Romans 8:26-39

Romans 8:26-39

Will You Sink Or Will You Swim?

July 24 2011

                Most of you know that Sally and I were at Camp Pee Dee most this past week. Our dogs Buster and Bella went with us.  Sally taught the pottery classes — I lead the Bible Studies – and Bella and Buster quickly became “camp mascots” for the week.  As is always the case when we spend a week at Camp Pee Dee, it was an amazing week – a true blessing to be with children who soak up Bible truths like little sponges and counselors who do so much to make the week the blessing that it is for the children and everyone involved.  We are definitely blessed to have such a great facility and such a dedicated staff at our Presbytery’s camp.

                One of the safety measures taken at camp is that the children are tested for their ability to swim when they arrive on Sunday afternoon.  If they can swim well they are given a green wristband to wear all week to signify that they can swim in any part of the pool – jump off of the diving board — and take canoes and kayaks on the lake. Of course they can do these things as long at the lifeguard is on duty.  If they can swim some but not very well they are given a yellow wristband to wear all week to signify that they can swim in parts of the pool – but not the deepest parts. Those who can not swim are given red wristbands to signify that they have to stay in the most  shallow end of the pool and even then under direct supervision of their counselors.  They are very safety conscience at Camp Pee Dee — especially when it comes to the pool and lakes – so determining who can and who can’t  swim is an important part of the first afternoon at camp – as is the colored wristband system.

                As I thought about the Camp Pee Dee colored wristband system this past week – and had our text for today – Romans 8:26-39 – in my mind – I thought about the challenges and dangers and struggles we all face in life and if we “swim” through these challenges or if they make us “sink”.   

Scott Peck begins his book The Road Less Traveled with this statement:

Life is difficult.  

Yes, it is.  You probably don’t need someone to tell you that.  Life has it’s joys and it’s laughs and it’s good times – but it also has it’s difficulties and hard times and tears and times that seem almost impossible to take.

Life is difficult.

The question is this:

How do you cope with the hard – difficult – painful – tear filled times?

If you had to wear a “colored wristband” to show how well you cope with the hard – difficult – painful – tear filled times of your life – what color would your wristband be?

Would it be green – to signify that you can withstand whatever hardships may come your way?

Would it be yellow – to signify that you can withstand some hardships – but not very many?

Or would it be red – to signify that you are not able to withstand any hardships – and even the  least difficult thing might make you “go under” and never recover?

How about it –

Difficult – hard – painful times are going to come – but when they do – do you sink – or do you swim?

What color is your wristband that signifies how you react to the hard – difficult – and painful times of life?

In our passage from Romans 8 today – verses 26-39 – Paul gives us a way to cope with the hard – painful – and difficult times of life. Paul tells us in verse 28:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose            

                Paul is not saying that everything that happens in life is good, because much of it is indeed not good. What Paul is saying is that – if  you add all the happenings of life together and look at the whole picture of  life for the person who has faith in God and loves God and grows in God’s love and shares the love of God – you see that  life is good. The whole of life, its ups and downs, are good when we see them interrelated in a life under the guidance of God. 

If you want to have a green wristband and swim through all the events of life – the good and the bad – you have to have faith in God and you have to grow in your faith.  Without it you might have a yellow wristband and be able to take some of the difficulties life may throw at you – or you might have a red wristband and not be able to take any difficulties at all without completely losing all reason for living. 

Faith in God – and growing in that faith – are the only things that will keep you afloat through the hard – difficult – and painful times of life.

Would you say that the life of Paul — with all its imprisonments, shipwrecks, beatings and his final execution was not a  good and even blessed life?

Would you say that the life of Jesus, even with the denial and the cross, was not a good – and even blessed — life?

Then why should not the totality of the life of someone who believes in God and grows in their faith in God — with all of the joys and sorrows of their lives – all of the victories and defeats —  in its completion be considered good very blessed?

Loving God, trusting God, obeying God, and growing in God’s love brings you a blessed life regardless of life’s circumstances – and gives you that “green wristband” that helps you “swim” in all the circumstances of your life and not “sink”.

Have you ever thought about how a great battleship floats on the high seas – but if you take  it apart and throw the parts into the ocean very little of it would float? The pieces would sink immediately to the bottom. The parts will not float by themselves, but if you build them together into a great ship it will ride out the worst of storms. 

It’s that way with your life also.  

If you try to live your life and “weather” the hard times of your life by yourself, you’ll have a “red wristband” – you will sink and be drowned by the storms life will throw at you.  But – if you have faith in God and grow in that faith – you will have a “green wristband” and will weather all the storms of life – not because you can do it on your own – but because you have God with you to keep you from sinking and drowning. 

Yea – Paul is correct when he writes:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose           

And Paul continues in verse in verses 29-30:

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

              Wow! What a powerful truth Paul gives us here!

But – you might ask: “Am I included in all this?”  And the answer is: “Yes, if I you committed to Christ and committed to growing in your faith and serving Him.”

