Tawa Baptist

Lament

Scripture: Psalm 137

Title: Lament

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Lament seeks company
  • Lament remembers identity
  • Lament protests honestly
  • Lament vents anger
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

On the wall here we have a list of songs…

–         Small Bump by Ed Sheeran

–         I don’t want to talk about it by Crazy Horse

–         Candle in the wind by Elton John

–         I don’t like Mondays by Boomtown Rats

–         Pride (In the name of love) by U2

–         And Psalm 137 by an unknown artist

Can anyone tell me what these songs have in common? [Let people respond]

–         That’s right, they are all songs of lament

Small bump is a song about a miscarriage

–         I don’t want to talk about it was inspired by a relationship break up

–         Candle in the wind is a lament for Marilyn Munroe

–         I don’t like Mondays is about the 1979 elementary (primary) school shootings in San Diego

–         Pride (In the name of love) remembers the assassination of the Rev Martin Luther King Junior on the 4th April 1968

–         And Psalm 137 was sung by survivors of the Babylonian exile after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC

–         All these songs of lament are tied to an event in history – they remember something that actually happened

 

Today we continue our series on well-being and care of the soul, using the acronym: HEALING.

–         Each letter represents a word which, when properly applied, is life giving to the human soul…

–         Hope Energy Appreciation Lament Inter-dependence Nurture & Giving

–         Today our message focuses on lament

Lament is a way of expressing the sad, bitter, angry & painful truth of what we are feeling inside – it is an articulation of grief

–         At its best lament takes a stink, yucky feeling, and does something creative with it

Last Sunday I said appreciation is about acknowledging value

–         Lament is also about acknowledging what is valuable to us

–         Lament is very close to appreciation – it’s the flip side of the same coin

–         The main difference is the circumstances

–         Appreciation has its roots in enjoyment while lament has its roots in loss

–         We wouldn’t have cause for lament if we didn’t value what we had lost

 

The Old Testament is peppered with laments – people grieving with raw honesty, pouring out their rage and sadness before God

–         Apparently God is big enough to handle it

Psalm 137 is one example of lament in the Bible. From verse 1 we read…

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?

If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.

Remember, O Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundations.” O daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us – he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. 

May the Spirit of Jesus give us grace to face our pain and find our truth

This morning we will touch on four aspects of lament…

–         Lament seeks company

–         Lament remembers identity

–         Lament protests honestly, and

–         Lament vents anger

 

Lament seeks company:

First let’s consider how lament seeks company

–         I’d like to play you part of a song that was originally written in 1971 by the band Crazy Horse and later made famous by Rod Stewart…

“I can tell by your eyes that you’ve probably been cryin’ for ever,

And the stars in the sky don’t mean nothing to you, they’re a mirror.

I don’t want to talk about it, how you broke my heart

But if I stay here just a little bit longer, if I stay here, won’t you listen to my heart, whoa my heart.”

In this song the singer is lamenting the death of a relationship

–         He’s been dumped by his girlfriend and it hurts bad

–         He doesn’t want to talk about it because there are no words to do justice to his pain

–         But he doesn’t want to be alone either – he wants someone to sit with him and listen to his heart – he wants a witness to his suffering

–         Lament seeks company

 

Grief is the price we pay for love

–         The more we love the greater our grief when we lose the one we love

–         When we grieve alone or without being understood it is harder somehow

–         Having someone listen to our heart (to our pain) acknowledges that what we are feeling is real and it matters – it gives meaning to the loss and it affirms our inherent value as human beings

There is a certain feeling of powerlessness when we sit with those who have suffered loss

–         We want to fix things, we want to have the right words to say to make everything better – but words fail us

–         Often what the other person needs is our presence and our listening

–         Simply being there says this matters and you are important

 

In psalm 137 the singer is lamenting the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians

in 586 B.C. and the resulting exile

–         Many people were killed and most of those who survived were forcibly marched to a foreign land and detained there

–         It was a humanitarian disaster

Worse than this though the survivors probably felt like God had dumped them, rejected them, abandoned them

–         The temple, the centre of worship, the symbol of God’s presence, the very hub that held the wheel of their society together, had been destroyed

–         The people were heart broken

–         The relative shortness of the psalm, and the details they leave out, suggest they didn’t want to talk about it – there were no words to do justice to their pain

–         But they did want a witness to their suffering – what they had lost was too important to be ignored

–         Lament seeks company and lament remembers identity

 

Lament remembers identity:

Have you noticed how many people have tattoos these days – skin art has become quite popular

–         People get tattoos for a number of reasons I suppose, often as a statement of identity but also sometimes to show their commitment to the memory of someone they’ve lost

–         A tattoo is like an outward visible scar, symbolising the inner scar on the heart that no one can see

A few years ago now some friends of ours lost a child at birth and shortly after the father of the child had the face of his baby tattooed on his shoulder – like a constant reminder

–         You sometimes see people with the names and birth dates of their loved ones tattooed on their arms

–         Getting a tattoo is a pretty big commitment – tattoos are for life, unless you go through the very painful process of getting them removed

–         Now I’m not recommending getting a tattoo as a form of lament

–         But nor do I wish to make any judgement about it – I can understand why someone who has suffered significant loss might do it

–         To remember and to show their commitment to one they have lost

 

The writer of Psalm 137 says…

–         If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.

This is actually an oath of commitment to remember Jerusalem

–         As a musician, losing skill in your right hand and having your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, would mean not being able to play the harp or sing ever again – so this is a serious commitment to remember

But it’s not just the city the psalmist is remembering, it’s what the city represents – their home and their unique identity as God’s special people

–         This commitment by the exiles to remember where they have come from is a way of preserving their Jewish identity and saving themselves from cultural assimilation in a strange land

You see, when we suffer significant loss our identity is threatened

–         People who go through a divorce, for example, often have to rediscover who they are without their husband or wife, or without their mum or dad

–         Parents who lose a child may feel like they have lost a part of themselves – am I still a father or a mother if my child is dead?

–         Refugees, forced to flee their homeland and start life in a new country where the language and the customs and everything is different, often seek to preserve what they can of their culture to stop themselves from losing any more of who they are

 

Lament is like a tattoo on our heart – it involves a strong commitment to our identity, to remembering who we are, after our loss

 

Lament seeks company

–         Lament remembers identity, and

–         Lament protests honestly

 

Lament protests honestly:

The opposite of lament is denial – pretending everything is okay when it isn’t

–         Lament is a statement that things are not right with the world

–         Let’s listen to another lament now – this one is by the band U2…

“I can’t believe the news today, I can’t close my eyes and make it go away.

How long, how long must we sing this song? How long, how long?

Cause tonight, we can be as one tonight.

Broken bottles under children’s feet. Bodies strewn across the dead end street.

But I won’t heed the battle call, it puts my back up, puts my back up against the wall. Sunday bloody Sunday. Sunday bloody Sunday. Sunday bloody Sunday.

And the battles just begun, there’s many lost but tell me who has won?

The trench is dug within our hearts.

And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart.

Sunday bloody Sunday, Sunday bloody Sunday.”

On the 30th January 1972, in Derry Northern Ireland, British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of unarmed civilians (men, women & children) during a peaceful protest march against internment

–         28 people were shot and 14 died

–         Many of the victims were shot while fleeing from the soldiers and some were shot while trying to help the wounded

–         The event became known as Bloody Sunday and the Bogside massacre

–         Bloody Sunday increased hostility towards the British Army and exacerbated the conflict.

–         Support for the Irish Republican Army (IRA) rose and there was a surge of recruitment into the organisation

U2 released the song, Sunday bloody Sunday in 1983, 11 years after the massacre

–         It’s a song which remembers the violence of that day and the days that followed

–         But more than just remembering, U2’s lament is a double edged protest against violence & revenge

–         “There’s many lost but tell me who has won?”

–         It is not okay that British troops opened fire on unarmed civilians

–         But it’s also not okay to respond in violence

–         Bono sings, “I won’t heed the battle call”, meaning I’m not going to sign up to the IRA. I reject a violent & destructive response

Often we think of lament as a sad song – but Sunday bloody Sunday breaks that mould with the feel of defiance

Psalm 137 is oozing defiance and protest

–         In the opening verses the psalmist describes being tormented by their Babylonian captors who are demanding they sing the happy songs of Zion (Zion is another name for Jerusalem)

–         But the Jewish exiles refused to sing, hanging their harps up on the poplar trees in protest

–         To capitulate to the Babylonians’ request would be a betrayal and a lie

–         The exiles can’t entertain their enemies with happy songs without losing integrity. A lament, like psalm 137, enables them to be honest

 

It is difficult to sing happy songs of praise in church when we just aren’t feeling the love

–         Sometimes songs of praise can help to enlarge our perspective and lift our spirits

–         Other times though we need words & music that align with the pain and distress and anger we are experiencing

–         Jesus is spacious – he is both a man of sorrows and a risen Saviour

–         With Jesus there is room for suffering and comfort, tears and joy, anger and peace, lament and appreciation, a cross and an empty tomb

–         We shouldn’t have to pretend in church and yet that’s often what we do

–         Unfortunately there don’t seem to be that many contemporary Christian laments – or at least I don’t know where to find them

–         Maybe we need to be writing and singing our own songs more

 

Lament seeks company – refusing to grieve alone

–         Lament remembers identity – refusing to forget who we are

–         Lament protests honestly – refusing to pretend it’s ok when it’s not

–         And, lament vents anger

 

Lament vents anger:

A fire place, whether it’s a coal range or a wood burner or a gas heater, needs a chimney or a flu – some device for letting the smoke & gas out

–         Without a chimney the smoke or gas would fill the room and create a toxic environment for the people inside

–         Anger is a bit like a fire – if it is allowed to get out of control it has a destructive effect

–         And if it is not vented properly it poisons everyone in the room

–         Lament is anger’s chimney – it provides a vent for our rage and allows us to breathe a little easier

 

In verse 7 the psalmist asks the Lord to remember the Edomites’ disloyalty

–         The Edomites were the descendants of Jacob’s twin brother Esau – so they were like cousins to the Israelites

–         In the book of Obadiah [1] we read how the Edomites stood aside while the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem

–         Worse than that they gloated over Judah’s misfortune and took advantage by looting the city

–         Asking the Lord to remember what the Edomites did is a polite way of asking God to punish the Edomites

But what comes next isn’t so polite – in fact it is one of the most disturbing verses in the whole Bible…

–         O daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us – he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. 

