Tawa Baptist

L.O.V.E.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Video Link: https://youtu.be/ncW1DISd1kQ

Audio Link: https://soundcloud.com/tawabaptist/sermon-3-jul-2022-love

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Love for God is Loyal
  • Love for God is Obedient
  • Love for God is Voluntary
  • Love for God is Educational
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Good morning everyone.

Last Tuesday a parcel arrived for Robyn in the post. It was relatively large, about 600mm square. The parcel contained a flat pack table, that Robyn wanted me to assemble for her classroom.

While I quite enjoyed woodwork at school, flat packs are not my favourite. Flat packs tend to be a bit of a lottery. Sometimes they go together okay and other times, there are pieces missing or the instructions don’t exactly line up with the pieces you are given.

When it comes to assembling flat packs, you give yourself the best chance of success by reading the instructions all the way through first. The other thing I find helpful, is having a picture of what the finished product is supposed to look like. That way, if the instructions are a bit vague, you can at least see what you are aiming for.

As it turned out, this particular flat pack was decent quality. It had good instructions and a picture of the finished product on the box. I managed to assemble it without any trouble, while watching the sports news and the weather. The things we do for love.

Today we continue our series in Deuteronomy. Among other things, Deuteronomy contains detailed instructions on how to assemble the flat pack of Israel’s life in the ancient world.

In this morning’s passage, which focuses on the opening verses of Deuteronomy 6, Moses shows the Israelites a picture of what the finished product is supposed to look like. The Israelites need to keep this bigger picture in mind because it makes sense of the details. From Deuteronomy 6, verses 1-9 we read…  

These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

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

These words, about loving God with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength probably sound familiar because we hear them on the lips of Jesus, who identified loving God as the greatest commandment.

But what does it mean to love God? True love for God involves at least four things. Love for God is Loyal, Obedient, Voluntary and Educational. L.O.V.E. spells love.  First let us consider loyalty.

Love for God is Loyal:

Sylvester Stallone once said: “I learned the real meaning of love. Love is absolute loyalty. People fade, looks fade but loyalty never fades.”

We might not expect that sort of wisdom from the man who played Rocky and Rambo, but I think there is more to Sly than meets the eye. He is right on the money with that quote. Loyalty is at the heart of true love. I guess a life time of working in Hollywood and the fickleness of fame showed him what matters.

In Arthur Millar’s play, ‘The death of a Salesman’, the main character Willy says, “You can’t eat the orange and throw the peel away. A man is not a piece of fruit.”

What Willy means is that you can’t treat a person like he is a piece of fruit. You can’t take the best out of him and then chuck him away when he is used up. That’s not loyalty. Loyalty is about remaining faithful, sticking with someone through thick and thin. Accepting the person, peel and all.

The Bible is full of stories of loyal love. There is Ruth’s loyal love for Naomi, Jonathon’s loyal love for David, Barnabas’ loyal love for Mark, Moses’ loyal love for Israel, the Father’s loyal love for the prodigal, Jesus’ loyal love for Simon Peter and so on.   

One of the key messages of Deuteronomy is, remain loyal to Yahweh the Lord. Do not turn aside to the right or the left. Do not worship any other gods. Stay on track with God Almighty. Don’t treat the Lord like an orange.

In verses 4-5 we read: 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.   

These verses are known as the Shema which means ‘hear’. For centuries Jews have recited these words as part of a daily ritual of prayer.

Verse 4 is sometimes translated ‘the Lord is one’ and other times, ‘the Lord alone’. This is not an either / or choice. The original Hebrew embraces a both / and meaning.

To say, the Lord is one, points to the wholeness, the oneness, the unity and integrity of God Almighty. God is wholehearted in his commitment to the promises he makes. God’s loyalty is undivided. This means, if we are going to be in a relationship with God, we must give Him our undivided loyalty too.    

To say, the Lord alone, points to the reality that there is no other god. It connects with the first of the Ten Commandments, ‘You shall have no other gods before me’.

The Lord God Almighty is not in competition with anyone or anything else. There is only one God, therefore, to worship anything else is a lie, a falsehood, a meaningless fantasy. Again, this belief calls for our undivided loyalty to the one true God. 

When we hear the word love we may be inclined to think of a nice, warm fuzzy feeling. An emotion, like falling in love. Sometimes good feelings accompany love but not always.

Loyalty is the backbone of love. Loyalty enables love to stand under the weight of gravity. Loyalty provides strength with movement. Without loyalty, love is like a jelly fish; beautiful to look at but with no skeleton, no integrity, just a nasty sting in the tail.

We might also compare loyalty to the roots of a tree. The deeper the roots of loyalty go the more resilient the tree of our relationship with God. But if the roots of loyalty don’t run deep, then when dry times come, the tree of our relationship withers and dies.  

So that’s the first thing: to love God is to be loyal to him. Closely connected to loyalty is the idea of obedience. 

Love for God is Obedient:

If you grew up in the 80’s you are probably familiar with the movie the Princess Bride. It is a story of loyal love. The story begins with a boy sick in bed with a cold. His grandfather comes over to his house to look after him and reads him a story from a book.

In the book we are introduced to the heroes, Westley and Buttercup. Buttercup is a farm girl and Westley is a farm hand. Whenever Buttercup wants something Westley answers with the words, ‘As you wish’. He obeys her, doing just what she asks, simply because he loves her.

At the end of the movie, after the boy’s grandad has finished reading the story, the boy asks him to come back and read again tomorrow and the grandad answers, ‘As you wish’, because he loves the boy. 

Deuteronomy is peppered with commands, decrees and laws and with the encouragement to obey the Lord, so things will go well for you in the land.

In verse 5, we are told the essence or the DNA of all the commands and laws and decrees of Deuteronomy…  

5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

This is the picture on the box, showing us what the finished product of a life of obedience to God looks like. This is what we are aiming for. This greatest commandment makes sense of all the detailed instructions. The main reason we obey God is because we love him.   

The heart, in Hebrew thought, refers to a person’s inner life. Not just our feelings but our mind and our will, or our decision making faculties, as well.

The meaning of the word soul can have a different nuance depending on the context, but in this verse the soul refers to our whole self, including our physical body and our life force or vitality.

The word translated as strength, in verse 5, is more than just your physical energy or your ability to bench press heavy weights. Your strength here includes your wealth, your money, your time, your tools, your social influence, your house, your skills and talents, as well as your livestock (if you a farmer) or your car (if you live in the modern world).

Your strength basically equates to the resources at your disposal.  

The point is, love for God involves using everything we are and everything we have in obedience to God’s purpose.

So, for example, loving God with all your heart, soul and strength means paying a fair price for things, even if that might cost a little more, because we know that God wants us to do justly and not rip other people off.

Of, if you are in the place of the seller, loving God with all your heart, soul and strength means charging a fair price, rather than letting the market decide.

I know Christian landlords who are charging their tenants significantly less than the market rate because they are motivated by love for God, not love of money. 

Love for God is Voluntary:

This obedience of love is not an empty, heartless, fulfilling of duty. Nor is it a callous, mercenary, self-interested obedience, so that God will bless me. The obedience God wants is voluntary, motivated by love. In verse 6 we read…

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.

In other words, the obedience of love isn’t just for show. Our obedience needs to come from the heart, from the core of our self, from the inside out. Not because we have to, but because we want to. True love for God is voluntary.

As much as I don’t like assembling flat pack furniture, I will volunteer to do it for Robyn because I love her. I don’t hold Robyn in my debt for assembling her table. I take pleasure in being able to help her. In fact, I would feel jealous if she asked anyone else.

If you are a parent of small children, then you may not like changing nappies but you volunteer to clean up your child’s mess because you love them. You don’t keep an account of all the money you spend on nappies and wipes in order to invoice them when they are older. You don’t even think of it as a debt.

Or, if you are a parent of teenagers, then you may not like picking your kids up from wherever they happen to be in the middle of the night, but you volunteer because you love them. You don’t expect your kids to pay you like an Uber driver. You may not even expect them to thank you. You are just pleased to have them home safe. Love is its own reward.    

Or, if you have a friend in hospital, then even if you don’t like hospitals you may still volunteer to visit because you love them. You don’t expect your friend to entertain you when you arrive. Nor do you tell them all your troubles. You are there for them, to listen and be present so they know they are not alone.

When we volunteer to help others, out of a heart motivated by love, we are imitating God our Father. God’s love for us is voluntary. God is not obligated to us in any way. God takes care of us, even though there is often nothing in it for him. And he does not count the cost.  

Now when we say that ‘love for God is voluntary’, we are implying that true love is an act of freedom. Love is not involuntary, like a sneeze or the hiccups or an obsession of some kind. Love is a conscious choice. In fact, we cannot love God unless we are free. God sets us free so we can love.  

The Israelites had to be set free from their slavery in Egypt and from their fear, before they could truly volunteer to love God with their all. What things are binding you? What things are holding you back from loving God more fully? What hurts from the past do you still carry?

Okay, to recap what we’ve covered so far: Loving God with all your heart, soul and strength is the greatest commandment, the one that makes sense of all the other laws and decrees. Love for God is loyal, love for God is obedient and love for God is voluntary.

As nice and neat as this sounds, it’s a pretty tall order. Loving God with all your heart, soul and strength, all the time is not easy. Do not despair though. The ‘E’ in our L.O.V.E. acronym stands for educational.

And by ‘educational’ I mean love for God is a learning process. We aren’t expected to know everything all at once. Nor are we expected to never make a mistake. But we are expected to learn from our mistakes.       

Love for God is Educational:

Those of you who watch the TV show, The Simpsons, will know how every episode starts with Bart writing lines on the board at school. I’m not sure if teachers still make students do this but I remember having to write lines on the odd occasion.

Zig Ziglar is quoted as saying: “Repetition is the mother of learning, the father of action, which makes it the architect of accomplishment.”

There is truth in this I think. The more we repeat something over and over again, the more it sticks in our memory. That’s true, not just of writing lines, but of anything we attempt to learn.

Remember when you first started to learn to drive. Everything was a bit stressful and unfamiliar. You were trying to remember to look in the rear vision mirror, while changing gear and keeping an eye on your speed limit. After a couple of months though it becomes second nature.

Returning to Deuteronomy 6, from verse 7 Moses says…

7 Impress these commandments on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

This is education by saturation, learning by repetition.

We probably never learn more than when we have to teach someone else.

Deuteronomy always has its eye on the next generation. Moses doesn’t want the people to forget. He wants them to remember and pass on God’s law of love to their children and grandchildren and so on.

Verse 7, instructs adults to talk to children about God’s commands in the everyday circumstances of life. You see a rainbow you talk about the hope we have because of God’s promises. You watch a movie with a redemption arc in the story line, you find a way to connect it back to Jesus. The kids get grumpy and have a fight, you talk about forgiveness, once they have calmed down enough to listen.

When you sit down for a meal you say a prayer to thank God. When you put your kids to bed at night you read a Bible story or two. When you start the day you recite the Lord’s prayer together. These are just some of the ways we might apply verse 7.

Thinking of verses 8 & 9, we might not tie Bible verses to our hands and heads but some of you may have a fish symbol on your car or perhaps a cross stitch Bible verse hanging on your wall. When I was younger, and had time for hobbies, I used to make small wooden crosses and give them to people as gifts. Maybe you have decorated a cake with the words ‘Jesus loves you’.

Use your imagination, be creative. What can you do to remind yourself and the people in your household of God’s law of love?      

Conclusion:

The night before his crucifixion and death Jesus said to his disciples:

Whoever accepts my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me.

This means we love Jesus by obeying his commands.

In a few moments we will share communion together. Communion is a time to remember God’s love for us in Christ. Jesus opens the door to friendship with God. It is Jesus who makes it possible for us to love God.

Where we have failed to be loyal to God, Jesus has been loyal for us.

Where we have failed to obey God, Jesus has obeyed for us.

Jesus volunteered for the cross, because of his love for God.

By following Jesus in faith, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we receive an education in loving God.

Grace and peace to you on the journey. 

Questions for discussion or reflection:

What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?

  • Have you ever assembled a flat pack before? How did it go? Are you the kind of person who reads the instructions first or do you prefer to wing it?
  • What is loyalty? Why is loyalty important to love?
  • Why do we obey God? What is the difference between obedience motivated by love and obedience driven by duty? Who do you obey?
  • Discuss / reflect on the meaning of Deuteronomy 6:5 ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.’
  • Who do you volunteer for? What things are binding you or holding you back from loving God? What hurts do you carry from the past?
  • What can you do to remind yourself and the people in your household of God’s law of love?    

Outtakes

This idea that love for God is educational isn’t just an Old Testament Moses thing. It’s a New Testament Jesus thing too. Jesus taught his disciples the meaning of love and in turn commanded them to make disciples also.

Incidentally, the word ‘disciple’ simply means student or apprentice. To be a disciple of Christ just means we are learning to be like Jesus.

We shouldn’t compartmentalise discipleship exclusively into some form of church programme. Christian discipleship doesn’t only happen when you are listening to a sermon or attending a Bible study group or doing your personal devotions. Learning to love God encompasses all of life. 

Discipleship, learning to be like Jesus, happens in singleness and marriage, when you are at work or play, whether you are well or sick.

Tawa Baptist

God’s No

Scripture: Deuteronomy 3:21-29

Video Link: https://youtu.be/Ytjj0JHzE1A

Audio Link: https://soundcloud.com/tawabaptist/sermon-26-jun-2022-gods-no

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Moses prays
  • God answers
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Good morning everyone.

In 1969 the Rolling Stones released a song: You can’t always get what you want. I don’t know what Mick Jagger and Keith Richards meant by the lyrics but, given it was the end of the 60’s, one might guess the song reflected a certain felt disappointment that the social change promised by the prophets of that decade had not been delivered.

In these days, of hyper-individualism, the song has become a kind of personal lament, when things don’t go our way.   

This morning we continue our series in the book of Deuteronomy by focusing on the closing verses of chapter 3, in which Moses does not get what he wants. From verse 21 of Deuteronomy 3 we read…

21 At that time I commanded Joshua: “You have seen with your own eyes all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. The Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. 22 Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.”

23 At that time I pleaded with the Lord: 24 “Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do? 25 Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.”

26 But because of you the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the Lord said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. 27 Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan. 28 But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” 29 So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor.

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

In this reading, Moses prayers and God answers Moses’ prayer, although not exactly in the way Moses might have wanted.

But before we get into Moses’ prayer let me recap where the Israelites have got to. You may remember from last week how the Lord instructed Israel to approach the Promised Land from the East being careful not to pick a fight with Edom, Moab or Ammon, and Israel obeyed.

Well, after that, there were two small kingdoms (Heshbon and Bashan), on the east side of the Jordan, which Israel had to pass through to get to the Jordan river. Israel tried to pass through these lands peacefully but king Sihon and king Og would not allow it, so Israel were forced to go to war against them and the Lord gave the new generation of Israelites victory.

Now the path was cleared for the people of Israel to cross the Jordan and take possession of the land of Canaan. Moses wanted to cross over with the Israelites too and so he prayed to ask God’s permission.

Moses prays:

Have you ever played the spinning broom game? This is when you hold a broom close to your body, looking up at the end of the handle, while spinning around a few times. After you have spun you then have to step over the broom.

To the casual observer it seems quite easy but for the person doing the spinning it is a lot harder than it looks. Trying to keep your balance after having spun several times is really difficult. You have to pause and be still for a wee bit to get your bearings and reorient yourself.

