Witness

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. (Acts 3:11-16 ESV)

What are you a witness to?

Is your life pointing toward something that society doesn’t recognize?

Do you live in such a way that people point in stare and ask questions about why you do the things you do?

Do you live in such a way that the gospel emanates from your life?

Our lives are to be different. We are supposed to live in a way that points people to God into the love that we have through him. We are the light in the salt to this world. We are the hands and feet of God. We are the ones who are the witnesses to his love to this world. So if your life is not drawing attention to the love that you’ve been given then I ask to what are you a witness?

Missed

As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.” (Luke 19:41-44 NRSV)

Have you ever had a Holy Visitation?

A visit from God?

If you said or thought “no” did you miss it?

In our text today Jesus is weeping over the city because they did not recognize God had been with them. God was with them and they did not know He was there. He was working in and through the world around them and they missed it. Do we miss God in our world? Do we miss Him working around us, through us?

Where have we missed God?

Hard things…

Naaman, commander of the arm of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.” But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, “Wash, and be clean”?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (2 Kings 5:1-14 ESV)

Isn’t it interesting we are unlikely to do what we are told to do?

Those of you with children know how many times you have to ask them to do something before it actually gets done. You sometimes have to ask over and over again…

Why do we hesitate to do what we are told? Especially if it is from a prophet or God? We hesitate even when it is easy.

We can have so much more and an abundant life if we would only do what we are asked…

more

Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. (Psalm 56 ESV)

Have you ever been afraid? Like things were going to be bad? And even more than worry, that people and forces were coming against you? Like your whole world was collapsing in, and there was no support?

We all get scared when life happens. Things in our life seem to over take us and the circumstances are to hard to take. If we rely on ourselves that is when the water keeps rising and things just snow ball,,, You see there is only so much we can do on our own…

But with God, all things are possible. We can cry tears of sadness, or hurt and know that God is collecting them in His hand and holding them in His heart, to help us. Not by taking away the pain or the hurt, or the sorrow, but through understanding. God knows our sorrows and pains, better than we do and He is there to catch our tears and hold us up. He is there in the time we are scared to hold our hand, and help us along the way.

God is like my brother-in-law and brother. Let me explain. When I was younger, still in jr high I think, my family went to a haunted woods. I am not big on haunted anything, but I went because the family was going. Well there was a man in the woods who had a blade less chainsaw and he was revving it up and running around scaring people. Well he scared me, because my brother-in-law and brother had to carry me out of the woods. You see when I heard this and saw him coming, I wrapped one of my arms around my brothers arm and the other arm around my brother-in-laws arm and lifted my feet off the ground. I clung to them to protect me… And that is exactly where God is, holding us, every time we are scared.

So cling to Him, like I did to my brothers… He will never let you down.

Comforting…

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God ! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, “I am only a youth”; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord .” Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1:4-10 ESV)

These words to Jeremiah seem comforting to us. I’ve heard them used over and over again to talk about how God has known us before we were born.  But when you actually read what he’s telling him does it comfort you to know that God is sending you some place that you don’t want to go to do something you may not want to do?

I do find comfort in these words. Because it is comforting to know that God has known me before that I was born. Is also comforting to know that God is going to be with me and give me the words to speak when I may not know what to say. And while it may not be comforting I also know that got sent this to places that we don’t always want to go to do things we don’t always want to do but in all of those moments God is always with us. And that my friends comforting.

Life is hard…

In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me. Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you. (Psalm 71:1-6 NRSV)

Life is hard. That is a statement everybody understands. We all look for the thing the thing that will make life easier. And that is not God.

Many think that when they come to accept that they are accepted by God that everything will get easy and good things will happen. No where does the bible or God say or promise this. He will give us good things. However life is full of humans and we are sinful and we are battling that every day.

I for one can say that I take refuge in God and He is a strong fortress, to save me, for He is my rock and my fortress. The last year has been a battle with trying to find a job, not empty the bank accounts, and keeping the families life “normal”. Through all if it God has been with me and my family. We have not had it easy ans we are buckling down and seeing what we have been truly blessed with. God has never left us, nor forsaken us. God has been a stronghold for me and has helped me maintain my life during this down portion of my life.

