"Keeping Your Head Up" (Psalm 3)

Introduction

We hear quite often the expression, ‘keep your head down’! This might have come from soldiers fighting in the trenches, where you had to keep your head down or otherwise it would likely be a target. You hear it said, ‘keep your head down’ … when there is potential danger or embarrassment – so that maybe you are not noticed, and the danger misses you. When you’ve got a lot of work on your plate, or when a student needs to study hard, you might also hear it said, ‘keep your head down’ – so you won’t be so easily diverted by distraction.

This psalm speaks of the opposite – keeping your head UP!! This psalm ably presents many of the challenges of life, but also reflects on how God assuredly delivers us – so that the outcome can be, and should be … our head being UP! God wants us to keep our head UP, and actively works in our life so that this can actually be the reality. ‘Keep your head down’ … NO! Learn to keep it UP!!

God enables us to even ‘keep our heads up’ through a variety of adverse happenings. This certainly then becomes a positive for us (in our own mental health), but also enables us to present a more engaging witness to faith. There is often a big difference out at that three-quarter time huddle at the footy, between being ten goals behind with heads down, and ten goals in front with heads up. But in the Jesus-following life, where the big turnaround is just around the corner, it should always be ‘heads up’.

[This doesn't mean we pretend things are good when they're not. But rather this means we allow God access to work in our lives - through which God lifts our head.]

Context (verses 1-2)

Sometimes people will dismiss or mock our faith, just because it seems to them that it doesn’t work. They say, like has been often said, “There is no help for you in God”! ‘Things aren’t getting any better for you’! ‘See, God (if such a being exists) doesn’t care for you’! There are many, who for a variety of reasons, just want to point the finger at us … and scoff. Often, sadly, this is because of how badly they feel about themselves. But they are often only looking on the outside (with very limited vision); and perhaps they are also looking for dramatic changes, rather than those more gentle learning experiences that we are encountering on the inside.

They could be saying that God doesn’t exist, or doesn’t have any power, or just doesn’t care enough. We would probably say, easily enough, that none of this is true; but, if we listen to this enough, and if we don’t find means of contesting this as a lie, then, “There is no help for you in God” can cement itself in our spirit, and it becomes, “There is no help for me in God”!! We start to internalise these words! Then the enemy that was on the outside, has found its way inside, with all sorts of destructive self-talk (and that enemy then has a stronghold over us). We then tend to doubt God’s grace, feel unforgiven, can’t forgive ourselves, and regress into guilt and shame – and, our heads drop.

Then there are others … who can also be seen as the “enemies” of ‘our spirit’ – the ones who tend to discourage, unfairly criticise, undermine our confidence, bring hostility into our lives, tell lies or half-truths about us, break our trust, and destroy our peace. Our heads drop again! Sometimes it appears, like it did to this psalmist (in verse 6), that there are tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against us … all around! This is far from a pleasant place to be, and we shouldn’t just stay there, but actively seek the way forward and upward. The psalmist chose prayer and worship, and was successful!

Resolve (verses 3-4)

The psalmist here, was quick to avoid all this negativity, by claiming God’s promise of love and companionship. David, who this psalm is attributed to, refused to deny what he knew to be true! And so true was this, that he rehearsed it over and over again in his mind – verse 3 – “You, O Lord, are a shield to me, my glory, and the lifter of my head”. And far from being remote or unavailable or unwilling, whenever I cry to the Lord, “he answers me”. David, knew, as we can know, on the basis of what has gone before, that God is completely faithful to His children. We may not understand what God is doing, but God is undoubtedly working away in our best interests – good things will happen just at the right time.

This “shield” around me is God’s grace, God’s assurance of my acceptance as His child, God’s promise of blessing in my life, the endowment of God’s Spirit with giftedness and fruitfulness and purpose. God loves me. This shield around me is like a big hug! A big hug from God! My head rides high! This doesn’t mean I won’t take a few hits from time to time – we remain vulnerable in our humanity. This does mean, I reckon, that God’s purposes for me will NOT be foiled. Because God accepts me, and values me, and I belong to Jesus, my head is lifted. Because God accepts you, and values you, and you belong to Jesus, your head will be lifted.