Life can be a bit like the spinning broom game at times. We can find ourselves going around and around in circles focusing on the same things and it throws us off balance. Prayer is one thing we can do to reorient ourselves.

With prayer we make time and space to be still and to shift our focus off the broom handle of life’s chores and onto the God of eternity. One of the main purposes of prayer is to connect with God, to realign ourselves with his will. We find our true north when we focus on God in worship. 

When Moses approaches God in prayer, he doesn’t start by telling God what he wants. Moses begins by focusing on God and what the Lord has done. In verse 24 Moses says…

24 “Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?

Verse 24 is an example of adoration of God. By focusing on God in adoration, Moses stops spinning and reorients himself.  Moses isn’t trying to butter God up in order get what he wants. Moses is getting his head straight; he is realigning his perspective by speaking the truth about God.

When we listen to the Lord’s Prayer we notice the first half of it is all about God. Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.   

Jesus taught us to pray in this way because it reorients us toward God, it shows us the true north of heaven.  There is no me, my or I in the first half of Moses’ prayer or Jesus’ prayer.

So, next time you are in a spin. Next time life is going too fast and you feel like you are losing your balance, so you don’t know which way is up, take some time to stop and be still and focus on God. Tell him and yourself some things you know to be true about the Lord. Simply adore him and let your perspective return.

Only after Moses has focused on God in adoration does he then attempt to step over the broom handle and ask for what he wants, saying in verse 25…

25 Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.”

This is quite remarkable really. Moses is the better part of 120 years old by this stage and he isn’t yet tired of this life. Moses has had a taste of what God can do and he wants more. After 40 years of frustration, doing the hard yards and wandering in the wilderness, Moses wants to see the fruits of his labours. And who could blame him.

Moses describes the land beyond the Jordan as fine. Elsewhere it is spoken of as fertile, a land flowing with milk and honey. I’ve never been to Palestine but I’ve seen images and not many people would describe it as fine these days.

It’s not rolling green pastures or thick native bush like we have in New Zealand. More the opposite really. Not sure why people make such a fuss and spill so much blood over it?

Well, most probably it was a fine and fertile land during the time of Moses, all those centuries ago. But now, due to the impact of man and erosion, the land is less appealing.

Perhaps though it wasn’t just the physical characteristics of the land that excited Moses. More likely it was the hope that the land embodied.     

As Moses himself indicates, he was keen to see more of the works of God. He saw how the new generation of Israelites obeyed God and he wants to see more of that obedience of faith. Not only that but Moses is keen to see more victories by the Lord’s hand, as when God defeated king Sihon and king Og.

God answers:

Unfortunately, you can’t always get what you want. The Lord responded to Moses saying…  

“That is enough. Do not speak to me anymore about this matter…”

Apparently, this was not the first time Moses had asked God if he could enter the land.

God’s answers to our prayers are like a traffic light. We usually get one of three responses from God. Green for yes, amber for wait and red for no. On this occasion Moses is not able to change God’s mind. It is a firm no.     

In verse 26, Moses says…  

26 But because of you the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me.

Moses is referring here to an incident that happened years earlier in the wilderness. At one point (in Numbers 20) when the people were complaining about not having any water to drink, Moses asked the Lord what to do.

The Lord told Moses and Aaron to speak to a particular rock in the sight of the Israelites and it will pour out its water. But Moses was in a spin. He had lost his balance. Moses was angry with the people and said to them, ‘Listen you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?’ And then he struck the rock twice with his staff.

Water did come out of the rock and the people drank but God was not happy. So the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

According to this verse, Moses did two things to offend God here. Firstly, Moses did not trust God enough. He hit the rock twice, when God had told him to speak to the rock. And secondly Moses did not honour the Lord as holy in the sight of the Israelites.

To say that God is holy means that he is set apart, he is different from anyone or anything else. God is one of a kind. There is nothing else in all creation as good or pure or powerful or loving as God Almighty.

When Moses said, ‘must we bring water out of this rock for you?’ he by-passed the Lord. God and God alone is the only one who can bring water out of a rock. This was an opportunity for the people to see the holiness of God in action. Moses didn’t give God the credit or the honour. Moses treated something holy (a life giving miracle of God) as if it were common or profane.

This was out of character for Moses. This was not what we normally observe with the great man. His sister Miriam had just died, so Moses was grieving. More than that though, the people were being really difficult. They were always pushing back on something, so obstinate, so obtuse. Moses’ frustration was understandable.

When we consider Moses’ long and faithful service to the Lord and all the challenges he faced, we might think God was being a bit harsh in refusing Moses entry to the land. Surely God could wink at Moses’ indiscretion this once and make an allowance. But to go down that path in our mind is to misunderstand the holiness of God.

God was not being unfair to Moses by saying ‘no’. The Lord punished others in the wilderness for their mistakes. It wouldn’t then be right or fair for the Lord to give Moses a free pass. Even though Moses is the leader, he was still subject to the Law as much as the people were.

Faithful service to God does not make God obligated to us in any way. Faithful service to God is what we should be doing anyway. It’s like Jesus said to his disciples in Luke 17…

7 “Suppose one of you has a servant ploughing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Sometimes we human beings forget our place. Sometimes, when we are busy spinning around that pole, we become disoriented and think that God is there to give us what we want. And while the Lord is gracious and he does help us in so many ways, we need to remember that God is the boss and we are the workers. God is free to say ‘no’ if he thinks that is best and we need to respect his ‘no’.  

Three times in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said to God the Father, ‘Take this cup from me’, but God said ‘no’ and Jesus accepted God’s will for him.

Three times the apostle Paul prayed for God to remove his thorn in the flesh but God said, ‘No, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’.

Sometimes we need to persevere in prayer. Jesus taught that. But after having persevered, if the answer is still ‘no’, then we need to let it go and give our energy to those things God is saying ‘yes’ to.

What prayer do you keep repeating in the hope that God might change his mind? What personal request, in your life, has God answered with a ‘no’? I know for some people this will be a painful thought.

The temptation when God says ‘no’ is to throw our toys out of the cot and go ahead and do what we want anyway. We need to resist that temptation. We need to be still and reorient ourselves through worship and prayer. We need to let God be God and say with Jesus, ‘Not my will Lord, but your will be done.’

Returning Deuteronomy 3; in verses 27 & 28 we see the grace in God’s no. In verse 27 we read what God said to Moses…

27 Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan.

God doesn’t let Moses cross the Jordan but he does allow Moses to see the land from a distance.

Moses standing on top of Mount Pisgah looking on the Promised Land, reminds me of the Mount of Transfiguration, when Moses and Elijah (representing the Law and the Prophets) stood with Jesus in all his glory.

Moses may not have entered the land of Canaan physically but God gave Moses something far greater. The Lord allowed Moses to stand in glory with Jesus. 

Jesus fulfilled the purpose of Moses life, just as he fulfils the purpose of our lives.  

If God says ‘no’ to your request, just wait. He might have something better in store for you later.  

From verse 28 the Lord continues his instruction to Moses, saying…

28 But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.”

Joshua was Moses’ assistant. Moses was Joshua’s mentor. Even though Moses was not allowed to cross the Jordan to take the land, the Lord was saying the new generation of Israelites would. Moses could rest in the knowledge that his life’s work had not been in vain.

The name ‘Joshua’ means The Lord saves. The Greek form of the name Joshua translates to Jesus – so Joshua points to Jesus, the ultimate successor to Moses. It is Jesus who leads us to the Promised Land of God’s kingdom.

To his credit Moses does what God tells him to do. In verses 21 and 22 Moses encourages and strengthens Joshua, saying…

21 “You have seen with your own eyes all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. The Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. 22 Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.”

On the face of it Moses appears to be telling Joshua to be brave and courageous in battle, because the Lord (Yahweh) will fight for them and give them victory over the Canaanites. But there is more going on here than a simple pep talk.

In verse 29, we read that the Israelites were staying in the valley near Beth Peor, at this stage.

Geographically, Beth Peor was the last stopping point on the east side of the Jordan. But Beth Peor also had theological significance. According to Numbers 25, Beth Peor was the place where the old generation of Israelites yoked themselves to Baal. So Beth Peor was where Israel had betrayed God. It was a place where pagans practiced their religion. 

Beth Peor then, represented Israel’s failure. It was a spiritually dangerous place. A place of religious temptation.  

Joshua needs all the assurance he can get, not just for military success but (more importantly) to remain faithful to God Almighty and resist the religious alternatives offered by the Canaanites. [1]

To paraphrase Walter Brueggemann: The community of faith is not defined by its past (which is strewn with bad choices) nor by its current context (which breeds despair). Rather, the community of faith is defined by its deep elemental connection to God who can be trusted in every risky circumstance. [2]

In other words, Joshua does not need to be afraid of the so called gods of his enemies. Nor does he need to rely on his own skill or courage. Joshua and Israel need to trust the Lord God Almighty. He will do right by them.  

What is your Beth Peor? What is your moment of failure, your spiritually dangerous place, where you are most vulnerable to temptation, most susceptible to spinning out of control and losing your balance?

Do not be afraid. All our Beth Peors were nailed to the cross with Jesus. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.

Conclusion:

Let us pray…

Sovereign Lord, you have shown your greatness, your love, your grace, your truth, your power, your holiness in the person of Jesus Christ. There is no other god in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do. Help us to remember you are the master and we are your servants. Keep us faithful to your call, especially when your answer to our prayers is ‘no’. Through Jesus we pray. Amen.

Questions for discussion or reflection:

What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?

  • Have you ever played the spinning broom game? What happened? What did it feel like? How do we reorient ourselves when we have lost our balance or perspective?
  • Why do Moses and Jesus teach us to begin prayer with worship and adoration for who God is and what he has done?
  • Why do you think Moses wants to cross the Jordan to see the Promised Land? Why does God say ‘no’ to Moses’ request?
  • Have you ever prayed for something and had God say ‘no’? What happened? How did you feel? How did you respond? In hindsight, are you able to see God’s grace in his ‘no’?
  • Discuss / reflect on Jesus’ parable in Luke 17:7-10.
  • What is your Beth Peor? Ask Jesus’ forgiveness (if you haven’t already) and imagine your mistakes being nailed to the cross. Jesus does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Declare the truth that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Start each day this week by giving your mind to thanks and praise for what God has done in Christ.    

[1] Refer Walter Brueggemann’s commentary on Deuteronomy, page 46.

[2] Ibid, page 50.

Tawa Baptist

God of Nations

Scripture: Deuteronomy 2:1-22

Video Link: https://youtu.be/JfIeZYvwFjE

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • God’s greatness
  • Israel’s obedience of faith
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Kia ora koutou and good morning everyone.

How many countries do you think there are in the world today? Take a guess.

Well, the precise number is disputed but according to the United Nations there are 195 countries in the world. But, according to FIFA, 211 countries are eligible for the world cup. So, if you guessed anywhere between 195 and 211, then well done. You’ve done enough for a mellow puff.  

Today we continue our series in Deuteronomy focusing on chapter 2, verses 1-22. In this passage Moses sheds some light on God’s governance of those nations who will be Israel’s close neighbours. 

Last week we heard how the Israelites failed to enter the Land of Canaan and were sent back to wander in the wilderness for the better part of 40 years. Now it is the turn of the next generation of Israelites. Will they do better than their parents?

From the end of Deuteronomy chapter 1 we pick up the story. This is Moses speaking to the Israelites, on the edge of the land, as their sojourn in the wilderness comes to an end…

46 And so you stayed in Kadesh many days—all the time you spent there.

2 Then we turned back and set out toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea, as the Lord had directed me. For a long time we made our way around the hill country of Seir. 2 Then the Lord said to me, 3 “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north. 4 Give the people these orders: ‘You are about to pass through the territory of your relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, but be very careful. 5 Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as his own. 6 You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’” 7 The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything. 8 So we went on past our relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion Geber, and travelled along the desert road of Moab. 9 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any part of their land. I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.” 10 (The Emites used to live there—a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakites. 11 Like the Anakites, they too were considered Rephaites, but the Moabites called them Emites. 12 Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land the Lord gave them as their possession.) 13 And the Lord said, “Now get up and cross the Zered Valley.” So we crossed the valley. 14 Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them.  15 The Lord’s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp. 16 Now when the last of these fighting men among the people had died, 17 the Lord said to me, 18 “Today you are to pass by the region of Moab at Ar. 19 When you come to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them to war, for I will not give you possession of any land belonging to the Ammonites. I have given it as a possession to the descendants of Lot.”

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

It might not seem like it at first, but this passage is full of good news. Mainly the good news of God’s greatness, but also the good news of Israel’s obedience of faith. First let’s consider God’s greatness.

God’s greatness:

In the 1870’s Thomas Bracken wrote the words of a poem titled, God defend New Zealand. This poem would later be set to music and become the national anthem of our country.

The opening line (in English) begins with the words, ‘God of nations…’. These three words pay homage to God’s greatness. The Lord God is in fact sovereign over all the nations of the earth. That means God is in charge. God draws the boundary lines. He places peoples of different cultures where he decides.

Thomas Bracken got this idea, that the Lord Almighty is the God of nations from Moses.

In Deuteronomy 2, Moses traces the journey of the next generation of Israelites as they approached Canaan. On this occasion, the Lord instructed Israel to enter the land from the East. This meant travelling up through the nations of Edom, Moab and Ammon.   

The Lord instructs the people to be very careful when passing through Edom and not to pick a fight. Treat the Edomites with respect because they are your brothers & sisters and because the land they occupy was given to them by God.

As it turned out the Edomites were so afraid of the Israelites they wouldn’t allow them through their heartland and so Israel had to go around the outskirts.

Likewise, when Israel came to the nations of Moab and Ammon, the Lord gave the Israelites the same instructions; to respect the Moabites and Ammonites because he (the Lord) had given the Moabites and Ammonites the land they occupied as their possession. 

The point, which is repeated here, is that the Lord Almighty is the God of nations. He isn’t just the national God of Israel. Yahweh is greater than that. He rules over all the countries of the world, allocating land as he deems right.

As we read in the New Testament book of Acts…

26 From one man God made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’

These verses tell us that God allocates land to various people groups at different times in history so that people will seek a relationship with him. So that humanity would come to understand that God is the ground of our being.

Israel were not to try and take land given by God to others. They were to respect the boundaries the Lord had put in place and be content with the land God had provided.

Returning to Deuteronomy 2, we also see the greatness of God’s grace.

The land of Edom was occupied by the descendants of Esau. Esau was the twin brother of Jacob and the Israelites were the descendants of Jacob, so Edom & Israel were closely related.

Even though Jacob was the one to inherit God’s promise to Abraham, the Lord did not forget Esau, who sold his birth right for a bowl of stew. The Lord blessed Esau’s descendants and made room for them too.

In a similar vein, the Moabites and the Ammonites were the descendants of Abraham’s nephew Lot. The Israelites were descended directly from Abraham, so that made Moab & Ammon part of Israel’s family tree.  

Lot’s sons, Moab & Ben-Ammi were conceived through incest. But, in spite of this less than ideal start, God (in his amazing grace) blessed Lot’s descendants and made room for them as well.

You might be wondering, so what does this have to with me? Well, the point of application is that God is greater than our mistakes. He is greater than our sin and selfishness. 

Do you have regrets over poor decisions you made in your youth, like Esau? That’s no problem to God. He has the ability to redeem your regret and turn it into something good.

Do you have skeletons in your family closet, like Lot’s family did? That’s no problem to God. He has the ability to turn what you would rather hide into something good.

