“Bear Fruit in Every Good Work”

Series on Colossians

Colossians 1:1-29; 2/6/11

Introduction: Illustration: “From one pastor to another.” A couple of weeks ago a church member e-mailed me this humorous letter from one pastor to another about the miracles he had seen happen in his church; it reads like this: To My Dear Friend, Pastor Phil Blowhorn: I sure hope attendance at your church was better'n my church. Mercy, pastorin' ain't always easy, now is it? We had us a bunch of sick folk, and them added to all the shut-ins made for a whole lot of pew cushions to look at from the pulpit. I got to admit, I was feelin' somewhat put out, but I went ahead and preached anyhows. Only thing was, with all them people missin' the echo in the church gave me a hoot of a headache. My wife said I needed to git out and ride a bit 'cause the fresh air would make me feel better. Sure 'nuff, she was right. Not only did my head clear up, but what I saw renewed my faith in the Good Lord. I tell you, Brother, I seen miracle after miracle! My Sunday School superintendent, Hank Weaselbaum had called to tell me that he was so deathly sick, he wouldn't make it to church. But there he was, drivin' down the road with his favorite fishin' pole stickin' out the window. I tell you, only a miracle coulda' snatched him out'a the jaws of death that way! Then there was my head deacon. He had done left a message on my answerin' machine that his back was so jerked out'a line that he thought he might have to have surgery. But I want you to know that when we drove past the golf course, there he was, hittin' golf balls on the drivin' range. Hallelujah, our prayers worked! Edna Brump sent word with her sister that she wouldn't make it 'cause her stomach was all upset and she didn't want to take a chance on havin' a mishap in the church. But glory! There she was, standin' in line at the Feedin' Trough Smorgas-bord. Another healin'! All told, we saw that 20 of our sick folk had takin' a turn for the better and were up and about. Yes, sir, Brother Blowhorn, I'm excited! I just know we'll be havin' us a packed house next Sunday, what with all the sick and shut-ins revived by such a touch from Heaven. I look forward to givin' you right nice report. Your good friend, Pastor William.

This morning we start a series on the book of Colossians. I believe this book will challenge us in our faith and in how we live as the people of God, and will help lead us to see and experience the miracles of God. Today we start by looking at chapter 1 and how our faith is to lead us to bear fruit for God, and that God is there as Creator, Sustainer, and Reconciler.

I. Thankful for Your Faith- (Colossians 1:3-8)

a. Pray for you- Let’s start by reading Colossians 1:1-8, “Paul, an

apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, ² To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. ³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people, ⁵ the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. ⁷ You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, ⁸ and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.”

One of the most important things we can do as God’s people is to pray for one another. You may not know exactly what is going on in someone’s life, but you can pray for their faith to be strong, and for their love for the Lord to be evident to others. The truth is, we cannot have enough prayer in our lives! Maybe you hear a prayer request on Sunday, and you decide to pray for that person throughout the week. Or maybe God just brings someone’s name to your mind, and you decide to pray for them. Thank God for them, for their faith, and God’s love in their lives.

b. The word of truth- Paul also reminds us that the truth of God,

which is found in His word, the Bible, is at the heart of bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God, and for bringing growth to God’s people. We might shy away from sharing God’s word with others, but in doing that we keep the power of God’s word from doing the work that it can.

If you are reading a little bit of scripture each day, then you can share that with those around you. I set a pretty big goal for myself about a year and a half ago, and that was to memorize one psalm a month! I am currently in Psalm 18. The beauty of this is I have the word of God constantly in my mind, and on my lips.

EX. Not too long ago I was having coffee with a friend of mine, and something she said reminded me of Psalm 12. And so I quoted the psalm to her. I could feel the very power of God flow through me as I was speaking it!! The Bible is God’s word of truth, and is meant for us to share so that it might bear fruit and bring growth.

c. God’s grace- On top of this, Paul encourages the Colossians in

regards to God’s grace. It is in understanding God’s grace that we are not only led to faith in Christ, and to salvation, but also we are led to grow in our Christian walk. The grace of God is the truth that God does not hold our sin against us, but offers us a way out of it. As we accept this grace, we are given the ability, through Christ, to live apart from our sin, and follow God’s truth, so that we might be able to do great things for God! Without God’s grace, we would indeed be lost.

II. Every Good Work- (Colossians 1:9-14)

We next turn to Colossians 1:9-14, “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, ¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

a. The knowledge of His will- The knowledge of the will of God,

Wouldn’t this be great to have? If you are like me, there are many days you go through wondering what you are supposed to accomplish. OR, you have many decisions that you need to make: what would God have you to do? We are always wondering what God’s will is for our lives. How are we to know? Paul talks of how he prays for the Colossians that God would indeed fill them with the knowledge of His will. If this is true, then knowing God’s will doesn’t come from outside of us, but from within; from God’s Spirit giving us this knowledge and understanding.

