Sermon 11.8.2019
Focus Scriptures: Genesis 15:1-6. Hebrews 11 :1-3. 8-16. Luke 12: 32-40
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us. Psa. 90:17
We are living in times when great changes are underway on many levels not only at personal levels but also at political and geopolitical levels. Change can be very unsettling, unnerving and fearful. As followers of Christ, we are not immune to the birth pangs of transformation in ourselves or in society.
But this morning’s readings are encouraging and instructive, providing us with the necessary time tested tools that enable us navigate our ways through fear and whatever else life throws at us ….It is important to remember we were born again through the Holy Spirit. We have become children of God.
Believers who went before us ” confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth..we desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one… our citizenship is in heaven.,,,,,the place where Jesus went ahead of us to prepare.
Like our spiritual father Abraham before us, we journey, like him.
Like him,we, through grace, grow to trust in God’s divine gift of faith, en-kindled in us by His outreaching and persistent love.
Our accepting the grace of faith, opens us up to the grace and love of God in Christ , thus securing our eternal access to His Love and Life.
Look at Abraham our father-in-faith. Study the honesty of his open conversations with God. Look at his response, in simple faith, to what God’s promise and invitation to walk outside the confines of his tent with God.
The Lord brought Abram outside and said, ‘Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Our readings are reassuring reassuring … both the Genesis and Gospel readings offer solid words comfort……..firstly to Abraham:
‘Do not be afraid… I am your shield…
and then through Jesus,
‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Fears can seek to overwhelm us. But time and again throughout the Scriptures God and His physical manifestation to us, Jesus….repeatedly tell us to ”Fear Not”.
With Abraham we learn God is our defense and protector and through Jesus we learn our Father desires to bless us.
”…it is your Father’s good pleasure to give (you the kingdom).”
All is received from God through faith.
”… without faith, says Hebrews, we cannot please Him for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that he rewards those who seek Him”.
Our measure of faith is in the sovereign gift of God. Faith is not an ornament. It’s a life enhancing tool. It is there to be used. Like the man in the parable of the talents…. If we don’t use it we risk losing it through neglect. How often do we hear Jesus say in exasperation; ”O you of little faith.” Later in Luke, painfully aware of their inadequacy,the apostles ask Jesus to; ”Increase our faith”.
Jesus tells Peter that He had prayed for the strengthening of Peter’s faith. Lack of faith rests with us. Faith increases with use,it can be built up.
Maybe we could join the cry out the father of the muted child cry;
”Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief”.
While we have responsibilities in relation to nurturing our faith, ultimately our peace of mind and assurance rests in knowing that our growth in faith has the keen support of God Himself. For He ”who began a good work in us will bring it to completion” (Phil.)..and ”Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of faith.”
Our Hebrew’s extract is the classic NT exposition on faith. In chapter 11+12 we see how faith worked through the lives of OT believers.
Faith , says Hebrews, is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Barclays translation reads ”Faith means that we are certain of the things we hope for, convinced of the thing we do not see.”
It is a very different kettle of fish to positive thinking’ or simply having a general naive optimistic outlook on life. Faith, through the Holy Spirit has the potential of being frighteningly powerful.
To quote Barclay; ‘Faith is the ability to lay hold on that grace which is sufficient for all things in such a way that the things which are humanly impossible become divinely possible.”
Faith is powerful. Jesus tells us; ”If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree ,”be up rooted and planted in the sea ” ,and it would obey you.’
And how often did Jesus say to folk he healed;
”Your faith hath made thee whole”.
The wholeness of holiness is our Life-Quest and our hearts will never truly rest until our love and God’s love are locked in an intertwining embrace.
We needs be active in nurturing our living faith. The primary physical and spiritual sense is hearing.“Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17). It is the living Word of God that produces faith. Whenever the full gospel of Jesus is communicated, there is potential for the miracle of life giving faith.
It is interesting to note that many heroes of faith went into eternity without seeing the manifestation of their faith realised in this dimension. When Abraham and Sarah were buried in Hebron their descendants were far from being as countless as sand and stars. They still lived in hope and died in expectation.
Though Jesus, while arguing with the Pharisees said the Prophet Abraham saw and knew much more than they imagined;
”Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.”
The same for us today. We abide by trusting in the promises of God in Christ Jesus. Abraham’s faith held tangible hope because of the nature and character of the Almighty Promise Maker.
It is the same for us..
To wrap up….when you return home today reread this passage from Hebrews. Feed your faith…it’s not on a diet. Look at the verbs in relation to faith.
By faith our ancestors received approval
By faith we understand
By faith Abraham obeyed
By faith he stayed
By faith he received
Remember always God’s grace is sufficient. Avoid excessive inward-looking; your strength is not found there. The next chapter in Hebrews instructs us…
”Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
”Now to Him who is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen