"Thoughts toward Others" - an application of Psalm 20

(1) Context

I find this psalm an inspiring piece of writing, and an encouraging expose of faith in the face of challenge. This psalm originally captured the prayers of the people for their king as he and his army faced an opposing force. These people believed that Yahweh God was on their side, and should be called upon for help, as they faced opposition that had no regard for God (such was Israel’s worldview).

King David himself saw himself in a favoured position as far as God was concerned, yet also understood the strength of his enemies, and the folly of trying to lead his nation without first seeking out God’s help. Thus he understood his need of the people’s prayer support, and was confidently responsive to it.

Here we have expressed a sense of dependence upon God, as well as faith that God would bring about the desired victory. It is from this point that we can draw some relevance for us today. This psalm gives us a helpful model for expressing concern for the welfare of another, combined with faith that God will undoubtedly respond to such prayerful concern.

(2) Structure

In verses 1 to 5, King David’s supporters, in chorus, pray for his success and the presence of God to be with him.

In verse 6, with the change into a singular voice, either the king himself or another voice expresses confidence in God’s positive answer.

Then from verses 7 to 8, there is a further acknowledgement of God’s effectiveness; and thus the chorus of support rises again in the concluding verse.

(3) Content

The wording of this psalm suggests that in times of trouble we should seek God’s protection, guidance and the resolution of the issues surrounding us. As we see in verse 2, this help would come from the place where God resides. In other words, ultimately, such extensive and decisive help can come from no other place.

Yet there is more here than just that, for the request is made not for the speakers themselves, but rather on behalf of another, in this case the nation’s king. The people in chorus were universally recognising the need of their king; if he was going to survive the challenges he was facing, then he would certainly need the protection, guidance and help of God.

One possible application here would be our understanding of all the challenges that our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd faces, with asylum seekers, Afghanistan, climate change, indigenous health, and a long list of social issues including street violence and problem gambling. Wouldn’t we be drawn to pray for him!

Yet we can also apply the heart of this psalm to all those we know who are in need, for we know, even if they don’t, that they will need God’s help if they are to survive, let alone flourish. And we also have the advantage of knowing for sure that God is indeed available to help those who are open to such help.

Returning to verse 3, as the people fondly remember the qualities and past service of their king, they remind God of the worth and credibility of their leader, and that God’s help would be well invested in such a person. Whereas God probably doesn’t need to be reminded about such things, it doesn’t hurt to air how we feel about people in positive terms, and how badly we want to see them be saved and grow.

Such is the sentiment of verse 4, where the speakers (or choristers really) so much want the desires and Godly plans of their king to come to fruition. They would be assuming here that the king’s plans were first God’s plans, and that the success of the king’s activities would be in line with God’s purposes.

Then as the psalm builds, the people here, in verse 5, look forward to the time when they can acknowledge and celebrate the great outcomes that God has brought about. In nearly the same breath as making their requests, they acknowledge that they have been answered! Indeed they will wave “banners” expressing their praise and gratitude.

How might we interpret such banner-waving today?? Is it like the big banners that the football teams run through before the game, that often confidently predict the outcome before even the ball is bounced for the start of the game … “Carlton will give the dogs the blues!” Our worship is in a sense based on how things will turn out as much as how they now seem.

These choristers are saying “Amen” to the prayers of their king, as we can say “Amen” to the sincere prayers of our brothers and sisters (even when we aren’t aware of all the background and details). As we pray with the attitude … “may this be in accordance with your will O God” … then nothing bad can happen as a result of us saying “Amen” to another’s prayer.

The result of these expressions of support and prayer is that the king himself, as seen in verse 6, is encouraged in his faith that all will be well. He knew before, but now with the enthusiastic and sincere statements of his people behind him, the king really knows that God travels with him, indeed before him. This should be true for anyone we choose to prayerfully and practically support in such affirming ways. Our sense of God amplifies our friend’s sense of God toward greater levels of coping and commitment.

Verses 7 & 8 really reflect a strong stand and a complete assurance that our best future lies with trusting in God, rather than in any sense of independence or material acquisition. Human resources alone will be found lacking, and possessions will come and go, but those who live through God will stand up straight, grow strong and walk lightly. Verse 9 then reminds us of the central feature of this psalm – a heartfelt desire for a good outcome in the life of another.

