THE POWER OF GOD’S PEACE AND PROVISION based on Hebrews 13:20-21,

In this fast-paced world that we live in, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. We are constantly bombarded with demands from work, family, and society, leaving little time for rest and reflection. It’s no wonder that stress and anxiety have become so prevalent in our society. If I had known how busy I’d be after retirement I’d have kept working. I didn’t retire from work. I only retired from getting paid for it 

But in the midst of all the chaos, there is a promise of peace and provision from a higher power. In the book of Hebrews, chapter 13, verses 20-21, we read a powerful prayer that reminds us of the power of God’s peace and provision in our lives.

“Now may the God of peace who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

These verses serve as a reminder to us that we serve a loving and caring God who desires to equip us with everything good so that we can do His will. Let’s break down this powerful prayer and reflect on its meaning for our lives.

THE GOD OF PEACE

Firstly, this prayer addresses God as “the God of peace”. The God of peace is a powerful title that speaks to the character and nature of the Almighty. In a world filled with chaos, confusion, and strife, it is comforting to know that there is a God who embodies peace. This title emphasizes God’s role as the ultimate source of peace, not just in our personal lives but in the world as a whole. It reminds us that no matter how tumultuous our circumstances may be, we can turn to God and find true peace. In fact, as we find in Philippians 4:7, it is “peace which surpasses all understanding.” This signifies a peace that is beyond human comprehension, a divine peace that transcends earthly anxieties and circumstances. I have found in my own life that it’s not just a feeling of calm or tranquility, but a supernatural peace that comes from God and guards the believer’s heart and mind often when we are facing the greatest challenges and struggles that we experience the peace of God in the most profound ways.  As stated in 1 Corinthians 14:33, our God is not a God of disorder or confusion, but of peace and order. This means that even when everything around us seems to be falling apart, we can trust in the unchanging and peaceful nature of our Heavenly Father. He is the one who brings peace to our hearts and minds, calming our fears and anxieties. As we seek to understand and embrace the God of peace, we can find rest and comfort in His presence. Ultimately, this title serves as a reminder that despite the chaos in our world, there is a God who reigns with perfect peace, and He invites us to experience His peace in our lives every day.

THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION

The next part of this prayer reminds us of the power of the resurrection. It says “who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus”. This powerful statement is a reference to the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. Through His death and resurrection, we have been given new life and the promise of eternal salvation. Romans 5:10-11 reveals that when Jesus rose from the dead, He took us out of being ‘in Adam’ or being spiritually dead, and now we have life in Christ, we have His life. In short, we are forgiven by His death and saved by His resurrection life.

This is a reminder that no matter what struggles we may face in this life, we can find hope and strength in the power of the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus represents the victory over sin and death, and it is through His resurrection that we are able to experience true forgiveness and redemption. This part of the prayer serves as a reminder that no matter how difficult our circumstances may seem, we have the assurance that Jesus has overcome the world and has given us new life. It is a call to trust in the power of the resurrection and to hold onto the hope that it brings, knowing that through Jesus, we have been given victory over all things. This powerful statement in the prayer is a reminder of the life-changing impact of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and it encourages us to live boldly and confidently in the truth of His sacrifice for us.

• THE GREAT SHEPHERD

The next part of this prayer refers to Jesus as “the great shepherd of the sheep”. In John 10:11. Jesus proclaims, “I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”. 

This title speaks to the role that Jesus plays in our lives as our guide and protector. In the Bible, sheep are often used as a symbol for humanity, and in this context, Jesus is portrayed as a loving and caring shepherd who watches over his flock. Just as a shepherd knows each of his sheep by name and leads them to safety, Jesus knows each of us intimately and guides us on our journey through life. He is not only our leader but also our protector, always keeping us safe from harm and danger. This title serves as a reminder to us that we are never alone, and that Jesus is constantly watching over us, guiding us towards righteousness and protecting us from the trials and challenges of life. It also shows the depth of Jesus’ love for us, as he cares deeply for each and every one of us and wants us to thrive and flourish in our lives. As we pray to Jesus as “the great shepherd of the sheep”, we are acknowledging his role in our lives and placing our trust in him to lead us on the right path.

THE BLOOD OF THE ETERNAL COVENANT

The phrase “by the blood of the eternal covenant” holds great significance and serves as a poignant reminder of the immense sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. It symbolizes the ultimate act of love and selflessness, as through His blood, we have been redeemed and reconciled with God. This powerful phrase serves as a constant reminder of the magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice, and the depth of His love for us. It is through this eternal covenant that we are able to have a relationship with God and receive His blessings. The shedding of Jesus’ blood serves as a bridge between humanity and God, providing a way for us to be forgiven and made new. This phrase is a testament to the unbreakable bond between God and His people, an unbreakable bond that was sealed with the blood of Jesus. It serves as a powerful reminder of the ultimate price that was paid for our salvation, and the eternal love that God has for us. Through the blood of the eternal covenant, we are given the opportunity to enter into a deep and meaningful relationship with our Creator, and to experience His endless blessings in our lives.

EQUIPPED WITH EVERYTHING GOOD

The next part of this prayer is a promise from God that He will equip us with everything good. This promise is a reassurance that God is always with us and will provide us with the necessary tools and resources to fulfill His will for our lives. It reminds us that we are not alone and that God has a plan for each and every one of us. In times when we may doubt our abilities or question our own strength, this promise serves as a reminder that God will never leave us stranded and will always provide us with everything we need. It gives us hope and confidence to face any challenges or tasks that may come our way, knowing that God will equip us with everything good to accomplish His purpose. With this promise, we can rest assured that we are capable and empowered to do His will, even in situations where we may feel ill-equipped. It shows the depth of God’s love for us, as He not only guides and directs us, but also equips us with the necessary skills and tools to fulfill His plan for our lives. This promise serves as a source of strength, encouragement, and assurance that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

WORKING IN US

The phrase “working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ” in the prayer is a powerful reminder that our ability to do God’s will is not dependent on our own strength. It acknowledges that through Jesus Christ, God works within us to transform us into vessels that are pleasing in His sight. This highlights the importance of surrendering our lives to God and allowing Him to work in us. It is a humbling recognition that our own efforts and actions alone are not enough, but it is through His power and grace that we are able to live a life that is pleasing to Him. This statement serves as a reminder of our dependence on God and the need for constant surrender and reliance on Him. Through His power, He can shape and mold us into the people He wants us to be, ultimately bringing glory to His name. As we pray these words, we are reminded of the transformative work of God in our lives and the importance of continually seeking His will and allowing Him to work within us.

