tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211767162024-03-17T04:51:56.128+10:00FRIARPUK'S POSTINGSHi! I’m Pastor Heath Pukallus, a minister in the Lutheran Church of Australia. On this site I seek to present Christ centred sermons, which clearly distinguish between Law and Gospel. The Law tells us what we are to be and do. Therefore, it shows us our sin. And, the Gospel tells us what God does for us, it blesses us unconditionally, dependant on Jesus' obedience. Therefore, it shows us God's grace despite our sin. Grace, Mercy & Peace to you. FriarpukPastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comBlogger473125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-8555284706432005732024-03-15T08:43:00.005+10:002024-03-15T09:04:27.849+10:00B, Lent 5 - John 12:31-32 Jeremiah 31:29-34 "Behold, days are coming"<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">John 12:31–32 (ESV) Jesus answered, <i>“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be
cast out. And I, when I am lifted up
from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”</i></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unlike the prophet Jeremiah, Jesus says, “Now!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jeremiah points forward to this “now” from Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fifteen times Jeremiah prophecies, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Behold, days are coming!</i>” This is a call to notice something is
going to occur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Expect the unexpected at
a time that is unexpected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jeremiah is called to speak on behalf of the Lord of hosts,
the God of Israel, saying, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In those days
they shall no longer say: “ ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the
children’s teeth are set on edge.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
everyone shall die for his own iniquity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall
be set on edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Behold, the days are
coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of
Israel and the house of Judah,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not like
the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the
hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke,
though I was their husband, declares the LORD.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Jeremiah 31:29–32 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The days are coming when everyone will be responsible for
their own sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No longer will children
suffer from the sins of the fathers!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nor
will wives, children, or others in the household be covered by the father’s
piety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone who eats sour grapes
will have their teeth set on edge!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone shall die for their own evils.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In other words, God only has children, he does not have grandchildren.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God’s covenant with Israel had become ineffective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not from God, but from what Jeremiah
describes as Israel’s whoredom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This whoredom was through the worship of Baal, a fertility
cult, to make the land productive by appeasing Baal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a bid to become wealthy off the land that
God had given them, they made this
Canaanite god their master. “Baal”
literally means “master” or “husband”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God was their master, their caring husband, who took them by the hand
and brought them out of Egypt into this land of milk and honey.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But in the land of Canaan, the Israelites were unfaithful,
and God who brought them in as their husband and master, withdrew and tested
them with their wanton ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The God
of providence stopped providing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore,
the livestock produced no milk, and the bees produced no honey, in the land of
milk and honey!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We can see the vicious spiral occurring in Israel’s bad
choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things going from bad to worse
as Israel the bride, no longer desired her husband, but became contrary with
God and his rule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does God’s rule look
like next to our deeds, desires, and choices?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God’s rule over Israel, became tough through Jeremiah. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
only did the Israelites and Jews struggle, but as God representative, so too
did Jeremiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could imagine his
words of prophecy against them were not well received.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through Jeremiah, God’s call to repentance
and prophecies of judgement, fell on deaf ears, and stubborn hearts, landing
Jeremiah in gaol. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine being a faithful partner in a relationship, imagine
being the unfaithful partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not
what a healthy relationship looks like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This relationship broke down between God and man at Eden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were consequences for Adam and Eve and
these consequences continued between God and Israel, in the days of Jeremiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God was the faithful husband or master, and
Israel the unfaithful partner.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This strain on the relationship appears first in the
wording of Genesis chapter three verse sixteen by the double meaning of the
text.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God says to Eve, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your desire shall be for your husband</i>”,
but it can also mean “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your desire shall
be against (or contrary) to your husband</i>.” (Genesis 3:16 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like Eve, Israel’s desire should have been towards God as a
faithful and giving husband, yet Israel’s desire was for God’s position and
therefore contrary to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As mentioned earlier, the language of husband, used by
Jeremiah, is the confrontation between God and Israel over "the other man” in
Israel’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This other man is Baal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has become their master when their master
was God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet Israel’s desire for Baal
worship is really a desire for their own prosperity at the expense of their
relationship with God and the land they received from him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fifteen times we hear Jeremiah say on behalf of God, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Behold, (the) days are coming.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are all calling the Israelites to look
backward, focusing on what has occurred beforehand, while walking into the
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The days are coming for Israel’s
judgement, but also their restoration back as God’s faithful bride.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God would do this work of restoration through a new
covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This covenant looks backward
while striving forward, much like a swimmer, backstroking their way up the
lanes of a pool!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God will etch the law on each person’s heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will know him by his forgiveness of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In these days every generation, every person,
knows, God will deal with their evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not only will each person have their teeth put on edge from
eating sour grapes, but each person will have the law written on their hearts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeremiah continues…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For this is the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares
the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.
And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no longer shall each one teach his
neighbour and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all
know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will
forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.</i>” (Jeremiah
31:33–34 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At first glance, this seems like God is going back on his
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each will die for their own sins,
yet God promises to forgive and no longer remember sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can this be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel and Judah had proven themselves as harlots
deserving divorce.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The clearest hint God gives through Jeremiah has already
been given by another “Behold the days are coming” statement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Jeremiah chapter twenty-three verses five and six we
hear, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Behold, the days are coming,
declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he
shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and
righteousness in the land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his days
Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by
which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’</i>” (Jeremiah 23:5–6
ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For us today we know that the days were coming and came in
Jesus Christ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus says, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Now is the judgment of this world; now will
the ruler of this world be cast out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is the righteous branch!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the Israel and Judah that Israel and
Judah could not be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now” is the day of
salvation for all who are drawn to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once someone has heard the name of Jesus, proclaimed for the forgiveness
of sin, the law is etched on their hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus draws all people to himself for the forgiveness of sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is the Lord, and the Lord is our
righteousness!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As Jesus walked to the cross, he said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For behold, the days are coming when they
will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts
that never nursed!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they will begin
to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For if they do these things when the wood is
green, what will happen when it is dry?</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Luke 23:29–31 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here Jesus tells us what to expect as his followers on
earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the days increase after Jesus’
death and resurrection, in the last days, the green wood of the gospel, the righteous
branch, will be attacked and burned, the drier and more mature it gets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We will suffer because of our sinful being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will also suffer as we believe and receive
forgiveness while others take offence at the law written on the heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as generations of Christians have before
us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Incidentally, those who take offence, know the truth of the
law and gospel, having heard the name of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God’s word is repulsive to them, because they are rejecting the Holy
Spirit who gives faith in his word written on each heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus also gives another “Behold the days are coming”
statement, but gives it in two parts, to the Pharisees and then the disciples…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Being asked by the
Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus answered them, “The kingdom
of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or
‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he said to the disciples, “The days are
coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you
will not see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they will say to
you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Luke 17:20–23 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As God’s children today we have the word of God stamped on
our hearts!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kingdom of God is in our
midst. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kingdom of God is within
us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we desire the return of Jesus in
these last days, we know days are coming when we will see Jesus, face to face.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We remember, at the cross, our Baals, our Old Adam, our
human spirit, and Satan the ruler of this world, the deceitful master, are
judged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our master, Jesus Christ, has eaten our sour grapes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His teeth have been put on edge!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has died for your sin, and my sin!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Now”, when Jesus returns, behold, the day will have come
for the prince of this world to be cast out forever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now” that Jesus is lifted up in
resurrection glory, let him take you by the hand, draw you to himself in
repentance, and lead you into the eternal land of milk and honey. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-57933746106395526752024-03-13T12:13:00.005+10:002024-03-13T17:23:46.209+10:00B, Midweek Lent 4 - Mark 15:1-32 "Barabbas' and Simon's Passover"<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mark 15:15,21 (ESV)
So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and
having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. And they compelled a passerby, Simon of
Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus,
to carry his cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Passover from the viewpoint of Barabbas and Simon of Cyrene,
stand out as two remarkable events. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Barabbas was being held for murder in an uprising. We know the Ten Commandments does not pass
over a person for killing another person.
At the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus extends this, by saying if someone calls
another a fool, they are liable to hell fire (Matthew 5:22). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Barabbas’ deserved death yet those in authority rallied the
mob to have him released and Jesus crucified.
Pilate asked “Why? What evil has
he done?” Jesus had done nothing wrong. However, because the crowd was seething
for Jesus’ blood, Pilate sought to
please the people. He freed a murderer
and delivered the innocent Son of God over to death by crucifixion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine Barabbas learning his fate! Guilty yet set free! A dead man, passed over, now with a second
chance at life! I reckon Barabbas wouldn’t
have believed his good fortune, having done absolutely nothing to deserve his
stay of execution. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, it’s Jesus Christ, the Son of God the Father who takes
the place of Barabbas. Jesus, the king
of the Jews, serves as the Son of Man, taking the place of a murderer,
Barabbas, the son of Abba, the son of a father.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You and I, the sons, and daughters of a father, like
Barabbas, have had our stay of eternal execution because of Jesus Christ, the
only Son of the Father. Like Barabbas
who was passed over and given new life, you too have been passed over and given
eternal life. You can, and should, give
thanks to God your Father for your “Good Friday fortune”, having done
nothing to deserve this stay of eternal execution. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus has changed places with you at the cross. All daughters and sons have received Jesus’
Sonship through adoption, accepting you as
God’s holy Son through Jesus’ exchange, a true and faithful elder brother. Eternal death now passes over you and me,
borne by the King of the Jews. Now, with
Jesus, the exalted King of Creation, you will be raised from death. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The cross was the crossroads for Barabbas, and so too was
it for Simon who innocently, perhaps accidentally, crossed paths with the crucifixion
party at the Passover.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After being brutalised by the battalion of Roman soldiers, we
could assume Jesus was too weak to carry his cross. Or perhaps he was not moving quick enough for
the soldiers, who wanted to get on with the job they were tasked to do. Whatever the reason, the soldiers grab Simon
who was passing by on his way in from the country. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If Barabbas could not have believed his good fortune, we
can imagine that Simon could not have believed his bad luck! Was he in the wrong place at the wrong time?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Simon carried the cross of a dead man. He carried the curse of death on his back. Albeit for a brief time, he walked the walk of
death, under the means of death! Was it
unfair that he carried the cross? He may
or may not have felt the injustice of the Romans’ expectation, but he did what
he had to do under their compulsion. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unlike Barabbas, it seems Simon did not deserve what was
put on him, carrying the cross to Golgotha, or at least part of the way. Yet like Barabbas, there is relief for
Simon! Once at Calvary, his job is done,
and he is set free. Perhaps, he breathed
a big sigh of relief! No longer having to
feel the weight of the cross, the experience leading to death. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christ is left to bear the greater burden, bearing the sins
of all people. This includes Simon. Who, although an innocent passerby, is not
passed over before God as innocent from sin.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like Simon, you feel the burden of the crosses you bear in
this life. There is also relief, like
Simon, as you know when you get to the destination of death, you will put down your
crosses, and be carried through death to victory by he who has borne the burden
of your sin on the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Simon put down Jesus’ cross, he was putting down his
cross; the cross all humanity deserved to carry and on which you, and I, should
have justly been nailed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those who seemingly are guilty, like Barabbas, are passed
over. Those who are supposedly innocent,
like Simon, are not passed over. The consequences
of Christ’s cross, pass over nobody’s guilt or innocence, at this Passover. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The cross of Christ sets us free! Yet the cross of Christ calls us to carry our
cross! Like Barabbas and Simon, you
suffer from your sin, yet are relieved to know that your sin is carried by
Jesus Christ on the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those two robbers nailed on either side of Jesus, easily
could have been Barabbas and Simon, you, and me! Like Barabbas our deeds condemn us, and like
Simon, the humanity of our being condemns us too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus Christ, the King of the Jews, is at the right place
in the right time. The fullness of time
had come, and the Jews killed him. It is
his blood that saves Barabbas and Simon, not from Roman law, but from the
greater law of God. Jesus is our King of
Kings, and yet our sins of commission, our sins of omission, and our nature
seemingly innocent but guilty, breaks God’s law and killed the King of the Jews. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Your blame and my blame are not passed over but passed onto
Jesus. As a result, the consequences of
our sin are passed over! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like Barabbas, who could not believe his good fortune, and
like Simon, who realised it was his good fortune to only carry the cross, we
look forward to our Good Friday fortune.
Our sins are before us on the cross,
very real, very deadly, yet very forgiven, and very much paid for! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is our greatest wealth in this world. We, sinners like Barabbas, receive the fortune
of freedom, while our guilt remains on the cross. We, fortunate forgiven sinners carry our
cross, like Simon, knowing it was Christ who was lifted up on it in our place. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our sin is not passed over, yet we sinners are being passed
over. You are being passed onto the prosperity
of an eternal resurrection through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, when we have carried our cross to the end of life’s road,
help us give thanks for the Holy Spirit’s help to carry it, knowing we are
sinners, but forgiven sinners. Help us
to not let the fortunes of Good Friday pass away, so that we are not passed
over, but pass through death to our resurrection with you, for Jesus’ sake, Amen.
</span></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-77733306935361168622024-03-07T22:43:00.005+10:002024-03-15T12:34:03.012+10:00B, Lent 4 - Numbers 21:4-7 "Serpents, Sin, & Salvation"<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FLn2NLnK0XA" width="720" youtube-src-id="FLn2NLnK0XA"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">God is patient. He
takes the long way round. If he took the
path of least resistance, humanity would have long been annihilated.</span></div>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is patient with humanity. In the days of disobedience before the flood,
God was patient. God was patient with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. While the
Israelites lived in Egypt, God was patient for four hundred years. In the wilderness after the Israelites were
exiled from Egypt, God continued to be patient.
Today, God continues to be patient with his church, and he continues to
be patient with you!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, what is it with — me, you, the church, the Israelites —
all of humanity, that God needs to be patient?
What is it that allows all of humanity to stand as one before God’s
patience?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is patient with our lack of patience. Our impatience can come from various things,
but at its root is our displeasure with suffering. Therefore, God suffers with our lack of
endurance in suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ultimately, God sent his only begotten Son to suffer in our
place! Yet in this life, you and I will
still struggle with suffering.
Nevertheless, God is pleased to be patient with us. He takes the long way round, he takes the way
of patience, the patient path. And we
can be very thankful for that!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When God lifted Israel out of bondage in Egypt, he could
have marched them into Canaan in a relatively short amount of time. But he took the patient path, leading Israel
forty years, his way in the Sinai wilderness, the way of suffering that led to
salvation in the land of milk and honey.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The bronze serpent story gives us a window into God’s
patience and his mega-work of humanity’s salvation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Israelites became impatient with the way of God! They spoke against God and his servant
Moses! So, God sends fiery serpents amongst
them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s take a moment to take this in! God sends fiery poisonous serpents to bite his
people. Not only do the serpents look
fiery, a bronze coppery colour, they are fiery, wielding the rod of God’s
wrath. Their mouths are fiery, in that
their venom inflicts a hellish bite leading to agony and certain death. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Israelite’s impatience with God, his providence in the
wilderness, and with Moses, was instantly removed by the Israelite’s immediate
need for a remedy against the forced death from the fierce fangs of serpents
sent by God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Snakes are animals that cause fear. Since Satan spoke from a serpent in the
garden of Eden, snakes have been feared by humans. Moses ran from his staff that turned into a
serpent when God commanded him to throw it on the ground (Exodus 4:3). So, there’s no doubt the venomous snakes got
their attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The wilderness is a place of serpents. The Israelites would have seen plenty as they
walked the way of freedom! Up until this
event, we can assume God would have protected them from serpents, just as he
protected them from other dangers as he led them out of Egypt. So, God patiently works his way to will his
people from their impatience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When it comes to snakes, not many of us are heroes. The thought of being faced with an
infestation of fiery serpents is chilling!
Do you remember Indiana Jones encircled by stirred up serpents? Or imagine the reality of being buried in a box
of snakes, slithering over you in the dark. As they do on the television show, “I’m a
celebrity get me out of here”. That’s truly
the stuff of nightmares!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the living nightmare of the Israelites, and we can
fully understand their fear! Not only
were the snakes just present in their vicinity, but they were sent by God to
discipline their disobedience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you see the people begging Moses? Remorseful for being impatient! Penitent for their impatience against God’s
providence, saying, “<i>Why have you brought
us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?
For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.</i>”
(Numbers 21:5 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Ecclesiastes seven verse eight, it is written, “<i>Better is the end of a thing than its
beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.</i>”
(Ecclesiastes 7:8 ESV) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God removed their pride when the serpents began to
bite. They cried out to Moses, for it to
end, saying, “<i>We have sinned, for we have
spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away
the serpents from us.</i>” (Numbers 21:7 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Moses prayed but the end of it was not the removal of the
serpents. Instead, God said to Moses, “<i>Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole,
and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.</i>” (Numbers 21:8
ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, God sends the serpent, and he doesn’t take them away,
but rather gets Moses to put the pest up on a pole. This is the patient path consistent with
God’s way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine if God did remove the snakes! As soon as they lost sight of the serpents,
their impatience and pride would have returned even more so! But the serpents remained, and God added yet
another serpent, calling them to turn and trust God’s way, even in the midst of
their suffering. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Knowing what human nature is like, some would have tested
God on this. The fiery serpent is sent
to bite. It does its job. The tester is tested. Do they turn to the serpent up on the stick,
or do they stick to their digs and remain in rebellion? It’s a life-or-death decision.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, this might seem like a pretty simple decision to
make. Yet many continue to choose the
decision that leads to death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus says, “<i>…as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted
up, that whoever believes in him may
have eternal life.</i>” (John 3:14–15 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not only are people impatient with God, but now many also fail to acknowledge God’s
existence. Some think they know God,
but they choose to create their own idea of God to suit their way through the
wilderness of this world. But when
suffering of death comes, and it always does, crying out to a false god cannot
save from death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is patient with humanity, but Paul warns God shows no
partiality, saying, <i>“…do you presume on
the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s
kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek
for glory and honour and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not
obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.</i>” (Romans 2:4,6–8 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The serpents of sin and suffering still exist. This sin and suffering left unattended by God
will lead to eternal death. Yet God is
patient, he wants to save, and not condemn.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The good work of God within us, exposes our sin, wills us into
confession, keeps us repentant and enduring in belief of our forgiveness, as
well as makes us patient. This happens
through the work of the Holy Spirit despite living in the reality of fiery sin serpents
still biting and wounding us, causing suffering. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, the good works of repentance and belief in the
forgiveness of our deadly sins lets us see God's patient reality! We see our sin, but we see the Servant of
Man saving us from sin, lifted up like the serpent lifted up by Moses in the
wilderness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The irony in all of this is that sin came into the world
through the deception of a serpent.
Satan, the old snake, also sought to seduce Jesus to sin in the wilderness
but failed. Then at the cross he thought
he had won, seeing Jesus nailed to a cursed sinner’s cross. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But death lost its eternal sting at the cross. The devil was double-crossed. The great injustice and evil of the cross
became the hallmark of mercy and holy goodness stamped on those who allow the
light of God to expose and forgive. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus steals the serpent from Satan and attaches the sin of
humanity to it. He becomes the sin, the
serpent, and is lifted up guiltless for the guilty. He takes the curse of your sin, exposing it
in his broken body and spilt blood, and swaps it with his victory over death,
for you!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just as God sent serpents, and then placed one on a pole to
save the Israelites, God allows us to suffer as a result of our sinful being
and its deeds. God wants us to see our
sin, but even more he wants us to see our sin on Jesus, lifted up on the
cross. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just as the Israelite’s saw and feared the reality of the
serpents that bit them, we too see our reality too. We can allow the Holy Spirit to continue the
patient work of peeling the layers back, to expose the greater depths of our
sin. But in the suffering of that
exposure, the Spirit will show us the endlessness and patience of God’s love,
who takes our sin and makes our sin – crucify Christ on the cross. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is patient with you.
God hates your suffering. Yet
despite this he would rather you suffer in short through confession of your
evil works, exposing them in the true light of God’s love and suffering on the
cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are reminded by Jesus in John three verse twenty-one
that, “<i>whoever does what is true comes to
the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their works have been carried
out in God.</i>” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let us pray.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Heavenly Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts to
work in us the good works of confession of our sin in daily repentance and
belief in the forgiveness of sins.
Thankyou for sending your Son Jesus Christ to bear the slipperiness of
our sinful being and its deeds on the cross, which should have been our
cross. Help us to patiently bear our
cross with the help of the Holy Spirit with full expectation of our
resurrection to eternal life with you.
