Sermon 21st July 2019 - 6th Sunday after Pentecost - Text: Luke 10:38-42 - Sibling rivalry

Sermon 21st July 2019 - 6th Sunday after Pentecost - Text: Luke 10:38-42 - Sibling rivalry

Sibling rivalry.

Is this what we are seeing in our Gospel reading between Mary and Martha or is it something deeper?

Jesus has come to the home of Mary and Martha and both sisters see a different emphasis of what needs to happen.

It reminds me of a similar situation which involved Mary in John’s Gospel – it may have even been the same event when Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, Mary and Martha’s brother whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary took some expensive perfume and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples said, “Why was this perfume not sold and given to the poor?” Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Was one action more important than another?

Not necessarily.

It was seemingly a question of priorities.

Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to his teachings because who knows when she might have that opportunity again.

Entertaining the guests could have happened anytime afterwards.

Mary chose to use the expensive perfume to anoint Jesus because he was about to die.

The poor could be helped continuously after that or with other resources.

So this Gospel reading speaks to the heart of priorities.

I don’t believe it’s a situation of one of the sisters being better or more “Christian” than the other because of what they have chosen to do.

Both were believers in Jesus as the Christ.

Both loved Jesus and Jesus loved them both.

But they were very different women.

There is no doubt that grace lived in both their hearts.

But each showed that love and grace in different ways.

So we learn from this that we should not expect all Christians to be exactly the same as each other as the body of Christ is made up of many different members – like a human body.

We learn that we can each make decisions on how we believe God is calling us to express our faith and gifts.

Neither, therefore, should we judge based on our own expectations and gifts – which is what Martha did.

And that’s one of the beautiful things about God’s creation – the differences and diversity.

As we look at creation we see a variety of flowers – different colours – different aromas – different times of the year they flourish in different conditions.

It’s the same with God’s creatures – we don’t have one type of bird but thousands – the same with all animal species.

That’s part of God’s creativity.

So too in humanity –we have different gifts – different skills – different ways of expressing ourselves – including our faith and service to God.

What we are called to do, as members of the body of Christ is to embrace what God has gifted us with and support the other members as they too express their God given gifts in their own ways.

And together we express God’s creativity in harmony.

St Paul highlights that when he says: the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour.

Martha’s problem is that she was bringing down both herself and Mary by her criticism of her sister.

Martha’s gift was the gift of hospitality.

But because she was so focused on Mary not sharing the same gift she also distracted her own gift.

Because of her distraction she didn’t see what she was doing as a gift and that’s when we begin to lose passion for what we are doing for God.

And that’s what Jesus is pointing out.

He points out her distraction not her decision to not sit at his feet.

He doesn’t tell her to stop what she is doing and come and sit down but to not allow her distractions from affecting her calling and also her sister Mary’s.

The body of Christ is like a well tuned machine.

Each part by itself doesn’t really achieve anything.

But when it works in conjunction with all the other parts it achieves the outcome for which is has been built.

A sparkplug in an engine has an important function.

By itself it has no purpose.

An engine without one will not function.

But together they work in harmony.

Or take a piece of music made up of many notes.

By itself a note is just a noise.

But with other notes it creates a harmony.

So too the body of Christ.

Martha had a function which in harmony with everything going on created a harmonious environment for Jesus’ visit.

But she stopped serving.

She interrupted Jesus’s function.

She interrupted Mary’s function.

We no longer have harmony but chaos.

When God created the world he created order from chaos.

The Spirit of God hovered over the empty void and then God began to create order – he brought light and life into our world.

He ordered it in such a way that had harmony between creature and creation and behold it was very good.

And that harmony continued until human beings broke that order through sin and reintroduced chaos through disobedience.

Adam and Eve were distracted by Satan to look away from God’s harmony and let their own desires break that harmony.

Martha, too, became distracted and allowed her own desires to break the harmony of Jesus’ visit.