TO WHOM BE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER

Lastly, this prayer ends with a declaration of praise and glory to God forever and ever. It serves as a powerful reminder that all the blessings and goodness in our lives come from Him. It is easy to get caught up in our own achievements and forget that without God’s grace and guidance, we would not be where we are today. This declaration of praise humbles us and redirects our focus back to God, acknowledging Him as the source of all our blessings. It also serves as a reminder to give credit where credit is due – to our Heavenly Father. As we carry out His will and experience His provision and peace, it is important to remember that it is by His grace and love that we are able to do so. This declaration of praise is a beautiful way to end the prayer, as it reaffirms our faith in God and expresses our gratitude for all that He has done for us. Ultimately, it reminds us that our lives should be lived for the glory of God, as He deserves all the honor and praise forever and ever.

In conclusion, this prayer from the book of Hebrews serves as a powerful reminder of the peace and provision that God offers us through His son Jesus Christ. In the midst of our busy lives, let us not forget to turn to Him for rest, strength, and guidance. May we be encouraged by these words and continue to walk in faith, knowing that we serve a loving and faithful God who equips us with everything good to fulfill His will. Let us give Him all the glory and honor, forever and ever. Amen.

Scripture:  Matthew 2:1-12

1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,

2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”

3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;

4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

6 “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’

7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.

8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.

10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 

11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

SERMON: THE GIFT OF TIME

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE.

Slide #1. A nativity set including shepherds and wise men.

QUESTION:  How many of us have a nativity set at home that has Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men, sheep, and maybe camels or donkeys?

QUESTION: who can tell me what is inaccurate here?

• First, I want to clear up a few things.
• Then I have questions that I’ll try to answer.
• We will marvel at the commitment some have shown the Lord.
• Then we will examine our own commitment.
• And at last, through the power of the holy Spirit, I hope to make a change in my life and yours

When I read the account of the Magi I have questions. This is my study process.

QUESTION 1: How many Kings?

QUESTION 2: Were they Kings?

QUESTION 3: When did they visit?

QUESTION 4: How did they know about the birth of a new king of the jews?

QUESTION 5: How long did they travel?

Which brings me to

QUESTION 6: Other than gold frankincense, and myrrh what other gift did the wise men give?

#1 Their time and efforts. This wasn’t a quick decision or an easy trip.  To quote from Advent Conspiracy  – “These men were not playing the worship games of which many of us are guilty—these gifts of gold and precious spices nearly cost the Magi their lives. “ – 

Remember  King Herod’s reaction when the wise men came asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? 

Fear!

”When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;” 

Frightened enough to murder a generation of infants. 

He would gladly have tortured and killed the wise men had they returned to him after finding Jesus.

WE THREE KINGS. 

We three kings of orient are

Bearing gifts we traversed afar

Field and fountain

Moore and mountain

Following yonder Star 

I love that song in spite of its inaccuracies. 

The history of the Three Kings, also known as the Magi or Wise Men, originated in the Gospel of Matthew. 

According to this biblical account, a group of wise men, magicians, and astrologers from the East traveled to Jerusalem to visit the newborn king and pay their respects. 

Despite being members of the upper class, they humbly presented the child with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Interestingly, Matthew did not mention the number of men or their names nor did he refer to them as kings. This aspect of the story only emerged in the 8th century when it became a popular tradition. 

The significance of the gifts presented by the Magi is not to be overlooked. Each one holds a symbolic meaning –

 frankincense representing Christ as the High Priest, 

gold representing him as the King, and  

#2 Myrhh – a foreshadowing of Jesus’ death for the sake of truth, and his role as a Prophet. 

. 

Q. Where in the “East” were the wise men from?

1. Matthew’s use of the term “Magi” gives us a clue. Magi is the only Persian word in the original Greek Bible. They were likely priests of Zoroastrianism, which was the official religion of Persia.

• Q. How is it that The Wise Men from Persia were familiar with the prophecies of Christ, the King of the Jews?
• A. You will remember the many times that the Jews were conquered and taken into slavery. Read the book of Daniel and you will see how he introduced the God of Israel to the King’s Court. 
• Many others in other times made known the one true God to their foreign masters.
• Wise Men still seek out knowledge and store it away. As do wise women.

• Q. How long did they travel?
• A. The Bible does not say how long these wise men traveled to reach Jesus.
• Church tradition suggested 12 Days for the journey. This is the basis of the 12 Days of Christmas – another song that I like. Twelve days is not likely though.

If the Magi had visited the holy family twelve days after his birth, the family would have had wealth with which to redeem Jesus at the temple instead of the two doves that they used.

You, of course, remember what I taught two years ago about the need to redeem the first born sons. Right?

• Because  according to the law of Moses, It is customary for the mother to come to the synagogue on the Sabbath after her 40 days when she has regained her strength.  

In Remembrance of the Passover in Egypt, Since that time, all first born males belong to God.  The parents could redeem, that is “buy back” their sons by an offering of a lamb, silver coins or a family, like Joseph and Mary, who could not afford a lamb or the silver. For the poor, an offering of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons was made.

 If the wise men had arrived within the first twelve days, Jesus would have been redeemed with a lamb or coins rather than doves 

•  Many believe that the wise men traveled for two years. This idea comes from the fact that King Herod, after asking the wise men when they saw the star, ordered the slaughter of all children under the age of two. 