Look to God and know that He will always be there for you.

Just got wet…

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed uthrough the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and dprophesying. There were about twelve men in all. And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that kall the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 19:1-10 ESV)

Here we see a different take on baptism… Here they were baptized into John’s baptism and not the cleansing of Jesus. Reminds me of a question I was asked by the father of a friend after my baptism at the Baptist Church I was attending. He asked me, “if I believed Jesus died for me and had cleansed me of my sins?” Then he said if I didn’t believe this I just got wet…

Did you just get wet? You see it is not about what we do, it is all about what God does. These men did not know about the Holy Spirit, and the baptism they heard they needed was one of repentance, but that is not the baptism we partake in. We are claimed by God at our baptism, which is the baptism that Jesus also participated in. And since Jesus was without sin, it is not for cleaning. It is for acceptance. One that allows us to speak boldly about what we have been given and what we have. It is a time to speak boldly about what we have been accepted into. We are accepted by God and given His spirit.

So live into the gift you have been given.

Which came first?

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. (Acts 10:44-48 ESV)

The gift of the spirit is given to all. And then all are given the gift of water baptism.

Isn’t it interesting that we think that baptism with water has to come first. We say that someone has to be baptized in order to be part of the community but here we see someone was given the gift of the Holy Spirit before water baptism had been given to them and then water baptism was offered to them.

So which needs to come first? Do we have to be baptized with water in order to get the gift of the Holy Spirit where does the gift of the Holy Spirit come when we don’t necessarily understand when it comes?

The Lutheran understanding and Martin Luther says you have to be baptized in order to be saved. But is that what the Bible tells us? Clearly here people were given the gift of the Holy Spirit before they have been baptized with water. So baptism by water was not necessary in this case, but is this a special case?

I believe the Bible is not clear on whether baptism by water happens first or baptism by the Holy Spirit happens first. We think we can put God in the box and say things have to happen in order that we dictate, but that is absolutely not how God works. We can see from this passage that God works in and through the things that He is created in this world for the advancement of His mission.

Do not put God in the box and don’t think that things that God wants to happen won’t happen. God’s mission will happen in us through us or in spite of us.

So follow our God is leading you expecting him to do great and marvelous things.

Where you belong

And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them. Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, You are the Son of God! But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. (Luke 4:38-41 ESV)

Jesus went to Peter’s house and his mother-in-law was I’ll, Jesus healed her and she got up and started to serve them. She was restored to her right place. She was not able to do what she needed to do. Now upon first reading in our day this is sexist. She was healed only to get up and serve. But when you realize that that was her place in her society, the you see she was restored to society. She was restored to do what she was created to do.

You see that is what God does through Jesus, He restores us to the place we belong in society. He frees us to not worry about anything. He frees us to serve others and not worry about ourselves, because in being where we belong our life is richly blessed.

Broad

Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. (Psalm 119:89-96 ESV)

Forever is a mighty long time, but that is how long the word of God is firmly fixed in the heavens…

So why then are people claiming they have some secret knowledge that they know who is in and who is out? Or is it just me because people are saying that some sins are worse than others, even if Jesus didn’t talk about it.

The interesting thing about this portion of this psalm is the way it ends. “Your commandments exceedingly broad.” That is wide is the commandment of the Lord. Many Christians today would say as Jesus did narrow is the way, and therefore the rules are tight and clear that the people who follow the rules are in and those who don’t are out. But what rules do we have to follow, because some of the rules we over look. Like wearing mixed fibers in our clothing. Eating lobster and shrimp and crab and bacon… But these rules don’t apply any more. Why don’t they apply? Isn’t all of the bible the word of God and it stands forever in the heavens so none of the rules pass away. Or is it only the rules that God gave us…

But I digress… Broad is the commandment, what does that mean? That the commandment is able to allow some give and take or is bigger than we think? Maybe the commandment can’t belayed into a box that we can neatly hold and keep to ourselves but it is bigger than us or anything we can think. Just like God. When we try to keep Him in our neat .little box and make Him who we want Him to be He surprises us and does something that doesn’t fit the box…

Don’t keep God or His commandments in a box…