Imagine singing those words in church – I think the room would fall silent

–         Some people might say, ‘Well that was the Old Testament, we live in light of the gospel of Christ’ – as if forgiveness wasn’t in the Old Testament and feelings of revenge don’t exist now

–         Others might say this is just a metaphor for something else, but the facts of history don’t really support that kind of reading

–         The Babylonians were cruel & ruthless – they didn’t show mercy for women and children or the elderly

–         The psalmist is asking God to find someone who will do to the Babylonians what the Babylonians have done to them

–         He’s not asking God to forgive them but he is leaving revenge in God’s hands

Clearly the Jewish exiles are angry with the Edomites and the Babylonians and for good reason

–         Anger is a natural and legitimate response to hurt & injustice

–         If I am cut, I bleed. If I suffer injustice, I feel angry

 

Some people deal with the fire of their anger by holding it in – it’s like the chimney of their heart is blocked

–         If you do that it will poison you and make you deeply depressed

–         There are many causes of depression and repressed anger is one of them

–         In New Zealand culture we tend to be not that good at outrage – we are more inclined to in-rage

 

Other people deal with their anger by taking it out on those around them

–         If they can’t take revenge on the person who has caused the injustice then they might kick the cat or yell at their kids or worse

–         If you do that your anger lights the fuse of other people’s anger and before you know it the whole world is on fire

 

So what are we supposed to do with our anger?

–         It’s not healthy to hold it in or to touch others with it

–         Well, the only other option I know of is venting our anger to God

–         Releasing the smoke & heat of our rage up the chimney of lament

–         This is essentially what the writer is doing in the closing verses of the psalm

Venting anger through lament is not the same as forgiveness – but it may be a necessary step in the process toward forgiveness

–         If we try to forgive big things too quickly or too cheaply we find the forgiveness doesn’t stick and resentment lingers

–         In his commentary on this verse Walter Brueggemann asks:

–         “Could it be that genuine forgiveness is possible only when there has been a genuine articulation of hatred?” [2]

–         I’m not sure – I do know there can be no real forgiveness without first facing the truth about ourselves

–         We have to give ourselves time and grace to vent our anger and take the log out of our own eye before we can truly forgive

Lament provides a vent for those nasty feelings that would otherwise choke us

 

Conclusion:

Earlier in the sermon I said that lament is close to appreciation

–         This is literally true of psalm 137

–         When we look at psalm 136 and psalm 138 we notice they are both psalms of thanksgiving

–         Psalm 137, a lament, is sandwiched between two psalms of thanksgiving

The message is clear, when it comes to lament we need to keep our perspective

–         Yes, sad, bad & ugly things happen in life, and we need to seek company in our pain so we don’t grieve alone

–         We need to remember who we are in spite of our loss

–         We need to be able to honestly protest the wrongness of it all

–         And we need to be allowed to express how we feel – to vent our anger

–         But we also need to remember that happy, good & beautiful things happen with greater frequency

–         We need to spend at least twice as much time enjoying & appreciating the good things than we do grieving & lamenting the bad

 

Many of us have had plenty of reason to lament this year, but we’ve also had a lot to be thankful for

–         Give your grief to God – tell him honestly & respectfully how you feel

–         Ask him to do something creative with your pain, but don’t wallow in sadness for too long

–         Look up, the good news is all around you.

 

Questions for discussion or reflection:

1.)    What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon?

2.)    Do you have a favourite song of lament?

–         What is it and why? What does it put you in touch with?

3.)    In what sense are appreciation & lament similar?

–         How are they different?

4.)    Why does lament seek company?

–         What are the benefits of not grieving alone?

–         How might we sit with and listen to those who have suffered loss and are in pain?

5.)    Why is the writer of psalm 137 so committed to remembering Jerusalem?

–         How might we remember who we are after a significant loss?

6.)    In what ways is psalm 137 oozing defiance and protest?

–         What aspect of Jesus’ experience do you identify with most – Jesus the man of sorrows or Jesus the risen and conquering King?

7.)    What three options for dealing with anger are touched on in the sermon?

–         What is your default option for dealing with anger?

–         What can we do to vent our anger in a healthy way?

 

[1] Obadiah 10-14

[2] Walter Brueggemann, ‘The Message of the Psalms’, page 77.

Tawa Baptist

Appreciation

Scripture:  Luke 7:36-50 

Title: Appreciation

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Appreciation is about acknowledging value
  • Appreciation vs. depreciation – Luke 7:36-50
  • The importance of receiving and enjoying
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Today we continue our series on well-being and care of the soul, using the acronym: HEALING.

–         Each letter represents a word which, when properly applied, is life giving to the human soul…

–         Hope Energy Appreciation Lament Inter-dependence Nurture & Giving

–         A couple of Sundays ago we heard about the soul’s energy

–         Today our message focuses on appreciation

Appreciation is about acknowledging value:

Appreciation is about acknowledging value

–         We might for example appreciate the value of a sunset by taking time to sit and enjoy looking at it

–         Or if someone gives a good performance on stage or on the sports field we might acknowledge the value of that performance by standing to clap

–         Or if we lived in another part of the world, we might appreciate good service at a restaurant by tipping the waiter

–         Or if someone gives us a gift we might say ‘thank you’ as a way of acknowledging the value of the gift but also to show that we value the giver

Appreciation is about acknowledging value – it’s about saying, this is meaningful, this matters to me

–         Appreciation helps to strengthen connections with other people – it makes us feel better and it makes them feel better

 

We could say appreciation is a life giving exchange – sort of like breathing

–         With breathing we take in oxygen, then we give back carbon dioxide

–         With appreciation we receive the gift (whatever it happens to be) and then we give back thanksgiving & praise

–         And in that little exchange something changes in us so we feel more connected and less alone

Expressing gratitude demonstrates value for the relationship

–         But before we can be truly thankful we have to enjoy the gift

 

I have here a dry sponge and a bucket of water

–         Imagine that this sponge represents the human heart and the water represents something good – something of value to appreciate

–         If I squeeze this dry sponge nothing comes out because nothing has gone in – but if I immerse the sponge in the bucket it comes out dripping with water. It’s like that with expressing gratitude

–         In the same way that this sponge can’t express water unless it has been immersed in water, so too our hearts can’t express love & gratitude unless we have taken the gift in and allowed it to touch us and affect us

 

There are two parts to appreciation: enjoying the gift and expressing gratitude

–         Gratitude is the fruit of appreciation, enjoyment is the root

–         To truly value something we need to take it in and enjoy it

 

Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday this past week we were given three beautiful sunny days

–         I found myself thanking God for the gifts of sunshine and blue sky

–         I valued the sunshine because we’d had a lot of bad weather lately

–         Having said that I was also conscious that I wasn’t able to fully appreciate (or enjoy) the sunny day because I had work to do

–         So my appreciation or enjoyment of God’s gift wasn’t as complete as it might have been

–         To fully appreciate something (to properly value the gift and the giver) we need to fully receive and enjoy the gift

–         No point in only dipping the sponge half way

–         We need to take the gift in fully and allow ourselves to be touched or affected by the kindness of the giver

 

Here’s another example for you

–         In my hand is a Whittaker’s Sante bar

–         Now say I gave this chocolate bar to someone as a gift

–         They might say, ‘Thank you Will’ because that’s the polite thing to say but saying ‘thank you’ is only half of the process of appreciation

–         The other half involves removing the wrapper and taking some time to enjoy eating the chocolate

–         However, the process of appreciation isn’t totally complete until the person receiving the chocolate feels touched in their heart by the gift

–         True appreciation involves a shift or a change in the deeper parts of ourselves, like oxygen changing to carbon dioxide in our lungs or a dry sponge soaking up water

–         Gratitude is the fruit of appreciation, enjoyment is the root

 

Of course it follows that our appreciation – both our enjoyment and our gratitude – is usually proportional to our felt need

–         For example, we appreciate (or value) a glass of cold water more on a hot day when we are thirsty

–         Just as we appreciate (or value) a doctor more when we are feeling sick

–         Or we appreciate our own bed more after we’ve been travelling away

–         I could go on but you get the point, the greater our need the greater our appreciation when that need is met

 

Appreciation vs. depreciation – in Luke 7:36-50

Please turn with me to Luke 7, page 86, toward the back of your pew Bibles

–         To help us explore this concept of appreciation we are going to read a gospel story of two very different responses to Jesus

–         The woman in this story appreciates Jesus – she values him

–         While the man depreciates Jesus.

