What God Wants - What I Want Part 1

1 Samuel 7:1-14a

We’re heading to the Old Testament for the first of a two part series on What God Wants: What I Want.

In today’s text, King David is riding a big high.  He has been named the King of all of Israel.  He’s just achieved a huge military victory: he and his army have defeated the Philistines and brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel.  He is thinking that there is nothing he can’t do.

So how is he going to top all of this?  He sets a new goal of building a house for God.  “I am living in a house of Cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.”   He didn’t think it was right that he was living in a house while the ark – the symbol of God’s presence on earth was shoved in a tent.

Now certainly this is an honorable goal.  None of us would want to think of God living in worse conditions than we are.  The prophet – and David’s friend – Nathan tells David he thinks it’s a good idea before he consults with God.  And why would he need to?  This just seems like a win-win situation for everyone.

The problem is that God says “No.”  He says that he’s going to continue to bless David but David wasn’t going to be the one allowed to build God’s temple.  We, of course, know that David’s son Solomon would be the one to do that.  But why didn’t God allow David to do it.

There are a couple of different reasons.  One could be that by Solomon building the temple, David’s kingdom will be established forever.  Another is that David was surrounded by so much war and bloodshed that God didn’t want him building it.  1 Chronicles 22:8 says, “But the word of the LORD came to [David], saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house to My name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth before Me.’”

Scripture doesn’t tell us what David’s reaction was when he heard the news from Nathan that he wasn’t supposed to build God’s temple.  We do know that he obeyed God.  But I wonder – did he sulk?  Did he throw a fit?  Did he try to rationalize with God – if you just let me do this,…?

Sometimes we can be like David.  We come up with a great idea.  And we convince ourselves that God really wants us to do it or that we’re doing it for God.  But then God tells us “no.”  What do we do?

It can be difficult to hear the answer no and even more difficult to accept it.  So we try to convince ourselves that the answer really isn’t no.  I mean, why would God tell us “no” when we are trying to do something for him?

There are several different reasons.  The first is that your plan doesn’t fit into God’s timing.  When we look at this story of David today, we can see that God had a timeframe for when he wanted the temple built.  And it wasn’t right then. 

Scripture backs this up.  We’re probably familiar with Ecclesiastes 3 that tells us “ For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”  Perhaps less familiar is Habakkuk 2:3 which says, “For there is still a vision for the appointed time. If it seems to tarry, wait for it:  it will surely come, it will not delay.”   Think of all the times that angry mobs were after Jesus to do him harm.  How many times could Jesus have been killed?  But he wasn’t – until it was the right time – God’s right time.

The second reason that God tells us know when we want to do something is that whatever we want to do doesn’t fit with his plan.  Not only must things happen in God’s time: They must happen according to his plan.  Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”  If your plan doesn’t mesh with God’s plan, you aren’t going to be successful.  You’ll hit roadblock after roadblock after stumbling block.  And the funny thing when we wonder why we aren’t being successful, we never stop to consider that perhaps God doesn’t want us doing what we’re doing.

We think, “Well, I must not be doing something right” which is, in essence, our pride talking.  But that’s a whole other sermon for another time.

But here is the biggest reason I think that God tells us “no” when we have big plans.  We really aren’t doing it for God’s glory.  We’re doing it for our own. 

We’re warned about this is Philippians.  2:3 says, Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.  The problem is that we’re really good a deluding and convincing ourselves that what we are doing is for God.  We get an idea and we convince ourselves that it is what God really wants us to do.  And like David, the ideas are honorable and seem like the right thing to do. 

But the danger with our delusion is that it ISN’T what God wants:  it’s what we want.  And when we start doing what we want, we are taking God’s role upon ourselves.  We fall into that original sin of wanting to be like God.  Remember how the serpent was able to tempt Adam and Eve?  He told them that if they ate of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, they would be like God.  Well, they bit and we’ve been biting ever since.

Our desire to do what we want – to be like God, if you will, makes it all about us.  If I start a program to help homeless people, I’m doing what God wants.  After all, he told us to take care of people like this so I must be doing his will.  And if this program really gets going, people will respect me.  I’ll be important because I started this wonderful program.  People will seek me out wanting my ideas and my opinions.  And all because I’m doing God’s will.