We note the mention (in v.3) of God being our glory … “You O Lord are a shield around me … my glory”. The NLT puts this, “You O Lord are a shield around me; You are my glory”. Whatever does that mean?? How could we express this in other words??

• The One responsible for all the good in my life, especially my salvation
• Our greatest value is seen in our relationship with God
• “You are my glory” – the One that my life points towards
• The One I bear witness to
• The One who gives life
• The One who I give primary allegiance to serve with all my heart
• The One who makes my face shine (no wonder our head needs to be up).

This reminds me of Psalm 34:4-5 … I sought the Lord and he answered me, and delivered from all my fears. Look to him and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.

Daily Journey (verses 4-7)

Day by day, morning and night – I cry, God answers, and I will NOT be afraid (even of the tens of thousands … that may still seemingly encircle me at times) – for God dismantles fear as we grow in faith. God can easily defeat ten thousand foes of various descriptions (if we let him … if we trust him to). We remind ourselves of the ongoing power of God’s deliverance, by praying for God to “rise up” … and enter all the darkness that exists around us, and bring us through with our heads still held high.

But what about how we feel about those who have been so hurtful to us? These feelings often remain quite raw. In many of the psalms such emotions are expressed quite candidly. HOW WE FEEL ABOUT OUR INNOCENT VICTIMISATION IS NOT SILENCED NOR CENSURED (in the psalms)! We have an example of this in verse 7. They deserve a good whack on the cheek and a kick in the teeth!! But the key to this … is that we give over all such feelings of animosity TO GOD – for God to deal with. We just want the negative voices silenced! We just want their power over us negated. And we trust that God will achieve this.

Holding on to these feelings, or desiring revenge – which means harbouring resentment or bitterness – will do no good, in fact untold harm. Part of our “deliverance” entails letting go of past hurts – relinquishing them to God. We don’t underestimate or ignore evil, because of the human toll it takes. It is indeed “wicked” to discourage, demean, dismiss, undermine and destroy! But we have to, as they say, ‘let go and let God’, or otherwise we will likely implode. And then we, unlike Jonah, may be prepared for very unexpected outcomes – people, that we have let go, actually repenting and changing (having given them the space to do so).

We will fight injustice the best way we can, but ultimately we will need to trust God to repress the evil in the world. I have to constantly remind myself, that nothing will be achieved if I become overwhelmed with frustration at the way things are (as against the way they should be). I have to keep my head up; or should I say … allow God to be the lifter of my head. Nothing gets achieved if I drop my head.

Deliverance (verse 8)

Let’s look at verse 8. To be “delivered” means to taken away from all that is negative, and placed in the ‘promised land’ of blessing. Here there is boundless grace, forgiveness and love. Here is the opportunity to be the person one was created to be – unleashing all that potential and giftedness. Here is the end of all negativity and shame – for this is the place of God’s acceptance. We now belong to the kingdom of God; and to acknowledge this, we are part of a local church community that takes on the role of sharing the good news of Jesus to everyone around them. We are part of the “Body of Christ’.

Just like a letter that goes in the mail, or an email that floats through cyberspace, or a text message from one phone to another – we are “delivered” from somewhere … to somewhere else. This is something that happens to us, but its origin is well and truly within God. Deliverance “belongs to the Lord” – God wants it to happen, and God through Jesus makes it happen. Deliverance is an undeniable reality … which no one else can take away. While we continue to cry out to God for mercy, no enemy of any kind can separate us from the love of God. So, let’s keep our heads UP!

Conclusion

As we are seen to keep our heads up, no longer will people be able to say, “There is no help for you in God”. As we are seen to deal with any setbacks and difficult circumstances with a positive faith-filled attitude, no longer will they be able to say, “There is no help for you in God”.