“Two years of travel seems excessively long to me as the distance from Persia to Israel is only about 1600 miles (depending on starting point). Knowing that they could travel only as fast as the slowest walker in the group, (Their servants would not have ridden camels) These were people who were used to walking sometimes long distances but probably only walked 25 miles a day on average. That would give them about 64 days travel time. However, since they were traveling by night (following a star) they probably traveled somewhat slower. So purely as a mental exercise, I’d estimate that they COULD have traveled it in 90 days.  One quarter of a year.

• Now, if I haven’t lost y’all by now, you may be wondering, 

• “WHAT’S THE POINT?”

• TIME! Time is the point. This was not an easy undertaking for these men. It took planning, it took resources, and it took time.

• Q. If you were going to be gone from home, from family, from your business or job for even one quarter of a year and possibly as long as two, what would be your cost in resources and in time? 

Seriously, shout it out. What are things you would need to take care of to travel that long?

God often asks for, or rather demands, our time. 

Now for the BIG question. How much TIME does God expect of me and of you?

The short answer is, All of it!

But let’s just say that God wants a tithe of everything – including our time.

Time is a slippery concept to grasp. Time past is gone and can not be altered. 

Future time has no substance. Making plans for the future is like writing on air. 

Only NOW is real and can be manipulated – but be quick about it – NOW will soon be the PAST.

A tithe or a tenth of 24 hours equals about 2 1⁄2 hours a day.

Don’t answer this out loud. . . But

Do you commit 2½ hours a day to prayer, to biblical study, or to service for our king? It needs not be a solid block of time. Minutes and seconds spent in service, study, and/or prayer can add up.

Here are some sobering facts about time usage.

A 2020 study showed that Americans averaged a little over 3 hours a day of television.

 But wait there’s more.

On average, adults spend about 11 hours a day staring at some kind of screen, whether that be a computer, phone, tablet, TV or another type of electronic device.

Second slide 

I’m a firm believer that every believer needs to read the Bible. And not just read but study. Ask questions and look for answers.

There are countless helps available to guide your reading through the bible. 

 I suggest starting with the gospels. 

Take your time and learn something new everyday. 

3rd Slide

Another option is to listen to the Bible in audiobook format. 

On average, audiobooks read at about 150 words per minute, so it will take around 90 hours, or a little less than 4 days of non-stop listening to “read” the entire Bible.

I would recommend, when possible, read and listen at the same time. Be ready to stop the playback to make notes and reflect on what you just read and/or heard.

Earlier I mentioned the book of Daniel. As w read, we see that Daniel made a habit of praying three times a day. 

Jewish men are obligated to perform public prayer three times a day; morning, afternoon, and evening. The Jewish prayer book has special services set down for this. 

Now, depending on how established you are in God’s grace, you can interpret that as a religious routine, or you can see dedicated prayer time as an outward expression of an intimate relationship with the Lord.

Praying regularly enables a person to get better at building their relationship with God

Although Christian have no formulas or shortcuts to walking in the Divine Presence, here are some steps to follow that you may find helpful: 

PRAY, STUDY, AND SERVE. 

These are all active verbs and all require an investment of our time.

Many of us have been studying The Advent Conspiracy.  It contained a quote by Mark Labberton that I feel bears repeating here.

4th Slide quote below

(“According to the narrative of Scripture, the very heart of how we show and distinguish true worship from false worship is apparent in how we respond to the poor, the oppressed, the neglected, and the forgotten. 

As of now, I do not see this theme troubling the waters of worship in the American church. 

But justice and mercy are not add-ons to worship, 

nor are they the consequences of worship. 

Jesus and mercy are intrinsic to God and therefore intrinsic to the worship of God.”)

What Would Jesus Do! Is a great way to live a life.  

However, how do you know what Jesus would do if you haven’t even studied what he did do? 

Are we keeping the lines of communication open with the Godhead through prayer and meditation? 

What sacrifice do we bring to the king? Do we even understand what sacrifice means? 

Do we give or do we only do what is convenient? 

 The dictionary says this:  Sacrifice is a noun that means to give up something valuable to gain something more desirable or to prevent evil. 

To put it another way, if it doesn’t hurt a little bit then, … though it was an offering … it wasn’t a sacrifice.

#3 Jesus’ sacrifice to God for us – he was faithful to God’s commands to the point that the religious people put him to death. His death defeated sin/satan’s hold on us

While it is true that salvation is a gift freely given …, it comes with a DUTY.

We are to be SERVANTS. 

Servants to God our Father, 

servants of our brothers and sisters in Christ, 

servants of widows, 

orphans, and

strangers, 

the hungry, 

the thirsty, 

the naked,  

the sick,  

and imprisoned. 

At the very least we owe a sacrificial gift of our TIME to our Lord.

Years ago, even when I preached every Sunday, I denied being a preacher. I thought of myself as a teacher. 

One day the Spirit came to me, “What’s The difference between a teacher and a preacher?” 

Immediately the thought came to me that a teacher wants you to learn something whereas a preacher wants you to become something. 

I am after all a preacher. Because I want us to become something, to make a change in our lives, 

I will leave you with this thought. 

We must look into ourselves. Examine our daily routine. 

#4 Time is the most precious commodity for most of us.

Do we tithe a tenth of our time to God, to study, meditate, pray, and 

serve the family of God – including believers and non believers, 

friends, family, strangers, and yes … enemies. 

Will we take time to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick or those in a physical, emotional, spiritual, or financial prison?

Here ends the learning. 

The doing is up to us.

Remember, #5. Christianity Is Not A Passive Religion!

Scripture: 
John 5:1‭-‬11 (the Passion Translation)

From Galilee, Jesus returned to Jerusalem to observe one of the Jewish feasts. 

Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, there is a pool called in Aramaic, The House of Loving Kindness, surrounded by five covered porches. Hundreds of sick people were lying under the covered porches—the paralyzed, the blind, and the crippled— all of them waiting for their healing. For an angel of God periodically descended into the pool to stir the waters, and the first one who stepped into the pool after the waters swirled would instantly be healed.

 Among the many sick people lying there was a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, he knew that the man had been crippled for a long time. Jesus said to him, “Do you truly long to be well?” 
The sick man answered, “Sir, there’s no way I can get healed, for I have no one to lower me into the water when the angel comes. As soon as I try to crawl to the edge of the pool, someone else jumps in ahead of me.” 
Jesus said to him, “Stand up! Pick up your sleeping mat and you will walk!” Immediately he stood up—he was healed! 