To know God’s will for our lives, we need to seek God spirit to Spirit. This might happen by us having a feeling of what is right for us to do. This might happen by God putting a thought into our minds; a thought that is supported by the Bible. This might happen by God giving us a sense of what He is leading us to do. We can have the knowledge of God’s will by our seeking out God’s Spirit from within.

b. Strengthened with all power- And so by God’s will being made

known to us, and by God’s word being present in our lives and on our lips, we begin to experience the power of God at work. As we open ourselves up to this power of God, we are strengthened in our lives; we are more able to live as we were created to live; we realize that we don’t have to just get through the day, but that we can be victorious because of God’s power giving us strength each day!

All the more, Paul tells us that God ‘has rescued us from the dominion of darkness.’ STORY:

There once was a pastor in a small New England town who came to church, one Easter Sunday morning carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Of course this raised some eyebrows from those in the congregation. He then began to tell them about how the day before, he had come upon a young boy with this birdcage. The 3 little birds seems scared and cold, so he asked the boy what he was going to do with them. The boy said: “I’m going to take them home and have fun with them; maybe make them fight, and then feed them to my cats!”

The pastor was stunned at this statement, so he then asked the boy if he could buy the birds from him. The boy responded: ‘They don’t sing, and they aren’t pretty; what would you want them for?’ The pastor again asked the boy how much he wanted for the birds. The boy thought that the pastor was crazy, and said: ‘$10.’ This was far more than the birds were worth, but the pastor took out a $10 bill and gave it to the boy, who then gave the pastor the birds. The pastor then opened the cage door and let the birds fly away. He had set them free.

With this the pastor told another story; a story of Satan and Jesus having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught a world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!" "What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked. Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!" "And what will you do when you are done with them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly. "How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!" "How much? He asked again. Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life." Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price.
And that is how we have been rescued from the dominion of darkness!

III. The Image of God- (Colossians 1:15-23)

Why would Jesus do this? Paul tells us in verses 15-23:

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. ²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— ²³ if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

Jesus did this because He, as the Son of God, was part of creating us. Not only is He our creator, but our sustainer, as He holds all things together for us. Without Christ the world would literally fall apart! But because of our sin, and giving ourselves over to the temptations of Satan, Jesus had to make peace on our behalf by His blood, shed on the cross.

As any parent would not want their children to be alienated from them, so God did not want us to be alienated. Our minds can get unfocused and distorted in our thinking, but in Christ we can be reconciled and freed. As Christ is the image of God, God in the flesh, He was able to pay this price. As Christ is the image of God, God in the flesh, we are able to understand God’s love through Him. As we are created in the image of God, we are able to be established and stand firm in Christ.

IV. Making Known the Mystery- (Colossians 1:24-29)

Finally, we read verses 24-29: “Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. ²⁵ I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”

a. The mystery of God: Christ in you- “The chief difference between

other religions and the Christian faith, as it relates to the matter of personal salvation is: every other religion teaches a form of self salvation; Christianity teaches that God came in the person of His Son, Jesus, to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. For example: In Buddhism, deliverance comes through the abolition of desire by self-effort. There is no god and no savior. Hinduism says that each person must receive the fruit of his or her own wrong doings in future lives if not in this one. There is no escape by forgiveness but only the final release of Nirvana, involving the extinction of being.”(Taken from Every Day Light, by Selwyn Hughes, p. 25, Day 23)

The mystery of the Christian faith is that not only is Christ our savior, who gives us forgiveness and eternal salvation, but He also resides within us! There is no god who is closer to us than our God! This is the mystery that Christ came to bring, and the truth that Christ came to make a reality.

b. Everyone fully mature- Paul concludes with the teaching that we

are all to be made fully mature in Christ. This is what Paul gave His life for; this is what God called Paul to do with His life. This is what I feel compelled to do as a minister. But in truth, this is what all of us should be striving for, for ourselves, and for others. It is not enough to accept Christ as savior, but He must be our Lord, for whom we seek every day, and whose truth we attempt to know and live out.

Paul acknowledges that he does not do this by his own strength, but by ‘the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.’ So too we will not do this by our own knowledge or strength, but by the knowledge and strength Christ gives to us.

Conclusion: This chapter is packed full of great spiritual nuggets that should encourage us, challenge us, uplift us, and remind us of how we are in need of such a savior as Christ. God gives us truth, knowledge, peace, hope, and strength though Christ who gave Himself for us. The least we could do would be to share His word with others, and seek to grow in our faith each day. Let us commit ourselves to do this, and in so doing, show the love and thankful hearts we have. Amen.

“Stems of Possibility”

Sunday, January 23, 2011: Matthew 16:24-26

Series: “Let Your Life Speak”, from book by Parker J. Palmer

Introduction: In the last 3 weeks of this series we have talked about how our vocation is the work God calls us to do, with the gifts He gives to us, which sometimes requires us to wait for the Lord to help us discover where our gifts best fit with our life. This also comes to us from understanding our passion and the causes God leads us to care about.

The challenge comes when we go through the seasons of our lives. As we talked about last week, we reflected on Autumn and Winter: Autumn, where seeds are planted which brings new growth; and Winter, which is the time for dormancy and deep rest, restoring our energy for what God has next.

This morning we finish up our series by looking at the seasons of Spring and Summer.

I. Rebirth- (Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Matthew 16:24-26)

Before we get to spring there is actually a transition time from winter to spring.