(4) The Basis of Hope is Faith

How could this people think and pray in such a way as this? There is such great anticipation in the words of verse 5. This was not lukewarm or half-hearted or qualified thinking, but rather wholly expectant. They would pray in their best understanding of God’s will, and then were convinced of the outcome being a reality (way ahead of it actually coming to be).

This is the essence of faith … to be convinced about what we yet can’t see!! Where we read that famous definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”, we see practically expressed in Psalm 20:5 – “May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners”. The victory is as good as here (because we have prayed according to God’s will)! The Kingdom of God is near at hand!! Faith is built on the rational understanding of how God has beneficially acted in the past and on the resultant confidence that God will so act again.

This psalm conveys an increasing faith momentum. The corporate faith of the praying and worshipping people of verses 1 to 5, builds the personal faith of the one being prayed for (as evidenced in verse 6). Through this process the whole assembly is strengthened as we see in verses 7 & 8; then the prayer is restated again ever more confidently.

(5) Application

So a clear application of this psalm would be to pray for other people with the level of intensity and corporate concern that we see here! Part of reason for the emotional intensity we see here, is because the fate of the people and their life destiny, was so tied to the success of their king over their enemies (note verse 8b). I’m wondering if we could pray for others with this level of intensity and personal investment, seeing good outcomes for others being so intricately connected to ourselves!

This psalm gives us a picture of the whole company of God’s people gathered together in prayer as one body united in mind and heart for another’s need. There are New Testament examples of the power of such prayer. Remember when Peter was in chains in prison in Acts chapter 12, facing a very dire fate, and then he was miraculously able to escape right past the many guards … what was happening behind the scenes there?? “While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him” (Acts 12:5). Later in this passage we read that, due to Peter’s imprisonment, “many” had gathered in the home of the mother of John Mark to pray.

The tragedy is (and I speak to myself as much as to anyone else) that this rich prayer/faith resource is so rarely utilised to its full potential. Often we can spend more time bemoaning certain negative realities (like the greed and violence around us in our society), rather than coming together to seek God’s face in prayer.

The sort of intercession we see in this psalm is based on an unshakeable trust in God’s goodness, mercy, and commitment to humanity. Such prayer is most powerful when God’s people stop relying on the world for answers, and when they give up self-reliance – to throw themselves fully on God’s wisdom, thus releasing God’s creative best toward humankind.

{So where there are more than 6,000 people groups in the world who have never heard of Jesus, because they do not have access to the gospel due to cultural, linguistic, political or other barriers, we can ask God to raise up more people who are passionate about serving among such people groups, and that the good news of Jesus might spread to them out of the witness of existing faith communities somewhere in the world.

In the face of great need, we can pray that the Yapa people and other indigenous peoples of Outback Australia will continue to grow in their understanding of what it means to follow Jesus in distinctively indigenous ways, and pray for those like Bill and Pauline Morrison who minister in support of these communities.

And where so many people in places like Australia (and our very neighbourhoods) have turned their back on God for a variety of reasons, many of them understandable, we can pray that we will find new ways of relating the truth of the gospel story that will touch minds and hearts afresh, and renew interest in many people discovering their reason for being.}

"God Gives Us a Future" - reflecting on Jeremiah 29:1-14 in terms of family life

1. Introduction to Passage

The present situation in which we find the people of the southern kingdom of Israel was not as they would have wanted. They were in exile in the foreign land of Babylon, far north from their beloved homeland; and these people wondered if they had any sort of future at all.

Many people now today wonder about their futures, and what is the point of it all. Their life has not shaped up the way they wanted, and there seems to be little hope of any improvement.

The prophet Jeremiah continually alerts us to the reality that unless we are inclined towards finding our spiritual home in God, then we can’t expect the future to unfold in positive directions.

Following the flow of Jeremiah’s letter that we read here, as Jeremiah speaks the very words of God to the Israelite exiles, we can start to sense some of the principles that we can be applying in our lives, and especially in our homes with our children, so that we might embrace the best of God’s future.