–         From Luke chapter 7, verse 36, we read…

36 A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him, and Jesus went to his house and sat down to eat. 37 In that town was a woman who lived a sinful life. She heard that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee’s house, so she brought an alabaster jar full of perfume 38 and stood behind Jesus, by his feet, crying and wetting his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them, and poured the perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee saw this, he said to himself, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know who this woman is who is touching him; he would know what kind of sinful life she lives!”

40 Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Yes, Teacher,” he said, “tell me.”

41 “There were two men who owed money to a moneylender,” Jesus began. “One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. 42 Neither of them could pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Which one, then, will love him more?”

43 “I suppose,” answered Simon, “that it would be the one who was forgiven more.”

“You are right,” said Jesus. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your home, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You did not welcome me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing my feet since I came. 46 You provided no olive oil for my head, but she has covered my feet with perfume. 47 I tell you, then, the great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven. But whoever has been forgiven little shows only a little love.”

48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 The others sitting at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

50 But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate this story for us

 

Each Sunday, when we arrive at church, we are greeted by four people at the door whose job it is to welcome us as we cross the threshold

–         These welcomers normally shake your hand, smile at you, say ‘hello’ and give you a newsletter as you pass by

–         [Put on rubber gloves]

–         Imagine for a moment that the people on the door were wearing rubber gloves like these and a face mask like this, when you arrived

–         And what if, instead of shaking your hand, they gave your hands a squirt with sanitiser – how would that make you feel?

–         Well it sends a mixed message – it says, ‘Come in, but don’t get too close.’ ‘Fill the pews but don’t make a mess’

–         It’s also a bit insulting, in that it says, ‘I’m clean and you’re dirty’

–         Most people would feel pretty depreciated to be greeted like this

 

In our reading from Luke 7 a Pharisee invites Jesus to dinner and Jesus accepts the invitation

–         However, when Jesus arrives he is not welcomed with any of the normal courtesies we might expect in ancient middle eastern culture

–         Simon does not greet Jesus with a kiss on the check, which is the equivalent of shaking his hand and saying ‘nice to see you’

–         He does not give Jesus any water to wash his feet, which is like hanging up a person’s coat for them, when they arrive, and offering them a drink

–         Nor does Simon provide any olive oil for Jesus’ head, which in Middle Eastern culture would be as rude as wearing rubber gloves & a face mask

In short Simon, the host, ignores Jesus his guest

–         Now, if you were born and raised in NZ then, like me, you probably don’t appreciate just how socially embarrassing this is to Jesus

–         Simon’s lack of hospitality is a calculated insult

–         This is not an accident, nor is Simon ignorant

–         He means to humiliate Jesus in public – to make him look small and unimportant

–         It’s sort of like being invited to a pool party and having the host ‘down-trou’ you in front of all the other guests – it shows a lack of respect for you as a person and lack of value for the relationship

–         Apparently Simon does not appreciate who Jesus is

–         In fact Simon is apathetic toward Jesus – he simply does not care and consequently he devalues Jesus

 

Although Jesus had the right to say, ‘I see I’m not welcome here’ and then leave in a huff, he doesn’t

–         Instead Jesus practices what he preaches by turning the other cheek and staying to face the man who has insulted him

 

Simon’s apathy is in direct contrast to the woman who had lived a sinful life

–         We are not told the name of this woman but Luke’s account makes it clear that she appreciates Jesus – she values him

–         In some way (we don’t know exactly how) Jesus had made a profound impression on this woman

–         Most likely she heard him give a message about how God loves & forgives sinners – which for her would be like a beautiful fine day after years of bad weather

–         Whatever form Jesus’ grace came in, the woman values and enjoys it

–         She didn’t hold Jesus at arm’s length with rubber gloves or quarantine  his message in some corner of her brain

–         She allowed her heart to be touched and deeply affected by Jesus

 

When she hears that Jesus is at Simon’s house she goes to express her gratitude taking a jar of perfume

–         Now this would have required a fair bit of courage because Simon was at the top of the social scale, a Pharisee with a really good reputation

–         And she was somewhere near the bottom, a woman with a really bad reputation

–         She was walking into the lion’s den – she was going where she didn’t belong

–         This woman’s love & gratitude for Jesus is greater than her fear

But when she sees the appalling way that Simon treats Jesus she tries to alleviate Jesus’ humiliation and compensate for Simon’s rudeness by providing what the host did not

 

In ancient Middle Eastern culture people didn’t eat sitting down at tables like we do

–         They reclined on the ground in a sort of horse shoe shape with their heads facing in and their feet sticking out

–         So the woman would have had easy access to Jesus’ feet and she would have been seen by everyone

–         The woman has some perfume with her but she doesn’t have water or a towel – and why would she? Anyone would assume that Simon had taken care of that

–         So she improvises – she uses her tears to wet Jesus’ feet and her hair to dry them

Kenneth Bailey observes just how shocking this woman’s behaviour was [1]

–         In that cultural setting women were not supposed to let their hair down in public and they weren’t supposed to touch a man

–         Yet this woman does both those things

–         It would have been more practical to use the folds of her dress to dry Jesus’ feet but she uses her hair – that’s unusual even in our culture

She is so focused on Jesus, so grateful for what Jesus has done, that she enters into Jesus’ pain of rejection in a way that is costly to her

–         The greater the cost, the greater the value, the greater the appreciation

–         Washing feet was a job reserved for the lowest of the low

–         You don’t maintain honour and avoid shame by washing feet

–         Jesus had been humiliated by Simon and the woman stood in solidarity with Jesus by not only washing his feet but kissing them as well

–         I expect she wasn’t concerned with other people’s opinions of her

–         Like they say in AA, ‘What other people think of me is none of my business’

 

Jesus would have been expected to tell the woman to stop and go to the temple to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving there

–         But Jesus doesn’t do this – he appreciates (he values) what she is doing

–         We, the reader, can see what this woman senses – that God’s presence resides in Jesus in a special way. [2]

–         Jesus is greater than the temple – so the woman has brought her fragrant offering of thanksgiving to the right person & place

 

Simon, who doesn’t yet appreciate just who Jesus is, concludes that Jesus must be a fraud, otherwise he would know who this woman was and get out his rubber gloves and foot sanitiser

Jesus spoke up and said, ‘Simon, I have something to tell you.’

–         In other words, I need to be frank & you might not like it

‘There were two men who owed money to a moneylender. One owed him 500 silver coins and the other one fifty. Neither of them could pay him back. So he cancelled the debts of both. Which one then will love him more?’

–         And Simon answers, ‘I suppose the one who was forgiven more.’

Then Jesus says, ‘You are right’ and proceeds to point out that Simon did not extend any of the normal courtesies to him while a woman with a bad reputation went beyond the norm in a generous outpouring of love

Jesus does not mean to insult Simon but he does mean to make Simon face the truth about himself – because it’s the truth that sets us free

–         The money lender in the parable represents God

–         The one who owed 500 silver coins represents the woman

–         And the one who owed only 50 coins is Simon

Jesus’ message is clear – Simon is not that different from the woman

–         Like the woman, Simon the Pharisee is also a sinner

–         He may not have sinned as much as the woman but he is still a sinner unable to repay his debt to God and in need of God’s forgiveness

–         The fact that the woman loves Jesus so obviously and so much proves that she truly appreciates (truly values) how much she has been forgiven

–         By the same token, Simon’s apathy toward Jesus (his failure to value Jesus) proves that he is not even aware of his need for forgiveness

Jesus vindicates the woman and covers her with honour saying…

–         The great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven. But whoever has been forgiven little shows only a little love

You see Jesus loves Simon too and wants to help him to appreciate the reality of his situation so that Simon will respond with gratitude to the gift of forgiveness

 

Having spoken to Simon, Jesus then talks to the woman directly saying…

–         Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.

