I felt that this was an excellent way to see Jesus' journey to His Crucifixion from the eyes of another and how Jesus changed his life and the lives of his sons. I pray that it will touch you and keep you focused on the importance of Christ's journey to Jerusalem and the Cross. Praise God Alleluia! He is Risen indeed……………Alleluia. Happy Easter. Pastor Ron and Karen.
An Unexpected Encounter That Changed My Life
My name is Simon and since we are approaching the anniversary of our Lord’s death and resurrection, I thought I would write to you and tell you how the events of the first Good Friday affected me. A bit of background about me first. I was visiting the city of Jerusalem from North Africa, from Cyrene, a city on the coast of what is today called Libya. There was quite a large Jewish population there, mostly merchants.
Why was I in Jerusalem that day? Well, as you know it was almost time for the Passover festival and I had journeyed to Jerusalem to be part of this ancient ritual.
I was staying in the country with relatives and as I entered Jerusalem, I sensed that something was about to happen. People were talking, some were arguing about whether ‘he’ was innocent or guilty, but by the tone in people’s voices it seemed that most people thought he had it coming to him. I must say, that there was also a small group of people who were clearly upset. In fact, some of the women were in tears.
I joined the crowd as people started to line the street. I saw Roman soldiers pushing the people apart to make way and heard people up the street shouting and abusing someone. It got louder as the crowd slowly made its way down the street towards me.
My curiosity got the better of me. I pushed my way to the front to get a closer look at what was going on. I was just curious about the person who was copping so much abuse. It was a beautiful day, but the ugly mood of the crowd was such a contrast to the blue sky and cool breeze. A man standing next to me told me that Jesus of Nazareth had been arrested the night before, and was condemned by the Jewish Council and then taken to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. He told how earlier Pilate asked the crowd whom they wanted to see punished, Jesus or the criminal Barabbas. He told me how the crowd had called out for the crucifixion of this man. When I asked the man next to me what he had done to deserve such treatment, he said he didn’t really know.
Well anyway, as the Roman soldiers passed where I was standing, I saw a man so badly beaten and bleeding. They must have used one of those dreadful whips that tear into the skin. He was covered in blood. What’s more, he was carrying a cross, that terrible instrument of torture and death that the Romans used so often. It not only looked heavy and awkward to carry but its roughness and splinters must have dug into his raw skin as he dragged it along the street and every bump in the rough road must have ripped into his flesh.
He walked unsteadily under the load. It was clear he had no strength left. He fell to his knees a few times and every time he fell the crowd laughed louder and abused him all the more. And every time he fell, the soldiers poked his bleeding flesh with the butt of their spears.
There were two others carrying their crosses also, hard-looking, criminal types, who used some choice words and swore at the noisy crowd. They had murder in their eyes every time they were pushed and poked by a soldier.
But Jesus was different. No cursing came from his lips. He even stopped to speak to some weeping women on the side of the road. He was so different. He didn’t speak with anger or hatred. He spoke gently to those wailing something about not crying for him but for themselves and their children because something terrible would soon happen.
As I watched this scene I noticed that a crown of thorny branches had been pressed onto his head. Blood ran down his face and into his eyes. He tripped on his robe as it bunched up under his feet under his bent frame. How could they expect him to carry this heavy and awkward cross when he was in such a weak condition?
Just as Jesus neared where I was standing, he stumbled and fell again. It was clear that he was too weak to carry the weight of the cross.
Whether it was compassion for the victim or simply a matter of getting the job done, I tend to think it was more of the latter than the former, one of the guards pulled me out of the crowd, rather roughly I might add, and made me carry the cross to Calvary.
You can imagine my reluctance to get involved. I had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover; I had come for worship and prayer, not to get involved with carrying the cross of some stranger
who had obviously done something to upset not only the Romans, but also the locals. I wanted to protest – not have any part in all of this. To be truthful, the Roman soldier wasn’t offering me a choice. He was telling me, commanding me, to pick up the cross and carry it.
As I took the cross on to my shoulder Jesus gave me a look of relief, a look of gratitude. With the weight of the cross pressing into my flesh, I couldn’t help but think of Jesus, who not only had to carry the cross but soon would be carried by it from life to death, nailed by pounding hammer blows, and lifted up. All the horror of what was happening was going through my mind, and the look he gave me made me glad that I could help him in some small way.
As I trudged along with the cross over my shoulder, hearing the abuse of the crowd around, the crack of the Roman whip and the soldiers' loud barking commands driving along the prisoners, I realized that even though I was carrying a cross at that moment, he was the one who in the end would have to endure it to its bitterest end. I thought carrying the cross through the streets was hard enough, but what he went through was ever so much harder. All I can say is that cross bearing is a hard and lonesome task.
I was horrified at the brutality of the crucifixion. When I learned that this Jesus was no thief, or robber, or rebel, as were the other two, I couldn’t understand the reason for his death. There seemed to be no justice in his cross at all. It didn’t make sense that this kind of violence should be committed against innocent life.
Later I found out differently. God does have strange ways of doing things. I’ll admit that I became involved in these events reluctantly. But in spite of my reluctance to get involved with the cross of Jesus, that very same cross has become a life-giving power in my life and not only my life but that of my two sons, Alexander and Rufus. You see, I saw Jesus die on Calvary, but he didn't stay dead. He came alive again on Sunday morning, and I knew that the one for whom I had carried the cross is truly my Lord and Savior.
I’ve told you what happened on Good Friday for a special reason. You see, even though I was shocked at the treatment that Jesus received and repulsed by the brutality, the blood, the nails and the cruelty of nailing a naked person to wood to hang there until life drained away, I realize that this was no ordinary death. That man on the cross was God. He allowed himself to be subjected to all of this for me, for all of those who shouted ‘Crucify him’, for all of you.
Jesus, nailed to a cross, and dying such a horrible death changes the whole of our lives. The cross has come to mean for Christians everywhere a symbol of hope, newness, reconciliation, total love and commitment toward us, forgiveness.
The cross changed my life. The cross changes yours.
Come to the cross and bring your sin. I don’t know why we do it, but far too often we carry our sin around with us and let it eat away at us. The bad feelings, the guilt, the shame, the feeling sorry for ourselves, the broken relationships – it is just for these that Jesus was nailed to a cross. He carried our sin on his shoulders on the cross.
Trust him to take that burden from us.
Trust him to renew and refresh your life.
Come to the cross, bring your sin and receive forgiveness.
Come to the cross and bring everything that frightens you and everything that weighs you down—the burden of the cross of illness, family troubles, uncertainty about our future, or some sin you want to turn away from it, but find it ever so hard.
Look to the cross of Jesus. There you will see the love and care and understanding that your God has for you. He is prepared to take any of your problems and carry them for you. He promises, "Come to me all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28). It is clear from the way Jesus carried your load of sin on to the cross even though you had done nothing to deserve it, that he is prepared to help you with anything, absolutely anything that life might throw at you. So bring to the cross whatever heavy load you are carrying.
Come to the cross and bring your thankfulness. This week as you remember what Jesus went through for you, how he has taken your place, given you forgiveness and the assurance of eternal life, do so with gratitude. Without Jesus, God's judgment on our sin would be a terrifying thing. Thank God for the cross. It is the only way to be forgiven.
Come to the cross and bring your friends. The life we have in Christ needs to be shared; it needs to be made known. (I know what an impact sharing what happened to me that day had on my sons Alexander and Rufus). How can we keep such good news to ourselves? Share what Christ has done for you. Watch out for opportunities to tell them what Christ has done for you. The cross is meant to be shared.