So he rolled up his mat and walked again! Now Jesus worked this miracle on the Sabbath. When the Jewish leaders saw the man walking along carrying his sleeping mat, 
they objected and said, “What are you doing carrying that? Don’t you know it’s the Sabbath? It’s not lawful for you to carry things on the Sabbath!” 
He answered them, “The man who healed me told me to pick it up and walk.”

Sermon: “Impossible”  by  Tom Williams

Let us pray: Lord, as by your Holy Spirit I was prompted to write this message, may that same Spirit intercede between the words I say and the words your people hear. Amen


I chose today’s scripture reading from The Passion Translation for two reasons. The first reason is because it gives the Aramaic meaning of the name for the pool most commonly called Bethesda. The second reason is because this is one of the versions that includes the verse “For an angel of God periodically descended into the pool to stir the waters, and the first one who stepped into the pool after the waters swirled would instantly be healed.” The New Revised Standard Version, for example, omits it. The reason it is left out of some versions is because many of the oldest manuscripts do not include it. Personally, I’m for its inclusion because …  well because, without this part of the narrative, we are left wondering why … why are all of these people hanging around here. It isn’t a swimming pool. They are not sunbathers working on their tans. These are people seeking a miraculous cure for what holds them.

John began his narrative by saying, “Jesus returned to Jerusalem to observe one of the Jewish feasts.” The author didn’t find it important to say which feast day it was, only that it was the reason Jesus came to the city.

Feast days were celebrated in the temple and large groups of people came to Jerusalem for the observation. 

Are there any fishermen here today? Where do you go to catch fish? The desert or the lake?
Right, you go where the fish are!

Jesus knew that if you want to fish for people, you must go where people are. This feast day was a ready made place to share his message.

John mentioned that the pool is near the Sheep Gate. I find it interesting that though John felt it unimportant to mention what Jewish feast day it was, he specifically mentions the Sheep Gate’s proximity to the pool. 

One might assume that John’s Jewish readers would know the location of the Pool of Bethesda without referencing the gate. 

Which makes me wonder, why did he choose to draw their attention to the Sheep Gate? Perhaps it was to remind people that the temple’s sacrificial sheep came in through this gate. It’s likely that Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice, entered through this gate on this journey into Jerusalem. I don’t know, but it could be, amen? 

Jesus came to the pool and observed hundreds of people gathered around the pool. Each of them coming for release from the illness, injury, or deformity that bound them.

Imagine for a moment, Jesus threading his way through this crowd of ailing people who came hoping for a miraculous healing. 

Within this multitude is the one person that Jesus was seeking. The person who had given up hope. Jesus came seeking the lost. Our scripture passage tells us, “There was a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years.” 

There are things that we do not know about this man. How many of his thirty-eight years had been spent at this pool? How did he get to the pool? Certainly, at one point, someone had helped him. Why were they no longer helping?

Is want to ask him, 
“After 38 years, why are you still here? It’s obviously not working for you. 

Are you just stuck here because you don’t know what else to do?

Has staying put … become more comfortable than going elsewhere? 

But here came Jesus, straight to this man like he had an appointment.

Can’t you just see the gentle look of concern on Jesus face when he asked THE question? “Do you truly long to be well?” 

Of course he wanted to be healed, Right? It seems, at first, to be an absurd question, doesn’t it? Almost like a cruel taunting of a crippled man. amen? I certainly wouldn’t go to a person in a wheelchair and ask, “Would you like to walk? 

But we know that Jesus was never cruel. At the same time, he had a way of cutting to the heart of the matter with his questions. 

Listen closely to the question 
“Do YOU truly long to be well?”  Out of this vast crowd Jesus asked “Do YOU?” As  if to say, “I know that THEY want to be healed – but do you?” 

“Do you TRULY long to be well?”  Do you want to be well? Or have you become so adjusted to your ailment that you have accepted it as your new reality. Do you think, “It is what it is?” 

The sick man answered, “Sir, there’s no way I can get healed”.Ah, there it is. “there’s NO WAY I can get healed.” Hopelessness! He had given up. No faith in himself or his friends. No faith in the magical mystical pool. No faith in God.

Jesus asked if he wanted to be healed and instead of truthfully answering, he gave excuses. 

Excuse number one. No help. “I have no one to lower me into the water “
Excuse number two. The uncertainty of when a healing might come. “when the angel comes.”
Excuse number three. His own weakness. “As soon as I try to crawl to the edge of the pool”
Excuse number four. Blame it on everyone else. “someone else jumps in ahead of me.”

What a pathetic individual, amen?

But wait a minute. How do you answer Jesus when he asks you, “Do you TRULY want to be released from the burden you carry? “

Are you hopeless? Have you become so accustomed to carrying your burden that you have resigned yourself to the fact that it is yours and yours alone to shoulder that burden? 

In the hymn There Is Power In The Blood

Lewis Edgar Jones, the hymn writer, questioned four things. 
Would you be free from your burden of sin?
 Would you be free from your passion and pride?
 Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
 Would you do service for Jesus your King?

The hymn writer didn’t leave you with questions only. He gave the answer   There is power power wonder working power in the blood of the lamb. 

But back to our story. Jesus asked, if the man truly wanted healing.

The lame man never gave a direct answer but only excuses as why he wasn’t already healed. 

Jesus, heard the pain behind the excuse and knew that the man needed healing. Jesus
gave the lame man a series of commandd, Jesus said to him, “Stand up! 
Pick up your sleeping mat 
and  walk!”

Those are impossible things for a lame man to do, Amen?

At the risk of sounding like Forrest Gump, “My mama always said things are only impossible until they aren’t.”

Who is this Jesus to commands this man to do the impossible? 
John 1:1‭, ‬3 testifies this about Jesus, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.”

In Matthew 28:18 Jesus proclaimed, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Okay, so far we’ve been focused on a lame man way back a long time ago. But now we’re looking inward at ourselves. 

