I will rise up

 

     As a kid, there was one phrase my mom would use that sent a shock wave of fear throughout my whole being. That phrase was, “Just wait until your dad gets home.” Nothing helps a boy develop a prayer life like that phrase. I knew dad got home, bad things awaited me.

 

     Now as a kid, I needed discipline like that. But as Christians, do you realize that phrase is our hope. No matter how bad things get, we can all say “Just wait until my Jesus gets here.” Our passage today is such a passage for God’s people.

 

     Isaiah 33:10-18 (CEB):

 

     Now I will arise, says the LORD, Now I will exalt myself; now I will stand tall.

 

You conceive straw, give birth to stubble; your breath is a fire that devours you. Peoples will be burned to lime, thorns cut up and set ablaze. You who are far away, hear what I have done; and you who are near, know my strength!

 

Sinners became terrified in Zion; trembling seized the godless: “Who amony us can live with the devouring fire? Who among us can live with the everlasting blaze?” The one who walks righteously and speaks truthfully, who rejects profit from extortion, who waves away a bribe instead of grabbing it, who won’t listen to bloody plots, and who won’t contemplate doing something evil. He will live on the heights; fortresses in the cliffs will be his refuge. His food will be provided, his water guaranteed. When you gaze upon a king in his glamour and look at the surrounding land, in dismay you will think: Where is the one who counts? Where is the one who weighs? Where is the one who counts towers?

 

 

This is the Word of God.

For the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

 

     There is some important details found in another book of the Bible (later in Isaiah) that help us understand the situation that prompts these words from God. In 2 Chronicles 32, we find God’s people in the kingdom of Judah surrounded by the Assyrian army. It appears that there is no hope for victory, and the enemy knows it. The Assyrians are taunting God’s people, King Hezekiah, and even God. In this moment, it seems like darkness is going to triumph. But what seems impossible to us is possible for God.

 

     God’s people are helpless in this situation. They do not possess the means to achieve victory in this moment. Verse 10 records, “Now I will rise up.” As a matter of fact, God says “now” three times. One commentator pointed out that the use of “now” has an explosive sound to it in the original Hebrew. God is coming to rescue His people and silence the arrogant.

 

     Verses 11 and 12 say, “You conceive straw, give birth to stubble; your breath devours you. Peoples will be burned to lime, thorns cut up and set ablaze.” The word “breath” is a fun word in the Hebrew, it means “wind, breath, and spirit.” Its use here is implying that the breath given to the Assyrians by God was being misused in their attitude and arrogance toward God and God’s people. At the same time, it was breathing their own destruction. Verse 13 essentially is telling the Assyrians, as well as the hypocrites among God’s people, that there is no chance against the power of God.

 

     There are two questions asked in verse 14, “Who among us can live with the devouring fire? Who among us can live with the everlasting blaze?” This fire is not speaking of the fires of hell, but of God. God is an “all-consuming fire.” No evil or sin can withstand God’s presence. There is only one way to survive, outlined in verses 15 and 16. That way is the way of holiness, living in faith to God and living out that faith demonstrating love to God. The Wycliffe commentary says it best, “There is no place so secure as the center of God’s will.”

 

     What does this have to do with us? How does this connect with the phrase, “just wait until my dad gets home.” First, we need to know how the story of King Hezekiah and God’s people ends. Remember, they are completely surrounded with no chance of victory. They are so hopeless that the enemy is taunting them, the king, and God. But 2 Chronicles 32:21 says, “Then the LORD sent a messenger who destroyed every warrior, leader, and officer in the camp of the Assyrian army. When Sennacherib went home in disgrace, he entered the temple of his god, and his own sons killed him with a sword.”

 

     And that is the lesson for us. Dad showed up. When the darkness was at its peak, defeat was moments a way, God showed up and won the victory. Verse 18 in our passage asks, “Where is the one who counts? Where is the one who weighs? Where is the one who counts towers?” Summarized, “Where is the enemy?” They are all dead or running away like a scared little dog.

 

     As followers of Jesus Christ, if we remain in the faithful and live in the way of holiness, there is no chance for evil to win. No matter how dark the times become, how strong evil’s influence seems to grip the hearts and world around us, God has promised us victory! At the very moment the defeat of good seems to be at hand, the clouds will be rolled back and Jesus will descend! With the word of His mouth, all of evil and sin will be defeated and sentenced to the abyss!

 

     You might be listening and thinking, that is great. That will be a great and glorious day. But how does that help me with the darkness now? Jesus can chase that darkness from your heart and mind if you place your faith in Him! He holds the keys to every chain the enemy has holding you captive. And at just the mention of His name the darkness has to flee. Mention the name of Jesus in faith and be released now knowing God’s victory can be in your heart now.