If you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior and are committed to growing in your faith, God has ordained you to be shaped by the Spirit into the likeness of Christ. He has done this so that you may be a brother or sister of Christ,  serve Him, be loved by Him and empowered by Him, and  share His love with the world in your day by day living. He has forgiven you and He has justified you.  If that be the case for your life, then the totality of  the events of your life – the good and the bad — turn out to be good and blessed. If that be the case for your life, you have that “green wristband” that shows that – by God’s help – you will not sink in the storms of life but will swim through them.

This is all the act of God. You can get in on it when you are truly committed to Christ. Here’s the thing – God is eternally committed to those who are committed to Him.

But there is a problem here.

Yes – God blesses and ordains those who are committed to Him. God blesses and ordains those who have faith and want to grow in their faith. 

But – the problem is — we live in a faithless age.

Too many folks refuse to have real faith – refuse to grow in their faith – and refuse to share their faith with others.  For that reason, too many people have “yellow” or “red” wristbands and can not cope with the difficulties life throws at them.  They don’t have the faith they need to cope with life, and so they “sink” when the situations in their lives become difficult.

Why can’t more people find their way to a deep and abiding faith in God?

Why can’t more people become more committed to God and committed to growing in their faith – committed to the things that will help them grow as disciples and servants of Christ – and the things that will help them “swim” through the problems they will find in life instead of “sink”?

    

Anne Tyler wrote of one of the characters in her book Morgan’s Passing:

  ”You could say he was a man who had gone to pieces, or maybe he’d always been in pieces; maybe he’d arrived unassembled.”

The description continues:

“parts of his life, too, lay separate from other parts.”

It’s easy to see that this fictional man Tyler writes about is in a bad fix — but sadly this is the picture of too many people today.  You may know some in this situation. You may be in it yourself.  For people who do not have faith in Christ and do not commit to growing in that faith, life has no  integrating center, no power or presence that pulls the parts of their lives together and re-makes them into the individual God intends them to be. This integrating power they are missing is the power of faith and the powerful knowledge that God is with them in all the situations of their lives.

You may feel that you are living a life without an integrating power that pulls the events of your life together and makes them all work together for God’s glory.  If you do, know that you don’t have to.  You can live in faith and commitment and grow in your faith – and your character can be shaped by the things of God instead of the things of the world.

St. Augustine tells of a friend who was addicted to the lust and violence of the Roman games. With great effort he broke the addiction. But some of his former friends subtly tricked him into going again to one of the games. He kept his eyes closed, finally opened one eye – and became hooked again.

You see – if you are going to live the life of faith where things work together for your good and you are able to withstand the stresses and hardships of life, you will have to make a clean break with sin and the things of the world that pull you down.

And that – as I am sure you know – can be very difficult in a world so saturated with evil.

It makes it necessary to live by a new selectivity – a Christian selectivity – about the things you allow yourself to do.  You will probably have to decide that you are not going to dwell on  certain magazines, books, or movies that are obviously damaging to your living in the ways God call is calling you to live. You will have to help your children choose a similar selectivity for what they see and do.  

The temptations of Rome that were faced by the young St. Augustine were similar to the temptations we have to face today. In his intense moral struggle the young St. Augustine cried out:

“Will I never cease setting my heart on shadows and following a lie?”

When you are giving in to destructive influences, things do not work together for good – and you don’t have the faith that will help you “swim” through the hardest parts of life.

The conversion of St. Augustine came in a strange way. He felt compelled to rush into his room where he had left his New Testament open at the book of Romans. He snatched it up and read:

“Not in revelling and drunkenness, not in lust and wantonness, not in quarrels and rivalries, rather arm, arm yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ.”

He surrendered, and you know the rest of the story.

If you will give your life to Christ, and commit to growing in your faith, you will live in His love – that love that will save you from the hardest and most difficult times of your life.

A young lady was hobbling around on crutches at a Ski Lodge. Someone asked “What happened?”

She answered “I didn’t realize the laws of gravity were so strict.”

But they are strict. Yea — God’s laws are strict. And they are for our good. God even helps us to handle these laws creatively. The secret is being disciplined in your faith, by the grace of God.

So – do you have a “green wristband” of a committed faith in God that will help you live your life in God’s ways and will help you “swim” through the hardest times of your life knowing that God is working all the things in your life out for His purpose — or do you have a “yellow wristband” or a “red wristband” that comes from a life of not being truly committed to God and His ways where you will “sink” when your life gets hard and difficult?

God is there in all the ups and downs of your life – but you have to hear Him and see Him. 

At times God may be speaking, but you may be too busy to listen. At times you may not want to hear what God is saying to you. Maybe it’s not what you want to hear. Maybe His plan for what He wants you to do is contrary to our plans and what you want to do.  If you are going to grow in  your faith, you have to be willing to listen for God – and do what God calls you to do.

Don’t wait for a crisis moment in your life to cry out to and listen to God. Learn to listen to God in all the moments of your life – and you will see how God is at work in all the moments of your life.

Don’t think God is too busy to be with you and to help you in your life. St Augustine wrote:

God loves each of us as if there were but one of us to love.

