WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF YOU?
Micah 6:1-8; Matthew 5:1-12 Let us pray: Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path dear Lord. Give us grace to receive your truth in faith and love, and strength to follow on the path you set before us, through Jesus Christ, Amen. If you have ever been in court because of a lawsuit then the passage from Micah 6:1-8 may sound very familiar. This passage resembles a lawsuit that is being heard in court. Micah calls creation as a witness. The mountains, present throughout all of Israel’s history, are called on as witnesses, because they have “seen” all that the Israelites have done. God’s creation has witnessed the relationship between God and His people, so it was well-suited to reach a just verdict in this case. Micah prophesied in the latter part of the eighth century BC. He was a young contemporary of Isaiah, Hosea, and Amos. Micah and Isaiah brought God’s message to the people of Judah in the South while Hosea and Amos took it north to Israel. It was a time of political turmoil. His message is against the background of the arrogance of the powerful and rich, and the destitution of the poor. Micah sets down the profound simplicity of what true faith entails. Micah is still relevant, both for our role in the church and our role in the secular community. In dealing with those we may tag “others”, do we do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God? In the eyes of the ever-watching, ever critical world around us, are we Micah’s people? Are our attitude and actions towards other people in whatever situation they find themselves, fostered by the spirit of Micah? God showed in this passage that he is always willing to set things right. He was not unjust to the Israelites, nor did He ask too much from them. He addressed them tenderly and compassionately. He kept the promises He made. On the other hand, the Israelites did not keep their promises. Spiritual blindness led them to offer everything except the one thing that God really wanted-a spiritual commitment from their hearts. Right behaviour would have resulted from this commitment. God isn’t interested in sacrifices. He is more concerned with our attitudes. They come from the deepest part of our lives-our hearts-and show themselves in positive actions toward God and His people. In verses 6-8, Micah summarizes the laws of Moses into three commands. These few things are what God truly desires of His covenant people; not innumerable sacrifices offered without a commitment to faithful living. The word “mercy” in the Hebrew language includes the idea of loyalty and faithfulness to God’s promises. When we repent and walk with God, He will show us mercy. In fact, He loves to show us mercy. Since Israel had experienced God’s constant forgiveness from their wilderness journey to their settling in their land of promise, what sort of people were they to be now? The logical question for them to ask would have been, “What does God require of us?” The logical answer would have been the same things God provided to the Israelites when they repented: mercy, justice, and humility. These things are not one-time accomplishments to be completed and checked off a list. They will help us understand God’s heart, and in turn our own hearts will be shaped as we put these things into practice always. Living in humility simply means living by faith. We are not to give in to the evil temptations in this world. We are not to sit around and do nothing. We are to move forward in faith. We are to live insistently for the truth. Today, our society is in a situation that is similar to the situation the prophet Micah wrote about. We have lost our ability to function in society the way God wants us to live. He wants us to be a light to our world. People should be able to look at us and see something wonderfully different about us-something different that was created by our faith in Christ. Some time ago, someone wrote to Billy Graham and ridiculed Christians who talk about things like sin and forgiveness. The writer said, “Why don’t you wake up and realize that we’re free to live any way we want to? We shouldn’t feel guilty when we follow our own desires. There’s no such thing as ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ in my view.” Here’s part of Billy Graham’s reply: “Do you honestly believe there is no such thing as right and wrong? Frankly, I seriously doubt it. Child abuse, poisoning the environment, hacking someone’s bank account, cheating a neighbour, lying to your friends, murder…I can think of a whole list of evils that you’d agree are always wrong.” “But why are they wrong? And why are some things like helping others or taking care of the environment always right? Is it simply because society works better if we act this way? The real answer is deeper than this. The real answer is that God has told us how to live---and the reason is because He loves us, and He knows what is best for us.” God is the great helper. If we want to be more like Him, we will naturally grow in our love to help people. We must not try to be like someone else. We must be ourselves. We must think about how God has made us and how we can help others with our unique personality and gifts. The story has been told about a man who was caught and taken to court because he had stolen a loaf of bread. When the judge investigated, he found out that the man had no job, and his family was hungry. He had tried unsuccessfully to get work and finally, to feed his family, he had stolen a loaf of bread. Although recognizing the justifying circumstances, the judge said, “I’m sorry, but the law can make no exceptions. You stole the bread, and therefore I have to punish you. I order you to pay a fine of ten dollars.” And then the judge continued, “But I want to pay your fine myself.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out ten dollars, and handed it to the man. As soon as the man took the money, the judge said, “Now I also want to cancel the fine and remit the sentence to time served.” That is, the man could keep the money and go free. “Furthermore, I am going to instruct the bailiff to pass around a hat to everyone in this courtroom, and I am fining everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a city where a man has to steal in order to have bread to eat.” The money was collected and given to the defendant. The story is a perfect example of justice being meted out in full and paid in full, while at the very same time, mercy and grace were also enacted in full. You and I are called to act in the same manner as that Judge. We’re called to not only SHOW MERCY but to LOVE MERCY, because we have experienced God’s mercy through the outstretched hands of Jesus on the Cross. Therefore, what God require from us is to walk humbly and living in fellowship with God in modesty and without arrogance. This is at the very heart of everything in God’s purpose for us, that we live in close relationship with God. It means, we must understand that God is in control and that we are brothers and sisters to each other irrespective of who we are, where we come from and where we are. Such understanding opens the horizon for us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God and in so doing we are qualified to enjoy the blessedness Jesus preached to his disciples in the sermon on the mount. There is a reward for everything we do in God’s name. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for, they shall be satisfied. Today I invite you to develop within you the hunger and thirst for loving God and obeying his words. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. |
RETURN TO GOD
ISAIAH 55:1-9; LUKE 13:1-9 Let us pray: May your word dear Lord illuminate our hearts, we ask in Christ name. Amen! We’re approaching the halfway point of our Lenten journey. Jesus’ ministry in Galilee is quickly beginning to pale under the shadow of the Cross looming before us. In the gospel lesson today, Luke begins by narrating a conversation between Jesus and certain people that came to him, (Luke 13:1) they seem to be honest folks. Their question was heart-felt. They wanted to know how Jesus felt about a recent massacre by Herod’s soldiers in the temple. Luke didn’t tell anything about Jesus’ emotion after hearing the sad incidence but Jesus in response mentioned another incidence and asked them “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners because they suffered such things? Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.” (Luke 13:2-3) What this says to me is that we live in a fallen and broken world. Whether by the hand of a tyrant or the force of nature, terrible things happen and, when they do, innocent people suffer and die. Perhaps what these crowd that came to Jesus that day want ed to do was to lead a revolution against Herod for killing religious people. But human thoughts and plans sometimes do not correspond with God’s thoughts and plans. At the heart of Isaiah 55 are the words; “My thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways.” To know what God is thinking or to know how God works is impossible for us to understand. We like to live in control of our lives, immune from surprises and totally protected. When things happen beyond our control, we feel helpless and forsaken. The idea we have in Isaiah 55 is that the Israelites had frequently turned away from God, not listening and not following. This passage in Isaiah is part of the prophet’s prophecy’s while they were in exiled. Isaiah’s task was to get them to return to Jerusalem, their homeland, and rebuild their city and the temple. They had become settled and forgotten their purpose, which was “being servants” and being “faithful” to God. If they would return, they will be forgiven. Isaiah said, “Let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Here we have an example of a God whose ways are not our ways. God was willing to forgive them for their rebelliousness if they return to him. In Luke’s gospel Jesus’ words to his hearers “Unless you repent, you will all perish.” Is a warning and a promise: If you repent and turn to God you’ll experience life in all its abundance. One could ask but just how were the Israelites rebelling against God? According to Isaiah, they were “Seeking that which does not satisfy.” They had been acquiring material security, in other words primarily consumed with their physical needs. Consequently, they had neglected their faith. They were consumed with “their” way, not “God’s” way. It seems to me we are no different than people in Isaiah’s time. People are constantly seeking what they think will satisfy them, but they come up empty again and again. We consume great quantities of stuff, but we are never full. We fill our lives with frantic schedules, running errands, shopping, and all kinds of entertainment. We also live in a technological frenzy, our lives paralyzed by television, mesmerized by the internet, talking constantly on our cell phones and consumed by video games. We go from one thing to the next, taking as much in as humanly possible, believing that we will find happiness. Instead, we find ourselves living frantically, running in many directions, exhausted, depressed and lost. “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and you labour for that which does not satisfy?” This is not to say that we don’t need to include some fun time in our lives, and that is not Isaiah’s point. But when our lives are completely full of activities and our busy agendas, that there is no time for God – we need to rethink. Earlier I stated that Isaiah was reminding his people of their calling. They were called to be “servants.” Rather than be self-serving they were to be “A light to the nations.” A story has it that Sadhu Sundar and a companion were traveling through a pass high in the Himalayan Mountains when they came across a body lying in the snow. They checked for vital signs and discovered the man was still alive, but barely. Sundar prepared to stop and help this unfortunate traveller, but his companion objected, saying, “We shall lose our lives if we burden ourselves with him.” Sundar, however, could not think of leaving the man to die in the snow without an attempted rescue. His companion quickly bade him farewell and walked on. Sundar lifted the poor traveller on his back. With great exertion on his part, he carried the man and moved ahead. The task was challenging because of the high altitudes and snowy conditions. As he walked, the heat from his body began to warm the frozen man. He revived, and soon both were walking together side by side, each holding the other up, and in turn, each giving body heat to the other. Before long they came upon yet another traveller’s body lying in the snow. Upon closer inspection, they discovered him to be dead, frozen by the cold. He was Sundar original traveling companion. Beloved we are told that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are our ways his ways.” God wanted his people to return to him by remembering why they were chosen. They were being called away from their frantic lives to lives filled with purpose and love. It was not too late. There was still time, and they would be forgiven. Turning to God makes us refreshed and renewed. It gives us the opportunity to get a new perspective on life, reorder our lives and focus on that which is worthwhile. It is not too late for us either. God is calling us too, away from a life that does not satisfy to a life that does. Our ways can be God’s ways. Our thoughts can be God’s thoughts when find relief and security in the ways of the Lord. What Isaiah meant for us his listeners is to abandon our hectic lifestyles and do what we can where we can. Our faith can be lived out in all areas of our lives. It is a matter of being who we are, and letting our lights shine. When we read the remaining verses in Chapter 55, we notice that the chapter ends in promise. “For you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Just as Isaiah was calling Israel to turn to God and “seek God’s ways” through service and discipleship and just as Jesus Christ was calling his followers to turn away from sin and live, God is calling us to return to him. God promises to make with you an everlasting covenant.” He promised “rich food” and “water and milk” for thirsty souls. He also promised to make you the delight of many nations. But our role is to return to God. Amen! Let us pray: cause us to return to you Almighty God, so that we may enjoy your blessings and be led forth in peace through Christ our Lord. Amen! |
TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
MARK 11:1-11 Let us pray! Gracious God, as we turn to your Word for us this Palm Sunday, may your Spirit rest upon us through Christ Jesus. Amen! Beloved on this Palm Sunday we reflect on Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem. The sermon is captioned: THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY. I will begin by saying, the cross is the way to victory; without a cross there will be no crown. To the faithful there are many crosses between now and the ultimate triumph of life. The euphoric reception Jesus received as he entered Jerusalem will soon be replaced with cries for His crucifixion. This was the reason for the incarnation and His time spent upon earth as a man. The event that took place that day he entered Jerusalem had been prophesied hundreds of years earlier and recorded in Zech.9 “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey”. Jesus was committed to fulfilling the plan of redemption. Our Scripture reading of Mark 11 detailed the event of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This event was not left to chance; it had been divinely prophesied and would be sovereignly carried out. As Jesus continued to make His way toward Jerusalem, having His heart set on fulfilling the Father’s will, when they got to the region of Bethphage and Bethany. Jesus instructed two of his disciples to go into the village and bring a colt which no one has sat upon. This is a simple task, isn’t it? But it reveals the sovereignty of Jesus. He had not gone ahead of the disciples. He knew exactly where they would find the colt tied, and He knew there would be no dispute in the matter. This should encourage us as we walk with the Lord. There is nothing we face in life that He cannot control; He has the ability to orchestrate even the smallest details of our lives. Jesus figured out the smallest of details for the disciples. We tend to think that our Lord is unconcerned with the day to day trifling aspects of our lives, but in fact, He is very mindful and in absolute control. This was a young colt that no one has ever sat upon and yet it submitted to the Lord and allowed Him to ride into Jerusalem. This colt was more willing to be used of the Lord than a lot of men and women of this generation. We need to possess the willingness to serve the Lord, seeking to please Him in all we do! In the narrative Jesus was being celebrated as their King. Clearly, they recognized something special about Him. But people of this generation have become casual regarding our Lord. Beloved we need to accept Jesus for who He is – our Lord and Master, Redeemer and friend, our Saviour and soon coming King! We are told, some spread their garments in the way and others wave palm branches, they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Their action was a fulfilment of Psalm 118:25-26 – Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord, we bless you. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he looked upon the situation within the Temple. It was arrayed in all its splendour, with the priests going through the formalities of religion, but their hearts were hard and cold. Their Messiah stood in their midst, and yet they failed to see Him as the Christ. The question is this, what does Jesus see as He considers His church today? Yes he sees us as His purchased possession, and loves us with an everlasting love, but what does He actually see? Perhaps, He sees a scene very similar to the one He encountered in Jerusalem that day (hard and cold hearts that have rejected their saviour). With the shout of praise and honour one would expect Jesus to have felt wanted in Jerusalem, but He knew the condition of the hearts of many. This world has much to offer, and there are many distractions to our faith. After shouting Hosanna in the highest many rejected him and shouted crucify him. Beloved the Lord is good and would be found among those who love and desire Him. Everyone in Jerusalem did not recognize Him, but many did. He was worshiped and honoured for who He was – the promised Messiah. Those who will gather later that week around the praetorium will have a different perspective, but on this day, Jesus was with those He loved and those who returned His love. Where do our hearts lie today? How do we perceive Jesus? Is He accepted among us? Is He regularly in attendance within your home? I know the Spirit dwells within the believer continually, but do we make any effort to fellowship with our Lord? He must be the object of our affection. If you are unsaved or not where you should be with the Lord, please seek Him today! Amen! Let us pray! To God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit be glory and praise now and forever. Amen! |
THE PRIESTLY PRAYER
JOHN 17:6-19 Let us pray! Speak to us dear Lord that ancient words that was Handed down to this age through sacrifice, help us to heed the faithful words of Christ, amen! This past Thursday marked the Ascension of our risen Lord. What an awesome sight that must have been, for the disciples to have witnessed our risen Lord’s ascension. Not only had they seen Jesus die by crucifixion, and then, on Easter Sunday, appear to them risen from throws of death – they also saw him ascend back to heaven! If there was any doubt remaining in the minds of the disciples about who Jesus was, or by what authority he healed and taught and preached, Christ’s ascension made it clear. In Jesus they had beheld the very presence of God in their midst. John’s gospel chapter 17 which has been read to us in part, is part of Jesus farewell discussion with his disciples. In it, Jesus knows that His time with the disciples, physically speaking, is almost over and the thought of leaving them is almost too much. And so He cries out to His Father to ‘Protect them, look after them, and keep them safe!’ This has been known as the HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER. There's a close connection between the disciples and Jesus that comes out very clearly and we the present-day disciples share in that relationship. verse 6 forms the grounds for Jesus’ prayer: “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.” It's as though God has entrusted them to him, like a foster parent might be given the responsibility of raising someone else's children. And he says, “I've fulfilled your charge to me. I've made you known to them. They've believed my word. So, he prays for them, for those that the Father has given him, because they also belong to the Father. And what does he pray? "Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me." He first prays for the Father's protection. In John chapter 14 Jesus promised that he wouldn't leave them as orphans. One of the dangers for orphans which is a reality in some society is that they are defenceless. They had no-one to protect them from people who would seek to do them harm. So now he prays that God the Father would take over the role of protecting them from the dangers of living in this world. And notice what it is that they need to be protected from. He says, "protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one." Jesus has already given his new commandment, to love one another. And one reason he gave that command was that only by loving one another could we maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3). Jesus foresees that the great danger for the disciples, and for the church of the future, is that they'll be broken apart by division. Up to this time Jesus has kept them together, but now that he's about to leave them, they need the Father's help to stay together, so they can support one another. They also need the Father's protection against the attacks of the evil one. Jesus understood that any opposition they face will come from Satan. While he talks about the world being opposed to them, it's quite clear that behind that world is the Prince of this world. As Eph. 6 tells us, "our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." And while we live in this world we'll continue to fight against the forces of evil in the world that are opposed to the gospel. This is the reality of our situation, isn't it? We live in a culture, in a world, that's opposed to God and therefore will be opposed to us whenever we stand up for the principles that God has given us. And we can't escape it. This is the only world we have to live in. So what are we going to do? The next part of his prayer tells us. He prays that God will sanctify them by the truth. To sanctify means to set apart, to separate. How are we going to keep ourselves safe from the world? It is not by being taken out of it physically, but by being separated from it spiritually. By being sanctified. And how will that happen? He says, "sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." It's by God's word that we're sanctified. It is as we believe God's word and let it take control of our lives, that we find ourselves set apart from the attitudes and values of the world around us. Beloved, how often do you study God's word? Are you regularly allowing God's word into your mind and heart so it can sanctify you, make you different, protect you from the attacks of the world. Christians who fail to read God's word and pray regularly are in great danger from the world, from the evil one, because the truth of God's word isn't being allowed to do its work in their lives. Jesus asks this of his Heavenly Father, because he has sent us into the world, just as God had sent him into the world. Jesus prays for God to protect us in his word, to protect us in faith, to make us one with him as he is one with the Father, not just that WE might know the redeeming grace of God, but so that WE might continue to spread God’s word to others of what he has done for THEM through Christ’s death and resurrection. Amen! Let us pray! To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit be glory and praise now and forever. Amen! |
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MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
JEREMIAH 31:7-14 Let us pray. Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as your Word is proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen. Beloved we have just finished celebrating Christmas, this is the first Sunday of the new year 2021. Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, isn’t it? That first Christmas, what excitement and joy there must have been as first the angel came and spoke to Elizabeth and Zechariah about John the Baptist being born. Then the angel came and spoke to Mary and Joseph about Jesus being born. Everybody was getting more and more excited. On that Christmas evening, the angel came and spoke to the shepherds. At first, they were a little bit scared and frightened, but then they listened, and they understood. So, they went to see what had taken place, which the angels had told them about. Then we are told the reaction after Christ was born…that Mary pondered all of these things and treasured them in her heart. “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told"(LUKE 2:20). Now you and I don’t get to see all of those things visibly as those first participants did. They saw the angels; they saw God’s glory revealed to them. But, like the shepherds, like Mary, like Zechariah and Elizabeth and Joseph, we get to hear those great and glorious things. In our text, the prophet Jeremiah reminds us of what the people of the Old Testament looked forward to and how they were able to hear God’s message. Jeremiah, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes great words of encouragement to God’s people (I call it MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT). He reminds them that the Lord is always on their side. Jeremiah tells them what God’s Word says: `He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’ From time to time throughout the history of Israel, the people were scattered—scattered from their homeland, scattered from the Promised Land because of their disobedience and their rejection of God. Yet even though they were scattered throughout the world and the countryside, the Lord said He was still with them. And he says He will gather them together once again. Their sins would not separate them forever. God was with them to gather them together. Certainly, at the end, they would be gathered in heaven. Even on earth He gave them that promise. He doesn’t just say that He’s going to gather them together so they can all be together, but He says then also that He will watch over them like a shepherd who tends his flock. We may remember that the people of the Old Testament for the most part were shepherds. They knew how much they cared for each one of their sheep. What a joy it was for them to hear Jeremiah say, ‘and now the Lord is going to do the same for you. He’s going to care for each one of His sheep as much as a shepherd does on earth, and even more so.’ Jeremiah told them that they would be ‘bought back’. They would be ‘redeemed’ from their wicked ways. They would be ransomed from the power of sin, death and the devil. He said, ‘He would redeem them from the hand stronger than they.’ Thus, their mourning and sorrow would turn to comfort and joy. They would celebrate by looking ahead to the Christmas that was to come. You and I celebrate by looking back at the Christmas that came, realizing that the Lord is still the same, he came to us, He gathered us together, that He might buy us back from our enemies that are greater than us. Our enemies of course, are the enemies of sin, death and the power of the devil. God is greater than all of them. He has gathered us together and He watches over us with infinite care. As we bask in the glory of God’s creation, as we reflect on the light of our salvation, you and I might not feel scattered. In our society, we’re quite mobile and we scatter to the ends of the earth, but we don’t feel scattered and away from God. Yet if we look very closely at our life, and ask ourselves, ‘what resolves scatter us from God? What acts separate us from God’s love?’ Again, we would see that it is our own sinful nature. The Scripture tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. It equally tells us that we are born into this world, not as friends of God but as enemies of God. As enemies of God, we stand opposed to Him at every turn of our lives. At times, our sins can very easily separate us and scatter us from God. Isaiah, the prophet, says: "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear"(ISAIAH 59:2). Yes, on this side of eternity, our sins and our sinfulness, cause us not to perfectly see God’s face, cause us not to perfectly understand God’s will all the time. Yet what does the Lord promise us? Just like His promise to Israel of old, even though we have been scattered, even though we let our sins separate us from His love, He gathers us once again into His fold. He brings us back and He redeems us with the precious blood of His Son, our Saviour. That is our God. Psalm 30 "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning"(PSALM 30:5). He says, as we are sorry over our sins and realize our wickedness, the Lord comforts us with His forgiveness. His anger lasts—only a moment. His favour—a lifetime! You and I rejoice in the lifetime of God’s favour in our life. The good news for us is that "Jesus Christ, the Righteous One is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world"(1 JOHN 2:2). 2020 was a difficult year for every one of us. Covid19 has being a knife that divides, separating families, separating nations and bringing darkness in our world. But today we have been reassured that God will redeem us and bring us together again. He will turn our mourning into joy and will comfort us and make us rejoice from all our sorrows. Beloved with this reassurance let this hope be in us that 2021 is going to bring purpose to our living. You and I will proclaim like the Prophet HABAKKUK in chp.3 and say, Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign LORD is my strength". Amen. Let us pray. To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit be glory and praise, now and forever amen. |
THE GREATEST COMFORT
ISAIAH 40:1-11 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for Let us pray: Gracious God, give us humble, teachable, and obedient hearts, that we may receive what you have revealed, and do what you have commanded. Amen. On February 27, 1991, during the Desert Storm War, a woman by the name of Ruth Dillow received the worst call of her life. Her son, Clayton Carpenter, Private First Class, had stepped on a land mine and was dead. For the next three days she grieved. No one could comfort her. On the third day after receiving the terrible news, the phone rang. On the other end of the phone there was a voice that said, “Mom, it’s me. I’m alive.” At first she thought it was a cruel joke, but as the conversation continued, she realized it was her son. Later she said she laughed and cried and rejoiced because what seemed to be a hopeless situation turned out to be the greatest day of her life. That’s what news from a graveyard can do for you when your faith is in Jesus Christ. The theme of “comfort” sounds good, doesn’t it? But think about when you just can’t fairly get comfortable. Bones ache, thoughts ruminate, you are restricted to do things you want to do, pandemic devastate etc! Even when we find comfort, it seems temporary, elusive, it is here one moment and gone the next moment. Yet, today’s passage speaks of God’s lasting, eternal comfort. The first 11 verses of Isaiah chapter 40 express God’s comfort packaged in three ways: Firstly, from verses 1-2 we can take comfort that our sins are forgiven. After 39 chapters of judgment, Isaiah begins chapter 40 with God saying, “Comfort.” In fact, God says it twice: “Comfort, comfort my people.” Notice the personal pronoun: God says, “These are MY people.” He claims them as his own. They have wandered; the exile was a direct consequence of their sin. Yet, God says their sins are paid in full. Old Testament saints were saved by looking forward to a Messiah. We who live on this side of the cross look back to the source of our salvation. We know our Messiah, and his name is Jesus Christ. He is our salvation. We bring all our sins to God through him. We need to understand that one sin blocks any kind of relationship with him. Yet, when Jesus died on the cross, God took all our debts and declared us, “ransomed.” As we bring all our guilt and shame to Christ, God forgives us. Christmas tells us everything is new. This Christmas take comfort that your sins have been paid for in full. Secondly, we take comfort that God’s word outlasts our problems. (vv. 6-8) are strange group of verses tucked into the middle of our scripture today, and it speaks to the frailty of human life. As big as your problem may seem, as dry as your wilderness may be, as lonely as your exile may appear: God’s word is bigger. Your circumstances are temporary; God’s word is forever! You don’t have the final word on your circumstances until you have God’s word on the matter. This Christmas take comfort that God’s word will endure over your problems (it will endure forever!). Finally, we take comfort that God is coming again (vv. 3-5, 9-11) Isaiah writes that something exciting is about to happen. We can tell because of the major construction going on in verses 3-5: 3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Some 700 years after Isaiah first wrote these words, John the Baptist claimed them as his own as he prepared the way for the long-awaited Messiah (John 1:23). Verses 9-11 describe this king. He is both mighty and meek. He is powerful as a conquering warrior and as gentle as a shepherd with a little lamb. Think about it: This is a God worth following! The one true God is both strong and caring. This God moves nations ... and he holds little lambs close to his heart. He knows you by name. He is a GREAT God, but also a GOOD God! The greatest comfort we have is that he is coming again. Now we prepare for his second advent. All you need to do is to straighten out the crooked places in your life, get yourself ready, stand firm in faith. Your King is coming, wait on him for they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. Let us pray: “Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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