In this transition there is mud and muck. It is the time when the snow and ice are melting, and the ground becomes a muddy mess. In this time the CONDITIONS FOR REBIRTH ARE BEING CREATED.

a. Looking more carefully- If you don’t know, humus is ‘decaying

vegetable matter that feeds the roots of plants.’ The truth is, the word “humility” comes from this root word humus. If we can understand the connection, we can understand that even the humiliating events of life, the events that leave us with mud on our face, may indeed create the fertile soil in which something new can grow.

Spring often starts off slowly, and tentatively, but it grows with great intensity. The small shoots push their way through the ground, the ground that looked, only a few weeks earlier, like nothing would grow in it ever again. The days start to get longer, the weather warmer, and the world begins to grow green again.

In our lives, as we transition from winter into spring, we do experience “mud” in our lives. Yet, in the midst of this mud, in the midst of the dirtiness of our lives, there is hope. The trouble with us, is that our hope doesn’t come until we know for certain that the outcome will be good.

For example, you have a disagreement with a good friend, so much so that you think the relationship might be over. You do not feel that there is hope for restoration. This is that mud that comes into our lives. We are upset, maybe in despair over this damaged relationship. We doubt reconciliation can come. Then something happens, our spirit softens, their spirit softens, there is conversation. Now we start to hope again. Ultimately, the friendship is saved, and all is good again.

Why couldn’t we have hope when things looked bad? The whole idea of the season of spring is that when we look more carefully at the possibilities that exist, we can realize that, as Paul says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Hope tells us that God will work out good from the bad we are going through. There can be growth in the mud covered landscape!

Spring in its fullness is something that is not easy to describe. It is full of life and vibrancy and many beautiful colors. It is a topic that many poets have written about with great passion.

Like this poem by William Wordsworth, in 1798: “I heard a thousand blended notes, While in a grove I sate reclined, In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts, Bring sad thoughts to the mind.
To her fair works did Nature link, The human soul that through me ran; And much it grieved my heart to think, What man has made of man.
Through primrose tufts, in that green bower, The periwinkle trailed its wreaths; And ’tis my faith that every flower, Enjoys the air it breathes.
The birds around me hopped and played, Their thoughts I cannot measure:--But the least motion which they made, It seemed a thrill of pleasure.
The budding twigs spread out their fan, To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can, That there was pleasure there.
If this belief from heaven be sent, If such be Nature’s holy plan, Have I not reason to lament, What man has made of man?”

In this poem we are reminded of the sweet mood that spring brings, with the periwinkle, the blooming flowers enjoying the beautiful weather around it, and the birds hopping and playing.

Spring helps us to know that life is not always to be measured out, as the season of winter can often lead us to do. Spring reminds us of the wonderful colors and vibrancy of life, as well as the growth that comes from what was worked through, in autumn and winter.

b. The great giveaway- Spring can also remind us of how nature gives

itself away in its blooming. Springs giveaway is very generous, to the point of being beyond what is necessary. Nature, in spring, gives us an abundance of color and growth, for no other reason than the sheer joy of sharing.

The gift of life, which seems to be withdrawn in winter, is given in fullness in spring. As winter hoards, so spring gives it all away. This is another paradox. The truth is, when you are given a gift, you keep it alive, not by clinging to it, but by passing it along.

That is why I am always surprised when I see people being so tentative in sharing and using their God given gifts. 1 Corinthians is very clear to us, when we are told in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. ⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

God has generously given us gifts. Spring is there to remind us that we should share these gifts with others in abundance; we should not hold back. To hold back would kill the gift, not enhance it. To give it away would be for the “common good” of God’s people and God’s world!

Let’s take a tree, for example. Pulitzer-Prize winning author, Annie Dillard, begins with a mental exercise to help us understand how superfluous is the design of an ordinary tree. She writes these words: “You are God. You want to make a forest, something to hold the soil, lock up solar energy, and give off oxygen. Wouldn’t it be simpler just to rough in a slab of chemicals, a green acre of goo?”

From the giving of the seeds at autumn, to the great spring giveaway, nature teaches us a steady and important lesson: if we want to save our lives, we cannot cling to them but must spend them with abandon. That is why Jesus says, in Matthew 16:24-26, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?’”

Spring does not hold on to her beauty, but shares it for our enjoyment, and for God’s glory. If we are to be God’s people, and live this life in a way that speaks for the Lord, then we must learn how to deny ourselves. We need to understand that while we have been given the life we have, it is not just for us to enjoy, but for us to share with others. In that God is our creator, we must deny being our own lord, and instead let God be our Lord.

When we are obsessed with bottom lines, and productivity, and means and ends, and fulfilling the goals WE have set for ourselves, then we cannot live a life that speaks for the Lord, because we are not denying ourselves. Now this doesn’t mean that we aren’t meant to enjoy life, but a shared life is much more enjoyable than a life that is selfish. Bees are practical and productive, but there is also a pleasure that is received in their doing what they do. So we too are meant to be practical and productive, but to do it in a way that is pleasurable for us, for others, and all the more, for God!