Again we have to appreciate the culture here

–         Men & women were not supposed to talk to each other in public

–         And while the woman doesn’t say anything, Jesus does speak to her

–         But that’s not the most shocking thing

–         Forgiveness is something that God does

–         Jesus is giving this woman a divine pardon and in so doing he is claiming divine authority and painting a target on his own back

 

Appreciation is about acknowledging value

–         The woman valued the gift of Jesus’ forgiveness by expressing her gratitude in a costly way

–         And in that little exchange something changes in her so that she feels more connected and less alone

–         Simon, on the other hand, couldn’t appreciate Jesus’ forgiveness because he didn’t even realise his need for it

–         Consequently he was detached and unaffected

 

We are not told how this encounter with Jesus affected Simon

–         I would like to think that he was cut to the core and changed his mind about Jesus, but I expect that is wishful thinking on my part

–         Certainly Simon’s mates (the Pharisees) depreciated Jesus – they were instrumental in arranging Jesus’ crucifixion

 

The importance of receiving & enjoying:

In his book Flourish, Martin Seligman talks about the value of keeping a thankfulness diary

–         That is, at the end of each day, writing down three things that went well and why they went well

–         It might be that it that you saw a rare bird that day

–         Or it could be that you passed an exam

–         Or maybe you were in the right place at the right time to help someone

–         This simple technique helps to retrain one’s mind to see the good news

–         What we think about grows in our mind – why not sow positive seeds

–         And it is good advice, but to save this from becoming an empty exercise, where we just go through the motions, we need to be intentional about enjoying both the big and little gifts that come our way

–         After all, gratitude is the fruit of appreciation, enjoyment is the root

So one of the key questions relating to appreciation is: how do I enjoy things?

–         How do I fully take things in? How do I receive and value them?

–         Well, we receive by faith

–         Receiving requires us to be open and to trust

Some people have no problem with receiving & enjoying things but others (often religious types) have a hard time with it

–         Maybe we’ve been hurt in the past and our trust has been damaged so we put a bit of distance between ourselves and others – we struggle to receive because receiving makes us feel vulnerable

–         Or maybe we don’t want to be anyone’s debtor, we want to be the one in control, so we do lots of things to help the people around us without ever accepting what they might want to do for us in return – but that just makes us feel more alone

–         Or maybe we are just too proud to accept help – we want to maintain the illusion that we are the hero, that we don’t have needs, that we are better than other people

–         Or perhaps we don’t value ourselves that much – we don’t think we are worthy to receive and enjoy good things

–         Maybe we feel guilty…

o   How can I enjoy a nice meal out when others are starving?

o   How can I enjoy this promotion at work when others are being made redundant?

o   How can I enjoy this holiday when others are going without?

–         There are lots of things that get in the way of our enjoyment – whatever the reason, a failure to receive and enjoy the good things God offers will leave the sponge of our heart dry and unable to express love & gratitude

 

Just a matter of hours before his crucifixion Jesus took the place of a servant and washed his disciples’ feet

–         I imagine it was a humbling experience for everyone in the room

–         Peter, however, refused to let Jesus wash his feet

–         So Jesus said to Peter, ‘If you don’t let me wash your feet you are no longer my disciple.’ [3]

–         In other words, you have to receive this from me

–         If the sponge of your heart is not immersed in the water of my love then you will have nothing to offer

–         What good is a dry sponge – what good is a loveless heart?

 

Conclusion:

We don’t get to choose what form God’s grace comes to us in

–         It might come in the form of a beautiful day after weeks of foul weather

–         It might come in the form of someone cooking a meal for us

–         It might come in the form of being forgiven

–         It might come in the form of a word of Scripture meant just for us

–         It might come in the form of someone washing our feet or our car or our dishes or our floor

–         At some point or other God’s grace is bound to come in a form that makes us feel embarrassed, awkward and vulnerable

–         Good! We don’t get to choose what form God’s grace comes to us in

–         But we do get to choose whether we will appreciate it

May God’s grace humble us in a good way

–         May God’s grace wash away any illusions we have of being in control

–         May God’s grace get under our skin and into our heart

–         And may we enjoy it – may we savour it and appreciate it and value it for all its worth

 

Questions for discussion or reflection:

1.)    What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon?

2.)    Can you think of a time in your life when you really appreciated something?

–         What happened? What were the circumstances?

–         Why did you appreciate it so much?

3.)    How does Jesus respond to Simon’s public insult/humiliation of him?

–         Putting yourself in Jesus’ shoes, how might you have felt &/or responded?

4.)    How does the woman respond to Jesus’ grace for her?

–         What was costly and risky about her response?

5.)    How does Jesus respond to the woman’s outpouring of love?

–         Putting yourself in Jesus’ shoes, how might you have felt &/or responded?

6.)    How does appreciation grow connection and make us feel less alone?

7.)    What is the meaning of the parable in verses 41-42?

8.)    Do you struggle to receive?

–         If yes, why is that do you think?

–         How might you better enjoy God’s good gifts?

9.)    Make some time this week to really appreciate something.

(E.g. reading a good book, going out for coffee with a friend, having a soak in the bath or a walk in the bush or by the sea – whatever it is you enjoy doing.)

 

[1] Kenneth Bailey, ‘Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes’, page 248-249

[2] Ibid, page 257

[3] John 13:8

Tawa Baptist

God’s Word in the Bible

(Scroll down to read Guidelines for reading the Bible)

Key Idea: The Bible is like a bag of groceries – it holds the Word of God

 

This morning we are thinking about the Bible

–         There are many things we could say about the Bible but I’m not going to try and say everything today

–         This morning I want to focus on just one image of the Bible

–         The Bible is like a bag of groceries

–         Just as a bag of groceries holds food, so too the Bible holds the Word of God – the Word of God is like food for our soul

–         The Bible opens up a whole New World to us

 

In Matthew 4, verse 4, Jesus says: “Human beings don’t live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”

–         Which is another way of saying we don’t just need bread to survive, we also need the Word of God

–         Bread feeds our body and the Word of God feeds our soul

–         Just as food gives us strength and nourishment and comfort – it makes us feel good and keeps us healthy

–         So too the Word of God (found in the Bible) strengthens and comforts our soul, keeping our heart & mind healthy

 

Let me show you what I’ve got here in this bag of groceries

–         Here we have some vegetables – potatoes, carrots and an onion

–         Some fruit – apples, bananas and a lemon

–         As well as some bread & butter, some nuts, baked beans and chocolate

When we eat food we try to get a balance in our diet – it’s the same with reading the Bible, we need a balanced and varied diet of Scripture

–         Just as my bag of groceries contains a variety of different kinds of food, so too the Bible contains a variety of different kinds of words & books

Some of the words in the Bible are really old laws, like the 10 commandments – do not steal, do not lie, do not covet and so on

–         Sometimes reading the law is a bit like eating your vegetables – you know it’s good for you but you would rather be eating ice-cream or bacon

Other parts of the Bible contain poetry and song lyrics, like the psalms or the Song of Solomon

–         Some of the poetry is sweet to read, like eating apples or grapes

–         And other pieces of poetry are bitter or sour, like lemons or onions

–         All these different types of writing add flavour to the Bible

 

Now you can see here that some of the items of food can be eaten as they are, raw and without preparation

–         For example, apples don’t need to be cooked or peeled or anything like that – you can put this apple straight in your mouth and chew

–         But other items of food need to be prepared before you can eat them

–         For example, the potatoes need to be boiled or baked

–         And before you can eat nuts you need to remove the shell

–         Or before you eat a banana you need to peel the skin

–         Or before you eat baked beans you need to open the can & heat the beans

Reading the Bible is bit like that too

–         There are some passages in the Bible which you can simply listen to and understand without removing the skin or cooking them first

–         But there are other passages that need some preparation before they can be understood

–         The book of Revelation needs a lot of preparation before it can be understood – reading Revelation raw, without any knowledge of the rest of the Bible or without any awareness of the context in which it was written, will probably make you sick, like eating raw chicken

–         Some parts of the Bible are a bit like nuts in that you have to crack them open before you can eat them – the meaning isn’t always obvious at first

Whether food needs preparation or not, it always needs chewing before swallowing and once it has been swallowed it needs time to digest

–         It’s similar with reading the Bible – if it doesn’t make sense straight away, don’t panic and don’t give up. Take your time with it…

o   Ask God to help you understand what he is saying,

o   Chew it over in your mind,

o   Think about the context in which it was written and what the original purpose was,

o   Talk about it with other Christians, get another perspective

o   Give it time to digest – the meaning will come

 

The Bible is like a bag of groceries – it holds the Word of God

At a basic level we eat for our health, so that we don’t get sick or starve

–         But we also eat for enjoyment and comfort

–         So when you sit down to read the Bible, don’t think of it like a chore or a duty or a rule that you have to follow to try and keep God happy

–         Think of it as something you do for the well-being of your soul and for pleasure – enjoy it like you would a bowl of macaroni cheese or a piece of chocolate or whatever it is you enjoy eating

 

We’ve talked about the fruit and veges and nuts of the Bible, but the bread & butter of the Bible is stories

–         The Bible is full of stories about people and Jesus and God

–         Stories feed our soul with meaning and purpose

–         A Bible story has the power to help us to make sense of our lives

–         Some of the people in the Bible might be similar to us in some way and so we can identify with them

–         Their story is sort of like our story and so we feel close to them

–         It’s like they have faced the same sort of challenges we are facing and that makes us feel less alone, more brave

 

There’s a young girl named Sadie whose favourite Bible story is the one about David & Goliath [1]

–         Sadie likes David because David is a bit like her – he is young and small and he faced a giant

–         The story of David & Goliath helped her when someone bigger at school was mean to her

–         David gave her courage not to be afraid but to speak up for what is right and to get help from a teacher

–         Because she was like David, and God was with David, Sadie believes that God is by her side also

My question to you this morning is: what is your favourite Bible story and why?