Let’s examine what happened to a couple of biblical characters when they did God’s will – according to what they wanted.  Samson.  A Nazarite – one of a group of people who were separated out to be especially holy unto God all the days of their life.  Quite the ladies man.  He worked out.  Had long flowing hair.  He didn’t exactly follow God’s path for his life.  Kind of thought that it was all about him and what he wanted to do.  Remember what happened to him?

What about Moses?  Now, what bad thing could I find to say about Moses?  We find it in Numbers 20.  The Israelites are still wandering around in the desert.  And they’re still complaining about the same old stuff: nothing to eat, nothing to drink.  God tells Moses to take his staff, strike a rock and water would come out of the rock.  Well, that’s what Moses did – sort of.  Oh, he did strike the rock with his staff and water did come out of it.  But then he lit into the Hebrews.  Listen you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock? (10) 

What’s the big deal? Who could blame him?  I mean, he’d been listening to the griping and complaining from these people ever since they left Egypt.  But it was a big deal to God. Because you did not trust in me, to show my holiness before the eyes of the Israelites, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.  One careless moment, a few choice words, and the promised land was no longer available to Moses.

Need a New Testament example?  Look at Paul – or rather, Saul.  Persecuting Christians, thinking that it was God wanted him to do.  After all, they weren’t following the law.  They were following this criminal Jesus – this blasphemer.  And he was rather important because he was doing it.  But God made it abundantly clear – or maybe it’s better to say abundantly dark – that what Saul was doing wasn’t for God’s glory but his own when he struck him blind on the road to Damascus.

So what happens when we are so blinded by what we think God wants us to do that we can’t see that it really isn’t?  That’s when we need someone – a Nathan – to come in and tell us.  First, God is going to try and tell you himself.  There will be roadblocks, problems, and issues that should serve as signs to us.  But if we don’t listen, he’ll send a Nathan.  Nathan will say things like, “Are you sure this is what you’re supposed to do?” or “I don’t think this is a good idea.” or just flat out ,”No, don’ t do this!”  Do you have a Nathan in your life?

When Nathan –or God, if we listen – comes and tells us “no” we have to swallow our pride and back. That’s not fun to do.  But we’ll save ourselves a lot of pain, grief and fruitless efforts if we do so.  We have to trust that if God wants something done, he will accomplish it in his time and with his plan.  And you have to accept that it might not involve you.

Once we do this, we can focus on what God is really telling us to do.  Amen.

Next week we’ll talk about when we go ahead and do what God tells us not to do.

Mark 1:21-28

A new teaching with authority!  Sounds impressive, doesn’t it?  Anytime authority is mentioned, it can bring to mind grandiose visions of power or fearful thoughts of submission.  And yet, our lives, our societies and our world work because there is authority in it.

So what does it mean to have authority?  Authority is defined as the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control command, or determine; a power or right delegated or given; an accepted source of information, advice, etc.

In other words, a person can have authority over someone like a parent over a child, a supervisor over an employee or a police officer over a civilian.

Or a person can have authority over something – a person who is very knowledgeable in a subject matter is called an authority. 

Authority can be a funny thing.  Some people who think they have it, don’t. Like our friend here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQcNEGrjn1M  Some people who think they don’t have it, do. There’s usually someone who is more authoritative above you who knows more than you do.  Just when you think you are an authority, you may find that you aren’t. 

That’s what happened in today’s Scripture.  The people who were in the synagogue when Jesus began to teach were used to being taught by teachers who had pretty good knowledge of their subject matter.  Then Jesus showed up.  It’s kind of hard to call yourself an authority on the law when the author of the law arrives to teach the class.  And, as it turns out, the scribes weren’t quite the authorities they thought they were.  But I digress.

Now, as if teaching with authority wasn’t enough, Jesus seals his authority in the eyes of the people by casting out an unclean spirit – a demon – from a man.  That was not something folks were used to seeing from their religious leaders.  And the ironic part of this exorcism is that the demon recognized Jesus as the Holy One – the Son of God – while none of the Hebrews in the synagogue did – not even Jesus’ disciples.