God is not too busy to be concerned about your life and help you through the circumstances of your life if you put your faith in Him.  If you doubt that, read once more the story of Jesus and the sick woman in the crowd who touched the hem of His garment. She touched Jesus in a crowd of folks – and immediately Jesus asked,

“Who touched me?”

The disciples answered, “There are hundreds of people around you, Lord, and you ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

Jesus insisted that someone in great need touched Him and paused until the woman came forward, and was healed.

Don’t think that you are too busy to be sensitive to God’s presence in your life and to grow in your faith. A pastor spoke once to a member about his problem:

“Don’t tell me that you have no time to say your prayers. Pray as you shine your shoes. While you rub the right one say, ‘Glory be to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit!’ And as you brush the left say, ‘As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end,’ and you will be ready for the day.”

This simple awareness of God makes the difference.

Yes – life is difficult – but if you commit yourself to God and to growing in your faith God is always with you.  If you commit yourself to God and to growing in your faith all the circumstances of your life will work together for your good – and when you look back over your life you will see God’s gracious hand at work.

It takes a commitment to God’s ways to live this life of faith. It takes commitment to your daily life of prayer and study of scripture, and commitment to sharing God with others. It takes commitment to the corporate life we have together as God’s people here at Hopewell – commitment to our worship, our learning, our fellowship and our service to others – because as you participate in these things with us and we all participate in these things together you will grow in your faith and we call will grow together.

Most of all, it takes commitment to Christ to be able to “swim” through the hardships of life and not “sink”. 

At the closing worship service at Camp Pee Dee on Thursday night they had a wooden cross at the lake.  Each person at camp last week – staff, counselors, and campers – lit a candle to signify their commitment to Christ and living in His ways and put it into a hole in the cross.  As we sang “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus” the cross with the burning candles was set afloat into the lake. I don’t understand exactly how the wooden cross floated – but it did – and made for an impressive en ding to a blessed week.    

You may not understand how it happens – but your faith in the Christ – who died for you on the cross — is what will help you “float” – or “swim” through the hard times in your life and not “sink”.   Let God and the things of God be your center for your life so you can indeed “swim” and not “sink”.

Amen.       

Romans 8:12-25

Romans 8:12-25

Why Do You Live Like An Orphan?

July 17 2011

             I can remember as a child — probably between maybe 8 and 12 years old – feeling that I must have been adopted.  I wasn’t, but I felt like I was.  I felt out of place in my family. I felt that nobody understood me. I felt like my parents and my sisters were truly “out of touch” with what I wanted and the things I was interested in.

 

Surely – I felt — I did not really belong to this family!

 

I must have been adopted!

 

            Looking back on it I don’t think I was the only child to ever believe that.  In fact, as I studied Psychology in college, I learned about Eric Ericson’s theory that every child goes through what he calls “self – differentiation” where they begin to see themselves as different from those around them and develop their own personalities, likes, and dislikes. This might start with a feeling that they are different from their families – and may for a while lead to feelings that they must have been adopted  – before it eases into figuring out how to be themselves and still be a part of a family group.

 

            Did you ever have that feeling that you must have been adopted?   

          

            Well, I think there comes a time in every child’s life when he or she entertains two possibilities. Either your parents are from Mars – or you must have been adopted. Usually these ideas occur in tandem.  Maybe after a huge fight with Mom and/or Dad; or after a sibling beats them up or puts them down. These kinds of things can lead them to believe that that there is no way they could really be related to such mean, bossy, completely opposite people.

 

            They come to believe that the must have been adopted.

 

            You know, it wasn’t long ago when adoption was a highly confidential and even secretive process. What were called “closed adoptions” were the norm from the 1920s through the 1960s. The birth mother was not allowed to know who the adoptive parents were. The adoptive parents were not allowed to know who the birth mother was. The adopted child didn’t know anything — especially if their adoptive parents chose not to tell them. Even if they were adopted, they wouldn’t know unless their adoptive parents told them. In the 1970s, however, the legalities behind adoptions began to change. A massive shift toward we call “open adoptions” took place. In “open adoptions” all the parties know who they are dealing with and  there is the possibility for communication and connection between adopted children and their birth parents.

            Almost all ancient cultures had legal means whereby orphaned or abandoned children could be legally incorporated into a new family.  Both the law-loving environments of first century Judaism and the Roman empire had a long list of adoption laws, policies, rights, and regulations. Whether it was done for economic, political, or emotional reasons, in the world of the Apostle Paul, “adoption” was a very legal procedure.

 

In other words, when Paul used the language of “adoption” in the portion of Romans 8 we’re looking at this morning to describe the startling, new relationship enjoyed by followers of Jesus, he was speaking to an educated audience. First -century Romans, Jews and Gentiles knew the privileges and perks that came with the status of being legally “adopted”. The idea that those who followed Jesus were true “children of God” and included in the scheme of God’s plan of salvation by virtue of a “spirit of adoption” brought ideas of legal realities to the minds of Paul’s audience.

 

Paul is speaking in terms of an “open adoption” here – isn’t he?