In verses 20-22 Moses specifically says that God drove the Zamzummites out of the land of Ammon, just as he drove the Horites out of the land of Edom. Moses is underscoring the greatness of God’s power and authority here. The Lord Almighty moves nations around the world like pieces on a chess board. We might not always understand what’s going on but God knows what he’s doing.  

You may remember from last week how the previous generation of Israelites failed to enter the land of promise because they were afraid of the people living there. These people were known by various names. Rephaites (which means ghosts), Emites (which means terror), Anakites (which means giants) and Zamzummites (which refers to a threatening sound). [1]  

With names like that, no wonder the Israelites were scared. For those of you who are familiar with Harry Potter, these people had a Voldemort like reputation. Or if Stranger Things is more your style, then these people were like the mind-splayer, filling the Israelites with fear and dread. Or if you are into Star Wars, then the Rephaites, Emites and Anakites were like Darth Vader and the Imperial Guards.

Moses mentions their demise as a reassurance, to the next generation of Israelites, not to be afraid. Given that God drove the ghosts and the terrorists and the giants out to make room for the Edomites, the Moabites and the Ammonites, then how much more will God do for Israel.  

Again you may ask, that’s all good and well for Israel but what has this got to do with me? Well, the point of application is that our God (the God of nations) is greater than your worst fears. So if God is for you, then you do not need to be afraid.

There’s one other aspect of God’s greatness I want to draw your attention to in these verses from Deuteronomy 2. I’m not sure what to call it? Is it God’s winsomeness? Is it his disinterested virtue? Is it his goodness and generosity? Is it steadfast love? Theologians might call it ‘prevenient grace’. 

Whatever adjective we give it, this quality of God’s greatness is so subtle, so understated in the text, we could easily miss it.

The Moabites did not worship Yahweh, the Lord Almighty. They worshipped a deity called Chemosh. Likewise, the Ammonites did not worship Yahweh either. They worshipped a deity called Milkom. [2]   

And yet, even though the Moabites and the Ammonites were not loyal to Yahweh, the Lord Almighty (the God of nations) still fought on their behalf to give them their portion of land.

What has this got to do with you? Well, God’s action in helping a people who did not know him points to what Jesus did for us. In Romans 5 Paul writes…

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 

We don’t know the half of what God has done for us. Before we were even born God was at work to provide for us, to care for us and to save us. I don’t know what the word for that is but it speaks of God’s greatness. The greatness of his love.

There is so much good news in today’s reading from Deuteronomy 2. While the main focus of the good news is the greatness of God, we must also acknowledge the good news of Israel’s faith.

Israel’s obedience of faith:

According to the United Nations, the median age of the New Zealand population is currently between 38 and 39 years old and increasing. By the year 2050 the median age is expected to be around 44 years old. Back in 1970 the median age was relatively low at around 25.6 years.

To put that in context the global median age has increased from 21.5 years in 1970 to just over 30 years old today. About a quarter of the world’s population is under the age of 14.

In verse 14 of Deuteronomy 2 we read…

14 Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. 

That means, by the time the Israelites passed through the nation of Moab, there would be no one older than 60 years of age (with the exception of Moses, Caleb and Joshua). Most of the people would be under the age of 50.

Very few would have any memory of their exodus from Egypt, much less the experience of being oppressed as slaves. Almost the entire population would know nothing except life in the desert. Pretty much everyone would have buried their parents in the wilderness.

We don’t know what the median age of the Israelites would have been at that time in history but one would guess it was maybe around 20 years old, give or take. Pretty young in any case. 

The generation, or time in history, you are raised in tends to have an influence in shaping the way you are. Generally speaking, people who were born around the same time are more likely to share similar experiences in life and to exhibit similar behaviours and attitudes.

Sociologists have identified four generational archetypes which appear to repeat themselves over the course of a century. There is the hero generation (born between 1901 and 1924). Also known as the GI generation or builders, these people lived through the great depression of the 1930’s and fought in the Second World War.

Then came the artist generation (born between 1925 and 1942), also known as the silent generation because they lived in the shadow of the hero generation.

After that came the prophet generation (born between 1943 and 1960). We know them as baby boomers. Some of the prophet generation became hippees.

The next generation (mainly children of the boomers) are the nomad generation (born between 1961 and 1981). These people are sometimes called Gen X, or the latch key generation because they grew up relying on themselves.

In theory, the Millennials (born between 1982 and 2002) start the cycle again as the new hero generation.

The exact years for these generations is disputed. Different experts dice up the generations differently, so don’t get hung up on the details and don’t put too much weight on it. I share it with you today to illustrate the point that each generation is different from the one before. 

The new generation of Israelites (that Moses is addressing in Deuteronomy 2) were different from their parents. The next generation had not been scarred in the same way by the experience of slavery in Egypt. They were not as afraid as their parents. They had been raised in the wilderness as nomads.

During their time in the wilderness they learned to trust God because, despite the difficult circumstances in which they were raised, they knew from personal experience that God had always been faithful in providing manna and quail and water. God had always looked after them.

Now they were about to transition to a more settled existence, with land of their own, they needed to be heroes in taking hold of God’s promise.

Verse 8 of Deuteronomy 2, appears quite unremarkable at first glance. Verse 8 reads: 8 So we went on past our relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion Geber, and travelled along the desert road of Moab.

On the face of it this verse seems to simply describe Israel travelling by map.

But what verse 8 implies is truly remarkable. This next generation of Israelites obeyed God. They were different to their parents. The Lord (Yahweh) told them to be careful and not attack the Edomites and the Israelites trusted the Lord, doing exactly what he asked of them.

This is what is known as the obedience of faith. Not doing what we think is best but trusting God and doing what he asks, even if it doesn’t make sense to us at the time.   

I imagine it must have been tempting for Israel to see an opportunity here and go for a land grab. Israel had the upper hand. They knew the Edomites were afraid of them. Israel could have taken advantage of Edom’s fear and attacked. But they didn’t. Israel showed restraint.

Often we associate faith with doing something brave or extraordinary, and it can be that. More often though faith takes the form of exercising self-control and not doing anything stupid or selfish. Moving through the land of Edom, Moab and Ammon, without taking advantage of the locals, was a test of faith that Israel passed.

By obeying Yahweh in this way, Israel were demonstrating their faith in the Lord. They were effectively saying, ‘We believe that Yahweh is in charge. The Lord Almighty is God of nations and he will provide land for us’. 

This is next generation faith. This is good news. This is Israel doing justly, showing mercy and walking humbly with God.  

Conclusion:

Deuteronomy 2 touches on some sensitive issues for us. In particular, the issue of land and who has the right to possess it. Disputes and wars to do with land in the Middle East have been simmering and boiling over for centuries.

Every night we see glimpses of the war in Ukraine on our TV’s and laptops. And we, in the West, are shocked and appalled that Russia thinks it is entitled to invade the Ukraine. Presumably there are some in Russia who think they are taking back what was theirs in the first place.   

Here in New Zealand, we have our own history of land grabbing. Greedy, ruthless men in the 19th Century, who cared more about money than anything else, dispossessed Maori of much of the land they occupied. But even before the European came, Maori were taking land from each other. Iwi against Iwi.  

While the Bible wants to affirm that the Lord Almighty is God of nations and he alone has the right to determine who has possession of the land and where the boundary lines fall, the historical reality is that human beings (in their fear and greed and hubris) continue to transgress God’s boundaries.

I have no interest in passing judgment on who is right and who is wrong in disputes over land. I don’t have the knowledge or the wisdom, much less the authority, to decide those sorts of matters.

I’m just a pastor of a small church, in a land that seems to be forgetting God. My job is to remind people of God and to help people understand the Bible so we know how to relate with God and with our neighbours. I don’t have all the answers. In fact, a lot of the time I’m just trying to figure out what the right question is. But this I know to be true. God is just and merciful.

That means, there will be a reckoning for those who transgress the boundaries that God puts in place. It also means that those who have been treated unjustly will be restored.

In the meantime, we need to remember that Jesus is King. He is Sovereign over all the earth. And one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen.

Questions for discussion or reflection:

What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?

  • What good news do you see in Deuteronomy 2:1-22?
  • What are we saying about God when we sing, “God of nations…”? Why does God allocate land and set geographical boundaries for various people groups? (Refer to Acts 17:24-28)
  • Do you have regrets over decisions you made in the past (like Esau)? How has God redeemed your regrets? (If you are still waiting for God’s redemption, what would you like Him to do?)
  • God provided land for the Moabites and the Ammonites, even though they did not worship Him. Consider God’s loyalty to you throughout your life. Looking back, in what ways has God been at work in your life to care for you and draw you to himself, even before you believed in him?  
  • How was the next generation of Israelites different from their parents? Which generational archetype do you identify with the most and why? (E.g. hero, artist, prophet or nomad.)
  • What is meant by the phrase ‘obedience of faith’? Can you think of a time in your life when you trusted and obeyed God? What happened?

[1] Refer Daniel I. Block, NIVAC Deuteronomy, page 84.

[2] C.f Daniel I. Block, NIVAC Deuteronomy, page 84.

Tawa Baptist

Last Words

Scripture: Luke 24:44-53

Video Link: https://youtu.be/cYNN9ua1JCc

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Continuity
  • Commission
  • Ascension
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Good morning everyone.

A few years ago Eddie Murphy starred in a movie called A Thousand Words. Jack McCall (played by Eddie Murphy) is a fast talking literary agent, a bit loose with the truth. One day a tree appears in his backyard. The tree has a thousand leaves on it. Each time Jack says a word a leaf falls off the tree. When all the leaves are gone the tree will die and so will Jack.

Jack learns the value of his words and of speaking the truth. But with so few words left what is most important to say? Despite the changes he makes, Jack is misunderstood and loses his relationships with those closest to him.

In the end, the tree has only three leaves left. How will Jack use his last three words? I won’t spoil it for you. But think about this. If you had only 1000 words left, how would you use them? What would you say and who would you talk to?

Last Thursday was Ascension Day in the church calendar. Ascension is the day we remember and celebrate Jesus’ return to heaven.

For forty days after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples on earth. He spoke with them, ate with them, restored them and generally reassured them that he was, in fact, risen from the dead in every sense. They weren’t seeing a ghost, nor was his resurrection just a cute metaphor.

Then, forty days after rising from the dead, Jesus was taken into heaven where he sits at the right hand of God, interceding for us, representing us to God.

This morning we take a short break from our series in Deuteronomy to consider Jesus’ ascension in the gospel of Luke. From Luke 24, verses 44-53 we read some of the last words of Jesus to his disciples on earth…

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

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

Three words to give you a handle on this passage: continuity, commission and ascension. Jesus joins the dots for his disciples, showing them the continuity in God’s plan. Jesus commissions his disciples to be his witnesses to all nations. And Jesus ascends to heaven.

Continuity:

In trying to come up with an illustration for the continuity of God’s plan, I googled ‘oldest business in the world’ and found this list of companies.

The oldest company still running today is a Japanese construction firm established in 578 AD. Apparently the Japanese are quite good at continuity planning. The five oldest companies in the world all come from Japan.

The oldest companies in Ireland and the UK are both pubs. Interestingly, seven of the oldest continuously running companies are hospitality related businesses.  

But none of these companies even comes close to the oldest tree in the world. Experts reckon the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine is over 5,000 years old. That’s roughly 1,000 years older than Abraham.

It turns out the Bristlecone Pine has survived so long because of the harsh conditions it lives in. Very cold temperatures together with high winds contribute to a slow growth rate which creates really dense wood. This in turn makes the Bristlecone Pine resistant to insects, fungi and rot.

Despite the Bristlecone Pine’s longevity, it still can’t boast the continuity of God’s plan of redemption which has been unknown centuries in the making. Long before Abraham and the Bristlecone Pine, God was at work to restore humanity to himself.

In Luke 24, the risen Jesus says to his disciples…

44 “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 46…This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day…

To say, ‘This is what is written’ is the equivalent of saying, ‘It has been God’s plan all along.’ In other words, the new is not the new. Rather, it is the old properly interpreted. [1]

Three times during his earthly ministry Jesus told his disciples plainly that the Messiah must suffer, die and then be raised from the dead. But it seems the message didn’t get through.

The disciples were still taken by surprise when Jesus was arrested, falsely accused, beaten and crucified. Sort of like we are often taken by surprise when things seem to go pear shaped for us. 

In verses 44 & 46, Jesus reminds his disciples that what happened with his death and resurrection was all part of God’s plan of redemption. Jesus’ suffering was in continuity with what Jesus himself predicted and with what the whole of the Old Testament was saying in relation to the Messiah. 

Perhaps, in some ways, the purpose of God and the people of God are a bit like the Bristlecone Pine. Both have survived for such a long time, not in spite of harsh conditions, but because of harsh conditions.

The church has fallen out of favour with mainstream New Zealand society in recent years. We are not persecuted but we are misunderstood and marginalised to some degree. Church attendance, generally across most denominations, has been declining and we might wonder what the future holds.

When times are tough we need to remember, tough is to be expected. That does not mean we fold our arms and do nothing. To the contrary we do everything we can to bless and prosper the church. And we continue to offer God’s hospitality to a world which is angry with him or ignoring him. We maintain a growth mind-set and we remain open to what the Spirit of God is doing.

In verse 47 Jesus says: “…and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem…”     

God’s plan did not finish with Calvary. Jesus’ ministry of preaching repentance and forgiveness continues with his followers from 2,000 years ago, right up to the present day.   

The more thoughtful among you may be thinking, ‘Wait a second. Aren’t repentance and forgiveness about discontinuity?’ And you would be half right.

Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change in behaviour. Repentance is essentially a realignment of one’s whole life toward God. When we repent we discontinue the path we are on in order to follow Jesus.

Likewise, forgiveness is about release or letting go. Forgiveness goes hand in hand with repentance. Forgiveness releases us from the guilt and shame of our past mistakes so we are free to realign our lives to follow Jesus.

While forgiveness and repentance do imply a disconnection from our old way of life, at the same time, they enable us to walk in continuity with God’s way. 

Continuity does not necessarily mean the same old same old. Continuity does not exclude change. Continuity may require repentance and forgiveness. Continuity may mean we have to adapt to new and different ways of doing things.

I’m guessing those businesses that have lasted centuries in Japan managed to do so because they were able to flex and move with the times, without discarding their core values.    

At the end of the day we remember the continuity of the church does not depend entirely on us. The church belongs to God and he won’t let his purpose fail. Perhaps this is why Jesus spoke about continuity just before commissioning his disciples.         

Commission:

When we look at the word commission we notice it is actually two words: com and mission.

Com derives from a Latin word meaning ‘with’.

And mission refers to a special assignment or task.

So the word ‘commission’ literally means mission with. In this context, the mission is with Jesus.  

Jesus doesn’t just give his disciples a mission or a task to do and then say, ‘See ya. Bye. I’m off now.’ No. Jesus com-missions his disciples. In other words, he is with his disciples in the mission he gives them. He sends them out with training, help and support.

You see, commissioning isn’t just a one-time event. Commissioning is a process. To become a commissioned officer in the army you have to undergo some sort of officer training. Either that, or rise up through the ranks. There might a special commissioning ceremony at the end of the training process to formally recognise you as an officer, but without the training you wouldn’t be commissioned. The training is part and parcel of the commission.

From the time Jesus called his disciples he had been commissioning them. As the disciples watched Jesus’ example and had a go doing the things Jesus did, they were in the process of missioning with Jesus.

Relating that idea to our context, when we serve in some aspect of the life of the church, like Sunday school or youth group or when we enter into a mentoring type relationship with another believer, we are doing mission with Jesus.

In verse 45 of Luke 24 we read…

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
                                                                              

This opening of the disciples’ minds is part of their commissioning also. Jesus doesn’t send his disciples into the world blind. He gives them understanding of the Scriptures so they know why they are to preach repentance and forgiveness. 

We might be quite intrigued as to what Jesus said to open their minds. Perhaps what Jesus did here was to give his disciples a different lens through which to read the Bible.

When we read the story of David slaying Goliath or Joseph forgiving his brothers or Abraham having faith in God we might be inclined to think, this is about me. I need to be like that. I need to have courage like David or grace like Joseph or faith like Abraham.

And while the Scriptures can be applied in that way, the Bible is not primarily about us. The Bible is first and foremost about Jesus. So the shepherd king David, points in some ways (although not in every way) to Jesus. Just as Joseph and Abraham and others point to Christ in their own ways.

Jesus is the key. When we read the Bible asking ourselves, ‘what does this say about Jesus?’, then (with the Spirit’s help) our mind is unlocked to understand.

The most obvious verses relating to the disciples’ commissioning though are verses 48-49, where Jesus says…

48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The disciples are witnesses of Jesus’ ministry, his suffering, his death and his resurrection. Jesus is simply asking his disciples to bear witness to what they have seen, heard and experienced.

I like what John Stott says about Christian witnesses…

The Kingdom of God is His rule set up in the lives of His people by the Holy Spirit. It is spread by witnesses, not by soldiers, through a gospel of peace, not a declaration of war and by the work of the Spirit, not by… political intrigue or violence. [2]

Sometimes we make evangelism or mission more complicated than it needs to be. At its core, mission is about sharing our experience of Jesus with others. We may not have physically seen the risen Jesus, like the disciples did, but we can talk about the difference Jesus has made in our own life and in the wider world.

We may not have been present at the last supper but we can break bread with our neighbours and work mates. We can pay forward the hospitality and warmth we ourselves have enjoyed with God.

In verse 49 Jesus refers to the promised gift of God’s Spirit, power from on high. The Holy Spirit is the most vital and real connection we have with Jesus. Without the Holy Spirit we cannot carry out Jesus’ mission.       

Not only does the Holy Spirit empower Christian believers to share the good news about Jesus, the Spirit also empowers people who do not yet know Jesus to become believers. The Holy Spirit works with both the transmitter and the receiver of the message to create connections with and for God.

Jesus joins the dots for his disciples, showing them the continuity in God’s plan. Jesus commissions his disciples to be his witnesses to all nations. And Jesus ascends to heaven.

Ascension:

Next weekend is Queen’s Birthday weekend. In actual fact Queen Elizabeth II was born on the 21 April 1926, which means she is 96 years old.

Queen Elizabeth was crowned the monarch of England on the 2 June 1953. This Thursday will mark 69 years since her coronation.

When Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1953, she wasn’t just walking up some stairs to sit on a fancy chair in a big church. She was changing her relationship to all the people of England. She was becoming their sovereign, their queen. That relationship is an objective reality, which is true for all people of England, whether they support the monarchy or not.

From verse 50 of Luke 24 we read about Jesus’ ascension to heaven.

50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

Jesus’ last words to his disciples were words of blessing.

With his ascension to the right hand of God in heaven, Jesus’ relationship with all people everywhere changed. This means Jesus is officially our Sovereign, our King. That relationship is an objective reality, whether the people of this world believe in Jesus or not.

Now, when we read that Jesus was taken up into heaven, we must not think that Jesus literally went into the sky to float around in the clouds. Heaven is not in the physical sky. Heaven is in another realm, not limited by our laws of physics. Heaven is God’s home, hidden behind the curtain of this material world.

Nor should we think of Jesus’ ascension as his absence from earth. While it is true that Jesus is not physically walking around like he did 2000 years ago, he is still present in a spiritual sense.

Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus could only be in one place at a time. Now he has ascended, Jesus can be everywhere and anywhere at the same time by his Spirit and through his people. The ascended Jesus is not limited by our understanding of time and space.

You don’t build a house not to move into it. If the universe is God’s house, then Jesus’ ascension is Jesus moving into the house. Likewise, you don’t buy a car not to drive it. If the universe is God’s car, then Jesus’ ascension is Jesus getting behind the wheel.   

The other thing that often gets overlooked here is that Jesus ascended as a human being. This means a human being is in charge of the universe. Not a frail, imperfect, flawed human being, but a perfect, gracious, divine human being who has walked in our shoes and understands how difficult this life is.       

Our King was not raised in a palace. He was raised in a working class home. He is a man of sorrows, familiar with pain and loss, joy and love. Jesus gets you.  

When Jesus descended to earth as a baby born in a manger, he came to represent God to humankind. Jesus shows us God’s character, his heart, his intention.

By the same token, in ascending to heaven, Jesus represents humankind to God. Theologians call this the vicarious humanity of Christ.[3] Vicarious is a word which means, experienced by way of someone else. As in, we live vicariously through Jesus. We experience closeness with God vicariously through Jesus.

This means when we pray, however imperfectly, Jesus takes our prayers and makes them acceptable to God. It also means that Jesus has already lived the perfect life in our name and on our behalf. So when we mess up, we do not need to despair. God is not focused on our mistakes. He sees us as perfect in Christ.

This does not give us a license to do whatever we want or to be slack. To the contrary it provides us with the motivation to align our life style with Jesus, because it is his name and his reputation that we carry. As followers of Jesus, other people experience Jesus vicariously through us. 

Our church’s vision statement is Christ in community. This means a number of things. One of the implications of this statement is that, by God’s grace and with the help of the Holy Spirit, the wider community encounters Jesus through us.

It is a thing of wonder that Jesus would use us, as imperfect and foolish as we are, to be his representatives (his salt & light, his body) in this world.

Conclusion:

The gospel of Luke finishes in the same way it began, with worship in the temple. From verse 52 we read…

52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

By worshipping Jesus in this way, the disciples were acknowledging that Jesus is divine. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus’ last words were words of blessing and the disciples’ last words were words of praise.

Let us join our voices now, in continuity with the disciples, as we sing…

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.   

Questions for discussion or reflection:

What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?

  • If you had only 1000 words left, how would you use them? What would you say and who would you talk to?
  • Why do you think Jesus emphasised the continuity of God’s plan with his disciples? Has there been a time in your life when things went pear shaped? Looking back, are you able to see the continuity with God’s purpose in those circumstances? 
  • In what ways do you (or have you) done mission with Jesus? Are you (or were you) conscious of the Holy Spirit’s empowerment? If so, how?
  • What would you say, from your own experience, if someone asked you about Jesus? Or, what could you do to show Jesus’ warmth and hospitality to others?
  • What do we mean by the vicarious humanity of Christ? What are the implications of Jesus’ ascension for us?
  • Choose a story or a verse from the Old Testament. What difference does it make when you read this story / verse asking, ‘what does this say about Jesus?’

[1] Refer Fred Craddock’s Interpretation commentary on Luke, page 291.

[2] John Stott’s commentary on Acts, page 42

[3] See for example T.F. Torrence.

Tawa Baptist

The Cross

Good Friday Reflection: Four dimensions of the cross

Video Link: https://youtu.be/XnyM2pIaKUw

Good morning everyone.

John 19:28-37

A reading from the gospel of John chapter 19, for Good Friday. This is John’s account of the death of Jesus. From verse 28 we read…  

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.  31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.

32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

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

Four dimensions of the cross:

The cross of Christ has many dimensions. Today we briefly touch on just four of those dimensions: Relational, Psychological, Global and Physical.

First and foremost, the cross of Christ is relational. Jesus came to restore our relationship with God and our relationships with each other. Through faith in Jesus our sins are forgiven. In fact, our sins were nailed to the cross with Jesus.

And so, when we face the cross we face our mistakes; those things we might prefer to ignore or forget. We also face the hurts we have received.

Jesus taught us to pray: Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. What things do we need to ask God’s forgiveness for? And, who needs your forgiveness? We need God’s grace to forgive others.

Another aspect of Jesus’ suffering is the psychological dimension. Jesus was forced to wear a crown of thorns. This crown of thorns was a cruel joke of the soldiers, a parody of Jesus’ claim to be a King.

The physical anguish of the thorns digging into his scalp points to the psychological anguish Jesus suffered. Jesus was betrayed by one of his closest friends. He was deserted by his disciples, separated, mocked, alienated and alone in a crowd. Most people did not see him for who he really was.

The prophet Isaiah foretold how the Messiah would be a man of sorrows, acquainted with the bitterest grief.

Many people these days live with psychological trauma. Many people struggle with the yawning chasm of loneliness. Many are exhausted by anxiety and the toll of emotional pain and grief. Perhaps you can identify with Jesus in this way.

The Spirit of Jesus intercedes for us with groans and sighs too deep for words.

The cross of Jesus has a global dimension as well. You see, Jesus was innocent. The accusations against him were false. Jesus did not deserve to die. Through the cross, Jesus stands in solidarity with all those who suffer injustice, wherever they are in the world.

There are many in this world who suffer injustice. The people of Ukraine are hanging on the cross of war, through no fault of their own. Millions of people hang on a cross of slavery and unfair trade. Millions more find themselves on the cross of abuse or poverty, not by their own choice but by the callousness and greed of others. 

Isaiah said of the Christ: A bent reed he will not break and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out till he leads justice to victory. The justice Jesus will bring to the earth is global, reaching every corner of the earth. And it is a justice that restores.

The fourth aspect of the cross, we are thinking of today, is the physical dimension. Jesus suffered in his body. He was beaten, scourged and crucified. He was thirsty too, after having lost so much blood. The physical pain Jesus endured is unimaginable.

We are coming through a global pandemic. But even without the pandemic, many in our world suffer sickness in other forms and are feeling the pain of hunger and thirst in their bodies.

The prophet Isaiah said of the Messiah: by his stripes we are healed. The healing in view here is both physical and spiritual. Jesus’ suffering is the source of our ultimate healing and wholeness.

Our environment is suffering too. Deforestation, global warming, extreme weather events, dirty water, plastic in our oceans and our food chain. The whole planet is physically sick. Jesus came to make all things new. ‘All things’ includes the whole of creation, not just human beings.

The cross of Christ has relational, psychological, global and physical implications for all people everywhere.

I invite you to take some time now to pray into these four areas.

Examples of things you could include, in your prayer, in relation to each of the four dimensions of the cross…

Relational: What things do you need to ask God’s forgiveness for? Who do you need to forgive or make peace with? Pray for God’s grace to forgive.

Psychological: Pray for someone you know whose mental health is suffering. Pray for people who are lonely. Pray for those who are suffering the grief of losing a loved one. Pray for those who are overly anxious or afraid.

Global: Pray for those who are suffering some form of injustice. E.g. Unfair trade / modern day slaves, the poor, survivors of abuse, refugees displaced by war or famine, the people of Ukraine, etc.  

Physical: Pray for the healing of our bodies and our environment. Pray for someone you know personally who is unwell. Pray for an end to the Covid pandemic.

Tawa Baptist

Care

Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 5:12-22

Video Link: https://youtu.be/p9_RXHv8CM8

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Respect your leaders (12-13)
  • Care for the needy (14-15)
  • Discern God’s will (16-22)
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Good morning everyone.

Can you remember the first time you left home? Maybe you were going away on a school camp for a week, or perhaps you were going overseas on an exchange trip or leaving home to go flatting.

In all likelihood one of your parents probably went through a checklist with you. Have you packed your tooth brush? What about your phone charger? Do you have a spare inhaler in case the first one runs out? Make sure you eat properly. Stay away from the boys. Or stay away from the girls. Remember I love you. Stay in touch and call me when you get there. I’m going to miss you.

This is a little ritual that many parents can’t help performing when they send their children into the world. It’s not easy being apart from the people you love. It takes faith.

Today we continue our series in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, by focusing on chapter 5, verses 12-22. In these verses Paul is getting towards the end of the letter and he is preparing to say goodbye.

Before he signs off though, Paul runs through a checklist of things he wants the Thessalonian believers to remember. Paul loves them like family and wants them to be okay in the world without him. From verse 12 of Thessalonians 5 we read… 

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.  14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.

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

There are lots of things in Paul’s checklist for the Thessalonians. We could summarise them under three sub headings…

In verses 12-13 Paul is appealing to the congregation to respect their leaders.

In verses 14-15 he is urging them to care for the needy.

And in verses 16-22 Paul is instructing the believers to discern God’s will.

Let’s start with respecting your leaders.

Respect your leaders:

Donald McGannon once said, leadership is an action, not a position.

Donald was a broadcasting industry executive. He worked to improve the standards of radio and television broadcasting. Among other things, Don insisted on dropping cigarette advertising, at a time when that was an unpopular thing to do. He was a leader who used his influence for good.

‘Leadership is an action, not a position’, was very much Paul’s view on leadership too. In verse 12 Paul says…   

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.

The interesting thing here is that Paul uses verbs (or doing words) to describe the leaders of the congregation in Thessalonica. Having a fancy title doesn’t make you a leader. Rather it is what one does that makes them a leader.

The three things a church leader does: Work hard among the congregation. Care for the congregation and admonish people.   

Working hard for the congregation is about service. Good leadership is servant leadership. Leadership takes time and energy. Not just physical energy but emotional and mental energy as well. It’s not only the long hours, it’s also the weight of responsibility a leader carries.   

A good leader works hard because they really care about the well-being of the people. To care for people means to look after them. Make sure their needs are met.

Fun fact, the Greek word translated as ‘those who care for you’, in verse 12, can also mean ‘those who are over you’, as in those who are in authority over you. So the thought here is of someone who uses their authority to take care of others (as opposed to abusing their authority).

Admonish is a bit of an old fashioned word. To admonish someone is to correct them or to warn them to avoid a certain course of action. Admonishing people is essentially about providing guidance. It can sometimes require having a difficult conversation with others.

Of course, the spirit in which a Christian brother or sister admonishes is one of gentleness and humility. Christ like admonition aims to balance grace and truth. The foundation for admonishing people is the example we set.

When thinking about admonishing we might draw on an image from the sailing world. As John Maxwell says: ‘The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.’

Admonishing people is about adjusting the sails to suit the conditions, so the boat doesn’t capsize or go off course.

In verse 13 Paul says to the Thessalonian congregation, regarding their leaders:   

13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 

In other words, we Christians are to love and respect the leaders among us. Don’t make a leader’s life more difficult through conflict. Nothing will empty a leader of their joy more quickly than having to sort out strife. Support the leaders among you, not with flattery or empty words, but by living in peace with each other. Get along together.

Kiwi culture is relatively egalitarian and independent. Kiwi culture, generally speaking, is not naturally inclined to respect those in leadership. Our wider society suffers from tall poppy syndrome. We, in New Zealand, have a tendency to cut our leaders down, (although one would hope this does not apply so much in the church).

But if you think it through, it is in everyone’s interest to support and respect good leaders because, by Paul’s definition, they are the ones doing most of the heavy lifting. They are the ones trimming the sails and keeping the boat afloat. They are the ones caring for you and looking out for your interests.

To show contempt for our leaders is like poisoning the water upstream. It just makes everyone sick.

So that’s the first thing, respect your leaders. Paul’s next piece of advice is, care for the needy.