II. Abundance as a communal act- (Acts 2:40-47; Romans 12:1-2)

a. Hoarding- Lastly, we come to summer. In the summer time the trees

grow fruit, the meadows fill with flowers and grasses, the fields are full of corn and wheat. Summer is not as flamboyant as spring, but is more steady in its being. But summer gives away just the same.

Now don’t get me wrong, I understand that nature doesn’t always produce an abundance. Floods, and drought, and lack of rain can destroy crops and threaten the lives and livelihood of those who work the fields. But nature, more often than not, goes through a reliable cycle of scarcity and abundance, in which the times of scarcity foreshadow the return of bountiful fields.

This actually is a sharp contrast to human nature, which seems to live by the attitude of scarcity as the law of life. We are always hearing of things that we think we need, being in short supply. So, because of this, we tend to hoard what we have, instead of freely sharing what we have. We believe that we need to hoard our possessions because there isn’t enough to go around. If I struggle with others over power, it is because I believe that power is limited. If I become jealous in relationships, it is because I believe that when you get too much love, I will be shortchanged.

Every Sunday I come and preach. Then every Monday morning I sit in my office, in front of a blank screen, wondering what to write. There is this sense of struggle with coming up with another idea, another image, another important message. Again, this is the law of scarcity. When I come up with something, I think I need to keep it, not necessarily believing that a better thought or idea will come along. We have trouble believing that the pool of possibilities is bottomless, and that we can keep diving in and find more.

By embracing the law of scarcity, we create the very scarcities we fear. If we are all trying to hoard material goods we think we need, inevitably some will end up having too little, or none at all. If people are living with the thinking that they need to fight their way up the ladder of power, others will be defeated and will never feel secure. If we get jealous of someone we love, we are likely to drive that person away. We create scarcity by fearfully accepting it as law, and by competing with others for resources as if we were stranded in the Sahara at the last oasis.

Example- I remember a number of years ago I was counseling at a camp, and one lunch we gave the students a very memorable object lesson. When the kids got to the tables there was already food set on them. The kids were assigned a particular table, and as soon as they sat down the buzz started. You see, some tables had an over abundance of food, while other tables had almost no food at all. Each table represented a country: teaching that some countries have an abundance of food and products, while others are very poor. We wanted to see if the kids would share with each other. It was interesting to see how some kids did share with others, while still others were content as long as they had enough; they were not concerned with those who did not have enough!

b. Living communally- In the human world, abundance does not happen

automatically. It is created when we have the sense to choose community, to come together to celebrate and share our common store. Whether the scarce resource is money or love or power or words, the true law of life is that we generate more of whatever seems scarce by trusting its supply and passing it around. Authentic abundance does not lie in secured stockpiles of food or cash or influence or affection but in belonging to a community where we can give those goods to others who need them—and receive them from others when we are in need.

Isn’t this what happens when there is a tragedy? We remember Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami in Indonesia, and the earthquake in Haiti. We see how people come together and reach out to those in need. That is why we have the bread ministry, and the food pantry, and the Pastor’s Discretionary fund. That is why organizations like the American Red Cross, and the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance exist.

In Acts 2:40-47 we read of this kind of community: “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Here is the summertime truth: abundance is a communal act; the joining together of the people of God in which each part functions on behalf of the whole, and in return is sustained by the whole. This is quite different from how most of us live, or even think about living. Too many people are like those students who sat at their table with an abundance of food, unconcerned with those students who had very little!

In Romans 12:1-2 we are told: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” This passage doesn’t speak directly to living in community, but it does tell us to be transformed to live according to God’s will, and through the season of summer we see that part of His will is about living in community with each other and sharing from the abundant grace of our common life.

Conclusion: It is easy to doubt that the seasons each play their important role in the sustaining of creation. Part of this is because we are spoiled here in California where the weather is usually sunny and nice. When it gets cold, or rainy, or overly hot, we complain and wonder why the weather had to change. Hopefully, over these last 2 weeks you have a better understanding of how the planting of seeds, the dormancy and deep rest, the blooming of nature, and the shared resources of summer all come together to make life fuller and more meaningful.

So too, in the midst of the seasons of our lives, there is a fullness of our autumn, winter, spring and summer. We plant the seeds of God’s truth, and the seeking of God in the tough times of life, and along with that we bloom forth the fruit of God, the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control), and seek to live in community with one another.

If we live in this way, then we can be assured that God will work in and through our lives, and that our lives will indeed speak for the Lord! Amen.

“Learning to Get into the Winter”

Sunday, January 16, 2011: Isaiah 55:10-13

Series: Let Your Life Speak, from book by Parker Palmer

Introduction: Since I have lived in California all but 3 years of my life, I am not that familiar with “seasons.” Although I did live in Colorado for 3 years, so I got a taste of the seasons while living there. If we think about seasons, we can understand that there is a change of weather and conditions that are good and healthy for creation. It also keeps things more interesting, instead of it just being hot all the time, or cold all the time, or dark all the time, or light all the time.

This morning I want to use the illustration of seasons to help us continue to understand how our lives can speak for the Lord, in that we too have “seasons” in our lives. As we seek to answer the questions “Who am I?” and “Whose am I?” we can understand all the more as we see the cycle of our lives.