I'm glad the soldier made me carry that cross. I didn't want to, but look what blessings that cross has brought me. I came to know the love of the Saviour and the forgiveness his cross won for me. I carried the cross for him that day, but I know that today he hoists on to his shoulders the heavy crosses we bear today.
Well, that’s my story. May God's grace be with you as you celebrate this Easter season.
Simon.
Lent is a time when we reflect on the year and begin to examine our lives and decide on what we could do differently to grow in our faith. Some of us give up things like sweets, pop, coffee etc. others do things to spend more time learning about ourselves as Christians so that we could grow closer to God. My prayer for you is that whatever path you take you find yourself getting closer to your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Repent and be glad!
A LEPER came to Jesus asking for CLEANSING——NO!—–BEGGING for CLEANSING.
He wasn't JUST asking to be HEALED,– but to be CLEANSED. HEALING was for the BODY–CLEANSING was for the SOUL. To BE HEALED meant that he would NO LONGER have SORES on his BODY. To be CLEANSED meant that PEOPLE would no longer TREAT him as a LEPER…AN OUTCAST.
LEPERS COULDN'T BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES–LIVE IN TOWN–GO TO WORSHIP.
They had to LIVE out in the COUNTRYSIDE. If they saw someone COMING in their DIRECTION,– they had to SHOUT, "Unclean, unclean!" so the other person would NOT accidentally become INFECTED. Lepers COULDN'T HOLD A JOB ,– so they were REDUCED TO BEGGING.
And lepers didn't get much SYMPATHY. People thought that God was PUNISHING lepers for something they HAD DONE. It's a terrible thing to be SICK and NOT to get any SYMPATHY! But a quick reading of our Gospel lesson tells us that this leper GOT SYMPATHY from Jesus. It says that Jesus was "moved with pity." At least that is what SOME translations say.
The New Testament was written originally in Greek. We have none of the ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS, and the MANUSCRIPTS that we DO HAVE don't always AGREE. In this case, some manuscripts don't say that Jesus was MOVED WITH PITY,— but that HE WAS ANGRY. We aren't sure which is the correct reading,– but it is POSSIBLE that Jesus WAS ANGRY."
WHY would Jesus be ANGRY? In this early part of the Gospel of Mark,– Jesus was going about TEACHING and HEALING,– but he had A PROBLEM. The PROBLEM was that PEOPLE tended to FOLLOW HIM for HIS MIRACLES –and to IGNORE HIS TEACHINGS.
People WANTED Jesus to HEAL THEM,— but they DIDN'T really want to BECOME HIS DISCIPLES–to GIVE HIM their HEARTS. As ONE FARMER put it–SOME people love Christ "as they LOVE THEIR COW—for the MILK and CHEESE and PROFIT it brings to them."
We have a PHRASE FOR IT–"falling in love for all the wrong reasons." I thought there must be a COUNTRY SONG by that NAME, but I couldn't find it. "Falling in love for all the wrong reasons." If there ISN'T A SONG by THAT NAME,– there OUGHT TO BE. It could be a big country music hit–"Falling in love for all the wrong reasons."
That phrase came to MIND as I was writing THIS SERMON. It speaks of being ATTRACTED to SOMEONE for SUPERFICIAL REASONS–falling in LOVE with someone's SPORTY CAR or the way they way THEY TALK. There isn't anything WRONG with THOSE THINGS,– but you NEED MORE than that to sustain a lifelong RELATIONSHIP.
Jesus was trying to AVOID A PROBLEM LIKE THAT–people who FOLLOWED HIM for SUPERFICIAL REASONS–people who WANTED HIM to HEAL THEM– BUT who did NOT want to GIVE HIM THEIR HEARTS.
Jesus' ministry, in these early chapters of Mark, focused on TWO THINGS–TEACHING and HEALING, and Jesus was concerned to keep the TWO IN BALANCE. He DIDN'T MIND people coming to him for HEALING,– but he wanted them also to EMBRACE HIS TEACHING. He was HAPPY TO HEAL their BODIES,– but he WANTED also to TRANSFORM THEIR SOULS. To do anything LESS would be like slapping a NEW COAT OF PAINT on an OLD RUSTY CAR.
Now this LEPER was asking Jesus to CLEANSE HIM, and Jesus was CONCERNED.
It was ONE THING to HEAL Peter's mother-in-law of FEVER,– as he had just done, but to CLEANSE a LEPER –would be so DRAMATIC that it might, indeed, ATTRACT people for all the WRONG REASONS–people who wanted HELP– only with their SICK BODIES–people who CARED NOTHING about their SICK SOULS.
But a MAN on HIS KNEES is a PITIFUL thing! It's hard to IGNORE a man who is BEGGING for something that only YOU CAN GIVE!
So Jesus surely felt COMPASSION for this POOR LEPER. But he must have FELT TORN ALSO –perhaps EVEN ANGRY. If he HEALED this man and the WORD GOT AROUND,– Jesus was likely be SWAMPED by people coming to him for ALL THE WRONG REASONS.
Perhaps that's TOO HARSH. There's nothing WRONG with coming to Jesus for HEALING of the BODY. The problem is people who care ONLY for the HEALING of the BODY. Jesus has a DEEPER CONCERN–the HEALING OF OUR SOULS. He didn't want people to FORGET THAT. He didn't want people to COME ONLY for the HEALING of their BODIES.
That, in fact, is what happens at the end of the story. It says that Jesus WARNED the man NOT TO TELL ANYONE but the priest,– but the man TOLD PEOPLE anyway. He turned out to be quite an EVANGELIST. As a result, people came from EVERYWHERE to see Jesus. He could NO LONGER go into TOWNS,– but had to stay out in the COUNTRYSIDE. Even there,– people came to him from everywhere. It was like being A ROCK STAR. Not only could Jesus find NO PEACE,– his ability to SHARE THE WORD was LIMITED.
So what does that have to do with us? We, too, are TEMPTED to follow Jesus ONLY for what he can do for us–and IGNORE his CALL to true DISCIPLESHIP.
I'm reminded of the man who shook my hand at the door of the church one Sunday when I was PERFORMING the CONTEMPORARY SERVICE. My SERMON had been about COSTLY DISCIPLESHIP.
The New Testament has quite a lot to say about COSTLY DISCIPLESHIP. As this man SHOOK MY HAND that morning, he said: "RON, I can tell you why people come to church. They come to church so they can go AWAY feeling GOOD."
I took that as a GENTLE REBUKE. I think the man was telling me that SEMONS about COSTLY DISCIPLESHIP weren't going to FILL THE PEWS. "Tell the people that they're WONDERFUL! Tell them what they WANT TO HEAR! That's what SELLS!"
But that's EMPTY discipleship!– HOLLOW Christianity! When the LEPER came to Jesus for HEALING, Jesus was concerned about EMPTY discipleship–people who would come to him for what they COULD GET–but THEN THEY would DENY HIM their HEARTS.
That's what Jesus wants–HE WANTS OUR HEARTS. Jesus can do a lot WITH PEOPLE who GIVES HIM their HEARTS,– but he can't do much with people who come to him ONLY for—MILK and CHEESE and PROFITS.
But it is CERTAINLY POSSIBLE for people to BE DRAWN to Jesus by needs for HEALING,– and then to FIND in Jesus MUCH MORE. It happens all the time. Very often,– PEOPLE who are DRAWN to Jesus by ILLNESS or DANGER or FEAR find in Jesus something FAR GREATER than the immediate answer to THEIR PROBLEM.
I read a story about Bill McAllister who is A PASTOR and served as a CHAPLAIN in Vietnam.
He tells of FLYING to a BASECAMP one day,– and having TWO SOLDIERS greet him as he got off the HELICOPTER. They were EXCITED to SEE HIM,– and EAGER to TALK.