–         What story feeds your soul and comforts you?

–         What story is similar to yours?

–         Who is it that inspires you to be brave?

 

Jesus said “I am the bread of life”

–         Which is another way of saying that Jesus is the Word of God who feeds our soul – we can find strength and comfort in Jesus. Let us pray… 

Father God, we thank you for the Bible. Help us to be nourished and comforted as we feed on your Word

–         Jesus, you are the bread of life

Father God, we pray for those who are hungry or sad. May you satisfy the needs of body & soul

–         Jesus, you are the bread of life

Father God, we pray for those affected by natural disasters in Japan, America, the Philippians and other parts of the world. Lord have mercy.

–         Jesus, you are the bread of life

Father God, we pray for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. May they be aware of your nearness and grace.

–         Jesus, you are the bread of life

Father God, we pray for those who feel scared or alone. May you give courage and friendship

–         Jesus, you are the bread of life

Father God, we pray for those who haven’t read the Bible or don’t know the true story about Jesus. Bring your Word in season

–         Jesus, you are the bread of life

Father God, we are sorry for the times when we have ignored your Word by neglecting justice & mercy. Give us strength to do what is right

–         Jesus, you are the bread of life. Amen.

 

Following are some guidelines for how we might read and understand the Bible, as well as some practical exercises that you can try…

Some guidelines for reading the Bible

Pray

Reading the Bible is part of an on-going conversation with God. Before you start, ask God to help you understand what you are reading so you can discern what is meant for you and what isn’t. Not everything you read will specifically apply to you at the time, but some things might.

 

Jesus

Jesus is the central organising principle and person of the Bible. From a Christian perspective the main point of the Bible is Jesus. He is like the hub which holds the wheel together. The Old Testament points to Jesus and the New Testament reveals Jesus. Jesus Christ is the lens through which we understand the Scriptures. He is the living Word of God, the common thread, woven through the Bible.

 

Context

Context is the key to unlocking meaning. The Bible was written thousands of years ago on the other side of the world (the Ancient Near East). Therefore to understand what a passage of Scripture is saying we need to be mindful of the historical and cultural context in which the text was written. We may approach the Bible with our own 21st Century scientific thinking but that is not necessarily how people in the ancient world thought. The questions we are asking today may not be the same as the questions the Bible seeks to answer. We have to allow the Bible to speak on its own terms.

To get a handle on the context of a particular passage of Scripture, ask yourself the following:

–         What was the situation of the person writing this piece of Scripture?

–         What was the situation of the original intended audience?

–         Is their situation similar to mine or different?

o   If it is similar, then in what way?

o   If it is quite different then perhaps this passage does not have a direct or specific application to my life at this time.

–         What was the purpose of the author in writing?

–         What meaning would the original audience have got from what was written?

You may need a Biblical commentary to answer these sorts of questions

 

Scripture interprets Scripture

This principle is closely related to context. The various books of the Bible are inter-related. The Bible has its own internal integrity. If the meaning of a particular passage or word is unclear we can often (although not always) find clarity by comparing it to another part of the Bible which talks about the same or similar things.  Ask yourself:

–         What are the verses around my chosen text saying? (That is, widen the lens of your focus to read what comes immediately before and after)

–         What do other Bible passages, which deal with a similar idea or theme, say about this?

 

Scripture interprets us

While we may think we are interpreting the Bible, we often discover the Bible is interpreting us. By which I mean, our responses / interpretations of the Bible often reveal more about the way we think, and what we value, than anything else. If we find ourselves reacting strongly against something we read, we need to ask ourselves why that is? Reading the Bible requires some self-awareness.

 

Humility

We need to approach the Bible with humility by recognising there are limits to our understanding. For example, we weren’t there at the beginning when God created the cosmos so we should be careful not to become too entrenched in our views about the age of the earth, etc. Likewise we live within the confines of time so we don’t really have suitable categories for understanding eternity. Therefore we shouldn’t claim to know the temperature of hell or the furniture of heaven.  While there are some things we know to be true and can rely on we don’t see the full picture. Only God knows the whole truth.

 

Read Scripture in conversation with other believers

Talk about your understanding (or misunderstanding) of the Bible with other Christians. Ask those you trust what they think of your interpretation or application and whether you are on the right track or not. We need the perspective that others can bring. We can get this perspective by participating in a Bible study group and/or by reading Biblical commentaries written by reputable scholars.

 

Apply what you can

True understanding comes with experience. To know something in more than an intellectual (head knowledge) sort of way we need to put it into practice. For example, to really understand the release of forgiveness we have to realise our own mistakes and receive forgiveness. We also need to forgive others. Or, to understand what it means to be ‘poor in spirit’ we have to plumb the depths and reach the end of our own resources.

 

Be patient

Give it time. We can’t expect to understand everything all at once. The Word of God is like a seed. It gets under our skin and takes root in our heart & mind, growing while we don’t notice. Jesus tells us that one of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to lead us into truth. If we read the Bible in good faith and with an open heart the Spirit will shine light as we need it.

What’s more, there are layers of meaning in Scripture. The same Scripture can mean different things to us at different points in our life, depending on our experiences or circumstances at the time. It truly is a book that goes on giving.          

 

Some practical strategies for a devotional reading of Scripture

Listen to an audio recording of one of the shorter books of the Bible

The majority experience of early Christians was to hear the Scriptures read aloud. Hearing a whole New Testament letter or a whole gospel read out loud, in one sitting, gives a different perspective than just reading one or two chapters silently in our head. If you don’t have access to an audio recording you could read the Bible aloud to yourself or take it turns to read it aloud in a small group.

 

Meditate on a verse or a brief passage about Jesus

Put aside 20-40 minutes when you can be on your own, undisturbed. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the Scriptures you are reading. Start reading through one of the gospels. Take your time. When you come to a particular verse or passage that stands out to you or touches you in some way, pause over it. Read it over again slowly and carefully several times. Let it sink in. When you are ready ask yourself…

–         What does this mean?

–         What is God (or Jesus) saying about himself?

–         Why am I drawn to this verse?

–         What experience in my own life does this passage put me in touch with?

–         What might God be saying to me through this verse or passage?

–         Write down your thoughts in a journal

–         After a few days come back to the verse and to what you have written in your journal.

o   Have your thoughts and feelings changed?

o   Do you have anything more to add to your journal?

o   Is there anything further you need to do – like, share this with a trusted friend or take some action?

 

Imagine yourself in the story

Read a Bible story. For example, the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. Imagine yourself in that story. That is, imagine yourself as the younger son, then as the older son, then as the father. Ask yourself…

–         How do I feel as the younger son (or daughter) returning home?

–         How do I feel as the older son (or daughter) standing outside the party?

–         How do I feel as the father (or mother) welcoming the younger child?

–         How do I feel as the father (or mother) when the older child speaks to me with such contempt?

–         Have I ever actually been in any of these situations in real life?

–         Who do I identify with most?

–         Where is God / Jesus in this story?

–         What is the Holy Spirit revealing to me about God, or myself, or others, through this story?

 

Compare a range of translations

Choose a psalm or the beatitudes or something similar. Look up the same psalm or passage in four or five different translations. You can do this on line if you don’t have several translations to hand. Compare and contrast the different translations. Ask yourself…

–         How are they different?

–         How are they the same?

–         What different nuances, perspectives or layers of meaning do each of the translations reveal

 

Read a book of the Bible alongside a commentary

Choose a particular book of the Bible to read. For example, the gospel of John or Isaiah. Get yourself a decent commentary on that book. You can order commentaries online. (The Bible Speaks Today series is generally easy to read with solid research behind it.) Read a chapter (give or take) of the Biblical book you have chosen each day and then read what the commentary is saying about that passage. Ask yourself…

–         What difference does this make to my understanding?

–         What do I agree with?

–         What am I struggling with?

–         Does the context of the Bible passage relate to us today in anyway? How?

You could do this exercise on your own or in a small group with one or two others. If you find that an academic commentary is too difficult to understand then Scripture Union provide a range of short Bible study notes designed to support a daily rhythm of Scripture reading.  The Scripture Union notes also offer a varied diet of Scripture over time.

 

Questions for discussion or reflection:

1.)    What stands out for you in reading this sermon?

2.)    In what sense is the Bible like a bag of groceries?

3.)    What are your Bible reading rhythms / habits like?

4.)    How might we get a balanced diet of Scripture?

5.)    What can we do to crack open the meaning of Scripture?

6.)    How might you know whether a particular verse or passage of Scripture is God’s Word for you personally?

–         Have you ever had the experience of God speaking to you directly through the Bible?

–         How did you know it was God? What did God say? How did you respond?

7.)    What is your favourite Bible story (or character) and why?

8.)    Try one of the devotional Bible reading exercises above.

 

[1] https://biblesociety.org.nz/discover-the-bible/the-bible-good-for-life/

Tawa Baptist

Energy Part 2 – The Soul’s Energy

Scripture: 1st Kings 19:10-18

Title: Energy – Part 2 (Energy for the soul)

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Treat the cause and the symptoms
  • Recovering the soul’s energy
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Today we continue our series on well-being and care of the soul, using the acronym: HEALING.