The way to reassert the place of God in today’s society is not through defensiveness and protectionism, but rather through holding our heads up; because the fact is, there is INDEED help for us in God!! And more than “help” … hope, purpose and a life full of blessing. Our foes are defeated through the strength of our testimony to Jesus. Don’t bemoan how hard it is to be a Christian, but rather follow the example of this psalmist; be prayerful and trusting, and just live for Jesus with your head held high!

"Lifelong Learning" (Matthew 11:25-30)

Introduction

From the moment we are born, we have the capacity, and the need, to learn.

We learn from our parents, we learn at school, we learn from various experiences (good and bad).

Often learning involves change, which can be embraced OR resisted.

We learn most as we actively seek to understand our experiences of life in terms of what these teach us.

As we do this well, we not only gain knowledge, but also wisdom i.e.

the ability to apply knowledge well in real-life situations.

Who Learns the Most?

Most of us, when we come to know Jesus, at whatever stage of life that occurs, still have a lot to learn …

mostly about … what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life.

We note that in the first part of our reading (verse 25b),

that certain knowledge is hidden from the “wise and intelligent”.

Logically, that is because they are self-satisfied in themselves, and are NOT open to anything new.

God doesn’t waste too much time on them.

Rather we read that special knowledge of God and his ways … is revealed to “infants”!

These are those who accept that they are young in the faith.

These are those who accept their need of insight and learning, and do NOT put up resistance.

The (deeper) things of God will NOT be revealed to those who think they know it all,

but rather to the humble and open.

Learning & the Bible

This means that we come to any bible passage ready to see something new,

and be taught by God’s Spirit how we might understand and apply this in daily life today.

This is very different from assuming we already know it all, and can just parrot its meaning.

It’s like when Margaret was leading us at last Tuesday’s home group,

and talking about the significance of the temple curtain being torn in two,

that my mind was taken far and deep in exploring even more

possible understandings and applications of this wondrous biblical text.

In coming to Jesus, as part of our discipleship, we are committing to lifelong learning.

The Bible is a living book, it can speak to us fresh each day.

There is yet more light and truth to come forth from God’s Word.

And we can get this on our own in our quiet place … to be sure,

but the best forum through which such enlightenment and truth might break through,

is in the Spirit-led community of the church – in large and small groups.

Knowing Jesus

This all starts with seeking Jesus.

We know that we can come to Jesus any time in our tiredness and with our heavy burdens.

We read that Jesus will give us rest –

meaning that he will restore our well-being, and give us his peace, and reset our path forward.

But part of this developing trust relationship … is being “yoked” together with Jesus.

This is so we don’t form a sort of ‘on again and off again’ type relationship with Jesus.

We need to go for permanence and continuity!

This is so we don’t have those extreme ‘mountain top and valley floor’ type experiences.

This is so we don’t go three steps forward, then three steps backward to where we started out.

Instead of coming and going from Jesus, we are “yoked” to him!

In so doing, we become lifelong learners under the best mentor available!!

Being “Yoked”

Whereas it may seem onerous and restrictive to be “yoked”, it is actually quite the opposite …

that is, when you are “yoked” to Jesus!

There were negative images of being “yoked” to harsh Roman oppression, or being “yoked” to

the empty heavy ritual observances of Hebrew tradition;

but this “yoke” – being “yoked” to Jesus – was completely positive.

Jesus was saying that life with him, although we are still earthbound (with many challenges),

will be completely different … somehow better … actually life-giving … re-gaining our true humanity!

In being “yoked” to Jesus alone, we have been freed from slavery to oppression of various kinds.

We have been released from religious dogma that only makes us feel inadequate,

into a relationship where we only feel acceptance.

We have been released from the worldly standards of having to be good enough,

into a relationship where we only experience grace.

We have also been released from the implications of judgement,

to live in a beautifully harmonious relationship with our Creator.

This is not a big stick, not the cane that we used to get at school in my day; but rather a gentle “yoke”.

This is God’s preferred way of guiding us … with gentleness.

Even the shepherd’s “rod and staff” were to comfort me (Psalm 23).

We read (in verses 29 & 30) that Jesus is a gentle teacher, always serving our collective best interests,

always seeking to grow us into our God-given potential, and guide us into our God-given future.