Now you may be asking, “What does this have to do with me? I’m certainly not a Biblical authority.  And there’s no way I can perform an exorcism.”

Perhaps not, but Jesus calls us to love and care for others.  He calls us to make disciples of all nations.  And he gives us – all of us – authority to do it by one simple method.  He lives within us. 

If you are a baptized follower of Jesus Christ, if you have accepted Jesus or found Jesus, if you’ve been saved – whatever language you’re accustomed to – your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit and because of that, a part of our triune God lives within you!!

That is powerful!  That is authoritative!  You must only embrace that authority that already lies within your heart.  But in order to do this, you need to have an understanding of what authority is – and what it isn’t;  what authority looks like – and what it doesn’t.

Once there were two men who were asked to recite the 23^rd Psalm.  One was a trained stage actor; the other was an old, feeble minister.  The actor went first.  He began to recite the familiar words, using his training to give a powerful performance.  His deep baritone voice held the audience in rapture as he spoke with inflection and emotion. When he finished, the audience rose to their feet in thunderous applause.

When he had sat down, the minister slowly rose to his feet to render his version of the Psalm.  His voice was not as large as the actor’s; his delivery not as profound.  He stumbled over a few of the words.  Yet when he was finished, there was not a dry eye in the audience. 

The actor was able to explain the dramatic difference between the two recitations.  He said, “I know the Psalm.  He knows the Shepherd.”  Knowing the shepherd is what made him an authority.  You must know the shepherd.

Authority means stepping up to the plate at all times.  It doesn’t matter if it’s convenient or not.  It doesn’t matter if it’s acceptable to who is hearing it.  It doesn’t matter if it causes a ruckus and gets people angry.  It doesn’t matter if it’s in your comfort zone or not.  Taking authority means doing what needs to be done no matter the cost.

Jesus’ message is challenging:  It was for him and it is for us.  The message calls for a drastic change in how we do things, in how we relate to others and how we live our lives.

Finally, authority commands us to image a new world.  We’ve all heard what we are supposed to do: Love your neighbor, care for the least, the last and the lost, show mercy to all.  People aren’t tired of the message – the message is eternal.  People are tired of the old ways of thinking about the message.  We all know the words but something is lacking between hearing the words and doing the deeds.

We need authority to begin thinking about a new world – to use our imaginations in a new way.  It takes imagination to create communities of healing.  It takes imagination to offer everybody the opportunity to live as a child of God. Some people don’t respond to the old ways of doing church – our ways of sharing Christ with the world.  We have to be creative and do something different.

But before we all jump on board and get excited about taking authority, we need to remember one thing – the most important thing about authority.  It comes with accountability.  Those with authority must have accountability – otherwise it’s dictatorial.  We read in the gospels about the leaders who “lord their authority over others.”  Having authority doesn’t mean you get to do whatever you want with no questions asked of you like the biblical rulers did.  That makes you a Pharisee.  Luke 12 tells us that “everyone to whom much is given, much will be required and to him whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”   That more is accountability.

What is accountability?  Let’s first look at what it is not.  It doesn’t mean you have to justify every decision you do or don’t make.  It doesn’t mean that you must consult with everyone before a choice is made.  It doesn’t mean that everyone is going to be supportive of your leadership at all times.

Accountability means that, because of your authority, you will be held to a higher standard.    It means that your fellow leaders expect you to give your best for the cause and if you don’t, they will want an explanation as to why you haven’t.  It means when you behave badly, they will call you on it.  It means that when you do things that are not in the best interest of the church or you start doing things for your own glory and reasons, you will have to answer for actions.

This is a picture of me this past June at my commissioning ceremony.  After the 14 of us who were commissioned as elders or deacons were asked several questions,   Bishop Elaine laid her hands on each of our shoulders and said, in my case, “Amy, take authority as a deacon to proclaim the Word of God, and to lead God’s people to serve the world in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

This is not something that can only be done by clergy.  You don’t have to wear a robe to share God’s love.  Today, I say to you all, take authority as a child of God to proclaim the Word of God by sharing his love wherever you can, whenever you can, in all the places you can.