Care for the needy:

From verse 14 we read… 

14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

The first thing we notice here is that Paul is addressing everyone in the church, not just the leaders. So everyone in the congregation has a responsibility for pastoral care. We must all be our brother or sister’s keeper. 

In this verse Paul identifies three types of needy persons: those who are idle and disruptive, those who are disheartened and the weak.

The Greek word translated as ‘idle & disruptive’ is ataktos, which literally means ‘out of line’. It originally referred to a soldier who was out of line or slacking off and not following orders. A soldier who is idle and disruptive puts the lives of his platoon at risk. He is a danger to everyone.

There were, apparently, some in the church at Thessalonica who were freeloading off the goodwill of others and not pulling their weight. Paul’s message to them (as we find out in his second letter to the Thessalonians) was, ‘if you don’t work, you don’t eat’.

This may seem a little uncaring of Paul, but it was actually the most caring thing to do. The idle and disruptive were busy bodies, gossips, meddling in other people’s business and generally making things worse. They needed a more positive and constructive occupation for their time, both for their own well-being and for the well-being of the whole community. 

In caring for others we need to avoid creating dependencies. Wise care doesn’t mean doing everything for someone. That is a short cut to resentment for the carer. Wise care motivates people to do for themselves what they can.

The second type of needy person, Paul mentions, are those who are disheartened. The disheartened are sad and need to be encouraged.

We are not exactly sure why some were disheartened. Perhaps they had been worn down by the constant criticism and opposition of their pagan neighbours. Or maybe they were grieving the loss of loved ones. Whatever the reason, they needed the courage to carry on in the Christian faith and not give up.

We give courage to people, partly by the positive things we say, but mostly by staying close to them. Committing to them. Being present with them so they do not become lonely. Because it is when we feel like we are on our own, in our faith, that we are most vulnerable to losing heart and giving up.

In the Old Testament story of Ruth, Naomi had become disheartened. Naomi’s husband and two sons had died. In her sadness she had lost hope and become bitter. But Naomi’s daughter-in-law, Ruth, made a commitment to stay with Naomi whatever happened. ‘Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. Wherever you go I will go there with you.’

God used Ruth’s commitment to redeem the situation and restore Naomi’s faith and hope. There is strength in friendship and community.

The third type of needy person are those who are weak. Again, we can’t be sure who the weak refer to. Maybe Paul means those who are morally weak, who are vulnerable to temptation in some way. Or perhaps the weak are those who are a bit timid or afraid. Either way they needed help.

Interestingly, the Greek word translated as help, literally means to cling to or to cleave. In other words, we are to help the weak by holding on to them, supporting them, holding their hand as it were, giving them security.

Whether someone is needy or not, we are to be patient with everyone. To be ‘patient’ here means to have a long fuse or to be long suffering. It is part of our Christian discipleship to go the distance with people and not give up on others who we may find annoying or frustrating or slow to learn.

Patience is one of the key characteristics of love. Love is patient, love is kind… Paul is giving us a picture here of what love looks like. In verse 15 he says…

15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

Paul is echoing the words of Jesus who said (in Matthew 5)…

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

Both Paul and Jesus’ words here don’t just apply to fellow believers within the church. This teaching applies to our relationship with people outside the church as well. This is not easy to do. We need God’s grace.

It might help for us to remember that someone who does us wrong, isn’t necessarily an evil person. They are more likely a needy person.

Hurt people, hurt people. Do you get what I’m saying there? If someone hurts you, there’s a good chance they are acting out of their own hurt. They may want you to understand their pain and the injustice they have suffered. While their behaviour is unacceptable and wrong, they need healing, not more hurt.

Some of you may remember a story I told of Robyn some years ago. When Robyn was pregnant with our eldest daughter, a boy in her class lost his temper and punched her in the stomach.

When I heard about it my blood boiled. But Robyn put herself in this boy’s shoes. She understood that life wasn’t easy for him at home. She didn’t take it personally. She instinctively knew he was acting out of his own hurt and what he needed most was to be shown love. And so, when he had calmed down, she gave him hug. She had no problems with him after that.     

Hurt people, hurt people. This doesn’t necessarily explain all bad behaviour, but it does remind us to put ourselves in other people’s shoes. Which I think is what Paul is asking us to do in these verses.    

Do you have someone needy in your life?

Are they disruptive and in need of something meaningful to do?

Are they disheartened and in need of your encouragement and companionship?

Are they weak and in need of support?

Are they annoying, do they press your buttons. Do they need your patience?

Are they hurt and in need of healing and grace? 

How might you care for them? What is in your power to do?

I say, ‘what is in your power to do’, because I’m talking to a room full of people who I know do care for the needy and I don’t want you to feel guilty about what is not in your power to do. There is no end of need in this world but there is an end to our energy and resources.

Alongside caring for others, we also need to take care of ourselves. So exercise wisdom and know that God’s grace is sufficient for you.  

Respect your leaders, care for the needy and discern God’s will.

Discern God’s will:

From verse 16 Paul gives us a cluster of imperatives (instructions), in rapid succession, which seem to be about discerning God’s will and walking in it. Paul writes…  

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.

This topic of discerning God’s will, probably deserves its own sermon series. We don’t have time to explore every knook and crany now but Paul does give us some very helpful tools for situating ourselves in the path of God’s will.

Firstly, he says: Rejoice always. My initial reaction to this is, ‘yea, right’. It doesn’t seem realistic to always rejoice. There are times when we can easily celebrate but other times when rejoicing goes against the grain. So discernment is called for.

If someone does an illegal manoeuvre in their car, we don’t need to say, ‘Thank you Jesus for dangerous drivers. I really enjoy stress’. You don’t have to jump for joy if you get Covid. Nor do you need to put on a happy face if you lose someone or something you love.

I don’t think Paul is suggesting we pretend to be something we are not. He is not saying we should deny our feelings or our circumstances. You see, Paul’s instructions to 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, [and] 18 give thanks in all circumstances; are not independent of each other, they go together.

The chapter and verse numbering we have in our Bibles was never in the original text. The numbering was added centuries later to help us find our place. Unfortunately, the demarcation of verses sometimes has the effect of distorting the meaning of Scripture.

The instruction to rejoice always goes hand in hand with praying and giving thanks. Keeping those three together, the message is: discern God’s hand for good in your daily life and talk to him about it. Thank him for the good.  

So, for example, if someone cuts you off on the motorway, once you have recovered from the shock, you might see and appreciate how God prevented an accident and give thanks that no one was hurt. You might also pray for the other driver.

Or, if you lose someone you love, then you might tell God how you are feeling (in prayer) and thank him for the good times you had with that person, taking comfort in the hope that, through faith in Jesus’ resurrection, you will see them again one day.  

In reality, getting to a place where we can truly rejoice and thank God is a process. And we call that process prayer. Prayer isn’t just chatting to God. Prayer also includes times of weeping, times of silence and stillness, times of sacred reading and reflection.     

Praying continually then, is about remaining open to God’s presence and activity in our lives, 24-7. So whatever may happen, whether it seems good to us or not, we are looking for God in it.

It’s not that we always get an answer or understand why things unfold the way they do. It’s more that we recognise we are not alone, that God is with us and for us, working it all for good. And that is something we can rejoice in and give thanks for without having to fake it.  

In verse 19 Paul says: Do not quench the Spirit. This is connected to what has gone before and what follows.

It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to discern God’s will. The Spirit reveals the truth to us. The Spirit intercedes (or prays) for us continually and enables us to see God’s hand for good in all circumstances so that we can rejoice and give thanks with sincere hearts.   

The Spirit also gives prophecy. Now when we hear the word prophecy we might think of someone predicting the future. There can be a future element to prophecy but more often prophecy is a message from God about the present.

You might sense God speaking to you through something in a worship service, like the sermon or a prayer or the words of a song or if someone shares something spontaneous.

But words of prophecy (little messages from God) can also come to us through conversation with others. This can happen when we are not expecting it. In fact, the person we are talking with may not even be aware of the significance of what they are saying.   

Paul’s advice is to have a thoughtful and measured response to prophecy, not a knee jerk reaction. If we think God might be saying something to us, then we need to test it to discern whether it is in fact from God. If the message is consistent with the teaching of Jesus, if it is edifying and helpful to ourselves and others, and if fellow believers concur, then it probably is from God.

Whatever we are presented with, we are to discern the kernel of truth and discard the husk. We are hold to what is good and reject every kind of evil.   

Conclusion:

We have heard today Paul’s advice to respect our leaders, care for the needy and discern God’s will. There is a smorgasbord of wisdom in these verses. What is God saying to us collectively? What is God saying to you personally?

Let us pray…

Lord Jesus Christ, you are the good shepherd. You lead and guide, you care and provide. Give us wisdom and grace to help the needy, without neglecting ourselves. Give us eyes to see God’s fingerprints in our lives and discernment to walk in God’s will. For your name’s sake. Amen.   

Questions for discussion or reflection:

What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?

  • How did Paul define leadership? What three things does a leader do?
  • Why does Paul instruct the congregation to respect their leaders? How do we respect our leaders?
  • Do you have someone needy in your life? What is their need? How can you best care for them? What is in your power to do?
  • What does it mean to rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances?  Can you think of examples from your own life of how to apply these instructions? 
  • How can we discern God’s activity in our lives? How can we know when God is speaking to us?   
Tawa Baptist

Jealous Love

Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 3:1-13

Video Link: https://youtu.be/6GVYmiFNkE0

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Paul’s vulnerability
  • Paul’s jealous love
  • Paul’s desire
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Good morning everyone.

Roller coasters. You either love them or hate them. There’s no middle ground. I’m definitely not a fan. My cousins and I were thrown off the Sizzler when we were kids and it left its mark.

Unfortunately, our children don’t share my mistrust of roller coasters and so, when they were younger, I reluctantly had to accompany them on these sorts of rides. They had a great time. Me? Not so much.

Someone once told me, never get on the roller coaster with your kids. They were speaking metaphorically. They meant don’t get carried away with whatever drama is happening in their life. Don’t let their emotions dictate your mood.

This person meant well but parenthood doesn’t work like that. If your kids are seriously ill or being treated unfairly or if they achieve some success, then you feel it with them. If you love anyone, you will be affected by what they go through. You are on the roller coaster with them whether you like it or not.       

Today we resume our series in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, focusing on chapter 3. You may remember how, in chapter 2, Paul had affirmed the Thessalonians’ faith, belonging and relationship. In today’s reading, we see that Paul has been on a roller coaster with the Thessalonians, his spiritual children. He gets a bit emotional and expresses his feelings.   

From verse 1 of First Thessalonians chapter 3 we read…

So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labours might have been in vain. 6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

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

Three things we note here: Paul’s vulnerability, Paul’s jealous love for the Thessalonians, and Paul’s heartfelt desire. First let’s consider Paul’s vulnerability.

Paul’s vulnerability:

Elton John wrote a song in tribute to Marilyn Munroe. It was later adapted for Princess Diana. In the chorus he sings: And you lived your life like a candle in the wind, never knowing who to turn to when the rain set in…

The image of a candle in the wind, is the very picture of vulnerability. 

To be vulnerable is to be unprotected, in a precarious position, exposed or at risk of harm. When you love someone, when you care about them deeply, your heart is vulnerable, you are on the roller coaster with them whether you like it or not. Likewise, when you need someone to love you, your heart is vulnerable, like a candle in the wind.

In his book, The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis writes…

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.

Paul understood vulnerability well. Before his conversion, Paul was hard hearted and hell bent on persecuting the followers of Jesus. But Jesus transformed Paul’s heart. Jesus made Paul vulnerable to God’s grace.    

The word vulnerability is not explicitly mentioned in today’s reading and none of the commentaries I read talked about it specifically so you may well wonder, how exactly is Paul vulnerable?

Well, it is both the tone of his writing here and the way in which he is so open with the Thessalonians about his feelings. Paul, the intellectual and theological giant, is wearing his heart on his sleeve and being honest about his need for them.

In verse 1 of chapter 3 Paul says, when we could stand it no longer… And in verse 5 he repeats this same line, only more personally saying, when I could stand it no longer. The thing Paul couldn’t stand here was not knowing how the Thessalonians were getting on. He was anxious for their wellbeing. But Paul also needed to know that the Thessalonians loved him.

Why was Paul so anxious? Why was he feeling so vulnerable? Because he had opened his heart to the Thessalonians and let them in.

In verse 8 of chapter 2 Paul actually says: We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Love anything and it will make you vulnerable.       

Paul had a lot riding on the Thessalonians. If they threw in the towel of their faith then not only would Paul’s work with them be in vain, he personally would feel like he had lost family members. The Thessalonians were his spiritual children. He was like a mother and a father to them in the faith. If they had given up on their faith, Paul would have been devastated.

But Paul is not devastated. Quite the opposite. From verse 8 of chapter 3 Paul writes…

8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

Before Paul received news that the Thessalonians were doing well, he was beside himself with worry over them. He couldn’t stand not knowing.

And when you feel vulnerable like that, you can’t really enjoy anything. You just sort of get by on a knife’s edge. Now that Paul knows they’re okay, that he hasn’t lost them, he can really live. In other words, he can enjoy life again.

The thing with being vulnerable is that it doesn’t always feel pleasant at the time. Vulnerability can feel risky, or unsafe, like you are not in control. The vulnerability of love requires faith.

Even though it feels risky, allowing yourself to be vulnerable with another person opens the door to intimacy, to closeness. Vulnerability creates a bridge, a connection. Vulnerability, when it is well placed, is the antidote to loneliness.

But we need to be discerning about who we choose to be vulnerable with. As Jesus said, don’t throw your pearls before swine. Don’t open up the treasures of your heart to someone who is going to treat those treasures cheaply.      

And, if someone shares something with you that makes them vulnerable, handle that pearl with gentleness and care. Be worthy of that person’s trust.

Paul was vulnerable with the Thessalonians and he loved them with a jealous love.

Paul’s jealous love:

For many people, jealousy is a bad word. We have a tendency to collapse jealousy and envy into one. But they are not the same thing.

Jealousy is when we feel like something we already possess is at risk of being taken away from us. In contrast, envy is the desire to have something that does not belong to us.

Can you see the difference? Jealousy has to do with losing something that is rightfully ours, whereas envy is about coveting what is not ours. 

Jealousy can sometimes cause us to behave in ways which are resentful or vindictive. But jealousy can also move us to do good things. Jealousy gives us courage to protect what we love and determination to restore what we have lost.

God describes himself as jealous. You probably know Jesus’ parable of the shepherd who went looking for the lost sheep. The shepherd left the 99 to find the one that was lost. That is a picture of God’s jealous love. His drive (or his zeal) to restore and protect what he loves and what rightfully belongs to him.

Jealousy is not necessarily a bad thing. It is a powerful energy that needs to be channelled for other people’s wellbeing.

When I was a child my grandparents took me with them on holiday to the beach. We stayed in a remote part of the Bay of Islands, up north, surrounded by bush, beaches and sea. My grandfather taught me to fish and to shoot. It was a boy’s paradise.

One day (I was about 7 or 8 at the time) my grandfather and I were doing some target practice with a .22 calibre rifle. Not a very powerful gun, but useful for shooting rabbits and possums and other cute furry animals that would otherwise destroy the environment.  

Anyway, while we were doing our target practice, a woman emerged out of the tea tree scrub yelling at us. She was angry; I’m mean next level angry, telling us in no uncertain terms to stop shooting at her family. She was mistaken. We were not shooting at anyone. Her family were never in any danger. My grandfather was very careful with guns. 

I guess, because we were on a hill, the rifle shots could be heard echoing around the bay and she thought the worst, that her family were under attack. As it transpired this mother had walked about three kilometres over rocks, through dense bush and up a very steep hill to protect her children.

And she did this knowing that the people she was intending to confront had a loaded gun. Incredible determination and courage. As I reflect on that event now, I realise this mother was exhibiting jealous love for her family. She was willing to risk her life to protect them.

We put the gun away for a few days and she walked back into the bush from whence she came, never to be seen again.

Nowhere in today’s reading from Thessalonians do we find the word jealousy, but we do come across the word love a couple of times. In any case it is clear, from the feelings and actions Paul reveals, that he loved the Thessalonians with a jealous love, like the mother in my story.

Verse 5 reads…

For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labours might have been in vain.

The believers in Thessalonica were brand new Christians and Paul had not had a chance to complete their basic training. They were like Macualay Culkin, in Home Alone, having to fend for themselves in a hostile environment. And Paul was like a stressed and anxious parent, worried how they were getting on.

So Paul sent Timothy (his right hand man) back to Thessalonica. It’s about 500kms from Athens to Thessalonica, which takes a day in a train. But it probably took Timothy over two weeks, each way, on foot.

The New Zealand women’s cricket team (the White Ferns) are playing Australia at the Basin today. Australia are the team to beat.

Quite often, when you are at the cricket, you see people wearing captain’s hats. At first I just thought it was a group of mates dressing up the same. But then I kept seeing these captain’s hats at other games around the country. It wasn’t until I heard someone say: ‘Steady the ship’, that the penny dropped. 

The fans wear captain’s hats to ‘steady the ship’. It is a message of support to the batsman to not throw their wicket away. Stay calm, take it easy. Believe in the leave. You can’t score runs back in the pavilion.

As much as Paul wanted Timothy to stay with him in Athens, his jealous love for the Thessalonians was greater. The new believers in Thessalonica were getting a hard time for becoming Christians. Timothy’s visit was intended to steady the ship. That is, to strengthen and encourage the young believers in their faith.

In verses 2 to 5 Paul talks about persecution and trials and being tempted to abandon Christ.    

Paul says they were destined for these trials and that he kept telling them to expect persecution. This fits with the teaching of Jesus who said it would not be easy following him.

We, in New Zealand today, are not persecuted like the Thessalonians were. But that doesn’t mean we get off Scott free. Our beliefs and values sometimes put us at odds with the wider society in which we live.

But even if society agreed with and supported Christian faith, we would still face testing in some form. It seems to be necessary for faith development, like putting cake mixture in a hot oven is necessary for baking the cake.

What we find is that our faith is usually tested when we are at our weakest and not when we expect it. Temptation is never fair.

Two of the gospels tell us how Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness for 40 days. It was necessary for Jesus to go through this and overcome.

Unlike Jesus, we don’t always overcome when we are tempted. But the good news is that Jesus has done for us what we are not able to do for ourselves. We may lose the odd battle with temptation but that should not discourage or defeat us, for Jesus has won the war.

If we do trip and fall, it does not mean we are out. The Lord is gracious and compassionate. We admit our mistakes, pick ourselves up and carry on in the faith. It’s like Winston Churchill said: Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts. 

Much to Paul’s relief the Thessalonians did not give in to the temptation to abandon their faith. When Timothy returned with the good news that the Thessalonians’ faith and love were strong and that they longed to see Paul as well, Paul was greatly encouraged.

Paul’s desire:

Wrapped up with Paul’s jealous love and vulnerability is Paul’s heartfelt desire for the Thessalonians. From verse 10 we read… 

 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

Prayer isn’t just the words we say to God. The essence of prayer is our heartfelt desire. Words may give expression to that desire but so might our tears or our sighs or our groaning or our laughter.

Paul’s heartfelt desire is to be reunited with his spiritual children, not just for his own comfort but more to supply what is lacking in their faith.

John Stott sheds light on the meaning of ‘supplying what is lacking’. If we think of the Thessalonian’s faith as a fishing net, then Paul is like a fisherman who wants to repair the net. Or, if we think of the Thessalonian’s faith as a broken leg, then Paul is like a surgeon who desperately wants to set the bone properly.  

Or to use another metaphor, the Thessalonians have made a great start to their Christian faith journey, but they need a few more essential supplies in order to stay on the right track, like a map and a compass and a torch.

Paul doesn’t just talk about praying; he can’t help but actually break into a spontaneous prayer for the Thessalonians from verse 11…

11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Verse 11 describes Paul’s desire to see the Thessalonians in person again.

Verse 12 describes Paul’s desire for the Thessalonians’ love to increase, something only the Lord can do.

And verse 13 describes Paul’s desire for the Thessalonians to grow in holiness, from the inside out. (From the heart.)

Holiness is an unpopular word these days. It gets a bad rap. People tend to associate holiness with being superior or thinking you are better than others. Like that expression, ‘holier than thou’.

But that’s not a fair or accurate description. Holiness is about wholeness. When we hear the word holiness, we should think health & wellbeing, strength and integrity. We should associate holiness with love, because the two go together.  They complement each other.      

At home in our garden we have a tomato plant. It was only about two or three inches high when I first planted it, just tiny. Since then it has grown a bit and we now have some fruit.

At first I didn’t need to put a stake next to it because when the plant was small it could stand by itself. But now it has grown it needs a stake (alongside) to support it. And with all the dry weather we are having lately it needs to be watered pretty regularly too.

Perhaps the Thessalonians were like my tomato plant. They needed the water of love and the stake of holiness in order to be healthy & whole, fruitful & strong.

Conclusion:

This morning we’ve heard about Paul’s vulnerability, his jealous love and his heartfelt desire for the Thessalonians. All of these are an expression of Paul’s deep care for the Thessalonians.

Whose roller coaster are you on at the moment? Who is making you feel vulnerable? Who is triggering your jealous love? Who is occupying space in your heart?

Is it your partner in marriage? Your kids? Your parents? A friend? An enemy? A workmate? The people of Ukraine? The people in your neighbourhood?

What do they need? What do you need?

Let us pray…

Loving Father, you see what is in our hearts. You know our vulnerability. You understand our fears and our desires. In you we have all we need. Fill us with your Spirit of love and holiness, so that we may care well for others and for ourselves. Through Jesus we pray. Amen.

Questions for discussion or reflection:

What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?

  • Do you enjoy roller coasters? Why (or why not)?
  • Why was Paul feeling so vulnerable in relation to the Thessalonians? What does he do with this feeling of vulnerability? How does he express it? How might we know when we are feeling vulnerable? How might we express our feelings of vulnerability in a healthy way? 
  • What is the difference between jealousy and envy? Can you think of an event in your own life when jealous love was triggered in you? What happened? How did you respond? How might we channel our feelings of jealousy for the wellbeing of others?
  • What is the essence of prayer? In what ways can we express our prayers to God?
  • What was Paul’s heartfelt desire for the Thessalonians? (in verses 11-13) Why do you think Paul puts love and holiness together? How do love & holiness complement each other?
  • Whose roller coaster are you on at the moment? Who is making you feel vulnerable? Who is triggering your jealous love? Who is occupying space in your heart? What do they need? What do you need?
Tawa Baptist

Affirmation

Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 2:13-20

Video Link: https://youtu.be/FeNmfDe5CBE

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Affirmation of faith
  • Affirmation of belonging
  • Affirmation of relationship
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Good morning everyone.

Affirmation, it is so important to us as human beings. To affirm something is to declare it to be true. When we affirm we uphold, confirm or ratify what is true.

At the core of affirmation is making something or someone firm, strong or secure.

When you complete a course of training, you receive a certificate to affirm that you are qualified in your chosen field.

When you buy a house or a car, you sign papers to affirm that you are the legal owner of the property.

When you pray the Lord’s prayer, saying ‘Our Father, who is in heaven…’, you affirm that you are loved by God and made in his image.

When you get married, you exchange vows to affirm your love and commitment to one another.

When you worship God, whether that is by singing or giving your time and money or obeying him in some way, you affirm his worth.

When you give someone a word of appreciation, you affirm the good you see in that person. 

When you attend a funeral, you affirm that the life and passing of the deceased matters.

When you listen to someone with empathy, you affirm the value of their thoughts and feelings.  

We could go on but you get the point: affirmation is about upholding the truth. It makes people and relationships stronger, more secure.

Today we continue our series in Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, focusing on chapter 2, verses 13-20. The Thessalonian believers were going through a difficult time because of their faith in Jesus and so Paul affirms them and his relationship with them. From verse 13 of chapter 2 we read…    

13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last. 17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

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

As you have probably picked up by now, the new believers in Thessalonica were getting a hard time for becoming Christians. They were suffering in a variety of ways and to make matters worse, Paul, Silas and Timothy (who had introduced the gospel of Jesus to them), had been forced to leave prematurely.

The Thessalonians were in a vulnerable position and needed strengthening.

So Paul, who loves them very much, declares what he knows to be true…

Paul affirms the Thessalonians’ decision of faith;

Paul affirms their belonging to God’s people;

And Paul affirms his relationship with the Thessalonians personally.

Affirmation of faith:

First let’s consider Paul’s affirmation of the Thessalonians’ faith.

You may have heard the expression, ‘spill the tea’. The ‘tea’ in this metaphor is some piece of news or inside information about a particular subject. And ‘spilling the tea’ means sharing the news. Preaching the gospel is ‘spilling the tea’ about Jesus. 

When you make tea, to serve to others, you begin by putting some tea leaves in the pot. Then you pour some hot water into the pot with the tea and let it brew for a few minutes.

Once the brew is just right you can pour the tea into individual cups. Some people like milk or sugar with their tea, others are happy to have it black. Some like it in a dainty floral cup and others prefer a mug.

Whichever way you take your tea the main purpose is to drink it.  If someone pours you a cup and you don’t drink it, well that’s a bit odd, even a bit rude. When you drink the tea though, you show trust in the person who made it and affirm the other person’s hospitality to be true. You strengthen your friendship.

To make this analogy plain, God is the one who makes the tea while Paul, Silas & Timothy are like the tea pot. They are the vessel which carries God’s word.

The gospel message about Jesus is like the tea leaves and the hot water is the Holy Spirit. God’s word and God’s Spirit go together. The tea leaves of God’s word need to brew in the water of God’s Spirit for a little while before being served.

Or, to say it another way, the words we read in the Bible only become the living Word of God to us by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of God that makes the Word of God real and alive for us. We can’t drink the tea of God’s word without the water of his Spirit.

The individual tea cups are the human heart or mind. Our hearts and minds are vessels or containers for holding the tea of God’s Word & Spirit.

When someone spills the tea, about Jesus, we have a choice. We can receive the hospitality God offers, drinking his tea down (in faith) to our inner most being. Or we can close our hearts and minds to God’s word. 

The Thessalonians chose to receive the tea of God’s word through the tea pot of Paul, Silas & Timothy.

As Paul affirms in verse 13, you received the word of God, which you heard from us, and accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God,

In other words, with the help of God’s Spirit, the Thessalonians trusted Paul’s message and accepted it (or affirmed it in their hearts) as God’s word.  

Paul notes that the word of God is indeed at work in you who believe. When you drink your cup of tea it goes to work in you. It hydrates your body and refreshes you, it gives you a lift. God’s word is like that. God’s word goes to work inside the heart of the individual believer and among the community of believers.

In verse 13 Paul is affirming the Thessalonians’ decision of faith. Maybe some of the Thessalonian believers were having second thoughts, due to all they had suffered. Maybe they were thinking, we got this wrong. But Paul affirms their decision as true. He is saying, you all got it right.

It’s one thing to speak positive words of affirmation to yourself. That has its own power. But it’s something else altogether when someone you respect speaks words of affirmation to you. That is even more powerful.

When I was a kid I played school boy rugby. For most of my career it would be fair to say I was pretty useless. And when you are useless the coach doesn’t waste his time with you. No potential there.

But by the time I reached the fourth form, which is year 10 at high school, I started to understand the game a bit better and put more effort in with training and skill development. It made a difference. The coach noticed.

After seven years of playing the coach actually spoke to me one on one, giving me some pointers on other things I could do to improve. It was just a small thing but it was so affirming. It said to me, ‘I believe in you. I think you’ve got potential kid’. Didn’t quite make it to the All Blacks, but that’s not the point.

The point is, affirmation from someone we respect has real power. It makes us stronger and gives us confidence.

At some stage in your journey of Christian faith you will have questions and doubts. You won’t always feel particularly strong. Don’t let it throw you. It is to be expected.

The trickiest doubt we might face in life is self-doubt. Put yourself in the path of other Christian believers who are a little further down the track than you. Hopefully, if they are listening to this sermon too, they will speak words of affirmation to you, declaring truth over your life (like my rugby coach did for me).

That’s one of the reasons it’s so important to stay connected to a church and not go it on your own. It creates opportunities for affirmation. Church is one of the ways God makes us stronger.         

Sometimes a little opposition and struggle is another thing God uses to firm up our faith.

Affirmation of belonging:

Navy divers do a training exercise called the mud run. This involves a team of divers running through mangrove swamps knee deep in mud. It’s hard yacker. The mud sucks and claws at you, making your every move a huge effort.

Not only does this natural resistance training build physical fitness and strength, it also builds bonds between the team members who help each other. The idea isn’t to be the first individual over the finish line. The idea is to get the whole team across the line together, no one left behind.   

From verse 14 Paul writes…

For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out.

Paul is saying here that the Thessalonians’ suffering is actually an affirmation that they have a place of honour among God’s people. They (even though they are mostly Gentile believers) belong alongside the first Jewish Christians, because they have suffered the same things for the same reason.

Far from being a cause for doubt, the Thessalonians’ suffering for their faith is in fact a sign of solidarity with Jesus, the prophets and the churches in Judea.

Paul is basically saying, you are in good company, for you walk in the footsteps of God’s faithful people. What an affirmation of belonging.

Paul uses the strongest terms he can to denounce the behaviour of those Jews who opposed the gospel of Christ, saying from verse 15:

They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last

Now, it needs to be acknowledged that Paul’s words in these verses, have been subject to some grievous misinterpretation over the centuries. John Stott points out how one of the early church fathers, Chrysostom preached eight virulent sermons against the Jews, comparing them to animals.

In the Middle Ages the church (or part of it at least) created four repressive regulations forcing Jews to live in ghettos and wear distinctive clothes.

Then there is the embarrassment of the crusades when Jewish villages were ransacked. Not to mention Martin Luther’s writing (in 1543, toward the end of his life) in which he called for Jewish synagogues to be burned and Rabbis silenced.

When we, in the 21st Century, read Paul’s words under the shadow of the Jewish holocaust of the 1940’s, we may wish to edit verses 15 & 16 out of our Bibles.

But that is to misunderstand Paul’s heart. Paul didn’t hate the Jews. He would be horrified to think his words were misused in this way. Paul himself was Jewish. He loved his own people and would have given anything for them to be saved, as Romans 9-11 makes clear.

Paul’s point here is that by opposing the spread of the gospel among the Gentiles, some of the Jews (not all of them, just the extremists) were working against God’s purpose. Paul didn’t say this to incite violence against his own people. He said it to affirm the truth of God’s purpose, which is to save people of all nations.

