A Faith Pleasing to God

September 1, 2013 Hebrews 13:1-6 15th Sunday after Pentecost “A Faith Pleasing to God” Year C Things that we need in life There are certain things that we need to have in our lives every day in order for us to be able to function. There are the obvious things like clean air, food, water, a safe environment, we need to sleep, we need to be able to take care of ourselves, we need to have family or others who love and encourage us, we need to do something that is meaningful for us, we need to have a safe space to feel ourselves. We spend a lot of time fulfilling those physical and mental needs. But we have to remember that we have a mind, and a body, but we also have a soul. Spiritual things that we need And just as the mind and body have needs – the soul has needs also. And without those things – we may not realize it, but our day does not go well. In order for us to live – we need prayer – it can be ours or someone elses, we need forgiveness, thankfulness, humility, hospitality, and charity. Because we cant always see those things – we tend to take them for granted. But we need them and we need them everyday. The book of Hebrews sums our spiritual needs in one word- we all need to have faith in order to survive. We need to have faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is the thing that we need to most, and there are moments that it is the hardest thing to hold onto. Hudson Taylor on Contentment "The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One," said A. W. Tozer. 1. You have His assurance - "for he hath said..." Hudson Taylor the founder of China Inland Mission, was facing a lack of finances in his ministry. He retreated to office and read the Bible awhile, then prayed a while, and then looked again at the finances. Then he would pray a while, read the Bible awhile, and look again at the finances. Then he prayed awhile and read the Bible. After a while he left his office. His wife asked him, "What are we going to do?" "We have a twenty seven cents and all the promises of God...what more do one need!" (From a sermon by Jimmy Chapman, Covetousness, 1/30/2010) Faith and Fact Faith is not credulity. It is not believing in something you know is not true. Neither is faith a substitute for knowledge. Christian faith operates in the realm of meaning, not in the realm of fact. Faith recognizes fact but it is not out to obtain, contradict, or prove facts. Saint Augustine knew this when he said, “I believe in order that I may understand.” Faith Is: Hearing with the Heart An American missionary in Africa wanted to translate the English word faith into the local dialect. He could not find its equivalent. So he went to an old sage, who was himself a fine Christian, for help in rendering the needed word into understandable language. The guru studied it, and finally said, “Does it not mean to hear with the heart?” Strangers in our midst Hebrews 13 starts out with a message that may be familiar – be careful about how you treat strangers, because you never know when you are entertaining angels. In Hebrew culture, they looked forward to strangers. They believed that strangers were always sent from God to give them an important message. Every stranger that you met, you took care of because you just never knew what God had in store. I like this prayer that one woman prays every time their food pantry opens – Lord we know that you will be coming through this line today. So help us to treat you well then we see you today.” Put it briefly, the message of our text for today…. Let brotherly love continue, show hospitality, remember those who are being oppressed and tortured, hold marriage in honor, keep free from the love of money, remember the leaders of the past, continue to praise God, and to do good, it is pleasing to God. It is telling us how to live as Christians and how to treat others. Love those that we are with This message is good advice, and it is a good way to treat others. But the strangers that the message is referring to, are actually not visitors, not people that we don’t know, not people who have not met yet. The strangers the author is talking about are the strange people in this room with us now. Scripture says let mutual love continue – continue to be concerned about those who are in church with you. Always be open and understanding what you speak to one another. You might see that person’s face all of the time, but you never know what is really going on in their life, what they may be struggling with. And the difference a kind word from a fellow Christian might make in their life. Dangers without create dangers within You see, the Hebrew church was