I Cannot Come To The Banquet!

20th Sunday after Pentecost from Matthew 22:1-14 KJV; Jesus invites all people to come to the banquet. Do you actually desire to partake of this meal?

We Are All Called According To Our Gifts

Pr. John Henry (United Methodist) sharing the Good News
Pr. Jimalee Jones (my mentor and friend)
and Bp. Alex Malasusa 
(Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania)
at my ordination.

"And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. 

And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them."                                                                                                                                                             (Mark 6:1-13 KJV)

Today we find many smaller communities without anyone to preach the word; to share the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. Congregations find themselves wondering what are they to do without a pastor. How are people supposed to come to faith if there is no one to share it with them? (Rom 10:17)

St. Paul Lutheran Seminary has come up with one potential solution. That is to train lay people from individuals congregations. It is not easy to preach in one's own congregation as even Jesus had a hard time in his home town. But, sometimes there seems to be no alternative. We, as those first disciples were sent out, are all called and sent out to share the great news that through Christ we are reconciled to our Father in heaven and to one another. We are called to minister to those who need assistance of any sort. "We have no pastor" is not an excuse. Call one from the Body of Christ, from your own congregation. Even considering this can be scary. What if people reject me? Guess what? Some will. They will reject Jesus. They will reject you. Shake the dust off your feet and move on. Others will not reject Christ! They will gratefully hear this Good News that you share with them. Those few who will receive the Word with joy and thanksgiving are well worth the bit of trouble others might try to cause you. And, you will also rejoice in the presence of the angels!

Jesus said, "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." (Luke 15:10)

St. Paul Lutheran Seminary is in the process of setting up a six-week online preaching course for laity so that worship can continue in places where ordained clergy have not answered the call to serve yet. Over the years, I have heard from a lot of people that they could not possibly stand up and preach in front of a congregation. The truth is: many cannot. Some will simply freeze up and not be able to speak. Not everyone has been given the gift or the call to do this. But, many who have been gifted and called are ignoring the call. I, myself, ignored mine for many years. Since that time I have also trained others to go out and share their love of God and what Christ has done for them in nursing homes and senior housing. The call to share the Good News is not limited to a church building. The Great Commission is given to everyone whether it is one on one with a neighbor or someone you meet in the grocery store; within the context of a congregation,  a house church, senior housing, a nursing home, or a park. Prepare and go and tell!

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matt 28:18-20)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Unity Cannot Be Legislated

 

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 

                                                                                    (Acts 4:31-33 KJV)

Everyone being with one heart and of one soul! Imagine that! How can that be possible? 

It is fallacy to think that we can legislate peace. Dictatorships do not bring about harmony among the people. Ordering people to think and act of one accord will only  bring about opposition and dissension. 

Our God is not a dictator. Yes, he gave us rules to follow. But, he also gave us the freedom to choose whether we do or not. He gave us the freedom to serve Him or reject Him. Dictators do not give the people that choice.

The early followers of Jesus were of one mind not because of any legislation. They were empowered by the Holy Spirit. They were cleansed by the blood of Christ and became new men and women in him by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit empowered them to live together with one heart and one soul with a desire to share the word of God with boldness so that others also might know the great grace bestowed upon us through the life and death and resurrection of  Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

"Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:"

                                                                                               (2 Cor 3:2-4)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

My Help Comes From The Eternal One

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 

                              (Psalm 121:1-3 KJV)

There are very few hills here in Florida to look up to. But, there is the sky. My  morning prayers usually takes place while out walking as the sun begins to rise. I often look up towards the heavens and am reminded of how eternal God is. He is everywhere and He is in every time. He has no beginning either in time or space. He does not sleep; but, watches over us at all times and in all places. We may make missteps and fall; but, He is there to pick us back up and put us on the right path again if we will let Him. He does not force Himself upon us. We can reject His help. But, who does that!? Who would reject the hand of one who would pick us up out of the dirt? Sadly, many do.

As for me, I trust the Lord, who created the heaven and the earth to pick me up and keep me on the right path whenever I trip up and fall.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Do Not Reject The Gift Of The Holy Spirit

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"                                                                                                                      (Luke 11:9-13 NIV)

I grant you that sadly there are parents in this world today who would give their children a snake instead of a fish or a scorpion instead of an egg. But, our Father in heaven, is not one of those parents. He desires good things for all of His children. He gives Holy Spirit to all who ask.

Sadly, there are also many children in this world today who ask for gifts from their parents and once they have received whatever it is they wanted; they put it on a shelf never to be used again or they throw it or give it away. They ask just for the sake of asking; then take the gift and the giver for granted.

So, it seems to go with many within the church, as well. We know that if we ask for the Holy Spirit, our Father will surely give us the Holy Spirit. We are also aware that we were anointed with the Holy Spirit at our baptisms into the Body of Christ. But, what is done with the gift of the Holy Spirit once the Spirit is given? I believe that way too often the gift of the Holy Spirit and the giver are taken for granted. Many might ask for the Holy Spirit; but, then they don't know what to do with this gift. They have their own lives and really don't have time to be following the lead of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is put on the proverbial shelf; hidden away and given no opportunity to work through the one who has received this great gift.

The Holy Spirit is a person; the third person of the Trinity. Will you hide this person in the closet like a child would throw a gift that they don't want to the closet floor?

Ask and you shall receive and after you have received do not disrespect the Holy Spirit. Do not disrespect the One who sends you the Spirit. Do not despise nor reject this great gift from our Father in heaven; but, get to know the Spirit. Get to know the Holy Spirit personally so that you might be guided and comforted and sanctified and so much more in all that you say and think and do.

Ask and you shall receive and then allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through you. Do not reject the gift of the Holy Spirit.

God's Peace - Pr. J