Amen.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-73899912545640269122024-03-06T11:06:00.006+10:002024-03-06T11:10:48.657+10:00B, Midweek Lent 3 - Mark 14:70b-72 "Peter's Passover Pride"<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Mark
14:70b–72</span> (ESV) <span lang="EN-US">And
after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one
of them, for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and
to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the
rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him,
“Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke
down and wept.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter’s grief was raw and sharp. The full weight of his ugliness was before
him. He had cut himself off from his
Lord, calling down curses upon himself, he excommunicates himself from Jesus
after telling Jesus, he would not deny him, but rather die with him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter passed Jesus off; he passed over him in denial. And at hearing the cock crow, he remembers
Jesus’ promise and sees the foolishness of his own promise. Peter realises his self-preservation had kicked
in, to kick out his trust in Jesus and his word.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After Peter and the others fled from Gethsemene, Jesus is
humiliated. Hiding himself in the
rabble, Peter cowardly follows at a distance.
The Lord needs Peter to be a witness, to see what happens to him at the
hand of the Jews, without the helping hands of those who promised to follow
him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As guilty as those who commissioned false evidence against
Jesus, is Peter, who now does not come to Jesus’ defence, but rather remains
speechless with his omission of evidence on Jesus’ behalf.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Below in the courtyard Peter warms himself, when a servant
girl sees him and says, “<i>You
also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But
he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.</i>” (Mark
14:67–68a ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter stands at a distance; he stands below Jesus. He denies Jesus and says he doesn’t understand
what the girl is saying about him and his relationship with Jesus! The cock crows! Then he excommunicates himself from Jesus
with another lie, <span lang="EN-US">“</span><i><span lang="EN-US">I do not know this man of whom you speak.</span></i><span lang="EN-US">”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All those who bore false testimony against Jesus gave
conflicting evidence. Twice before the
cock crowed, we hear the false witness borne against Jesus, did not agree. Now, Peter’s lie is the testimony that agrees
with the lies of the false testimonies that hands Jesus over to death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The sin of
commission from the mouths of the Jews, seals the fate of Jesus. Peter adds his sins of omission and
commission to also seal Jesus’ fate. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
weightlessness of his words, despite being delivered with so much passion,
proved impotent. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i>If I must die with
you, I will not deny you. Even though
they all fall away, I will not.</i>” (Mark 14:29, 31 ESV) Is now part and
parcel of Peter’s passing over of Jesus, “<i>“I
neither know nor understand what you mean.</i>” <span lang="EN-US">“</span><i><span lang="EN-US">I do not know this man of whom you
speak.</span></i><span lang="EN-US">”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He fell
away from Jesus! He denied Jesus! He understood exactly what the girl and
others had said, and he knew the man of whom others spoke. The weight of his lying lips spoken with so
much passion, proved potent and powerful.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We can
clearly see why Peter’s Passover proclamation gutted him! When push came to shove, he proved to be no
different than any other person.
Frightened, fainthearted, faithless, fake, and futile!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’ word, “<i>Before
the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.</i>” (Mark 14:30, 72
ESV) Proved to be true. Peter’s
three-fold denial announced the law to Peter, and it hit him hard. Despite Peter’s positivity to support the
Saviour, his pride crashed head-on with self-preservation to save himself. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peters “Passover crash” was the second most crucial thing
to happen to Peter, second only to Jesus’ death on the cross! As hard as Peter’s reality was, it was
essential for it to occur, if Peter was to be a follower of Jesus. Similarly, it is the same for us too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The old saying, “Pride comes before the fall”, is relevant
here! Peter’s pride needed to pass away,
to die its death. So too does our pride,
so Jesus can be our sole Saviour.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is not a percentage game; we do not provide any
percentage in our eternal salvation.
Jesus provides one hundred percent of the perfection in our eternal
preservation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We need to come to the gut-wrenching reality of our
powerlessness to save ourselves, so we look to Jesus, and him alone. Peter could only bear his cross and follow
Jesus, after he realised what his cross
actually was, and what only Jesus’ cross could do for him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’ cross must come before our cross, if it doesn’t our cross is the wrong cross to
bear. In fact, if we put our cross
before the cross of Christ, it’s a cross against our name, it’s a lie. This is why when the cock crowed a second
time, the pain of Peter’s realisation was great, and it had to be for Jesus’
salvation of Peter to be real. So too
for you and me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Peter called down curses upon himself, these curses
were “anathema” in the Greek. Peter unwittingly
testified to being anathema or accursed. Only the cross and resurrection of Jesus could
kill Peter’s curse, and raise Peter up, blameless. Only then, Peter could lead God’s church, not
by himself, but by the power of the Holy Spirit in the knowledge of Jesus’
death and resurrection. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In God’s church, sin cannot be passed over. The recognition of sin, in our lives is
hard! At some stage in your life, God
will allow you to weep bitterly over your sin.
As hard as it is, it’s a healthy thing for those being refocused from
the self to the selfless, single, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With Jesus as our true Passover lamb your curse or anathema
is removed. At our resurrection we will
see with our eyes what the Apostle John was shown, which is recorded in
Revelation chapter twenty-two for our encouragement. For your faith, hope, and love!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hear what John reports, “<i>Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as
crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city;
also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of
fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The
leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed,
but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will
worship him. They will see his face, and
his name will be on their foreheads.</i>”
(Revelation 22:1–4 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amen. </span></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-57127039674108522122024-02-29T23:47:00.007+10:002024-03-08T17:41:22.736+10:00B, Lent 3 - Psalm 19:14 John 2:13-22 "Acceptable Fellowship"<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VpGNGq7R5pg" width="720" youtube-src-id="VpGNGq7R5pg"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm 19:14 (ESV) </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Let
the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your
sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">
Amen.</span></div></span><p></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The words of Jesus’ mouth and the meditation of Jesus’
heart, as he drove the traders and their stock out of the temple, destroyed the
fellowship of both, those changing money, and those selling animals for
Passover sacrifices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems Jesus was
angry as he bound cords, made a whip, and drove them out of the temple!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What type of fellowship was Jesus dispersing?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’ disciples remembered words from the first half of
Psalm sixty-nine verse nine, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For zeal
for your house has consumed me.</i>” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm
69:9 ESV)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, we can consider Psalm
one hundred and nineteen, verse one hundred and thirty-nine, as Jesus rouses the
temple traders and their wares, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My zeal
consumes me, because my foes forget your words</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm 119:139 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rather than anger, Jesus was jealous for his Father’s
house!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His words were solely concerned
with our Father’s word!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we consider
this jealousy as anger, his anger was restoring fellowship rather than wrecking
it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, anger does destroy fellowship!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know when we become angry, or someone
becomes angry with us, we lose connection with the other party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the sin of presumptuousness; when one
seethes and becomes high-handed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fellowship and peace fly out the window when our feelings and the
musings of the heart, become words unacceptable in God’s sight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Instead of God being our rock and redeemer, in our anger,
through our fear and lack of trust in God, we presume from our internal
reckonings, we are good and righteous, they are bad and wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Therefore, we presume, “they” need
correction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, our presumptions are assumptions with little to no
evidence. God is put out of the picture and is replace with our assumed
divinity!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is
good for us is not necessarily good for God who knows what is truly good and
evil, the true reality of our way, our truth, and our life!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life of God the
Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His way in all things, including
his way in the temple, is begotten of the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ word is “the truth” and is begotten of
our Father in Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The life Jesus
lives, being led to the cross by the proceedings of the Holy Spirit, is also
begotten by God our Father.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What appears to be anger on Jesus’ part is far from the
divisive anger you or I perpetuate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even the most righteous human anger kills fellowship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whereas Jesus’ jealous word, works to restore
our fellowship with God and our fellow human beings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the sermon on the mount Jesus equates our anger with
murder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Murder kills fellowship!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, literally for the one murdered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it kills fellowship with God, for the one
who has lifted his hand in murder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
an insult of “you fool” cost the name caller their fellowship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus tells us, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 5:22 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus takes our words of anger and stretches them, so
neither you, nor I, are free of God’s judgement in the Ten Commandments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows all active aggression hidden behind
closed doors!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows all passive
aggression hidden behind a polite smile! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows the disobedience of your human heart.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anger in all humanity’s activities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anger in the buzz of business. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anger within cultures and between countries. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anger over lack of other’s discernment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anger instead of empathy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anger born out of frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anger between generations, and anger even
between the sexes! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God sees all
unacceptable fellowship played out between people today, as sin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let the words of my
mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my
rock and my redeemer.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul tells Timothy what to expect as a result of the
fellowship breakdown of humanity before Christ<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>returns.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“But understand this,
that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For people will be lovers of self, lovers of
money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful,
unholy,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>heartless, unappeasable,
slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For among them are those who
creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray
by various passions,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>always learning and
never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Timothy 3:1–7 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today as God is being killed in our society, it’s as if
humanity is a hive of bees busy buzzing away in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>human activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, when the
beekeeper comes to check on the hive, his workers become increasingly agitated,
for being disturbed, and attack he who has given them their hive as their home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before Jesus came,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>temple Judaism had become like a hive of bees devouring themselves!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their hive was empty of honey, God’s word was
used presumptuously, against each other, therefore, against God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fellowship had failed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul reminds us in his letter to Timothy that
in the last days this will happen too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God and his fellowship will not only be killed in society, but bold presumptuous
attempts to kill him will occur inside the church before Christ comes again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is because we in the church busy
ourselves with the same love of self, as those outside.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet Jesus says to the Jews of the temple, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Destroy this temple, and in three days I
will raise it up</i>.” (John 2:19 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Begotten by God, Jesus was raised by God the Father, and by
the Holy Spirit who proceeded from the Father to raise Jesus from the dead!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a seed planted in the ground, the life
of God contained in the perfect husk of Jesus’ human flesh, sprouted back to
life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The temple was destroyed, and the Son of God, raised up the
temple of his church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and I are
seeds of the Son, grafted into fellowship in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But what of the fellowship Jesus dispersed with a whip of
cords?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We return to Psalm sixty-nine to the words of God the Son,
written down by King David…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Let not those who
hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who
seek you be brought to dishonour through me, O God of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For it is for your sake that I have borne
reproach, that dishonour has covered my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s
sons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For zeal for your house has
consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.</i>”
(Psalm 69:6–9 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">”Answer me, O LORD,
for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.</i>“
(Psalm 69:16 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You know my
reproach, and my shame and my dishonour; my foes are all known to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am
in despair. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked for pity, but there
was none, and for comforters, but I found none.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine
to drink.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalm 69:19–21 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’ zeal consumed him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He cleansed the temple!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet he
became the reproach!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He allowed his
fellowship with our Father to be severed, so God might temple within us, and
reseed in us fellowship with the father.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No longer do we need to fear the world, or what the world
is doing within the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all,
it is God’s church, and those who resist God’s correction, God’s call to
confess and receive forgiveness, will not be blameless and innocent of great
transgression.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But for those who willingly receive God’s word, allowing
the Holy Spirit to bring them to confession so that they not only glorify God
for the gospel of salvation, but even love the Law of God despite its
condemnation of their sin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God’s Word in the church is sweet like honey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Psalm nineteen we hear, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the
soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing
the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring
forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More to be desired are they than gold, even
much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in
keeping them there is great reward.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Psalm 19:7–11 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we hear and busy ourselves under God’s word, God’s
church is a harmonious hive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May we like
the Psalmist, be kept from presumptuous sins, so they do not have dominion over
us, nor separate us from the forgiveness of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Rock and
Redeemer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us pray.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lord God Holy Spirit may the words of our mouths be Jesus’
Word of forgiveness and fellowship, and the meditations of our hearts, be
acceptable in the eternal sight of our Father in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-18096028342962177032024-02-27T17:52:00.003+10:002024-02-28T11:02:44.275+10:00B, Midweek Lent 2 - Mark 14:22-52 "The Cup Passed On"<p style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
way of the cross ramps up a notch as Jesus takes the Passover meal and redefines
it with what is about to happen to him.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
Passover, a meal practised by the Jews since the days of Moses, was a meal </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">first prepared in haste before the angel of
death passed through Egypt pouring out the tenth plague upon all first born.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The angel spared only those who had the blood
of the lamb smeared over their doorway, those who had eaten the lamb roasted
over the fire together with bitter herbs, dressed for a quick departure from
Egypt.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus
now takes this remembrance meal and gives it a renewed function. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We remember what he said and did with his word,
instituting the bread of the Passover meal with his body sacrificed on the
cross, and the cup of wine with his blood poured out as a sacrifice which would,
and continues to, save many.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now
that the cup of salvation in his blood is instituted, the new covenant is set
to be fulfilled.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world heads out to the Mount of Olives for the events
to be enacted which would make Jesus the Lamb to replace all sacrificial blood
required for the old covenant.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’
interaction with Peter takes on special significance as he tells the disciples what
is about to happen.</span></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away,
for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be
scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I
will go before you to Galilee.”</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Mark
14:27 ESV)</span></div></i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some
years prior Zechariah prophesied, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;">“</span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">On that day there shall be a fountain opened
for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from
sin and uncleanness.” </span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></i><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">“Awake, O sword, against my
shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts.
“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand
against the little ones.”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;">Zechariah 13:1, 7</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> ESV)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus
was that fountain of blood, he was the Son from the right hand of the Father,
who was incarnated as man, as the shepherd of Israel, was about to be
struck.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’ little ones were to be
scattered as the shepherd takes the place of a sheep to be slaughtered, of whom
the disciples are Jesus’ little ones.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter
flatly disagrees with Jesus saying, “</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Even
though they all fall away, I will not.</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">” (Mark 14:29 ESV)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even
after Jesus tells Peter he will deny him three times, Peter </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;">says forcefully, “</span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">If I must die with
you, I will not deny you.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;">” </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;">Mark 14:31</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
ESV) </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The other disciples also agree with
Peter.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
the wake of this reading, we heard on Sunday, Jesus scolds Peter with the
harshest of rebukes.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We hear, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">But
turning and seeing his disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me,
Satan! For you are not setting your mind
on the things of God, but on the things of man.’</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">” (Mark 8:33 ESV)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">John
Mark was Peter’s scribe.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Gospel of
Mark is Peter’s account of Jesus’ ministry written down by John Mark.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Incidentally the naked young man we hear leaving
the scene in Gethsemene, is believed to be the author of this Gospel.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How
Jesus deals with Peter, which Peter proclaims, and Mark records, seems quite abrupt.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps today the sensitivities of many would
be offended.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We can learn much, however,
from not only Jesus’ abruptness, but also the willingness of Peter to preach
about his weakness recorded in the pages of Mark’s Gospel.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter’s
forceful and impassioned statements </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Even though they all fall away, I will not</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">”
and</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"> “</span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">If I must die with you, I will not deny you</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;">” stand
in absolute contrast to what happens next.</span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Gethsemene,
as Jesus prays, we see his human flesh as our flesh. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter, James, and John see it too.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is willing, yet in the weakness of
human flesh, he prays and waits, despite being dumbfounded, distressed, and
overwhelmed by the weight of the world he is about to carry.</span></div><o:p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He
leaves Peter, James, and John to pray alone.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus knows his fate.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the
flesh of humanity, he struggles knowing what is going to happen to him.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like any human that learns of their impending
death, and struggles with its reality, so too does Jesus! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div></o:p></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With
the weight of the known, Jesus stumbles and falls to the ground, he prays that
the hour of suffering and death might pass over him.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But he is the new covenant, he is the new Passover
Lamb, he has instituted at the last supper, all that God the Father has led him
to do.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And he is led by the Holy Spirit to
give him the spirit with which to be the Passover Saviour!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hear
in Jesus’ struggle, Jesus hates death.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like
any of us that pray when our utter helplessness is pressed upon us, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus prays, “</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me.” </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Mark 14:36a
ESV)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
true faith, Jesus prays a confession about the nature of God the Father.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everything is possible for God our Father!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">With his Word he could have removed the cup
from Jesus!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But knowing the evil and the
good this cup bears he contradicts what he’s just said and continues, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">“Yet not what I will, but what you will.” </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Mark
14:36b ESV)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What
are the disciples doing?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is Peter
waiting, watching, and praying as Jesus asked?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The one who confesses Jesus as the Christ, the one who says, even if I
die with you, I will not deny you, cannot even stay awake.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Jesus returned from praying, he did not find
Peter, James, and John supporting him with prayer, but sleeping.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Three times this happened, impressing on us
the reality that even if the spirit is willing, we need the Holy Spirit to enliven
our weak flesh.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Judas
comes to betray Jesus, with him is a mob from the chief priests, scribes, and
the elders.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">When they seized Jesus, one of
them gets his ear cut off.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mark does not
report who, but in John’s Gospel, we’re told its Peter.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
keeping with Peter’s lack of understanding, demonstrated throughout the Gospels,
Peter cuts off the servant’s ear, overcompensating for his inability to stay
awake and pray with, and for, Jesus.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But
Jesus having come to fulfil the scriptures drinks the cup the Father has given him
to drink, and all left him and fled.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some
years later Peter is martyred by Nero on an upside-down cross.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In coming weeks, we will hear more about
Peter as he denies Jesus and the cock crows.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
change in Peter who comes from understanding only the things of man to enduring
death knowing the things of God, is a comfort for all in the church of the
living God.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter
drinks the cup Jesus drank.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But it is
said that out of respect for his Lord he was crucified on a cross upside-down.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
event that is Peter’s life, saw a work of God, that took time! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">From Jesus calling him on the sea of Galilee, working
with the erratic ebbs and flows of his faithlessness and faith, right the way
through to where he trusts the Holy Spirit to lead him as the Spirit led his
Lord, even to death on an upside-down cross, all occurred in the fullness of
God’s time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In this
Lenten season, there is opportunity for us to reflect on the work God is doing
in us.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our life is God’s event, he works
in us as he did in Peter.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">He gives us a
cup of salvation and servanthood from which to drink, and the Holy Spirit will
enable us to drink it over time!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let us pray.</span></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">Heavenly Father, thankyou for working with
Peter, even as you were sending your only Son to the cross. Thankyou that our life is your event and that
you are patient with us, willing us with your Word. Help us not grieve the Holy Spirit. But drink the cup of the new covenant, deny ourselves,
pick up our cross, and drink deeply from the font of forgiveness, servanthood,
and salvation. Amen. </i></div></i></span><p></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><o:p></o:p></p>
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Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-12273944262518003412024-02-22T17:16:00.003+10:002024-03-02T09:35:59.574+10:00B, Lent 2 - Mark 8:31-38 "The Contrary Christ Cycle"<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rLhXacgDqCE" width="720" youtube-src-id="rLhXacgDqCE"></iframe></b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Mark 8:31–38 (ESV) </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and
be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed,
and after three days rise again. And he
said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he
rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your
mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” And calling the crowd to him with his
disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny
himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his
soul? For what can a man give in return
for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of
me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the
Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the
holy angels.”</span></div><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The cycle of life in which we exist requires death to
occur. From the moment we are born,
cells in our bodies are dying and new ones are being created. The cycle of life before the fall, was not
one of dying while living, life then death.
Rather, it was life and renewal of life, around the tree of life. After the fall we lost access to the tree of
life and death became the norm. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although we now exist in a realm of death, through Jesus’
death and resurrection, we now have access to the tree of life, and live in the
hope of our resurrection. Yet in the
meantime, we exist with the reality of death.
We call this existence, life, but it is really one of dying.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most think this life is as good as it gets! Putting aside suffering, most chase mirages
of pleasure while waiting for the inevitable evil of dying.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’ life on earth, was an existence of death before
life. In fact, he is the only human born
into the necessity of dying. All other
life on this earth was not created to die.
It was created to live and continue living in the renewal of the tree of
life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Any person with a knowledge of biological science knows
life is meant to continue in renewal.
Scientists know this, and many have spent their lifetime searching for
the secret of life, but to no avail.
All have gone the way of death searching for this mysterious elixir for
the renewal of ongoing life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Scientists, knowing life should keep continuing, have no
answers to why it would ever stop. They
can only examine the existence of what we know.
That is an existence after the fall into sin. And from this standpoint, philosophers and
other great thinkers join them to determine what is good and evil in this
existence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Life then death, pain and a bit of pleasure, then a deadly
oblivion or extinction. It’s not much of
an existence to look forward to! It’s an
existence that says, “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we will die”. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus came teaching the contrary. He came teaching death leads to life. That our existence now, is death, and the one
to come, is life! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Instead of making the most of life before death, he was bringing
life to our existence of death, he was making the most of his death for true
life to occur.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is the tree of life, giving life on the tree of death,
the cross. Jesus taught that he, the
Christ, the Son of Man, was going to serve humanity by being rejected by those
who were God’s representatives and be killed by them, yet after three days rise
again to life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter, having confessed Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ,
was intent on a life of glory now, rather than a life lived under the
cross. He seeks to rebuke Jesus, but
Jesus rebukes Satan within Peter, saying “<i>Get
behind me, Satan! For you are not
setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.</i>” (Mark
8:33 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Within Peter, Satan had blinded him to an understanding and
knowledge of humanity, rather than a knowledge of God. This is the default knowledge in which all of
humanity exists, after the fall, having turned its back on God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After Jesus harshly rebukes Peter, he again teaches Peter
and the other disciples. But now he also
teaches them with the crowd that had gathered!