We would surely want to be guided into God’s best plans for His world.

This is all very good news for anyone who has suffered under any type of oppression in

the past (whether government, cultural, institutional, peer-group or individual oppression).

Jesus models an alternative social experience of inclusion and mutual service that seeks the

best for the other. We are no longer enforced labourers, but rather willing servants.

As we said last week, former tasks become life-giving ministries!

The “yoke” in mind here, was the wooden collar than ran across the shoulders of a pair of oxen

(which is hitched to a plough). This “yoke” enabled the oxen to jointly pull enormous weights,

the burden being equally distributed over both the animals.

Some farmers will “yoke” a mature hardened ox together with a younger weaker one,

where the more mature animal handles most of the weight for a time

(and the younger one … not that much at all),

while this younger one grows and learns and gains the capacity to carry its fair share.

There is great sense in being “yoked” with a stronger wiser partner.

The “yoke” functions to keep the oxen from going in directions different than the farmer would have

them go. Pushing the metaphor, the more experienced ox helps the less experienced … to interpret

the will of the farmer, as he steers the plough.

When the stronger ox turns, the younger one learns to go the same way.

If we want to know the Father, if we want to follow the Lord God,

then we have to be “yoked” to Jesus – as we read (back in verse 27b) …

“… no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him”.

When God pulls the reins, Jesus responds, as do those “yoked” with Jesus;

such a natural trust and responsiveness has developed.

We learn how to do life through a ‘tight’ relationship with Jesus.

We come to know Jesus so well, that we start to feel about people and situations the same way Jesus feels about them.

We see how Jesus interacts with other people, and we learn to interact like he does.

We develop our ethical thinking alongside Jesus.

The goal of all discipleship is to become like Jesus.

Yet, there is room for diversity here,

because we retain all the good and unique parts of our personality.

And thus we provide a multitude of entry points for those seeking God.

The “yoke” we fit into with Jesus is NOT a ‘one-size-fits-all’,

where there is likely some discomfort or sizing problem.

Adjustments can be made … fitting perfectly according to our particular all round situation.

The “yoke” we share with Jesus actually has a very unique design.

We can come as we are, right now – we don’t have to make ourselves any more ready, and we don’t have to try to become good enough … we can’t under our own steam anyway.

We don’t have to put on any formal clothes – t-shirt, shorts and thongs are okay.

“For my yoke is easy [or kind/good], and my burden is light” (verse 30).

Life is ‘lighter’ when we are doing what we are supposed to be doing according to God’s big picture.

We may still be busier – but about the right things, in the right places; and life will actually weigh less.

So, what attitudes do we need to have to embrace lifelong learning??

Humility and openness.

In being “yoked” with Jesus, what are we open to??

Now the burdens of life are being carried across two sets of shoulders,

with Jesus carrying at least half the weight, and probably more;

what could we be learning??

• new perspectives on old problems
• being calmer, less frustrated, more purposeful
• the possibility of a change of direction
• less individual control and more Spirit-control of our movements
• coping better with set-backs and ongoing difficulties
• taking greater responsibility for our actions – confession and repentance
• receiving grace and forgiveness (and forgiving ourselves)
• dealing better with bitterness and offering more forgiveness to others
• seeing the responsibilities of life in a far more creative way
• bringing all our deep questions and concerns – those areas of life in which we do not have peace
• how to love others – our neighbours
• being convicted regarding each and every way that Jesus wants to bring compassion, justice, healing and salvation to people.

Conclusion

All this allows us to be part of God’s mission in the world.

Whether that’s in Papua New Guinea, Zambia or Burma;

Wandiligong, Mt Beauty, Harrietville, Porepunkah or Bright –

we are undertaking the ministries that God has gifted and called us to be involved in.

And as each of us is “yoked” with Jesus, we will learn together and

minister together as the unified ‘body of Christ’ in all its glorious diversity.

We will study the Gospels (Mark, Matthew and Luke, John) with a fine tooth comb,

to discover together how to live like Jesus.