 

 

This is my Father’s world

O let me never forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong

God is the Ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world.

The battle is not done;

Jesus who died, shall be satisfied.

And earth and heaven be one.

God's invitation

 

     The Church building is simply a structure of brick and mortar. Take away all the people, it is of no value except a memorial. Then again, a church can be full of people, but lacking the presence of God in the people.

 

     How can we be certain that God’s presence is in the midst of His people? It all boils down to one question. Who is welcome in the Church building? Our passage today will give us God’s answer, but it is our response to His will that determines if God’s power will be allowed to work in us and through us.

 

     Isaiah 56:1-8 (CEB):

 

     The LORD says: Act justly and do what is righteous, because my salvation is coming soon, and my righteousness will be revealed. Happy is the one who does this, the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not making it impure, and avoids doing any evil.

 

     Don’t let the immigrant who has joined the LORD say, “The LORD will exclude me from the people.” And don’t let the eunuch say, “I’m just a dry tree.”

 

     The LORD says: To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, choose what I desire, and remain loyal to my covenant. In my temple and courts, I will give them a monument and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give to them an enduring name that won’t be removed. The immigrants who have joined me, serving me and loving my name, becoming my servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath without making it impure, and those who hold fast to my covenant: I will bring them to my holy mountain, and bring them joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their entirely burned offerings and sacrifices on my altar. My house will be known as a house of prayer for all peoples, says the LORD God, who gathers Israel’s outcasts. I will gather still others to those I have already gathered.

 

 

This is the Word of God.

For the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

 

     This passage may seem curious to us. But we must remember the prophet Isaiah is writing to the Israelites who are in exile, on the verge of returning home. Their sin led them into captivity, and God’s grace allowed them to return home. However, this left a lot of questions.

 

     Verses 1 and 2 outline how the exiles are to respond to God’s grace. They were living in expectation of God’s deliverance, and expectation is at the heart of faith. Faith is having confidence in God and trusting Him to keep His promises. As evidence of faith, the lives of God’s people are to reflect that expectation in what they do. And these practices are highlighted by Isaiah, not because doing these things earns them salvation, but because they accept God’s salvation.

 

     Since they are living in expectation of God’s salvation, the people will practice justice and righteousness. Justice is keeping what is lawful and righteousness is the behavior in keeping the law. Verse 2 says, “Happy is the one who holds it fast, keeps the Sabbath,  not making it impure, and avoids doing any evil.” The Ten Commandments are veiled in these words, with keeping the Sabbath deeply conducted with the worship of God and Him only. Then “avoids doing any evil” is a summary of the other commandments about loving their neighbor. Love God and love others are the practices these exiles are to carry out as evidence of their faith in God. Even as exiles where the world around them might present a challenge to living out their faith.

 

     Verses 3 through 6 focus on two specific groups of people who are connected to the Israelites, either as Israelite outcasts or those who have become connected through their faith in God. Before the exile, the Israelites were an exclusive people who relied on bloodlines. During the exile, the groups who were normally on the outside had found a connection with God’s people through faith. Now that the exile was coming to an end, they were worried that they would find themselves excluded.

 

     Who were the two groups? First, the immigrants. These were the Babylonians themselves or other peoples who were their captors. During this period, God worked many miracles such as the fourth man in the fiery furnace, shutting the mouth of lions, and writing on a wall. This would have convinced some that the God of Israel was God. Second, are the eunuchs. In the traditional ways of Israel, they would be prohibited from entering the Temple by the law. They were considered impure, even if this was not a lifestyle they had chosen for themselves.

 

     But God gives both these groups, these outcasts, the same charge as the rest of His people. It was simply live by faith, evidenced by the same practices as God’s people. No extra hoops, because God’s invitation to His coming salvation for all peoples. Verses 7 and 8 share that God is inviting everyone to this coming moment.

 

     What does this have to do with us and our question who is welcome in the Church building? First, the day of salvation that God was pointing to through the prophet Isaiah is fulfilled. It was fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His blood was shed for the forgiveness of all sin for all. God has thrown heaven’s gates open wide, inviting everyone to come to salvation through faith in Jesus.