Jesus teaches a paradox, contrary to humanity’s expectation of life then
death. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He says, “<i>If anyone
would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow
me. For whoever would save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the
whole world and forfeit his soul? For
what can a man give in return for his soul?</i>” (Mark 8:34–37 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you come after Jesus? If I am to come after Jesus, let me deny
myself, take up my cross and follow him!
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But how do I do this?
How do I deny myself and carry my cross?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is not a human work!
If we could deny ourselves and take up our cross, God would never have
had to send the Holy Spirit. Indeed, he
would not have needed to send his Son Jesus Christ, if just one person could
have been faithful to God, as was Jesus Christ, incarnate in flesh, to die for
the life of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today we celebrate Harvest Thanksgiving. We thank God for what we have. For the most part we continue the Pharisaic
practice of giving thanks for our food when we sit down for a meal. In our practice we invite Jesus to be our
guest. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We say, “Come Lord Jesus be our guest, and let this food to
us be blessed.” And to this we say, “Amen.”
But the prayer can continue, “Blessed be God who is our bread, may the
world be clothed and fed. Amen.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some might believe our prayer is a kind of gate, that on concluding
the prayer we open the gate and start eating.
But the Holy Spirit gathers us in prayer in Jesus Christ to be our guest.
And as the addition to the payer says,
it is God who truly is our bread that blesses, us, all we produce, all we have,
all we eat, and all we share.
Unfortunately, as with Peter and all of us, what spoils our trust in
this, “are the things of man”, encouraged by the father of death, the devil
himself! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But the Holy Spirit, fights the deathly human spirit within
each of us! He plants Christ in us, so
we take up our cross, deny ourselves and follow him. With Christ planted within, we no longer live
to die, denying others in favour of ourselves.
But rather, we die to live, denying ourselves so the Holy Spirit might
use us to serve, as Jesus served!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the same way you can plant a seed in the ground, and it
sprouts and grows, Jesus is the seed planted in you! His
“death and life” cycle is planted in you, conquering the former “life and
death” cycle. This new Christ cycle is
the death and resurrection cycle of God’s Holy Seed, promised to Adam and Eve
just after the fall in the garden of Eden.
The promise still exists! The Spirit
wills you to be grafted into the cross!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just as a watered seed has all the life it needs within to
germinate, faith germinates in us, with water and the Word of God. The
Holy Spirit enlightens us with God’s Word, sinking the roots of faith even deeper
into the eternal powers of God’s Word.
This increases the death to life cycle of the cross even more!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Jesus says, Truly,
truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it
remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever
hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.</i> (John 12:24–25 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is the Seed of Life, planted in you. All life comes from God, a wonderful thing
for us dying to live, with all that God provides for us on the way to eternal
life. Even greater is our Lord Jesus
Christ who lived to die, dying to
produce the fruit of eternal life within you.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But there is still another twist! Now that Jesus has reversed the life then
death cycle to a death then life cycle, he gives us true life here on earth
now, even as we wait for death then eternal life to be unfolded before our
eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He says, “<i>Truly, I
say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they
see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.</i>” (Mark 9:1 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some saw a brief glimpse of the kingdom of God in the
Transfiguration. Judas and perhaps some
in the crowd did taste death before Jesus’ resurrection. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But, with the eyes of faith, see and know that the kingdom
of God has come with power. This cycle
has begun in your baptism. Baptised into
death at the cross, dying to live in eternal life! In the midst of death, we are in life, life
eternal, right now, because we follow our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen. </span></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-64806207362194898032024-02-21T12:21:00.003+10:002024-02-21T12:21:42.425+10:00B, Midweek Lent 1 - Mark 14:1-21 "Not Passed Over"<p></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mark 14:1–21 (ESV)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It was now two days before the Passover and
the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were
seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for they said, “Not during the feast, lest
there be an uproar from the people.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at
table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very
costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were some who said to themselves
indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this ointment could have been sold for
more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus said, “Leave her alone.
Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For you always have the poor with you, and
whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has done what she could; she has
anointed my body beforehand for burial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole
world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then Judas Iscariot,
who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when they heard it, they were
glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on the first day of Unleavened
Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him,
“Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he sent two of his disciples and said to
them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you.
Follow him,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and wherever he enters, say
to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I
may eat the Passover with my disciples?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there
prepare for us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the disciples set
out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they
prepared the Passover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when it was
evening, he came with the twelve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as
they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of
you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it
I?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said to them, “It is one of the
twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the Son of Man goes as it is written of
him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been
better for that man if he had not been born.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Coming
up to the Passover, Jesus was not passed over!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The chief priests and the scribes, not usually conversant with each
other, have joined forces plotting to kill Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two parts of the Mark narrative we have
heard tonight, begin and end with the coming reality of Jesus’ betrayal by
Judas, and death at the hands of the Jewish leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Housed
within the desires of the Jewish leaders and Jesus’ proclamation of his
betrayal, are two very different pictures of belief and unbelief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First,
Jesus and his apostles are in the home of Simon the Leper at Bethany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A woman presents herself with expensive oil
and proceeds to pour it on Jesus’ head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The oil was pure nard, from the spikenard plant, and most likely came
from traders to the east.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nard grows in
the Himalayan region, so this oil was not common or cheap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those
present who witness the event, literally snort with anger at the woman,
claiming the ointment could have been sold for three hundred denarii and given
to the poor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With no understanding,
Jesus’ apostles seek to shame the woman for doing what she had done.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Three
hundred denarii are three hundred days wages, almost an annual income.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you tip your yearly wage on someone’s
head?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At face value it makes no sense to
pour out all this perfume on someone’s head.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That
is not unless you knew why you were pouring the perfumed oil on the person, who
that person is,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and what they were about
to do!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today,
knowing that Jesus is our Saviour, most of us would still consider passing over
Jesus, believing pouring a year’s wage over his head, a waste!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Arguably,
this woman is demonstrating the greatest faith of anyone Jesus ever met, in his
ministry or march to the cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
might seem one would have to be ludicrous to do such a thing with such reckless
abandon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waste not want not, seems to
have given way to wanting to waste!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
there was no waste here! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This
woman believed what Jesus had said about himself, that he was the Messiah, but
that he was also going to die to be the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her seemingly wasteful actions, reveals a
faith, second to none.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit
has taken a hold of this woman to value Jesus’ life and death, more valuable
than the expensive nard, with which she honours him and pours on his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus affirms her Holy Spirited faith and
action, saying to those who snort in anger, “she is working a good work on me”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
woman did not pass over Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is
Jesus, worth to you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is he worth passing
over, in a bid to waste not, want not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We, like this woman, are called to see the worth of what Jesus has done
for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To not pass over Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To allow the Holy Spirit to open our hearts
and minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, looking into the core of
our being, we hand over to Jesus what is wasting us away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the woman, we pour all our sin on Jesus
with reckless abandon, giving him the full debt of our sin!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To
God the Father, Jesus Christ his Son, and the Holy Spirit, this is the sweetest
most fragrant offering we can pour onto our Saviour, justifying God the Father
working a good work through Jesus Christ, having been led to the cross by the
Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the Holy Spirit working
a good work in us as we pour our sin in confession on the Son of our salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
having Jesus in this way, in pouring our sin on him, in emptying ourselves of
the idols of our hearts, allows us to truly serve the poor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having seen the poverty of our hearts through
trusting in these idol (idle) riches, allows God to use us in seeing and
serving the poor, as Jesus serves us, in his death and resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In not passing over Jesus, the Holy Spirit
will work a good work in us, allowing us to pour Jesus on the poor with the
reckless abandon of God’s love!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
second picture,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is that of Judas
Iscariot, selling Jesus for thirty shekels of silver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find out the amount from Matthew’s Gospel
account in chapter twenty-six.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A shekel
is two denarii, two days wages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
Judas betrays Jesus for sixty days wages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
contradiction to the apostles snorting with anger over the woman’s costly faith
in Jesus as the Messiah, the chief priests are glad to pour riches on
Judas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But these riches, are a loss of
faith in Jesus as the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judas,
one of the twelve, having been sent as an apostle, no longer trusts Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We
see the depth of Judas’ poverty here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
do not know the reason for Judas betrayal, but we know he passes over Jesus, no
longer pouring his trust on him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
Judas “expected” was something far different to what the woman hoped in
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She trusted Jesus unto death, but
Judas handed him over to death, no longer having faith in him as the
Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Judas had believed Jesus’
word of promised resurrection, he would not have solved a short-term problem
with the eternal remedy of the hopelessness of his human spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
story of Judas’ poverty stands as a warning to us, to not pass over Jesus!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are called to put our expectations of
Jesus under the magnification of God’s Word, leading us to repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this Lenten season the exposure of (idle)
idol expectations of Jesus, can occur within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not to pass over Jesus, but to pass onto Jesus our confession of sin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Two
pictures of faith!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith in Jesus, and
unbelief in Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Human spirited faith
in the self, and Holy Spirited faith in someone greater than the self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman did not pass over Jesus, but Judas
passed over Jesus!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman poured her
trust onto Jesus with reckless abandon, but Judas poured his trust onto other
things and abandoned Jesus as his Messiah. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
this Lenten season, it’s an easy temptation to pass over what Jesus did for us,
and why he did it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s easy to forget
about Lent and go straight to the sweetness of the Easter eggs that have been
furnishing the shelves of shops for about the past sixty days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But
the forty days of Lent give us time to stop, reflect in God’s Word, the work of
God, the work done for you and me, where God did not pass over Jesus, but
stopped with him,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>causing him to be our
Passover Lamb, who covers the poverty of our hearts with his holy and most
precious blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-23660286262636200902024-02-15T21:10:00.002+10:002024-02-16T14:41:35.694+10:00B, Lent 1 - Genesis 9:8-17 "A Re-Creative Covenant"<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Refraction of light causes light to be bent and through
different degrees of bending comes various colours on the spectrum of light. God created water droplets to refract light
showing it to Noah after the flood. We
see the result of this still today, when standing between the sun and a rainy
sky to see a rainbow in the clouds. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we stand on the ground, we only see half the refracted
circle of light, which is a rainbow.
Become elevated in the right position, one would see a full circle of
colours being produced from the sun shining on a backdrop of falling water
droplets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God caused this wonderful display to make humanity a
promise! He says, “<i>I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be
cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to
destroy the earth.” And God said, “This
is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living
creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall
be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.</i>” (Genesis 9:11–13 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God’s promise to all living creatures is called a
covenant. God establishes the covenant
with Noah. When we enter into a covenant,
usually the agreement is made between two parties, but the rainbow covenant is
different. God makes the covenant
without any input from Noah or his sons.
God’s covenant with Noah is a one-sided agreement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even today the covenant is still binding since it relies
only on God’s word. However, other
covenants are broken because they rely on both parties keeping the
agreement. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Humanity sees the rainbow as a symbol of hope. A rainbow flag was used as early as the
sixteenth century as a symbol for the peasants’ cooperative movement in the
German Peasants War. In the nineteen
sixties the rainbow peace flag became a common sight. Today when some see a rainbow flag displayed,
they immediately assume it as being a symbol for diverse sexuality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, the rainbow seen in the sky, surpasses all human flags
or cooperative movements. After a storm
has passed over, a rainbow can allow us a breath of relief, to come outside
once again, to give thanks for the rain, or to begin cleaning up the damage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But the transcendence of the rainbow, as a covenant of God,
gives us even more relief than knowing a storm has passed. And it does so, not because of what we
remember when we see a rainbow, but what God sees and remembers! We hear, “<i>When
the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant
between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.</i>” (Genesis 9:16 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God not only makes a one-sided covenant, but he also makes
an everlasting covenant! Regardless of
what humanity sees in a rainbow, God sees and remembers his promise to all
living creatures of the earth, forever!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The refraction of light comes from a source of pure
light. The light of the rainbow comes
from the light of life, God the Father who transcends all life, and from whom
all life is lit and living. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The light of life shines God’s love upon us. The love of God is pure light, and it shines
on all humanity, regardless how humanity views love, and refracts it into the
coloured corrupted desires of the human heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the days of Noah, the love of God had been fractured, and people had completely fallen away from him. Humanity
continued in the pursuit of pleasure, that saw Adam and Eve, fall. The sons of God, those born to Seth, and the
descendants of Adam’s other children who followed Seth, were attracted to the
daughters of man, those born to Cain and his followers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Attractive here means good.
The sons of God saw the daughters of man as good. This was greater than a lust over good looks,
but a temptation and turning from God, continuing humanity’s pursuit of good
and evil knowledge, just as Adam and Eve
had turned from God at Eden.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Therefore, in the days of Noah, “<i>The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually. And the LORD regretted that
he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I
have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and
birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favour in the eyes of the
LORD.</i>” (Genesis 6:5–8 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, God made a covenant with Noah, and after he rebirth the
earth in the flood, he put the rainbow in the sky. God sees the rainbow and remembers he will
not flood the earth, despite humanity bending the bow of God’s covenant! Refracting it into a fractured rebellion against
his light in a corruption of colours. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Despite the many colours of humanity’s knowledge of love. Despite those Luther opposed who sought to
climb up to God in love for the “greater good”.
Despite those today whose knowledge of love is governed by what feels
good. God sees the rainbow and remembers
his covenant!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But you who see the full circle of God’s love sees his Son,
Jesus Christ, the Son of God. You know
the coloured light of your emotions, your will, and your deeds are
tainted. Even if we became wholly
inclusive in our diversity, collecting together all our colours once refracted
from the original pure light of God, we know our colours are contaminated with impurities. No longer do all the colours of the rainbow
reverse in refraction back to the pure light of God. Our colours combine to block out God’s light and
create darkness. Whatever colour we
refract, we identify as sinners! We know
God’s light gets bent in us!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When God sees the rainbow, he remembers we are dust, and to
dust we shall return. He sustains us in
this life as we suffer in it. Yet we
hear and trust, “<i>Christ also suffered
once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to
God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.</i>” (1 Peter 3:18 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God commanded Noah to build the ark, and in faithfulness to
God, he built it. Noah was maligned when
he did not join others in their flood of debauchery. He suffered for it, but God saved him through
water. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus Christ is the light of God. The Holy Spirit gives the life of God in
Jesus Christ! God shines the full gamut
of light in Jesus Christ. It’s the full
circle of Christ’s light that shines on us in baptism. Here, Noah is a picture of Christ for us. “<i>God’s
patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which
a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves
you, …through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.</i>” (1 Peter 3:20–21 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In these days when it has become illegal (in Victoria,
Australia) to reflect on certain sins, according to God’s Word, we live under
God’s re-creative covenant. Not only do
we know God will not kill all flesh through a deluge. But we also know in the waters of baptism,
God has made a greater covenant with us.
In Christ, we too will be raised to see the colours of God in his
eternal dwelling. This will be the full
circle of light Christ once shone on earth, that the Triune God will shine in
heaven forever! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See these colours, revealed to John, recorded in Revelation
chapter twenty-one. “<i>The wall was built of jasper, while the city
was pure gold, like clear glass. The
foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The
first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth
emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth
carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth
chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each
of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold,
like transparent glass. And I saw no
temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to
shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the
Lamb. By its light will the nations
walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and
there will be no night there.</i>” (Revelation
21:18–25 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See the re-creative colours of God’s eternal covenant with
you, refracted with water and the Word through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. </span></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-26409265147961029062024-02-13T17:10:00.004+10:002024-02-13T17:31:19.242+10:00B, Ash Wednesday - Genesis 3:14-19 "You are Dust, and to Dust you shall Return"<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Genesis 3:14–19 (ESV)</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “The
LORD God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, cursed are you above
all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and
you shall bruise his heel.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the woman
he said, ‘I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall
bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he
shall rule over you.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to Adam he
said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of
the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the
ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for
you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the
ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall
return.’”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Air, water, and fire, return all things back to natural elements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the moment we create things on this
earth, they are returning to what they once were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The houses people have built since time began
have returned, and are returning, to the earth, through exposure to air, water,
or fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The goods we place in our homes will also return to primary
elements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some quickly, some slowly, but
nevertheless they are returning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
plastics, glass, and porcelain return having been produced with fire, return
with the help of fire and pressure over time!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All metals eventually revert to their mineral compounds through the
process of corrosion and rust, so that they become dust once again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having this in mind we travel in vehicles not
putting too much trust in our means of transport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A very sobering thought to contemplate when
we’re at thirty-eight thousand feet, looking at a metal wing, slowly returning
to the ore of the earth, keeping us aloft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or, sailing on a metal ship, in a salty brine knowing that eventually
rust, must make metal, into mush!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s not just things we create, that are reduced to rust, dust, a
mushy mash, or blackened ash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All things
given to us in this creation will die and return to he who created it with his
Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Following a garden and kitchen waste recycling truck yesterday, it
became obvious to the nose that air and water were working on returning things,
we live on in creation, back into compost and dirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another sobering thought occurred to me, as I
drove behind that truck, that I too, in the fullness of God’s time, will be
returned from flesh, blood, and bone, back into air, water, and dust.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a short time, you will receive the mark of the cross on the
forehead with ash and hear the words, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you
are dust and to dust you shall return.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These words are the words of God to Adam, who having listened to Eve
and Satan disguised as a serpent, did not heed God’s call not to eat from the
tree of knowledge of good and evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a result, not only does Adam return to dust; Eve does too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All animals that carry the breath of life
from God, return to the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of
creation groans as a result of humanity’s pleasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so, all the things in which we seek
pleasure, are being tested by air, water, and fire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The ash we receive on the forehead reminds us of this!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ash used is the ash of palm fronds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Traditionally the palm branches used on Palm
Sunday, are returned to ash with air and fire, to use on Ash Wednesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Ash adheres to the moisture on the skin
of the forehead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moisture that is
continually leaving the body, which one day will work with air to make us
compostable material in the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
not, some will return to ash and dust through cremation’s fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you are dust and to dust you shall return.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Palm Sunday begins Holy Week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The ash of the Sunday palm branch not only leads us to remember our
mortality, but that of the man Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is the New Adam!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The immortal
Son of God born into his own creation as a mortal, the Son of Man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From Ash Wednesday we look forward to Holy Week, to see what Jesus put
aside as the Son of God, and what he endured as the Son of Man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see our pleasures, in the face of Adam and
Eve’s pleasure, in gaining a knowledge of good and evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we realise the suffering we endure as a
result of treasuring the pleasures of what we seek and know, more than the
pleasure of knowing God and being known by God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But we also look to Holy Week and see Jesus’ good pleasure in being
led to the cross amid the pain and suffering promised to Adam and Eve from
their original sin, and all the sins that followed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right the way to today to the deceptions of
your pleasures within, and all those around you tempting you because you are
without!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We look to Jesus’ death, burial, and descent into hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where, having been pierced by the sword on
the cross, water and blood flowed from his flesh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where, in the grave, air did not take effect
on Jesus’ flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, where in hell,
fire was not fatal for the Son of Man, the Son of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We look to Easter Sunday, to the resurrection of Jesus from the grave,
trusting that it is the Father’s, the Son’s, and the Holy Spirit’s good
pleasure, to work their holiness for you in the events of Holy Week, and
Easter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We also look forward from Ash Wednesday to the day of our death, to
our burial or cremation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hearing the
fulfilment of God’s word, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you are dust,
and to dust you shall return”!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
we remember our sin!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sins we have
done, and the sins from which we struggle to be undone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see our being, in need of renewal and