One of them said that he had COME TO KNOW JESUS just before departing for Vietnam. At the BASECAMP, he had been PAIRED UP with the OTHER SOLDIER, who was NOT A BELIEVER. The two of them became BUDDIES. Together they built a DEEP BUNKER around the Basecamp,– and that was their HOME away FROM HOME.
Then, a few nights before Bill's visit, the BASECAMP had come under MORTAR ATTACK.
In their BUNKER,– the two men were about as SAFE as they could be,– but the CHRISTIAN SOLDIER felt a SUDDEN URGE to RUN to ANOTHER BUNKER–he thought it was a MESSAGE FROM GOD.
His buddy thought that he was CRAZY,– but when the Christian started RUNNING his BUDDY followed. Just as they got to the OTHER BUNKER,– a mortar shell DROPPED exactly on top of their NOW EMPTY BUNKER. All that was LEFT was a SMOKING HOLE. Needless to say, that made quite an IMPRESSION on both of them.
When Bill flew into the BASECAMP that day,– the TWO MEN MET HIM with a SERIOUS REQUEST–they WANTED TO BE BAPTIZED. They took Bill to their OLD FOXHOLE, which was THREE feet deep in MUDDY WATER.
That was where they wanted to be BAPTIZED. Bill's helicopter was about ready to TAKE OFF,– so he didn't have TIME to ask many QUESTIONS.
He decided to GO on FAITH that they were HONEST BELIEVERS–so BOOTS and ALL, he slid down INTO the BROWN MUDDY WATER. One by one,– HE BAPTIZED BOTH MEN there.
Bill says, "They came up COVERED with MUD and BIG GRINS from EAR to EAR."
As it turned out, that was Bill's LAST VISIT to that BASECAMP, and he NEVER SAW those SOLDIERS again. But one thing is for sure. They felt that God had SAVED THEIR LIVES during that MORTAR ATTACK,– and they wanted to respond by GIVING CHRIST THEIR LIVES in that muddy foxhole.
That's what Christ wants from us—- OUR LIVES………AND OUR HEARTS. He can HELP US in MANY WAYS,– but he will NOT be SATISFIED with anything LESS THAN TRANSFORMING our LIVES at the CORE–who WE ARE –and where we PUT OUR TRUST.
Christ wants to help you in a THOUSAND WAYS TODAY,– but mostly he wants to REMAKE YOU at the CORE–to REMAKE YOUR LIFE–to turn you in a NEW DIRECTION–to give you a NEW HEART–to make you a NEW PERSON.
Give him all that YOU ARE,– and let him MAKE YOU into ALL THAT YOU CAN BE.
God’s Blessings
Pastor Ron
Pastor’s Corner
As we prepare ourselves for Lent we must reflect on our sinful nature and ask God lead us to His FORGIVENESS. We must turn our lives around and move towards JESUS and away from SIN.
Prepare the way for the LORD in your life and in the lives of others around you..
When Jesus heard that John the Baptist was in prison, he left Nazareth and moved to Capernaum, where he called his disciples and started his ministry.
According to Mark, he got off to a quick start. The first Sabbath he was there he went to the synagogue and taught. Mark says the elders were astounded at his teaching because he taught as one with authority and not as their scribes. (Mark 1:21-22)
So far, so good. Then trouble began. Mark says,
“Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’” (Mark 1:23-24)
Now, who was this man with the unclean spirit? Mark doesn’t say. The fact that he’s there in the synagogue suggests he was one of the regulars. He may have even been one of the elders. We can assume he looked and acted like everyone else – reverent, righteous and respectable.
So, what unclean spirit did he have? Again, we don’t know, and this is where we’re apt to get off-track. To speak of an unclean spirit is to suggest being possessed by a demon, and that conjures up images of Poltergeist – people with wild eyes and bad hair and green stuff spewing out of their mouths – deranged people who belong in cages or late-night horror movies.
What I’d want for us to think about in the sermon this morning is that this man Jesus confronted might not have been all that different from us, and the unclean spirit he had might have been something we can all identify with. If so, I’m hoping that by naming some of the spirits that commonly afflict us, we’ll be drawn that much closer to the Spirit of the living God in Jesus Christ.
Listen again to what the man said:
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?”
I’d say this man had an overly protective spirit. He sounds like someone who can see the handwriting on the wall – that it wouldn’t be long before this Jesus, “who taught with authority, and not as their scribes,” (Mark 1:22) would soon shake the foundations of the faith and upset their comfortable little ways of doing things.
If I were guessing, I’d say he was one of the scribes – someone who had the most to lose and, therefore, the most to protect.
I KNEW A PERSON in ONE of the churches I ATTENDED years ago with an overly protective spirit. He considered himself one of the last remaining guardians of the one, true faith. His father had been a longtime MEMBER. For him, the ‘true faith” was what he remembered his father doing and saying. So, he took it upon himself to stand guard watching for any signs of heresy, then exposing them.
I could give you any number of examples, but one that stands out in particular was the time when I introduced THE HEALING MINISTRY to this congregation. The PASTOR had given his approval. Many came forward for HEALING PRAYER. But they clearly thought it was un-Lutheran!
I tried to explain that the service came right out of our Book of Occasional Services, but they just scoffed. If he could’ve had his way, I would’ve been looking for another CHURCH that afternoon.
I hasten to say he was not a bad person. On the contrary, he was a respected member of the community, a lifelong member of the church, a man of faith and integrity – someone you’d be honored to know. I also hasten to say that, when KAREN and I moved to another on some years later, we parted as friends. I loved him as a brother in Christ and he loved me, though we obviously didn’t see eye-to-eye on many things.
I still say he had an unclean spirit. He was overly protective of the faith. And, in his zealousness to safeguard the church from heretics like me, he stood in the way of the gospel that offers new life and, with it, new expressions of praise and worship.
Again, I’d be the first to tell you what an upstanding man he was and how you’d never find a more dedicated and committed layman. It’s just that he couldn’t see the big picture. He kept getting hung up on THE SMALL STUFF.
Well, this is only one example, but you get the point: Unclean spirits are a part of everyday life. You see them all the time. They lurk within us and about us, and, like the spirit of the man in the synagogue that day, they stand in the way of God’s grace and love.
So, how do we get rid of those UNCLEAN SPIRITS? The first step is to name them and so, expose them for what they are.
I had a friend years ago who made it a practice to name all the unclean spirits plaguing his congregation. He’d say things like, “He has a negative spirit.” Or, “She has a spirit of animosity.” “He has a controlling spirit.” “She has a spirit of jealousy.” Have you ever KNOWN a PERSON with a NEGATIVE SPIRIT? They LOOK for the NEGATIVE instead of the POSITIVE in every SITUATION. They SUCK the JOY out of LIFE.
His intent wasn’t to be judgmental, but to be honest. These are attitudes and behaviors that can kill a church. I’ve seen it, and you have too. The first step in getting rid of them is to bring them out in the open. Unclean spirits are like cockroaches – when you shine a light on them they run for their lives. Jesus put it this way:
“Those who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” (John 3:20-21)
Name the unclean spirits. That’s the first step. And the second step is to replace them with the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Unclean spirits and the Holy Spirit are incompatible. You can have one or the other, but not both. And this is the Good News: When the Spirit of Jesus Christ fills your mind and heart, the unclean spirit within you has to go; and, when it goes, a visible transformation occurs.
Have any of you seen the movie, Fireproof. It was created and produced by a congregation in Albany, Georgia to offer help and support to married couples.