 

     Because the first thing is true, that means everyone is invited to God’s house. Here in Isaiah, God highlights two specific groups of outcasts, but make no mistake these are not the only groups. With salvation through faith in Jesus, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female.” (Galatians 3:28)

 

     John 4 records a scene where Jesus is interacting with a Samaritan woman at a well. He is extending salvation to this Samaritan woman, but she objects with “Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you and your people say that it is necessary to worship in Jerusalem.” (John 4:20) Jesus counters her argument with, “The time is coming—and is here!—when true worshippers will worship in spirit and truth. The Father looks for those who worship him this way. God is spirit, and it is necessary to worship God in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24) Essentially, Jesus tells this woman to have faith evidenced by loving God and loving others. Love God by worshipping Him, love others by avoiding doing evil to them.

 

     Who is welcome in the Church building? Everyone who wants to seek God and see others seek Him. God has invited everyone to be saved, to be saved everyone needs to hear the message of Jesus. How can they hear if they cannot come in? At Ravenna Church of the Nazarene, regardless of your situation, lifestyle, or past, you are welcome because God says you are. God wants you to be saved, and we want to make sure you can hear the message of what Jesus has done for you. Our prayer is that you will come to faith in Him.

What have you done?

 

     I have been a lead pastor for five years now, been preaching for twenty years. In all that time, I have never preached on the topic I am sharing today. It is a topic I do not like preaching about. Honestly, I would rather preach on hell than this topic. But our topic today is a matter of worship. An act we do that demonstrates that our hearts are yielded to God. The topic is tithing.

 

     Now, please do not be intimidated by the title of this message. I am in no way trying to scold anyone. The title has more to do with our passage, which at first glance may seem to have little to do with tithing. But I assure you, it does.

 

     1 Samuel 13:1-15 (CEB):

 

     Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he ruled over Israel forty-two years. Saul selected three thousand men from Israel. Two thousand of those were with Saul at Michmash in the hills near Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. He sent the remaining men home. Jonathan attacked the Philistine fort at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul sounded the alarm throughout the land and said, “Hebrews! Listen up!” When all Israel heard that Saul had attacked the Philistine fort and that Israel was hated by the Philistines, the troops called to Saul’s side at Gilgal. The Philistines also were gathered to fight against Israel. They brought thirty thousand chariots with them, six thousand cavalry, and as many soldiers as there is sand on the seashore to fight Israel. They marched up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven. When the Israelites saw that they were in trouble and that their troops were threatened, they hid in caves, in thickets, among rocks, in tunnels, and in cisterns. Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan River, going into the land of Gad and Gilead.

 

     Saul stayed at Gilgal, and the troops followed him anxiously. He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel, but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and his troops began to desert. So Saul ordered, “Bring me the entirely burned offering and the well-being sacrifices.” Then he offered the entirely burned offering.

 

     The very moment Saul finished offering up the entirely burned offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and welcome him. But Samuel said, “What have you done?”

 

     “I saw that my troops were deserting,” Saul replied, “You hadn’t arrived by the appointed time, and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash. I thought, the Philistines are about to march against me at Gilgal and I haven’t yet sought the LORD’s favor. So I took control of myself and offered the entirely burned offering.”

 

     “How stupid of you to have broken the commands the LORD your God gave you!” Samuel told Saul, “The LORD would have established your rule over Israel forever, but now your rule won’t last. The LORD will search for a man following the Lord’s own heart, and the LORD will commission him as leader over God’s people, because you didn’t keep the LORD’s command.”

 

     Samuel got up and went on his way from Gilgal, but the rest of the people followed Saul to join the army, and they went from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul counted about six hundred men still with him.

 

 

This is the Word of God.

For the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

 

     I read a lot in our text today, but verses 1 through 7 were just to provide the full context of the story. In summary, the Philistines had been harassing and oppressing the Israelites. Saul sent Jonathan to attack the Philistines, and Jonathan did so. But this was like poking a bear. The Philistines gathered up a force of more than thirty-five thousand, and the Israelites were ill-prepared. Afraid, the Israelites hid.

 

     Back in 1 Samuel 10:8, the prophet Samuel, who had anointed Saul as king, gave the king this command, “Go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I’ll come down to meet you to offer entirely burned sacrifices. Wait seven days until I get to you, then I’ll tell you what you should do next.” Samuel wanted to do this as a blessing to Saul and the army before the battle began, and then provide a battle plan. But in verse 8, it tells us that Samuel did not come to Gilgal, putting Saul in a dilemma.

 

     Men were deserting Saul on the eve of battle. They saw the impossible odds and quite naturally in fear decided army life was not for them. In his mind, Saul could not wait any longer. This was a matter of both spiritual importance and the morale of the soldiers. Anxious to keep more men from deserting, Saul offers up the sacrifices himself.

