Since the beginning of January, we have been working through a sermon series called “Spiritual Habits for Ordinary People” which is loosely based on Richard Foster’s classic book, “Celebration of Discipline.”  Having grown up in the church I usually think that I have a good grasp on the basics of walking out the Christian faith.  However, this series has been a good challenge for me, and I hope for many others as well.

As I prepare to share tomorrow’s message about service, I am again challenged more than I anticipated (this seems to be a pattern).  Service is one of the basic ways we share our faith.  James reminded us that our faith is hardly anything meaningful if our actions do not quickly follow our mouths.  Paul spoke of being a “love slave,” willingly surrendering our personal desires to serve one another.  And one can never forget King Jesus, Rabbi Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.  In a single act of humility, the Master showed us exactly what it means to be a true servant.

One of the challenging concepts for me is the difference between acts of service versus a lifestyle of service.  In the words of Foster, “It is one thing to act like a servant; it is quite another to be a servant. As in all the Disciplines, it is possible to master the mechanics of service without experiencing the Discipline.”  I paused when I first read this statement.  Have I mastered the mechanics but missed Jesus?

“It is one thing to act like a servant; it is quite another to be a servant. As in all the Disciplines, it is possible to master the mechanics of service without experiencing the Discipline.”

— Richard Foster

It occurred to me how easy it is to be Martha, diligently working away on something urgent while fuming about the lack of commitment of others.  This could happen anywhere – in the church, at home, at the workplace, in a marriage, as a parent or even as a son or daughter.  A selfishness can arise in the flurry of activity under the guise of selflessness.

The goal of any service or discipline is not perfection of that skill or activity.  Of course, excellence is good and worthwhile.  Pursue excellence. However, if the act of service causes us to miss the Messiah, then we’ve missed the point.

On the other hand, not serving others at all is equally risky.  Jesus explained in Matthew 25 how important it is to serve “the least of these.”  King Jesus called the least of these his brothers and sisters.  The least of these had no way of reciprocating the kindness and generosity of service – what a picture of the sacrifice Jesus paid for us on the cross!

Paul said so bluntly in 2 Corinthians 4:11, “Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.”  While most of us reading this don’t face persecution today, the sacrifice of service to Jesus requires our whole selves.  Our bodies are decaying in this world, but amongst the death and decay, let it be known that we serve Jesus.  Let it be evident that the Spirit of Christ is in us.  Let our lives be evidence that Jesus lives.

(Update: Here is a link to the message I shared on the following Sunday morning.  https://youtu.be/V-l-kyRSQTU)

The words we speak are real.  Our words can inspire and they can wound.  Words can give hope or they can stir up anger and mistrust.  Words can build up and they can tear apart.  Words can sooth a burn and they can spark a fire.  Our words, written or spoken, are how we interact with the world around us and with the souls around us.

In recent days I have been learning – slowly for sure – that my own words have an impact.  I have two young daughters.  They hear not just my spoken words, but also the words I’m not speaking.  I had opportunities to share on a bigger platform and I realized that my words can impact far beyond my intentions.  As we watch the news (or read the newspaper!), we see that words alone can escalate or deescalate tensions between nations.

There is a passage in the book of Hebrews that describes God’s words. We learn that the Father’s words are sharp, decisive, penetrating, and precise.  “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Hebrews 4:12 NLT)

Seeing the sharpness of these words makes we wonder how dull my words might be.  If the Father’s words are a sword, am I using a club?  If the Father’s words are precise, are my words chaotic and undisciplined?

It is no mistake that James also addressed words.  “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.” (James 1:27 NLT)  James went on to describe the tongue as “a flame of fire.”  James went further on, “Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” (James 3:9-10 NLT)

James had a point.  This is not right.  It is not okay for life and destruction to come from the same place.  Which will it be?  Will your words build up or will your words tear down?  Will your words bring peace or will your words spread venom?

For those walking with Christ, our words have a greater significance than we often care to admit.  And really, that is true of everyone.  Words are real.

“Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11 NLT)

May our words be precise – precise enough to cut out injustice and despair, precise enough to represent well the God of all Creation.  May our actions bring glory to God through Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith.

“Lord, teach us to pray.”  The disciples had seen Jesus perform all sorts of miracles.  And they knew he had a habit of spending time alone in prayer.  I believe they recognized that the power of Jesus was not in the miracles.  The miracles were evidence of the power in Jesus.  It was following one of Jesus’ prayer times that they made this request.  Teach us to pray.  I imagine that Jesus smiled at this request.