We will take up our particular weight-bearing duty in this partnership with Jesus.

Jesus shares our burdens, as we share his redemptive intent for the world.

"Bringing Our Best" (Genesis 4:1-16 & Malachi 3:8-15)

Introduction

Do you wonder why Cain’s offering was far less acceptable to God, than Abel’s?

Or, put another way – why was Abel’s offering far more acceptable than Cain’s?

We see that the ensuing behaviour of Cain and the outcomes for him, were not ideal, to say the least! So there is something really key here for us to consider.

I’m not willing to accept any notion that God showed indiscriminate partiality;

so, the answer must be discernible here. God is NOT inconsistent nor unfair!

The reason doesn’t easily jump out of the text, it’s not made immediately clear; so we’ll have to look carefully (in verses 3-4).

The Brothers

Both Abel and Cain had good respectable vocations – one a “keeper of sheep”, the other a “tiller of the ground – cultivator of the soil”.

We note that both sons brought offerings to the Lord. The Hebrew notion behind these offerings, was the idea of bringing both an expression of allegiance, and a gift of gratitude, to the Lord, in response to the goodness being experienced.

We should note that, from the first book in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) to the last, offering the best of what we have been given … back to God … is a consistent biblical theme (e.g. Numbers 18:29,32; Nehemiah 13:10-11).

We see special mention that Abel brought the “firstlings” of his flock … their “fat portions”. However, no such mention is made about the fruit that Cain brought. Cain may then have just brought a few vegetables … a couple of bent carrots maybe.

So, we are being led to believe that the difference was … that Abel brought the first and best of what he had been blessed with, while Cain had NOT considered this to be important. Perhaps Cain did not appreciate enough the good gifts he had received from God, and therefore was short in his response.

This seems to be borne out in Hebrews chapter 11 (the famous ‘faith’ chapter):

“By faith, Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. {Through this [Abel] received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; [Abel] died, but through his faith, he still speaks”} (11:4).

We then read of the slippery slope that Cain went on.

First, Cain became angry (v.5b), and obviously did not control, nor deal properly with, his anger. This ultimately led him to become downcast. Cain’s mistaken belief about God, led first to very unfortunate behaviour patterns, followed by a downturn in his feelings about himself. Cain, for whatever reason in his thinking, had offered less back to God than he should have.

In verse 7, God explains to Cain some of the process that has been built into the human identity.

Everyone has equal access to God – God loves everyone the same.

So there should be NO need for anger nor for being downcast.

If someone opens themselves to God unreservedly, then acceptance by God is assured.

Conversely, if someone neglects God, the door is well and truly opened to sin,

and potentially the domination of sin.

If God is NOT allowed to fill the void in our lives (for a relationship with our Creator),

there will be too much space for stuff that is less than the best.

Or, as David Atkinson puts it, “If you set your face against God and his ways, you are placing yourself in the service of sin, which, like a wild beast lying in wait for its prey, will dominate you”. This is what happened to Cain.

A simple, and somewhat obvious, choice should be made!

The door through which we will be dominated by sin and negativity should be rejected.

It is a choice!! Unfortunately, as we read on, Cain made the WRONG choice!

Cain planned and callously carried out the murder of his brother Abel.

When a human being fails at something, rather than just owning up to it,

instead they often will look for a scapegoat, an easy target to blame.

And the most ‘righteous’ easy target for Cain, was Abel.

We read in 1 John 3, “We must not be like Cain, who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. Any why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil, and his brother’s [were] righteous” (3:12).

We see here the extremes to which compliance and non-compliance to God’s wishes are held!

Then, to make matters worse, when confronted over this murder, Cain lied about it –

taking NO responsibility for his actions.

Of course, Cain’s actions could NOT be hidden from God!

And the consequences would undoubtedly make Cain’s life much much harder.

The ground will be much harder to farm, and Cain will also lose his sense of place and peace (v.12). Such were the results of neglecting God, and thereby hurting another.

Tough to handle – but brought upon himself.

[However, we also see that … even such a heinous crime as Cain committed, could NOT end God’s interest in him. No one was permitted to exact any revenge on him (v.15).