a persecuted church. There were a lot of people outside the church who were critical of Christians. There were a lot of threats to the church. There were a lot of people who were willing to attack people for being faithful. I think that we still face many of those threats today. Sometimes having to fight outside demons, creates inside demons which can be just as destructive. Sometimes when are are joined together to deal with the things going on outside the church – we don’t realize that those same issues are going on inside the church. Williams Barclay – who was a bible professor ways that there are two intentional threats to congregations who are trying to be faithful. First people get so concerned about being faithful, that they start analyzing and judging the behavior of fellow Christians. They think if I am being faithful then you are not. They feel justified in accusing others. And secondly, when they see someone else who is weak and doubtful, who is waivering in their faith, instead of supporting that person, they attack them and make then feel even worse. Without Christ as our center, the persecuted church can very easily become the persecuting church. So the message is to love one another, to help one another, to be understanding of one another. Keep the faith and to remember that those strangers sitting next to you are angels that God sent to walk with you on your journey. There are three types of organizations on the world. There are organizations that resolve around a strong leader, and the people get their power based on how close they are to the leader. There are organizations that resolve around the common needs of the people – they feel safe together and they all stay together in order to protect their common benefit. Third there is the organization that is centered around solid teaching, harmony and a way of life that honors, and respects, and loves those in it. There are churches of all kinds. But the kind of church that God wants is one that is centered about the teachings of Christ. One where people can come to be loves, and understood. Where people are intentional about the way they live on the inside, so that they can have some type of affect on the outside. The church is the place to find faith. Solid faith is our foundation for living our lives are a committed disciple of Christ. Discipleship means living a life of humility, hospitality and charity. Jesus does not change Verse 8 says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Ironically, no matter how hard we try – even in the church we are a part of a changing world. The world out there, throws the church in here in a tailspin. The church has to change on the inside just to survive in this world. It is during those times of church and transition that the people of the church are most likely to lose their faith. In a changing world we forget that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This was said 2000 years ago and it is still a message for us today. There are five things in the world that will never change – God, God’s word, God’s will, God’s love and God’s plan for salvation. My personal faith challenge You know I had been an associate in well off churches for 10 years of my career. And as an associate, I was very happy. I slept well at night, because whatever problems the church had, it was not my problem to worry about, I enjoyed my weekends because I did not have to worry about a sermon. I was in very stable churches – so I got paid very well. In 2007, when I was placed in a sole church – I had a big fight with God, because I just knew that he has placed me in the wrong church. I have always loved God, and never thought about leaving the ministry – but I just yelled at God to put me in a better situation. Something that I deserved, and would be happy. I wanted to be faithful, I just didn’t want the struggle that came with it. I told God that I wanted to be anything in the world but Methodist. God reminded me that it was my choice to join the Methodist Church and now that things were not going my way that it was my choice to leave the Methodist Church. God told me that I was free to walk away at any moment and find something else- that would make me happy. God reminded me that God had been faithful to me- and all he asked in return was to be faithful to the church. If I was baptized and of I took vows of membership- what did that really mean to me? More importantly what did that mean to God. If I was to leave in times of trouble – was I really being faithful. In the midst of a changing world there are five things that don’t change. God, God’s word, God’s will, God’s love and God’s plan for