Jesus responded, “pray like this.”  And he laid out a model of prayer that changed everything.  “Our Father.”  There are two things about this opening statement that are unusual.  Jesus continued a pattern – “you’ve heard it said this way, but let me show you a better way.”  These two simple words were the first time that anyone ever addressed the Father God so personally, and he encouraged the disciples to pray so personally.  Jesus opened the doors between his people and the Father.  Hebrews 4 encourages us to confidently approach the throne of grace, and we can do that because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  The Son of Man opened the way for us to have communion with the Father.

A second thing so striking about this opening phrase is the very first word. “Our.” Jesus could have opened in the singular “my.”  Instead, this prayer opens with the plural possessive.  “Our Father.” When animals hunt they often isolate their prey first.  They separate the weaker animal from the rest of the community.  It seems to me that our enemy does the same thing.  If he can isolate me, if he can convince me of “my” instead of “our,” then I’m in real danger.  This prayer reminds us that we are not alone.  Christ himself is with else.  When the enemy is nipping at your heels, remember who is with you.  You are not alone.

Jesus offered more explanation after teaching this prayer.  Jesus used a comparative model, moving from lesser to greater.  He compared fathers giving appropriate gifts to the Good Father giving the best gifts.  The Matthew account (7:11) indicates that the Father will give good gifts to those who ask him.  The Luke account (11:13) names that good gift – the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus teaches his disciples about prayer, he begins and ends with relationship.  “Our Father.”  He is ours and we are his.  No one can enter the Father’s presence without first going through the Son, and Jesus opened that door.  And now he gives us the best gift – his presence with us, his Spirit in us, and his Glory around us.

May you know Jesus.  May you confidently approach the throne of grace.  May you stand up strong, even if the enemy is on the hunt, because the Lord of all Creation is with you.  May you know the goodness of the Father as he bestows his best gifts on you.

This is a partial summary of the message I delivered at Cornerstone Church on June 25, 2017.  Audio of the message is available at www.cornerstoneofsheridan.org. 

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.  The government will rest on his shoulders.  And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His government and its peace will never end.  He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.  The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”  (Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT)

The prophet Isaiah recorded these words approximately 700 years before the promised Messiah was born.  The readers of that day read these words as hope.  Today, we read these words not as hope, but as history.  We are encouraged and inspired because it has already happened.  Yes, a child was born!  And he was no ordinary child!

Today, this “child” is our counselor – we look to him for guidance and direction.  He is the Mighty God – he is strong!  He is Everlasting Father, with us in ways that our biological fathers never could be.  And he is Prince of Peace – oh, how we yearn for his peace today!

May we never forget this extraordinary child.  He is God incarnate, Emmanuel, and God with us.

During this Advent and Christmas season, we celebrate the incarnation of Christ.  God above came to Earth below in the flesh.  Skin.  Bones.  Hunger.  Thirst.  All of it.  In a few months at Easter we will celebrate that Jesus is no longer bound by earth and hurts and pain.  Jesus is alive today and this gives us hope in order to live today.

What do you hope for?  There are many types of hope.  There is superficial hope – we hope for big gifts, more money, a faster car, or a bigger house.  There is relational hope – some hope for a friend, a spouse, a father, a mother, a son or a daughter.  There is emotional hope – we hope for freedom from heartache and peace for the soul.  There is also counterfeit hope – this “hope” robs us of joy and peace and freedom.  We hope we don’t get caught.  We hope nobody notices.  We hope nobody cares.

In any case, hope is taking our eyes off how bad things are and anticipating how good things will be.  We recognize the reality of our present condition and we expect or anticipate a better condition.  For those who trust in Christ, we recognize the brokenness of our current condition and we look forward to the healing and restoration of new life in Christ.  This hope causes us to live differently today.

Any “hope” that doesn’t change how we live today is not hope at all.

Those with hope live different.  They talk different.  They walk different.  They sing these songs differently.  They move differently.  They have purpose in their steps.  When the world robs their dignity, they respond differently.  When storms come, they don’t fear.  When there is chaos, they don’t fret and worry.  Those with hope can stand when everything around crumbles.  Those with hope don’t stand alone.  The Lord Almighty, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, are with them.  His name is Faithful and True.  He makes all things new.

Jesus says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people. (Rev. 22:20 NLT)

 

Pastor’s Corner – December 17, 2016