2. Background Information

The people of Israel in the 6th Century (before Jesus came) were slack in the ethical requirements of the practice of their faith, and thus the strength of their community disintegrated, and they became a ‘sitting duck’ for the invading Babylonians. Many people (b/t 4-20,000) were forcibly taken north into exile in Babylon.

Whereas they had reasonable social freedom and economic opportunity whilst in Babylon, these exiles had experienced their homeland destroyed, left behind family, had to confront a very different culture, and lost access to the traditional centre of their spirituality (the temple in Jerusalem).

In many ways, life seemed to be over and their future non-existent. They are living their lives subject to a foreign power, far away from where they’d prefer to be. This is not the life they want! Yet they would need to accept their own responsibility for their current situation, and consider what they would need to change to foster better possibilities.

Our lives are often not what we want them to be. Sometimes this is because we have made some very bad decisions, and we must face up to this fact! Sometimes our troubled circumstances can be ascribed to the thoughtless actions of another. Sometimes we feel oppressed simply because we live in a fallen and desperate world – way different from the way God intended it to be. Whatever the case, life can be very, very hard! We can be hurt, we can be isolated, and we can feel emotionally spent!

Sometimes we might think that God has gone missing! Yet, does God really go missing? This passage, along with the whole flow of the Bible, says that ‘no’, God never really goes missing! Sometimes it is very difficult for God to look upon the things we do to ourselves and each other, yet still God is not far away. One recorded instance of this is in the early chapters of Genesis, when Adam was hiding in the Garden of Eden, not wanting to be exposed for his rebellion; yet God was still right there asking, “Adam, Adam, Where are you?” (Gen 3:9).

3. A Reassuring Letter

So, despite the people of Judah’s ethical and spiritual apathy, and their resultant exile in Babylon, God was still there for them, caringly waiting for their spiritual awakening!

God guided Jeremiah to write a very special letter to these people to remind them of this very fact. This would not mean that life would become sweet necessarily, for they would remain in exile until political circumstances changed, but they would again have the opportunity of experiencing spiritual peace, hope and purpose. God would be the sustaining dynamic in their lives, if they showed themselves willing, through whatever challenges they encountered.

This period in exile was to be God’s agent in reforming the people, and God (through Jeremiah) asks for their co-operation in this process. They would have to accept their ‘medicine’, take the opportunity to reflect on previous misdemeanours and consider what the important things in life are! This would be an opportunity to freshen up their commitment to God and become wholehearted in their faith. Appreciating God’s nearness these Israelites were to get on with life, in terms of those areas mentioned in verses 5-9 …

> marrying and producing children, and nurturing such offspring toward maturity and adulthood (v.6)

> creating homes with happy living environments, and putting food on the table (v.5).

> considering the well-being of the whole of the community, and appreciating the inter-connected nature of life (v7). (This might have been the last thing on the mind of the exiles in Babylon, but nonetheless if they were to truly restore their relationship with God, then had to seek the welfare of others around them.)

> listening and responding to the voices of truth (v.8b-9). False prophets in Jeremiah’s time (to propel their own popularity) were telling the people that God would resolve their exile in quick time – denying the need to thoroughly work through the process of repentance and contribute to their current community for a number of decades; this ‘quick-fix’ mentality simply was not the truth or God’s intention.

Let’s then focus together on the beautiful words that follow …

"For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.
When you search for me, you will find me;
if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord,

… and then this letter goes on with words particularly relevant to the ancient Israelites, but also to any who have known God previously then strayed …

… and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile".

This reassures us of some very significant insights about each of our lives

> God has a plan for each of our lives, which will provide for a purposeful future filled with hope (whatever environmental situation we currently find ourselves in)

> God will hear all the sincere cries of our heart, and be available to us for comfort, guidance & strength

> God will rebuild our lives piece by piece, and restore us toward the original intention behind our creation, until such a time arrives that we go into all eternity perfected.

The people of Judah had felt that they had lost the presence of God, but here Jeremiah says to them that all they have to do is sincerely open their heart to the possibility of God’s nearness, and God will be found! They will be lifted up from the limits of exile, with God working toward their best interests. In the same way, we can be lifted from our feelings of being in exile in this world, towards a hope-filled life. It is worth remembering that when we’re in ‘a dark patch’, there remains a way forward if we trust in God!