It starts off with a husband and wife at odds with each other and stressed out by the pressures of everyday life. As you get to know them better, you realize how egocentric they both are. The husband is caught up in his wants and wishes; the wife is caught up in hers. The marriage quickly deteriorates and they decide to split up.
It’s a long story how this all comes about, but the turning point of the movie is the moment at which the husband finally hits bottom and admits he needs help. In total surrender, he turns to Christ and begins a 40-day program of putting his wife first. Every day he does something intentional to honor her and show his affection.
Sadly, she doesn’t respond. She doesn’t trust his motives. She thinks he’s just trying to soften her resolve so that he’ll come out better in the divorce settlement.
Still, he persists. He makes her coffee in the morning, sends her flowers, cleans the house, calls to see how her day is going … and he gets nothing in return but a slap in the face. Only now, instead of losing his temper and fighting back as he did before, he leans on the strength of God’s Spirit and returns her rejection with deeds of loving kindness.
This was the most convincing part of the movie for me – the transformation of the husband when he turned his life over to Jesus Christ. No longer was he at war with his wife. No longer was he at odds with himself. His unclean spirit of self-centeredness had given way to a fresh spirit of unconditional love and heartfelt devotion.
His body language spoke volumes. Whereas before, his face was strained and his blood vessels popped out when he spoke; now, his eyebrows softened and his breathing was relaxed. Anyone could see the change: Here was a man filled with the peace of God and now able to share the gifts of God’s love, regardless of what he got in return.
Before we wrap it up, I’d like to invite you to name the unclean spirits you’ve seen around here.
For example, in one of my SERMONS last month, I said one of my greatest concerns is the spirit of a PARENT or GODPARENT NOT following through on their VOW of NOT bringing ther CHILDREN or GODCHILDREN to CHURCH and CHURCH FUNCTIONS.
For example,
• We have whole pews that go empty on Sunday morning. Does that bother you?
• We have a hand full of children in Sunday school on Sunday mornings. Is this the best we can do?
Complacency is a close kin to apathy and a spirit of resignation. They all lead to decline, and decline spells a slow and certain death.
Well, if I’m right and we do have a spirit of complacency among us, we need to be honest about it.
We need to name it and then ask God to give us a new spirit of determination and resolve to build up the church’s membership ONE PERSON AT THE TIME and expand its mission.
Of course, I could be wrong. So, I invite you to name the unclean spirits you see lurking around here. And, while you’re at it, name the unclean spirits in your own heart.
Paul said the fruit of God’s Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Does that fit you? Is this the way your best friends would describe you to others?
Listen: The secret to driving out the unclean spirits is to name them and replace them with the Spirit of God, and that leads to transformation. The change may be immediate, as it was in the movie FIREPROOF; or it may be gradual, as, little by little, you become more Christ-like.
Either way, when the Spirit of the living God comes into your heart, the unclean spirits will scatter, and you’ll feel like a new man or new woman.
God bless you and help you to prepare the way of the Lord.
Pastor Ron
Pastor’s Corner
Every year that Christmas comes I am more and more excited about the story of the GIFT we ALL get to unwrap at Christmas time. That special gift is JESUS! I seem to be more excited about it each year and more than the year before. Let me share the story that brings me joy so that you may enjoy it with me.
Well, the time has finally arrived. Our days of WATCHING and WAITING and PREPARING during this ADVENT SEASON are finally over, and tonight the CELEBRATION BEGINS. Set the details of the HUSSLE AND BUSSLE aside tonight and REJOICE, as we gather to consider the event that changed the course of human history forever. It’s Christmas! And my prayer tonight is that Jesus will be born in us,–and LIVE IN US, and be OUR REASON for LIVING, and loving and caring and giving every day of our lives.
Now,– having said that, I know that this is also a night of SURPRISES. In fact, I think that’s a word that best describes CHRISTMAS– in this modern day. Packages under the tree or under the bed hold surprises that wait to be unwrapped. Family or friends will travel great distances and show up at our homes unexpectedly. “Surprise!” they will say when we open the door. One WOMEN approached the clerk at WALMART and asked for a large bottle of PERFUME for her DAUGHTER. “IS IT A SURPRISE?” the clerk asked.
“Yes” the woman said, “she’s expecting An IPAD!”
Christmas is all about SURPRISES. When the ANGEL GABRIEL told MARY that she would CONCEIVE and bear a SON, and HE would be the Savior of the world, Mary was SURPRISED. “How can this be?” she asked the messenger.
When Joseph FOUND OUT that his FIANCEE was PREGNANT, Joseph was SURPRISED, SHOCKED and ANGRY until the ANGEL told him the REST of the STORY.
Elizabeth and Zecharias were ASTONISHED when Elizabeth got PREGNANT as an OLD WOMAN. Then the angel announced that their child would USHER in news of the MESSIAH, for whom the world had been waiting for a thousand years.
But I am here tonight to tell you that NOBODY was MORE SURPRISED than the SHEPHERDS near Bethlehem, when ANGELS appeared to them and ANNOUNCED the BIRTH of the Son of God.
They were shepherds, after all. UNEDUCATED, and UNLIKELY, but it was to THEM that the NEWS FIRST CAME . “Do not be afraid” THE ANGEL SAID.
But of course they were AFRAID; they were TERRIFIED. But the angel persisted. “Don’t be afraid, for I bring you GOOD NEWS and GREAT JOY, which shall be for all the people.
For unto YOU this day in the City of David there has born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
What happened next is a MARVELOUS MIRACLE, ONE of MANY that happened on that first Christmas night. When the ANGELS DEPARTED from them, the SHEPHERDS said to one another “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing which the angel has made known to us.” And they just WENT!
The shepherds ACTUALLY WENT!– Scripture says- that the shepherds WENT with HASTE to Bethlehem– and found it just as it had been told TO THEM. But that’s because they were SHEPHERDS. They didn’t form a COMMITTEE, they didn’t stop to consider the ECONOMIC IMPACT, they didn’t TAKE A POLL, or call in CONSULTANTS, or REQUESTED MORE INFORMATION FROM THE ANGEL. They WENT. With haste. Immediately. And they found it exactly as the angel had said.
But what does all of this mean to us,– some 2000 years removed from that holy night? In an age when shepherds have all but disappeared from our world;– an age when the town of Bethlehem is an EPICENTER of CONFLICT and BITTERNESS, and when we seem to do everything “with haste” except consider whether there is any room for Jesus in our lives. What does it all mean to us…today…in this present age? Three things, I think.
THE FIRST– is that Jesus still wants to come into the LIVES of the PLAIN and ORDINARY PEOPLE of this world. SHEPHERDS were not rocket scientists!
They weren’t SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS, or NOBEL PRIZE winners, or LUTHERAN PASTORS. They were COMMON FOLK, whose lives were filled with MENIAL TASKS and significant CHALLENGES, and often, they were just trying to SURVIVE in the WILDERNESS.
People, we have met the shepherds and THEY ARE US.
Nothing SPECIAL. Nothing EXTRAORDINARY. But CHOSEN by GOD to receive the greatest gift ever given. “This very night, a Savior has been born, FOR YOU.”
I know for a FACT that there are MANY in our MIDST whose LIVES are HARD.
You wonder where your LIFE is HEADED. You wonder if you do COUNT FOR ANYTHING. You wonder if GOD HEARS your prayers. welcome to the SHEPHERDS GUILD, friends. A Savior has been born for YOU tonight.
THE SECOND this has to do with is FEAR. “Do not be afraid” the angel said.
Well, EASIER said than DONE. When rumors and threats and “CODE ORANGE” flood our MINDS. When LOVED ONES face ILLNESS. When MONEY is SHORT, when HOPE is FADING,– when RELATIONSHIPS are STRAINED, of course WE become AFRAID.