resurrection, our mortality in need of immortality!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God calls us to look beneath the temporary decaying clothing God gave
Adam and Eve to cover their sinfulness, saying, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“‘Yet even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and rend your hearts and not your garments.’ Return to the LORD your
God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast
love; and he relents over disaster.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Joel 2:12–13 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">During Lent some find it healthy to forgo some of the pleasures of
this life to focus on the pleasures of God and what was done to save us from
the decay caused by our pleasures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is a rendering of one’s heart, through fasting, hearing God’s word, and
meditating on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Going without in the forty days of Lent, leads one to be tested, and
having been tested, produces repentance, as one quickly sees in our failures,
Jesus’ being tested for forty days without sin. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ash Wednesday calls us to see Jesus raised from the dead, victorious
over sin, death, and the devil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Jesus
we see flesh without failure, without fatigue, and our flesh in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see our mortality made immortal through
Jesus’ pleasure to fulfil our Father’s will!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Ash Wednesday we see the only way is Jesus’ way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In him the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to
pleasure’s temptation of good and evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This leads us to turn back to God our Father in repentance and
thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ash Wednesday helps us to remember and return to the Lord our God, for
he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, our Father in heaven
promises to relent and repent over all your evils! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></p><p></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-31027062317094720142024-02-08T21:01:00.003+10:002024-02-08T21:04:49.241+10:00B, The Transfiguration of our Lord - 2 Corinthians 4:3–6 "A Transfigured View"<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 Corinthians 4:3–6 (ESV)
<i>And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are
perishing. In their case the god of this
world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the
light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but
Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of
darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.</i></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Standing on top of a mountain, on a beautiful day, one can
feel invigorated by what they can see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One may have laboured to get to the top, making the view all the more sweeter
looking down from where they’ve come. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
even those who ascend by an easier mode of transport are no less stimulated by
what the top of the mountain reveals. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Travelling up the mountain on foot or by vehicle, both
experience a veil of types getting to the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Walkers walk with heads down stepping over rocks, cracks, and bush,
trying not to fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving up a
mountain one keeps their eyes on the road as the shrouding canopy of trees
keeps the twisting road hidden as it winds its way up the mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way there’s an expectation there’ll be
visions of grandeur having arrived at the peak at where the view can be marvelled.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are three main mountains from where we see Jesus in
his ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mountain of
Transfiguration is the first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
speculation on what mountain the transfiguration occurred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For us the important thing is not what
mountain, but that it occurred on a mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The second mountain is the mountain of Calvary, where Jesus
was crucified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the last mountain is
the mountain from where Jesus ascended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The exact location of all three places is the focus of much conjecture,
and again for us the importance is not on where the mountains are, but what
happened on the three mountains and why it occurred.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mountains were places where God met with man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses received the Ten Commandments and other
parts of the Law on Mt. Sinai or Horeb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through
Elijah God overcame the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From
there Elijah fled to Horeb where God commissions him to anoint Elisha and promises
there are seven thousand, he will leave in Israel, who have not bowed to Baal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1 Kings 19:18)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also remember Noah’s Ark coming to rest on
the mountains of Ararat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mountains were understood as the pillars on which the
heavens stood. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A holy place for a
Heavenly God to meet with his human hosts on earth!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A place of sacrifice where people sought
God’s favour or angered God by sacrificing to false gods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mt. Carmel and the tradition of Baal worship
on mountains comes to mind again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think
about the mountain built on the plain at Babel to challenge God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also can remember God testing Abraham on
Mount Moriah when he is reprieved from sacrificing Isaac at the eleventh hour. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spectacular things happen on mountains, opening the eyes of
those there, regardless of the event being very good or very bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s no different at the three mountains of
the Gospel, there is much to see on these mountains! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter, James, and John were overcome with the brightness of
God the Son on the first mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
this mountain they saw but at the same time they were veiled too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not until after the second mountain
that the veil began to come off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then in
the fullness of time after Jesus’ resurrection and ten days after his ascension
from the third mountain was their veil fully removed at Pentecost.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not only is there much <u>to see <b>on</b></u> the three
mountains, but there is also much <u>to be seen <b>from</b></u> the mountains!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the mountain of Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John
saw but only for a moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet they did
not see what Jesus saw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While they were
looking at Jesus, Jesus was looking from the mountain at the whole of God’s
creation groaning under the weight of humanity’s sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was viewing all the kingdoms of the world and
their glory that Satan earlier had tempted him to covet, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when human hunger and fleshy desire tested him
in the wilderness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus looked out and saw another mountain!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He saw the mountain of Calvery on which the
cross would be raised, onto which Jesus would truly be stretched out in
sacrificial glory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Peter, James, and John, could not see this mountain, nor
could they understand that the Son of God was the Son of Man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nor did they know that to be the true and
faithful Son of Man, he would die on this mountain, serving and saving humanity,
in a seemingly evil event, from a truly evil event.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, the evil intentions humanity had for Christ on the
cross, God worked for our good on that Friday!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Blinded by sin and evil, we saw him put in the grave, but God had
greater intentions for Jesus’ innocent sufferings, death, and descent into
hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God raised him in glory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But back on the mountain of Transfiguration, the three
disciples did not see this glory, for they did not even understand the glory of
the Son of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could they have even
begun to perceive the glory of the Son of Man, dying, and being raised in
victory over sin and death?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All they
could do was, “listen to him” as the Heavenly Father had commanded them!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The veil under which humanity stood, only began to be
lifted, once the Holy Spirit came ten days after Jesus ascended from the third
mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At Pentecost, those formerly veiled were
turned, having had the Holy Spirit shine the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the beginning God first said, “Let there be light.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But sin’s darkness veiled the light of life,
and instead we saw only death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now by
the Holy Spirit the veil is removed and “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God…
has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.</i>” (2 Corinthians 4:6b ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At first the three disciples were veiled, then in the
fullness of time, having been sent as Apostles in the power of the Holy Spirit,
their eyes were unveiled and turned having received the light of knowledge. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now they could see as Jesus saw from the
mountains of Transfiguration, Calvary, and Ascension.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You too now bear the light of God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mountain on which you see the spectacular
view is the mountain of God’s Word, having been given the Holy Spirit, when you
were baptised into Jesus’ death and resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are a light for Jesus Christ, fully
unveiled to shine Jesus into the darkness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You shine the Light of Light, the very God of
very God! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are a light of the Holy
Spirit, the giver of life, to illuminate the Light of Life, Jesus Christ!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We, having had the Word of Life shone in our hearts, not
only have a glimpse of the transfigured glory that God promises for us
eternally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We now stand on the mountain
of God’s Word with transfigured faith and see as Jesus sees, just as the
Apostles saw with the eyes of Holy Spirited faith after Pentecost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just as Jesus served, we too can serve bearing the image of
God, for we bear the image of his resurrected Son!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our knowledge is one of Law and Gospel, death
and resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whether the mountain ascent is simple and easy or it’s
difficult and dangerous, the view from the top is resurrection glory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As Jesus leads you up the mountain, there will be times
when the going is good and times when it’s downright tough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep in mind the transfiguration of Jesus
Christ as he looked out from the mountain of Transfiguration!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He set his sights on the hardships of death
on the mountain of death, but endured it, seeing the joy of resurrection victory
and the heavenly mountain of ascension glory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We too live in the knowledge of the all-encompassing power
of God the Holy Spirit who sustained and raised Jesus’ flesh, will also sustain,
and raise us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Therefore we, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">always
carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be
manifested in our bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For we who
live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of
Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh</i>.” (2 Corinthians 4:10–11
ESV)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, like Paul, who is given over to death, for the life of
the Corinthians in Jesus Christ, we too, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do
not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being
renewed day by day.</i>” (2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul says, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Since we
have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed,
and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus
will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Corinthians 4:13–14 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The vision we see from the top of the mountain is our
resurrection and eternal transfiguration with Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit unveils the way of Jesus
through the valley of the shadow of death into the glorious cleansing day of
the cross and our resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-91598864520860537482024-02-01T21:05:00.007+10:002024-02-23T20:39:42.282+10:00B, The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany - Psalm 147:1, 11, 20c God Pleasing Praise"<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OOGlRxyOVJ4" width="720" youtube-src-id="OOGlRxyOVJ4"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">Praise the Lord. How
good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise
him! The Lord delights in those who fear
him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Praise the Lord.</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (Ps 147:1, 11, 20c)</span></span><p></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we praise God, we do it in either of two ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We praise him in prayer – thanksgiving
prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or we praise him in song or
hymnody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But why do we praise God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the purpose of praise?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does singing songs or hymns of praise
do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we need to praise God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And how do we praise God in prayer and song –
is there a way of wisdom, a proper process for praising our Lord?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the Psalms God gives us his words of praise and
lament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, if God gives us praises and
laments in his Word, then it is right to give him thanks and praise, and also
to lament and express our grief before him too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But why; what purpose does it serve?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In many of the praise Psalms the opening line reads “Praise
the Lord”, or “Hallelujah”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
openings are the same thing, one is in English, and the other is the original
Hebrew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s interesting to note that
Hallelujah is a contraction of two words, Hallelu and Yah, short for
Yahweh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelu means to shine or
radiate, and even to boast or brag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
so to Praise the Lord, hallelujah, we are called to shine or radiate God, to
boast or brag of the Lord. But the question still remains, “Why; what purpose does
it serve?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One must also be specifically clear when discussing praise;
that we are not just speaking about singing praises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praises are sung in song and hymnody, but, in
the context of praise’s meaning “to shine”, praises can happen just as easily
through being spoken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, the
praise of God goes right back through the history of humanity’s response to
God, but singing of praises became a regular response only in the days of King
David.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm 147 falls in amongst the last of the Psalms, of which
are all praise Psalms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book of
Psalms finishes with a crescendo of praise for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Psalm 144 we hear God is praised for being
King David’s rock in battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Psalm
145 David goes on to lift up the name of the Lord in praise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David praises God with the Word of God
inspired within him by the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>David receives the Word of God, the Son of God, yet to be born as “the
Word made Flesh”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David in the stead of
Jesus Christ leads the congregation in this climax of praise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Psalm 146 the repetition of praise,
hallelujahs, becomes common right to the end in Psalm 150.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In verse one of Psalm 147 the psalmist begins, Praise the
Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to
praise him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is it good, and
pleasant, and fitting to praise God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
all depends on the source and content of the praise!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the most astounding things to occur in the bible is
that in God’s calling us to response to his Word, he also gives us his Word as
response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Psalms are a book of
responses written by men, inspired by God the Son, for us to respond to our
Father in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And even more amazing
than the Psalms of praise are the Psalms of lament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gives humanity a vent to spew out our
anger, grief, and even out hatred towards those who refuse to submit to his
authority and the authority of his Word.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First, it’s fitting, pleasant, and good to praise God,
because he gives us praises in his Word to do just that — praise him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus praises the Father, and likewise we too
praise him, as we are carried along by the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are caused to obey him and honour him, and
his Word, when we praise him with his Word.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But then notice in many of the Psalms the community context
of praise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When King David introduced
the use of Psalms in the temple worship, the Psalms functioned as responses to
the reading of the Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, it was
David’s job as king to lead the congregation in response to the priest’s
reading of the Torah – the Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
why the 150 Psalms are broken into five books (Ps 1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106;
107-150) so they parallel the five books of the Law (Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God calls us to praise him in this community context for a
very important reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we praise
God, we join with Jesus Christ, a greater king than David, to declare who God
is and what he has done for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
praising of God with his Word not only radiates and shines glory back to God,
but in the community, we radiate the Triune God’s glory upon each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so, the second reason we sing praises in
worship response is to teach each other about God’s work and mercy, and to
admonish, or warn, each other with the Word of God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is best explained by Saint Paul in his letter to the
Ephesians where he says… <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[E]<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">verything exposed
by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible.
This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ
will shine on you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be very careful,
then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every
opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but
understand what the Lord’s will is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the
Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speak to one another with
psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sing
and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the
Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Submit to one another out of reverence for
Christ.”</i> (Eph 5:13-21)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, when we sing
praises, we submit to each other out of respect for Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We allow ourselves to be vessels through whom
God works to wake each other up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ
shines on those to whom we sing praises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, Paul tells us to be filled with the Holy Spirit
rather than to get drunk on wine or other types of spirits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Singing praises from God’s Word, especially
in declaration of the gospel, promises sober, orderly, and wise worship and it
makes the most of every opportunity for us to hold each other up before
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Praising God does not make us delirious to the realities
around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t encourage us to
become debauched in the things of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And nor is its function to build up God for God’s own sake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s divinity does not depend on how much we
build him up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, people’s
salvation is dependent on them hearing God’s Word in all its truth and purity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Therefore, all of us must be careful not to stray from the
truth of God’s Word to sing praises that only serve to make us feel good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who then is the praise for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When praises are reduced to a feel-good
mantra God is not glorified or taught, but rather the praise singer is
glorified as they teach others about what they swear they will do for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After all, the psalmist declares… <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">[God’s] pleasure is
not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the
Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in <u>his</u> unfailing
love.</i> (Ps 147:10-11)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul also says to the Colossians… <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do not lie to each
other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put
on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its
Creator.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Col 3:9-10)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bear with each other
and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as
the Lord forgave you.</i> (Col 3:13)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Let the peace of
Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to
peace. And be thankful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all
wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in
your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.</i>
(Col 3:15-17)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the church today, the saddest sight amongst the
priesthood of believers is when people sing songs deemed as praise songs where
they promise to God what they are going to do and then fail to do it once they
return to the normality of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whipped
into a frenzy they hide their sin and swear oaths before God, but on Monday
having realised they cannot keep their oaths they’re crushed by their
unfaithfulness and unforgiven sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, praising God is meant to shine God’s light of
mercy and forgiveness, to dismiss the darkness, rather than creating by-polar
Christians, who are high one day and depressed the next.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rather the praises Paul and all others in Scripture
encourage us to sing builds <b>up</b> Jesus Christ <b>in others</b>, exposing
the necessity of grace over sin, increasing faith, and giving a real sense of
God’s peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">True Christ-centred praise unifies all of us as one in
Christ enabling us to do God’s will on earth and forgive each other as the Lord
has forgiven us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Praising God then is not only something we sing, say, or
pray on Sunday, but it becomes deed as we reflect and shine the mercy of
Almighty God on those we meet in the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amen.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-8296428359568060862024-01-25T20:51:00.005+10:002024-02-07T21:14:19.652+10:00B, The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany - 1 Corinthians 1b-3 "A Conscience Known by God"<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9Ux9u8gbbiY" width="720" youtube-src-id="9Ux9u8gbbiY"></iframe></div><p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">To see, to know, and to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul encourages the Corinthians to use their
knowledge in a right way that upholds the person whose conscience is weak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use your God-given faith in a way, that
encourages those who are weak, to have their consciences strengthened by God
alone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Paul teaches the hearer about the direction of
knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul says, “…we <b>know</b>
that ‘all of us possess <b>know</b>ledge.’ This ‘<b>know</b>ledge' puffs up,
but love builds up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone imagines
that he <b>knows</b> something, he does not yet <b>know</b> as he ought to <b>know</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if anyone loves God, he is <b>known</b>
by God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<a name="_Hlk157102049">1
Corinthians 8:1b–3 ESV</a>)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">To see, one is known by God, is to know that God knows the
whole truth of who we are, and not just the half-truths we want others to
see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the faith to which God
calls his church on earth, through Paul’s letter to the Corinthians!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a change of direction that sees
knowledge, as not what we know, but that we are known by God!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">For those who wish truly to be Christian in belief and
practice, the organ of faith is the ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>True God given faith is nurtured when one hears the Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to our immediate glory, but, to God’s
glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is how followers of Christ,
see, know, and love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">We see, know, and love, trusting that the bible is the Word
of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, truly believing, one allows
the Holy Spirit to lead one to works that, glorify God, and love our neighbour,
which encourages them to glorify God too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Moved by the Holy Spirit, this is what Paul teaches the
Corinthians about eating food offered to idols.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God schools the Corinthian believers to look outwardly in what they do,
so the weak are not led into sinning with their conscience. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Those who are weak, are the weak in faith, new Christians,
and those unbelievers before whom the Christian faith is lived, in the hope of
winning them for Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who are
weak, are weak because they have not one organ of faith, but many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ear, the eyes, sensations, feelings,
touch, and taste, all contribute to one’s heart, and therefore, the collective
tastes and feelings of the community’s conscience. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">The difference between a believer’s conscience and an
unbeliever’s conscience is that being known by God, the flow of knowledge is
reversed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our knowledge brings a
knowledge of our weakness that leads to repentance, receptive forgiveness, and
joyful service, rather than a knowledge that puffs up!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Because the Christian Church lives in the world, we
continue to struggle with the knowledge to love our neighbour, and please
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This comes about, by what the world
teaches us about knowledge, and how we allow a worldly understanding of
knowledge to be impressed on God’s church.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">We need to know what the conscience is!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">There is both the conscience of an individual and then
there is the conscience of a community, or a collective conscience.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">The conscience of an individual is moulded by a group’s
conscience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conscience comes from a
Latin word that means, “being privy to knowing”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a conscience is having “shared
knowledge” or “knowing together”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">For a worldly knowledge or conscience, one sees and
experiences what is going on around them and it becomes the norm, and then it’s
expected to be common practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When one
works with a worldly conscience one survey’s the self, fashioned by their
experiences and emotions, and then their conscience places faith within what
one hears from there heart!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heart
becomes conformed to the world, to keep in step with the shared experiences of
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">With our hearts driven by the world and its opinions, the
church is oppressed, when we seek to impress, or allow, a worldly conscience to
steer God’s church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The direction of the
conscience is turned about face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
result, our knowledge of good and evil is gleaned from the world and driven by
the feelings of the heart, rather than God and his Word having singular
authority.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">The bible, God’s written Word, becomes a book that just
“contains” words about God, rather than “being” the holy and inspired Word of
God, written down by faithful servants of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With worldly suspicions then one can pick and choose what one wants to
take from God’s Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parts can be
rejected because, those who wrote it were working with an alternative