4. Application to Family Life

What elements here can be applied to family life and the bringing up of children??

(a) God has his hand {lightly} on each child’s life (Psalm 139:13-16; Jer 1:4-8).

(b) God has dreams concerning a great future for each child. This dream or plan is the best case scenario imaginable, for it involves a person’s complete well-being.

(c) Christian parents have the responsibility to introduce their children to God through Jesus – in such a way that in time these children will decide for and develop a personal relationship with Jesus. This is so a child will truly be in a position to search for Jesus with all their heart, and thus be found. Our homes should contain and reveal such a God consciousness that all within, and also all those who visit, will sense it immediately and impactingly.

(d) That the church community surrounding such families will be a helpful and resourceful body that makes the parents’ job easier. This will be especially the case where parents are struggling for answers.

(e) Parents are to seek God’s future for their children rather than whatever it is that they have conjured up themselves. Whereas they should be in a position to discern and offer guidance, the most important tool will be prayer, and the type of close connectedness with God, that will sense the heights of God’s dreams and plans for their children, well above and beyond their own wishes and expectations.

5. Conclusion

So, if we are not to repeat the mistakes of the ancient Israelites when they ignored God and tried to do things independently, where whole families suffered the pain of exile, then we will carefully read Jeremiah’s letter with a view to our own home and God’s current place within it. In this way we will best discover God’s future.

We here today remain with imperfect natures, surrounded by other people with imperfect natures, living within a complex world; yet God’s Spirit is seeking to draw close and renew us daily, opening up the best possible outcomes. Our children, and the younger members of our community, need us to be listening and responsive to God’s invitation.

"Open-Ended Hospitality" - A Sermon Discussion on Luke 14:15-24

Introduction

This parable is told by Jesus in the midst of a dinner at the house of a Pharisee. Jesus had already conversed at this dinner about the need for humility in life lest one be brought down, and that hospitality should be offered on the basis of basic kindness rather than what could be received in return. Jesus had most probably detected in this particular host on this day, a very preferential mindset behind the invitation list; perhaps even a real reticence to expand his social contacts toward the more needy in his community.

At least one guest was impressed enough with Jesus’ words to speak up (v.15), although we are not sure how well he understood what he was saying, or whether he was only sharing a platitude. “Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God”, seems like a bit of a beattitude like those in Matthew 5. You might understand this to mean that there is eternal spiritual fulfillment for those who accept God’s hospitality. Yet Jesus would want to emphasise that feasting with God did not so much require the right words and upbringing, but far more so the right attitudes of kindness, humility and compassion. However well this guest understood what he was saying, Jesus decided further elaboration was required … he would tell a story to give a little more understanding about God’s style of hospitality and how it might (or might not) be received.

The Original Invitees (v.16-21)

Sometimes it is easy to take God for granted. This is often when life is going well, and we can find excuses for not attending to the spiritual side of life. And often these excuses are pretty empty. Take this story for instance and the excuses given. Would not the new landowner have gone to see the land before he bought it! What’s the urgency about now? If there was any need to check on this land, then surely it could have waited a bit (given the commitment that had already been made).

Would not the new owner of the five oxen have tried out these animals before he invested in them! To have not done so would be like buying a second-hand car over the phone without seeing it and trying it first. What’s this really about? Perhaps this guy placed a higher priority on his business interests in putting the oxen to work than attending the dinner. In these cases, was the comfort of ownership and/or the lure of financial gain more important than responding to an important invitation? Were such concerns more pressing than following through on earlier commitments that were made to attend? Following through with an earlier arrangement was obviously now seen as inconvenient.

The customary practice of the time would have been for the invitations to have gone out some weeks beforehand (though without specific details) and been accepted at that time. Then when the dinner drew close, a messenger was sent out to tell all those who had previously accepted that all was ready … they were ready to be received … now was the time to come. Thus within this scenario, an earlier invitation must have been accepted, but now when the announcement of readiness came, something must have changed with these invited guests; yet all that is reported seem to be pretty ordinary excuses. To refuse having previously accepted, culturally speaking, was a very serious insult, for it was a great honour to be invited; this was the breaking of a deeply binding arrangement – the host would inevitably feel snubbed.