We follow the One whose authority cannot be silenced.  Use that authority to make a difference for and in God’s kingdom.  Amen.

What is worship?

“But Amy, that’s not worship!” were the words that came from my congregation member’s mouth.  It was one of those moments where I wish I hadn’t been in such shock that I could have engaged my mouth to say something in reply.  Instead, I just stood there looking at this person with a dumbfounded expression on my face.

A group of us had been talking about different styles of worship.  One person said that a really contemporary style of worship – one with guitars and keyboards and the like – just didn’t satisfy him.  Another person said that different styles of music and worship services appeals to a lot of people and he mentioned a southern gospel group that occasionally stops and performs at my church.  It was at this point when the words above were spoken, suggesting that a concert performed by this group is not a form of worship.

I wonder if there has been a topic argued about more within church walls than this one:  What defines worship.  Dictionary.com defines worship as “reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.”   Webster defines it as “a service or rite showing reverence for a deity.”  But these definitions don’t help solve the problem.

I tend to define worship as “having an experience with God.”  It’s a time for those of us who call ourselves sons and daughters of God to come before the Creator of the universe to give thanks for everything that we have and all that we are.  It’s a time for us to lay our empty vessels before God in order that they can be replenished so that we may go out and share God’s love with the world. It’s a time for us to connect with God.

For some of us, this means having “high church” with clergy, wearing vestments, leading the congregation in liturgies, a choir singing and a pipe organ playing.  For others, this means a more casual atmosphere with the clergy wearing street clothes while a band of guitars, keyboards and drums plays in the background.  Is one of these styles a more right – a more correct – way to worship?  Who am I to say if how a person experiences God is right or wrong?  

What I do believe to be wrong is this:  People who believe that their way of worship is the only way to worship.  Why can we not see that there is a multitude of ways to experience and worship God?  The God I worship is not so minuscule that only one way of worship is acceptable.  If one’s worship is heartfelt, then God is worshipped – no matter what the style or setting.

We can see the results of the insistence of what worship is or isn’t.  “That’s not worship” is seen in the decline of United Methodist – and other mainline denomination – churches for the last 40+ years.  “That’s not worship” has resulted in a smaller number of young people in our pews.  “That’s not worship” will be our downfall!

So while one particular style of worship may not be right for us, it doesn’t mean that style is nullified in the eyes of another person – or in God’s eyes.  We can’t go around defining worship for anybody else except us because in doing so, we could be keeping someone from having an experience with God.  I know I don’t want that hanging over my head.  Do you?

Time

Sermon 11/13/11

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 & Matthew 25:14-15, 19-29

     Do you remember the song “Fly Like an Eagle” by the Steve Miller Band?  Remember how it starts out?  “Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future.”  Boy, doesn’t it?

When we’re kids, time doesn’t seem to pass fast enough.  When we’re grown, we can’t seem to hold on to it hard enough.

     Time is something that we all relate to.  And what seems to be our most common complaint?  We don’t have enough time.  We need more of it to complete everything we need and want to do.  And, through some of you in this congregation, I’ve learned that for many years I’ve lived under the delusion that once I retire, I’ll have all the time necessary to do all of those things.  You have informed me that I’ll be just as busy in my retirement years as I am right now!  Lord, help me!

     Paul reminds us today that we don’t get limitless time.  We don’t have an endless supply of our own time – or an endless supply of God’s time.  Therefore, we need to make good use of the time we have.

     He tells us that this isn’t a surprise.  As verse 4 says, we are not in darkness, to be surprised.  We are children of the light.  We know that Christ is going to return once again!  We aren’t going to be able to stand back and say, “What’s going on here?!”  Paul was very specifically talking about the return of Christ but we can apply it another way.  We all know what waits for us at the end of our life:  Death does not pass any of us by.

     Paul warns us in today’s text not to fall asleep and to remain sober.  This means more than just being aware that Jesus is returning.  Let me show you what I mean.

