Thursday, November 29, 2007

sermon for the week!

Sermon this week
One of the big problems in the church is shallowness, superficiality, the beatitudes provide a remedy.
Soldier on the beach, trying to establish a base to attack the Japanese in WW2, with his best friend, his best friend gets shot in the chest, no medics, he says “tell me about God” No chaplains, he had no answer, but when he got home he made it is desire to find out and so he may never have the guilt that was chewing him up take over his life, he found out about God and it changes his life forever. His friend died so he might live, many died so we have a life of freedom today, but how do we repay it? Have we found God, have we told others when they ask us? (Conspiracy of kindness?)
Happiness, or blessedness is in Greek Makarios which describes a joy that is independent of the changes and chances of life, happiness has the root hap which means chance, human happiness is found by chance, good things that happen, but sadly this means happiness as the world sees it can destroyed or taken away depending on what happens in life. Not so with God
So while we mourn, we can have joy because God is bigger that life
The beatitudes This is for those who have tasted and seen that God is good, this is not a way to gain salvation, it is how to live in the kingdom, and you live in the kingdom the minute you invite Christ in.
It calls us to put God first, in motives, actions, business, in language, in thought, in priorities, all life comes under God’s jurisdiction.
The beatitudes are a bolt out of the blue, for everyone who thought that religion was a dull, miserable affair, well religion is, but the kingdom is really quite different! When we live following the king, it is life as it is meant to be, so it is inevitably a joyous and happy life, that is what blessed means, made happy by God
Jesus is saying, life in the kingdom with him is a life of profound joy, that no person or circumstance can take away. And it is not for some future time, it is for now! It is the mark of those who have truly surrendered to the king and tasted his grace, joy is for today, it will be even better when we are with him in eternity.
Eight aspects of character and conduct for citizens of the kingdom, not what the politicians would contest elections on, nothing in fact that the world would ever consider important, but that is the thing, Jesus came to turn the world upside down.
The poor in Spirit are happy, not the tough guys, not the ones who push others around, not the arrogant, not the uncaring, but those who put their confidence only in God, not themselves, even when ground down by the world and all the hurts found there, they put their trust in him alone, and to their unspeakable joy they find the kingdom is their free gift from God, their joy comes from sheer undreamed of grace.
Those who mourn are happy, happier than guests at a party, they have seen the depths of the world’s suffering, of their own sin, it has broken their heart, when this happens we are wide open to the comfort that God longs to give, today of all days we remember that those who mourn are comforted, Jesus came to bind up the broken hearted.
The meek are happy, deeply happy in a way the big headed never can be, this is revolutionary stuff, Ps 37v 11 the meek shall inherit the land, victory goes not to the wise or the strong, but to those who are small before God, God can exalt them without the danger of their pride getting in the way. Rees Howells, praying for the British when they were outnumbered many times.
Those who are hungry and thirsty are happy not the bloated, not the content, this of course is not physical, but spiritual, there is profound happiness in a hunger, a burning thirst for goodness, for righteousness, so complete, so whole hearted, this beatitude speaks of total commitment to God’s way and he will ensure we are filled, as the men and women who give their lives for our freedom, so God desires that we give our all for him, to continue seeking him, so we are full of him, not bloated, not content with our lot, but desiring his will to be done in our lives
The merciful are happy in the way one who wants his justice can never understand, they have tasted the mercy of God, who invites them into the kingdom through grace not through any achievements, they share this divine love with those who hurt them, and because they forgive, God will forgive them.
The pure in heart have a joy that those who lust and covet have not concept of, pure means unalloyed, unpolluted clean, wholesome, we see what were able to see, if we train ourselves to look upon God alone, all that the world offers will have no hold upon us, double vision mars the joy of the vision of God.
There is special joy for the peacemakers, the arrogant and the argumentative know nothing of peace, when we seek peace, we defeat the enemy who would try to overcome and annihilate, those who reconcile the estranged are seeking after God, God is always making peace, he has made peace with us all through Christ, sadly this has been lacking from members of the Church for many centuries, we children have been unlike our Father, we have estranged too many by our actions, seek peace and receive joy, we give thanks for those who seek peace by putting their lives on the line against dictators and tyrannies, so we have our freedom to live our lives as we wish, my wish is that we seek the God of peace and live to share the shalom of God with everyone, those we love, those we find it hard to love.
Even the persecuted can be happy, they may appear to lose it all, but it is not so, they gain the kingdom of heaven, throughout the centuries there has been peace and joy about those who for the sake of conscience have been willing to face opposition and death, and never more so in the last 100 years, Jesus is of course saying that those who are persecuted for him will receive a special reward in heaven as verse 11 makes clear, the persecuted church doesn’t want to be like us in the west where we have the choice of many things, and too often church is low on the list, rugby, football, tesco, golf, car washing, work, family, school come first, the persecuted church look for our prayers not to have any easy time, but that it may be faithful unto death and know the joy of utter faithfulness to Christ, there is no joy like that, I sometimes wonder how our lives would be affected if we were told tomorrow we could no longer meet as a Church under threat of prosecution and imprisonment, would it make a difference to our lives?
This is Jesus’ prescription for a happy life, it is not what we expect, it is paradoxical, yet immensely profound, and he looks for these qualities in the members of his kingdom. They are the reverse of what the world desires, yet Christians have found them to be true again and again throughout the ages and will continue to do so in the future, will we?
We are called to develop these beatitudes, we can only do it through the power of God, but his power is there for us all, if we allow him to work in us!
His name was Robert Matthews. These are his words:> >>>A few weeks before Sept. 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to> >>>have> >>>our first child. She planned a trip out to California to visit her> >>>sister.> >>>On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe> >>>trip and be with her. Shortly after I said 'amen,' we both heard a loud> >>>pop> >>>and the car shook violently. We had blown out a tire.> >>>I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her > >>>flight.> >>>Both very upset, we drove home. I received a call from my father who was> >>>retired NYFD. He asked what my wife's flight number was, but I explained> >>>that we missed the flight.> >>>My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into The> >>>southern tower. I was too shocked to speak. My father also had more news> >>>for> >>>me; he was going to help. 'This is not something I can't just sit by for;> >>>I> >>>have to do something.'> >>>I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never> >>>given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made> >>>up.> >>>Before he got off of the phone, he said, 'take good care of my > >>>Grandchild.> >>>Those were the last words I ever heard my father say; he died while> >>>helping> >>>in the rescue effort.> >>>My joy that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered quickly> >>>became> >>>anger. I was angry at God, at my father, and at myself. I had gone for> >>>nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away. My son would > >>>never> >>>know his grandfather, my father had never accepted Christ, and I never > >>>got> >>>to say goodbye.> >>>Then something happened. About two months ago, I was sitting at home with> >>>my> >>>wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at my wife,> >>>but I could tell she wasn't expecting anyone. I opened the door to a> >>>couple> >>>with a small child. The man looked at me and asked if my father's name > >>>was> >>>Jake Matthews. I told him it was. He quickly grabbed my hand and said, 'I> >>>never got the chance to meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his> >>>son.'> >>>He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center and> >>>had been caught inside after the attack. She was pregnant and had been> >>>caught under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one to> >>>find his wife and free her.> >>>My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my father giving his life > >>>for> >>>people like this. He then said, 'there is something else you need to> >>>know.'> >>>His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to> >>>him and led him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news.> >>>> >>>Now I know that when I get to Heaven, my father will be standing beside> >>>Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him> >>>themselves.> >>>When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew, in honor of> >>>the> >>>man who gave his life so that a mother and baby could live.> >>>> >>> God is always in control. We may not see > >>>the> >>>reason behind things, and we may never know this side of heaven, but God> >>>is> >>>ALWAYS in control.> >>>God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.> >>>Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures Forever. Psalm> >>>136:1
I guess when I think of those who gave their lives I think of their duty, I think of their obedience, I think of their fear, their reluctance to follow orders, and yet they did it, they still do it, I am challenged to obey my master, it is not enough to hear his words, he tells us himself we must obey Matt 7 v 24-27, everyone hungers and thirsts for something, wealth, family, status, power, what will it be for you? Will it be the righteousness of God? Will it be the kingdom of heaven?

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

the beattitudes

Sermon this week
One of the big problems in the church is shallowness, superficiality, the beatitudes provide a remedy.
Soldier on the beach, trying to establish a base to attack the Japanese in WW2, with his best friend, his best friend gets shot in the chest, no medics, he says “tell me about God” No chaplains, he had no answer, but when he got home he made it is desire to find out and so he may never have the guilt that was chewing him up take over his life, he found out about God and it changes his life forever. His friend died so he might live, many died so we have a life of freedom today, but how do we repay it? Have we found God, have we told others when they ask us? (Conspiracy of kindness?)
Happiness, or blessedness is in Greek Makarios which describes a joy that is independent of the changes and chances of life, happiness has the root hap which means chance, human happiness is found by chance, good things that happen, but sadly this means happiness as the world sees it can destroyed or taken away depending on what happens in life. Not so with God
So while we mourn, we can have joy because God is bigger that life
The beatitudes This is for those who have tasted and seen that God is good, this is not a way to gain salvation, it is how to live in the kingdom, and you live in the kingdom the minute you invite Christ in.
It calls us to put God first, in motives, actions, business, in language, in thought, in priorities, all life comes under God’s jurisdiction.
The beatitudes are a bolt out of the blue, for everyone who thought that religion was a dull, miserable affair, well religion is, but the kingdom is really quite different! When we live following the king, it is life as it is meant to be, so it is inevitably a joyous and happy life, that is what blessed means, made happy by God
Jesus is saying, life in the kingdom with him is a life of profound joy, that no person or circumstance can take away. And it is not for some future time, it is for now! It is the mark of those who have truly surrendered to the king and tasted his grace, joy is for today, it will be even better when we are with him in eternity.
Eight aspects of character and conduct for citizens of the kingdom, not what the politicians would contest elections on, nothing in fact that the world would ever consider important, but that is the thing, Jesus came to turn the world upside down.
The poor in Spirit are happy, not the tough guys, not the ones who push others around, not the arrogant, not the uncaring, but those who put their confidence only in God, not themselves, even when ground down by the world and all the hurts found there, they put their trust in him alone, and to their unspeakable joy they find the kingdom is their free gift from God, their joy comes from sheer undreamed of grace.
Those who mourn are happy, happier than guests at a party, they have seen the depths of the world’s suffering, of their own sin, it has broken their heart, when this happens we are wide open to the comfort that God longs to give, today of all days we remember that those who mourn are comforted, Jesus came to bind up the broken hearted.
The meek are happy, deeply happy in a way the big headed never can be, this is revolutionary stuff, Ps 37v 11 the meek shall inherit the land, victory goes not to the wise or the strong, but to those who are small before God, God can exalt them without the danger of their pride getting in the way. Rees Howells, praying for the British when they were outnumbered many times.
Those who are hungry and thirsty are happy not the bloated, not the content, this of course is not physical, but spiritual, there is profound happiness in a hunger, a burning thirst for goodness, for righteousness, so complete, so whole hearted, this beatitude speaks of total commitment to God’s way and he will ensure we are filled, as the men and women who give their lives for our freedom, so God desires that we give our all for him, to continue seeking him, so we are full of him, not bloated, not content with our lot, but desiring his will to be done in our lives
The merciful are happy in the way one who wants his justice can never understand, they have tasted the mercy of God, who invites them into the kingdom through grace not through any achievements, they share this divine love with those who hurt them, and because they forgive, God will forgive them.
The pure in heart have a joy that those who lust and covet have not concept of, pure means unalloyed, unpolluted clean, wholesome, we see what were able to see, if we train ourselves to look upon God alone, all that the world offers will have no hold upon us, double vision mars the joy of the vision of God.
There is special joy for the peacemakers, the arrogant and the argumentative know nothing of peace, when we seek peace, we defeat the enemy who would try to overcome and annihilate, those who reconcile the estranged are seeking after God, God is always making peace, he has made peace with us all through Christ, sadly this has been lacking from members of the Church for many centuries, we children have been unlike our Father, we have estranged too many by our actions, seek peace and receive joy, we give thanks for those who seek peace by putting their lives on the line against dictators and tyrannies, so we have our freedom to live our lives as we wish, my wish is that we seek the God of peace and live to share the shalom of God with everyone, those we love, those we find it hard to love.