We then turn to the third reason/excuse for non-attendance, that of having been married (v.20). Surely this person would have known of their upcoming marriage when the original invitation was accepted. In such circumstances where there may have been some uncertainty about the timing of this dinner, someone preparing to marry could have put some provisos on their acceptance; yet this excuse seems to come out of left field. This has led one commentator to suggest that this was possibly a casual last-minute liasion rather than a real marriage (and if such was the case this would be really problematical decision-making)!

If indeed this was a real marriage, this person may have been relying on the statement in Deuteronomy 24:5 which says a married man should stay at home with his wife for the first year of marriage. Yet this was brought in to excuse such a man from military service, not social interaction. So, was there something about this marriage that made this guest change their plans? Could it have been that the person this intended guest married was not interested in the sort of hospitality being offered, and was pulling their new spouse in a different direction!

“I cannot come” should really be read: “I choose not to come”! For any who would say this, there just must be something about the invitation that no longer suits … something about the host, or the venue, or maybe the other guests, or more probably what would have to be left behind or given a different level of priority.

So each of these invited guests, for whatever real reason, had ‘gone cold’ on the idea of going, which of course ultimately shows careless unconcern toward the host! It’s then totally understandable that the host was angry at this turn of events. The host had provided an open invitation, received a great deal of interest, had spared no expense in preparing for the party, and then been presented with lame excuses. Clearly these ones will miss the blessing or the spiritual peace and joy associated with God’s hospitality, because in their own minds they were just too successful and too busy and too distracted to bother. The host’s immediate thoughts concerning them are reflected in verses 21 and 24.

Jesus would be drawing here from the sad history of Israel’s 'on again off again' type relationship with Yahweh – crying out to God in bad times, but ignoring God when they felt secure. God’s people had never really proven to be wholly open to the presence and purposes of God. Again and again the words of God’s true prophets concerning faithfulness and justice were rejected. This is also seen in the religious leadership of Jesus’ day not being prepared to see Jesus in his true identity. Luke then uses this teaching from Jesus’ life to challenge his readers about whether they are going all the way in following and living for Jesus.

The New Guests (v.21-23)

The provisions that God has made should not, cannot and will not be wasted. So the host’s servant is sent out to look for and gather other people who may have missed out on the invitation previously but might still be agreeable to come. Here we are talking about what God has offered through the very expensive gift of Jesus’ life on the cross. I don’t think God would be angry about those who have never had the opportunity to respond to such an invitation before; only with those who have toyed with the idea of following Jesus and then thrown the invitation back in God’s face.

And this anger would have more to do with opportunities and relationships than anything else. We know that God soon turns from anger to compassion, and the rainbow in the sky is a reminder of that. So dearly does God desire prodigal people to return to him, that if any of those original guests came to their senses, I’m sure the host would find a seat for them anyway. Yet we would have to concede that certain blessing has been missed in the meantime.

Like the Gentiles of new testament times, there are many today, across the world, and in our streets, who have never heard of Jesus as we know him. The host of this feast sent his servant out into the “streets and lanes” to sound out the non-discriminating, all-encompassing invitation to come join in. And many came! Yet there was still more room! This is the thought process under which we should always have plenty of extra chairs out and plenty of spare communion cups available and a warm welcome ready, because God is continually sending out invitations to people everywhere.

So the servant was sent out again, perhaps even further afield, with even a higher degree of urgency. The way this story is told probably suggests that the further the servant ventured, the more he encountered society’s less favoured citizens and the seemingly less likely to respond positively. This servant was to “compel” people to come to the feast. Now isn’t that interesting!

This of course wouldn’t mean to make this compulsory [for God decided in creation that free-will and human responsibility was the ‘go’], yet perhaps suggests that God’s servants had to really show how important this invitation was. We could understand this to mean: to implore people, to not take ‘no’ for an answer, to convince them, to provide some gentle insistence; the invitation was to be presented attractively and persuasively with integrity and sincerity.

No doubt for a lot of these people, this invitation would come right out of ‘left field’, and as such would likely express surprise and possibly suspicion or maybe even ridicule (because noone has cared for them much in the past), yet the servants of the host were not to be deterred.

Conclusion

If the first part of this parable challenges us about what we have done with our particular invitation – have we really followed through in fully accepting it, then the second part reminds us that there is indeed an open invitation for each one of us, and also all those others in the human community around the world.