 

He has in mind an adoption where those being adopted and the ones doing the adopting know who they are. Those being adopted definitely know their own backgrounds. They know where they came from. They know how they had lived before they were “adopted” by God. They recognize their inability to live up to the standards demanded by the law and their need to be “adopted” by God. They know that their “flesh” — that is their life lived in the midst of this world and all its temptations – was falling far short of God’s requirement for righteousness. Yea – they know that they were spiritual “orphans” – but by God’s gracious act of “adoption” they embrace a new possibility and a new family of faith.

 

Paul’s news about their complete and utter “adoption” — about their transformation from sinful folks into genuine “children of God” is indeed “good news” for them – it is a indeed a “gospel” – and out of praise to God for their “adoption” they commit themselves to living as His children and acting like His children – for that is what they understand themselves to be. By God’s grace, they understand that they are adopted into God’s family and need to live in God’s ways instead their old ways of sin.

 

You know – here’s a question we all have to answer:  

 

If first-century Christians could “get it” – if they could understand what it meant to be “adopted” into God’s family – and the joy of living in a new way because they were God’s children –  why can’t we “get it” also?

 

Why is it that we pray to God as “Our Father” but we behave as though we are abandoned, sinful, and unloved orphans?

 

Why is that?

Friends – you can be “adopted” by God and can now be a part of God’s family!  You don’t have to live in sin or be a part of the family of sin – you have been adopted by God and can live in His ways.

 

The early Christians were thrilled to be “adopted by God” and to live in the new ways God called them to live.

 

Why aren’t you?

 

You have been adopted by a righteous and loving God – you have been adopted into God’s family — why would you choose to continue to live like you are still an abandoned, sinful, and unloved orphan?

 

Charles Dickens’ classic novel Oliver Twist  tells of an orphan’s life in 19^th century London. In the movie version you may remember Orphaned Oliver’s naive, plaintive plea to the abusive authorities — famously remembered as, “Please sir, may I have some more?”

 

Here’s the thing — the “world” — what Paul calls in today’s text “the flesh” shouts to that plea: “No! . . You are inferior, unacceptable, and unredeemably bad.”

 

Jesus, however,  said something else. Jesus said “Yes! You are loved, forgiven, and redeemed.”

Jesus spoke “Yes!” to human need and encouraged the weakest, healed the most sickly, and invited the most sinful people to repent of their sins and follow Him.  To every spiritual orphan who asked: “Please, sir, may I have some more?” “Please, sir, may I be forgiven” “Please, sir, may I live a new life?”  Jesus said: “Yes!” Jesus realized that everyone He encountered and everyone He spoke with was an “orphan” who needed “more.” And He gave them the “more” they needed – every time. And every time they felt that Jesus was responding their needs, they followed Him.

Jesus is still speaking “Yes” to those who come to Him. He is still responding  to the needs of “spiritual orphans”. He still heals, loves, and redeems those who come to Him.  And what’s more – He still makes them “children of God” He makes them a part of God’s family – and offers them a new way to live. But like those who first responded to Jesus or the early Christians Paul addressed, we have to  come to Jesus, let Him touch our lives, ask Him for the “more” He offers, and accept His “Yes” – the adoption into the family of God and the life God wants us to live.  

You have been a “spiritual orphan” – but you have been given your “adoption papers.” So why, even after you receive your “adoption papers,” do you continue to behave as if we are still “orphans”? Why is it so difficult to live in the ways of God – your “adoptive parent” – and proudly tell others that you are His  adoptive child by  your words and your actions? Why choose to live in the “ways of the world” when you can you can live as a “child of God”? 

It doesn’t make sense, does it?

But that is what so many people who claim to be following Christ – who claim to be a part of God’s family — do. They may try to live in God’s ways — sometimes. They may bear the likeness of their heavenly “adoptive” Father —  sometimes. They may be able to sit in Church – when it suits them – and look like they have turned their lives over to God and are so glad they are a part of His family.  They may even be able to sit in Church every Sunday and look like a part of the family of God. But they don’t do anything to grow as Christians – or grow as a member of God’s family.  Instead of choosing to truly live as the forgiven, blessed children of God that they are – they choose to continue to live in sinful ways and act more like spiritual orphans than adopted sons and daughters of God.

Is that how you live?

Would that describe your life?

The truth is that it does not have to. You can understand that God has brought you into His family and you can live in His ways. The truth is that you are not a spiritual orphan – you are not like Oliver Twist having to listen to the berating “No!” when you let your needs be known — but God has answered all your needs with His “Yes!” The truth is that God has adopted you into His family – and you can truly live in His ways. The truth is you can grow in your faith and in your resemblance of you Heavenly adoptive Father.

But it’s your choice.

You can choose to go back into the “family of sin” if you want to do that. You can choose to never grow as an “adoptive child” of God and never really experience the love God has for you – the love that is so great that you can call the great creator of the world “Abba” – or “Daddy” and live in a loving relationship with Him. You can choose to turn away from your adoptive family – God’s family – and to continue to live like a “spiritual orphan”.