–         Each letter represents a word which, when properly applied, is life giving to the human soul…

–         Hope Energy Appreciation Lament Inter-dependence Nurture & Giving

–         Last Sunday we heard about the body’s energy

–         Today our message focuses on the soul’s energy

When we talk about energy, as it relates to people, we mean the strength, vitality or power required for activity.

–         Energy is one of the resources we need to function and get things done.

–         Depression is a state of very low energy or exhaustion.

To help us explore this subject of the soul’s energy we will continue looking at an episode in the life of Elijah – from 1st Kings, chapter 19

–         Elijah was one of the great prophets of Israel

–         In 1st Kings 19 Elijah is on the run for his life after defeating the prophets of Baal. He is at a very low ebb – physically & emotionally exhausted

–         Last Sunday we heard how an angel restored Elijah’s physical strength with food and sleep. This morning we pick up the story from verse 10…

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

Then the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.

Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal, and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”

May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word for us

Last week I talked about the body’s energy and the importance of maintaining healthy rhythms and balance with our sleeping and eating

–         This morning our focus is the soul’s energy

–         By the soul’s energy I mean things that feed our mind, emotions & spirit

–         This is not to say that the body & soul are separate or unrelated

–         To the contrary there is a close relationship between our body & soul so that what happens to our soul can affect our body and vice versa

–         Nevertheless, the soul needs different things from the body – we cannot live by bread alone

 

Treat the cause and the symptoms:

If we think of our whole person like a tree, then the roots are sort of like the soul, while the branches are like the body

–         Meaning or purpose is like the soil which feeds the roots of our soul and enables our whole life (body & soul) to stand

–         Just as you can’t see the roots of a tree because they are underground, so too you can’t see your soul in a physical sense, but you can see the effects of the soul – you can see the fruit in other words

–         The fruit represents the health (or sickness) of the body & soul

–         The fruit of the tree is only a symptom, not the cause

–         For example the fruit might be pain or it might be joy

–         It might be cynicism or it might be faith

–         So often when the fruit in our life is unpalatable, or not enjoyable, we treat the symptom with a pain killer, while ignoring the root or the underlying cause

 

To illustrate the importance of treating the cause, as well as the symptoms, let me give you some scenarios. Here’s the first one…

–         You are at sea in your boat and it starts to leak. Land is 5 days away and your radio is broken so you can’t call for help. What do you do? Do you..

–         A.) Ignore the leak and carry on?

–         B.) Empty the water out by hand?

–         C.) Patch the leak?

–         D.) Both B & C – patch the leak and empty the water out?

–         Yes, I reckon D is the best answer – deal with the cause (which is the hole) and the symptom (which is water in the boat)

 

Here’s another scenario…

–         You break your leg falling out of a tree – what do you do? Do you…

–         A.) Take a painkiller?

–         B.) Go to hospital to get treatment for your leg?

–         C.) Both A & B

–         D.) Harden up and climb back into the tree?

–         Yes, I reckon C is the best answer – deal with the cause (which is the broken leg) and the symptom (which is the pain)

 

One more scenario…

–         Your body breaks out in hives because you’ve been eating too many apples – what do you do? Do you…

–         A.) Eat more apples to condition your body against hives?

–         B.) Keep eating apples and take an antihistamine?

–         C.) Stop eating apples and take an antihistamine?

–         D.) Blame God for the suffering he has caused by making apples?

–         I reckon C is the best answer. If you keep eating apples while taking an antihistamine you might deal with the symptoms but you’ll never address the cause of the problem

 

Recovering the soul’s energy:

As we heard last week Elijah was in a state of abject despair – he was so down he had asked God to take away his life but God refused to euthanize Elijah

–         Instead the Lord began to restore Elijah by providing him with food and rest

–         But Elijah knows the problem runs a lot deeper than being physically tired & hungry

–         Once he has recovered his physical strength Elijah is able to address the needs of his soul (the root cause of his despair) and he does this by going on a spiritual retreat – by walking off into the wilderness to meet with God at Mount Horeb

 

Put yourself in Elijah’s shoes for a moment – 40 days on your own, walking through the wilderness – what is that doing to Elijah’s soul?

 

Well, for starters, we know that physical exercise and spending time in nature is actually good for the human soul in that it renews our perspective

–         When we are walking in the mountains or by the ocean or looking at the stars at night we are reminded that it’s not all about me

–         We are part of a something much larger than us and our problems

Of course, Elijah probably walked through nature a lot – so he wouldn’t have been as disconnected from God’s creation as a modern city dweller might be

–         So simply walking through the wilderness wasn’t going to be enough to sort out Elijah’s soul – he needed something more than that

 

The psychologist Carl Jung had a theory that we each have a number of sides to our personality – including an extroverted side and an introverted side

–         However, we usually have a preference for either one or the other – sort of like we have two hands with a preference for using either our right or our left

Introversion and extroversion is about where we get our mental or emotional energy from – it’s about what recharges us and what drains us

–         Introverts usually recharge their batteries by spending time alone or with just one or two other people

–         Going to a party where there are lots of people and lots of small talk is exhausting to an introvert

–         Extroverts are the other way inclined – they love lots of activities and lots of people around – being on their own is usually exhausting for them

–         Introverts prefer to process their thoughts internally before speaking

–         Whereas extroverts prefer to think out loud – they speak in draft

One of the things we need to do to take care of our soul is understand whether we have a preference for extroversion or introversion and make sure we manage our life in such a way that our soul gets the balance it needs

–         So, if you discover that you are an extrovert then having a job where you get to interact with other people a fair bit will be good for you

–         Whereas a job where you are alone a lot probably isn’t such a good match

–         Or if you discover that you are an introvert then after a busy week at work you will need to plan your weekend with some quiet time in it

–         Or if you are at a party and you need a break from people you might go and do the dishes – because that’s less tiring than talking

This introversion / extroversion stuff is something I’ve found to be true and helpful in my own experience

 

I asked the question before, what would it have done to Elijah’s soul to be on his own for 40 days in the wilderness?

–         Well, it probably depends on whether he was an extrovert or an introvert

–         I don’t know if Jung’s theory applied in the ancient world but if it did then I suspect Elijah was an introvert and the time alone (after the conflict with the priests of Baal) would have been what his soul needed

–         Too much time on the front line facing your enemies is exhausting for anyone, whether you’re introverted or extroverted – Elijah needed some respite from the battle, which his spiritual retreat would have provided

–         Time alone would have also given Elijah opportunity to process his thoughts, internally, so he knew what he wanted to say to God

–         However, too much time alone isn’t good for your soul either, even if you are an introvert – everyone needs social connection and community

 

When he finally reaches Horeb Elijah finds a cave to shelter in for the night and God gets him talking (presumably Elijah hadn’t talked to anyone for 40 days)

–         God asks Elijah, ‘What are you doing here?’ and when Elijah speaks, the Lord listens patiently

–         To some degree listening releases people from the burdens & pain they carry and in this way helps to restore energy to the soul

–         Listening well is a fine art – it requires both grace & truth

–         On the one hand Elijah needed God to listen in a way that made him feel safe – without judgement or criticism

–         At the same time he also needed God to gently challenge what is false

You see, each of us is telling ourselves a story – we are playing a script over and over in our mind to help make sense of our lives

–         It’s like breathing – we usually do it without thinking about it

–         The story we tell ourselves is like the soil in which we are planted – it feeds our soul with meaning & purpose

–         We need to be careful that the story we are telling ourselves is true

–         If we tell ourselves things that are not true then the roots of our soul are feeding on what is false and the tree of our life becomes sick

For example, when a child is mistreated by the adults in their life they will often tell themselves that it is their fault – that they somehow deserved this

–         No one else would say it was their fault, but that’s the story they tell themselves to help make sense of what has happened to them

–         Adults are supposed to care for me but they haven’t in this situation

–         Adults are always right therefore I must be wrong

When the child grows up they usually carry that story into adulthood

–         They think they are responsible for all the bad things that happen to them

–         They develop a sense that they are not worth much and they don’t take care of themselves very well

–         Not everyone who is mistreated responds in this way but many do

 

So what story is Elijah telling himself? In verse 10 Elijah says to the Lord…

“I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

On the face of it, it would appear that what Elijah is telling himself is true

–         It is true the authorities are trying to kill Elijah

–         And it’s true that Elijah has been very zealous for the Lord

–         He has dedicated his whole life to serving the God of hosts

–         He has put all his eggs in one basket

–         He doesn’t have a plan B or a retirement fund

However, when we dig beneath the surface we see that much of the story Elijah is telling himself is not true

–         The sub text to Elijah’s story goes like this…

–         ‘I am alone in this task – it all depends on me and I have failed

–         My mission was to turn the hearts of the people back to God

–         To make people aware of their sin and lead them to repentance

–         But no one has heeded my call, therefore my life’s work has been for nothing – my life is meaningless

–         Because it all depends on me and because I have failed, Israel has no future and I have no future – so there’s no point in carrying on’

–         This is the story that Elijah’s soul has been feeding on for months, maybe years – no wonder the fruit of his life is pain & despair

–         No wonder he wants it to end

What Elijah needs is a new story – one that is true and good for his soul

–         So that’s what God gives him

Elijah’s story excludes God – Elijah’s story imagines that evil has won and that God is powerless to do anything about it

–         Consequently God reminds Elijah of his power & presence. From vs 11…

Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.