salvation. God’s answer God reminded me that in life there are no accidents, no coincidences, and no mistakes. What happens in my life, and where I am and who I am with – is where God intended me to be. And that the quickest way out of situation is not to walk away, but to persevere and endure and to walk through it to the other side. There is no place in the bible that says that walking away from the church makes things easier. And when we submit ourselves to God, them God always puts us to work bringing about his plan, God knows the needs of the world better then us, and he creates us as vessels to carry out his plan in his salvation. Bloom where are you planted, and finish the work God gave you. One thing that I have learned as an ordained minister, is that when God makes up in his mind that you are to do something, and he gives you a message to give to the world – just like Jonah in the belly of the whale – you can run, but you cant hide. You can argue with God – but in the end you will not win. There are five things in a changing world that never change – God, God’s word, God’s will, God’s love and God’s plan of salvation. God will always wins Sometimes it is easier to just be faithful in the first place. That is the lesson of Hebrews. Our only success is faithfulness Mother Teresa was once asked, "How do you measure the success of your work?" She thought about the question and gave her interviewer a puzzled look, and said, "I don't remember that the Lord ever spoke of success. He spoke only of faithfulness in love. This is the only success that really counts." Amen. Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible. • Faith is to accept the impossible, do without the indispensable, and bear the intolerable. • Faith is idle when circumstances are right, only when they are adverse is one’s faith in God exercised. Faith, like muscle, grows strong and supple with exercise. • Don’t be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps. —David Lloyd George • A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul. —Spurgeon • Faith is not believing that God can, but that God will! • Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe. • Faith in God is indispensable to successful statesmanship. —Abraham Lincoln be described as follows: (1) High intelligence—Rev. 13:18; Dan. 7:8. (2) Great speaking ability—Dan. 7:8; Rev. 13:5. (3) Crafty political talents—Dan. 9:27; Rev. 17:12, 13, 17. (4) Strong physical appearance—Dan. 7:20. (5) Military genius—Rev. 13:4; 17:14; 19:19. (6) Morally, the worse personage (a) Materialistic—Dan. 11:38 (b) Blasphemer—Rev. 13:6 (c) Against the Law—II Thess. 2:8 (d) Selfish ambition—Dan. 11:36, 37; II Thess. 2:4. (e) Tries to change prophecy and history—Dan. 7:25 (f) Substitutes self for God—Dan. 11:36; II Thess. 2:4. Success that Counts Brett Blair, www.Sermons.com The Christian way When former British prime minister, Tony Blair, was running for office, his political philosophy was often called the “Third Way,” which has been described as a global movement dedicated to modernizing progressive politics for the information age. In May 1999, Blair was in Washington to attend a summit on Third Way policies. He tells the following account of what happened after he entered the large building where the meeting was to be held. He was unsure of which way to go in the building. So he asked a janitor, “In which room is the Third Way meeting?” The janitor, according to Blair, replied, “There ain’t no third way, sir; there ain’t but one way, and it’s straight ahead.” ebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 Among the many parenetic admonitions in this text are the requirements of providing hospitality for strangers and care for those who are afflicted. Each of these admonitions is said to be especially important because of our faith in Jesus perceived as the Christ, who is the same person yesterday, today, and forever. It is through Jesus perceived as the Christ that we offer up our sacrifice of praise to God and share our resources with those who are in need. ILLUSTRATION… Discipleship Journal, 11-12/92 A recent survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them: 1. Materialism 2. Pride 3. Self-centeredness 4. Laziness 5. (Tie) Anger/Bitterness 5. (Tie) Sexual lust 6. Envy 7. Gluttony 8. Lying Survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when… they had neglected their time with God (81 percent) and when they were physically tired (57 percent). Resisting temptation was accomplished by prayer (84 percent), avoiding compromising situations (76 percent), Bible study (66 percent), and being accountable to someone (52 percent).

What Lies Ahead

October 2, 2011
Year A
Philippians 3:4-14
Matthew 21:33-46
Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost
“What Lies Ahead”




God will prevail

God will prevail. That is the message this morning, God will prevail. Whatever it is that you are going through. Whatever questions you have, whatever it is that you are worried about – God will prevail.

God will help me through whatever it is. And for most of my life, God will prevail in spite of me and whatever I have done.

I can make the best plans; I can have to best of intentions. I can set out to do what I think needs to be done, and God knows otherwise, and does what is best for me anyway.

Anyone who has lived for a while knows the twists and turns of God. We twist, and God turns.


The fable of Angel – we are just tenants
There is a fable about the Angel Gabriel who has just come from surveying the earth and its inhabitants when he reports to God. "Lord, it's my duty to inform you that you're the possessor of a choice piece of real estate known as planet earth. But the tenants you've leased it out to are destroying it. In another few years, it won't be fit to live in. They have polluted your rivers. The air is fouled with the stench of their over-consumerism. They frequently kill one another, and all the prophets you've sent to them calling for an accounting have met with violence. By any rule of sound management, Lord, you've got but one option." Then raising his trumpet to his lips, Gabriel asked, "Shall I sound the eviction notice now, sir?"

And God said…


We are just tenants
Another truth of life is that our life is that we are just tenants in this world. We don’t own anything – everything belongs to God. We are all living on borrowed time in a borrowed place. No matter how much we paid for it – it does not belong to us, and we can’t take it with us when we go. When it all is said and done, we are the tenants, and God is the owner.


Explanation of Matthew
Jesus addresses this issue in Matthew 21. He tells a parable of tenants, servants, the land owner, the vineyard, and fruit. In the Matthew story – the landowner sends servants to collect money from the tenants. They kill them all – finally they send his son, they kill him too. They think that if they ignore the servant, they can keep the profit for themselves. Not understanding that they can never take what does not belong to them.

Of course in Matthew – Jesus is talking about the Pharisees. Telling them that in spite of all of their knowledge, and attitude, and understanding – they are not God – and what they do is not eternal. The reference to the tenants murdering the son is a premonition to his going to the cross.

This story is in all of the gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. This story is also in the gospel of Thomas. The gospel of Thomas is not considered a part of our bible. But it does not have the violence and killing. It is also believed to be the story closest to what Jesus would have actually said.


What the tenant farmers heard
His audience was the Pharisees – but it would have also been an audience of tenant farmers. People who have lived on family farms for years and years. But when the Romans came, they bought up those farms. They owned the land, but the families still used the land. And had to pay rent in order to live on their own land. These were people who understood that in life, that no matter how hard they worked, and did what they always did – they would never own the land. All of the work that they did – was for someone else. They were looking for a way to trust in God. No matter what the landowner thought – God would prevail.


Jesus also talking to the know it alls
But we can’t ignore that Jesus was also talking to the Pharisees. They thought they were on God’s side. They thought they knew who the messiah was. They thought they had spent their whole life looking –and would recognize him when he came. And yet they were the ones who did not get what Jesus was telling them. Last week Jesus says the first will be last and the last will be first. This week Jesus says that the cornerstone that the builders rejected- would be the most important stone. Of course he was speaking about himself. In Hebrew – ben means son, oben means stone. He was the stone the builders rejected.


Message for us today
The message for us tenant farmers today – is not to rely on our own understanding. God will prevail – in spite of ourselves. Have you noticed that the more you know – the more you realize that you don’t know? The more you think you understand God, the more you don’t understand God. The further ahead you get – you always have to take two steps back. God intended for it to be that way.


Man reevaluates his life while shaving
A man was shaving one morning – he noticed that he started to bleed – but there was no cut on his face. He went to the doctor- who told him that he had skin cancer.

Just the mention of that word forced him to reevaluate his whole life. What was it that was most important in his life? What were his priorities? Where was he in his life? Who was he? Where do I want to be?



Paul’s spiritual diagnosis
Paul says that the diagnosis does not always have to be physical. It can also be spiritual. That day came for him, when he had to take account of his life. And that day comes for all of us, when we realize that God will prevail. Not me. Paul tells us that God prevails – through Christ. And we have to put Christ as the most important thing in our lives. Not our identity, not what we think we know, not what we have achieved, but what we have done in the name of Christ.

Who am I – imperfect
Where have I been – in the past
Where do I need to be – in Christ.

Last week we learned that Christ emptied himself in order to be an example for us. So we have to empty ourselves of all of the things we think we have accomplished and replace that with Christ. God prevails through Christ, not us.
That puts everything else in perspective. We are just tenants in God’s world. What we do for ourselves is nothing. What we do for Christ is eternal.

I am looking forward
A friend of mine tells a very sad story of her father dying in the hospital. On her mother’s birthday – she went to visit him and he seemed very agitated, even though he was very sick. He told her to go to the hallmark store to buy his wife a card, and to bring it back so that he could sign it.

He signed it looking forward, with love Harold.

No one understood the message until he died. He was a Christian – he knew that god’s will would prevail over his life. Yet he knew that even in death – he could look forward to what Christ had in store for him.

Press on, move forward
God will prevail. In life we can follow Paul’s message for us – Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind, and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Press on, move forward.

Let us pray…..