To quote The Music Man, “You got trouble, folks. Right here in River City, trouble with a capital “T”

I don’t know what your trouble with a capital “T” may be.  We all face the impossible in 
spiritual, 
physical, 
emotional, 
financial, 
relational, 
and many other “al”s. 

What, in your life, is impossible? Seriously, take a moment to think about that Big Bad Thing in your life.
Go on … I’ll wait. Don’t say it out loud. This is a between-you-and-God thing.

… 

Got it in mind? 

Good. Now, how will you answer Jesus when he asks you, “Do …  you … truly … long to be free … from your burden?”  

Will you make excuses for the mess you’re in? 
Excuse number one. No help. 
Excuse number two. The uncertainty timing. Inconvenient timing.
Excuse number three. Your own inability to solve the situation?. 
Excuse number four. Blame it on everyone else. 
Excesses 5 through infinity. We are so good at excuses. Excuses are so much easier than believer that the impossible can happen for us, Right? 

Have you lost hope and accepted that it is what it is? 

Or will you Give it to God who has always done the impossible from the very beginning?

Be careful with how you answer Jesus. If you truly want to be free … he’s going to command you to do the impossible.

He commanded the lame, “Stand up! Pick up your sleeping mat and you will walk!” Impossible! 

Jesus commanded Peter to get out of the boat and walk to him on the water. Impossible! 

He commanded Lazarus to rise from the dead. Impossible!

What impossible thing will Jesus command to to do? “Do …  you … truly … long to be free?”  
Are you willing to obey the command to do the impossible? 

There are some of his commands that are universally given to everyone.
“Follow!” Be willing to give up everything and everyone to follow him wherever he leads you. 

These are Jesus’s words in Luke 14:33 “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” 

And Matthew 16:24
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” 

Those are universal commands. For us all to make Jesus the most important person in your life. 
No person
No possession
No place
No plan
Nothing is to take the place of God in our lives. 

In addition you, me, and every believer will have their own personal impossible duty to perform for the Master.
For the lame man three commands in a row, 
“Stand up! 
Pick up your sleeping mat and 
you will walk!” 

Well, I don’t know what your impossible duty will be, but I know how to be prepared. 
John Wesley had a prayer that is now known as the Covenant Prayer. 
“I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, 
put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or 
laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or 
brought low for thee.
Let me be full, 
let me be empty.
Let me have all things, 
let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. 
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.” 

The first time I heard that prayer I was amazed because, though far more eloquently stated, it echoed a simple prayer I had been praying on my own. “Lord, push me, pull me, place me where you want me. I give you permission to override my freewill. Not my will but your’s, Lord. Amen.

Okay, so we truthfully answer Jesus and we do what he commands and, like a Disney movie, everyone lives happily ever after, right? Right? 

Well we have the perfect example right here in this section of scripture. He, the lame man “rolled up his mat and walked again! Now Jesus worked this miracle on the Sabbath. When the Jewish leaders saw the man walking along carrying his sleeping mat, they objected and said, “What are you doing carrying that? Don’t you know it’s the Sabbath? It’s not lawful for you to carry things on the Sabbath!”  

This poor guy had only been made whole for a moment or two and was already in trouble by the religious leaders.
And I imagine that there were other difficulties he would face. He now needed a place to stay and a job to provide for himself. 

“What are you doing carrying that? Don’t you know it’s the Sabbath? It’s not lawful for you to carry things on the Sabbath!”
This formerly lame man had the perfect answer for his accusers, “The man who healed me told me to pick it up and walk.”

That has to be the answer to our detractors also. Oh yes, as we travel our journey following Jesus, there will be barriers and stumbling blocks to overcome. But our answer must always be, The man who saved me told me to.”

Know this from 1 John 4:4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. “


The is a song by Jamie Kimmett titled, BURDENS. I’ll not sing it but read it as poetry.

When you’re all alone
When there’s trouble stirring in your soul
And if your world is falling apart
Just hold on for the morning break to dawn

Come and lay your burdens down
To the place where freedom is found
At the feet, at the feet of Jesus
Come and lay your burdens down

When the deepest sorrow weighs on your heart
When you’ve prayed for answers but the answers never come
For every tear that you cry
There’s a promise He will make your burdens light

Come and lay your burdens down
To the place where freedom is found
At the feet, at the feet of Jesus
Come and lay your burdens down

Lay them down
Lay them down

When we see Him face to face
All our worries will surely fade away
In the presence of His glorious light
We’ll sing hallelujah to the one who gave us life

Come and lay your burdens down
To the place where freedom is found
At the feet, at the feet of Jesus
Come and lay your burdens down

Come and lay your burdens down
To the place where freedom is found
At the feet, at the feet of Jesus
Come and lay your burdens down
Come and lay your burdens down.


© 2018 Jamie Kimmett Pub Designee (BMI) / Be Essential Songs (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com); Ben Cantelon Publishing Designee (BMI) / Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) (admin at CapitolCMGPublishing.com)

Remember this:  Through Jesus the impossible becomes 

I’m Possible. 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Repeat that with me.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I’ll close with us repeating that one more time.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Luke 2:21-40 God’s Word to the Nations version

Eight days after his birth, the child was circumcised and named Jesus. This was the name the angel had given him before his mother became pregnant.  

After the days required by Moses’ Teachings to make a mother clean had passed, Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem. They took Jesus to present him to the Lord.  They did exactly what was written in the Lord’s Teachings: “Every firstborn boy is to be set apart as holy to the Lord.”  They also offered a sacrifice as required by the Lord’s Teachings: “a pair of mourning doves or two young pigeons.” 

 A man named Simeon (SIM e un)

was in Jerusalem. He lived an honorable and devout life. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel. The Holy Spirit was with Simeon and had told him that he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Messiah, whom the Lord would send. Moved by the Spirit, Simeon went into the temple courtyard. 

Mary and Joseph were bringing the child Jesus into the courtyard at the same time. They brought him so that they could do for him what Moses’ Teachings required. 

Then Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God by saying, “Now, Lord, you are allowing your servant to leave in peace as you promised.  My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people to see. He is a light that will reveal salvation to the nations and bring glory to your people Israel.”

 Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.  Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is the reason that many people in Israel will be condemned and many others will be saved. He will be a sign that will expose the thoughts of those who reject him. And a sword will pierce your heart.”  

Anna, a prophet, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel

(FAE new uhl)

from the tribe of Asher. She was now very old. Her husband had died seven years after they were married, and she had been a widow for 84 years. Anna never left the temple courtyard but worshiped day and night by fasting and praying. At that moment she came up to Mary and Joseph and began to thank God. She spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for Jerusalem to be set free.  After doing everything the Lord’s Teachings required, Joseph and Mary returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee. The child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was with him.

Sermon

One Day In the Temple

Let us Pray.

I pray that, as the Lord guided Simeon by his spirit to seek out Jesus, the Messiah, he will guide us also.

Grant us also the same spirit that drove Anna to praise you and to speak about Jesus to all who are needing redemption. Amen.

 There is a lot of things going on in our gospel teaching.

Perhaps it will help to understand why Joseph and Mary brought the infant Jesus to the temple on that day.

Now one of the reasons NOT mentioned in the scriptures was the same reason WE bring OUR newborns to church. To show off this precious child, more beautiful than any other baby. Right mom? Right Grandma?

Fortunately for me, my two boys and two girls looked EXACTLY the same … in the face … as newborns, because — well because you can’t improve on perfection.

So I’m sure that this was also in the minds of the Holy Family as they came to present the child.

But they were also obeying the law of Moses. It was after the time for their purification.

This is the teaching portion of the sermon. There might be a test at the end, so pay attention.

Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day. 

I just saw a “cringe” on the faces of several men in the sanctuary.

The purpose of the ceremony of circumcision, which is an offering of blood, is to seal the covenant with the Almighty in the flesh so that it may never be violated. 

So sacred is this act that the child is not counted an Israelite until after the ceremony. It is during the ceremony that he is officially given his name, Jesus, as instructed by God.

Much like, through the sacrament of baptism, God’s Spirit initiates us into Christ’s holy church,

And the pastor invites the congregation to welcome the newly baptized by name.

You remember that last week pastor Michele said that, possibly, the reason that Mary was assigned to the stable to give birth was out of respect and caring for his other guests. If she had given birth in the house (or the inn) everyone there would have been, under the Law of Moses, ritually unclean for seven days.

Now concerning Mary.

The Law of Moses found in Leviticus 12:2-4

If a woman gives birth to a son, she will be unclean for seven days. For thirty-three days the mother will be in a state of blood purification. She must not touch anything holy or enter the sacred area until her time of purification is completed. 

I warned you that there might be a test.

• Question one is a math problem. If Mary was unclean for 7 days and then in a state of purification for 33, how long did the holy family have to wait before coming to the Temple?

• Answer: at least 41. It had to be after the 40th day.

It is customary for the mother to come to the synagogue on the Sabbath after her 40 days when she has regained her strength. 

So now we understand why it was said, when the fullness of time had come.

There was still one more ceremony to be observed. Jesus, the redeemer, had to be redeemed. This was the reason they were in the temple that day.

As a sign and remembrance of the Passover in Egypt when the lives of all Egyptian first born males died and the first born males of the Israelites were spared by the sprinkling of blood on the door posts. 

Y’all remember that, right? 

It won’t be on the test

Since that time, all first born males belong to God. 

You will remember, in the old testament, Hannah brought Samuel, once he was weened to the LORD’S temple to be dedicated to the LORD … for his whole life.

The parents could redeem, that is “buy back” their sons by an offering of silver coins to the temple. 

If a family, like Joseph and Mary, could not afford the silver. For the poor, an offering of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons was made.

Question how could they be poor? What about the myrrh, frankincense, and gold? How could they be poor?

Answer the magi did arrive with their gifts until Jesus was around 2 years old. 

Do you now understand how important this trip to the temple was to Joseph and Mary? 

Now, to see if you are listening.

Question:  Why were they in the temple that day?

Answer:  To redeem Jesus. I would also have given a ½ point for, to show off the baby.

They, as faithful Jews, expected and had made plans for the redemption of their first born Son.

In the last 40 days they had assumedly found a home (perhaps with relatives) in Bethlehem. Performed the circumcision on the 8th day. And Mary had gone through the purification required.

They had brought the sacrificial doves to redeem their son. 

Everything was going as expected.

And then — and then along came Simeon, who grabbed the baby from their hands and started a prophetic message.

You parents out there, do you remember how fragile your first born child seemed? Imagine some stranger taking that baby and saying, “Now, Lord, you are allowing your servant to leave in peace as you promised.”

I can imagine Joseph saying, “Now hold on, bub, you’re not leaving with my baby.”

Then Simeon might have said, “Joe, you have to understand that the Lord told me that in my lifetime the Messiah would be born, and your son is the salvation for everyone, for every nation, even a light of revelation to the Gentiles! I have waited a long time to see him with my own eyes.”

And then ,,,

And then Anna, a prophetess of advanced age, {married for 7 years and widowed for 84 years}. Now assuming that she was at least in her mid teens when married, she was well over 100 years old. And still waiting to give her prophetic message.

Anna came and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Wow, things sure took a dramatic turn into the unexpected. I can almost hear Rod Sterling’s voice, “You are traveling through another dimension, your next stop, the Twilight Zone!” Do do dodo dodo dodo!

I know some of you are way too young to remember the old tv show, “The Twilight Zone.” 

But each episode began with, “This is a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination.”

So I want you to use your imagination.

Here is the Life Application part of the message

Imagine with me for a moment, that you are in that time and that place. You are Mary or Joseph. What is going through your mind as you are confronted by these strangers? And strange they must have seemed.

Your mind races back to the angel visiting you, Mary. Or the Lord visiting you, Joseph, in a dream. 

The two of you sitting down and discussing among yourselves these strange and wonderful visitations. What does it all mean? 

As usual, the Lord does not fill in all the details for you. You must go forward in faith and wait for your questions to be answered in God’s time.

