do in partnership with a willing heart!

God can use your inabilities as well as your abilities. 

When you are asked to be of service, please say yes. If no one asks you, volunteer.

Here ends the lesson.

Amen

“Trained and Empowered”

Old Testament Reading Numbers 11: 25-29



So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD ; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rest upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do it again.


Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them, they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp. And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people would be prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!”


New Testament Reading Acts 2:1-4


When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divide tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.





Today we celebrate the various graduations of our members. Usually graduation is accompanied by speeches and exhortations. There is a lot of proverbial wisdom (of the. fortune cookie type) that are. given to the graduates.

You younger folk have no idea who the great humorist Will Rogers was, but he had profound ability to see the complex and state it in simple terms.

Things like: “If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging."

Or this, "The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your pocket."

And of course this bit of very practical advice, "Never slap a man who’s chewing tobacco.”

Seriously though, We feel the need to give advice at this special point in the graduates life, because we know that things are about to change for them.

They have been trained but now they are about to be empowered!

This is particularly true of the college grads who now have a degree. The degree says you know ‘how”. But until you have been hired to perform that job, you haven’t been empowered.

Notice that you can have knowledge, skill, even wisdom and experience. These can be something inside you however empowerment comes from the outside.

It is the final ingredient needed to get the job done.

Empowerment happens where the rubber meets the road.

Using this line of thinking, I tried to imagine what graduation day would look like in the Kingdom of God.

At first I thought the moment when we accept Christ as Lord would be our graduation day. But that is just the begining of our education.

Then the thought occured that when we got to heaven was graduation. But that is when we receive our reward. Seems more like retirement than graduation.

So when is it that we graduate? Certainly there would be crowds watching and lots of shouting. And when is it that we are empowered for our task?

Our scripture readings show us two incidents when God empowered not just individuals but groups of people.

The elders in our old testament reading were already leaders. Here is some backgrond on these men.

Exodus the 18th chapter says this group of 70 men were chosen as leaders of thousands and hundreds and fiftys because they were men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain.

It sounds like they had the right mind set to me. But that's not all.

The 24th chapter of Exodus says, "then Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up (the mountain), and they saw the God of Israel." This was when Moses went further alone and received the 10 commandments. These 70 were to be the first to receive instruction in God's law.

Natural skills and formal training - but it wasn't enough!

Here is a condensed version of the scriptures preceeding our Old Testament reading for today.

Number chapter 11


4 And the mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt for nought; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: 6 but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all save this manna to look upon.(I just want to interupt the reading here to point out that they left Eygpt with cattle, sheep and goats. And they arrived in the promised land with goats, sheep and cattle. So it wasn't true that they had nothing to eat but manna.


(But that's another sermon for another day!)

Back to my reading.

10 And Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased.


13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. 14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

The Hebrew scripture passage we read today takes place after they were placed in these positions of leadership - and what are they doing?

Not leading! Not being spokespersons for God!! No they were complaining!

They were supposed to be lifting some of the burden of leadership from Moses' shoulders. Instead they had added to his burden to the place that Moses asked God to kill him and give him release.

These 70 had been trained in how to lead. They knew all the laws. But they had no idea of the difference between training and empowered by God for the task.

Our new testament reading finds a different group of men. We are more familiar with their backgrounds. These men of widely diverse backgrounds were hand picked by Jesus.

Presumably he saw some native skill or attribute in these men that he could develop to do the task ahead. Then he spent 3 years training them. Imagine personally instructed by God incarnate!

Not just trained but commanded to go into all the world spreading the good news!

And what are they doing? They are still banded together but in hiding. Keeping the good news to themselves!

Two groups of good men, skilled men, trained men. But men that hadn't yet been empowered for the job.

But in an instant that changed. God touched them and they were changed.

I like the way one of the modern translations states the experience. It reads, “They began to shout like prophets.”

Shout like prophets! Spokes people for God.

What they should have been all along. Establishing the kingdom of God.

That Penticost two thousand years ago was their graduation day!

This touch of God, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter wasn't just for the people huddled in that upper room. It was promised to all who believe and confess with their lips that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We, in this room, are another group of people.

We come week after week and hear our Sunday school teachers, the pastor and the choir proclaiming the good news.

We have been trained.

Now what?

We need to be empowered!

Are we going to see tongues of fire resting on each other or hear the rush of a mighty wind?

There are times that I've longed for those miraculous displays of God's power or as Moses said, "I Would that all the LORD’s people would be prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!”

But the truth is we don't need to see MORE miracles. .

You want miracles and mighty works? Look around you. This congregation does them so often that they seem commonplace! You feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, care for the sick, educate the unschooled and care for the imprisoned!

You see, the moment that you believed in your heart and confessed with your lips that Jesus is Lord, you were infilled with the Spirit of God.

You have been empowered! God has injected himself into your very being!

And you plus God can do anything.

Go into all the world and proclaim the good news. (By the way, that wasn't a suggestion - it was a command)

There are countless ways to do that.

We all have our own jobs in this Kingdom of God.

There are no non-participating members, no bench warmers, not even any second string!

So, how do we do this job?  Now, not all of us are required to shout like prophets.

Some of us whisper words of encouragement.

Some are silent prayer warriors who lift others up to the Lord in prayer.

Some are called to heal body, mind or spirit.

Some are called to teach. Some to teach children and some to instruct adults.

Some are called to be care givers and some to be care takers,

To be builders or creators.

To invite others into the kingdom.

Remember, there are no unimportant jobs! If you are called to cook or clean and do it as a service dedicated to God it is important and an acceptable sacrifice before His altar.

And the good news is … Whatever job we are called to perform in the Kingdom of God, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do it.

Now, maybe you are sitting there thinking, "I don't feel empowered."

There are a couple of reasons we can feel that way.

1. Maybe we haven't made Jesus the Lord of our lifes.

2. Perhaps we're not doing the job he has empowered us to do.

3. Maybe we have secured our salvation but haven't quite turned our will over to Him.

I can relate to that. There are some of us who just need to be in control. However, we need to get to the point where we can say, "Not my will but your's Lord." Otherwise we are trying to wear the crown that only he can wear. .

Sometimes we need to be reminded that God does not need us to be his advisors. He needs us to be His spokes persons, His hands and His feet. He needs us to be about the job he has for us.

If you feel powerless, take a moment now and ask God to touch you and empower you for YOUR job in His kingdom, or to clearly show you what your job is to be.

Remember that when you are called upon to perform your Kingdom task. There is no need for fear - for you, as a child of God in His kingdom, are empowered for the duty.

This is your graduation day!

God is with you. Amen!!