To be AFRAID is to be HUMAN. To simply say “Don’t be afraid” DOESN'T CUT IT!
But that’s not what the angel said. “Don’t be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy; a Savior has been born for you.”– God is here,– in this FRACTURED,— HURTING WORLD OF OURS.
God is WITH US in the DARK NIGHTS and the HOPELESS SITUATIONS.
God promises NEVER to ABANDON US, and more than that, God has promised that because of Jesus, we will LIVE FOREVER. His love WILL WORK on our fear.
And THE FINAL THING IS THIS; the SHEPHERDS went to Bethlehem.
They didn’t HAVE to GO. The ANGELS didn’t COMMAND IT; God didn’t REQUIRE IT.
But the INVITATION was offered. “This shall be a sign for you; a baby, wrapped in SWADLING CLOTHES and lying in a MANGER.”
The SHEPHERDS went straight to Bethlehem, not to SEE if it was TRUE, but because they BELIEVED IT WAS.
They knew that the WORLD had suddenly CHANGED,– and they wanted to CELEBRATE that fact.
And I think that’s why we are HERE TODAY; MOST OF US, at least.
Some may have come because your PARENTS made YOU, or your SPOUSE required YOU, or your CHILDREN guilted YOU into coming. That’s okay; we’re just GLAD you’re HERE!
But most have come because, like the SHEPHERDS, you believe the MESSAGE of the ANGELS. A Savior has been BORN, one who will BRIDGE the GAP between a SINFUL WORLD and a gracious God. So you’ve come. God has TOUCHED YOU with a promise that has taken ROOT in your HEART.
That though you are ORDINARY…that though you are SINFUL SHEPHERDS and SO AM I…a Savior has been BORN FOR US, and we have a reason to celebrate. Thanks be to God.
GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I…..Have a Happy and Healthy New Year. May you bring Christmas in your world 365 days a year.
Pastor Ron
150th Anniversary
Thank You!
The anniversary was celebrated with many special events throughout the year. Many meetings and lots of work with Pastor Ron made every event a success.
The picture directory started with many meetings, phone calls, and great participation by our members. Next came the Sesquicentennial Book…..Again, months and weeks of get to-gethers led by Pastor Ron and the committee of many volunteers. Finally The DVD’s were completed and they are wonderful.
October arrived with many special days for celebrations. October 1st hosted the German Pork Dinner for the community. October 2nd was the DVD’s of Zion’s members. October 9th was a special youth service. October 16th there was the 10:15am Worship Service followed by a free dinner for members and guests, 2:30 was the Anniversary Service. October 23rd was a special 10:15 Service with a Musical Concert in the evening. October 30th was the Family Harvest Turkey Dinner, and the children’s Halloween events. Thank You! God is blessing Zion through all of YOU!
We had many donations and we would like to say thank you to all. Thank You Everyone!
The celebration should continue in our hearts as we praise God for the people of Zion. We ask that He guide us into the future and show Zion the way to reach out to His people here and in the community. We have our mission!
Know Jesus, Make Jesus Known.
Did You Know?????
Do you know where Satan got his power for evil?
The answer is this: The origin of evil is one of the greatest theological problems we have. Let’s turn to Scripture that gives to us the origin of evil, as far as we know. It tells of the fall of Satan: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou has said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…” (Isaiah 14:12,13). Satan was created with the power from God, but then he said in his heart, “I want to be like the most High.” This creature wanted to be like God—so much so that he wanted to take GOD’s place. He was far superior to any of God’s angels or creations, so he felt he could set his will over the will of God. That’s what sin is: TO SET YOUR WILL OVER THE WILL OF GOD. How many men and women are living self-sufficient lives AND DECIDE THAT THEY DON’T NEED GOD? He gets in their way, and they’d like to get rid of Him if they could. There are those today who make the statement of what they are going to do, and even though it’s contrary to the will of God, they don’t mind saying it or trying to do it. And that is WHERE THEY LEAD THEMSELVES AWAY FROM GOD AND CLOSER TO EVIL.
Reflection: Give Thanks To An Awesome God.
As Christians, I think most all of us have a sense that we are supposed to be joyful and
thankful all the time,– especially during the Thanksgiving season.
But we all have corners of our life that bring us SORROW,–DISAPPOINTMENT,–PAIN AND EVEN DISILLUSIONMENT.
Those are the FACETS of LIFE that TUG at our SPIRIT of CONTENTMENT and GRATITUDE.
Those issues can leave us feeling like we are LAME CHRISTIANS because we just don’t feel “happy” about them and if we let them,– they can PULL US INTO DESPAIR.
The SECRET to a JOYFUL,–GRATEFUL HEART isn’t that we feel “happy” or “good” about EVERYTHING in OUR LIFE.
There are things that simply aren’t happy, no matter how we look at them.
God doesn’t expect us to DISCONNECT our MINDS from REALITY and live in some twilight zone of PLASTIC HAPPINESS.
BAD things are BAD things. And they happen to GODLY PEOPLE.
God grieves over the BROKENESS IN US and in our world. It isn’t WRONG to GRIEVE over them just as He does.
The KEY to having a HEART of GRATITUDE amidst those difficult circumstances is being FILLED with an UNSHAKABLE EXPECTATION that God will do something GOOD with them, that He sits SOVEREIGN over every DETAIL of LIFE–and that His CHARACTER is GOOD, PERFECT and LOVING.
May God grant us the VISION and GRACE that would enable us to PRAISE His name and CHARACTER in our HARDSHIPS and give most generously from our lack – then we will be people who know the SECRET of having thankful HEARTS in every circumstance.
There are always REASONS to be thankful.
We need to be thankful FOR ALL THINGS and to be thankful IN ALL THINGS.
Even in the most DIFFICULT of CIRCUMSTANCES,– you can find a reason for a thankful heart.
I like the phrase that says, “I complained because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.” No matter what your circumstances, I believe there is a reason to be thankful in your circumstances. Your situation MAY NEVER CHANGE,– but your ATTITUDE CAN CHANGE, and that will make all the difference in the world.
Terry Fox was a Canadian distance runner who started a run from one side of Canada to the other. He ran at least a marathon distance of 26 miles each day to raise money for cancer research. He was a CANCER VICTIM HIMSELF.
He ran every mile on one leg, since his right leg had been amputated above the knee. Almost every day a television announcer or radio newscaster would put a microphone in front of Terry and ask him how his run for cancer was going. Often exhausted and losing valuable strength, Terry would say, “I don’t know about tomorrow, but God gave me another day to live, and I’m thankful for each day I’m alive.”
Terry DIDN'T FINISH his run across Canada because he DIED of the dreaded disease. Yet even to the end, he remained thankful for each day and considered each one God’s gift to him. With an ATTITUDE OF THANKFULNESS he made the most of a difficult situation.
Here is a part of the Thanksgiving story you may not know.
While the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in October of 1621, it was not until October of 1777 that all 13 colonies celebrated Thanksgiving, for the first time. At one point, our first president, George Washington, proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving, but conflict and difficulties among the colonies put an end to its observance.
It was a magazine editor, Sarah Josepha Hale, whose work led to the celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday we observe today. Hale wrote letters to governors and presidents, and editorials in magazines, books and newspapers, promoting the observance of Thanksgiving. In 1863, after 40 years of letter writing and campaigning, Hale’s PERSISTENCE PAID OFF and President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving.
Since then, every president has supported Thanksgiving. Forty years of dedication, persistence and passion, all to make sure that this country would celebrate a National Day of Thanksgiving each year.,,,,,,, Hmmm. Impressive.