The wind, the earthquake and the fire are all powerful forms of energy

–         In the past God had made his presence manifest to his servants through earthquake, wind & fire – but not this time

–         God does not come to Elijah in force as we might expect

–         No – the Lord comes to Elijah in sheer silence

–         God’s presence, in verse 12, can also be translated as a gentle whisper or a still small voice – I guess God’s presence can’t be easily defined

Perhaps the point is: Elijah had expected God to behave in a certain way but when the Lord didn’t behave as Elijah expected Elijah lost hope

–         However, just because God doesn’t turn up in the way we expect doesn’t mean he is absent or powerless

–         No one expected the Son of God to turn up as a baby born in a manger and yet that is how God chose to reveal his presence to humankind

–         In vulnerability and innocence

 

Now you would think after that incredible display of God’s power & presence the problem’s with Elijah’s soul and story would all be sorted

–         But that was not the case – Elijah is not changed by the presence of God

–         When the Lord asks Elijah a second time, ‘What are you doing here?’

–         Elijah answers exactly as he did before – he is still telling himself the same story: that he is alone and that it all depends on him and he has failed so there’s no future for him, no point in carrying on

Sometimes God’s presence is not enough – sometimes we need human presence as well

–         In Genesis 2 when Adam was alone in the Garden of Eden, the Lord God said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”  

 

To help Elijah realise he is not alone and it doesn’t all depend on him the Lord instructs Elijah to anoint two kings (Hazael & Jehu) and an apprentice prophet (Elisha) to carry on his work

–         Jehu will deal with the bad guys that escape the sword of Hazael and Elisha will mop up the ones who escape the sword of Jehu

–         In other words, Elijah it’s not over yet, your enemies won’t win in the end

–         Nor does it all depend on you – my purpose will be achieved through a team effort.

–         Therefore you have not failed in your mission – you are vindicated

–         Your life has not been a waste. Your work is meaningful

–         What’s more, you are not a victim – you are a survivor

Finally the Lord says to Elijah, there are 7,000 others who have remained faithful to me. In other words, Elijah you are not alone as you suppose

–         God has the last word

–         Elijah now has a new story to tell himself, one that is true

 

Conclusion:

You know, when I think about the way God restored Elijah’s energy I’m aware that the Lord used a number of different strategies

–         He didn’t just give Elijah a pill and send him on his way

First the Lord gave Elijah food and rest – to restore his physical energy

–         Then the Lord restored Elijah’s soul by giving him time apart from his enemies – too much conflict is bad for the soul

–         Next the Lord listened to Elijah – in order to hear the story Elijah was telling himself, sort of like counselling I suppose

–         Then the Lord gave Elijah a new story, one that was true and life giving to his soul

–         God did this by revealing his power & presence to Elijah

–         And by showing him a future in which all of Elijah’s enemies were removed and he was not alone

–         The work continued with Elisha and a faithful remnant of 7000 souls

 

What story are you telling yourself?

–         Is it one in which you are a victim and God is powerless to do anything?

–         Is it one in which you end up alone because you think no one likes you?

–         Is it one in which the bad stuff that happens is always your fault – that you don’t deserve to be treated with respect?

–         Is it one in which you will only be accepted if you pretend to be someone you are not?

–         Is it one in which there is no redemption, no forgiveness, no future if you fail or make a mistake?

–         It is one in which everything depends on you?

–         They are just some of the false story lines (lies) we tell ourselves

–         We have to tell ourselves the truth – our soul depends on it

 

Two things you can do to weigh your story to see if you are telling yourself the truth or not

–         The first thing is: read the Bible on your own and in conversation with other Christians and as you read ask God to reveal the truth he wants you to know and to dismantle the lies you have come to believe

–         The second thing is: Find a good counsellor – someone who will listen to you with grace & truth – someone you feel safe with, who will gently challenge what is false in your story and affirm what is true

Jesus said, it’s the truth that sets us free

 

Questions for discussion or reflection:

1.)    What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon?

2.)    Where does the soul’s energy come from? (What feeds your soul?)

3.)    What do you think 40 days alone, walking through the wilderness, would do to Elijah’s soul?

4.)    Would you say you were an extrovert or an introvert?

–         What energises you?

–         What drains you?

–         Is your life organised in a way that gives your soul the balance it needs?

–         If not, what might need to change for that to happen?

5.)    What does it mean to listen well (with grace & truth)?

–         How might we be a safe listener?

–         When listening to others how might we gently challenge what is false?

–         How might we affirm what is true?

6.)    What is the underlying cause of Elijah’s despair?

–         (That is: What is wrong with the story he is telling himself?)

–         How does God give Elijah a new story?

7.)    What story are you telling yourself?

–         How might you verify what is true in your story and identify what is false?

8.)    Take some time this week to reflect on the meaning of verses 11-12, in its various translations. (E.g. sheer silence, still small voice, gentle whisper…)

–         What is God saying to you in these verses?

 

Tawa Baptist

Energy Part 1 – The Body’s Energy

Scripture: 1st Kings 19:1-9

Title: Energy – Part 1

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • The body’s energy
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Today we continue our series on well-being and care of the soul, using the acronym: HEALING.

–         Each letter represents a word which, when properly applied, is life giving to the human soul…

–         Hope Energy Appreciation Lament Inter-dependence Nurture & Giving

–         Last Sunday we heard about hope

–         Today our message focuses on energy

 

When we talk about energy, as it relates to people, we mean the strength, vitality or power required for activity.

–         Energy is one of the resources we need to function and get things done.

–         Depression is a state of very low energy or exhaustion.

To help us explore this subject of energy we are going to look at an episode in the life of Elijah – from 1st Kings, chapter 19

–         Elijah was one of the great prophets of Israel

–         He lived at a time in Israel’s history when it wasn’t easy to follow the Lord – in fact the queen (Jezebel) wanted Elijah dead

–         In 1st Kings 19 Elijah is on the run for his life after defeating the prophets of Baal. He is at a very low ebb – physically & emotionally exhausted

–         From verse 1 we read…

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets [of Baal] with the sword.  So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I don’t do the same thing to you.”

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,

But [Elijah] himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep.

Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again.

The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.

May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word for us

 

This morning I had planned to talk about two types of energy

–         Body energy and soul energy

–         But as I got into the preparation it became evident that I wasn’t going to be able to say everything I needed to in just one sermon

–         So, rather than having one really long message, I’ve decided to break it into two messages over two Sundays – focusing on the body’s energy today and looking at the soul’s energy next week

By ‘body energy’ I mean physical things like food & sleep

–         And by ‘soul energy’ I mean things that feed our mind, emotions & spirit

–         This is not to say that the body & soul are separate or unrelated

–         To the contrary there is a close relationship between our body & soul so that what happens to our soul can affect our body and vice versa

–         Nevertheless, the soul needs different things from the body – we cannot live by bread alone

–         But as I said before we’ll look at the soul’s energy next week – this morning is about the body’s energy

 

Body energy:

Since we are talking about the body, let’s have a little game of charades

–         I’ll mime something and you need to guess what it is I’m miming

o   Mime dancing a waltz

o   Mime riding a bike

o   Mime bowling a cricket ball

 

Now there are two skills each of these activities require – would anyone like to guess what they are?

–         (And if you need a clue the answer is on the back of the newsletter)

–         That’s right – rhythm and balance

 

Two things that help to support our energy levels are rhythm & balance

–         It’s like riding a bike – to keep the bike upright and moving forward you need to maintain the rhythm of your pedalling and your balance

–         If your rhythm is disturbed then it takes more energy to pedal – and if you go too fast or too slow you risk losing your balance and falling off

 

Just as rhythm & balance are essential when riding a bike or dancing, so too our body & soul are supported by rhythm & balance

–         To put it in more practical terms, if life gets out of balance – if we work too hard or don’t keep regular rhythms of eating & sleeping then our energy levels will be depleted

 

Elijah has been on a roller coaster – his lifestyle has lacked rhythm & balance

–         Consequently, in 1st Kings 19, we find Elijah at his lowest point

–         Jezebel wants him dead and he is running in fear for his life

–         Elijah feels isolated & alone – physically & emotionally exhausted

–         He has lost perspective – unable to see anything good in the future

–         He would rather be dead than carry on so he asks God to take his life

–         This is not suicide, at least not exactly, but it’s pretty close to it

–         Elijah is asking God to euthanize him

–         I don’t think Elijah actually wants to die – otherwise why would he be running away to save his life

–         But he does appear to be in a great deal of pain or distress and simply wants that distress to end

 

You’ve got to love the honesty of the Bible – they tell the story warts and all

–         This is shocking – how did Elijah get into such a despairing state?