 

     No sooner does Saul complete the ritual than Samuel shows up. Samuel is punctual in his arrival on the seventh day just as he said. But it is later than Saul expected. Saul explains to Samuel why he did what he did, and Samuel responds in verse 13, “How stupid of you to have broken the commands the LORD your God gave you!” Saul was sincere in his efforts, as king it was his job to rally the troops. But he forgot the most important thing, his obedience to the King of the Universe. His sin was not necessarily the action itself, but the impatience driven by fear.

 

     The consequences were severe. It seems such a small matter to us, and we may even empathize with Saul. Dealing with frightened people is not an easy task, especially adding to the life-and-death aspect of war. This action driven by an attitude of impatience and fear cost Saul the rule of Israel. Not necessarily for him, but for Saul’s family.

 

     What does this have to do with tithing? Before we get to that, we must re-examine Saul’s failure. After being anointed king, Saul is filled with God’s Spirit. God’s Spirit is still available to Saul in this hectic moment, but notice that is not the spirit that rules Saul. 2 Timothy 1:7 says to us that God does not give us a spirit of fear but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled. But in this moment, impatience and fear drive Saul to offer up these sacrifices.

 

     The Biblical practice of tithing is established way back in Genesis 14, when Abraham gives King Melchizedek of Salem a tenth of the plunder from a successful rescue mission. As Christians, the aim for us is to give ten percent of our income to God, not because God needs it, but because it shows that we value God and His Kingdom more than our comfort and possessions. In Acts, the early Christians went above and beyond, giving all they had because of their excitement over what Jesus did for them.

 

Notice the attitudes behind the act of giving. Abraham gave because he wanted to honor God. The early Christians gave out of excitement, wanting to demonstrate their love for God who gave Jesus for them. Attitude is just as important to God as action. In Matthew 5, Jesus demonstrates this when He teaches about the Law. It is not good enough to only not murder, God wants us to not hate which leads us to murder. Adultery begins with lust. In the case of Saul, impatience and fear in the action of offering sacrifices to God led to sin. Instead of being ruled by the Spirit of God, Saul was ruled by a spirit of fear.

 

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Paul teaches about giving, writing, “The one who sows a small number of seeds will also reap a small crop, and the one who sows a generous amount of seeds will also reap a generous crop. Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart. They shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver.” For giving to be an act of worship, it must come from an attitude happy to give to God the blessings He has given us. We should not give because we are afraid, feel obligated, or with an expectation that God will bless us with a private jet. We should give because the Holy Spirit has filled us with joy about what God has done and will do.

 

You are loved, whether you give a pop tab, your whole farm, or anything in between. You are valuable because God made you and Jesus died for you. With that knowledge, what is the Holy Spirit prompting you to give? Maybe it is the standard ten percent, or maybe it is more. If you do not give regularly, the ten percent is not something you can swing. Then what is the Holy Spirit telling you to give? It is not about the amount, Jesus fed five thousand people with 2 fish and five loaves, faith tells me He can do the same thing with our tithes and offerings. Give cheerfully, because you want to, and most importantly according to what the Holy Spirit prompts you.

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I've got no one

     There is a powerful story in the gospel of Mark, recorded in chapter 2. A man was paralyzed, and his friends were desperate to get him to Jesus. So much so, that when the friends see the crowd blocking the door to the house where Jesus was, they take their bedridden friend to the roof. Once up there, the friends tear a hole in the roof, then lower their friend down directly in front of Jesus. Jesus was amazed at their faith, and the paralyzed man was given the ability to stand.

 

     That is an incredible story. Our passage today is similar but in the gospel of John. But the circumstances around the event recorded in John are very different. It shows us that while every person is created equal, they do not share in equal situations.

 

     John 5:1-9 (CEB):

 

     After this there was a Jewish festival, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate in the north city wall is a pool with the Aramaic name Bethsaida. It had five covered porches; and a crowd of people who were sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed sat there waiting for the water to move. Sometimes an angel would come down to the pool and stir up the water. Then the first one going into the water after it had been stirred up was cured of any sickness. A certain man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, knowing that he had already been there a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

 

     The sick man answered, “Sir, I don’t have anyone who can put me in the water when it is stirred up. When I’m trying to get to it, someone else has gotten in ahead of me.”

 

     Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” Immediately the man was well, and he picked up his mat and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.

 

 

This is the Word of God.

For the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

 

     Before I dive into this passage, I think it is important to address an elephant in the room. Some of your Bibles may have not had part of verse 3 and all verse 4 in with the rest of the text. Do not worry, your Bible is not faulty. Those verses might be down in the footnotes. This is because these verses cannot be verified in all the Greek New Testament manuscripts that they have found. In no way does this undermine the accuracy of the Bible, it is 98 percent accurate. Considerably more reliable in accuracy than such classics as Beowulf and the works of Homer.