agenda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, one then can stand in
judgement over God’s Word, rather than remain under and in submission to it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">So called believers, no longer believe the Word of
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But believes what the heart feels
about the Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowledge is not
being known by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But becomes puffed
up in protecting what one thinks is God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Dear friends in Christ, when we do this, we stand naked
before God, with an idol of God in our hearts. This idol is an image of the
heart that imagines that we know something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The idols of our imaginations tell us plainly that we do not yet know as
we ought to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This faith is not from
the Holy Spirit but from the imaginations of our human spirit, without the
grace of God in Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This faith
covers what is truly known by God, our sin!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">The Old Testament word for conscience is heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A heart pleasing to God is that which sees
with the ear!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, one’s heartfelt
feelings that misplace having a true heart for God, is a common teaching we’re
called to hear in God’s Word as sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Jesus says, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For from
within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft,
murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander,
pride, foolishness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these evil
things come from within, and they defile a person.</i>” (Mark 7:21–23 ESV)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">The first mention of man’s heart is recorded in Genesis
chapter six, causing God to send the flood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The LORD saw that
the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the
thoughts of his <b>heart </b>was only evil continually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the LORD regretted that he had made man
on the earth, and it grieved him to his <b>heart</b>.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Genesis 6:5–6 ESV)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">When we become conscience bound by anything other than God
and his Word, it grieves God to his heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Jesus pleases God the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does not turn away from following the
Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, he is set apart as
holy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his holiness, he became like
you, without doing what you do, to set you apart from the evil intentions and
thoughts of your heart, that is your nature and its sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By his holiness he continually prays before
our Father in heaven and sends the Holy Spirit to make you holy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Jesus came to cleanse you and me from the unholiness of our
hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus seeks to cleanse your
spirit from the common corruption that the Law of God reveals in the heart, but
that the world feels and says is okay.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Humanity’s sinful nature, from Adam and Eve, throughout the
ages, to the end of time, seeks to reject the Word of God, outrightly, as a
lie!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even within the church it’s in our
nature, to water down God’s Word to the point where we, with the world, are
tempted to regard the Word of God as a lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With the world, our hearts become deceived in a shared knowledge, that
evil is good and good is evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Humanity’s collective conscience of the “good and evil” lie, replaces
the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Isaiah warned the priests and the people of Jerusalem, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Woe to those who call evil good and good
evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for
sweet and sweet for bitter!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Woe to those
who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Isaiah 5:20–21 ESV)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">This same puffed-up worldly conscience continues to deceive
pastors and people in the church today!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many are shamed by the truth of God’s Word and have turned to idols of
God in their hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The love of God is
exchanged for an image, a contrary imaginary puffed-up love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">This love is a lie!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s love that’s opposite to a love of being known by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a love that hinders the Holy Spirit,
making us unable to serve our neighbour, like Christ serves us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Instead of hearing God in his Word, a worldly heart seeks
the word within one’s conscience, deflating one’s knowledge of the power and
holiness of God’s word within themselves.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">However, knowing we are known by God; we stand accused by
his holy Word of the Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know, if we
stand before God with a knowledge of good and evil based on the conscience of
the world, we stand before God, calling what is written in his Word, a
lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Knowing that God knows our knowledge of good and evil is a
lie, the Holy Spirit unites us with Jesus Christ, so we know Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know, he knows us, died for us, and now
intercedes for us before our Father in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Jesus Christ, the Son of God, pleases God our Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit pleases God our Father and
God the Son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We please God our Father
when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into God’s Word, to cleanse us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We please God our Father when our hearts
hear, receive, and believe Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We please God our Father when we hear the Word of God, and not what’s
within our sinful hearts or within the ways of the world.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Being a Christian requires that we are in the world and not
a part of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus sets you
apart from the world, so being known by God, you can love your neighbour in the
world. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Let us pray.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;">Change my heart, O God, make it ever true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Change our hearts, O God; may we be like
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are the potter; we are the
clay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mould us and make us to be set
apart as servants like Jesus your Son, in this we pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</p><p></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-9163178677294018132024-01-23T16:46:00.008+10:002024-01-23T16:47:29.121+10:00B, The Third Sunday after the Epiphany - Mark 1:15 & Psalm 62:5-12 "Standing under Jesus"<p style="text-align: justify;"><a name="_Hlk156547863"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Understanding Jesus Christ, in its
simplicity, is simply standing under Jesus. </span></a></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Understanding
Jesus is so straight forward, a child or an adult can stand under him, the poor
or the wealthy can stand under him, a new convert can stand under him, and so
too can a mature believer on their death bed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why then do we
struggle to understand Jesus?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it
because when one seeks to stand out from under him, that the outstanding person
has little to no understanding of Jesus Christ?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From where does
one get an understanding of Jesus?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
gets it from standing under Jesus’ Word!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Standing under
Jesus can only occur when the fullness of the Good News comes to us, causing
one to repent and believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Therefore, we
trust!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe and receive the Holy
Spirit, moving us to confession, bringing us to Jesus’ power over sin and death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Standing under
Jesus, we need the Holy Spirit, so we are willed into God’s Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know this by how difficult we can find
it to engage ourselves in God’s Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you seek to
read the bible, notice how easily you’re distracted by other tasks that always
seem to pop up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before you realise it,
the bible is not opened, the dust settles, and weeks pass by!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The devil then works on the spirit of the sinful
self and guilt drives you further away from receiving the Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, standing under Jesus’ Word,
requires the full help of the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When one is
starved of God’s Word, every other word floods in, to fill the void.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word of the human spirit within, is led
by the words of the world, so one becomes use to being without the Word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the
struggle all face who seek to stand under Jesus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our old nature would rather us forget and lose
interest in prayer and praying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Confessing
one’s sin, hearing God’s Word preached, and practicing the faith in a God
pleasing way, becomes detached and dysfunctional!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The busyness of life quickly takes over and
the spirit within becomes comfortable with the status quo.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Standing under
Jesus requires faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith does not
come from understanding, but rather, the other way around, understanding comes
from faith, and faith sees one standing under what we allow our ears to hear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;">As Paul says to
the Romans, “</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How then will they
call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him
of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone
preaching?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And how are they to preach
unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those
who preach the good news!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>…So faith
comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.</i>” (Romans 10:13–15,
17 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus understands
that standing under him, requires us to be put in a position of hearing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just any word, but the Word of Jesus
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God the Father, together with
God the Son, know this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why we
receive the Holy Spirit when we hear the Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He leads us to the Father through the Word
made Flesh, Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’ spoken word
drew an immediate response from Simon, and Andrew, James, and John.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much so, they left their families and
Galilean fishing boats and followed Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Through Jesus’ word the fishermen became his disciples and followed him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are discipled
by Jesus and grow in our understanding of Jesus, when we stand under his written
Word, just as those of his disciples, who remained under his word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All, with the exception of Judas Iscariot,
and that didn’t end well for him!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To get a greater
understanding of Jesus Christ you are called to stand under his written Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Standing under it allows the Holy Spirit to
work faith in the Word within you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Holy Spirit continually points us back to Jesus’ way, the truth of Jesus’ Word,
and his life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are in the
season of Epiphany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In it we hear that
Jesus is proclaimed as the Son of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the New Testament, Jesus is declared as the Son of God, some
forty-three times. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of these, it’s
recorded only four times in the Gospel of John, where Jesus refers to himself
as the Son of God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;">Jesus is the Son
of God, but as Paul tells us in Philippians, “</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">though he was in the form
of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but emptied himself, by taking the form of a
servant, being born in the likeness of men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death, even death on a cross.</i>” (Philippians 2:6–8 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus put aside
his standing as the Son of God and stood under God the Father, and indeed stood
under all of humanity as the Son of Man. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He served you, and still does, in human flesh!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Standing under the
Father, Jesus Christ demonstrated great faithfulness towards the Father and all
who trust in him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His understanding or
nature was such, he put aside his self-assurance in his <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>divinity, and lived in the weakness of the flesh,
allowing himself to be guided perfectly by the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Jesus, the
Word made flesh, went away to pray, he prayed his Word, the Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Psalms are Jesus’ Words of prayer, given
and written down years before he was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we stand
under the Psalms as an anthology of Jesus’ intimate prayers, our faith is
encouraged by the depth of his faithfulness to God the Father. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He allows his servanthood to stand, not on his
Godliness! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But rather, is led by the
work of the Holy Spirit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, the
Psalms give a very personal insight into Jesus’ life as he submits to the will
of God the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the same way,
when we stand under the Psalms, the Holy Spirit increases our understanding of
the perfect relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Standing under God’s Word of the Psalms will
increase faith! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we allow the Holy
Spirit to lead us just as Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus was led by
the Spirit to do the will of the Father, having put aside his heavenly divinity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As faith grows within us, we are led to do
the will of the Father, when we put aside our human spirit’s self-assurance and
desire for ill-gotten selfish divinity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Faith allows us to surrender and lets the Holy Spirit point us to God
the Father and God the Son.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To understand
Jesus’ life, understanding the Word of Jesus’ prayers written in Psalms is as
simple as standing under the word by questioning; who is speaking, who is the
speaker addressing, and who is the speaker speaking about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is a singular person speaking or
listening?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or is it a group of people,
usually Israel represented by those gathered in the temple?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We get
understanding of the Psalms and can stand under the Word of the Psalms when we realise,
how we, as individuals, or, as a heavenly congregation, are grafted into Words
of the Psalm by Jesus himself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Into
Jesus either, as the only Son of God, or, as the head of his body, the new
Israel, the church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm sixty-two
demonstrates the perfection of the Triune relationship, and the faithfulness of
God’s perfection into which we are grafted by Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Psalm 62:5-12)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here, the speaker
is speaking about our Father in heaven to the hearer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He only is my rock and my salvation, my
fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my
mighty rock, my refuge is God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The speaker hear
is King David having been given these words from the Word made flesh, the King
of kings, Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, Jesus is the real
speaker of these words having inspired King David by the Holy Spirit to write
them down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the Holy Spirit, it’s
Jesus who confesses and knows God the Father is his rock, salvation, and
fortress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He trusts God despite the
weakness of his flesh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Trust in him at all times, O people; pour
out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Those of low estate are but
a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they
are together lighter than a breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus trusted in
God our Father at all times on earth, and he calls us to do so too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus our King calls us to pour our hearts
out to our Father in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus, the
Son of God, put aside his divinity and gave up his human spirit on the cross. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is a refuge for us because Jesus is our
Good News. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus did this for
Israel; he is the New Israel, into which we have been grafted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When weighed up, next to Jesus’ perfection in
the flesh and sacrificial suffering as the Lamb of God, our human haughtiness
and lowliness are as long lasting as a warm breath on a cold morning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes
on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Israel failed in
the wilderness for forty years, then continued in failure right the way through
to Jesus’ revelation as the Son of God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly,
we fail time and time again in our lives too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus, the new Israel, did not fail having
been tempted by the devil in the wilderness for forty days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus calls us to trust in his work, rather
than our lifetime of fruitless works, vain expectations, or earthly riches!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once God has spoken; twice have I heard
this: that power belongs to God,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For you will render to a man according to his
work.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alone Jesus hears
only God speak. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, we hear him proclaim
two things he hears and abides by about our Heavenly Father. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That power and steadfast love belong to God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We know from the
gospel; God the Father rendered the man Jesus according to his work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know; the Holy Spirit led Jesus to finish
his work of suffering and death and was then raised to life by the Holy Spirit
having completed this work for our sake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holy Spirit
works faith within us to trust the power of God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We become willing recipients of his steadfast
love made complete, for us, and in us, by the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit creates and maintains our faith
in God’s promises, in his Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God the
Father renders or completes our salvation when we believe the work of his Son
Jesus Christ, hearing by the power of the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156547863;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we stand
under Jesus and his Word, we allow the Holy Spirit to foster faith within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we understand, standing in daily
repentance and belief, is standing under Jesus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trusting the gospel or good news of our
salvation is knowing the kingdom of God is ours eternally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen. </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-14480068482339445942024-01-11T23:06:00.005+10:002024-01-23T19:41:26.658+10:00B, The Second Sunday after the Epiphany - 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 "Pleasure"<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uiFfe1vaiRU" width="720" youtube-src-id="uiFfe1vaiRU"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 Corinthians 6:12–20 (ESV) “All things are lawful for me,”
but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not
be dominated by anything. “Food is meant
for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the
other. The body is not meant for sexual
immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise
us up by his power. Do you not know that
your bodies are members of Christ? Shall
I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one
body with her? For, as it is written,
“The two will become one flesh.” But he
who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside
the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple
of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.</span><p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saint Paul tells his congregation in Corinth, “<i>All things are lawful for me,” but not all
things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated
by anything.</i>” (1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV)
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul will not be dominated by anything. He speaks about food, sexuality, then paints a
picture of one joined with a prostitute, breaking the union held with Christ, turning
the body from a temple of the Holy Spirit into a temple of sin against oneself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Corinth was a place of pleasure, and Paul goes to the heart
of the believer’s struggle in Corinth by confronting the common practise of
those inside and outside the church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The philosophy of the Greeks at that time, was a false dichotomy,
dividing the flesh from the spirit of a person.
The flesh was evil and must be escaped, and the spirit of a person was
good if only it could discharge the evils of the flesh. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From this came two extremes in thought, stoicism, and epicureanism.
Stoicism was a strict practice that
sought to live a good life to achieve a good spirit. Epicureanism, on the other hand, pursued
pleasure in all its perverseness. They believed
one could follow whatever aroused the desires of the flesh, knowing that at
death the good spirit would depart the evil flesh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put simply, these two extremes seek to please the self. But Paul does not separate flesh and spirit
and he points us to what pleases God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul reintroduces the oneness of a person as flesh and
spirit. When one seeks pleasure and
experiences pain, the human spirit and one’s flesh are both affected by the
pursuit of pleasure as well as the experience of pain. Therefore,
all people need the holiness of the Holy Spirit in their spirit, and the
perfecting of their flesh in Jesus Christ’s perfect flesh, crucified and raised
for the atonement of our whole person.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By Paul stating he will not be dominated, or be empowered
by anything, he asked the Corinthians, “what are you empowered by?” God asks the same question of you in this
text!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul goes straight to the Corinthians being dominated by prostitution. Why? Well,
Corinth was rife with hedonistic, pleasure-seeking prostitution. The general practise was a man had his wife
to bear children and manage his household, and at the same time had other sexual
partners for pleasure. Either, a mistress
or a catamite, a soft young homosexual partner.
This was occurring in the congregation at Corinth since he called them
not to practice this in his letter to them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But he points to prostitution for other reasons too! He says, “all things are lawful for me”. Literally in the Greek, all things are from
me, for me, but not all things are helpful.
Even though all things come out of him he will not be powered by anything,
from within himself or from outside of himself.
That is except God, “<i>who raised
the Lord </i>(Jesus Christ)<i> and will also
raise us up by his power.</i>” (1 Corinthians 6:14 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul appeals to the power of the Holy Spirit, over against
the power of one’s human spirit. Paul shuts
down the pleasure seekers by calling those “bought with a price”, to glorify
God in one’s body. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It might seem Paul is siding with the stoics, by pushing a
strict moralistic code, to do good. But
no, stoicism seeks to rid the spiritual self of flesh. Paul, on the other hand, proclaims the oneness
of the spirit and flesh, in the resurrection, and the Holy Spirit dwelling within
and sanctifying our human flesh, despite its corruption.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But what does this have to do with us? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of us appear to live good moral lives and some of us
know that our morals are far from good or have been good spirited. Some of us have had relationships with
prostitutes, and some of us have not.
But this text delves deeper into us, than just a moralistic check on, who
has, or who hasn’t, been with a prostitute.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although Paul appeals to the Corinthians to stop the
practice of pleasing oneself with prostitutes, he calls into question the
greater reality of what pleases God. Prostitution
is a relative part of his question to the Corinthians. But it’s also the overarching extreme of
prostitution’s damaging pleasure that demonstrates the full gamut of corrupted
pleasure, from the least to the greatest, within the family, the community, and
the kingdom of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul will not be dominated by anything but that which
glorifies God in his body, be it food, his stomach, or his sexuality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we understand prostitution as the negative complete extreme
of pleasure, all degrees of our pleasure seeking are called into question. Does it glorify God or not? Here again we can use the glory test on ourselves
to test our appetites of pleasure.
Knowing that God will destroy both stomach and food, what is fruitful
for your eternal life and what is not? What
is perishable and what is imperishable?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are the things your senses seek, benefiting you eternally
or not? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You may, or may not, struggle with prostitution. But many of us struggle with other pleasures
that do not please God or benefit us in the long run. These failed pleasures fall short in the
glory test, examined in the light of truth, God’s written Word. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s God’s good pleasure to make you a temple of the Holy
Spirit. It’s God’s good pleasure to lead
you from the lies of this world and the father of lies, the devil, into the unhidden
truth of his good impartial pleasure. It’s
God’s good pleasure to forgive all sin, from the least to the greatest!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Prostitution is one of the oldest professions in the world.
Adam and Eve prostituted themselves for their
own pleasure at Eden. There they exposed
their nakedness and sold themselves into the slavery of sin before God, for a corrupted
knowledge of good and evil.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The lie of your corrupted pleasure continues today. The reality of this lie is your suffering. People do not willingly seek pain, but everyone
experiences pain as a result of seeking pleasure. The pursuit of pleasure is the parent of all addictions,
lawful and unlawful. All suffering occurs
as a result of one seeking pleasure within the temple of the self. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, to what is it you prostitute yourself? What is your god and what diet do you need to
feed its addiction?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It might well be sexuality, prostitution, or pornography! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It might be gluttony of the
stomach, food, chocolate, sugar, or the gluttony of amassing wealth! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps its alcohol or another substance to stimulate the
temple tastes of your human desire. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is it excitement in gaming, sport, shopping, or risking
chance in the gambling arena that produces the feel-good hormones you need to live? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then again you might need to be popular, needing glory, the
pleasure of being prevalent in public, or the pleasure of being turned in on
oneself in private! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe it’s an addiction of control, a perverse pleasure in taking control of the biological
God-given self, control of others, an addiction of acquiring assets, controlling
other people’s stuff, or controlling the opinions of others by spreading gossip!
To have control by knowing good, knowing
evil, or knowing someone else’s business!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By far the worst addiction that’s flooding the world with mental
anguish and suffering is addiction to oneself in the reflection of a mobile
phone. It’s a device that serves all of
the hedonistic addictions listed above, promising pleasure but causing lifelong
pain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The mobile device together with all these other things allows
one to practice spiritual prostitution! All
expose us, showing we have sold ourselves into the slavery of our sin’s lie. The lie that promises pleasure and life
but produces suffering and death. We are
caught in the lie, naked, without the truth before God!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The truth is Jesus Christ!
To know and want the truth one needs to turn from oneself to Jesus
Christ. He is the only truth that
glorifies God the Father. The Holy Spirit
is the only true spirit builder, that builds us into the temple of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At the start of John’s Gospel, when Andrew and John
followed Jesus, Jesus turned and said to them, “<i>What are you seeking?</i>” Jesus was asking, “what do you want, what
are you coming to worship?” And they
replied, “<i>Where are you staying!</i>” Jesus said, “<i>Come and your will see.</i>” (John 1:38-39) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like Peter, at the end of John’s Gospel, Jesus askes you, “Do
you love me? Do you want me more than anything
else?” Do you want to come and see Jesus?
