Trusting God and Doing His Will - A sermon

Enjoyed a few extra days off this week and was asked to preach so the weekend became a time of both rest and reflection.

Trusting God and Doing His Will

Psalms 40:2-9. Revelations 3:7-13, and John 4:34-4

In today’s passages we have a two-fold call, first to trust God and secondly to do his will.

            Jesus makes it clear in the passage from John that He came to finish God’s work. He made it clear that His Father sent Him. He made it clear that He has also sends us. We call this the Great Commission.

            Before anyone can accept a call, one must have trust. The one who is calling for someone to accept the task, must trust that the person can do the task and complete it. The one who is being called, must step out in confidence that he or she can do the task and step out in trust that the one calling believes the task will be completed. I hope that makes sense; because often there can be a breakdown in trust. There may be times when you are called to a task and are just not sure if you have what it takes to get it done and done well, but if the one doing the calling has confidence in you, then you are more willing to step out in faith and try to do it. God had confidence in Jesus and likewise has confidence in us to pick up the task of doing His will.

            Accepting this task takes obedience. Obedience illuminates our hearts and faces as we look toward God for His guidance. When we set our hearts and faces to the task it is like the song, “They will know we are Christians by His love” Our face takes on God’s reflection and we illuminate His love.

            I think this happened in our story about the woman at the well. We know the story. Jesus tells her about her past and offers her living water. As she yearns for the new life He is offering, she begins to absorb His love and cannot help but reflect it. She didn’t plan to become an evangelist, but it happened.

            I have been reading a book about evangelism these past days and I’m learning some new things. My Lutheran upbringing rarely mentioned or challenged me to be evangelistic, though it did happen at times. Over the years, opportunities to learn about evangelism and to share my faith have come more and more.

            In our gospel text today, the woman at the well did not share her experience with Jesus with the intent to evangelize or save her neighbors. Rather, Jesus’ words so shocked, surprised, and excited her that she couldn’t contain the message – she had to share it! She realized she was doubly saved. She was saved from her past, and she was saved for the future. She just had to go and tell someone, anyone!

            There may be times at work, school, on the soccer pitch, or in your own neighborhood when someone asks you a simple question, but you realize that an honest answer requires that you share a testimony of your relationship with Jesus. At such times what do you do? Do you keep it simple, or do you act on the promptings of the Holy Spirit and give an honest testimony of how God is at work in your life? The woman at a well had spent so many years lying about the men in her life and now she had an opportunity to share the truth about a new man; Jesus.

            Jesus had sowed a new seed in her life and it quickly sprouted and was ready for harvest. It doesn’t usually happen so fast. Usually the seed is sown and it takes years for it to begin to germinate and sprout. This is why the John passage points out that the reaper has rarely done the sowing, but it doesn’t matter who reaps the harvest, both the sower and the reaper should be glad and even excited, about the harvest!

            For many of us, there can be years of growth between the sowing and a big harvest. If fact, I think sometimes there are various forms of harvest throughout our lives and years of a little more sowing, a lot of weeding and various transformations in our lives before there is a harvest we can really be proud of.

            I don’t know about you, but this earthly life in between the harvests often wears me out. The demands from work, colleagues, students, children, neighbors, extended family etc. while often is a wonderful opportunity, can also be a challenge that demands our attention. Sometimes the demands seem to hit all at once. When that happens, how do we respond? When God places one more request or challenge before us, what do we do? Do we worry and stress how we can manage or do we turn our face to Him in obedience trusting He will provide?

            Often we have due dates and demands that hit us; how do we respond when the crunch is on? Do we shout and get all excited? Do we wave our arms hoping to clean up or erase the mess before us? Do we shake our fist and cry out, “It’s too much God?” Or do we clasp our hands and fall on our knees in prayer for God’s guidance? Sometimes we fall on our knees physically and other times it is more in our hearts as we turn our face to Him seeking His will first.

            The irony and mystery of how God works in our lives is this – when we act out of obedience and trust, he fills our emptiness and provides His strength to meet the demands before us. It is at this time we also need to remember that our pain is nothing compared to Jesus’ pain on the cross.

            Those who don’t know God or Jesus well might ask why we should be expected or even be asked to finish the King’s work. Barclay’s commentary on John gives three reasons to do the will of God. Doing God’s will is first and foremost, the only way to peace. Secondly, it is the only way to happiness, and thirdly, it is only when we do God’s will that we experience true and perfect power.

