Mark 4: 35-41 June 24 2012 Our Saviour's
Last week we talked about the Kingdom of God, how it is growing all around us, if we can only open our eyes and see it. And today we are going to talk about what it takes to see God working in the world.
Right off the bat, let me say that to see God at work, you have to look with eyes of faith, not as the world sees. When we look at things using normal logic, human understanding, we will not see God. We will see disaster, failure – crucifixion. These are the circumstances where God does the best work. Only the eyes of faith can see God at work in these circumstances.
When David faced Goliath, everyone around thought they were going to see a slaughter. Well, they did, but it was not at all the way they thought. How could little slip of a boy, unarmed (except for a shepherd's sling) dare to stand up to the giant? But he stood there in God's name, and prevailed.
And the disciples in the boat, they were in a sticky predicament, bailing the boat for all they were worth, and where was Jesus? Asleep. He'd had a long day! Well, in a situation like this, everybody is needed to bail. Even the Master. I think that's why they woke him up. They handed him a bailing can. And he had no use for the bailing can, he simply told the wind to stop. And it did.
“Don't you have any faith?” He asked the disciples. Because to the eyes of faith, it is just when the situation is darkest that God is able to act most decisively. God goes undercover in happy, everyday situations. God works behind the scenes. But when the going gets tough, God steps up to the plate.
You know, I think it's my fault that this congregation is going through difficult times. When I first started here, I prayed that we would be able to see and recognize God's presence with us. But in good times, God is present with us, but asleep in the boat. It takes tough times for us to remember to cry out, “Don't you care that we are perishing?” And then we can see God at work, doing much more than we can ask or imagine.
Now Our Saviour's Lutheran Church looks like it is perishing. A lot of people have left the church because they think it is doomed. Chris Hlady resigned from Council on Wednesday because he thinks this congregation is dysfunctional.
But to the eyes of faith, God is moving in this place. God is not bailing us out by sending some new members so we can go on as we were before. When we cry out to God to save us, we must be prepared for whatever it is God intends, which may be quite different from what we hope for or expect.
Last Tuesday I should have left the building much earlier than I did – I was messing around with the bulletin, putting it in trifold form that you see today. I looked at my watch and thought I should go, but I just kept on at the computer until I saw that it was almost 6 o'clock. As I was leaving, Pastor Asefa of the Oromo congregation was just arriving for Bible Study. We had a very interesting chat at the door, and he told me that now that he was ordained, he was interested in doing some outreach work in this neighbourhood. Wow. Just what Pastor Gavin of Holy Community was saying. Just what we ourselves have been saying. At that moment I felt God moving, setting up something that will change lives and rejuvenate the church.
Just as St Paul was saying in our second lesson, there is a disconnect between what the world sees and what God sees. “We are treated as imposters” Yes, that is what a lot of people think of churches. “And yet we are true.” We are honest and faithful to the truth of the gospel. “As unknown, and yet we are well known. As dying – and see, we are alive.”
This congregation is alive – alive in all the best ways. We have people of faith and gifts who are willing to give of themselves to follow Jesus. We have trust that God is in control, even of the wind and the waves.
“We are punished.” Yes, the Christian church has a lot to repent of, especially the arrogance we once had, expressed in crusades and witchhunts and intolerance and exclusion. But it's pretty hard to hold on to arrogance when we are entirely at the mercy of God, as we are today. But God doesn't want to destroy us for our sins, “we are not killed.”
“We are sorrowful.” Yes, we think of the glories of the past, and grieve for the many losses we have suffered. “Yet we are always rejoicing.” Even in our deepest grief we know the good news of the resurrection, and are able to rejoice. “We are poor.” Yes we are. We are fast running out of cash. We are lacking in manpower. “But making many rich.” We have the Good News that can enrich anyone! “Having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” As God's children, God gives us all good things. All our needs are provided for.
So, through what eyes are we going to look at this congregation? Through the eyes of the world, or through the eyes of faith? And are we going to just keep bailing, as though our salvation depended on us? Or are we going to give control over to Our Saviour, so that he can command the wind and waves to be still, so that we can go over to the other side, as he had commanded.
We don't know what is waiting for us over on the other side of the transformation God is leading this congregation through. It is uncharted territory for us. But God knows every hill and valley, and has prepared a place for us, and will get us there safely.
We are starting to see some of the rough outline of the terrain, however. Whatever it looks like, I am sure it involves cooperation with our brothers and sisters of the Oromo Christian Fellowship, and Holy Community Covenant Church, and the NA, and Scouts Canada, and who knows what other partners God will send our way. We often pray for unity in the church, and then act surprised when God sends opportunities our way.
Again from St Paul: “As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, 'At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.' See, now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation!” Thanks be to God. Amen.