Or – you can choose to grow in your faith – grow in your relationship with your “adoptive Father” God – and grow as a child of God by talking to Him in prayer, listening to Him by reading a studying His word, and “hanging out” with your “adoptive” brothers and sisters in Christ here at Hopewell as together we strive to grow into the children God would have us be in worship, study, and fellowship.

It is indeed your choice.

Fanny Crosby – the blind hymn writer of the 1800’s – described her joy at being adopted as a child of God in the words of the hymn we are going to sing in a few moments – Redeemed!

Listen to the words Crosby wrote:

Redeemed! How I love to proclaim it – Redeemed by the blood of the lamb – Redeemed through His infinite mercy – His child, and forever I am.

Redeemed! Redeemed! Redeemed by the blood of the lamb. Redeemed through His infinite mercy – His child, and forever, I am.

You, too, have been redeemed and are His child. Why live like a spiritutal orphan? Amen.   

Romans 8:1-11

Romans 8:1-11

It’s Time To Get Off

July 10 2011

            Wentworth Presbyterian Church – one of the first churches I served when I graduated from Seminary — had a unique Merry Go Round – which was also a Teeter Totter – in front of the building that served as the Fellowship Hall – or “The Hut” as everyone called it.  The Merry Go Round / Teeter Totter had a 20 foot,  large metal pole cemented securely into the ground with a ball bearing mechanism on top.  Smaller metal poles cascaded towards the ground from the ball bearing mechanism and a wooden bench was attached to the metal poles.  It looked something like a May Pole with metal poles cascading from the top instead of ribbons – and bench at the bottom.   

It was a Merry Go Round in that it would spin round and round. One of the kids would push it until it would spin at a high rate of speed and then jump on – or someone – usually an adult – would be the “designated pusher” and not ride – but keep pushing the Merry Go Round when it began to slow down. It was also a Teeter Totter in that – as it spun round and round – it would also go up and down – thanks to the ball bearing mechanism the poles were attached to.

            Needless to say, the kids in the Church and the community – and even some of the adults – loved riding the Merry Go Round / Teeter Totter. One day I stopped and talked to a thirty year old man who had moved away from Wentworth but was passing through town and just had to stop and swing awhile like he had done as a child. 

            The Wentworth Merry Go Round / Teeter Totter was popular with many folks. Like most rides of this sort, however, there were problems with it.

            First of all, the ball bearing mechanism would have to be oiled — the metal painted – and the bench repaired periodically. In fact, the Church’s Insurance agent would cringe every time he saw it! 

            Then, as you might expect, there would be times one of the children – or sometimes one of the adults – would have enough of the spinning and going up and down – and would want off.  The problem would be that would not be able to stop the Merry Go Round.  Usually it would take an adult who was not riding to come to their rescue – grab on to the bench or one of the poles – and pull back to make the Merry Go Round stop. 

            Can you imagine how it would feel to be stuck on such a Merry Go Round / Teeter Totter?

Maybe you would start slow, pushing with your feet to gain more speed until you finally are running. Then you would jump on to the spinning Merry Go Round / Teeter Totter – going round and round and up and down – and holding on for dear life. At that point maybe you might feel that you are stuck on the Merry Go Round. The centrifugal force of the spinning Merry Go Round would be threatening to throw you off, but you wound be holding on for dear life to the metal pole in front of you because you would be afraid of what might happen to you if you fall off. Round and round, up and down, the Merry-Go-Round / Teeter Totter would spin – and you are stuck — caught between wanting to get off and unwilling to let go. You might wish for someone to come and grab hold of the rail and stop the ride, but feel that no one was going to come to your rescue. 

            It would be a pretty helpless feeling, wouldn’t it?

The thing is that this feeling of being stuck on a Merry Go Round or Teeter Totter might be an illustration for the way you are living your life.

Maybe you feel stuck in habits and behaviors that you know are wrong – or maybe you feel stuck in a lifestyle of a lack of commitment to God – just coming to Church but not really feeling that it’s making a difference in your life.  Or maybe you feel like you’re doing pretty good – better than most people – but deep down you know that there is very little joy in your life and that you are really rather bored with your life and even your faith. Maybe you feel that the same things keep happening over and over, day after day, and you can’t seem to do anything to keep them from happening.

Round and round – up and down – your life goes – and you might feel that you are stuck – wanting to get off – wanting to make some changes in your life – but not sure how to do it. You might wish that someone would come along and grab hold of your life and rescue you, but feel that there is no one who can rescue you from the spinning whirling life you’re stuck in.   

Did you ever watch the comedy movie some years ago Ground Hog Day?  Bill Murray is a TV reporter in the movie and has the same things keep happening  again and again every day – and he feels unable to do anything about it.

            Being stuck on a Merry Go Round or Teeter Totter can seem to be a picture of many peoples lives.  Stuck in old habits and old ways of doing things, wanting to change, wanting to “get off the ride” so to speak, but not knowing how to do it.

            Does that describe your life?

Do you feel stuck on a Merry Go Round or Teeter Totter — caught between being thrown off and holding on for dear life?