            When the woman went to the well in the heat of the day, it wasn’t because her life was so busy that she had no other time to go, rather she went because she hoped no one else was around. She wanted to avoid the usual judgment and stares of her neighbors that brought her embarrassment and pain. But then something amazing happened! When she heard Jesus words; His message made her to seek them out! Before, she had no peace, no happiness, but when she claimed Jesus’ words she had a God-given power that made her race to find her neighbors and bring them to Jesus. When she did that, she became an evangelist!

            Many churches have a habit of seeking out a known name when there is a big event in the church. We look for someone with the reputation of being a motivational speaker, someone who is an expert in the field of speaking. Few of us would consider ourselves experts in our field, but all of us are survivors of one kind or another and all of us have our own story to tell.

            Your story may be of a close call when you narrowly missed a tragedy, or when you did well on a test or exam that you thought you would fail, or when you weren’t prepared for something and God carried you through the challenge. Perhaps some of us may have thought our days were numbered as we lie ill on our beds, yet we are still here today.

            God provides for us each day, some days we may be like the widow who only had one last drop of oil and a little flour but then someone or something comes our way and we are blessed with God’s providence and provisions. If God calls you to tell your story, don’t hide it, but trust that just as God met your needs, he will supply the words to share your testimony. Perhaps you have heard that the Lutheran church is a priesthood of all believers. On October 31^st Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, wouldn’t that be a great day to share your faith with someone close to you. Whether it’s with an unbeliever whose life is empty without God, or a believer that might be struggling in some way, your words can be a source of encouragement and a testimony to what God is doing in your life. When pastor asked if I would preach today, I was tired and wanted to dodge his request, but I have learned to listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings, both those that come directly to my heart and those that are brought through someone else. It is when we are most tired that we realize we have nothing to offer, except by the strength of God. It is when we can only depend and trust on God’s power that he can use us most. It is when we respond out of obedience that He replaces our weariness with His peace, His happiness, and His power.

            Obedience illuminates our hearts and faces as we look to God for His guidance.

            God, may we always seek you, may we always turn to you – whether it is out of joy and thanksgiving or simply because we want to be obedient and show our trust and faith that you will continue to provide for our needs each day. Help us to seek you wherever you choose to meet us, whether it is in the midst of trials and temptations or on a mountain top as we seek you. Help us to always choose to seek you first and help us offer our testimony whenever and wherever you call on us to share it.

October Break

This past week the kids and I have been on October Break, though I didn't get much of a break! My students often tell me I assign too much work. I feel the assignments are appropriate and worthwhile, but I've spent most of the week having to mark assignments and tests from each of my classes. Plus, one of my main helpers in the house was gone for almost three weeks so I had plenty to do.

Even so, it was good to have a change of pace and I did find some time to relax. I read a little, watched a few of my favorite programs  on TV, and exercised every other day. The kids and I didn't do anything special, but at least they each had some time with a friend or friends.

A chnage of pace is important in our lives, without it we too easily get in a rut. I like times of change or breaks from work so I can take care of a few things I struggle to finish during my regular schedule. This year the school work was more than usual so I didn't even get time to attend to other household things.

Breaks are nice, but I suppose they are more of a Western idea. Many people in this world don't take scheduled vacations. I remember talking to an Indian couple some years ago who came to my school to do some work. They claimed they hadn't had a holiday for over twenty years, but I couldn't help but notice the joy in their lives and realize that they did keep themselves open to change, and even sought it out. They came to our school to share their expertise in library management, shared themselves in fellowship, and listened to those they met from my school.

I pray that as we continue school on Monday that the work is more manageable and my attitude is refreshed so that my goals for my students are both challenging and meaningful. I pray that my attitude is one of joy and excitement for both my subject matter and the relationships I have with my students. I also pray that I am not so consumed by my work responsibilites that I forget to have fun with my children, husband, and in-laws that stay with us. Life is more than just work and I pray I can remember to have a better balance as work resumes.

THE FUTURE IS IN GOD’S HANDS Romans 15:1-13

This is the last in the series of Spritual Truths. The women's fellowship group will meet again today. I didn't attend last week, but it was a business meeting as we have our Harvest and Thanksgiving service next month. We have much to be thankful for. Last year we did not such a service, but this year tensions are reduced and we are able to worship more freely. In spite of this, most other churches that were in our neighborhood have moved out of the area. We praise and thank God for watching over us and keeping us strong.

The next series will focus on Christians from long ago or the more recent past who serve as a source of encouragement for us today. Please pray with me for guidence as significant lives are considered for our study.