You see, when we affirm that something is true, we are by implication saying the opposite is false. By affirming the Thessalonians’ faith and belonging as true, Paul was (at the same time) saying those opposed to them were wrong.

Paul’s use of strong and emotive language points to the depth of his conviction on the matter. If any of us had received the 39 lashes, five times, as Paul did (for preaching the gospel) we might use even stronger language.

Paul’s words here are not a license for anti-Semitism. His mention of God’s wrath gives all people cause for restraint. We do not need to take matters into own hands. God’s purpose will prevail in the end. The Lord will see that justice is done. Leave judgement to him.     

Having affirmed the Thessalonians’ decision of faith and their belonging to God’s people, Paul then goes on to affirm his relationship with the Thessalonians, personally.       

Affirmation of relationship:

Which of these terms describes a close relationship do you think?

Colleague, client, boss, acquaintance, best mates, golfing buddy, employee, cousin, Facebook friend, brother, sister, father, mother.   

I suppose it depends on one’s personal experience to some degree, but calling someone your best mate usually indicates a closer relationship than client.

Likewise, brother, sister, father or mother would normally suggest a closer relationship than colleague or Facebook friend.  

Listen to the words Paul uses to describe his relationship with the Thessalonians…

17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.

Paul thinks of the Thessalonians as his family. He calls them brothers and sisters. What’s more he feels orphaned apart from them. In contemporary English an ‘orphan’ is someone who has lost both their parents. But in ancient Greek, the word ‘orphan’ also referred to parents who had lost their children. [1]

Paul is affirming his relationship with the Thessalonians using strong terms. Paul longs to see the Thessalonians face to face with the same intensity that a parent longs to see a lost child, or a small child longs to see a lost parent.

I remember being separated from my mum, in Chartwell Square, when I was about four years old. Chartwell Square is a shopping mall in Hamilton. At first it was an adventure but when I got back to our Mark 1, Ford Escort and discovered she wasn’t there, I was beside myself. I needed to see her face to face, in person. I felt like an orphan, anxious and alone in the world.       

Paul says that although he and the Thessalonians are separated in person, they were not separated in thought. Not a day has gone by where Paul didn’t think of the Thessalonians and wonder how they were. When you love someone, when you care about them, your thoughts are always peopled by them. 

Despite his intense longing to see the Thessalonians, face to face, Paul’s every attempt to return to them was blocked by Satan. It is unclear exactly what Paul means here.

The English word Satan comes from a Hebrew word meaning adversary, as in an adversary of God. Sometimes in the Bible the word Satan refers to the prince of demons (like a fallen angel). Other times it simply means someone (perhaps a mortal human being) who is opposed to God’s purpose.  

Whatever Paul may have meant by the term, in this context, he continues to use strong emotive language to make the point that it wasn’t in his power to return to see his Thessalonian family.

In verses 19 & 20 Paul writes…

19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

The Winter Olympics has just finished. Our most successful ever. Two golds and a silver. This was the first Winter Games in which New Zealand ever won gold. The dedication, commitment, hard work and skill the athletes put into winning those medals was huge. The joy of realising their goals matched their effort.  

The crown Paul refers to in verse 19 is not a royal crown. Rather it is the victor’s crown. In ancient Greece the winners of various events at the Olympic Games were crowned with a laurel wreath. It was their equivalent of a gold medal.

When Paul talks about the Thessalonians being our hope, our joy and our crown, it’s like he is saying, ‘You are our gold medal. We have worked so hard, suffered so much and been committed for so long to win you for Christ. We don’t want to lose you now.’

Paul is essentially affirming the high value he places on the Thessalonians and the relationship he shares with them. 

Conclusion:

This morning we have heard three of Paul’s affirmations for the Thessalonians. Three messages of strength. Let me finish with two questions for you. Firstly…

What truth do you need to affirm?

Perhaps, if you are struggling at the moment with ill health or grief or some other thorn in the flesh, you need to affirm the truth that God’s grace is sufficient for you.

Perhaps, if you are fearful about the things happening in our city and world today, you need to affirm the truth that God is in control, he’s got this.

Perhaps, if you are too hard on yourself, suffering from a brutal and relentless inner critic, you need to affirm the truth that you are loved and accepted by God.

Perhaps, if you are feeling a bit isolated or misunderstood, you need to affirm the truth that you are not alone, you belong to God and with his people.

My second question for you is this…

Who needs your affirmation?

Perhaps someone you haven’t seen in years.

Perhaps someone you see every day.

Perhaps someone at work or school.

Perhaps someone in your family.

See the good in that person. Declare the truth of it. Make them stronger.

Let us pray…

Spirit of Jesus, fill us with your grace and truth that we would be firm and steadfast in our faith, giving strength to one another. Amen.  

Questions for discussion or reflection:

What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?

  • What is affirmation and why is it important? Think of a time when someone affirmed you. What did they do or say? How did this make you feel?
  • What is the difference between reading the Bible and receiving God’s word? 
  • What does Paul mean when he says, ‘the word of God is at work in you’? How has the word of God worked in you and among you? What difference did it make?
  • How are we to understand 1st Thessalonians 2:14-16? How does a wider reading of the New Testament (e.g. Romans 9-11, Matthew 5:43-48) help inform / guide our interpretation of 1st Thessalonians 2:14-16?  
  • How does Paul affirm his relationship with the Thessalonians? How do you think this made the Thessalonians feel?
  • What truth do you need to affirm?
  • Who needs your affirmation?  

Some affirmations of Jesus (from Matthew 5)…

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[1] Refer Gordon Fee, NICNT Thessalonians, page 105. 

Tawa Baptist

Genuine

Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 2:1-12

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Paul’s message is true
  • Paul’s motives are pure
  • Paul’s manner is caring
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Good morning everyone.

How do you know something is true? How do you know it is genuine, the real deal, and not fake?

Well, some statements are provable by doing the math. If the numbers add up, then you know it is true. If they don’t, then you know it is false.

For example, if someone says, ‘the sum of two consecutive whole numbers equals an odd number’, then we can test the truth of that statement by simple arithmetic.

Five plus six equals eleven. 20 plus 21 equals 41. Three plus four equals seven. Pick any two consecutive whole numbers, add them together and you will always get an odd number.

We don’t need to calculate every combination of consecutive numbers. After a while, we will see a pattern emerging and (with some confidence) can say the statement is true.

Mathematics is pretty cool like that. It makes you feel safe because it follows rules and gives you relative certainty. Unfortunately, maths has its limitations. Not all things can be proved by arithmetic or algebra.     

Today we continue our series in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, focusing on chapter 2, verses 1-12. In this passage Paul offers proofs that he is genuine and his message is true.

You may remember how Paul and Silas faced opposition in Thessalonica and were forced to flee in the middle of the night. Paul, Silas & Timothy were the real deal, they were genuine. But their opponents spread malicious rumours about them to discredit them and discourage the new believers.

Paul knew he had to defend himself, not so much for the sake of his own reputation, but more for the sake of the Thessalonians’ faith. This is what Paul says in defence of himself and the Thessalonian believers…     

2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not empty. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like infantsamong you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

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

In these verses, Paul defends himself against the slander of his opponents. In particular, Paul defends his message, his motives and his manner. Contrary to what his accusers were saying, Paul’s message is true, his motives are pure and his manner is caring.

Paul’s message is true:

I have here a can of L&P. How might we know whether this can actually does contain Lemon & Paeroa?

Well, if you can see the label, then that gives you a clue. It says L&P on the outside. I’ve drunk enough of these to take the label on good faith and trust that it does in fact contain L&P. I’ve never opened a can of L&P and tasted sand.

But imagine if our experience of soft drinks was a bit patchy, less reliable, so that sometimes the contents were not same as the label said. How would I know if it did contain L&P and wasn’t just full of sand or water or something worse?

Well, the only way to know for certain is to open the can, pour the contents into a glass and have a taste. [Open the can and take a sip]. Yes, this is L&P.    

Apparently, one of the accusations against Paul was that his message was erroneous, false, untrue or empty. The first thing Paul says to refute this is: You know brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not empty.      

In the same way that I know this can contains L&P, because I’ve actually tasted it for myself, so too the Thessalonians know Paul’s message is true from personal experience.

As we read in chapter 1, verse 5, last week, the Thessalonians didn’t just receive the gospel by hearing Paul’s words. They experienced the power and the deep conviction of the Holy Spirit, confirming the content and truth of the gospel.

Paul doesn’t need to come up with some elaborate argument to prove his point. He simply reminds his readers of the truth of what they themselves experienced. He keeps saying things like, ‘you know’ and ‘you remember’ and ‘you were our witnesses’.      

Sometimes, in our busy-ness, we can become detached from the facts of our lives. Maybe something bad happens in our day and our minds get stuck thinking about that one bad thing. Or maybe nothing especially bad happens but we begin to worry that it will.

One strategy to help reconnect us with the reality of God’s goodness in our lives, is stopping to reflect on what went well during the day and thanking God for that. You could do this thankfulness exercise while you are eating dinner with others or perhaps by yourself just before you go to bed at night.

Remembering what we know to be true helps to silence the voice of fear and conjecture. It restores our perspective.    

Verse 2 adds strength to Paul’s claim that his message is true where he says…

We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error…

In Acts 16 we read how Paul and Silas were stripped naked, given a severe beating (with whips) and then thrown in jail, without any sort of trial or procedure of justice. A short while later they were released. Most people would go home licking their wounds after an experience like that and Paul might have as well. But he doesn’t.

Paul doesn’t enjoy suffering and would rather he didn’t have to. So why does Paul dare to carry on proclaiming God’s message of good news about Jesus?

Because he knows the message he shares is true. And Paul knows his message is true because it comes from God. And he knows it comes from God because God has helped them to continue proclaiming the message in the face of strong opposition. Without God’s help Paul & Silas could not have continued.

In verse 4 Paul writes: we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.  

Paul has done the maths. Jesus suffered opposition for his message and so it follows that Paul, a servant of Jesus, will suffer for proclaiming the same message. God’s help for Paul and Silas, in their suffering, is evidence that Paul’s message is from God and therefore is inherently true.

Paul’s message is true and Paul’s motives are pure.

Paul’s motives are pure:

Some of you here may own some gold. Perhaps a gold wedding ring or a necklace or some other piece of jewellery. Maybe you have wondered whether it is real gold or a fake.

When I googled ‘how to test gold’ on the internet, the first piece of advice that came up said, ‘If it floats in water, it’s not real gold’.

Straight away I thought to myself, ‘the internet must think people are stupid’. Most metals will sink if you put them in a glass of water. Not everything that sinks is gold.

So I kept looking and found some other tests. I’m not sure how accurate they are.

Apparently, you can test the authenticity of gold by putting it in vinegar. If it changes colour then it’s not gold.

What’s more, gold doesn’t rust, which I think is probably true because I’ve had my wedding ring for over 30 years now and it has never shown any sign of corrosion or discolouration. (And I’ve washed a lot of dishes in that time.)

Then there is the ping test. If you drop a piece of gold on a hard surface it will make a high pitched pinging sound. That certainly works with my wedding ring.

If your gold jewellery has the letters GP stamped on it then that stands for ‘gold plated’, which means it’s not pure gold.

The other thing you can do to test the purity of gold is hold a magnet close to the gold. If the magnet attaches to the gold, then the gold contains other metals.

To be completely certain I guess you would have to take your gold to an accredited specialist to have it scientifically tested.               

From verse 3 of Thessalonians chapter 2, Paul writes…

3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you… 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, … 7 Instead, we were like infantsamong you.

Paul is talking about his motives here. He is saying they were as innocent and as pure in heart as babies.

In the first century (as in the 21st century) there were people who peddled philosophy or religion for some kind of personal gain. They may have done it to make money or to make people like them or for some other ulterior motive.

Jesus warned there would be false teachers. This is what the master said…

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.    

In reflecting on Jesus’ words here about false prophets I can’t help but make a connection with the protest movement in our city at the moment. If we apply Jesus’ parable to this situation, then the fruit we’ve seen from this protest so far is fear, intimidation and a careless disregard for social responsibility.

Our politicians are receiving death threats. Kids walking to school are being spat on. People who choose to wear a mask are being verbally abused. Businesses are being forced to close. The courts, the police, the university, the transport system and residents have also been negatively impacted by this.

The fruit is not good. I’ll let you do the math.

We pray for a peaceful resolution soon.

Returning to Paul. We know Paul’s message and motives were genuine because the fruit of Paul’s life was good. In verse 10 of Thessalonians 2, Paul writes: You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

Holiness is about being whole, being one, having integrity, being the same on the inside as you are on the outside (like my L&P). Righteousness is about relating to other people in a right way and being blameless is about doing no harm. The three go together. They speak of good fruit and therefore point to pure motives.

Verse 9 tells how the Thessalonians witnessed the way Paul, Silas & Timothy worked with their own hands to provide for themselves, so they could preach the gospel, freely.  9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 

On this occasion at least, Paul chose to be a volunteer. This speaks volumes for the value of volunteering one’s time in support of God’s kingdom.

Does this mean that anyone who accepts payment for doing missionary or church work is not a genuine representative of God? No, of course not. Paul himself says in 1st Timothy, “For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”and “The worker deserves his wages.”

Paul had every right to expect recompense for his work but he chose not to, under the circumstances. The situation in Thessalonica was not an established church. It was a pioneering church plant in a hostile context. Paul supported himself because he didn’t want to be a burden and he didn’t want to give his opponents any ammunition. He didn’t want anyone saying he was doing it for the money.

Paul says, we never used flattery and nor did we try to trick you. The gospel message is good news but it is also quite uncomfortable, even painful to hear at first. The gospel forces us to face the inconvenient truth about ourselves.    

Paul’s message was not cargo cult or prosperity doctrine. Paul wasn’t saying that accepting Jesus would be easy or make them rich. Paul was quite clear that accepting Jesus as Lord meant dying to oneself, picking up your cross and following him. Paul’s honesty, in talking about the hard parts of the gospel, testified to the purity of his motives and the genuineness of his character.   

Any organisation these days, that produces financial statements, needs to have those statements audited (or at least reviewed) to ensure the accounts give a true and correct picture of the financial position and everything is in order.

The independent auditor looks beneath the surface of the financial statements to check whether the figures can in fact be substantiated. This includes taking a look at the accounting processes, what’s underneath. Once they are satisfied everything is in order, they give it their seal of approval. The auditor is a professional and unbiased witness. 

In verse 4 Paul talks about God being the one who tests our hearts. In other words, God (like an auditor) looks beneath the surface to check our unseen motives. God is a witness to our inner life.

In verse 5 Paul goes on to say that God is his witness. Paul is confident that God won’t find anything untoward in his motives. We are reminded of David’s words at the end of Psalm 139 where David says:

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Knowing God cannot be separated from knowing yourself. The two go hand in hand. The less we know ourselves the greater the risk of hurting others. We all need God to be the auditor of our heart. We need him to gently show us what motivates us so we can better serve his purpose.

Paul’s message is true, his motives are pure and his manner is caring.

Paul’s manner is caring:

If motives are about what’s happening inside a person, what’s driving them, then a person’s manner is about the outward way they relate with or behave toward others.

In the movie The Sound of Music, Captain Von Trapp has a very formal, strict and cold manner with his children, at least at the beginning of the film. He relates with his kids like a sea captain might relate with his crew, not like a father at all. Captain Von Trapp’s manner is distorted by his grief.  