Is your greatest pleasure to please God?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God askes of you, “What do you want, what do you seek to
worship in your life?” Is it the pleasure
of God, the joy of Jesus Christ, and the holiness of the Holy Spirit? God wants us to come and see we can only love
God by letting him forgive our sin! This
is God’s good pleasure!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The truth is, God the Son totally assumed our humanity, spirit,
and flesh. In his being, both as, the
eternal Son of God, and, the resurrected suffering servant and Saviour of
humanity, it’s God the Father’s good pleasure to forgive those who are repentant
and are being united as one in his heavenly glory by the Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i>Therefore, …let us
also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run
with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the
joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
seated at the right hand of the throne of God.</i>” (Hebrews 12:1b–2 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now is time to “come out” as confessional Christians, personally
and publicly, one with Jesus Christ! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">May God grant us strength in the Holy Spirit, to not resist
his power when he raises up, you, and me, to do so! Amen. </span></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-74677850574465297712024-01-05T11:07:00.007+10:002024-01-12T20:55:38.534+10:00B, The Baptism of our Lord, Epiphany 1 - Acts 19:1-7 "Epiphany in Ephesus"<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pjETAEeD0Zg" width="720" youtube-src-id="pjETAEeD0Zg"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There were many things going on in the years leading up to Jesus’
incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension.</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For two to three hundred years within “Jerusalem Judaism”, murder,
scandals, power battles, and political jockeying for favourable positions were
occurring at a time when big social changes outside the temple were causing
much chaos and confusion in a Greco-Roman world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jews whom God had allowed to be exiled to the east, were now not
returning to Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, they
were spreading as diaspora throughout this new world and were seeking to come
to terms with paganism and the philosophical thoughts that abounded in the
Hellenisation of the Greco-Roman world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Years before, the Greek ruler, Alexander the Great, had annexed the
known world under his control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
kingdom spanned from India in the East to Europe in the west.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He became the father of Hellenisation, which
sought to integrate Persian and Greek culture, religion, philosophical
thinking, language, and identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
was the era in which the philosophical thoughts of Socrates, Plato, and the
like, spread throughout the Greco-Roman world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There were both positives and negatives for Jews in this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were allowed to practice the Jewish
faith, and at this time the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek by
seventy-two translators at Alexandria in North Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The translation is called Septuagint,
commonly referred to as the LXX, or seventy, for its numbers of
translators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a notable positive
for the mission of God the Father of the Jews amongst the Gentiles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the danger for Jewish faith was
monotheism was now challenged by a pantheon of polytheistic male and female
gods and ideologies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Into this Jesus was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John
the Baptist baptised Jews in the Jordan, preparing and refocusing the people of
God, for the fullness of time came for God to fulfill his promise to Israel,
made through the prophets of old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three
full years saw the completion of God’s covenant with humanity, and then the
work of the Holy Spirit continued in a new way, revealing Jesus Christ as “the
way of God” for both Jews and Gentiles in Greco-Roman society.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The way of God born of one man and his remaining eleven disciples, at
face value, was not going to survive, for all that long, amongst a hostile
Jewish culture, from which it came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nor
did anyone expect the “way of God” to survive the deluge of polytheistic gods
and ideologies competing for people’s attention in this diverse new world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But it did!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the power of God the Holy Spirit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus, the Son
of God, who put his divinity aside, and suffered on earth as did any other
person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he finished it without
sinning!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus allowed the Holy Spirit
to lead him in life and death, fulfilling God the Father’s will in the fullness
of time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit then raised
Jesus from the dead to the right hand of the Father at his ascension after the
resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the Holy Spirit would continue
revealing the ascended Christ to both Jews and Gentiles!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The spread of the Gospel through the way of God was helped by what God
allowed to occur in the dispersion of Jews in the four hundred years since the
exile to Babylon before Jesus’ coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jews are notable traders, and they were found along the trade routes of
Asia Minor (modern Turkey) in the Roman Empire, that had grown and won out over
all former empires.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ephesus, once a seaport, was one of these trading places enroute to
somewhere else!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But not only were goods
traded, many ideas and philosophies were exchanged and intertwined along these
routes that passed from the Far East to Rome and onto Western Europe. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Artemis was a female goddess in Asia Minor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world worshipped her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Acts 19:27) Ephesus housed her temple and
the town relied on Artemis for its honour, as well as trade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To the Greeks she was known as Artemis, to the Romans, this same
goddess is known as Diana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might
consider her as a Mother Nature cult, since she was the patron goddess of
nature, hunters, wildlife, and childbirth, to name a few.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The way of God, the Gospel, first came to the Jews at Ephesus, as Paul
briefly passed through its port and synagogue on his way to Caesarea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was his second missionary journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Acts 18: 18-21)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next came a man named Apollos, a Jew from Alexandria in North
Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being from this town named after
Alexander the Great, and encouraged as a centre of academia, diversity of
thought, and culture, Apollos was well equipped in the art of rhetoric and
debate, and was competent in the Old Testament Scriptures, most likely the
Greek Septuagint.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After Paul’s first visit, Apollos made a stand for Jesus Christ in the
synagogue in Ephesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Priscilla
and Aquila, known tentmakers and acquaintances of Paul, having heard him, took
him aside and explained the way of God more accurately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there Apollos moves onto what we would
know as Greece today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Acts 18:24-28)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After these two encounters some of the Jews begin to believe in the
way of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They know of Jesus Christ
but not of the power of God through the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hear what happens from Acts chapter
nineteen… <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul said to the disciples in Ephesus, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No,
we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he said, “Into what then were you
baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling
the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is,
Jesus.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On hearing this, they were baptized
in the name of the Lord Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when
Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began
speaking in tongues and prophesying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were about twelve men in all.</i>” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Acts 19:2–7 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Apollos, like John the Baptist brought a baptism of repentance,
preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now Paul, in the fullness of time, brings
Jesus Christ with the power of the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Water and the Law came through Apollos, then through Paul the Holy
Spirit brought the fullness of the Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just as Jesus has called twelve into service during his ministry on
earth, God did the same through Paul’s laying on of hands at Ephesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul remained in Ephesus for about three years on his third missionary
journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Acts 20:31) For the first
three months he boldly persuaded them about the kingdom of God in the synagogue
(Acts 19:8), but then moved to the hall of Tyrannus, where for the next two
years, he continued to preach and teach, not only the Jews, but the Gentiles as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holy Spirit gave Paul extraordinary healing powers while in
Ephesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sons of Sceva, sons of a
Jewish High Priest, sought to copy Paul with their own exorcisms, but were
overcome by the evil spirits they were trying to exorcize, because they sort to
do it by their own power, without the power of the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here stands a warning to anyone who seeks to
work apart from the Holy Spirit, through their own human spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So extraordinary was the event, the Sons of Sceva, were wounded and
fled the house naked, bringing a sense of awe upon all at Ephesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much so, a greater depth of reverence for
Jesus Christ was fostered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
believers came confessing and divulging their practices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Such was the faith generated by the Holy Spirit in this event, they made
public what they were doing, rather than chance being cut off from the power of
God, by continuing in their hidden deeds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nearing the end of three years, as the Holy Spirit grew the way of God
through Paul and the gathering in Ephesus, some became concerned their
livelihoods were being diminished as more and more worshippers of Artemis
became believers in the way of God through Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was much chaos and controversy in
Ephesus, so much so, Paul’s fellow believers would not let Paul speak to the
mob for fear of what might happen to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, Paul left after being in Ephesus for just under three years, to
continue his third missionary journey in Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On his way back to Jerusalem from Greece, Paul stopped in Miletus, to
the south of Ephesus in Asia Minor and called the elders of Ephesus to
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul teaches the elders in the wake
of what had occurred earlier in Ephesus, and by what power he did it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He says, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You yourselves know
how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in
Asia,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>serving the Lord with all humility
and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>how I did not shrink from declaring to you
anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to
house,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>testifying both to Jews and to
Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem,
constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except
that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and
afflictions await me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I do not
account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my
course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the
gospel of the grace of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>…for I did
not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pay careful attention to yourselves and to
all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the
church of God, which he obtained with his own blood</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Acts 20:18–24, 27b-28 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul knows these overseers at Ephesus will be attacked by those
seeking to subvert the way of God to the ways of men. (Acts 20:29-32) In fact,
Paul was so gifted with discernment in the Holy Spirit, the ministry to Ephesus
continues to them through his epistle to them (the book of Ephesians) and in
his encouragement for Timothy to remain at Ephesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Paul’s first and second letters to Timothy) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul’s letters to Ephesus and Saint Timothy, give us great insight
into the congregation and the pastoral care of it in the face of pagan and
Jewish persecution of the way of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Through Paul, the Holy Spirit leads the church in this era of
transformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the pendulum of
change swings, Paul seeks to keep the centrality of the cross before the people
of Ephesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul places the fulfilment of God’s fatherhood in Jesus Christ before
the Ephesian congregation, which is caught between, the fatherhood through
circumcision in the Law and its extreme opposite uncircumcised fatherless chaos
and corruption.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Through Paul and Timothy, the Holy Spirit seeks to put the brakes on
the pendulum swing from Judaism to pagan chaos and disorder in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does this by encouraging faith in the
complementarian order within the church, as God had originally ordained in
creation and then corrected and restored in Jesus Christ at the cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is done in the face of “new woman”
Artemis cultic worship in Ephesus, which is not unlike the mother earth and
egalitarian imbalances pushed in our society today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention, the Artemis magic
similarities with the powers and principalities of the occult. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">During 2024, as the LCANZ considers the expectations put before us in
the last Synod, we will do well to further investigate and listen to the work
of the Holy Spirit in Ephesus in the book of Acts and through Paul’s letters to
the Ephesian congregation and Timothy it’s young pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know and do this trusting the Holy Spirit
will keep us in Christ Jesus so like Paul amongst the Ephesians we can be
faithfully <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">testifying both to Jews and to
Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</i></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></p><div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<div style="border: none; line-height: 9pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Further reading: </span></i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Acts 18:24-20:1, 17-38</span><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">, Paul’s letter to the </span></i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Ephesians</span><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">, and </span></i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">letters
First and Second Timothy,</span><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> the pastor at Ephesus when Paul wrote to him. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</div><p></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-66784092219950245502023-12-29T10:48:00.010+10:002024-01-08T10:33:18.004+10:00B, Christmas 1, New Year's Eve - 1 Peter 1:22-25 "The Word of God"<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; text-align: justify;"></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cnnyDRx5hik" width="720" youtube-src-id="cnnyDRx5hik"></iframe></span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">1 Peter
1:22–25 (ESV) </span></b><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-no-proof: yes;">Having purified your
souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one
another earnestly from a pure heart,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of
imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for “All flesh is like grass and all its
glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but
the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was
preached to you.</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
2023 the Lord God has given, and the Lord God has taken away, blessed be the
name of the Lord (Job 1:21)! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever
it is he has given you in 2023, he has given so you look to him and give
thanks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever it is he has taken from
you, he has taken from you, so you turn and learn to trust in him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
2023 God has given you, his Word!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
Word is given, and the Holy Spirit has moved in you with his Word, to
discipline and disciple you, so you abide and remain living with Jesus, the
Word made Flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If
you have been faithful to God’s Word, the Holy Spirit brings comfort through
the forgiveness of your sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have
fought against being brought to repentance in the Word of God, or you have
failed to hear the Word through disobedience, or have used God’s Word to your
own glory, the Holy Spirit will let you suffer, to save you and return you to
God’s Word, and his one true church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It
is the Holy Spirit’s job to call and gather you, enlighten you in the Word of
God, and make you holy by keeping you united with Jesus Christ in the one true
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Push against the Holy Spirit from
bringing you to Jesus Christ, and you place yourself on sinking sand, and in
grave danger of sinning against the giver of faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God
wants what’s good for you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants to
work his goodness for your good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Holy Spirit has been sent from God the Father, and God the Son, to bring you to
our Father through the Son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy
Spirit does this work by gently walking beside us, like a friend walking with
his arm around our shoulder, comforting us as he moves us to the safety of the
cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But sometimes he needs to walk
behind us, giving us a sharp swift kick that might hurt a bit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s done for our eternal benefit
returning us in repentance to the cross and worker of our salvation! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As
individuals the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes us holy as
God’s one church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We remain in God’s
church when we allow the Holy Spirit to set us apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However,
when we, the church of God, set ourselves apart from the Word of God and the
Holy Spirit, we place ourselves in corporate danger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Collectively gathering as one human spirit,
we may think we have the Holy Spirit, but end up sitting in authority over the
Word of God, judging the Word of God with a human spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, we use our powers and
principles, which are our works and will, and not God’s! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do
you think that a loving Heavenly Father, will not seek to return us to
him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God indeed will fight for us, to
correct us, and lead us back to Jesus Christ, to the Word made Flesh, so we
re-submit to the written Word, from where he gives us light and life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All prodigal sons and self-righteous sons are
called back to our Heavenly Father through “<u>the</u> Son of God”, with his
Sonship, worked within, by the Holy Spirit!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like
a fig tree that hasn’t been bearing fruit, we have been allowed to continue
as the Lutheran Church in Australia by our heavenly Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faithful pastors have dug around the roots
and fertilised the tree of the church with the Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some however have chosen to fertilise with a
compromised word, leaving out the call to repentance, rather encouraging God’s
children to follow their feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But
Jesus says, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beware of false prophets,
who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will recognize them by their fruits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every tree that does not bear good fruit is
cut down and thrown into the fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus
you will recognize them by their fruits.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Matthew 7:15–16a, 19–20 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And
again he warns “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I tell you, on the day of
judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by
your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.</i>”
(Matthew 12:36–37 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God
calls us to return to the Word of God over against the feelings, the opinions,
and the words of our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
fleeting words will not save us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like
rotten fruit will be thrown out or a fruitless tree will be taken to with an
axe, those who persistently deny God and his Word, dangerously put themselves
on the wrong side of God’s Word and his judgement! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If
you think there are no ravenous wolves in the LCANZ, you need to wake up to the
reality of the world and the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
not accept what any pastor says, just because they are a pastor, me included!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Submit
what every pastor teaches and preaches to the glory test!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the glory test?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it glorify Jesus Christ eternally, or
does the glory go somewhere else, dying before the fullness of time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Investigate and judge for yourselves with a
right judgement, to where the glory is going!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2024
will be a year of chaos for the LCANZ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many other churches of Christendom have chosen to walk away from the
Word by following the ways of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Modern heresies abound in the denominations of the Reformation, where
the Word of God is watered down more and more to accommodate the confusion and
chaos of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
light and life, of God’s one true holy apostolic church gathered around Jesus
Christ, has been diminished in many denominations, including the Lutheran
Church of Australia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cult of the LCA
has been caught up in the chaos and confusion of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
powers and principles the church has sought to trust, has moved from God to
man, from trusting God and his Word, to seeking popularity and approval from
the world, by reading the world into the Word, to make the Word and the LCANZ
more accommodating to Australia’s sinful society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
LCANZ has realised it cannot discern from the Word of God that women should be
ordained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet because the desire is
strong, we’re making the same mistakes as others and are stepping away from the
Word, to become engaged in wilful mischief, deliberate sin, and self-glorifying
righteousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Where
God is silent, some have become presumptuously boisterous, actively scoffing,
and seeking to shame those who seek to follow the Word of God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How have we got to a point where the spirit
of the world reigns over the Holy Spirit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many refuse to repent, but rather travel the way that’s wide, that leads
to eternal death!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
chaos that is unfolding in the church, is evident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is handing us over to our will,
withdrawing and leaving us to our own devices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Synod in Melbourne in February saw due process and the Word of God held
ransom to the procedural direction of a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chaos and confusion reigned, but submission to the Word was fleeting at
best!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rather
than God speaking through gathered congregations in synod, a top-down directive
occurred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where congregations once got
together as synod to do what they could not do individually, now a small group
of individuals has usurped the authority of the Synod, the Pastor’s Conference,
but more importantly God and his Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just like what happened in the Garden of Eden, the authority has been
reversed!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's
no surprise that in 2023, a small group, without the authority of the synod,
decided to secretly change the call of lecturers at the seminary without their
consultation and has decided to sell off the seminary and national office in
Adelaide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In its best light, it’s a poor
business decision, at its worse it is the complete mismanagement of God’s gifts
to continue supplying confessional Christ centred pastors to feed, forgive, and
prepare God’s flock of Lutherans to bear God’s Word in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2024
will be a year of chaos for the LCANZ as it continues on its path against God
and his Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the LCANZ follows
the flesh, its glory will fade and fall like that of grass flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The grass withers, and the flower falls, but
the word of the Lord remains forever.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jeremiah
talks about good figs and bad figs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
as we have taunted God for twenty-three years since the 2000 synod, Jeremiah
informs the bad figs, the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, saying, “<i>For
twenty-three years, …to this day, the word of the LORD has come to me, and I
have spoken persistently to you, but you have not listened. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have neither listened nor inclined your
ears to hear, although the LORD persistently sent to you all his servants the
prophets… Yet you have not listened to me, declares the LORD, that you might
provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Jeremiah 25:3-4, 7 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We
might say, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But we have Jesus, we have
Jesus!</i>”, just as they said, “<i>We have the temple of the Lord, the temple
of the Lord!</i>” (Jeremiah 7:4)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
where is that temple of the Lord today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s gone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It disappeared into
the echelons of time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God
calls you to follow his Word, and not the world, as he has done throughout the
history of mankind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are no different
to any other generation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses called
Israel to choose life and live!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
calls us to abide in his Word, as branches live in the vine (John 15:1-9).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul and the Apostles proclaimed Jesus
Christ, so we choose life and live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luther also calls us to choose life in the Word of God, and so too do
many others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 13pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They
all call us, to not stand over God’s Word for our short-term gain, but rather
call us to remain in submission to God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Word of
God made flesh, and the Holy Spirit who truly works the Word within for our
repentance and salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></p><p></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-2230495715005927092023-12-29T10:42:00.003+10:002024-01-07T18:26:44.966+10:00B, Christmas Day, The Birth of our Lord - John 1:1-14 Hebrews 1:1-4 "Light and Life"<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9w7iOpeOuJA" width="720" youtube-src-id="9w7iOpeOuJA"></iframe></div>In the first and third verse of Genesis chapter one, we
hear, “<i style="font-family: inherit;">In the beginning, God created the
heavens and the earth. And God said,
‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">”
(Genesis 1:1,3 ESV)</span><p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All who hear these words should recognise their similarity when
we hear John chapter one. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i>In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without
him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.</i>” (John 1:1–4 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hebrews chapter one draws from the beginning of Genesis and
the Gospel of John, as Christ being the Word of God, speaking the word of God,
who created the world. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From Hebrews chapter one, we hear of Jesus Christ, the Son
of God our Father, “<i>He is the radiance of
the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the
universe by the word of his power.</i>”
(Hebrews 1:3a ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The true light and life of Christmas is Christ Jesus. In the beginning at creation, together with
the Father and the Holy Spirit, God the Son, not yet human, was the Word not
yet made flesh, and he is the light and life of all things - everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But the Word of God, the Son of God, who is God, who is the
radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of God’s nature, was
enfleshed into a human being, as a man.
Jesus was born, in the incarnation of created human flesh. God the Son, was born as the Son of Man, born
into a world in which God created for fleshy humans to dwell. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Creator became created.
God became man. Conceived by the
Holy Spirit in Mary, the carrier of the Christ.
A fragile human woman, carrying a fragile human baby. The eternal Son of God came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became a human, a baby
boy, to be the Son of Man, the servant of humanity! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus came as the light of life for his creation. “<i>He was
in the world and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know
him.</i>” (John 1:10 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hebrews chapter one does not dwell on the beginning, as
does John and Genesis chapters one, but rather picks up the theme of Jesus’
beginning and power, to point us to God’s purpose and destination. We hear, “<i>After
making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on
high.</i>” (Hebrews 1:3b ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Succinctly and without hesitation the writer of Hebrews,
confesses the Son of God, as he who covered sin with his purity and is now
seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high, which is God the Father. He did this for his own people, the people of
God, and they did not receive him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brighter than the sun, the Word made Flesh, now shone in
the darkness of the womb, in the darkness of the stable, amongst the darkness
of his very own people. And despite
their darkness, the darkness did not overcome the Light of the World, the Life
of the World, the Word made Flesh!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We Christians, ones who are being made holy through this
work of God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, joyfully rejoice over the coming
of Christ at the first Christmas. And we
eagerly await and willingly confess our sins, to our Father in heaven, through
the help of the Holy Spirit, who fills us with patience for Jesus’ second
coming. We endure in the darkness
knowing our destination is Jesus the Christ, light and life of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not so the world.
You will not hear anything about God the Father, or God the Holy
Spirit. And what you hear of Jesus is
minimal, at best. You will not hear that
he is the Son of God, or that he is the Christ, the Messiah. When he is sung about in carols, they’re sung
as a sentiment for feeling a certain way at this time of year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks be to God, Christmas is called Christmas. The world cannot separate Christ from
Christmas no matter how hard they try. And
thanks be to God our Father, he has given us voices to sing carols about
Christ, and mouths to proclaim, the name of Christ, as our Messiah and as the
Messiah for all people. Despite Saint
Nicolas and his charity being dragged into the harlotry of ho, ho, ho, happy
holidays and desperate desires for the latest craving, Jesus Christ is still
the true light and life of an ever-darkening world. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact, Jesus’ light shines brighter and brighter as the
true messianic gift to humanity, the true salvific servant of man, as the world
seeks to dwell in darkness and deception, which is the lie that our
commercialised Christmas has become. Yet
the darkness cannot overcome the Christ in Christmas! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those seeking popularity on television will not tell you
who is the Christ in Christmas! Nor will
the singers proclaim who the holy child is, so meek and mild. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No, they are living the lie that the worldly Christmas has
become, as they continue to add deceptive words to deceptive words to keep the lie
going. And we all know what this lie
is! We all participate in the lie, when
we entertain the dark spirit of the Christmas lie by putting our faith in our
desires for silver and gold – gifts that are gods made with human hands.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the psalmist says, “<i>Their
idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but
do not see. They have ears, but do not
hear; noses, but do not smell. They have
hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in
their throat. Those who make them become
like them; so do all who trust in them.</i>” (Psalm 115:4–8 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But you and I are being made holy and set apart by the holy
Christ Child. He grew and made
purification for your sin! Jesus Christ is the one true holy gift of God,
shining in the brightness of eternity, in the holiness of purity to cover all
darkness in you this Christmas! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is your gift from God for all eternity to not only
dispel the darkness the world has without him, but the darkness you have
within. Jesus Christ is the Word made Flesh
who dwells amongst us but also tabernacles within each of us, enlightening us
with grace and truth. Let the Christ be
born daily in you, knowing the promise, “<i>From
his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.</i>” (John 1:16 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He is the gift that keeps on giving, from the beginning to
the end, through the darkness of death into eternity. The one true gift that shines into the future
and gives hope in a holy destination for you and all humanity who believes in
him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let the Holy Spirit be the true Spirit of Christmas which can
freely give the gift of the Christ of Christmas to all. Those of you who have been deceived by the
darkness into seeing this season as a season of personal pleasure-seeking with
its gathering and giving gifts of greed, and that’s all of us, know the gift of
forgiveness is for you! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Receive the gift of grace upon grace this Christmas! The gift of Christ upon Christ! The gift of God from God, Light from Light,
very God of very God, made Man, to serve you, a child of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hear the promise from John chapter one, “<i>He came to his own, and his own people did
not receive him. But to all who did
receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of
man, but of God.</i>” (John 1:11–13 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our right to be children of God is not a human right, but a
freedom given to us as the gift of God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and
Christ was the light and life of the world.