Up to this point we have been talking about the meaning of our lives using the metaphors of vocation and finding our true self. The metaphor of seasons can also be a helpful way to understand who we are. People use metaphors all the time to describe life.

There are some who think that life is a game of chance: some win, and some lose. One of many problems with this metaphor is that it is fatalistic. If life is a game of chance, then there is no rhyme and reason to it, and what we do won’t matter much at all, since things will happen by chance anyway.

Or others see life as a battlefield: you get the enemy, or the enemy gets you. I find that people who think this way are people who are angry, or who feel they have many enemies. Life then is constantly being concerned with who your enemies are.

I believe that the metaphor of seasons is a much more constructive way of looking at life, and filled with far greater hope for our lives. Today we will look at the seasons of autumn and winter, and then next week we will finish the series up by looking at spring and summer.

I. Autumn- (Philippians 4:6-7; Isaiah 55:10-11; John 12:23-25)

As we begin to think about the seasons of this world in relation to the seasons of our lives, we need to understand that God grows our lives, not us. We in the United States have the tendency to think that we manufacture everything. This is not true in every culture. It has been found that a Chinese child will ask: “How does a baby grow?” but an American child will ask: “How do you make a baby?” It might seem to you a subtle difference, but it really is the difference between being caught up in ego and self, and allowing creation to shape us. We have to allow ourselves to be transformed if we are to hope to live a true life and let our lives speak for the Lord.

a. Great beauty- Autumn is a season of great beauty, but it is also a season where the days grow shorter, and we slowly move from warm weather to colder weather. An even deeper truth of autumn is that it is a time where seeds are planted: seeds, which will bring new growth in the spring.

Now if you are anything like me, you probably are unaware of the seeds that are being planted. And often times this is how it is in life as well; there are seeds being planted all the time that we are unaware of. These seeds are being planted in our minds primarily. Paul warns us to plant the kinds of seeds that will be helpful for us to live for the Lord, as he says in Philippians 4:6-7, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.”

Here in California there are many who feel some loss at the leaving of summer and the coming of autumn, because we like the long days and the warm weather. We are not so concerned with the seeds that are falling into the ground. But we should be, because without this change, and the planting of the seeds, there would be no growth; there would be no new life.

This is where the power of this metaphor comes into play. We are all too often concerned with the visible, with appearances: the ending of a relationship; the struggle of our job; the difficulty of our finances. But if we were to look more deeply, we would see that there are a myriad of possibilities that can blossom from the seeds that have been and are being planted in our lives. There is fruit that will be born if we trust the Lord and walk in faithfulness.

As our passage says in Isaiah 55:10-11, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, ¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

b. A hidden wholeness- Sometimes we lose a job, but then find another

job that is even more right for us. If the first job had not been lost, then the second one would not have been found. I have talked about this before in my own life, where I know that if I had not decided to leave the church in Colorado when I did, I would not have come here to Community. Of course, if this process takes some time, then it is difficult to feel good about what is happening.

This process is the hopeful notion that “living is hidden within dying,” and certainly fits within the metaphor of the seasons of autumn and winter. Jesus, Himself gives us a helpful teaching about this in the gospel of John, 12:23-25, “Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Jesus is telling us that only by death comes life. This might be a hard teaching for us who fear death, or think it to be ugly or obscene. As long as a seed is kept in safety, out of the ground, it will not bear fruit. To bear fruit the seed must be buried in the ground. IT WAS ONLY BY THE DEATH OF JESUS THAT WE HAVE LIFE!

We think we have to be in control of our lives so that good things will happen. We cannot bear to give control over to anyone; even God. But by holding on to what we think is life, we lead ourselves to death, because we keep ourselves from really having a fruitful life. We cannot overcome the challenges and obstacles on our own. We must lose our life in the Lord so that He can give us new life. A life that is truly worth living; a life that makes a difference; a life that speaks for the Lord.

Thomas Merton, who was a monk and great spiritual writer once said: “There is in all visible things… a hidden wholeness.” In other words, in the visible world of nature, darkness and light, diminishment and beauty, death and life are not opposites. They are held together in the paradox of “hidden wholeness.” In a paradox, opposites do not negate each other—they coexist in a mysterious unity. Deeper still, they need each other for health.

We have trouble with this, because most of our thinking believes that we want light without darkness; life without death; the glories of spring and summer without the demands of autumn and winter. But if we let this paradox reign true in our lives, they will bring wholeness and health to our lives.

The season of autumn in our lives is the daily dying that is necessary to bring about fruit and new life.

II. Winter- (Psalm 23:6; Isaiah 55:12-13)

a. Divine retribution- Southern humorist Roy Blount once said about the

weather in the Upper Midwest: “What we got in winter is not weather but divine retribution.” He believes that someone must have done something very bad to God, and now all who live in the Midwest are paying the price!

And we have seen in the news, the weather in the Midwest is pretty brutal during winter. It is a demanding season. There are not too many creatures that stir during the winter, as God has created many animals that hibernate during the winter months. The plants do not visibly grow. Nature can feel like the enemy for those who have to deal with the snow, and ice, and cold, and wind chill!