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Make the most of the present moment. No occasion is unworthy of our best efforts. God often uses the humble occasions and little things to shape the course of a man's life.
What are your circumstances right now? Is it time for you to begin developing a greater attitude of thankfulness in your life?
May God Bless You More This Year And Keep You Healthy, Thankful and Persistent.
Be thankful for all and prepare yourself for the coming of our Lord.
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Ron and Karen
150th Anniversary
What a day! The church was full of wonderful people who came to celebrate our 150th Anniversary on October 16th! Our month of celebration was a wonderful way to praise God for blessing Zion these many years. Thank you everyone that came and to all the people that worked to make it a day to remember! The directory was a great start of celebrating Zion’s people. The DVD’s are spectacular! Thanks to Brenda, Sandy and our youth for the October 9th Service.
The October 16th Sunday’s events are special memories of the past; but with hope and love for God’s house in the year to come, we hope to enrich our faith and ask God’s guidance for Zion and our future.
Thank you also for all that contributed to our memorabilia of pictures, etc. Please pick yours up after October 30th.
Again, Thank You and Praise be to God for Zion and our families.
The books and the three DVD’s are still available at $1.50 each. Contact Pastor Ron if you are interested
Pastor’s Corner
Looking Back Helps Us As We Move Forward (Matthew 1:1-17)
Have anyone heard of JANUS– IN ROMAN THEOLOGY?
He was CAPABLE of LOOKING SIMULTANEOUSLY– FORWARD AND BACKWARD.
Our look back at 150 YEARS of this congregation's life– gives us COURAGE and HOPE for the NEXT 150 YEARS..
I've chosen A TEXT that marks a similar TURNING POINT in the Bible:– the opening 17 verses of Matthew of the New Testament, AND the beginning of the collected writings of the Christian Church.
This seems like a STRANGE TEXT for a sermon:— 17 verses of NAMES — WHO was the father of WHOM for 42 GENERATIONS.
It's a passage that's NEVER INCLUDED in a LECTIONARY, and SELDOM READ in a WORSHIP SERVICE.———- DID YOU FIGURE OUT WHY YET?
LOTS OF HARD NAMES TO PRONOUNCE….AND…It seems like mere BACKGROUND INFORMATION. But in Matthew's understanding of the gospel,– this GENEALOGY is the PROPER BEGINNING for the story of Jesus. Why is Jesus' family history so IMPORTANT in the Bible?
Jesus' genealogy serves TWO PURPOSES.
FIRST,– it tells THEM –just WHO JESUS WAS.
The original readers of this gospel were JEWISH PEOPLE, who Matthew BELIEVED could best UNDERSTAND JESUS if they knew how HE FIT into their history.
"You know who ABRAHAM WAS," he says, "and ISAAC and JACOB and DAVID and SOLOMON. This Jesus,– the Christ, is THEIR DESCENDENT."
SECOND,–this LIST of GENERATIONS told Matthew's READERS the MEANING of their OWN ANCESTRY. In Jesus' DAY,– the PEOPLE of Israel looked to THE PAST for their PURPOSE.
They were the people who had been DELIVERED FROM EGYPT,– and had RECEIVED the TEN COMMANDMENTS,– and had CONQUERED THE PROMISED LAND.
But they had become SUBJECTS of ONE FOREIGN EMPIRE after ANOTHER,– and they were inclined to see all their GLORY in the PAST;– they also felt as though God had ABANDONED THEM.
In this long GENEALOGY of Jesus,– Matthew tells them, "The meaning of your history is NOT IN the PAST,– but in the PRESENT. The significance of ABRAHAM and JACOB and DAVID is NOT that they lived in the 'good old days' when God REALLY CARED,– but that they were FORERUNNERS of Jesus." The importance of Israel's history, for Matthew,– was the OUTCOME toward which it was leading for those 42 generations:—-THE OUTCOME— WAS the BIRTH of the SAVIOR.
Matthew's TWO REASONS for beginning his gospel with Jesus' GENEALOGY suggest a Christian VIEW of history that SHAPES our REFLECTIONS on this ANNIVERSARY.
FIRST,– as a CHURCH–we are FORMED and IDENTIFIED by OUR HISTORY,–
by WHERE we HAVE BEEN in OUR PAST.
And SECOND,– the meaning of that history is determined by THE FUTURE, –
AND by where OUR HISTORY is LEADING US.
SO YOU SEE THERE IS A METHOD TO MY MADNESS.
Henry Ford once said that HISTORY is BUNK.–SOMEONE ALSO SAID THE WORLD WAS FLAT.
We all know that isn't true EITHER.
Perhaps NO INSTITUTION is more clearly DEFINED by its history– than THE CHURCH.
The CHRISTIAN FAITH is based on a COLLECTION OF WRITINGS that dates from ANCIENT TIMES. And the Bible is NOT only a HISTORIC BOOK,– but a HISTORICAL BOOK: —
it tells the history of HOW God DEALT with HIS PEOPLE.
We read the stories about what God did for His people thousands of years ago:
about the BIRTH OF ISAAC,–the BURNING BUSH– the PARTING OF THE RED SEA, AND about DAVID and GOLIATH.
We tell the story of the RISEN SAVIOR– just as it was told the FIRST TIME,–
2000 years back in our history.
That ANCIENT WORD seizes our attention and MAKES US the PEOPLE OF GOD.
Our FAITH is further SHAPED by the CENTURIES of Christian HISTORY since the Bible was WRITTEN.
We make our CONFESSION in the WORDS of ANCIENT CREEDS;
We SING HYMNS hundreds of YEARS OLD;
We PRACTICE RITES AND LITURGIES OLDER than the LANGUAGES in which we RECITE THEM.
And of course on this ANNIVERSARY–
We REMEMBER THE HISTORY of this CONGREGATION in this community:
The GENERATIONS of your OWN FAMILIES who have been BORN,– BAPTIZED,– MARRIED,– and BURIED HERE;– the TRADITIONS that you have CREATED,– and that have in turn made you the PEOPLE YOU ARE.
Today we are PROUD TO SAY that we are PART of that WHOLE HISTORY,–
just as Jesus was PART of the HISTORY OF ISRAEL,– all 42 generations from Abraham on down.
My father's FATHER was THE MAYOR of WILLOW BUNCH SASKATCHEWAN, and although he ALSO was a FARMER AND BARBER in town– he ROSE TO PROMINENCE in business circles.
At a LOCAL meeting MY FATHER met an old friend of HIS FATHERS.
He INTRODUCED HIMSELF by his name– BUT IT DIDN'T REGISTER with the OLD-TIMER.
He tried to explain WHO HE WAS,– but WITHOUT SUCCESS.
Finally he said, "Don't you remember me? I'm MAYORS' boy!"
Then the OLD MAN KNEW who he was,– and for years afterwards his friends TEASED HIM about having to introduce himself as "THE MAYORS boy."
But we're ALL IDENTIFIED by OUR HISTORIES.
MY FATHER ended up being THE MAYORS BOY all his life.
Matthew introduced Jesus to his readers as Mary and Joseph's boy.
We owe who we are to OUR PAST,–OUR HERITAGE,–OUR UPBRINGING,–
OUR EDUCATION,–AND OUR TRADITIONS.
YOU and I,– and THIS CONGREGATION, are products of WHERE WE HAVE BEEN.
Matthew also knew that the PAST ISN'T ENOUGH.
He wanted to CORRECT THE VISION of those people who always LOOKED to the PAST for MEANING.
The REAL POINT of all those generations of Israelites, HE CLAIMED,– was that they were LEADING UP to something that was to FOLLOW THEM. We can LEARN A LOT from THE PAST,–
but its most important function is to LEAD US INTO THE FUTURE.
Jesus made that PLAIN.
He told His disciples to REMEMBER what HE HAD DONE,– but He also TURNED THEIR ATTENTION to the FUTURE TASK that HIS MINISTRY was PREPARING them for.
"Go and be my WITNESSES," He told them.
"Go and work in the VINEYARD.
“Go and make DISCIPLES."
Jesus never let His disciples DWELL on what had ALREADY BEEN DONE.
Their purpose was not to be FOUND WHERE THEY HAD BEEN,– but in WHERE THEY WERE GOING.
Our FAITH is BORN and NURTURED in a HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE,– in what God has done for US in the PAST,– but it always LEADS US into the FUTURE.
As a CHURCH TODAY,– your ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION naturally turns your GAZE BACK on YOUR HISTORY.
But you must let that HISTORY be part of your MOVEMENT into the FUTURE.
Jesus has COMMISSIONED YOU and SENT YOU into the WORLD with a MISSION:
***How will you fulfill it?
WE HAVE COME THROUGH A TRANSFORMATION over the last ELEVEN YEARS IN THE LCMC. We have LET GO of what WAS FAMILIAR for the sake of WHAT IS TRUTH AND BIBLICAL. That wasn't EASY…BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
MOMS–DADS–GRANDMOTHERS–GRANDFATHERS–BAPTISMAL SPONSORS–
***You have a RESPONSIBILITY to your YOUNG PEOPLE,– to PREPARE THEM for what they will FACE IN LIFE. THEY NEED TO COME TO CHURCH.
***You have a RESPONSIBILITY to your SENIOR CITIZENS,– to help meet THEIR NEEDS in a CHANGING WORLD.
***You have a RESPONSIBILITY to the COMMUNITY AROUND YOU,– to PROCLAIM the GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION and to be examples of Christ's love.
***You have a RESPONSIBILITY to TRANSFORM THIS CHURCH into a CHURCH that WILL KEEP your CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ATTENDING even if it means YOU HAVE TO COMPROMISE THE WAY YOU WORSHIP.
Let the stories of FAITH, COMMITMENT, and SERVICE that are told TODAY as we RECITE the history of this congregation STRENGTHEN YOU,–PREPARE YOU,–and PROPEL YOU into the NEXT CENTURY of YOUTH MINISTRY in this place.
And the question "Where are we going?" has a still GREATER SIGNIFICANCE,– because AS CHRISTIANS– we know that OUR HISTORY has an ETERNAL DIRECTION,–AN ULTIMATE GOAL. In the INCARNATION,–DEATH, –AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST– the WORLD has been set toward its final moment, along with ABRAHAM and SARA,– BOAZ and RUTH,– JOSEPH and MARY, and hundreds of GENERATIONS of the SONS and DAUGHTERS of GOD — are part of the history that flows into God's own eternity.
The Church is the first-fruits of the Kingdom of God, the first dawning of God's presence in the world in our day. Its purpose is BOTH to REMEMBER God's FAITHFULNESS,– KINDNESS,– MERCY,– and PROVIDENCE, through our HISTORY up to NOW,– and to MOVE US and OUR WORLD toward the goal God has given us.
So during this anniversary celebration we STAND at a PLACE like the place from which Matthew told the story of Jesus. We look to OUR HISTORY– the HISTORY of God's people,– of the Christian Church,– of this congregation — remembering who we are and where we have been. And at the same time we look to the future, remembering what we have been put here to do and where we are going. Our history is always leading us somewhere; our glory as God's children is always yet to come. I CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU AND HAVE FAITH IN YOU THAT YOUR PRIORITIES FOR YOUR CHILDREN IN THIS CHURCH WILL CONTINUE.
YOUR CHURCH AND YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ONIT.
God loves you and so do I.
Pastor Ron
God, Be Merciful To Me A Sinner
Our Gospel lesson today is about AUTHORITY — Jesus' authority. I can tell you something about authority. I have SEEN IT. I have FELT IT
I have been to Washington, D.C. If there's anything that stands out about Washington, it's AUTHORITY. Its GREAT BUILDINGS– the WHITE HOUSE,– the CAPITOL BUILDING,– the SUPREME COURT BUILDING — even the US MINT and the SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM — practically SHOUT AUTHORITY. Those buildings SCREAM power. They say, "We're in charge of America!"
In Jesus' day,– Jerusalem was LIKE THAT. The Jerusalem Temple was LIKE the White House and the Capitol and the Supreme Court Building– ROLLED INTO ONE. A massive building of WHITE STONE and GOLD TRIM,– it stood HIGH ON A HILL– showing its importance as God's house. The people responsible for RUNNING THE TEMPLE — the priests and elders — also RAN THE NATION.
When Jesus went to Jerusalem,– he was greeted by a HUGE CROWD that LINED his pathway with their CLOAKS AND PALM BRANCHES. They shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!"
Then Jesus paid a VISIT to the TEMPLE. What he found was a BIG FARMER'S MARKET– PEOPLE everywhere — MONEY CHANGERS everywhere — SHEEP AND DOVES everywhere.
Jesus DROVE OUT all the MERCHANTS and overturned the tables of the money changers.
He said: "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you are making it a den of robbers".
That's where our Gospel lesson for today BEGINS. The chief priests and the elders of the people — the people in charge of the temple — CAME LOOKING for Jesus. When they found him, they asked:
"By what AUTHORITY are you doing these things, and who gave you this AUTHORITY?" .
Good questions — because the chief priests and elders WERE the AUTHORITIES in charge of the TEMPLE. THEY ISSUED the PERMITS. If Jesus wanted to CLEANSE THE TEMPLE,– he should have gone to THEM FOR PERMISSION. You know how that goes. First, you HIRE A LAWYER. Then you STATE YOUR CASE. Then the BUREAUCRATS DELIBERATE. Then they RETURN YOUR REQUEST stamped "Disapproved!" After all,– in THEIR MINDS,– the MONEYCHANGERS AND THE SELLERS of livestock were performing an ESSENTIAL TEMPLE FUNCTION.
But Jesus DIDN'T HIRE A LAWYER. He DIDN'T ASK PERMISSION.
He just went into the temple and began THROWING THINGS AROUND. So the chief priests and elders came to the temple to CONFRONT JESUS. They asked:
"By what AUTHORITY are you doing these things, and who gave you this AUTHORITY?" .
Most people would PANIC at that POINT,– because the CHIEF PRIEST and ELDERS had AUTHORITY. They could THROW PEOPLE into JAIL. They could have PEOPLE FLOGGED.
They could DO ANYTHING they WANTED with Jesus — EXCEPT KILL HIM.
Rome RESERVED THE RIGHT of CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. To kill Jesus,– the priests and elders would have to get the ROMANS INVOLVED. They weren't ready to do that yet– so they asked:
"By what AUTHORITY are you doing these things, and who gave you this AUTHORITY?" .
Jesus ANSWERED their QUESTION with ANOTHER QUESTION. He asked whether John the Baptist BAPTIZED by GOD'S AUTHORITY or by HUMAN AUTHORITY. That put the PRIESTS AND ELDERS on the SPOT. They didn't LIKE JOHN,– but they knew that the PEOPLE DID. They didn't want to ADMIT that John BAPTIZED by GOD'S AUTHORITY — and they were AFRAID to say that he BAPTIZED by HUMAN AUTHORITY — so they said, "WE DON'T KNOW."
What a PITIFUL ANSWER. The priests and elders were IN CHARGE of RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS.
They were PAID TO KNOW whether John was LEGITIMATE or NOT.
But they WOULDN'T tell Jesus whether John baptized by God's authority.