 

     I’ve included these verses for two reasons. One, as teaching moment. As scholars and experts grow in their knowledge of the Bible through the finding of ancient manuscripts, the accuracy of translations improves. Two, to me these verses give us an idea to why the man in the passage is at this pool. The belief that this pool had healing properties is essential to understanding why the man is there.

 

     Verses 1 through 3 highlights for us the location of the scene and the type of individuals who would gather by the pool. The term translated “paralyzed” means “withered” or dried up”. Those gathered by this pool were those who had little to no prospect of future life. They had no power or strength and were desperate for a miracle. In verse 2, John records “It had five covered porches,” perhaps built out of hospitality for these desperate people as they waited on their miracle.

 

     John introduces us a man in verse 5 who had been sick for thirty-eight years. No mention is made of what the man’s illness is, only that he had been suffering for a long time. The man had probably become a fixture beside this pool, with the hopelessness of his cause being known to all. And the text would indicate, the man was there on this day with little hope today would be any different.

 

     Jesus notices the man in verse 6. “When Jesus saw him lying there, knowing that he had already been there a long time.” A long time that day or for thirty-eight years? Either way, Jesus knew. And Jesus asked him what may seem to be a silly question, “Do you want to get well?” I do not think Jesus is being crazy, there is a reason He asks the man, but all we can do is speculate. But Jesus asks the man, picking the man out of the rest of the crowd waiting for healing too.

 

     “Sir, I don’t have anyone who can put me in the water. When I’m trying to get to it, someone else has gotten in ahead of me.” This is how the man responds, instead of with an enthusiastic, “Yes!” It was not like the man had lost the will to be healed, he focused on the reality that he had no one to help him into the healing waters. When the waters stirred with their healing properties, all the others were too focused on their own healing to stop and help him. Over thirty-eight years, I am sure the man lost count of how many times this happened.

 

     Today, the water was not needed. Jesus was there, and He had the means. Jesus said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” As crazy as sounds to tell a man unable to stand for thirty-eight years to stand up, verse 9 tells us the man was immediately cured. The man may have had no one there to help into the water, but Jesus was there and helped the man to stand up!

 

     What does all this have to do with us? In the beginning I mentioned every person is created equal, but not everyone shares in equal situations. The man in our passage was at the pool with all those other folks just as desperate for a miracle. Many of those folks had the ability to get up on their own and get into the water, at least giving them a chance to benefit from the healing water. But the man in our story could not get up, he said, “I have no one to help me.”

 

     If we were to go across the street to talk with families, stop to chat with those who rely on our blessings box, or visit the struggling children at our schools, but many of them would say, “I have no one to help me.” Like the man in our story, they feel the helplessness of their situation and see no way out. They would pull themselves up by their bootstraps, but they have no boots. There is a desire for a better life, but the opportunities are outside their grasp. They have no one to help them.

 

     Jesus asks them, “Do you want to be made well?” “Do you want to experience a different life?” The question sounds crazy because who would not want that. But like what Uncle Ben says to Peter Parker (Spiderman), “With great power comes great responsibility.” Being given the power to be made well means there is a responsibility to living in that wellness. Being given a different life comes with a responsibility to live differently. Not everyone is interested in the responsibility, but there are many who are if there was someone to help them.

 

     Jesus wants to help them! Jesus can help them! Just like He told the man to “Get up!”, Jesus wants to say the same to those who are in hopeless situations. God created them equal along with all of us, but they are waiting for that someone to help them. And Jesus wants to help them.

 

     How? Certainly, Jesus can work a miracle all on His own, He has the same power today that He had by that pool there in Bethsaida. But perhaps the miracle Jesus wants to work involves you and me being His hands, feet, and voice saying, “Get up!” and offering them a hand. We are not trying to help them into the water, but offering them the gift of Living Water. It can be as simple as putting items in the blessing box, or offering a ride. Money is a good thing, but that is not always the answer. Just as valuable, if not more so, is us being someone who offers love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness. And if we are living through our faith in Jesus, we can have the faith of what Jesus can do their lives by believing in them.

 

     We are created equal, but not all of us are in equal situations. However, the infinite and unquantifiable grace of God is equally available to all of us. If you are here today, desperate for someone because you have no one, “Silver or gold I do not have, but I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus, get up and walk!” If you are here today and lack nothing that you need, “Jesus you have, but who does He want you to tell ‘get up and walk’?” There is someone in our community that is desperate for an opportunity, and that opportunity is you with Jesus in you.

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