And yet, like autumn, the rigors of winter are accompanied by many gifts. One is the gift of beauty. There is a definite beauty of falling snow. Some of the most beautiful pictures are where snow covers the landscape, the mountaintops, and even the trees. Another gift is the reminder that times of dormancy and deep rest are essential to all living things. Despite all appearances, nature is not dead in winter—it has gone underground to renew itself and prepare for spring.

I have talked to many people who believe that God’s retribution has come upon them because of some sin they have committed. They feel like they are walking in death, as one feels that the bitter cold is like death. But anyone who is concerned about their relationship with God is not one on whom God will bring His retribution. If you are concerned with your relationship with God, then you are sensitive to your actions, your sin, and your acceptance of God. It only takes a confession to bring forgiveness, and when forgiven, God will not punish us.

This concern over God’s retribution is also a perfect time to practice the season of winter in your life; the season that leads you to a deep rest before God. This deep rest helps you to evaluate what you are doing in your life; it helps you to recognize what God wants you to keep, and what God wants you to get rid of. This deep rest allows you to build up your strength for what God has for you to do next.

The mystic, Rumi, in talking about God teaching us from our sin, instead of punishing us for it, says this: “God doesn't have to punish pride; pride will make it impossible for us to learn from anybody else. Lust will make love impossible. Greed will make contentment impossible. Covetousness will make serenity impossible. Anger will make inner peace impossible.”

b. Getting into winter- Story: Shirley and Marcy.

There is a story of a mother who was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him, so she had to find a way to watch over him without him knowing. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence, but wanted to make sure he was safe. So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow her son to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so that he wouldn’t notice her. The neighbor agreed to do this for her, believing it to be best for the boy.
The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week. As Timmy and his friend walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy 's little friend noticed the same lady was following them every day.
Finally one day she said to Timmy ,'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?'

Without missing a beat, Timmy replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.'

The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'
'That's just Shirley Goodnest ,' Timmy said, 'and her daughter Marcy.'
‘Shirley Goodnest ? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? the girl asked. 'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, ‘Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'

The grace of God is with us, and as the Psalm says, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” And in the times of winter, where we are led to go deeper with God, we thank God for how this time clears the landscape and gives us a chance to see the very ground of our being.

I’ve heard that when people are new to the Midwest, someone who has lived there for a long time will tell them: “The winters will drive you crazy until you learn to get into them.” If you live in the Midwest long enough, you have to learn that a daily walk in the winter cold will fortify the spirit by overcoming the very heart of the season that is feared.

Our inward winters take many forms—failure, betrayal, depression, as well as the death of a loved one. But every one of these forms should lead us to understand this: “The winters will drive you crazy until you learn to get out into them.” Until we enter boldly into the fears we want to avoid, those fears will dominate our lives.

As Isaiah tells us in Isaiah 55:12-13, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. ¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

Conclusion: Autumn and Winter are two seasons that can be seen by many as undesirable. They aren’t necessarily on people’s “top of the list,” when talking about favorite seasons. But just like the seasons of the year have their important aspects to life as a whole, so these seasons in our spiritual life play an important role.

Without the planting of the seed, there is no growth. Without the seed going into the ground and in essence dying, there will be no new life. Without slowing down in our lives to plant the seeds that need to be planted, there will be no growth. Without the seeming failures in our lives, there will no new life. I know this is a paradox, but remember, in a paradox opposites work together to bring about God’s desired results for our lives.

The cycle of the seasons is trustworthy and life-giving. God knew what He was doing when He created 4 seasons, and these seasons will manifest themselves in our lives for our benefit. If we walk directly into them, we can learn to let them teach us, instead of destroy us. We might even come to long for them, instead of fear them.

So, knowing that there is still spring and summer to go, we thank God for what autumn and winter bring to us: the planting of the seed and the time of deep rest. As 2 Cor. 9:10 says- “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” May you look for autumn and winter, acknowledging what it brings, and how it allows you to “let your life speak.” Amen.

"From Darkness to Light"

(from the book Let Your Life Speak, by Parker Palmer)

Ephesians 5:8-17

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Introduction: As we continue in our series from the book “Let Your Life Speak,” by Parker Palmer, I think about our church: its place in the community, in my life, in the Kingdom of God. There are times in our lives where we begin to evaluate what is going on, and we can become frustrated. I think about how our attendance has dropped in the last year, and wonder where our church is heading. I wonder if my efforts are making a difference. Don’t we all have those periods in life?

When we come to this crossroads, we can choose to give in to the frustration and let it engulf us, or we can realize that there is always more that God has for us; for this church. At the end of last year we received several generous financial gifts that again helped us to overcome our deficit! This has held true all 12 years that I have been here. If this is true financially, I know it is true spiritually. And if it is true spiritually, then it can be true in our attendance, and our membership, and our Kingdom efforts!

This morning, as we think about letting our life speak, I want to focus on becoming people who are grounded in our faith, leading causes that we care about, and understanding that life is a cycle of seasons.