            If so, you are truly not alone.

Paul recognized the same dilemma when he lamented in Romans 7:19:

“For I do not do that good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do”

Even Paul felt like he was stuck on the merry-go-round.

When faced with such a predicament you might want to rationalize it by saying  “but I am only human!” as if that is somehow supposed to explain and exonerate you from this plight. The thing is that you are only human — and your humanity is exactly the problem.

Paul recognizes that in today’s text from Romans 8 when he acknowledges that we all “live according to the flesh.” Yea – if you feel like you are stuck on a Merry Go Round or Teeter Totter – stuck in old habits and old ways of doing things — wanting to change — wanting to “get off the ride” so to speak, but not knowing how to do it – maybe caught between being thrown off and holding on for dear life – you are truly not alone – for that’s how Paul felt — and that’s how everyone feels.  The truth is that everyone has times they are stuck on the Merry Go Round because everyone is stuck with what Paul calls “the flesh” – or the desires to do things against God’s will or the desires to just live life like we want to live it instead of being bothered with how God wants us to live it.

Paul continually laments the afflictions of what he calls “the sinful flesh”– but what is this “flesh” Paul is referring to? Well, it’s not merely the flesh and bones of our bodies. It is not merely even the lust or gluttony or greed or other such other inclinations that we more often than not associate with sinful living. No, Paul is talking about something far more comprehensive here. Paul is talking about that willful desire inside of you that does not trust God and is determined to run your life on your terms instead of God’s terms. You might want to call it your “sinful nature” — but I like to call it your human nature.  You see, ever since Adam and Eve there has been a desire in every human to be “like God”, to  decide for themselves what is good for them and what they are going to do instead of listening to God as He tells them what is good for them and what they should do.

If you are honest with yourself your famous last words are “I’m going to do what I want to do” instead of “I’m going to do what God wants me to do”.

Yea – you are only human – and that’s the problem.  

The thing about your flesh – or your human nature — is that it doesn’t matter how hard you try to shake it off, it doesn’t matter how hard you try to flee its hold on you life, you can’t do it. In fact, if you are honest with yourself, you don’t really want to. It is something like being stuck on the Merry Go Round, spinning round and round. You could get off if you would only let go. But you are too afraid of what will happen if you let go – so you still hold on.

Again – Paul pretty much hit the nail on the head in Romans 7:19:  

“For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do”

You are indeed stuck on the Merry Go Round – the Teeter Totter – and by your own power or your own will you can’t get off.

What makes matters worse is that getting stuck on the merry-go-round is so easy. It always starts out so innocently. The wrong things – the things that pull you   away from God — always look so appealing — so compelling — so tempting – so good. Temptations in life – the things that pull you away from God – are rarely seen as “naughty” things. Rarely will you deliberately intend to run off and be a bad boy or girl. No — the temptation always appears in what seems to be good or things we can easily justify if we listen to our human nature. The “forbidden fruit” looked good to Adam and Eve. It was not ugly or repulsive. Today you might meet the “forbidden fruit” in the promises of a career, a job, a family – anything you put above God and God’s will for your life. Just as it looked good to the eyes of Adam and Eve, it can look good to you too. You can easily convince yourself that your career is all that counts, or your family is all that matters, or that time for yourself is more important than time for God.  But when these “good things” become your ultimate concern, they will always disappoint you. They will always let you down. They will always enslave you.     

And – you can’t seem to escape. 

Or – can you?

You can – but there is only one way that you can.

You can’t stop the Merry Go Round and get off – walk away – and start over – even if you want to do so. But you can get off the Merry God Round – you just can’t do it by yourself.  There is only one way you can get off the Merry Go Round — God has got to get you off. God has got to stop the Merry Go Round – bring the decisions you make that go against Him to a halt – and help you start over again. And that is exactly what God does in Jesus Christ.

Paul changes his language in verse Romans 8:9 to reflect just that fact.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, he writes.

In other words, you may be stuck on the Merry Go Round, you do not need to remain there. With a startling announcement that almost seems to come out of the blue, Paul declares,

“You, however, are not in realm of the flesh; you are in the realm of the Spirit”

 Notice the present tense verbs here –

You are not in the realm of the flesh

You are in the realm of the Spirit

You might feel like you are spinning around on the Merry Go Round,  always trying to do the right thing but never sure that you can. Round and round you go, wanting to get off but afraid to let go and wishing that someone would come along and stop the Merry Go round and help you off.

Well, the truth is that God in Christ stops the Merry Go Round. God in Christ grabs the Merry Go Round – stops it — loosens the grip of sin on your life so that you can let go and get off.  God in Christ stops the Merry Go Round so you can  stop going in the sinful way your human nature leads you – and start going in God’s ways.

If you feel stuck on the Merry Go Round of following your own will and your own desires – if you feel that there is no way you can loosen your grip from your desire to do what you want to do and truly, freely live in the ways God wants you to live – if you want life with God’s purpose instead of whatever purpose your sinful human nature might find for you that will end up letting you down – God is waiting for you. God has given you the only way off the Merry Go Round of sin.  All you have to do is accept His invitation to trust Him instead of yourself and let Him take control of that spinning Merry Go Round called your life. He will come into your life – give your life a new direction – and a new purpose. You don’t have to go on spinning in the life that is controlled by what you want – you can let God help you off that Merry Go Round and put you on the path that leads to doing His will and growing in His ways.

The trick is you have to let go and trust God. You have to let God take you off the Merry Go Round of sin and set you on a new ride – one of serving Him.  You have to trust God enough to let Him help you off the Merry Go Round  of doing what pleases you and what you want and let Him put you on the path of doing what He calls you to do.

Learning to truly follow what God wants you to do is a slow process – but it begins with letting God take you off that Merry Go Round of sin and help you follow His will for your life. It will lead you into habits such as an active prayer life, active participation in the life of the Church, actively serving God in the community and actively showing God to those around you.  It will lead to these things – but it begins with letting God take you off that Merry Go Round of sin and doing what you want and setting you on the path of doing what He wants.

If you feel your life is spinning out of control on the Merry Go Round of sin and doing what you want, it’s time to let God take over.

God is waiting to help you.

It’s time to trust Him – and get off. Amen.  

1 Kings 21:1-26

I Kings 21:1-26

“Let Freedom Ring”

July 3, 2011

My country ‘tis of thee,

sweet land of liberty,

of thee I sing:

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims’ pride

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring!

            So are the words of the familiar patriotic song. 

            This song – - although written long ago – - is still popular for us and its sentiments of love for country – - love for God – - and love of freedom are still sentiments that we share today.  I am sure that everyone here today – especially this day before July 4 – the day before we celebrate the birth of our great nation – - is proud to be a citizen of America – - the land of the free and the home of the brave.  I am sure that everyone would agree that freedom should ring from every mountainside in our country in a great celebration of what we enjoy as Americans. 

            But before we get too carried away with our patriotic fervor here – -  let’s remember what today is.  It is not only the day before July 4^{th —} it is Sunday. 

            Sunday – the day when we gather together to worship God and give praise to God.

            Sunday — the day when we focus on God and what God has done for us. 

            And today – it is a day when we come around God’s table for the Sacrament of Communion.  

            So it is not just a day for patriotic fervor – - but it is also a day to reflect. It’s a day to reflect upon God – - and our country – - and God’s will for our country. 

            What do we mean when we sing: Let freedom ring!

            What freedoms are we referring to?

            What freedoms do we enjoy as Americans?

            We enjoy freedom of speech – - the right to express our opinions, even if they may not be the opinions of others. We enjoy freedom of movement from one place to the next without the government imposing restrcitions. We enjoy freedom of religion – - the freedom to choose for ourselves how we will worship God instead of having the government dictate a particular way to us.

            These are great freedoms.

            It is great to have these freedoms – - along with others we enjoy as Americans.  The freedom to elect our officials – - the freedom to work in jobs that suit us.  These are great freedoms – - and to these I indeed say: Let freedom ring!

            Democracy – - and freedoms that go along with it – -  are indeed great gifts we have as Americans.

            But -  – democracy and the freedoms that go along with it have not always been enjoyed by all -  – have they?  The cry of “Let freedom ring” has not always been a celebration of what the people had – - but more a call for what they needed. 

            Our scripture passage for today is a story of what happens when freedom does not ring – - when  there is no democracy or concern for those who are in need. 

As we look at this passage, maybe we can discover new ways that we can protect the freedoms of all people – - and ensure that true freedom truly rings for all.

            The story we have here is indeed one of political intrigue and dirty-dealings by top government officials.  It would be a major scandal if it happened today.  

You may be wondering why I choose this passage for this day. It seems to be ancient history.  It may be an interesting story, but nothing to really make us sit up and take note of.  The passage does, however, serve to remind us that the blessings of freedom – - of democracy – - the freedoms we hold so dear -  – need to be protected so that liberty – - democracy – - and freedom can be guaranteed for all people – -  and freedom can ring for all.

            The nation of Israel – - the Northern Kingdom of the Hebrew people -  – was anything but a democracy – -  especially during the reign of Ahab and his queen, Jezebel.  Ahab and Jezebel wee used to doing what they wanted to do -  – and usually what they wanted to do was at the expense of someone else.  They didn’t care if what they did or what they wanted might hurt someone.  If they wanted something, they would take it – -  regardless of who it actually belonged to.  They were in control – -  and everyone – - and I mean everyone -  – did as Ahab and Jezebel directed.  Not much room for freedom. The ringing of freedom did not sound throughout the land. 

            So, it was really pretty typical when Ahab was walking around the grounds of his palace one day and noticed a beautiful vineyard next door.  It was also pretty typical that he decided he wanted it.  So he approached Naboth, the owner of the vineyard, and asked him to give him the vineyard.  As we might expect, Naboth refused.  No amount of money and no swap of property would convince him to give up his ancestral plot of land.  The vineyard had been in Naboth’s family for many years, and he was not about to give it up. 