At the end Jesus Christ is the gift that leads from darkness into a
destination of light and life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Word made Flesh is the gift of light and life for you! Amen. </span></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-73555125710092951972023-12-05T16:43:00.002+10:002023-12-06T16:22:23.214+10:00B, Advent 1 - 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Psalm 80:17-19, Isaiah 64:5-9 "Pots and Moulds"<p></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="504" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kU3juLuYbQo" width="920" youtube-src-id="kU3juLuYbQo"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s
an ugly mess.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It has no form; it’s a
great big pile of brown goo.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s sticky
and damp; good for nothing it seems.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s dirty; perhaps to some it’s even a bit smelly; and if you get it on
yourself it can stain.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But someone is
looking for exactly this; a useless formless piece to be formed into something
that is good and pleasing to the eye.</span></div><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This
someone takes the goo and plonks it on the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The table begins to spin, and his hands
descend on the formlessness to mould it into something pleasing to the eye; a
thing pleasing to the one who turns the tables on something so seemingly
useless.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Clay
can be troublesome stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can cause
heartache for anyone who comes across it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When it’s dry it’s like rock and jars the arms of those who try to break
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when it’s wet, it’s so sticky,
it seems to latch onto anything that touches it, and it won’t let go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone who wants to use it has their work cut
out for them; such is clay in its natural environment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However,
to the potter clay has a use, a very good use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He knows just what to do to work the goo into something exquisite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stickiness is worked with wet hands, so
the clay moves and grows into something good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Its stickiness actually is a quality that keeps the pot adhering to
itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when it’s put in the kiln
and baked the clay is returned to a state that is rock hard to keep its form so
it can be used to hold things, perhaps even water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But
clay being what it is can still be trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As the potter caringly tries to mould it the clay can collapse and
become misshaped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has to be returned
to the lump in which it was originally found, and the potter starts again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the clay becomes a pot, its hardness
also makes it brittle and if the pot is not treated right it can shatter into a
myriad of pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if it gets a fine
crack, the owner takes to it with a rod reducing it to pieces of potsherd.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When
we consider that God is in fact the potter and we are the clay and the pots
that he moulds to hold his holy presence we are encouraged to examine ourselves
and see the imperfections that cause us and our Heavenly Potter trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaiah did exactly that when he lamented over
his people Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You come to the help of those who gladly do
right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you
were angry. How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is
unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up
like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your
name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and
made us waste away because of our sins. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the
clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be angry
beyond measure, O Lord; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look upon us, we
pray, for we are all your people. (Isaiah 64:5-9)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps
you have noticed the imperfections and cracks in the shell of your being. You
worry that you’re in danger of being dashed to pieces and thrown on the
scrapheap of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe like Isaiah you
see the reality of your hidden human nature — the content of your fragile fatal
life — and tremble because you know God sees the sin within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So,
hiding the sin is fruitless; it still oozes out the cracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And even your most honourable and worthy acts
can’t exist without containing just a hint of self-centeredness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, you know in the depth and core of your
being you can do nothing righteous in God’s all-seeing sight. We look in the
pot knowing we were moulded and formed to hold something so much better than
the pot of filthy rags we have become.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like
the Psalmist we are reduced to see the reality of who we are before God
Almighty as we plead…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your
face shine upon us, that we may be saved.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Psalm 80:19)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
fact of the matter is this: we need to be saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without intervention and restoration, the
potter will return and take to the pots with an iron rod and dash us into
pieces of potsherd.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Knowing
this the Potter sets to work at the wheel yet again and moulds another pot to
contain the core of his being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as
in the days of old when Solomon used clay moulds to cast precious metals for
the temple, Almighty God cast Christ Jesus, his holy and precious Son, into the
same fragile clay shell as you and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And in this mould was veiled the depth and breadth of God’s complete
holiness and generosity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This
is very good news for us full of cracks and imperfections who know we need
restoration so God will look on us favourably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our prayer should be the same as that of the Psalmist who also sees he
cannot save himself…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Let your hand rest on the man at your right
hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we will not turn away from you; revive
us, and we will call on your name.</i> (Psalm 80:17-18)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So,
God sent his Son; he cast Christ as one of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Son of Man at his right hand, the one on whom God’s hand of blessing
rested, was sent, and born a baby, a fragile clay pot, capable of the same
failures as you and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet he did not
crack under the pressure that show us for who we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stood the test of time, a fragile pot
holding the holiness of God, more precious than any silver or gold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But
then the Potter took his rod of wrath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rod we know we deserve and having his Son raised up, let him be
smashed to pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pot was broken,
the mortal mould and holy contents was made to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ was cast; then Christ was
crucified!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s hand fell on Christ so
the prayer of the Psalmist, together with your prayer, is answered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are restored!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are revived!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s face shines on us and we can call on
the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can confess our sins, our brokenness to
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And even more, God wants us to see
ourselves and seek him in confession, so he can forgive the guilt of our sins.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus
was poured out like water, he was dried out like potsherd, he was cast as
Christ but then he was cast out, the outcast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the night before he was betrayed and crucified on the cross, he said…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
which is poured out for you.</i> (Luke 22:20)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And
so, God’s pot was broken like bread and the cup was lifted up for the
forgiveness of your sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has wet
his hands in baptism to mould your mortal clay, so you carry what was poured
out of the cup of his Son for your salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You now contain the life blood of Christ himself in you, given and shed
for you for the forgiveness of all your sins.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So,
as we hear from Paul from the beginning of his first letter to the Corinthians,
grace and peace has come to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That God can be thanked for you
because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can trust that in him you have been
enriched in every way. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Therefore,
know, you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus
Christ to be revealed. Also know as you struggle with your fragility, only
Christ who continually sends the Holy Spirit through his written word will keep
you strong to the end, so you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 16pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is
faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He won’t let you down, but he
will allow you to be poured out and broken so Christ might flow onto others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But after it is done those who trust his
faithfulness will be raised like Christ, to be with Christ, restored and
revived, in all the holiness and peace of eternal life, forevermore Amen.</span></p><p></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-65805433864962959152023-11-23T22:14:00.002+10:002023-12-05T16:36:43.517+10:00A, Last Sunday of the Church Year Proper 29 - Matthew 25:31-46 "To Be Confessional"<p style="text-align: justify;"><a name="_Hlk151671936"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk151671936"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z_wsywPAkIw" width="720" youtube-src-id="Z_wsywPAkIw"></iframe></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><a name="_Hlk151671936"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Jesus is coming! Look busy!”
These are far from the most theologically sound words to have come from
someone’s lips or be written down!</span></a></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Apparently, these
are the words written on the buttocks of the phony conspirator, disguised as the
Archbishop of Canterbury, who’s a part of the plot to remove the British
monarchy and anoint an imposter to the royal throne.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does this sound a
little farfetched and comical?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
because it’s the plot of the comical spoof movie, “Johnny English”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rowan Atkinson plays Johnny English, a
bumbling idiotic English secret agent, seeking to save Great Britian and the
Commonwealth from the evil French megalomaniac, Pascal Sauvage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Johnny English is no James Bond!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Jesus is
coming!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look busy!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As hilarious and as silly as it sounds that
an archbishop would have this inked on his backside, the idea of being busy
when Jesus returns, is buried and hidden deep within every person’s psyche.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From where does
this come?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every child, every employee,
in fact, every person knows, what this is about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Quick, quick, mum is coming!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad is coming!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boss is coming!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop doing what you’re doing and look
busy!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve all done it; we’ve all
caught someone else out, doing it! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This sense of
guilt and shame does not have to be taught to anyone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the moment we become aware in infancy,
we seek to hide what we’re doing from those who are responsible for us and our
upbring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be it parents or any other
authority!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;">In the Garden of
Eden, the same thing happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hear,
“</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the
cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of
the LORD God among the trees of the garden.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Genesis 3:8 ESV) You can almost hear what
Adam and Eve were thinking when God came looking!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Quick, quick, God is coming, look busy!</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Busy doing
what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every parent knows the sound of
silence, then scampering feet and excited expressions of children trying not to
get caught out!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of us seem to learn
that looking busy, makes you look guilty, and trying not to look guilty, just
makes you look even more guilty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
hear mum saying, “I wasn’t born yesterday!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t come down in the last shower!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Jesus is coming,
look busy!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s actually
comical we think this way, when like our parents, Jesus already knows who you
are and what you’re doing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, the
silliness and the hilarity of who we are and what we do has a serious
consequence if we continue believing in these foolish and faithless ways!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus will judge the sheep from the goats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither the sheep nor the goats say to Jesus,
the King, “When were we busy?” Or “When were we not busy?” Rather the sheep and
the goats both say, “When did we see you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus has been
here the whole time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is it he sees?
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is Jesus
looking for in us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is he seeing
buried in the depths of your being?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
sheep or a goat!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The picture of
sheep and goats Jesus wants us to see is a picture of passivity verses a
picture of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>roguish deviousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sheep by nature if left to their own devices
will spread out over a field to feed, but when led by a shepherd they flock
behind him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Goats, like sheep
will follow a shepherd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, unlike
sheep goats are opportunist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t
need a shepherd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike sheep, goats travel
together, they feed together, and they get into trouble together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This opportunistic
herding instinct in goats, however, works in one’s advantage when yarding young
goats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all want to be first!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all race to see what’s in the yard; to
beat everyone else to the unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sheep
don’t herd as well, especially lambs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They need a good dog to keep them together!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But regardless of
the passivity of a sheep or the devious desire of a goat, neither knows what
the shepherd knows, nor sees what the shepherd sees!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To the surprise of
this son of a goat farmer, these days a goat has embedded itself into the
modern vernacular in a new way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To most
people when you ask, “What is a goat?”, they will tell you, “It’s an animal
that bleats and eats!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once, if a person
was referred to as being “a goat”, it was not a compliment!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to teens and young adults a G.O.A.T., is
an acronym meaning, “<b>G</b>reatest <b>O</b>f <b>A</b>ll <b>T</b>ime”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nevertheless, this
new meaning for a two-legged goat, still fits nicely with the opportunistic
desire of the four-legged animal to which Jesus refers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Goats don’t need a
shepherd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who strive to be the
greatest of all time, usually don’t flock behind a shepherd!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, rather, one usually sees them out in the
lead, herding the desires of those longing to be like the goat to whom they’ve
flocked. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But the goat who
thinks it is the greatest of all time, is seen by the <b>G</b>od <b>O</b>f <b>A</b>ll
<b>T</b>ime who “is” the greatest of all time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He sees, and he will sort the sheep from the goats!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, what is the
desirable quality Jesus seeks in the sheep?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The sheep know Jesus is coming, but there is neither the need to look
busy, nor the need to look bored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sheep are not interested in looking
anywhere but to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are not
interested in a knowledge of goodness, nor a knowledge of evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are concerned about gaining a knowledge
of Jesus Christ, the King coming to his kingdom, who has busied himself for
all, and won the battle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">His sheep know,
knowing him is greater than a knowledge of goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His sheep know he is so good, he bore all
evil knowledge, and its deeds on the cross. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you think
“Jesus is coming”, and you act like a goat looking busy, you’ve already missed
the mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you think “Jesus is
coming”, and you think you have to act like a sheep, you are a goat disguised
as a sheep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will end up being like a
fat sheep who acts like a goat!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you think
“Jesus is coming”, confess to your heart, “<u>I am</u> Jesus’ little
lamb!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rather than think,
don’t do, but be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you think, and you
do, then you’re dead!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you’re
already dead to sin, and now you’re alive in Christ, by the power of the Holy
Spirit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So don’t do!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let the Holy
Spirit, lead you, in the Word of God, to the Lamb of God, to be with the King
of creation!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are standing under the
cross with Jesus, like Jesus, being led like Jesus by the Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is coming,
he is the greatest of all time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therefore be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because you are!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See Jesus in your
enemies, the weak, criminals, the poor, the rejected, all those with whom you
do not want to associate!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you will
see why Jesus has come to you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is coming,
he is the greatest of all time, therefore be because you are!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Know you are a
redeemed sinner, a sinner being redeemed, and a sinner who will be
redeemed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Redeemer is
coming, be redeemed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because you are
redeemed, and he is your Redeemer!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Be a confessor of
Christ, a seer of sin, within, without!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therefore, be a faithful forgiver!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Be a servant of salvation!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
can!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because Jesus is your Saviour!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;">St James tells us,
“</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will
raise him up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if he has committed
sins, he will be forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore,
confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be
healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prayer of a righteous person
has great power as it is working.</i>”(James 5:15–16 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On this last
Sunday of the Church year, it’s a reminder to us to “come out”, as
sinners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be what God sees!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But also, to see with the eyes of faith,
Jesus in those he wills you to serve!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let the Holy Spirit lead you, to confess the reality of your full being,
as a forgiven sinner, forgiven of true tangible confessable sins, that have
lost their deadly power and received lifegiving power at the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In your confession
of Christ forgiving you, and your confession of the deeds he has forgiven you,
you will stand under those in whom you see Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And therefore, you will be serving them with
Jesus Christ, under whom you stand!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then, through your
being in Christ, the Holy Spirit can lift up, the poor, the lonely, the
destitute, and the undesirables to the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therefore, confessing your “full” being in Christ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will hear what you have received, what
you are receiving, and desire to share in what you will receive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk151671936;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the
fullness of Jesus Christ who fills all in all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amen.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-71662101902063966902023-11-17T08:30:00.005+10:002023-11-17T08:30:55.405+10:00A, Post-Pentecost 25 Proper 28 - Matthew 25:14-30 "Invested Interest"<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Jesus told the parable of the talents, his hearers
would have been astounded by the sheer size of what the master had entrusted with
his servants before he departed to a foreign land.</span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These servants were bondslaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These three slaves were his property, they
were bound to him, to do with whatever he pleased!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, he invests in each of his workers, what they were
capable of working with, and goes away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We hear, “<i>To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another
one, to each according to his ability. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
he went away.</i>” (Matthew 25:15 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It pleases the departing master to entrust to his bondsmen,
what would have been a large responsibility for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lays a burden of five talents on one, two
on another, and one on the third bondsman. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One talent was twenty years of wages for a worker of that
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, two talents is forty year’s
wages and five is one hundred year’s wages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The master invests eight talents
in these three men; that is one hundred and sixty years of worker’s wages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is not to be sniffed at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hearers of Jesus’ parable would have been
both amazed and overwhelmed by the trust and generosity of the master sizable
entrustment invested in these three characters!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus tells the parable about himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the one going on a journey to a foreign
place, so to speak, when he would ascend into heaven after the resurrection,
leaving holy talents to manage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although there are three bondsmen, there are two
reactions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To those given the five and
two talents, they both willingly receive what the master has given and put the
talents to work, both receiving back double.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first, turning five talents, or one hundred year’s wages, into two
hundred year’s wages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the second
turning forty year’s wages into eighty!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To them the master says exactly the same thing, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Well done, good and faithful servant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have been faithful over a little; I will
set you over much. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enter into the joy of
your master.</i>” (Matthew 25:21,23 ESV).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The two get the same accolade and are welcomed into the joy
of their master.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the pleasure of
the master.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that the master has
returned, they both are endowed with the same benefit and favour. They not only
enjoy the spoils of what the master had given, but now they dwell with the
master in the fullness of his presence and his pleasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What he had given them to manage was considered by the master
as being puny and limited, which would have also made the ears tingle of those
who heard Jesus say, “<i>You have been faithful over a little; I will set you
over much”.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In contrast to the first two servant slaves, the third acts
completely different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, the
weight of the parable sits with this fellow’s action and response to his
master.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We might say that he is contrasted by the fact that he
received less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, what he received
although smaller, was still indeed quite a substantial investment given to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the same way as the other two, it pleased the
master to consider the burden this slave could bear and bound him
accordingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the amount was
less, the master’s trust was the same as was his expectations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The third servant saw it differently, and it’s evident in
what he did with the talent as well as what he said at the master’s
return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The parable to this point has been deliberately repetitive,
demonstrating that the master graciously entrusted his property to all three,
he had fairly considered the abilities of all three, but nevertheless still
gave equally what the servants considered much and what he considered little.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The third slave condemns himself with his own words saying,
“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Master, I knew you to be a hard man,
reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so I was afraid, and I went and hid your
talent in the ground. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here, you have
what is yours.</i>” (Matthew 25:24–25 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From where did the third servant get his impression of his
master?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only was this bondsman
ignorant of his master’s true character, the bondsman’s action, or lack
thereof, treated the master’s invested interest, entrustment, and faith in his
servant’s ability with utter contempt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The language Jesus uses of the third slave also differs
somewhat, which is not made plain in English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most English translations say all three “received” five, two, and one
talent, but the Greek stresses Jesus saying he who took possession of the one
talent, “still” only held one talent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The two who had received the five and two talents, had five and two
talents only once, which on his return was a thing of the past, whereas the one
who held one talent, continued to only hold one talent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why would the bond slave bury his master’s entrustment of
property?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer comes from the
master calling the servant, “wicked and slothful”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With regard to being wicked, this servant was starved of trust
in both the master and what was entrusted to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The servant also was found wanting in his own
identity as a trusted servant, starving the master of his service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only was he wearisome and hurtful of
himself, but the servant was also wearisome and hurtful to his master.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not only was he wicked, but he was also slothful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slothfulness is being slow and hesitant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not cautious and careful, but rather
sluggish and slack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The master reports,
“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you ought to have invested my money with
the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with
interest.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 25:27 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We don’t know why, but this third bondsman thought the
master’s being was hard, and he was afraid. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where the first two servants were in awe of
the master, the third for some reason thought him to be awful rather than
awesome.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is the master in the parable he tells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The goods Jesus leaves with us is the very
essence of his goodness to us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How one
treats the goods of God is how one treats and considers our God who is good to
us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are God’s bond servants; we are tied to Jesus
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the servants in the
parable, we can see our service and our being bound to God and his goodness as
good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, like the third servant we can
loath God’s goodness, bury his goodness and actively hide what he has given to
us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The interest God has in you, is an invested interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is so interested in you he sent his Son,
the Son of God, to invest his goodness in you, to tie you to his resurrection
and return, to bind your sin and set you free.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Jesus Christ you have received an inheritance, when you
heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
believing in his goodness, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who
is the guarantee of your inheritance until you acquire possession of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That possession will occur for all who believe, when Jesus
our good and gracious master returns.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Be like the two willing servants, who were willing slaves
of their master, tied to his goodness, living in freedom from self to serve his
interests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flee the fear of the other
slave who buried and forgot the master’s goodness, becoming enslaved to his own
spirit and perception of the master’s gracious gifts!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">By the Holy Spirit
who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Timothy 1:14 ESV) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because you bear the Holy Spirit you are a helpful bondservant
of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gives to you according to
your ability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gives grace upon grace,
gift upon gift, good upon good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also
gives all who believe the Holy Spirit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Holy Spirit will enable you too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s
good is your good, his goods are your goods, his identity is invested in your
identity! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the joy of the Holy Spirit, see that you have been
invested into the enjoyment of your master, Jesus Christ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-63365869584543612922023-11-10T08:33:00.005+10:002023-11-10T08:33:47.208+10:00A, Post-Pentecost 24 Proper 27 - Matthew 25:1-13 "Expectation"<p style="text-align: justify;">W<a name="_Hlk150500573"><span style="font-family: inherit;">hat do you expect from this
day? We all live with expectations
everyday of our lives. What are
expectations and from where do they come?
To where do they lead? Are your
expectations healthy or unhealthy?</span></a></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Expectations
change from person to person, from place to place, and they vary in different times
of life throughout the ages.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our expectation
for a meal, a bed in which to sleep tonight, an enjoyable day amongst
likeminded folk, seems reasonable to us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, for those in war-ravaged places perhaps
these expectations would lead to disappointment, resentment, and further
hopelessness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our expectations might be
quite trivial to those whose very existence hangs in the balance!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The expectations
we place on others can differ too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
you expect of your parents or children changes over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children learn to expect parents to care for
them when young, but they expect to escape from their authority when they’re teenagers
and young adults!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, parents
expect to care for their children when young, and our mums and dads expect to
be cared for, when they grow old!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Expectations are
buried in our being from the time we’re born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Expectations remember
the past, in the present, and furnish one’s future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Depending on the
culture into which you’re born, will usually dictate the expectations you have
of others, and yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you did
and do, dictates what you will do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Enjoying what you ate encourages what you will seek to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where you live, who you serve, who serves
you, who and what you trust and don’t trust are learnt expectations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another word for
expectations is wants!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wants or
expectations are fuelled by something deep within each of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Examining our inner wants and expectations
can tell us a lot about ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learning
of another person’s wants, or a group’s expectations, can also help us discern
much about the person or group.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For example, those
who expect the world to continue to evolve into a better and better place, might
have an expectation of society learning from its mistakes and not making them
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s an expectation of
humanity cycling round and round in an ever-rising series of events towards
perfection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, those who
expect the universe to one day spiral and explode into a chaotic oblivion will
have very different expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both
are expectations, both are not right, but they affect how humanity acts and
reacts to events and other people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, what or who
fuels your expectations?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are your
expectations, or wants, a false god? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are your expectations premeditated resentments?