I. All the Way Down- (Deuteronomy 30:19)

a. Withdraw into the self- Sometimes to overcome the down times of life,

we have to acknowledge the pain, the hurt, the heartache that has occurred. In his book, The Wounded Healer, Henri Nouwen says this about people of our generation: “It is the generation which gives absolute priority to the personal and which tends in a remarkable way to withdraw into the self.” (p. 27) As I think about this description, it reminds me of how difficult it is for people to be in community with each other. Because of this, they feel isolated in their troubles, because they are isolated. They feel there is no hope, because they feel overwhelmed at having to deal with their troubles on their own.

While withdrawing into your self can have some benefits (a time of reflection, a time to put things into perspective, a time to make a plan), when drawn out it, leads to depression. We should not withdraw into our selves so much that we forget we have been created to be in relationship with others. To be in this relationship, we have to learn to let go of the self, and to have a sense of openness and vulnerability.

Too often we don’t want to let ourselves be open and vulnerable for fear of being judged, and so we withdraw. If we can understand that God will not judge us when we come with sincerity and confession, then we are given strength to begin to share our struggles. At this point it is good to pray that God would bring others into our lives with whom we can open up and share our lives with; share our stories.

In the midst of our being down, we need to share the truth of how we feel, and why we feel that way. We also need to understand that there are not “easy” answers to solve what we feel, but once we open ourselves up, we have the hope of having others walk with us in our struggle.

Now understand also that not everyone who you try and share with will receive you as you are. They might try and cheer you up and pretend that things are not bad. However, there will be those who just are there for you without trying to solve your issues, and these are the ones who will bring you strength. Sometimes, just being present in another person’s pain, without trying to fix things, is the most powerful and profound solution! It really is what grace is all about: being loved even when you don’t feel you can be loved; loving even when the love is not fully received.

b. The Way to God is Down- We all face these down times, from time to

time, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need therapy (although for some therapy can be very helpful). But we do all need to have people in our lives with whom we can open up, and share what we are really feeling; what we are really dealing with.

For me, right now it is my Spiritual Counselor. I can share the joys and frustrations of ministry. I can share the joys and struggles of my life. Where she helps bring strength to my life is to make sure that I am spiritually healthy. If I am spiritually healthy, then I will have a good and right relationship with God, and with others, that will help me get through my frustrations and struggles.

Parker Palmer talks about a helpful picture that can lead us to reclaim our life: He says, “Do you think you could see [the depression] .. as the hand of a friend, pressing you down to the ground on which it is safe to stand?” (p. 66) The truth is, depression, frustration, stress, and so on… are not fatal. We can get back up. As God became flesh, in Jesus Christ, so we have a Savior who is there for us in times such as this!

More often than not, the “oughts” (what I ought to do) is the driving force in our lives. These oughts put pressure on us to “live up” to what is expected, and so inevitably when we don’t live up to them, we see ourselves as a failure, and this leads us to get angry, or frustrated, or depressed. Instead of being overwhelmed by the “oughts,” we need to find the truth of God and the true nature of who we were created to be. We need to understand that God has given us gifts, and as we live out our lives using these gifts, we will move from darkness to light.

It really is about a journey toward God. Even the discovering of our true self is a journey toward God. When we focus too much on self, we forget this truth. To focus on self should only be about understanding that our self is not set apart, or more special, or superior, to anyone else. It really is a mix of good and evil, darkness and light, at conflict with each other.

Deuteronomy 30:19 says: “I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Therefore, choose life.” Why is it that we choose death over life? Why do we sometimes choose evil over good? It is because we get caught up in self, and don’t allow ourselves to “seek God,” and don’t allow ourselves to be in authentic relationships with others. To say “yes” to life means that we let God direct our way, especially in those down times.

II. Leading from Within- (1 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 5:8-11)

a. Everyone follows and everyone leads- It has been said: “Go past ego

toward true self—and you end up not lost in narcissism but returning to the world, bearing more gracefully the responsibilities that come with being human.” (p. 73) Instead of being caught up in our ego, of trying to prove we are worthy and capable, we should be more concerned with being in leadership in regards to the causes we care about.

Leadership is a concept we often resist. But the truth is, in true community, everyone’s vocation is to be a leader. When we live in a close-knit ecosystem called community, everyone follows and everyone leads.

Illus. Tyler has been doing an extra credit project that requires him to watch different movies. The theme of the movies is “a utopia that is not a utopia.” Five movies were chosen by the teacher for him to watch: Logan’s Run; Minority Report; The Truman Show; Pleasantville; and Fahrenheit 451. In each movie, a utopian society was established for the benefit of the people. But in each case, as we watched the movie, we saw that the issue was really, control. The communities were established in a way that was believed to be the best life for all, but in reality, the people were being controlled in their living. Someone else was telling them how they had to live to be happy. Once they discovered this control, they wanted to break free. It wasn’t really a utopia, because in the end they were not happy with their life!

Leadership is not about control. When we try and control others, we are not leading them, but enslaving them. God does not seek to control us, but to lead us to a life that is meaningful, and purposeful, and interactive; a life of love, and joy, and peace.