Last week we talked about the Kingdom of God, how it is growing all around us, if we can only open our eyes and see it. And today we are going to talk about what it takes to see God working in the world.
Right off the bat, let me say that to see God at work, you have to look with eyes of faith, not as the world sees. When we look at things using normal logic, human understanding, we will not see God. We will see disaster, failure – crucifixion. These are the circumstances where God does the best work. Only the eyes of faith can see God at work in these circumstances.
When David faced Goliath, everyone around thought they were going to see a slaughter. Well, they did, but it was not at all the way they thought. How could little slip of a boy, unarmed (except for a shepherd's sling) dare to stand up to the giant? But he stood there in God's name, and prevailed.
And the disciples in the boat, they were in a sticky predicament, bailing the boat for all they were worth, and where was Jesus? Asleep. He'd had a long day! Well, in a situation like this, everybody is needed to bail. Even the Master. I think that's why they woke him up. They handed him a bailing can. And he had no use for the bailing can, he simply told the wind to stop. And it did.
“Don't you have any faith?” He asked the disciples. Because to the eyes of faith, it is just when the situation is darkest that God is able to act most decisively. God goes undercover in happy, everyday situations. God works behind the scenes. But when the going gets tough, God steps up to the plate.
You know, I think it's my fault that this congregation is going through difficult times. When I first started here, I prayed that we would be able to see and recognize God's presence with us. But in good times, God is present with us, but asleep in the boat. It takes tough times for us to remember to cry out, “Don't you care that we are perishing?” And then we can see God at work, doing much more than we can ask or imagine.
Now Our Saviour's Lutheran Church looks like it is perishing. A lot of people have left the church because they think it is doomed. Chris Hlady resigned from Council on Wednesday because he thinks this congregation is dysfunctional.
But to the eyes of faith, God is moving in this place. God is not bailing us out by sending some new members so we can go on as we were before. When we cry out to God to save us, we must be prepared for whatever it is God intends, which may be quite different from what we hope for or expect.
Last Tuesday I should have left the building much earlier than I did – I was messing around with the bulletin, putting it in trifold form that you see today. I looked at my watch and thought I should go, but I just kept on at the computer until I saw that it was almost 6 o'clock. As I was leaving, Pastor Asefa of the Oromo congregation was just arriving for Bible Study. We had a very interesting chat at the door, and he told me that now that he was ordained, he was interested in doing some outreach work in this neighbourhood. Wow. Just what Pastor Gavin of Holy Community was saying. Just what we ourselves have been saying. At that moment I felt God moving, setting up something that will change lives and rejuvenate the church.
Just as St Paul was saying in our second lesson, there is a disconnect between what the world sees and what God sees. “We are treated as imposters” Yes, that is what a lot of people think of churches. “And yet we are true.” We are honest and faithful to the truth of the gospel. “As unknown, and yet we are well known. As dying – and see, we are alive.”
This congregation is alive – alive in all the best ways. We have people of faith and gifts who are willing to give of themselves to follow Jesus. We have trust that God is in control, even of the wind and the waves.
“We are punished.” Yes, the Christian church has a lot to repent of, especially the arrogance we once had, expressed in crusades and witchhunts and intolerance and exclusion. But it's pretty hard to hold on to arrogance when we are entirely at the mercy of God, as we are today. But God doesn't want to destroy us for our sins, “we are not killed.”
“We are sorrowful.” Yes, we think of the glories of the past, and grieve for the many losses we have suffered. “Yet we are always rejoicing.” Even in our deepest grief we know the good news of the resurrection, and are able to rejoice. “We are poor.” Yes we are. We are fast running out of cash. We are lacking in manpower. “But making many rich.” We have the Good News that can enrich anyone! “Having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” As God's children, God gives us all good things. All our needs are provided for.
So, through what eyes are we going to look at this congregation? Through the eyes of the world, or through the eyes of faith? And are we going to just keep bailing, as though our salvation depended on us? Or are we going to give control over to Our Saviour, so that he can command the wind and waves to be still, so that we can go over to the other side, as he had commanded.
We don't know what is waiting for us over on the other side of the transformation God is leading this congregation through. It is uncharted territory for us. But God knows every hill and valley, and has prepared a place for us, and will get us there safely.
We are starting to see some of the rough outline of the terrain, however. Whatever it looks like, I am sure it involves cooperation with our brothers and sisters of the Oromo Christian Fellowship, and Holy Community Covenant Church, and the NA, and Scouts Canada, and who knows what other partners God will send our way. We often pray for unity in the church, and then act surprised when God sends opportunities our way.
Again from St Paul: “As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, 'At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.' See, now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation!” Thanks be to God. Amen.
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