The punishment and consequences were only for God to manage.

As one commentator put it (F R McCurley):

Here was, “a word of grace in spite of human horror”;

which is often something quite difficult for us to get our head around,

especially in the case of the worst of perpetrators.]

Our Proper Response

So it is that we see the outcomes of neglecting making God first in our lives –

opening the door to sin, and a less than best life;

as against bringing God our best – the “firstlings and the fat portions”.

What would we consider to be the best that we need to bring to God (in our situation)??

Some might have picked up, that the one who gave the best … Abel … finished up dead.

The person who gave the ultimate example of a sacrificial best i.e. Jesus, also finished up being killed.

But there is always new life attached to giving our best to God;

and this is exemplified in Jesus’ resurrection.

Jesus said we must lose our life to gain it.

We decide to die to sin, and give the best of ourselves to God – then we live in Christ.

What would we consider to be the best that we need to bring to God???

What are our ‘first fruits’ and ‘fat portions’?

Time, Talents & Resources.

I would add … our Creative Energy.

Each of these are brought into the ‘storehouse’ – where, first we worship, and then go out in mission.

This concept of bringing our best into the ‘storehouse’ derives from the prophet Malachi.

The prophet Malachi reflects on people holding out on God (chapter 3:8-12).

Here God accuses people of robbing him (3:8), because they are holding back their tithes and offerings [which should be understood in the broadest sense].

And again this does NOT go well for those people (3:9 … refer also 3:18).

Then we get the challenge (in 3:10a):

“Bring the full tithe [which should again be understood broadly] into the storehouse,

so that there may be food in my house”.

This is so God’s house has such bounty for all the community to see and receive and be a part of.

This text goes on to reflect on some reasons why people hold back.

Whether literal or figurative, we read of a locust plague that potentially destroys produce and makes the vines barren (3:11). Thus people may hoard because of the fear of a possible scarcity. Another excuse might be a perceived lack of resources as against others who seem to be less deserving (3:13-15) – a sort of misaligned feeling of unfairness.

‘Here we are doing the right thing and struggling, but they who are getting away with murder seem to be prospering’!

In saying all this, the prophet challenges the people to test the generosity of God – that God will attend to any needs brought about by scarcity or other concerns (3:10b):

“… and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing”.

God wants us to trust him, that the one who responds in faith will not be ultimately disappointed – in fact quite the opposite. And the blessing that will count the most is a spiritual blessing upon our lives.

[The apostle Paul puts it this way, “The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6).]

Here and Now

There are a number of existing and possible ministry areas that could be embraced here.

Notice these are called ‘Ministries’ and NOT ‘jobs’ nor ‘tasks’!

For everything done humbly in God’s name (for God’s glory) is a ministry to the benefit of others.

For instance, there is a big difference in the mindset of how certain things are approached:

being on a roster to set up a school gymnasium at 7am every Sunday morning …

can be seen as a big heavy undesirable task (to be avoided as much as possible),

OR, as an opportunity to work as team in providing a spiritually prepared place in which hundreds can freely worship and encourage each other.

The same could be said for those who clean this worship space and the cottage in preparation for Sunday … this is a ministry.

How do we turn tasks into ministries (in our mindset)??

The answer: we consider what the ultimate purpose is!

And the ultimate purpose of each collective activity, in and around the church, is … bringing God glory!!

That is, bringing God glory … in our faith, worship, and bringing others into the Kingdom of God.

We have vacancies in our children’s program, children who will also quickly become youth.

Graeme would love to apprentice someone to expand our chaplaincy ministry.

There are many seats available in our prayer times.

The list could go on!

Conclusion

Will we give to God, the ‘first fruits’ of our time, talents, resources, and creative energy?

Will we seek God’s leadership in working out the right balance in our lives, in terms of employment, family and ministry??

“Abel, for his part, brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions”.

Cain, on the other hand, became dominated by sin.

Is coming to worship … unnecessarily tired, giving our best!?

Is coming to worship … only out of a sense of obligation, going to cut it!?