They were PAID TO KNOW whether John was LEGITIMATE or NOT.
But they WOULDN'T tell Jesus whether John baptized by God's authority.
So Jesus replied, "Neither will I tell you by what AUTHORITY I am doing these things".
Then he told them a parable. In his parable, a father had TWO SONS. The father asked the FIRST son to GO and WORK in the VINEYARD,– but the son REFUSED TO GO.
However,– the FIRST SON later CHANGED HIS MIND and WENT to the vineyard to WORK.
The father then asked his SECOND son to GO and WORK in the VINEYARD. The SECOND son said that HE WOULD do that,– but then CHANGED HIS MIND and DIDN'T GO.
Then Jesus asked the priests and elders, "Which of the two (sons) did the will of his father?". They said, "The first (son)" — because the FIRST SON,– in spite of his initial DISOBEDIENCE,–DID GO to the vineyard to work. Then Jesus said:
"Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you."
Keep in mind that Jesus is talking to the CHIEF PRIESTS and the ELDERS. These men are IN CHARGE of God's AFFAIRS in God's CHOSEN NATION,– but Jesus is telling them that, on Judgment Day, they will be kept standing in line while the TAX COLLECTORS and PROSTITUTES walk through the pearly gates. Then Jesus said:
"For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him".
WHAT was GOING ON HERE? WHY did Jesus so DELIBERATELY INSULT these religious leaders? WHY did he say that God would allow TAX COLLECTORS and PROSTITUTES into HEAVEN — and leave the RELIGIOUS LEADERS standing in LINE? The answer, of course, is that this is a parable of GRACE — NOT OF MERIT. This parable demonstrates something of God's character — and it pulls back the CURTAIN just a bit to give us a GLIMPSE into the KINGDOM of HEAVEN.
It SHOWS US how THINGS WORK in the KINGDOM of HEAVEN. Most of us want to GO TO HEAVEN someday,– so we ought to keep OUR EARS and HEARTS OPEN as we HEAR this parable.
Let's look at the parable again. The father asked his FIRST son to WORK in the VINEYARD,– but the son said, "No!" Later, the son CHANGED HIS MIND–and did as his father had ASKED. Did that son obey his father? NOT AT FIRST. First, he DISOBEYED,– but then he CHANGED HIS MIND and did what his father ASKED him to do.
We have some FATHERS here TODAY. Is that the way you would want your SON or DAUGHTER to BEHAVE? Probably NOT! There isn't a FATHER or MOTHER HERE TODAY that has NOT at ONE TIME had a DAUGHTER or SON do SOMETHING that was AGAINST their WISHES…MYSELF INCLUDED. But it would be some satisfaction when your SON or DAUGHTER finally DID what you had asked. That wouldn't be PERFECT, but they say, "All's well that ends well" — and the story of the FIRST SON did end well.
Then there's the SECOND son. The father asked his second son to work in the VINEYARD,– and the son said, "Yes!" But then that son CHANGED HIS MIND and WENT ELSEWHERE. He did NO WORK in the VINEYARD. Did that son obey his father? No!
In the beginning,– HE ACTED as if he would OBEY,– but in the END he did NOT OBEY.
What about YOU–FATHERS? Would you want YOUR SON to BEHAVE that way?
Surely NOT! The story of the first son STARTED POORLY–but ENDED WELL.
The story of the second son STARTED WELL,– but ENDED POORLY.
Jesus said that the TAX COLLECTORS and PROSTITUTES were LIKE THE FIRST SON.
They had been DISOBEDIENT. They had REFUSED to ACKNOWLEDGE the FATHER'S AUTHORITY. They had REFUSED to do what GOD WANTED THEM TO DO. But then they REPENTED and CHANGED THEIR WAYS– and GOD FORGAVE THEM– and through the GRACE OF GOD,–the TAX COLLECTORS and PROSTITUTES were USHERED INTO HEAVEN.
The CHIEF PRIESTS and ELDERS were LIKE THE SECOND SON. They had cloaked themselves with God. They QUOTED SCRIPTURE and SERVED in the TEMPLE. They were as RELIGIOUS as RELIGIOUS could be. But there was a PROBLEM. They were SINNERS TOO– and they COULDN'T ADMIT THAT. They thought that God OWED THEM SOMETHING. But God didn't owe them anything.
That's THE END of the PARABLE. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO US? Most of us have been pretty RELIGIOUS for most of our lives. We need to be CAREFUL lest we get to feeling that God OWES US something. God sent Jesus Christ into the world to DIE FOR OUR SINS, because we are SINNERS — and are in need of REDEMPTION. That applies to ALL OF US– Sunday school TEACHERS and CHOIR members and CLERGY ALIKE. God doesn't OWE US anything. Our hope for heaven is based on ONE THING and ONE THING ALONE– and that is the GRACE OF GOD.
And, of course, if you are in a DIFFERENT SITUATION– if you REBELLED AGAINST GOD for most of YOUR LIFE and recently REPENTED — this parable assures you that GOD'S GRACE is more than adequate to COVER YOUR SINS. By the GRACE OF GOD,– you very well might march into heaven at the FRONT OF THE LINE.
When I read this parable, it reminded me of a story LAST WEEK about THE LAND OWNER HIRING WORKERS FOR THE FIELD.
THAT PARABLE was about MORE than JUST a GENEROUS LAND OWNER.
THAT PARABLE was about MORE than JUST a AN HONEST WAGE FOR an HONEST DAY'S WORK. THAT PARABLE was about SALVATION.
THAT PARABLE was about MORE than JUST a AN HONEST WAGE FOR an HONEST DAY'S WORK. THAT PARABLE was about SALVATION.
THAT PARABLE reminds us that it doesn't really MATTER at WHAT POINT IN OUR LIFE we
INVITED JESUS IN OUR LIFE……we receive SALVATION the same as a PERSON that has been a
CHRISTIAN ALL THEIR LIFE.
INVITED JESUS IN OUR LIFE……we receive SALVATION the same as a PERSON that has been a
CHRISTIAN ALL THEIR LIFE.
So also we need to approach the kingdom of heaven with repentance and humility. If we approach heaven arrogantly, saying, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?" the Lord is likely to respond, "I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers" (7:22-23).
The proper prayer for each of us — PASTOR or DEACON–TAX COLLECTOR or PROSTITUTE — "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" (Luke 18:13). When we learn to pray that prayer from our hearts, we can be sure that God will FORGIVE US and MAKE US WHOLE.
IF you are NEW HEAR or HAVE NOT INVITED JESUS INTO YOUR LIFE. YOU STILL CAN DO THAT TODAY. PLEASE PRAY THIS PRAYER WITH ME.
Precious Jesus–I am a SINNER–I REPENT of ALL my SINS.
Forgive me Lord for the sins that 1 am AWARE of–
and the sins I have BURIED–AND FORGOTTEN-
I BELIEVE you DIED ON THE CROSS for my SINS and ROSE AGAIN.
Come into my life–Be my LORD & SAVIOR.
Show ME the WISDOM of YOUR WAYS–IN Jesus' NAME I PRAY………….AMEN
Forgive me Lord for the sins that 1 am AWARE of–
and the sins I have BURIED–AND FORGOTTEN-
I BELIEVE you DIED ON THE CROSS for my SINS and ROSE AGAIN.
Come into my life–Be my LORD & SAVIOR.
Show ME the WISDOM of YOUR WAYS–IN Jesus' NAME I PRAY………….AMEN
There is no better way to celebrate our 150th Anniversary than to reach out to our brothers and sisters of Zion and make sure they have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior that we may celebrate together in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise God!
Pastor Ron.