Even the persecuted can be happy, they may appear to lose it all, but it is not so, they gain the kingdom of heaven, throughout the centuries there has been peace and joy about those who for the sake of conscience have been willing to face opposition and death, and never more so in the last 100 years, Jesus is of course saying that those who are persecuted for him will receive a special reward in heaven as verse 11 makes clear, the persecuted church doesn’t want to be like us in the west where we have the choice of many things, and too often church is low on the list, rugby, football, tesco, golf, car washing, work, family, school come first, the persecuted church look for our prayers not to have any easy time, but that it may be faithful unto death and know the joy of utter faithfulness to Christ, there is no joy like that, I sometimes wonder how our lives would be affected if we were told tomorrow we could no longer meet as a Church under threat of prosecution and imprisonment, would it make a difference to our lives?
This is Jesus’ prescription for a happy life, it is not what we expect, it is paradoxical, yet immensely profound, and he looks for these qualities in the members of his kingdom. They are the reverse of what the world desires, yet Christians have found them to be true again and again throughout the ages and will continue to do so in the future, will we?
We are called to develop these beatitudes, we can only do it through the power of God, but his power is there for us all, if we allow him to work in us!
His name was Robert Matthews. These are his words:> >>>A few weeks before Sept. 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to> >>>have> >>>our first child. She planned a trip out to California to visit her> >>>sister.> >>>On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe> >>>trip and be with her. Shortly after I said 'amen,' we both heard a loud> >>>pop> >>>and the car shook violently. We had blown out a tire.> >>>I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her > >>>flight.> >>>Both very upset, we drove home. I received a call from my father who was> >>>retired NYFD. He asked what my wife's flight number was, but I explained> >>>that we missed the flight.> >>>My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into The> >>>southern tower. I was too shocked to speak. My father also had more news> >>>for> >>>me; he was going to help. 'This is not something I can't just sit by for;> >>>I> >>>have to do something.'> >>>I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never> >>>given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made> >>>up.> >>>Before he got off of the phone, he said, 'take good care of my > >>>Grandchild.> >>>Those were the last words I ever heard my father say; he died while> >>>helping> >>>in the rescue effort.> >>>My joy that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered quickly> >>>became> >>>anger. I was angry at God, at my father, and at myself. I had gone for> >>>nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away. My son would > >>>never> >>>know his grandfather, my father had never accepted Christ, and I never > >>>got> >>>to say goodbye.> >>>Then something happened. About two months ago, I was sitting at home with> >>>my> >>>wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at my wife,> >>>but I could tell she wasn't expecting anyone. I opened the door to a> >>>couple> >>>with a small child. The man looked at me and asked if my father's name > >>>was> >>>Jake Matthews. I told him it was. He quickly grabbed my hand and said, 'I> >>>never got the chance to meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his> >>>son.'> >>>He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center and> >>>had been caught inside after the attack. She was pregnant and had been> >>>caught under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one to> >>>find his wife and free her.> >>>My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my father giving his life > >>>for> >>>people like this. He then said, 'there is something else you need to> >>>know.'> >>>His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to> >>>him and led him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news.> >>>> >>>Now I know that when I get to Heaven, my father will be standing beside> >>>Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him> >>>themselves.> >>>When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew, in honor of> >>>the> >>>man who gave his life so that a mother and baby could live.> >>>> >>> God is always in control. We may not see > >>>the> >>>reason behind things, and we may never know this side of heaven, but God> >>>is> >>>ALWAYS in control.> >>>God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.> >>>Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures Forever. Psalm> >>>136:1
I guess when I think of those who gave their lives I think of their duty, I think of their obedience, I think of their fear, their reluctance to follow orders, and yet they did it, they still do it, I am challenged to obey my master, it is not enough to hear his words, he tells us himself we must obey Matt 7 v 24-27, everyone hungers and thirsts for something, wealth, family, status, power, what will it be for you? Will it be the righteousness of God? Will it be the kingdom of heaven?