God has made us creative beings, and given us great abilities to bless one another. As we are told in 1 Corinthians 12:7 by the apostle Paul: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” When people kill off creativity by creating absolute constraints, then leadership is not happening, and life is not being lived as it should be.

b. Inner Life and Leadership- I hope you see that what is best, and most

important, is that we seek God in our inner lives, and this leads us to develop a deep bond, a deep relationship with God. In this relationship God helps us to discover our giftedness and our passions. We are then to seek to lead others by our passions, not to control, but to work together.

We often fail to see what is important in our world, until someone reminds us of it. Those who have sought out God, have been led to discover the darkness that dwells within them. In understanding this enemy within, we then can let God liberate us from it. This liberation is what fuels our passion, and enables us to lead others in similar ways. As the apostle Paul says, in Ephesians 5:8-11, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

Good leadership comes from people who have penetrated their own inner darkness and arrived at the place where they are at one with others; people who can lead the rest of us to a place of “hidden wholeness” because they have been there and know the way. You cannot speak with your life until you understand your life, and this can only happen through this inward spiritual journey.

Often times our insecurity can keep us from leading others. We don’t have the self-worth we need to believe we can lead others. But if we understand that we are ALL made in God’s image, and that God has gifted us ALL, and that God can give us ALL a passion, then we begin to realize that we lead simply by our living. Another issue that can keep us from leading is the thinking that ultimate responsibility for everything rests with us. Of course, if we understand that God has not gifted us to be in total control, but rather shared control, then we can overcome this thinking. Our leadership is simply being the one who initiates the process and keeps the energy going forward.

One last issue is that of chaos. We fear chaos in life. But chaos is actually quite natural. Even what has been created needs to be returned to chaos from time to time. “When a leader fears chaos so as to try and eliminate it, the shadow of death will fall across everything that leader approaches.” Sometimes things must die in its time so that new life can emerge in its place.

III. Overcoming Fear- (Ephesians 5:15-17)

a. Understanding Fear- I believe underlying so many of our problems,

stresses, and concerns is FEAR. Fear is a very powerful and universal emotion.

Ex. I think I’ve lost my keys, my immediate fear is that someone will find them and break into my house. This is even before I KNOW whether I’ve lost them or not. An athlete steps up to the free throw line, or to attempt a putt on the golf course, and fears he will miss it. Consequently, the attempt is made more difficult. We fear we won’t find a job, or get married, or have enough money. And on and on it goes. We can fear so many things.

If we can understand our fear, then it can be the gateway to spiritual growth, and to letting our life speak out for God. Fear is really tied to the desire for pleasure. The opposite of pleasure is pain. When we think we won’t get the pleasure we desire, we believe that what comes in its place is pain. The more we love a person, the more we fear losing them. The more we love life, the more we fear death.

Carl Jung once said that all neuroses were the result of avoiding legitimate suffering. While we cannot control other people’s behavior or the circumstances life gives us, we can decide to not let fear overwhelm our minds. Death will surely come, but that doesn’t mean we have to dwell on it. We can still enjoy life while we have it! We might lose our jobs tomorrow, but all we can do is be the best employee we can be, living for God in and through our work. If we give fear a foothold, it will certainly control us, and keep us from letting our life speak.

b. Living as wise- So what can we do? Let’s go back to our scripture

passage, and read from Ephesians 5:15-17: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

1. Be careful how you live- First we are told to be careful how

we live. You cannot let your life speak for God if you are unwise in how you live. God did not create us to be carefree and foolish, but rather to live according to the design of this world and our lives. Why do so many people put Christianity down? Because they think so many Christians are hypocrites. They preach one thing but then don’t live it out!! Our lives will not speak for the Lord if we are gossips, or drunkards, or liars, or cheats. NO, we must be loving, and forgiving, and kind, and encouraging. We must live the life Christ has called us to live; the life He lived.

2. Make the most of every opportunity- Second, Paul tells us to

make the most of every opportunity. At the end of each day, that day is done. You cannot get the time back. When you were at work, did you work as though you were working for the Lord? When you were at home with your family, did you give yourself to them as you have committed yourself to doing? Did you make some time for yourself? When the conversation turned to God, did you take advantage of the opportunity to talk about what God is doing in and through your life? Did you make the most of every opportunity for the Lord?

3. Understand what the Lord’s will is- Ultimately, understand-

ing what the Lord’s will for our lives is will help us to live carefully and wisely. God has a will for your life and my life. Last week we talked about letting God unveil His will for your life a little at a time, and resting in the Lord in what you know. The more you seek God, the more you will understand God’s will for your life, and the more you will be able to live it out. In this way we will move from darkness, to light.

Conclusion: We really have a choice in life: we can choose to let the darkness of the world engulf us, and let it bring us down. OR, we can choose to live with joy. As Paul said: “Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS, again I will say, rejoice.” As the saying goes, “See the world with rose colored glasses.” In the Lord we can have a perspective that rises above all the fears, and doubts, and sadness. In the Lord we can lead others to walk with us in the passion we have for life. In the Lord, we can live without fear, because we know that God will make all things good for those who trust the Lord. Let us Seek to live this way, and by doing so LET OUR LIVES SPEAK. Amen.