     Jump over with me to Matthew 25 – the gospel lesson for today.  It’s a parable that you might be familiar with but we going to look at it a little bit differently today.

[Please read MATTHEW 25:14-15. 19-29]

     Many people interpret this parable in one way and that’s money.  But they don’t stop to consider that a “talent” can also mean a literal talent – gifts and graces given by God to be used for God.

     Now, I can hear you all now.  “I don’t have any talents, Amy!”  YES, YOU DO!  You have at least one.  But we can’t limit what we think of as a talent to something like musical ability or artistic ability.  We need to look at 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in EVERYONE. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith, to another gifts of healing, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

     There are more than just listed here.  What are you good at?  Chances are that is your talent – your spiritual gift.

     When we look at this two Scriptures together, we find an important message that we should not and cannot ignore.  Paul tells us that our time is limited – both ours and the world’s.  Christ tells us that we have been given talents that we should be using for God and his kingdom.  We are called to occupy our time by doing God’s work – to live our lives ready to receive him at any moment while serving him every moment.  Paul is telling us to engage in two activities: 1) to encourage each other – comfort and affirm one another and 2) to build each other up – to push each other toward spiritual maturity.  So the question becomes have you fallen asleep?  Here’s how you can tell.  Answer these three questions.

     How much of your time is spent doing things for God?  Now hear me!  I’m not saying that we don’t have the right to do things we enjoy doing.  I’m not saying that you need to turn in your golf clubs for a daily shift at the food pantry.  But you should try to find time to do both.  That’s what we are called to do.  And I’m not just talking about here at church but in the community as well.

     Now, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this time right now – the time you are spending in church – that doesn’t really count.  Worship is provided for our benefit, not God’s – although he does sit enthroned upon our praises.  Worship is a chance for us to refill our pitcher – to replenish it – so that we can go and pour ourselves out for others.

    Question 2.  Do you find reasons (excuses) for why you can no longer serve?  “I’m too busy.”  “I’m too old.”  “I’ve done my time.  It’s someone else’s turn.”  Well, if you’re too busy, perhaps you need to reevaluate some priorities.  And, as Adam Hamilton told those of us at Annual Conference last year, there is no such thing as Christian retirement.  You’re retired when you die.

     I won’t mention a name because I don’t want to embarrass this person.  But we have someone in this congregation who is no longer able to drive and get out as much as they used to.  That doesn’t stop this person from serving our church.  This person makes phone calls to people who are ill or are shut in.  This person sends cards.  This person remains a vital part of our congregation and a vital part of God’s kingdom.

     There is a job that everyone can do.  Sure, we need people to work at the soup kitchen.  We need people to help teach.  We need people to serve on committees.  But we need people to pray for this church.  We need people to make phone calls.  You name it, we probably need it.  What could you be doing?

     Question 3.  Can you no longer see and get excited about possibilities?  I know I’ve shared with you a number of times how this church came into existence.  None of that would have been able to be accomplished if people hadn’t seen and been excited about the possibilities:  the possibility of having a United Methodist Church in southern Utah.  Well, we have one.  Now what?  Does the existence of this campus mean that there are no more possibilities?  Hardly!

     As Michael and I have been dreaming and visioning about SHUMC, we’ve discovered – actually I’ve discovered more so than he has – that there is tremendous possibility here.  We have a music program that could expand.  We have an education program that can grow and is growing! We have a worship schedule that will have to grow (judging from the crowd here this morning).  There are mission possibilities that abound.

     Now, I will admit that as we were discussing all of this, I got a little overwhelmed.  I thought, “How are we going to do all of this?  How can I possibly take on more?”  Well, the answer is Michael and I can’t – nor are he and I called to.  Ephesians 4:11-13 says in part – The gifts he gave were that some would be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the word of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.  It’s all of our responsibility!  In these next weeks, you will be learning how you can assume your role in this task.

     So will you use your talent to encourage and build others up?  Or are you going to fall asleep?  I encourage you, brothers and sisters, do not be like the wicked slave who was thrown into prison for wasting his talent.  Use yours to the fullest so that one day you will hear, “well done, good and faithful servant.”  Amen.