So this text speaks to us and any behaviour we might show that breaks the harmony of God’s work.

Each of us is gifted in one way or the other to which we contribute to the harmony of the body of Christ.

St Paul, so majestically paints that harmonious order in our 2^nd reading today:

Notice how many times he highlights Jesus being at the head that puts everything in our lives in order:

Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

In him all things in heaven and on earth were created.

All things have been created through him and for him

In him all things hold together

He is the head of the body

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead

In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell

Through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things

I think we start to see the picture here.

If Jesus is at the head of our congregation.

If Jesus is at the head of our family.

If Jesus is at the head of our ministry.

If Jesus is at the head of how we live our lives –

Then everything falls into harmony.

It’s when we let our own desires – our own egos – our own agendas – our own criticisms,  when we let these influence our judgments – then chaos creeps back in.

When we start to act like Martha and start judging others by our standards rather than Christ’s then our harmony breaks down.

We all play our part in our community of Christ here.

And some play what might seem a lesser role but one that would create chaos if it wasn’t done.

Just like a $10 sparkplug can render a $100,000 luxury car inoperable if it is faulty or missing.

All of us are an intricate and vital part of the body of Christ and we should value each and every part as indispensable and irreplaceable.

That’s how God sees us and that’s how we should see ourselves – we are that one lost sheep – we are that one lost coin – we are that lost prodigal son – and together we make up the body of Christ.

Whatever it is that God has gifted you, do it joyfully and don’t be distracted by how God is using others.

Sermon 14th July 2019 – 5th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 10:25-37 – Go and do likewise

Sermon 14^th July 2019 – 5^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 10:25-37 – Go and do likewise

There are some fairly tough parts in the bible but for me there is none tougher than today’s Gospel reading when Jesus says – “Go and do likewise”.

It reminds me of the old saying – “do as I say not as I do”.

It’s so easy to know what the right thing is to do but not so easy to do it.

So when Jesus says – love one another as I have loved you, how many of us can do that?

How many of us could have offered hospitality to Judas like Jesus did, knowing he was going to betray him?

How many of us would have been prepared to forgive and reinstate Peter like Jesus did after denying him 3 times.

How many of us would be prepared to ask God to forgive those who put him to death like Jesus did?

St Paul found that dilemma himself when he said:

For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

Jesus tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan as it is widely known and upon telling the actions of the Good Samaritan tells the lawyer asking Jesus a question about eternal life to “go and do likewise”.

What are the details of this direction?

What is it that the Samaritan has done that we are to example in our lives?

Well, let’s look at the context and what leads up to the telling of this parable.

 A lawyer comes up to Jesus and asks: "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

So there is the first mistake this lawyer makes.

What must I DO?

There is nothing one does to receive eternal life.

It is a gift from God.

A free gift as St Paul says in Ephesians Chapter 2:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

There is nothing we do – God has done it all.

As a lawyer he wanted to know what he needed to do.

And as a lawyer it meant he probably wanted to know what he didn’t need to do – to try and find a loophole in the law.

So if there’s something I don’t need to do then I won't be doing it.

The priest and the Levite going down the road didn’t have to stop and help one of their fellow Israelites – so they didn’t.

The loophole they found in the law was from the Law of Moses which said; “Whoever touches a dead body will be unclean for seven days… If they fail to purify themselves after touching a human corpse, they defile the Lord’s tabernacle. They must be cut off from Israel. (Numbers 19)

If they stopped to help him and he was actually dead then they would be disqualified from serving in the temple which was where they were heading.

Likewise the Samaritan didn’t need to stop.

It wasn’t one of his countrymen.

He was from the people that had persecuted his people.

He didn’t need to stop and help – but he does.

He loved as Jesus loved when he cried out “forgive them Father”.

Being a Good Samaritan is more than just helping someone out.

Being a Good Samaritan is helping out when all other indicators would say not to.

That’s what Jesus is teaching the lawyer.