Or put another way … participation in the Kingdom of God and our discipleship journey with Jesus is not something to be taken lightly (as was exposed in the first part of the parable), yet God will continue to actively and (com)passionately seek those who will respond to an invitation to receive divine hospitality – those who are ready to go on a really special Spirit-led journey with Jesus.

Warren's Ordination Statement - 11th Oct 2009

For those who were not present, here is what I said (at Essendon Baptist Church) on the occasion of my ordination to the Baptist ministry.

"I stand before you all today knowing most assuredly that I am called of God to minister within the church and local community in the name of Jesus. My call to ordained ministry within the Baptist family of churches is directly related to my desire to share the life of Jesus with others, and my passion for leading and supporting a local church in connecting with its surrounding community.

Currently my context for this mission is the Point Cook area, in Melbourne’s west, through being Pastor of the Point Cook Community Baptist Church. Together, we have made significant inroads in connecting with community members and our neighbours in the long-term cause of advancing the values of the Kingdom of God and introducing people to Jesus.

The congregation at Point Cook have trusted me as their pastor over the last five and a half years, taking on many challenges and new directions, and confirming my call to ordained ministry; for this I am grateful. Together we will continue to tackle the opportunities that lie ahead with faith, discernment and innovation.

As I expressed at the BUV Gathering in May, I feel that I have been in lifelong preparation for today, and for whatever the future holds. God has used my life experiences to develop my ability to be effective in ministry. Each church I have served in, and the good guidance given by many, has held me in good stead. I am grateful to all those encouragers and their unique contributions that have brought me here today.

I must mention my mother Cath Hodge, who passed away last year. She, with my father Harold, are my shining examples of faithful, loving service to God within an active church community. Also thanks must go to my wife Raelene for her unrelenting love and support.

Words from Jeremiah’s commission resonate with me very strongly. I believe that God has always been working in my life, moulding and filling me, and preparing me to make small but important contributions into the lives of others. Whereas I have often felt ill-equipped, I have been regularly reassured that God can make the seemingly impossible actually possible. When Jeremiah felt unprepared, especially in the area of what he would say under pressure, he was reassured about God’s enabling presence. The Lord touched Jeremiah’s mouth and gave him the words to say. I am no longer daunted by any person, but rather see each one as someone God might want to connect with through me.

I have learnt so much from all the faculty members at Whitley College, who, in both my two stints of study there, have invested such great teaching and pastoral care into me. Through this experience, I am thoroughly committed to continue to learn and grow and further mature.

I yearn for other people to clearly know God’s love for them and purpose for their life; and I trust that I will be able to assist others to know Jesus personally and grow through the presence of God’s Spirit. Jesus is the One who can bring out the wonderful potential and kind-heartedness that lies deep within people, but is often buried within the complexity of life.

What gives me great assurance of a living and transforming God, is seeing people begin to flourish and serve others, becoming creative and welcoming followers of Jesus. I love the Church. At its best, it brings together great diversity focussed on the universal common good, and can provide a place of healing and nurture. Attempting to be church brings great challenges, but also what glorious opportunities!

Thank-you!"

Principles of Leadership based on Matthew 5:3-10

1. Leaders in Life

These famous words of Jesus quoted by Matthew are relevant to us at many levels. I have used them widely in their application to people who want to delve into their life issues and find healing. But they are also so very useful in examining the area of character.

If someone wants to excel in life, be a good example in their home, and provide good leadership in the community, then they will need to take very seriously what Jesus is saying here. When we are considering who would be good leaders in the church setting, then these verses most certainly provide very clear criteria.

Of course, there is no guarantee that such character attributes as these will advance someone in the workplace, or in politics, or even in friendships, because such attitudes as these can stand out in opposition to worldly norms or accepted behaviour patterns, therefore be strongly resisted; and actually tend to alienate us.

Yet these challenges are key to making the sort of difference Jesus came to make, and in turn calls us to make. This can be seen by the level of intimate connection with the purposes of the Kingdom of God that the second part of each verse states. As we live in agreement with these character traits, we confirm that we are members of God’s family on earth (with our eternal destiny in God), and will be in receipt of God’s continual concern and care as our life journey progresses.