THE FUTURE IS IN GOD'S HANDS                               Romans 15:1-13

Today we examine the 8^th and last Spiritual Truth; to me it is the most exciting and frightening. This Truth recognizes God’s continued presence in our life today, and tomorrow. We recognize that just as God spoke through his prophets and disciples, he continues to speak to us today. He speaks to us in the scripture of his return to earth to judge the saved and unsaved. We know him as the Creator and Judge, the one that we can trust with our future.

We also know him as the one who offers hope and strength when we feel weak. Without God in our lives, life can be quite pointless. While we don’t know what will happen in the future, God does. As human beings we often get caught up in life’s challenges. Do you ever have days where you feel nothing goes right? Do those days ever seem to go on and on? When I begin to feel hopeless like nothing is going right I remember His promises. One such promise in 1 Cor. 1:8-9 states “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I find hope in such verses because life can be so overwhelming at times and sometimes we get so busy we lose perspective and forget how much God and others care for us. At times God can even remind us to slow down and rest. Keeping our priorities in order is important.

Trusting God to work in our lives is like baking a cake; first a recipe is chosen, then the ingredients are assembled, the baker mixes them up, he pours the batter in the form while scraping the pan, puts the pan in the hot oven, and after some time he pulls it out, lets it sit for a while and finally cuts it with a knife before offering it to the guests for consumption. Some cakes are decorated first to look fine, while others are just left plain. The whole process is a labor of love for the baker, but the cake goes through many transformations, not all of which are easy. There can be gentle folding or vigorous beating. The oven has to be hot for the cake to turn out well. Some recipes are made up of rich, sweet ingredients, while others are more basic, but the end is the same. The cake must be consumed for its purpose to be met. On rare occasions cakes might be burnt or cut into various forms before being decorated. If the ingredients are not chosen well, the consumers may discard the cake and it gets thrown out in the trash, but the best cakes are eaten till the last crumb is gone. The cake itself doesn’t get any say in the matter; it’s the baker and consumer that determine the fate of the cake.

What kind of cake might you be? Are you a sheet cake, spread out thin, an oatmeal cake that offers some sustenance to the consumer, or are you a fancy wedding cake that rises high and whose decoration is much admired? Did you dry out in the cooking, or were taken out too early and ended up a little mushy? Or did the baker leave you in just the right amount of heat and serve you up warm? Some of the most enjoyed cakes are the simplest, but devoured quickly.

If we are going to trust God, we have to allow him to handle us how he feels best, we have to trust him not to overcook us or run away before His work is done. We have to trust him with the presentation as he prepares for us to be consumed. What will people say in the end? Will they wash you down with their drink or sit back after eating and feel content? Will they praise the baker or walk away wishing they’d had another choice? Will you trust God to prepare you as He sees fit? Remember, if you fight him, you will not fulfill His dream for you and you might miss the party in the end.

Questions:           1. Do you leave God to work in your life? 2.  How can you trust God more?               3. How can you encourage those around you?           4. What other promises from God are a source of encouragement for you?

The Church is God’s Spiritual Body on Earth Acts 20:28-31

This was shared with the women last month, but it's taken me a while to post it.

A few weeks ago we discussed the Holy Spirit in the fifth Spiritual Truth. Today we examine how Jesus formed the church and how the Holy Spirit creates for Christians a community of believers called the Church. The Church is the community that all believers become part of once they claim God. As new Christians consider how their relationship with God will alter their lives, the Holy Spirit prompts them to join a body of believers who can guide their growth.

The key roles of the Church are to build members in Christ’s likeness through the teaching of God’s Word, fellowship with other Christians, creating opportunities for service and worship, instructing how to understand the role of prayer in a Christians’’ life, and teaching people how to pray. The Church is more than a club, it is a place of learning where believers are challenged to grow in their faith and take correction as needed.

Christians come in many forms, colors, and many unique opinions. We are not always united, but we are invited and challenged to seek a common ground so that we can be united before the world. Christians are wise to choose a body of believers to associate with; we call that body of believers a congregational church. There are many kinds of congregations, but each should recognize God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Bible as God’s Word as the main guides to a church and congregations within a larger church. Each church should have an expression of faith to confirm to her members what the church beliefs are based on.

As members of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria we believe in the importance of worship, fellowship, and growing in our individual faith. This is what brings us together as women and what challenges us to study the Word together so that we can encourage one another in our daily lives. By our presence here we are recognizing the importance of this 7^th Spiritual Truth.