            But – - as I said earlier -  – Ahab was used to getting his own way.  In fact, when he didn’t get his own way, he pouted.  Jezebel saw her husband pouting -  – and when she asked what was making the king pout -  – he related to her the story of the vineyard and how Naboth would not let him take it or trade it.

            But Jezebel had a plan. She sent letters to the rulers in Naboth’s village and they came up with false charges against Naboth – - and had Naboth killed.

             Now the vineyard was available – -  and when Jezebel informs Ahab that Naboth is dead – -  he cheers up – -  he can do what he wanted to do all along -  – and he takes the vineyard. 

            It appeared that the story was over.  The wicked rulers once again go to whatever expense to take whatever it is they want – - even if they have to kill someone to get it.  It appears that once again evil has triumphed over good – -  the will of the privileged few over the will of the people -  – the will of the privileged few over the rights of the people.

            But – -  there are two more characters in this story – aren’t there? 

            There is God and there is Elijah. 

             Ahab and Jezebel may have thought they had the last word here – - but God proved them to be wrong.  Through His prophet Elijah, God tells Ahab that he has done wrong – and will have to pay for taking advantage of the poor like Naboth.  Not long after that, Ahab and Jezeel meet violent deaths.

            So – God – - wins after all.

            The death of Naboth – the taking of his property – - is vindicated after all.  We want to cheer for God and Elijah as Elijah pronounces the last word upon Ahab and Jezebel.  God indeed has the last word.  Freedom indeed rings. 

            This is indeed a good story – - but as with all Biblical stories, there is more than just a story here.  There is a message for those who will listen.  There is a message for you and for me if we will but listen. 

            What is the message here?

            Simply this -  -  that freedom and democracy -  – the freedoms we enjoy as Americans – - the freedoms we want to ring throughout our land  -  – are special gifts.  They are gifts that God has given to us.  They are gifts we have to protect and work for and ensure for all people. 

            We may sing:

            “From every mountainside

Let freedom ring.”

            But does it?

            It’s up to us to ensure that it does – - and to speak out when it doesn’t.

            It is up to us to be prophets as it were – - prophets like Elijah. We need to make sure that all people in this great land of ours are enjoying the freedoms we enjoy -  – and that God wills for them to enjoy.

            It is up to us to ensure that freedom indeed rings from every mountainside of this great land of ours.

            It is up to us to ensure that freedom rings in this great land of ours.  In our homes. In our communities.  In our land.

            We get excited about our country – - and justifiably so.

            We are proud of our country – -  and justifiably so.

            But – - what happens when there are some who are denied the rights and freedoms that are basic to God’s will for all people – - the right of freedom, of health, of food, of shelter – the very basic things we should enjoy as Americans – the basic things God wills for all God’s people everywhere?

            What happens when there are too many Ahab’s taking from too many Naboths – and not enough Eliahs who stand up and say: “this is wrong!”

            Where are our commitments – -

            to our country – no matter what –

            or – to God?

            Do you remember what Jesus said when he was asked if it was lawful or not to pay taxes to Caesar?

            Do you remember what He said?

            “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperors –

            and to God the things that are God’s!”

            What are the things that involve our loyalty and our commitment to our country?

We owe our country our support, our love, and joyous celebrations of our freedoms.

            What about the things that involve our loyalty and commitment to God?

            We owe God our ultimate loyalty, our ultimate love, and all our energy and strength. We owe God our very lives.

            Did the fact that Elijah had the courage to speak out against King  Ahab make him less of a patriot than those who did not dare speak against the King?

            No – -  the way I see it – - Elijah’s courage to speak the word of God in a situation desperately in need of God’s word made him even more of a patriot.  His courage to stand for God and God’s will over against the will of King Ahab made him a patriot in the truest sense of the word – - someone who was willing to make the country more the way God wanted the country to be. 

            Elijah was someone strongly committed to God’s will of freedom for all. He stood and said: Let God’s will ring! Let freedom ring!

            We need more Elijah’s today. We need more Elijah’s in our country – in our community – in our Church – and in our families!

We need more people willing to stand up and say that we need to turn back to God!  As a nation -  – as a community – - as a Church — as individuals – - we need to turn back to God -  – so that God’s will and God’s desires and God’s great gift of freedom can indeed ring in all places and for all people.

            We must seek God’s will our country – our community – our Church – and our lives – and take a stand for God against the greed – the poverty – the apathy – and the lack of commitment to God’s ways that runs rampant today.

            We must all learn to stand together and say:

Let freedom ring!

Let God’s freedoms ring!

Friends – I challenge you today to love America – but to love America enough to speak out against the things that are wrong with America – - while working to make them right.

I challenge you to believe in America — but believe more in God and God’s will for our country – our community – our Church – and our lives.

I invite you – as we come around God’s table to celebrate the Sacrament that reminds us of the greatest freedoms we have – salvation and freedom from sin – to partake of the sacrament and commit yourself to being an Elijah – willing to stand up for God’s ways and be God’s instrument in our country – our community – our Church – in your family — and the world. Amen.