Over the next eight or nine months, your mind revisits those moments, but they seem to grow a little dimmer as you busy yourself with the things of everyday life, earning a living, preparing the house for the coming child, and then the command of the Roman occupiers of your land that you are required to make a 90 mile trek to Bethlehem, because some emperor in a far off land demands it. 

Grumble, grumble, explicative, explicative!!!

You arrive in Bethlehem, which is already overcrowded with other unhappy and weary travelers who also are venting their frustration and anger over this census and the already heavy taxes.

You are not terribly surprised to find that the Motel 6, Travel Lodge, and Marriott are filled with people, some even sleeping on couches in the lobby. But in the stable behind the Budget Inn you find a corner with some relatively clean straw.

And the baby comes: no hospital, no doctor, and no midwife. Just two first time parents who are feeling completely lost, confused, and inexperienced. 

But they make it through the birth and cleanup as best you can. At last they can rest.

Nope! Not just yet. Enter a crowd of shepherds. 

If the atmosphere in the stable was not – um – fragrant enough, with animals, 2 hot sweaty humans and the odors associated with birth, here arrive dirty unshaven men reeking of sheep.

They are so excited and talking over each other trying to tell of being visited by an army of angels.

The angels tell that the … long awaited … savior had been born … at last!

But those days have past …

 and here you are in the temple with Simeon and Anna making amazing declarations and predictions about your child.

This is the congregational participation portion of the sermon.

Put yourself in the sandals of Simeon or Anna. Many long years ago you had prayed that you would live to see the coming of the messiah.  That you would be present when Isaiah’s prophecy that “Blind people would see again, lame people would be walking, those with skin diseases could be made clean, deaf people could hear again, dead people would be brought back to life, and poor people hear the Good News.” (Matthew 11:5)

You were young with keen eyesight and a full head of dark hair. Now you are old. Not just old but very old. Your eyesight is weak, your hearing minimal and your once glorious hair is thin and white. 

And still you hold out hope that your prayer will be answered.

Now, look into your own heart, are there unanswered prayers there? Are you continuing to hope, to pray, and to patiently wait for the answer? Be honest with yourself. Have you given up hope because the prayer wasn’t answered on your schedule?

Okay, moving on to Mary and Joseph

What are you parents feeling? Confused, excited, overwhelmed?

Remember, Mary and Joe don’t yet know about the coming visit of the wisemen or running for their lives to Egypt. They can’t see the future that leads to the cross … and beyond. 

It’s probably a good thing that God doesn’t gift us with the ability to see our future or our children’s.

Take a deep breath and think, were Joseph and Mary’s lives really that much different than your own? 

Sure, you are not tasked with raising the Christ child, but haven’t you, aren’t you, or won’t you be raising each child without knowing what terrifying, wonderful, and amazing thing is going to happen next? 

Aren’t all of our lives filled with work, worry, stress, and anxiety?

Not so surprisingly, parent or not a parent you have those same unknowns. 

As I told the children, when we pray, God will answer. The answer may be Yes, it may be No, and hardest of all is when we are asked to Wait.

3 POINTS WHILE WE WAIT

1. Keep praying and believing
2. Keep expecting and watching for the answer
3. Don’t overlook the answer when it comes, it may not look like you expected.

We aren’t given the road map of our lives. We move forward one fearful, hesitant, brave, joyful, and faithful step at a time.

Hymn writer: Ira F. Stanphill expressed it this way

 🎶Many things about tomorrow

I don’t seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand🎶 – 

If you have believed in your heart and declared with your lips that Jesus is Lord of your life, then you know the destination even if you can’t see behind the curtains of time to where that next step will take you. You must wait for it to be revealed.

God has many mansions, one of them has a mailbox with your name on it. 

So rest assured that Jesus knows the way home,

and he holds your hands.

There is a sign post up ahead. Your next stop the kingdom of God.

Copyrights belong to their respective creators

Mark 4:35-41. That evening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus along in a boat just as he was. Other boats were with him. A violent windstorm came up. The waves were breaking into the boat so that it was quickly filling up. But he was sleeping on a cushion in the back of the boat. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to die?” Then he got up, ordered the wind to stop, and said to the sea, “Be still, absolutely still!” The wind stopped blowing, and the sea became very calm. He asked them, “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith yet?” They were overcome with fear and asked each other, “Who is this man? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

I saw a couple of things that I don’t recall seeing before when I’ve read this passage. One was that there were other boats. The other thing that struck me was when it said, “They took Jesus just as he was.” What does that mean. Just as he was? Jesus had been preaching all day under the bright sunshine. He was probably hungry, and also sweaty and tired. “They took Jesus just as he was.” He was still in the same garments that he had worn in the heat of the day.

Now the sun was setting and the temperature was falling. Jesus had no robe to wear against the chill breeze that was pushed ahead of the storm. By laying in the bottom of the boat, he could avoid most of the wind. Tired as he was, he slept. He was traveling with men who were experienced fishermen. He trusted their ability to cross the sea.

A violent windstorm came up. I don’t know if this storm was a natural occurrence or the work of the evil one. Both are possibilities. Whatever the cause, this storm was so violent that these experience sailors were more than worried. They were terrified.

They saw Jesus sleeping and woke him. What did they expect of him? Did they just wake him to share I their panic, or to help pail water out of the boat? Clearly, they did not expect what happened next.

What happened next frightened them possibly more than the storm. He commanded the wind and the waves to stop, to become perfectly calm. And then … and then this man who spoke and wind and waves obeyed, looked each of them up and down and pronounced them to be cowards. “Don’t you have any faith yet?” These were his chosen. The men with which He would begin a spiritual revolution. How disappointing to realize that, in spite of his teaching and the mighty signs he had show them, they still lacked the faith that he would protect them.

Now we jump ahead a short time and witness another storm pin the sea.

Mark 6:45-52. Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him while he sent the people away.

Jesus was not done serving the people, but it was getting late so he sent the disciples out onto the sea to Bethsaida to make the way ready for him.

After saying goodbye to them, he went up a mountain to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land.