The lawyer was looking for an out.

Jesus said to love your neighbour and he is trying to find out who I don’t have to love.

So he asks – “who is my neighbour”.

Why would you ask that question unless you were wanting to know – who is NOT my neighbour.

Jesus is explaining in this parable – think of someone you believe is NOT your neighbour – they are your neighbour.

How was it that this Samaritan would now call an Israelite, with whom they did not associate, a neighbour?

The Israelites had been anything but neighbourly to the Samaritans.

On the other hand, the Priest and the Levite had an obligation to care for this victim.

Not only was he a fellow Israelite but they were God’s representatives.

They were the ones charged with the Holy Things of God and to administer God’s grace and blessing on his people.

And they ignored the needs of their neighbour – their own blood.

So what makes a person a neighbour, according to Jesus’ parable?

A neighbour is anyone in need.

A neighbour is a victim who needs help.

A neighbour is anyone that we can help.

And that’s why this parable and Jesus’ teaching from it – go and do likewise – is one of the most difficult teachings of Jesus.

It examples exactly what God has done for us through Jesus.

We remember what Paul says – it was while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us.

We were anything but neighbourly to God.

We disobeyed him.

We rejected him.

We were anything but neighbourly to Jesus.

We betrayed him.

We denied him.

We humiliated him.

We chose a murderer to be freed rather than Jesus.

We demanded his death by crucifixion.

And yet his dying prayer on the cross was “forgive them Father”.

Can we think of a situation where we can be truly justified in not helping another person?

How does the Good Samaritan speak in today’s setting:

2 examples:

This week Channel 10 will show the documentary on footballer Adam Goodes – an indigenous footballer who left footy after prolonged booing.

It caused major divisions.

Some said it is his fault because of the way he acted and nothing to do with racism.

Irrespective of what you believe, the parable of the Good Samaritan teaches that if he is hurting then we need to respond to his hurts.

Another example is the safe injecting room in Richmond.

Letters this past week slammed a decision to open more facilities with many saying just let them overdose and let society be rid of them.

Irrespective of what you believe, the parable of the Good Samaritan teaches that if they are hurting then we need to respond in love.

That’s the challenge- to put aside our views and our biases and respond to hurt.

When the lawyer asked Jesus: what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."

We are very good at looking at others and declaring what behaviours shall not inherit eternal life.

But here Jesus sums up what it means to inherit eternal life.

Loving God and loving our neighbour.

And there is no one who is not my neighbour because every single person is created in the Image of God.

Every single person is a person for whom Jesus died.

And Jesus does not give us an out or a loophole but says – go and do likewise – he doesn’t say go and try your best.

We know that we cannot keep this law of love perfectly and for that we are thankful that Jesus has paid for our sins.

But it reminds us that we never have an excuse for treating anyone as less than a neighbour.

Even the Priest and the Levite show us that God even puts the needs of our neighbour above his own needs telling us to example the behaviour of the Good Samaritan rather than the Priest and Levite.

There are so many in our society today who are treated like the victim in our text – people we would rather not associate with – people for whom we cross to the other side of the road.

Let us daily example the Good Samaritan who was able to overlook his prejudices and seek ways to help.

They are there – across the road – it’s just we have learnt so well to look the other way.

Thankfully God did not look the other way but loved us with all his heart, soul, strength and mind.

Let us go and do likewise.

Sermon 7th July 2019 – 4th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 – The harvest is plentiful – but so is rejection

Sermon 7^th July 2019 – 4^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 – The harvest is plentiful – but so is rejection

I have to admit that I struggle a bit with our Gospel reading in trying to understand it.

Jesus says to the 72 disciples that he is sending out - "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few;

The way that many in the church are feeling today is that the harvest is getting less and less rather than being plentiful.

No one seemingly wants to hear what the church has to say.

A harvest suggests that the people are waiting for us but we don’t have enough workers to send out for the demand.