Fraulein Maria, the children’s nanny, has a very different manner with the children. She is warm and kind, encouraging and caring. She comforts them when they are scared and gently guides them in a good path. Maria’s manner brings the best out of the children and indeed warms the Captain’s heart and heals his grief.  

In verse 7 Paul describes his manner of relating with the Thessalonians. Paul is much like Fraulein Maria. Paul says: Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

There is a real tenderness in Paul’s words here. The Thessalonian believers were brand new Christians, toddlers in the faith. Paul, Silas and Timothy cared for their spiritual needs in the same manner as a mother nursing children.

Paul continues the parenting metaphor in verses 11-12 where he says…

11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

Notice the verbs Paul uses to characterise the manner in which he relates as a spiritual father to his Thessalonian children: encouraging, comforting and urging. (Like Fraulein Maria)

To encourage literally means to put courage into someone. Children need courage to face the world, they don’t need fear. I believe we put courage into people by being there for them, being reliable. In that way the child learns they are not alone. If you know you are not alone, you can be brave. We also put courage into children by trusting them and speaking good words into their life and soul.

Children need comfort from their fathers too. Comfort is about showing kindness and tenderness, especially when a child has gone through a difficult time or had a hard knock. Comfort isn’t about doing everything for our kids. It’s not about spoiling them. Comfort is one of the tools, in our parenting tool box, for managing fear.  

And urging is about pointing people in the right direction; helping them to find the right path. Notice that it’s urging and not controlling or forcing or driving. As human beings we feel a natural urge or motivation to make decisions which are in line with our values. So the key to urging is instilling good values, from the inside out.

Paul’s manner (his way of relating) with the Thessalonians is consistent with his message of God’s love.

Whether you have biological children of your own or not, you can still relate to others younger in the faith by caring for them, encouraging them, comforting them and urging them to live lives worthy of God’s calling.   

Conclusion:

When Paul’s name and reputation were slandered by his opponents, he responded by reminding the Thessalonian believers of their experience of him. They knew first hand that Paul’s message was true, his motives were pure and his manner was caring.

Paul was genuine. He was the real deal and he provides a model for us.  

Let us pray…

Loving Father, guide us in the truth. Purify our hearts. Help us to live our lives in a manner worthy of your calling. Through Jesus we pray. Amen. 

Questions for discussion or reflection:

What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?

  • How do we know something is true? How do we discern truth from error?
  • Why did Paul feel it was necessary to defend himself against the slander of his opponents? How did Paul do this?  
  • What can we do to reconnect with the reality (the facts) of God’s goodness to us personally?
  • How do we know Paul’s motives were good / pure? What motivates you? If you are not sure, how might you find out?
  • What do we notice about Paul’s manner in relating with the Thessalonians?
  • How might we encourage, comfort and urge others in their life and Christian faith?  
  • At end of each day this week, think of three things that went well and give thanks to God for those things.
Tawa Baptist

Change

Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 1:4-10

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Chosen
  • Convinced
  • Committed
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Good morning everyone. My name is Jerome. Will told me you are studying Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians. He thought I might be able to shed some light on the subject. You see, I lived in Greece during the First Century. I knew Paul. He told us about God’s love and that changed everything.

Change, transformation, it’s all around us. Tadpoles becoming frogs. Caterpillars becoming butterflies. Seeds becoming trees. It’s wonderful really, how in the process of changing each of these things becomes more itself.  

It was so good to receive Paul’s letter. He remembered us. I won’t read you the whole letter now, just a short section of it, my favourite part. Paul writes…   

4 For we know, brothers and sistersloved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 

6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 

8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore, we do not need to say anything about it,

9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Hearing those words of Paul’s for the first time was so affirming, so reassuring. It still fills me with a feeling of warmth all these years later. Paul saw the change in us and he understood the cost of that change.

Chosen:

The change all started, of course, because God chose us. Isn’t that amazing, we were chosen by God. Think about it. What were the chances of Paul speaking to us? There were 200,000 people in our city of Thessalonica and God arranged for his messenger, Paul, to speak to us. It’s like we won the lottery.

Or, it’s like when you go to the beach to collect shells. There must be millions of shells along the seashore but every now and then one catches your eye, so you bend down to pick it up and take it home. We are chosen from among many.

But the truly remarkable thing is, we weren’t that special. We were like you, just ordinary everyday people. (No offence.) There was nothing exceptional about us that would catch the eye. Of all the people in this world, why would God choose us?

I remember the day I first met Paul. We were in the market place and there was this short bald man, repairing a tent. He had a calmness to him, an assuredness. And then he spoke to me. ‘Could you pass me that tool there please?’ So I did. And that’s how we started. Him asking for my help.

The marketplace is not a safe place. You have to be on your guard. But Paul was different. Somehow I felt I could trust Paul. His face was weathered, his hands calloused and his eyes had seen some pain. So I invited him home and that’s when he told us (our whole family) about the God of love.

God chose us because God loves us. And God loves us because God is love. God can’t help but love people. When God loves, he is simply being himself.

Now some might think we are a bit full of ourselves believing God chose us. (Tall poppy syndrome I think you call it.) ‘Why would God choose you and not me?’ they might say. But that is missing the point. Being chosen by God doesn’t make you better than anyone else.

God chose us for a purpose. Unlike the shells you take home from the beach, which end up collecting dust and being forgotten, we actually serve a useful purpose. God has a plan you see. His plan is to redeem all of creation. God chose us to help others know his love and power.

And Paul’s letter tells how we Thessalonians are serving God’s plan of salvation. I’ll read that part again. This is what Paul said about us:

7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.  8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.   

Isn’t that amazing. Even though we hadn’t left the city, people everywhere throughout the Roman Empire, knew about our faith in God. Our little church had become famous. Even people like you, on the other side of the world, have come to know about us. We became a model for other churches to follow.

It’s not that we were bigger or better than others. It was probably because we were ordinary and unexceptional that God chose us. If God is willing to choose and use us, then the bar isn’t set very high. He can work with anyone and that gives everyone hope. The Kingdom of God is accessible to all who truly believe.  

The point is, God’s election (his choosing) isn’t about who’s in and who’s out. No, God wants everyone to be saved. Being chosen by God is about knowing we are loved by God, knowing we belong to God and knowing we serve a purpose in God’s plan of salvation.

Love, belonging and purpose. Pretty valuable gifts really.  

Convinced:

I wonder, when tadpoles become frogs and caterpillars become butterflies, does the transformation happen automatically?

Becoming a Christian is not automatic, not in my experience anyway. God does choose us (it starts with him) but we also have choices to make. Becoming a Christian requires us to make a few changes and we human beings usually need a bit of convincing before we embrace change. 

It was strange hearing Paul say that God loved us. We had never heard anything like that before. It was hard to accept at first. We worshipped lots of gods and none of them loved us.

The gods we worshipped needed to be appeased. We gave them our time, our devotion, our worship, our food and our money, as payment in return for them not hurting us. The pagan gods were like the mafia running a protection racket.

Paul told us there is only one true God and he is a kind and loving Father. He doesn’t need us to provide for him. He wants to provide for us. He doesn’t want us to cringe in fear of him, always looking over our shoulder, always worrying about the worst. He wants us to learn to trust him. This blew our minds.

It was hard to imagine this invisible God of love, until Paul told us about Jesus. Jesus shows us what the God of love is like. In fact, the Spirit of Jesus convinces us of God’s love.

Not only that but Jesus shows us how to live, how to be fully human. If we are the caterpillars, then Jesus is the fully formed butterfly. If we are the seeds, then Jesus is the fully grown tree, bearing fruit. Jesus is the picture of what God intended human beings to change into. We are to become like Jesus.

We had lots of questions for Paul. I wanted to know how we could possibly relate to God as a Father. I couldn’t imagine having that kind of relationship with God. Paul explained that, as well as representing God to humanity, Jesus also represented humanity to God.

In other words, Jesus did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Jesus lived a life of perfect, willing obedience to God the Father, on our behalf. Which means we are able to get close to God through Jesus.

Paul was an intellectual giant and he lost us sometimes with the things he said. But Silas (Paul’s companion) had a way of breaking it down so we could understand.  

Silas translated Paul’s thought like this: Being friends with Jesus gives us a back stage pass to God. Jesus speaks directly to God for us and says, ‘They are with me, Dad’. God the Father treats us like family because of Jesus.

When Paul told Jesus’ story, the way Christ was betrayed, arrested, falsely accused, beaten, mocked, scourged and crucified, the room went very quiet. Thessalonica is a free city but we had seen the cruelty of the Romans. The images of men dying on crosses were tattooed on our brains. You don’t easily forget the sight or the smell.

Something in my spirit was burning, as Paul spoke about Jesus’ grace in the face of such injustice. ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’

When Paul said that Jesus’ forgiveness on the cross extended to us also, I remember feeling a bit offended at first. I mean, when someone says they forgive you, they basically mean you’ve done something wrong. I didn’t think I was an especially bad person. I’d never killed anyone. Did I really need Jesus’ forgiveness?  

Then it occurred to me. If not killing anyone was my measure of being a good person, then I was a long way from the God of love. Love isn’t just refraining from murder. Love requires more from you than that.

The older you get, the harder it is to maintain the illusion of your own goodness. 

As I thought about Jesus on that cross, I felt something sharp, cutting me to the core, like a boil being lanced. Jesus died for me. That is the power of God’s love. In that moment my strength was undone by the weakness of God, my pride laid low by the humiliation of Christ.

We were convinced by Paul’s message. There was no guile, no deceit in him. But it wasn’t just the things Paul said. We were convinced also by the Spirit of love and truth at work in and among us.

It was exactly like Paul describes in his letter: our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.

Committed:

Knowing we were chosen by God and having been convinced of God’s love, there remained only one thing for us to do: commit wholeheartedly to God.

And so that’s what we did.  

Paul sums up our conversion well when he writes: you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son [Jesus] from heaven,   

Turn, serve and wait. That may sound simple enough but, for us Thessalonians, it required a significant commitment. Turning away from idols comes at a cost, in the short term at least. Longer term though, the benefits of worshipping God far outweigh any cost.

To understand the cost of the changes we made, you have to understand how idolatry works. Pagan religions are based on fear. Pay your dues and the gods will look after you. Don’t pay your dues and all hell will break loose. It’s an unreliable system built on lies and superstition.

Some of the people in our city made life difficult for us, when we gave up worshipping idols, because they were afraid of losing their power and position. You know how many tradesmen make their living by sculpting idols? To say nothing of the men who exploit the temple prostitutes. Idolatry is a money making racket.

Of course, people can make idols out of anything. Their career, their following on Instagram, their investment portfolio, sex, beauty, you name it.

I haven’t seen anyone bowing down to a statue, while I’ve been here, but I have seen people bowing to the idol of individualism and personal freedom. (I saw it on your TV news this past week.) Freedom is a good thing but we are not free to do whatever we want. We were set free to love God and our neighbour.

Anything that we make more important than God, that’s an idol and idols always end up breaking your heart. Worshipping the true and living God, putting him first, yea, it’s difficult at times but in the end God heals your heart. He makes it whole again.   

Yes, we suffered greatly for giving our exclusive loyalty to Jesus, but we wear that suffering like a badge of honour. I wouldn’t say we were happy about it exactly, but God gave us the strength, the energy, the attitude to deal with it.

Greater is the power is in us than the power that is in the world.

You can’t always expect the Christian journey to be plain sailing. It takes real commitment to stick with it through the doldrums and the storms. Silas taught us to enjoy God. Delight in him. Enjoying God, taking pleasure in his presence and remembering all his benefits, feeds your commitment. It keeps you going.  

The other thing that supports your commitment is keeping the end in sight. Whatever difficulty you are facing now will not last. This pandemic you’re in, it too will pass. Jesus is coming back to make all things new. That’s a sure thing.

In the twinkling of an eye we, who trust in Jesus, will be changed. These caterpillar bodies will be transformed, resurrected. But it won’t be an awkward or ill-fitting change. The change God’s Spirit creates makes us more fully ourselves.

‘How do we know this?’ you ask. We know it because God raised Jesus from the dead. Paul had seen a vision of the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. It sounded incredible but, on the lips of Paul, it rang true.

Paul was absolutely convinced of the fact and had the scars to prove it. The authorities had whipped him, in the city of Philippi just a few weeks earlier, for talking about Jesus like this.

Whatever else you may think of him, Paul was the real deal. Paul was a walking advertisement for the suffering of Christ. He was our model. 

As hard as it was, being shunned by our neighbours and threatened by the authorities, we could handle it because we knew we were on the right side of history. It is the risen Jesus who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Yea, that’s right. The day of God’s wrath is coming. Paul didn’t say this to scare us. He was simply being open and honest so we aren’t blindsided.

Some of you may be wondering, how do we reconcile the God of love with the God of wrath? Well, there is nothing to reconcile really. It’s the same God.

God’s love and wrath are perfectly compatible. In fact, you can’t have God’s love without his wrath. God’s wrath is actually an expression of his love.

In talking about God’s wrath we should not imagine a grumpy old man, losing his temper and flying off the handle in a rage. God’s wrath is measured by his justice and controlled in his mercy.

Simply put, God’s wrath is his steady and uncompromising opposition to evil. 

You see, because God is love, he cannot abide evil. God is pure goodness and light. The God of love is against injustice and cruelty. Yes, God is patient and longsuffering but he will not indefinitely tolerate that which is harmful to his creation. It is not loving to condone evil.

God does not negotiate with evil. He is simply going to destroy it.

The risen Jesus rescues us from being annihilated along with evil. Being in Christ puts us on the right side of history.

Conclusion:

Where I come from church goes all day, that’s how committed we are. But I understand your culture is different. You are not used to listening for long periods of time, so I will stop shortly.

Let me finish by saying this. Although Paul wrote his letter to our church in Thessalonica around 2000 years ago, it also contains God’s word for you today.

You, the people of Tawa Baptist together with all believers in Christ, you have been chosen by God to serve his purpose of salvation. You (together) are here in this time and place in history to bear witness to the love and power of God.

Be convinced of God’s love for you and for the wider world out there. Being convinced doesn’t mean having all the answers. There is quite a lot of mystery attached to our faith. There is quite a bit we don’t yet understand. That’s okay. You don’t need to have all the answers. But you do need to know you are loved by God. You are his. You belong to him.

Finally, commit yourselves wholeheartedly to the God of love, revealed to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. Make the true and living God the number one priority in your life. But don’t stop with one grand gesture of commitment. Nourish your commitment going forward. Feed it. Keep your commitment alive by enjoying God and looking forward to Jesus’ return. 

Let me pray for you…

Father God, we pray for these your people. May they know they are chosen for your purpose. Convince them of your love. Sow in them a deep awareness of your truth. Nourish their commitment to you as they delight in your goodness and look forward to Jesus’ return. We pray these things in and through Christ, our Saviour. Amen.   

Questions for discussion or reflection:

What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?

  • Why did God choose the Thessalonians? (How did God use them in service to his purpose?)
  • Put yourself in the shoes of the Thessalonians, many of whom came from a pagan background. What do you think it would have been like for them hearing about the God of love for the first time? 
  • How were the Thessalonians convinced of the truth of the gospel? (E.g. that God loved them and Jesus had risen from the dead.)
  • What did Christian conversion look like for the Thessalonian believers? Was their experience of conversion similar to yours or different? How was it similar? How was it different? 
  • What is God’s wrath? How is this compatible with God’s love?
  • How can we nourish our commitment to God? (E.g. what practical things can we do to enjoy God and delight in him?)