Is neglecting worship ever going to help us!?

In coming to worship, where are our heads – in what mode?

Do we come expectant and ready, for God to do something new?

Are we looking for where the Holy Spirit may be leading,

even when this might take us out of our comfort zone!?

Do we bring our best intentions toward encouraging others?

How has God blessed us and gifted us?

How are we going to bring the first fruits of this back into the ‘storehouse’?

The world that God loves, needs ‘storehouses’ filled with first fruits, so that God’s glory is clearly revealed.

"A Big Vision" (Ephesians 3:14-21)

1. Introduction

I found myself reflecting on these great verses (3:20-21), and being inspired by them.

Sometimes we look at life through limitations rather than possibilities.

I think we should expect big things from God!

We read here in Ephesians 3, that God can accomplish …

“abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine” (v.20b).

That’s a lot!

Verses 20 & 21 are like a doxology at the end of a prayer –

Words of acclamation …

“Now to him … who can do all this … be glory … forever and ever; Amen”.

What we are acclaiming is … all of what God is able to achieve.

What’s that? “Abundantly far more …”.

I think we need to act as if we really appreciate that this is true.

We heard last week how Gei Lin believes this, and is acting on this basis.

Gei Lin believes that there can be a tremendous improvement in the services in his home village,

and refuses to put any limits on what can be achieved!

This sort of faith is not just for Gei Lin, but for all of us!

“… abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine”

• immeasurably more, infinitely more, exceedingly more, superabundantly more
• no limits … only those limits we might place
• more than we could ever conjure up in our mind or contemplate asking for
• yep, no limits

2. How does this work in practice?

Not out of thin air, but rather …

“… by the power at work within US” (v.20a)!

It is somewhat staggering, but no less true, that God chooses to work through us.

We are God’s channels of blessing to the world.

This, despite our fragility, our weakness, and our propensity to get it wrong at times!

God’s power … “at work within us”.

Now … that’s a lot of power!

The power to create the universe.

The power to create a human family on earth.

The power to raise Jesus from the dead.

God through his Holy Spirit is able to work abundantly far more powerfully and

effectively than we can imagine.

And, God doesn’t work as a detached or impersonal force,

but rather is intimately connected to his creation,

and works through His people.

Experiencing the power of God working tangibly in and through our lives,

must be something we see as an ultimate highlight in life! Even something to aspire to!!

I have been very grateful this week, that God chooses to work within us,

when we are called upon to stretch ourselves into all sorts of unexpected happenings!

We are to experience this together in the church.

The glory of God is to be seen as operative in the church (v.21).

It is as God works within us that the glory of God is seen beyond us.

To all generations.

Might sound out there … but that is the witness of this scripture!

This can speak volumes to a hurting world.

Is the church still relevant in today’s society?

Only if the church is resembling God’s glory!

Only if there is a witness to Jesus Christ!!

GHP Thompson wrote: “The honour of Jesus is in the hands of the church”.

Sometimes we pray for God’s power, when we already have that at hand.

What we should be praying for is eyes to see the power that God has already provided

(From JD Greear).

And, we should never measure God’s power, through our limited expectations.

3. What is the centre and basis of God’s work in the world?

The words in this prayer build up to answering this.

Starting in verse 16:

• according to the riches of his glory,

granting that we may be strengthened in our inner being with power through the Holy Spirit,

• granting that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith,
• AS WE ARE being rooted and grounded in LOVE.

The centre and basis of God’s work in the world … is love.

That has never changed, and despite how the world looks, this is NOT going to change.

Being rejected time and time again over human history, God returns to us in love.

And as people, all of us, designed in the image of God,

the centre of God’s desire for us is to be … “rooted and grounded in love”!

Any saving relationship we come into with Jesus, is itself “rooted and grounded in love”.

We are NOT designed to carry animosity, hate or deceit.

If we hold grudges or bitterness or unforgiveness or conflicted thoughts toward another,

we better find a way of dealing with this soon.

I’ll come back to that!

