July 23 Sermon Standing on the Promises
As Jesus went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had
compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he
began to teach them many things. Mark
6:34
To be a sheep without a shepherd is to be lost – and Jesus would teach
them the way home – teach them that they have been found by the Lord and are
loved by God.
The heart of Jesus’ message is the love of God for all His
children. John 3:16 is the gospel in
miniature: God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…God promise
is that he loves you and will be there for you.
During communion we’ll sing about the love of God:
The king of love my shepherd is
His goodness faileth never
I nothing lack if I am his
And
he is mine forever.
In Ephesians, Paul prays that may know God’s love -
be able to feel and understand how long and how deep, how wide and how high the
love of Christ really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it
is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully understand it. Ephesians 3: 18,19
How do we come to comprehend - to appreciate the greatness of God’s
love for you and me?
Where is that love to be felt - experienced?
We should find it in the fellowship of the church.
Some of you look disappointed – you expected something better.
William Barclay wrote: “The church may have its faults. Church members may be far from what they
ought to be. But in the fellowship of
the church we find the love of God.”
Maybe it’s hard to see the love of God reflected through the church –
because of our human weaknesses – which lead to quarrels and squabbles.
But Christ “has broken down the dividing wall, that
is, the hostility between us ... that he might create for Himself one new
humanity in place of two,
thus making peace...” Ephesians 2:14,15
We are only moving toward the goal of peace and
harmony
that the Lord has for us – we’re not there yet. But we can begin to appreciate God’s love as
it is reflected in the words and deeds of our brothers and sisters.
Yes, the church is not what it should – not even what it could be – but
the Bible promises it’s also not what it’s going to be. The promise is that the church is a dynamic,
growing body – ever becoming.
You see the problem with the church is me – and you.
God is not done with you and me yet.
He’s still working on us – and in us – trying to mold us into the image
of Christ – that we may be conduits of His love to others.
The whole church is made up of individuals who are still growing in the
faith – and so it is still growing.
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This is what Paul writes about in our lesson.
Paul employs several metaphors to describe your membership in church.
“You are citizens with the saints and
also members of the household of God...”
We are citizens of a commonwealth.
We are a part of something big – God’s kingdom.
But in the second figure of speech, it is also something small and
intimate: we are members of the household of God, his family, a place
where we are known by our first names.
You are both loved by God and known by Him. He has chosen you and called you by name.
Paul’s third metaphor is a building:
“Built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In Him the
whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in
whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.” Ephesians
2:20-22
The foundation is the bible – the writings of the prophets and apostles
– with the words of Jesus as the corner stone.
On this foundation, God builds his temple. But it’s a living building, for we – the
members – are the building blocks – “You also, like living
stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood,
offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1
Peter 2:5
In other words, the Lord is building us into “a dwelling place for
God.” The gathered Christian community
is the locale of God’s presence. We can
say that the Spirit of Christ is among us today not because this is a church
building, but because you all are here.
This is more than saying that God is present in your life or mine. Rather it says that together, as a community
– individuals gathered up into the group – we are where God chooses to be
present.
The community of Christians with the Holy Spirit in our midst is a
place where we can give and receive the love of Christ.
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You are loved by God and known by Him – and also valued by the
Lord. Somehow you and I are a part of
his plan and purpose – we’re each a piece in the puzzle.
Paul used that metaphor of a building – and each of us is a part of
that structure God is building. So
without you and me it will be incomplete.
You and I are necessary for His plan.
God values you and would use you for his purpose.
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You are so valuable to the Lord that he promises to seek you out should
you stray from his way.
Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out,
and I will bring them back to their fold. Jeremiah 23:3
A picture of the good shepherd seeking that lost sheep, as we’ll sing
later:
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me,
And on his shoulder gently laid
And home rejoicing brought me
God would seek you and forgive you, because His body is incomplete
without you.
“God knows nothing of solitary religion. No one ever
went to heaven alone.” John Wesley.
But how does the Lord do that seeking?
His Spirit will work on your heart – softly calling, gently pulling you
back. But he can also use other means,
as the lesson says:
I will raise up shepherds
over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be
dismayed, nor shall any be missing,
says the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:3
The Lord would use us to shepherd - to care for one another in his name
– and that includes seeking lost sheep - those who are missing – and inviting
them to return to his flock – his church.
Because every member is valuable to the Lord – he loves and values each
one of us.
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God promises He is with you always
Where is the Lord to be found?
Where ever Christians are gathered together, as Christ promised.
When ever two or three are gathered in my name, there
I am in the midst of them.
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Christ’s promise that the community of faith is the dwelling place of
His Spirit is also a challenge, because it defines our mission.
The challenge is to grow into God’s vision for us.
The church community grows in two ways.
First as each individual member increases in faith and understanding –
and –
Second, as the community draws closer to one another
in fellowship as brothers and sisters in the Lord. So we have
classes and study groups, fellowship and service opportunities that we may
learn and grow together.
We mature as individuals and as a fellowship, that we might realize His
vision for us. As we increase in faith
and understanding, God’s marvelous love unfolds more and more in our
lives.
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In the family of the church we find community
, and the Lord promises not only to be present, but also to empower and
strengthen us. God’s power comes to us
through the community of faith. And “God,
who by His mighty power at work within us, is able to
do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of – infinitely beyond
our highest prayers or desires, thoughts or hopes.” Ephesians 3:20
This week during
The Lord knows you and loves you.
He values you so much that he would seek you out when you go astray and
forgive you. The Lord is always there
for you.
Trust his promises – as we’ll sing:
Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to him eternally by love’s strong cord
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword
Standing on the promises of God.