Where are all these people that Jesus suggests are just waiting for us to come to them?

Where is this harvest that Jesus speaks about that is ready to be picked?

The harvest is wherever you go – whenever you go there.

The harvest is in your workplace.

The harvest is in your local shopping centre.

The harvest is in your own home.

The harvest is in your local sport.

That’s how Jesus sees every individual because every individual is created in God’s image.

Every individual is a person for whom he suffered and died.

In last week’s Gospel when the Samaritans rejected Jesus, James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy them.

But Jesus rejected their anger.

What would that achieve?

They too were people for whom he will die.

After all the suffering, humiliation, rejection and death that Jesus would undergo to save humankind, what more could anyone do that would deny them from Jesus’ love to have them saved?

And so we are sent out with just one thing – the love of Christ to extend to all people.

So often we go out with our agenda of what WE believe people need to hear.

What WE believe people need to do or change in order to be accepted by God.

But let us remember, we are already accepted by God –that’s what the Cross of Jesus is all about;

For God loved the world so much that he sent his one and only Son, not to condemn the world but to save the world through him.

God had nothing more to give us which he gave by sending his Son Jesus so what can we possibly give or do for God to have him accept us.

There is nothing we can do to earn God’s love or have God love us any more than he does.

Likewise there is nothing we can do that will make God love us less or reject us.

But, because of free will, we can freely reject God’s love – and that’s our harvest field to work in.

And that’s what we have to give to the world around us – the love of God in Jesus.

Jesus sends his disciples out equipped with all they need – the Good News of God’s love and acceptance of all people:

Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.

Go where the Holy Spirit leads you.

But he wants us to be under no illusion – we are going into enemy territory

I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.

And that’s why the harvest is plentiful.

Because there are so many out there that do not yet know the love of God that he has for them.

This is not an easy task to do because, as Jesus says, rejection is at the heart of sharing the Gospel.

And that is why the workers are few because it not everyone’s “cup of tea” to share the gospel with others – especially with family and friends.

In fact Jesus acknowledges the difficulty as he sends his disciples out in pairs rather than by themselves.

And that’s why we need to encourage one another.

That’s why we gather as community rather than individuals.

And what a wonderful message we have to share and how amazing when we see someone respond to the Gospel.

Just like the disciples who returned with excitement: The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!

It’s like  the angels in heaven who rejoice over one sinner who repents rather than the multitude who have no need of repentance – that’s our harvest field – even if there is just one grain of wheat ready for the harvest.

Sadly our fear of rejection often motivates us rather than the joy of sharing the Good News.

As Isaiah says: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!

What is it that hinders us from sharing this Good News that brings so much joy and peace?

Is it because we are afraid of the rejection and take it personally?

It often is, which is why Jesus encourages and comforts us - Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

It’s not you that is being rejected but God.

It isn’t easy but we need to share the Good News so others have the opportunity to share in the joy we have.

And that motivation comes by remembering what we have, as Jesus said:

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

If you ever want motivation – remember what you have and what others miss out on if they don’t hear about the love that God has for them.

And another thing to notice from our Gospel reading is that this was not a quick process.

When he sends them out he says: remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.

For someone we are witnessing to it may take a lifetime.

And for some it may be just one person God has you focused on for your entire mission.

Remember ever single person is important to God – like the one lost sheep.

It may take a lifetime of involvement of sitting with them, eating with them, listening to them, praying for them and with them – waiting for the right time.

That’s how Jesus did his evangelism – “he eats with sinners”.

Sadly “evangelism” has received a bad name whether it’s the evangelist on the street corner yelling out to “repent” or the door knocker wanting to leave reading material, or posting things on Facebook, twitter or Instagram.

Jesus sends his disciples out with nothing – just the message of the Good News – no purse, no bag, no sandals, no reading material, no bullhorn – just the love that God has asked them to share.