Once everyone was gone, Jesus went up the mountain to pray. I would love to hear those prayers. When Jesus spoke to his father. I imagine it to be something like this, “Hey, papa, such men you gave me! Children, all of them! They make me laugh and they make me cry. I’ve told them in a hundred different ways what the future holds and what I expect of them. But they hear with their ears only. It’s not sinking in to true understanding. Look at them.

Jesus saw that they were in a lot of trouble as they rowed, because they were going against the wind.

Jesus continued his conversation with the father. Look at them. A short time ago they, in a different storm, were in such a panic they nearly wet themselves. But look. Though the wind and waves are again against them, this time they are battling on, pulling together on the oars. They don’t know it yet, by but the time is coming when they will need that perseverance. But I’d better go out there to them. Love you, Dad. Talk to you soon.

Between three and six o’clock in the morning, he came to them. He was walking on the sea. He wanted to pass by them. When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought, “It’s a ghost!” and they began to scream. All of them saw him and were terrified. Immediately, he said, “Calm down! It’s me. Don’t be afraid!” He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing.

Can’t you just hear Jesus under his breath saying, “See, Dad? Children.”

It appears to me that, though Jesus was watching over them, it was his intent that they continue to struggle under their own power … or use the power he, had given them. The author said that they still did not understand, that their minds were closed.

How many storms in our lives do we have to go through before our minds are opened and we understand what Jesus is teaching us? We need not fear the storm, if we trust in him. If we truly trust in the Lord there are only two possibilities. He will either see us safely through life’s storms or he will call us home. That’s a win win.

©2021 Thomas E. Williams

https://wwhttps://www.facebook.com/crosstrackschurch/videos/2856461197951937/w.facebook.com/crosstrackschurch/videos/2856461197951937/

“Practicing Our Faith“
Matthew 6:1-4, 16-21 (CEB)
By: Bishop Laurie Haller “Be careful that you don’t practice your religion in front of people to draw their attention. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Whenever you give to the poor, don’t blow your trumpet as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may get praise from people. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. 3 But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing 4 so that you may give to the poor in secret. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you.”
16 “And when you fast, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They distort their faces so people will know they are fasting. I assure you that they have their reward. 17 When you fast, brush your hair and wash your face. 18 Then you won’t look like you are fasting to people, but only to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 19 Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them. 20 Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don’t eat them and where thieves don’t break in and steal them. 21 Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

“Practicing Our Faith“

I’ll never forget that morning. In 1993, my husband Gary and I were appointed to be co-pastors of First United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After twelve years of pastoring separately in different churches, Gary and I were going to be serving together. I have to admit I was a little apprehensive about being in a big steeple city church after serving much smaller churches.

On our first Sunday in July, our three children, who were going to enter sixth, fourth, and first grade, sat alone in the front pew of this large Gothic style sanctuary. After all, we didn’t know anyone yet, and that way we could keep an eye out on the kids. That was our first mistake. When the time came for the children to be introduced, they marched up the stairs to the chancel area, whereupon our middle child, Garth, started waving his hands to the congregation just like a politician. I could feel my face turning red with embarrassment. But that was nothing compared to Garth making a paper airplane from the church bulletin and flying it from the front pew during the sermon.

What does it mean to practice your religion in front of others? In our human quest to be acknowledged and recognized, how do we act? What is fame, anyway? What is success? What does it mean to be honored? Does it mean our name is splattered all over the tabloids? Does it mean that every action we take is scrutinized by an adoring public? Where should the reward for living a good life come from? From an adoring public, from our colleagues, or from the church?
And what about Lent? The six weeks preceding Easter are often seen as a time of not only giving up something for Lent, but more often adding something. Some people give up candy for Lent, or chocolate, or coffee, or desserts. Others fast on a certain day during Lent. The idea is that when we give up something that meaningful to us, we learn about spiritual disciplines.

On the other hand, some people add things to their lives during Lent. Perhaps it’s joining a short-term study group, reading through the gospels, visiting someone in a nursing home once a week, or giving extra money to a mission cause.
In Jesus’ day there were three great works of the religious life: almsgiving (or giving to the poor), prayer, and fasting. To the Jews, almsgiving was the most sacred of all religious duties. Jesus certainly does not dispute here that giving to the poor is important. What troubled Jesus was the motive of many of the Jews, who made a big show of giving their money in the synagogues so that others could see how much God had blessed them.

In the same way, it was tempting for the Jews to flaunt their prayer life, which was the second work of the religious life. Some liked to parade their righteousness publicly by praying on the street corners. This is how it was known that they were carrying out exactly what God wanted them to do.

And then there was fasting. The Jews fasted as a sign of mourning; in order to atone for sin; as an outward expression of an inward sorrow; and as a symbol of national penitence. Or they would fast in preparation for a revelation from God.
Could it be that Jesus wants us to learn from this scripture that we shouldn’t practice our religion in front of others in order to be recognized? What do you do in secret? Are you doing anything in secret? Are you pleasing God at all?

Henri Nouwen, who was one of the most perceptive spiritual writers of his time and was one of my professors at Yale Divinity School, wrote a book entitled Letters to Marc about Jesus. It was addressed to his 19-year-old nephew in Holland. Listen to what Nouwen wrote to Marc, “I don’t think you’ll ever be able to penetrate the mystery of God’s revelation in Jesus until it strikes you that the major part of Jesus’ life was hidden and that even the public years remained invisible as far as most people were concerned. Whereas the way of the world is to insist on publicity, celebrity, popularity, and getting maximum exposure, God prefers to work in secret. In God’s sight, the things that really matter seldom take place in public.”
As we enter the holy season of Lent on Ash Wednesday, how is God calling you to practice your faith? What spiritual disciplines might you embrace to help others claim the good news of Jesus Christ and seek treasures in heaven?

Let us pray. God, grant that we would discover the secret of living in your presence. Grant us wisdom and courage to yield to your intentions and purpose for our lives. Grant us insight to discern what is pleasing to you and give us strength to do it. Help us not to live glib and superficial lives but cleanse us by our confessions and make us worthy disciples, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

©2021 Bishop Laurie Haller