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Setting yourself up, or others, for hurt
and failure?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What do you expect
of God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What does God
expect of you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might be surprised
what God expects of you, written in his Word!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What fuel’s your
expectations of God, and your understanding of his expectations of you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It depends on whether your expectations submit
to the Word of God, or you try to make God submit to your expectations and wants!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ten virgins expect
the coming of the bridegroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
parable Jesus says five were wise and five were foolish. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wise were those who have considered
bringing extra fuel for their lamps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
foolish have not thought things through and don’t have extra oil to fuel their
lamps.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus teaches the
parable to prepare us for his coming and what we should expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what is the parable of the ten virgins
teaching us to expect about Jesus’ return?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;">At the end of the
parable Jesus says, “</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Watch therefore, for you know neither the
day nor the hour.</i>” (Matthew 25:13 ESV)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This sudden surprise is made explicit in the midst of the parable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All ten virgins are asleep and startled when
the cry comes for the bridegroom’s arrival. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;">Jesus previously
says, “</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of
heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Matthew 24:36 ESV)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not even
Jesus knows, only the Father in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Obviously when Jesus is sent by the Father, he will know, but not beforehand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Notice that in the
parable all the virgins fall asleep, and they cannot lend their oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is so, because when we fall asleep in
death, what we believe and trust, is the fuel of our faith, and it’s this light
that will expose us as followers of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What you believe, or what you expect when you die, cannot be changed
when Christ returns.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we think of
lamps, we might assume that lamps were used to see the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may have been, if the lamps were rags
soaked in oil on sticks, but the parable tends to suggest a lamp that’s not a
temporary torch to see the way, but a lamp made of clay with a reservoir to
hold the fuel and a wick to draw the fuel and burn a flame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much like a candle would burn and produce a
small amount of light.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This type of lamp
is not for seeing the way, but for being seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Virgins walking in the evening moved about with lamps to illuminate
their faces, so they could be plainly seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Women who moved around hidden within the cloak of darkness, were usually
anything but virgins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The virgins needed
the fuel for their lamps, to be seen by the bridegroom on his arrival, not to
see the way to the bridegroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One cannot work
their way to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as he came the
first time, he will come the second time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We didn’t find him the first time, and neither will we find him when he
returns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will be seen of you when
he returns?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a key part
of the parable because if one does not have the good oil, so to speak, when the
bridegroom arrives, we cannot expect to bargain our way through the door of eternal
life to be with Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;">Like the virgins
who went to find oil and returned to begged to enter, Jesus also says, “</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not
everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but
the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then will I declare to them, ‘I never
knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’</i>” (Matthew 7:21, 23
ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If we have an
expectation that we can change our story on judgement day, Jesus clearly tells
us it doesn’t work like that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fuel
of faith we need when we die, is the fuel of doing God’s will, or what God
expects and wants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He wants to see us
waiting for him, illuminated by his presence, and not the back of us working, or
changing, to get the good oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants
to see the radiance and joy of our hopeful expectation in which we will enter the
grave and will be woken at his coming.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, what is this
fuel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good oil of expectation!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not an idol of our works, or a belief in
a false image of God we’ve concocted in our hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is this fuel
of faith that God expects to see in you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s the fuelling trust in God’s Word, looking not to ourselves or
finding our way to eternity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
allowing the fire of the Holy Spirit to illuminate Christ’s death for our daily
death of self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This fuel of faith lets
him shine his holiness in us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, when
the Father sees us, our lamp of faith shows Jesus the bridegroom, shining for
us, in his resurrection glory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God expects you to
be a sinner!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he did not expect this,
he would not have sent Jesus to be the only sacrifice for sin!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God also expects you to be an enlightened
repentant sinner, who despite knowing your sinfulness, willingly stands in his
presence to confess, be forgiven, and forgive as Jesus has forgiven us in his
death and resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like the wise
virgins whose faces are lit up with hope and joy at his coming, our wisdom is
not so much about you or me, but about the wisdom of God the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit, working and waking us with the Word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God expects us
humans to have doubts and troubles with faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every day you can expect the old human self will seek its resurrection. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, you can count on without a skerrick of
doubt!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not a time to forget the oil reserve
that is being deposited in you through God’s Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When you have
doubts, let the eternal resurrected bridegroom pour his Word into you with the
Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you doubt, bash on God’s
door in prayer for the Holy Spirit to open Godly expectations of his Word in
you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you pray, trust the Holy
Spirit to give you a desire and joy in God’s Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you receive God’s Word as the good oil,
expect this oil to be the oil to keep your lamps burning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God wants your
greatest expectation, to be of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He wants your
expectation of him alone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk150500573;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He expects you, to
expect him, to be your God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-84594001040739331372023-11-03T14:16:00.001+10:002023-11-20T22:32:06.294+10:00A, Commemoration of All Saints - 1 John 3:1-3 "It is Finished"<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aPcS34h6LUs" width="720" youtube-src-id="aPcS34h6LUs"></iframe></div><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 John 3:1–3 (ESV) See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“It is finish!” That is the cry of Jesus on the cross! It is the joyful confession of those who have gone before us and are now worshipping around the throne of God outside of time! It is finished! What is finished?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When something is finished, it implies that at one time it began, it endured, and ended. When something is finished it also implies something new has begun.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not so much today, but in past times, there was an institution known as a “finishing school”. It was a place where well to do families sent their daughters to become ladies. Grooming and deportment of young girls prepared them to hold themselves appropriately within the social circles they were expected to mix.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One can imagine there would be an opportunity for comedy to occur in seeking to finish a rough diamond of a girl into a prim and proper lady. Plays and movies like “My Fair Lady, Nanny McPhee, Bridget Jones’s Diary, The Sound of Music, and Pretty Woman, all are stories about such “rough diamonds” being polished with all the drama and comedy one would expect with the transition of a person from one lifestyle to another.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With much drama and comedy, God seeks to finish us as his children. In fact, the creation in which we live, the bodies in which we breathe, and the society in which we seek to survive, is God’s finishing school.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like the movies our lives don’t always follow a simple, rags to riches script! There are many setbacks and deviations in our stories. Some are God directed, some are from our own misdirection, and then some come about from the deception of others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The movie, My Fair Lady, is one such movie! Actress, Audrey Hepburn, plays a poor Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, who becomes the centre of a wager by Professor Henry Higgins, that he could make her “well to do” and pass her off as a duchess at an embassy ball.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most known for the phrase made popular by the movie, “the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain!” Eliza practises these words to polish her speech! And there is comedy when she relapses back to her Cockney ways amongst the dignitary at Ascott racecourse, as she inappropriately calls out, “Come-on Dover, move your bloomin’ a_ _ _ (hind quarters)!” Eliza proves not to be completely finished, as Higgins had hoped her to be!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This movie comes from a play called Pygmalion. One can understand, looking at the name, why they changed the name to My Fair Lady. Similar to the story of Pinocchio, Pygmalion in Greek mythology is where a sculptor falls in love with the female ivory sculpture he has finished, in rejection of the young female prostitutes around him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are in God’s finishing school! He seeks to put to death the deeds of our old sinful nature. This is an all of “this life” project! In fact, this life is not really life, rather it is the prelude to the life that God originally intended for us and gives us after the resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In reality this life is not life, but death! Where the world puts their trust in this life with the hopeless reality of death to come, those who believe and trust Jesus Christ, exist in this finishing school, having the old self killed off, and finished, waiting patiently in hope of the life to come. This is life with Jesus Christ, the Almighty Father, the Holy Spirit, the angels, archangels, and the whole company of heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">St John sees the whole company of heaven in his revelation as one of the elders tells John just who the company is, clothed in white robes…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> “<i>These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.</i>” (Revelation 7:14–17 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those who have gone before us, who are in Christ, spur us on! They urge you on, in the knowledge that they are with Jesus by no effort of their own, but by the great love of our Father in heaven! They have finished and have been finished in Jesus Christ alone!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When were they finished? They were finished in baptism, they were finished when Jesus cried out from the cross, “It is finished!”, bowed his head and died. Their finishing became an unhidden reality in Jesus’ resurrection, in their resurrection, in the resurrection when this life bound by time is finished!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet, here we are, still in this existence we call “life”! But it is a penultimate or second last life! It is the night before the sun rises on the new eternal day!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It might appear that we are not quite finished! Like Eliza we fall back into the old ways of our old Adam! We become sculptors of ourselves, taking the tools out of God’s hands, only to fall in love with the self, or despair of what we cannot create! What becomes apparent is we cannot finish ourselves! Or we exist knowing our finish is a sham, trying to fool others, but only fooling the foolish self within!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But despite not being finished in this world, we, like those who have finished their earthly time, are finished too! How can that be when it seems God has not finished finishing us for eternity?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God has given us the finishing requirement for eternity, and life with him, in our baptism! When Jesus cried out, <i>“It is finished!”</i>, on the cross, “<i>and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit</i>” (John 19:30), he gave up his spirit for you, and me!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus was the perfect sculpture of humanity, incarnate, created, in Mary. Sent in love by God the Father, who loves you so much, he sent his only beloved Son, so that “right now” we are God’s children, God’s beloved children, even though we only see it through faith in God’s word of promise.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hear again the promise, “<i>See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.</i>” (1 John 3:1–3 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is no Pygmalion! He did not keep his Son for himself but sent his beloved Son to conquer death and finish death, for you, his beloved. Today we remember those who have conquered death in their baptismal death and have now victoriously been raised from the second death. Let your remembrance of these perfected saints in Christ, spur you on in this earthly finishing school, and heavenly hope in eternal life after resurrection!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i>Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.</i>” (Hebrews 12:1–4 ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But if you are required to shed you blood, praise God! He who has been finishing you through the blessedness of repentance and forgiveness of sin is about to welcome you into his eternal presence!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blessed are the finished, blessed are those being finished, and blessed are those who will be finished, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, they are the children of God. Amen. </span></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-2022489773676428232023-11-02T21:04:00.002+10:002023-11-03T14:10:22.799+10:00A, Commemoration of the Reformation - John 8:31-32, 34-36 "Get the Message Right, Get the Message Out"<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ilNyWvzOeWg" width="720" youtube-src-id="ilNyWvzOeWg"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">31
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you
are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will
set you free…34 I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35
Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:31-32, 34-36)</span></div><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get
the message right; get the message out. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s
a mindset occurring in the church today that threatens the very life of the
whole church. This philosophy is one
that says, ‘we’re all Christians, it doesn’t matter what we believe; we’re all
going to the same place’. And although
there is an element of truth to the statement; at the core, stands the same
ideals and beliefs that led to the building of the Tower of Babel. Did God bless that project? No! We
must ask ourselves why? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God
gives us the message and the message is one a small child can get right. The message we’re talking about is the gospel
of our salvation, the message of redemption in the Word of God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To
the believing Jews, Jesus said, “<i>If you
hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.</i>” (John 8:31-32) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
first half of this verse can be translated in a number of ways: If you remain
in my word; if you abide by my word; if you dwell in my word – you are truly my
learners; or, you are my disciples indeed.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Get the message right! Why is it so difficult for us to keep that
message right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
fundamental difference between the unity language cheaply tossed around in the
church today and the unity that Christ calls us into is this: Christ’s way is
centred on him, rather than focusing on the acceptance of other people’s ideas
and words in a bid not to offend them.
Unity in Christ listens to Christ alone and not to the ideas of
people. So, in the text we hear that if
we look to Jesus and abide by what he teaches us we are his disciples. And having held onto his Word as the truth,
it makes us holy, and it sets us free.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
sad fact today is that most people in the churches are all too willing to
accept what someone else believes because they don’t really know what they
themselves believe. Christ is no longer
at the centre and the message is no longer right. They neither examine nor become learners of
what their own church believes nor what the other churches teach. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most
of us don’t even know the subtle differences which we, as Christ centred
Lutherans, should reject in other church’s teaching, nor do we know the
strengths that these other denominations might offer us and the greater church.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most
denominations are Christ centred, but their doctrines are being rejected in
favour of a shallow, pop, pleasure cultured, me-centred theology; where “god”
is the person seeking, “Lord just” prayers are the way to coerce Jesus Christ
with our self-righteousness yearnings, and our ‘thou art God speak’ just makes us
sound churchy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately,
the message of the Gospel gets turned back into Law. All the things that Christ gives us and has
called us to hold at the fore – don’t get rejected outright, but have the
importance taken off them in favour of things that appeal to the sinful
heart. The things that Christ has set
in place and have been proven over time in the church are misplaced in favour
of self-righteous feel-good things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Such
as: Corporate belief and understanding of God’s Word, or a church’s doctrine
and theology, are replaced in favour of the life one must live. The means of Grace or the things Jesus personally
put in place for us to receive him and the Holy Spirit, are replaced by a public
declaration of personal faith, most often expressing itself in the statement,
‘I made a decision for Jesus Christ, my personal Lord and Saviour’. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘Lord’
is turned from Redeemer or saviour into someone I must fearfully obey to be
good enough to gain eternal life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘Grace’
is not God’s death on the cross in our place, but rather grace is reduced to a
template for moral living, and salvation is only obtained if we live as Christ
did. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ironically,
nobody could live as Jesus did when he was here! He walked to the cross alone! So, what makes anyone think they can do it now? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The preaching of the Gospel, commanded by Christ,
and passed on by the Apostles, Jesus’ first disciples or learners, is put aside
in favour of group sharing sessions usually fuelled by worldly ignorance of
God’s word. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Liturgy
is deserted in favour of free unscripted prayer; the Lord’s own prayer is
rejected as dead in favour of the prayers that come from the heart. If Christ and his prayer are rejected from
the heart, one must ask, “In what condition is the heart to pray a free prayer
anyway?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
fact, ritual is seen as bad, even though every one of us needs ritual. Why do you think babies become unsettled if
they don’t have a regular pattern of living?
All humans need ritual for stability and reassurance; it’s the same in
the church for Christians! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And
finally, the church or the assembly of the saints, the gathering of all who
confess and believe in the Triune God is moved to one side, sacrificing things
such as repentance and forgiveness, through confession and absolution. In its place conversion experience becomes
more important than God’s justification.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t
hear me wrong. As good as these might
seem, when they are put first before God, they become destructive in our
reception of the One True God and the holiness he chooses to give through his
way — his chosen means of grace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
Reformation was all about placing Jesus back at the centre; remaining in his
word; getting the message right! The
church of Luther’s day had turned from Christ and his means to other means of
coming before God. So, the church of the
day had taken what was given to them as right and got it wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus
Christ coming down in love, was pushed out, in favour of a gospel of love
climbing up to God, doing the greater good, which is no gospel at all. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Later
on, others came along and rejected all things catholic (that is gathered by the
Holy Spirit, according to Christ), but Luther and others who followed him stood
against them. Luther and his supporters
fought against extremists reforming the church too far in the other direction
which also led to Christ still being pushed out of the centre. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As
much as Luther stood against the Roman church of the day, he still recognised
that through Christ-centred-catholicity (cath-o-liss-ity), God proclaimed the
Holy Gospel and gave himself through the means of Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, and the forgiveness of sins. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Getting
the message right must come first, it must come before getting it out. If you are not focused on Christ, if you are
not a learner of his, how then can you get the right message out? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Luther
reminds us in his Large Catechism in the Third Article that where Christ isn’t
preached, there’s no Holy Spirit to create, call, and assemble the Christian
Church, outside of which nobody can come to the Lord Christ. Ask yourself, “When I get the message out, to
where does it lead?” Jesus Christ, or something else!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get
the message right; get the message out!
When we as Lutherans place ourselves under the confessions of the
church, we place ourselves under Christ and become his disciples, learning what
the truth is and what freedom from the Law actually is. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If
we call ourselves Lutheran just for the sake of being Lutheran, we then lose
sight of the Gospel and take what is right and get it wrong. The great joy of being a Lutheran is that we
have a confession that trusts Jesus at his Word and calls us to submission
under what he did and continues to do through the Holy Spirit. This is the truth, and it sets us free!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So,
in having the right message, now we are called to get it out. Why?
Why do we need to get the message out?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our
Lutheran confessions are a strength to the greater church. They rightly show us who we are as people:
sinners who do sinful things, brought about by our own sinful natures. But they also rightly show who we are once we
allow Christ to rid us of the curse of eternal death, and allow the Holy Spirit
to place trust, or faith, in our hearts; leading us to say, “God you are right,
I am wrong, take me, do it your way and set me free”. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Having
received such grace and faith, we can trust in these things to be enough, so we
can confidently say, “Yes, I am going to heaven, I have been forgiven and
saved, I will be saved!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Knowing
that you have been set free from the bondage of sin, and, ‘what I have to do to
get to heaven’, you can rest in the freedom of the Gospel, being blessed
completely by the obedience of Christ’s death and resurrection on the cross. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
passion of Christ’s death and resurrection for your salvation lived by Christ
and the Holy Spirit in you, put you
right! Then surely this message which
put you right, will be the message you might passionately want others to have
as well. This should make getting the
message out a joy, not a task!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God
gets the message right, and he gives it to us as a free gift and it saves
us. Let the Holy Spirit lead you in
getting this right message out, so others might live in the freedom of the
Gospel too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextCG" style="line-height: 12.5pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amen. </span></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176716.post-6612522310854656542023-10-22T05:58:00.005+10:002023-11-03T14:09:18.981+10:00A, Post-Pentecost 21 Proper 24 - 1 Thessalonians 1: 3 "Produced, Prompted, Inspired"<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0cm;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0cm;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9u47mpiXFEc" width="720" youtube-src-id="9u47mpiXFEc"></iframe></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0cm;"><br />1
Thessalonians 1: 3 </span><i style="text-indent: 0cm;">We continually remember before our God and Father your
work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance
inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.</i></span><p></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
verse we have just heard, directs us to meditate on three things; faith, love,
and hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These three are not uncommon
to us from scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hear of them in
many places throughout the New Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But more on these three in a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There
are also another three things in this verse we can examine too; work, labour,
and endurance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whether
one works or not, all know what work is; all know what work they should be
doing, whether they have done it or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Work here in this sense refers to one’s deeds or actions; to ‘do’
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then
we hear of labour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might assume
labour is the same as work, and when we labour at something we do work at
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, labour is more intense than
work in the general sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mothers, more
than likely, have the greatest understanding of labour, as a more intense part
of motherhood, over against the regular duties of a mother’s work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, labour here implies that there is
hardship and difficulty, requiring commitment and passion, lest the labour not
be finished.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
third word is endurance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It too has
something to do with work, as does labour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, with endurance we have the quality of constancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One might see endurance as something one has
to keep at, grinding away bit by bit, until the outcome is realised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guts and dogged determination, stamina and
inner strength are needed for endurance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Patience, fortitude, steadfastness, and perseverance are what endurance
is all about.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saint
Paul, on behalf of himself Timothy and Silas, writes to the church in
Thessalonica after a hasty retreat from the multicultural trade route town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new converts are left to face verbal and
physical persecution as a result of their newfound faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s concerned for the fledgling church as
they work, labour, and endure amongst those who have rejected Paul’s
proclamation of the Gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So,
he writes his first letter to the Thessalonians to encourage them in the troubles
they’re facing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hear his
encouragement for their work, labour, and endurance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But specifically for their work produced by
faith, their labour prompted by love, and their endurance inspired by hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The three-fold theme — faith, hope, and love
— common in the New Testament is present here, but Paul now couples it with
their deeds and lives amongst the transient community of Thessalonica.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
these days we too live in a transient and temporary society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In communities where once everyone knew who
was who, there was a consistent stability people could count on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But no more!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our world has gone and got itself a whole lot busier, and we have been
caught up in the busyness of it too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our
society is changing in many ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can
now find out news from anywhere in the world with only a moment’s notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People are becoming migratory in search of
the almighty dollar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And those who stay
put, can’t afford to sit still or they get left behind and buried under a pile
of debt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
church too faces this change and Christians within it face the very real
pressures of the transient, live-for-the-moment desires of our age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once upon a time Christianity was the centre
of most communities; you would see the who’s who of the district in a church
somewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And everyone made the
commitment to be in church on Good Friday and Christmas day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But today, friends and family are sadly
missed from amongst the ranks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pews
are empty; leaving us behind wondering if we should remain in something that
seems like it might die.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
saddest thing though, is not that our society is changing, getting busier, or
even becoming more and more heathen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Thessalonians came through it and so has the Christian church in other ages
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No! The saddest thing is that as a
result of these things we allow ourselves to backslide; producing less and less
works, labouring in love is lost, and endurance becomes uninspired, bland, and
boring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
saddest thing is we let the godlessness of our age have more power in our lives
than our Father in heaven, fearing godlessness more than God, giving it greater
and greater power in our hearts and minds. We see numerical decline and lose
trust in God who has his plan for his church which he ultimately sustains
through thick and thin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After
the collection of the weekly offering, we pray for God to receive it for the
sake of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We use various
prayers, but usually they give thanks for what God has given us; ourselves, our
time, and our possessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We go on to
ask God to accept our offerings as a sign of his goodness and as a symbol of
our love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
offering on the plate is a sign and a symbol, but it’s not the sum total of
what we give!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so we can ask
ourselves, regardless of how much or how little we might put on the plate, “With
what intention do I give?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
state of our faith, hope, and love are quickly revealed when we match them next
to the offering of ourselves, our time, and our possessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does
the handling of our possessions speak well of our love, of God or of our neighbour?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does our time management reveal of our
daily, hourly, and momentary devotion and glorification of God Almighty?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what type of faith do we radiate to
others as a result of the faith we have received from God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Faith
and ourselves, our time and our hope, our love, and our possessions; we ask
ourselves, “What do they say about my intention towards God?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today,
in the days of the Thessalonians, even back when the Israelites created the
golden calf, and right the way back to Adam and Eve, humanity turns from the
one true and living God to idols of one kind or another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Much
work, labour, and endurance has evolved from the hearts and hands of humans to
serve these idols we’ve fashioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
the question is; how do I turn from this habitual sin and idolatry back to the
one true and living God, so faith in me produces work pleasing to God, I labour
for the love of God prompted by the love of God, and I persevere, inspired with
enduring hope of my eternal home, before those who seek heavenly moments in the
fleeting pleasures of this world?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We
could become better focused on our work, labour, and endurance; but that still
would lead us on a path into idolatry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even if faith, hope, and love within are fed by work, labour, and
endurance could we together build something special and great?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No! We couldn’t even make something as
special or great as a golden calf or a tower of Babel, even if we tried really
hard!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we know what God thought of
them!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul
thanks God for the Thessalonians because they didn’t do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather they turned from their idolatry to
serve the living and true God, waiting for his Son from heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They looked to Jesus Christ and to him alone
who chose them through the gospel, convicting them deeply by the power of the
Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God
has chosen you and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although the deep
conviction to work, labour, and love might temp us to focus on these things and
turn them into idols, it is the Holy Spirit’s intention with faith, hope, and
love, to have us focus on Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And in him we will be productive in faith works, prompted to love, and
inspired by hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You
see faith, hope, and love are ours in Christ Jesus our Lord; we are in Christ
because Christ is in us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith, hope,
and love are in us and can only come from us because they are in Christ and are
of Christ as a result of the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="BodyTextFriarpuk" style="line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So
let us not even be tempted to run after these other things which might seem
good, lest they lead us away from God into the idolatry of ourselves. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus and run after
him, so that in him, he in us will produce prompt and inspire, faithful good
works, labours of love, and enduring hope, to the glory of God — the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.</span><span face="Century Gothic, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Pastor Heath Pukallus (Friarpuk)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03512392379163920626noreply@blogger.comWarrnambool VIC 3280, Australia-38.3720954 142.4777782-66.682329236178845 107.32152819999999 -10.061861563821154 177.6340282