I wondered what it means to “shake the dust of your feet” if a town rejects you.

Does that mean you forget about them and ask God to send down fire from heaven on them.

No.

It means, move on to the next place the Holy Spirit sends you and don’t take the rejection with you.

Don’t let the rejection stick to you like mud weighing you down.

Because it is very easy to become cynical in our witnessing and condemn everyone after a while and give up.

As Jesus said – they have not rejected you – they have rejected God.

Let God work in their hearts while you spread the Good News elsewhere.

And remember – one sows, one waters, but only God can make it grow.

And never give up because it is so easy to become disheartened.

But remember what St Paul says:

Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up.

So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

Let us go because the harvest is plentiful and ready – but the time is short.

Sermon 30th June 2019 – 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 9:51-62 – Following Jesus, at what cost?

Sermon 30^th June 2019 – 3^rd Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 9:51-62 – Following Jesus, at what cost?

Have you ever signed up for something and it’s turned out to be something different to what you expected?

Or have you ever committed yourself to something and not realised just how much effort it was going to be?

Did you know that nearly two billion dollars a year on gym memberships is wasted in Australia?

Around 30 per cent of the population have a gym membership but around 30 per cent of those barely use it — going less than once a week.

This adds up to a staggering $1.8 billion.

Many people struggle to find the time to go to the gym, but seldom do they cancel their memberships.

Likewise, more than 50,000 students who started university in Australia this year will drop out.

Commitment – sometimes it looks easy from the outset but ends up much harder once you’re involved.

In today’s Gospel reading this is what Jesus is addressing – commitment for following him – for calling yourself a Christian.

In our Gospel reading Jesus faces 3 different people – one who called on him and others he called to follow him.

The first one comes up to Jesus and says: "I will follow you wherever you go."

He sounds like the man last week who was healed from his demon possession and wanted to follow Jesus.

He also sounds a bit like Peter who said that he would never fall away from the Lord – even if everyone else does – I never will - but who would later deny him three times.

Jesus says to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

So Jesus is saying – it’s not going to be easy.

Jesus is heading to Jerusalem where he will die a brutal and painful death through crucifixion on a cross.

Is this really what this man wanted when he says he will follow Jesus wherever he will go?

Saying you’ll commit and committing are 2 very different things.

Remember the rich man who came up to Jesus and said – what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Jesus said to him: You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.

“Teacher,” he said, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

He found it easy at that level.

Jesus looked at him and said. “One thing you lack,” “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Are you prepared to commit and experience the good with the bad?

To go the whole distance as a Christian?

Are you prepared to allow Jesus to lead you and all that it means?

To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

The first question I would ask here is whether his father had actually died yet?

He doesn’t say so and maybe he is putting off a full commitment to following Jesus.

Today he might have said:

I’m too busy – I need to focus on my career – or a myriad of other reasons.

This is not in any way criticising anyone but acknowledging that life has encroached into church commitments.

Whether it’s Sunday sport – 24/7 work seeing more demands on Sunday shifts – growing expenses of mortgages and household expenses, childcare expenses needing extra shifts or just tiredness – the reality is that commitment to the church is being challenged.

Jesus’ reminder to the person is that the Kingdom of God needs to be proclaimed.

That was Jesus’ very first message – repent – the Kingdom of God is near.

In another place he says that no one knows the day or the hour of the coming judgment and there are so many parables like the unwise bridesmaids who were not prepared when the bridegroom came and missed out on eternal life.

And that’s what Jesus is concerned about.

This person wanted to wait until his life was more freed up, before he followed Jesus, which might have yet been years away.

That sounds like so many people today who put off following Jesus until some other day.

 But how do we know precisely when our or our loved one’s last day will be?

" Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home."

Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

A person who has committed themselves to following Jesus will be tempted to look back at what they’ve missed out on especially if the way forward looks daunting.

Israel kept looking back to what they believed were the good old days when their bellies were filled in Egypt as slaves rather than looking ahead and continuing to eat this detestable manna, as they called it.

Even Peter when he was on the mount of transfiguration didn’t want to come down from there but stay and offered to build three shelters because the present looked better than the future.

Maybe the future looks uncertain for the church.

We remember the good old days when Sunday Schools were overflowing – when church pews were filled – when finances weren’t a problem.

We remember when Christian values were the norm rather than an offence to society.

We remember when youth groups were how children entertained themselves and met their husband or wife.

The good old days.

Jesus calls us to follow Him and not look back or stay static.

When Peter again misses the point and wants Jesus to not go the way of the cross he rebukes him and says – get behind me Satan.

Follow me!

And make no mistake, following Jesus is costly.

But following Jesus is actually freedom though it might not look that way from the outset.

Many believe that following Jesus restricts our freedom.

They’ll quote you the 10 Commandments – Thou shalt not!

But Paul talks about freedom in a different way in our Galatians reading today:

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”.

Paul warns that freedom can be understood in the wrong way.

You were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.

Somehow people will believe that freedom means I can do whatever I want.

But sadly, because of our human nature, freedom to do whatever I want leads to enslavement.

And Paul lists a whole lot of behaviours that on the outset look like they are an expression of freedom when in fact they actually devalue our lives and some will trap a person with addiction.

This is what he says:

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness (which means to being promiscuous or unfaithful, idolatry, sorcery, enmities (or hostility), strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions (or disagreements), factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing (or abuse of alcohol), and things like these.

These are things that begin as expressions of human freedom – seemingly fun even - but end up controlling us.

And that’s what Paul is warning against and says that following Jesus allows us to escape from them.

That’s why Jesus, seemingly over the top, warns against looking back or putting off commitment for now – because he knows what our human nature is like.

Following Jesus allows us to see true freedom that is not wrapped up in lights and glitter like what the world believes freedom looks like.

Just look at pictures of Las Vegas and all its lights and glitter but inside are people trapped - addicted to gambling ruining their lives and the lives of others.

Jesus offers us a different way – the way of the Holy Spirit whose fruit is seen in a different light:

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

There is no law against such things, Paul says – because they don’t trap or devalue human life

For many, maybe some of  you, following Christ has been costly.

Maybe you’ve had to give up something or sacrificed something.

Maybe you’ve given up an opportunity.

Maybe you’ve had to say no when everyone else is saying yes.

You’ve given up weekends – finances – free time – and much more.

Yes it can be costly to follow Christ but what Jesus gives to us is priceless – eternal life which cost Jesus a lot more than it will ever cost us.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that freedom means to be free to do whatever I want.

Freedom is to be free from the stranglehold of things that offer us plenty but deliver nothing.

There’s no such thing as “the good old days” to look back to;

I’m sure in those “good old days” they too were looking back.

Keep looking forward because your salvation is one day closer today than it was yesterday.

Sermon 23rd June 2019 - 2nd Sunday after Pentecost - Text: 1 Kings 19:1-15a – Strength for Ministry in silence

Sermon 23^rd June 2019

Text: 1 Kings 19:1-15a – Strength for Ministry in silence

Have you ever woken up in the morning and thought – I just want to go back to sleep.

Do I have to get up?

As we move into the depths of winter it is very easy to feel that way.

And as the nights get dark and cold if you’re on a committee it’s very comforting to hear that we don’t have much to discuss on the agenda so let’s cancel the meeting.

It’s easy to become discouraged when things around you aren’t exactly inspiring.

I have to say also that I find it difficult like many people to stay encouraged in Ministry at times when you look around and wonder sometimes why.

When you put a lot of effort into things and very little happens.

I know when I talk to volunteers in our churches that it’s very easy to get discouraged when you put a lot of work into something and you don’t see any results.

No one turns up or there’s very little encouragement.

Or you work your backside off and only get criticisms of what you did wrong.