–         In my mind Elijah is like the Yoda of Old Testament prophets – he’s like a Jedi master

–         On one occasion Elijah raised a widow’s son from the dead

–         Everything he predicts comes true and, less than 24 hours earlier, he won a massive victory over the priests of Baal

–         One would think that someone who was as strong in faith and as close to God as Elijah was would be immune from burn out & despair

 

Well, no. Being a servant of God does not give us immunity from despair

–         Following Jesus usually involves a dark night of the soul, at some stage

–         Yes, Jesus came to give us abundant life but the road to abundant life is sometimes marked by emptiness & pain

–         When we feel down we might think that God is not happy with us or that he is absent or that our faith is somehow faulty – but that’s not true

–         Jesus said,  “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

–         Or as Eugene Peterson puts it, “You are blessed when you feel at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule”

–         You see, our feelings are not a reliable gauge of our faith – just as our energy levels are no indicator of the status of our relationship with God

 

In a strange way Elijah’s despair actually gives us hope

–         If we find ourselves stressed out, burned out, anxious and wishing our life was over, then we can read Elijah’s story and know that we are not alone

–         Not only that but we can know that God doesn’t give up on people – so there is a way through, healing is an option

–         People matter to God – we are not a disposable item to him

–         God refuses to euthanize Elijah – he doesn’t accept Elijah’s resignation

–         God would rather restore people and continue to use them in his service, despite our weakness and imperfection

–         God’s grace was sufficient for Elijah and it is sufficient for us

 

The Lord starts the restoration process by taking care of Elijah’s physical needs

–         He sends an angel who provides food and water for the exhausted prophet – Elijah is given time to eat and rest

–         It seems so obvious that it doesn’t need to be mentioned but food & sleep are essential to sustaining our body’s energy

 

We sang that song at the beginning of the service…

–         The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning…

–         We can’t always recognise God’s mercies at the end of the day when we are tired, but after a good night’s sleep our perspective returns and we can see the good news again

 

One of the keys to good quality sleep is rhythm – going to bed and getting up at the same time every day

–         Now I know this isn’t always possible, especially when you are caring for children, but you do the best you can under the circumstances

–         And if you miss a bit of sleep you don’t worry – you know you will cope and you can catch up later

 

Another key to maintaining bodily energy and quality sleep is physical exercise

–         I remember working as a builder’s labourer during one summer holidays

–         Building means an early start and it’s physically demanding – shifting dirt, lifting wood, swinging a hammer and being on your feet all day

–         It’s also mentally demanding in that you have to think about the smartest way to get something done without causing problems for anyone else

–         Man was I tired in the evening – I slept soundly for 9 hours in a row every night – but I had the physical energy I needed during the day

 

If we sit around all day looking at a screen then we can’t expect to get to sleep easily or to stay asleep for long

–         Incidentally, on the subject of screen time, you will improve your chances of getting to sleep if you turn off your devices an hour or two before going to bed – give yourself some time to wind down at night

 

The food we eat and the time we eat also affects our sleep

–         Everyone’s metabolism is a little bit different so you’ve got to work out what the best routine is for you

–         But generally speaking we tend to function better if we have a bigger meal at breakfast or lunch and eat a bit less in the evening

–         With diet the key is balance – not overdoing (or underdoing) anything

–         Sugar and caffeine are stimulants so we don’t need too much of that stuff, especially just before bed

–         Alcohol is a depressant so if we are already feeling a bit down then having a wine or a beer or a whisky is only going to make it worse

–         Having said that, it’s okay to have the odd coffee, or chocolate bar or beer, so long as you don’t have a problem with those sort of things

–         It’s like the Proverb says: If you find honey eat as much as is good for you – too much will make you sick [1]

–         The Biblical principle is self-control – you be in charge of your appetite, not the other way round

 

Much of what I’m saying is common sense and you’ve probably heard it before but for some strange reason it still takes most of us quite a while to learn to take care of our body’s energy

 

Another thing that helps with sleep is social connection

–         A neuroscientist by the name of John Cacioppo teamed up with some anthropologists and did some research on loneliness

–         What they found is that people who are lonely tend to have poor quality sleep while people with a strong sense of social connection sleep better [2]

 

Now you might wonder, how do they know this?

–         Well, anywhere in the world where people describe being lonely, they will also experience more ‘micro-awakenings’ throughout their sleep.

–         A micro awakening is a small moment in which you rise a little from your slumber. You are not likely to remember it the next day

–         But if you’ve got one of those Apple watches it will probably tell you

–         You can get an app that monitors your sleep these days

–         Apparently if we feel isolated or alone our brain won’t let us go into full sleep mode, because sub-consciously we don’t feel safe – we think no one has got our back

 

There’s a religious community in the States called the Hutterites

–         They are sort of like the Amish – they live off the land and work and eat and worship together

–         I don’t know what their theology is like but apparently they are a really close knit community where everyone has got everybody else’s back

–         When John and his team wired up people in the Hutterite community, they found the Hutterites had barely any micro-awakenings – because they had good social connections & could relax into a deep sleep

 

This relationship between healthy social connections and good quality sleep is an example of the way our body & soul interact

 

When we look at 1st Kings 19 the text makes it clear that Elijah felt completely alone

–         Not only was he physically alone in the wilderness under a solitary broom tree – he also says to the Lord, later on in the chapter…

–         ‘…I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’

–         Elijah had good reason to feel anxious – in his isolation he believed no one had his back

 

Twice the angel touches Elijah to wake him up and prompt him to eat

–         It seems like a pretty ordinary detail but the angel wasn’t just feeding Elijah – the angel was also helping to calm Elijah

 

A couple of weeks ago a group of us from this church went to a seminar, led by Tricia Hendry, on how to support people who experience anxiety and it was really helpful

–         One of the practical things they taught us is how to help someone when they are extremely anxious and having a panic attack

 

The first thing is to stay calm yourself and the way to calm yourself, when you are holding anxious energy, is to breathe deeply and slowly

–         Not short shallow breaths from your chest but deep slow breaths from your stomach, like this [demonstrate breathing in & out]

–         Simply doing that will control your energy and the anxious person beside you will begin to catch your calmness

 

The other thing we can do to help people in an anxious state is get them to engage their senses

–         Using our senses grounds us – it brings us back to reality

 

So our bodies have five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell

–         If someone is acutely anxious you can say to them something like, ‘Look at the bird in the tree over there.’

–         Then they stop thinking about what is making them anxious and they start thinking about the bird in the tree

–         Or, if you know them well enough, you could simply touch them on the arm like this or hold their hand

–         Physical touch can be quite powerful really – it says in a tangible way, you are not alone, I am here with you

–         The other thing you can do is sit them down and give them something to eat or drink

–         In the old days when someone was upset the remedy was to give them a cup of tea to calm them down

–         That’s practical wisdom – it actually works to do that because it engages the person’s senses of taste and smell

 

Getting back to Elijah – the prophet was afraid, for good reason, so the angel calms Elijah’s fears by engaging his senses

–         First he touches Elijah, to wake him up

–         Then he speaks to Elijah, ‘have something to eat & drink’ – that engages Elijah’s sense of hearing

–         Elijah looks at the food and water jar beside him – so he’s using his sight

–         The cake is cooking on a hot stone therefore Elijah can smell it

–         Finally he tastes it

–         Throughout this simple process Elijah is not thinking about Jezebel (who makes him feel unsafe) – he’s thinking about food which comforts him

–         Touch, hearing, sight, smell and taste – the angel calms Elijah by engaging all five senses

–         This grounds Elijah in the reality that he is alive and he’s actually okay

–         God is our creator – he made us, he knows how we function and how to make us calm

 

Conclusion:

Once the Lord has addressed Elijah’s physical needs the prophet is then able to deal with the issues in his soul which are emptying him of the energy of hope

–         The Salvation Army have a saying: ‘Soup, soap and salvation’

–         The idea is that when someone comes to them for help they first take care of the body, with a meal and a bath, then they take care of the soul, with a conversation about Jesus

–         So the application for us is that when we feel exhausted the first step is to recover our body’s energy, through food and rest – then we will have the strength to attend to the deeper needs of our soul

–         Or if we feel overly anxious the first step is to breathe deeply and engage our senses to become calm – then we are in a better position to attend to whatever is troubling our soul and causing us anxiety

 

So often our modern response is to treat the body and stop there

–         But the root of the problem isn’t normally found in the body, the root of the problem is usually found in the soul

–         The body simply bears the fruit of the problem

 

That’s enough for today though – we’ll talk about the soul’s energy next week

 

Questions for discussion or reflection:

1.)    What stands out for you in reading these Scriptures and/or in listening to the sermon?

2.)    What is energy?

3.)    What are some things we can do to support our body’s energy?

–         What is one thing in particular you need to do to care for your body?

–         (E.g. better sleep routines, change in diet, etc.)

4.)     How does God care for Elijah and restore his physical energy?

5.)    What are some practical things we can do to help calm someone who is experiencing acute anxiety or a panic attack?

6.)    Why did Elijah need to attend to the needs of his body before attending to the needs of his soul?

7.)    Take some time this week to sit still and breathe deeply from your stomach – say once or twice a day for 5 or 10 minutes (or as the opportunity allows)

[1] Proverbs 25:16

[2] Johann Hari, ‘Lost Connections’, page 78ff.