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Pretty harsh Words
coming this week from the Old Testament prophet Zephaniah… We have the angry
judging God, end times or apocalyptic chaos alluded to and destruction
something we're definitely not used to especially when or by the time Jesus
comes along. We’re not used to hearing it or dealing with it especially since
we have experienced the reality of Grace through the sacrifice and gift of the
Cross and Resurrection of Christ Jesus.
What's been pretty
interesting with the last couple weeks when you look at the cycle of the
lessons we have been hearing these past several Sundays they are all about how
the Spirit is working. In specific, how we're receiving the spirit
and how we're using the Holy Spirit to live into being and becoming the
children of Grace.
We could almost say that
ever since Pentecost the day that we only know painted by the Words of the Holy
Spirit through Saint Luke in the book of Acts; did our journey find its
beginning. These are our unique and truly personal journeys for each and every
one of us as Christ Jesus disciples. We have perhaps drifted away
from the importance of intentionally seeking our individual spiritual formation
into Christ—into most importantly the New Nature. The Gospel is
first and foremost a spiritual transformative journey, one that we all must
take if we profess that Jesus is Lord and is the center of our lives and
labors.
In my text study the
other morning, we talked about perhaps many a sermon will be missing the mark
this morning in just seeing this as a text for stewardship, financial support
to the church. We must realize that Biblically defined, we are the
church—ourselves as disciples! We have
built up way too much, the structure and doctrine of church nearly over and
above Christ for our salvation and sustenance.
It is about stewardship
but of a completely spiritual kind; one that is definitely, most expressively
personal. Where we have gone wrong in understanding the concept of
church yet alone its theology... Is that the true beginning of the
church starts with the person in communion with God (the faith journey) it
starts planted in the heart by God alone.
The Pentecost journey
begins as that spark. It is that flame within the heart of faith planted
through grace by Christ Jesus death and resurrection. Now we are at
the point of needing to see and realize; where we are, what are we doing with
our faith? How are we living truly and truthfully into the lifestyle of Grace?
Last Sunday’s Jesus parable which was the text just before this Sunday’s Gospel
talked about the “fuel” to keeping that light of faith burning brightly. This week’s Gospel snippet is all about once
we’ve prioritized Christ being the center of our lives; are we truly preparing
ourselves to be accountable to the Gospel of Grace?
Just how much are we
allowing the world to dictate to us what we are to do? Are we living for the
world or are we living for Christ? I kind of wonder sometimes about our
prioritizing especially when we see caring for others being an intellectual
decision, agenda or works righteousness…. Volition is a gracious movement of
faith alone produced by Grace alone for Christ alone and fed by the Living Word
alone. It is both an individual journey
as well as one lived cooperatively through Love for Jesus sake.
It is all too easy for
us to declare that the ruler of this world that we are not supposed to be of...
is truly in charge. Part of verse three which is four verses before
today's Old Testament passage has God as the angry punishing parent basically declaring: "... I
will overthrow the stumbling blocks the idols along with the wicked...."
Perhaps we don't want to
see or think about it as reality now but we are prey to idolatry. We have intellectual, idolatry we idolize and
cater to the world of the self! Or as cleverly put once—catering to the Unholy
Trinity of I, Me and Mine! God is not important enough, neither is neighbor we
live unto ourselves and have developed a great and mighty culture towards it! If we do indeed consider ourselves disciples
of Jesus: It’s not my will be done but thy will be done.
Just a day in the life
of someone could example two different ways of living in response to this
natural command and in a sense, challenge of faith. For example there someone I know who’s lost
their job, and is sensing that the economic forecast is true. They are being discriminated against because
of their age and sex. Can it be
proven? Current work place ethics and
their place of poverty make it rather dubious for them to even consider
pursuing some kind of legal action.
About 20 years or so
previous to their finding God in their lives they suffered from severe anxiety.
They were taking antidepressants for panic
attacks and if that wasn’t bad enough, even developed a drinking problem
alongside it. But not knowing God at the time they'd never realized or knew how
much faith and putting their trust in the Lord strengthens profoundly the heart
while they are going through the world now as a servant leader.
Putting your trust and
great hope into the unpredictable journey of seriously living into the cost of
discipleship, needs you to don that armor as Paul says: “8 But since
we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and
love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has destined
us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10
who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. 11
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are
doing.”
The truth is we need God
and we need to sojourn faithfully together.
There can be no stumbling blocks in this path if we are to truly be and
become ambassadors for Christ living faithfully into the lifestyle of Grace.
This individual like many have a lot of burdens still and even perhaps greater
than what they experienced in the past… but they have donned that armor. The Evil One would love to rule the world
with fear, anxiety, hate, greed and indifference. It is up to us to open our hearts and our
lives truly and truthfully to God for our garden to produce in abundance.
We must be fed and led
in order to lead and feed others for Christ’s sake. This past week, I had an epiphany in applying
for various ministry opportunities to care for the elderly. I realized just how deeply I have lived into
God’s command and embrace in my life.
Caring for people takes a profound capacity but trusting in the Lord and
holding hope for the future; I am realizing how to love neighbor greatly in
service. This is just one part of my
journey. What about yours?
Let us pray:
Gracious and Loving God,
Continue to help guide
our feet
To not stumble over
Satan’s convenient detours
Help our journey to
continue to be shaped
Faithfully in the heart
first
By You alone, Your
Living Word Alone
And by the amazing Grace
you have given us
As New Creature manna
May we sojourn together
away from the graceless wilderness of Satan
And boldly by faith—trusting,
harboring great hope
Into the reality of Grace—the
Kingdom of Heaven
AMEN
Sunday November 16th,
2014; 23rd Sunday after Pentecost; Year A; Proper 28; SOLA
Lectionary EXEGESIS
Psalm 90:1-12; Zephaniah
1:7-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30
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