It can make you feel a little bit like Elijah in today’s Old Testament reading?

He sits down under a tree and asked God that he might die: "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors."

What got Elijah to that point?

After all this is just after he has had spectacular success against the false god of Baal.

On Mt Carmel Elijah invited all the prophets of Baal to a challenge to see whose God was more powerful.

Elijah won that battle and had all the prophets of Baal put to death.

So he must have been quite proud and confident.

But what Elijah discovers is that ministry for God is relentless.

And what I mean by that is that it is constant and it is draining both physically, mentally and especially spiritually.

And so often I see people in ministry – volunteers, paid layworkers and Pastors who are just fatigued spiritually and mentally.

And that’s what Elijah discovers here – that you win one battle and the next battle begins.

Satan never takes a break.

As St Peter says in his letter - Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

But like the devil who is constantly on the lookout so too is God.

Suddenly an angel touched Elijah and said to him, "Get up and eat." He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat. He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

What was it that saw Elijah so worn out – the same thing that affects us as we work for God:

Elijah said to God - I have been very enthusiastic for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.

Haven’t you felt like that at times?

Alone.

That you’re working so hard and yet nothing happens.

In fact worse than nothing – there are people unappreciative for the work you do, as Elijah felt:

They killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.

And that’s how ministry for God can seem at times no matter what type you do.

Whether it’s full time, part time, a couple times a year – voluntary or paid.

Working for God is not so much physically draining but spiritually exhausting.

Because when we are working for God we have Satan and the spiritual forces working against us.

As St Paul reminds us - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

What we need to be aware of is that God is always there with us even if we feel like we’re all alone, like Elijah.

But sometimes God’s communication with us is very subtle – through water – through Bread and Wine.

Maybe we are looking for huge results for all the hours of work we put in and all the sacrifices we make – but sometimes we don’t see the results of what we do in such clear ways.

For Elijah he heard the voice of God speaking to him in the most unexpected way.

Maybe Elijah expected to hear God’s response to his concerns in the great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;

and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.

Don’t underestimate the results of your work for God just because you don’t see or hear it in huge spectacular ways.

Working for God is not like other work.

Ministry for God is not about a win/loss ratio.

Ministry for God is not about a profit/loss statement.

Ministry for God is about souls that are saved – souls that we don’t always see as numbers in the pew.

As much as we would love to see our churches overflowing and our budgets in surplus it is about seeing heaven overflowing and that we don’t see in physical ways at time.

And don’t underestimate the ministry work that God is doing in your everyday ordinary life.

When Jesus healed the demon possessed man he wanted to go with Jesus and do ministry with him.

But Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and tell everyone how much God has done for you."

Ministry is not just the work we do here in the church.

It is just as important ministry in the work we do in our daily lives – in our work, in our schools, in our sports, in our day to day running around

It’s how we treat people on the roads, in the supermarkets, walking down the street, at the footy – as St Paul says - We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us..

It’s about telling others how much God has done in your life.

And telling others about how much God has done in your life may be simply living out your faith in a way that examples the Christian faith.

Loving one another as Jesus loves you.

Forgiving as you have been forgiven.

Treating one another equally as St Paul says in our 2nd reading –

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

Sometimes it feels as if we are fighting a losing battle but God reassures Elijah that although he feels like he is doing it alone God has in fact reserved for himself 7,000 faithful people.

Sadly, because the church lives “in the world” we are often influenced by worldly success targets.

We rate success on numbers and dollars – and realistically we do have to pay our way like other organisations.

But we are first and foremost citizens of heaven and we exist solely to be the body of Christ in the world.

And that’s where we have to trust God in all we do and not become disheartened like Elijah but listen to the small quiet voice of God encouraging us.

Though sometimes that small quiet voice of God is heard in sheer silence.

So continue to be encouraged as you serve our Lord and tell everyone how much God has done for you and make time each day to listen to the voice of God in sheer silence.