Love … appreciating and practicing God’s love …

is the path to being filled with the fullness of God (v.19b).

Rhett spoke about this two weeks ago from 1 Corinthians 13.

You can have a whole lot of things, but if you don’t have love …

you really have nothing!

4. How is this love described (in Ephesians 3)?

As very large indeed (v.18).

So large that it “surpasses [our] knowledge” (v.19)

• in a way it exceeds our capacity to understand,
• we can’t know it all, we can’t exhaust it;

however, Paul has already prayed (in v.18)

that we may still have the “power to comprehend”,

all of us together,

the immense size of this love.

This all means … that it’s not so much about knowledge,

but more about experiencing and involving ourselves in God’s love!

So we shouldn’t stop exploring the breadth, length, height and depth of God’s love!

Let’s explore God’s love now:

• Every part of the universe is suffused with God’s love. God’s love cannot be confined.
• God’s love is broad enough to take in all peoples – there is room for all.
• God’s love is multi-dimensional, weaving its way into all the fabric of life.
• God’s love is deep enough to reach the most broken person.
• God’s love is sacrificial enough to redeem the worst of sinners.
• God’s love is high enough to transform us into the image of Jesus.
• God’s love is long enough to last for all eternity.

God loves more than we can,

yet God continually is drawing us toward his level of love!

Our experiences of life, good and bad, stretch us toward being “rooted and grounded in love”.

And love finds new expression through our own experiences of life, in both joy and sorrow.

So, if God’s love is as big and impressive as this, then things can change!

5. How do we see this play out in daily life?

Not limitations, but new possibilities!!

Both in us, and around us.

With love at the centre of our minds, and God working powerfully within us:

• We may fully appreciate for the first time that God can forgive us …

even of what we had thought was unforgivable.

• When we are at our lowest ebb, we may appreciate that God has drawn

close to our suffering; and healing (of just the right kind) is not far away.

We may now sense there is hope, rather than just hopelessness;

where we may have felt lost, soon we may find purpose again. Where we thought we could never get past something bad in our lives, we can!

• Where we have felt isolated and unable to connect socially,

new paths have opened toward meaningful relationships and community.

• We may now fully appreciate how much God loves that other person …

the one that we have had a bit of a problem with. It then becomes gradually easier to

love them (in Jesus name).

• Where we had almost given up on certain people coming to know Jesus,

there is a new appreciation that things can turn around. There is new intensity to

our prayer for them, refreshed credibility in our witness –

potentially providing for them new triggers of faith.

• When we feel overwhelmed by problems, e.g. family, financial, relationships,

personal health … these can loom large, and you can feel like you are going under;

God’s power within us … can give us all sorts of new perspectives, and

avenues of positive activity.

• When we are absolutely despairing about the world in which we live,

the violence, cruelty and poverty, the darkness and selfishness,

then we come to understand that God is working to uncover and reverse such injustice.

• Where we have found it difficult to share our faith or be ourselves,

we feel newly equipped with confidence and courage to

make a difference in another person’s life.

There are no more limits on what can be achieved with God on our side!

It’s no longer ‘if’, but ‘when’!!

We can dream big dreams!

If this is of God, we will have the necessary power … at the right time!

So, we can throw off all those restricting conventions and fears.

I don’t want to settle for anything short of the (high) adventures God has for me

(From J Mateer).

6. Conclusion

And so the big vision expressed here … is for God’s extraordinary love to be revealed in

the church as a witness to Jesus Christ and to God’s glory. This speaks volumes.

We should be living with great expectancy as to what God is about to do.

And we should be living with the sort of openness, that believes that, at any stage,

God could work his power through us.

As we have said, this potentially helps us in big ways, and helps others as well.

Such love is proven in tangible and practical ways, in caring and sharing – generously,

and not for any return. This needs the ‘buy-in’ of all of the saints … together …

fully appreciating and activating God’s love … with each other and into the local community –

women and men, young and old, all the different backgrounds, personalities, experiences of

life and complimentary gifts … all the diversity brought together into a unified

expression that makes a serious difference. Amen.