Our neighbourhoods need to see these characteristics evident around them to offer them hope of a better future. Jesus goes on in the following verses to talk about the need for his followers to be “salt” and “light” in the world. The starting points for being conveyors of such ‘tastefulness’ and ‘brightness’, are proclaimed here at the beginning of Matthew 5.

This is about adding ‘good flavour’ and ‘hopeful perspective’ to our neighbourhood. If you like, these verses provide an alternative vision of interactive community. And so on the basis of this text, I will provide a list of principles of leadership, the ways of making a positive contribution, and serving a higher ideal. As one being ordained today (Sunday 11/10), and in a sense singled out, I have certainly been caused to think a lot about these matters.

We could track ourselves on a scale from one to ten on each of these; but if we do, we should be quick to remind ourselves that we are works in progress, and that the Holy Spirit is available to us to assist the internal and external changes we desire. There is of course not much about ability here in this Matthew passage, but rather a lot about availability and character.

2. Leadership Characteristics

(a) SHOWING HUMILITY

This means to be open to learn, and to be teachable. This is where a relationship with God is seen to be primary. This would include, rather than pretending to be what we’re not, actually admitting our absolute need of God, acknowledging that we have deficiencies, and seeking counselling and guidance in these areas. This might also include not being owned by material possessions, overwhelmed by ambition, or distracted by unnecessary complications, such that we tend to be deaf or resistant to God’s leading. There should be a preparedness to listen to others, and to really take on board what they think and say. This definitely also involves being accountable to others for the substance of one’s behaviour and for fulfilling one’s responsibilities.

(b) CARING

This is to consider that other people matter, that their feelings need to be acknowledged, and their needs should be catered for. This begins with thorough regret for how we may have hurt others, our seeking of forgiveness, and where possible making amends. Being a ‘caring’ person would include being prepared to allow others into our own pain. Being an encourager is important, along with being positive about people’s potential. Put downs are out! Also, taking opportunities of being practically supportive and offering hospitality reveals a caring person; seeing the burdens of another as one’s own burden, sometimes sacrificially serving others as Jesus sacrificially served us. As Paul wrote to the Romans, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (12:15).

(c) GENTLE

This means being sensitive to the dynamics around you, understanding that there are a broad range of feelings and opinions in any group of people. This would lead to tactful and careful responses to disagreement and conflict. A tendency toward cooperative planning takes over from self-reliance. A ‘gentle’ person grows to trust others and allows them to help. The “gentle” person is honest, and also one who is maturing towards a consistent and stable personality, one who has self-control [or maybe, God-control] where various impulses and the inevitable forks in the road are dwelt with more creatively than they used to be.

‘Meekness’ and ‘gentleness’ are not equivalent to ‘weakness’ or being passive; quite the opposite – there is strength of character and conviction revealed here. Whilst Jesus described himself as “gentle and humble in heart” (11:29), he cleared out of the temple all those (greedy business) types who were disrupting access to worshipping there (21:12-13).

(d) COMMITTED

This is someone who is not wishy-washy, nor half-hearted, but fully understands what they believe in and is strongly committed to this cause. They are not easily dissuaded or diverted, but they are thoroughly involved in meeting the challenges that present themselves. They proactively seek and respond to opportunities to press for their cause. A “hunger and thirst” for what is right, breaks through any contentedness with mediocrity towards a faithful commitment to any necessary change.

This reminds me of the story about the hen and the pig who together approached a church noticeboard and read the advertised sermon topic for the next Sunday: ‘What can we do to help the poor?’ Immediately the hen suggested they could feed them eggs and bacon. The pig thought about this for a moment, then said, “That’s all right for you to say – there is only one thing wrong with feeding bacon and eggs to the poor; for you (a hen) it requires only a contribution, for me (the pig) it requires total commitment”!

Yet such committed ones know that any success they have ultimately depends upon allowing God to work through them, and being prayerfully able to recognise how God is working ahead of them in various situations; indeed being alert and expectant concerning how God will answer their prayers. Again Jesus backed up this personally in the Garden of Gethsemane, when in the agony of knowing what lay ahead, he prayed to God, “not what I want but what you want” (26:39).

(e) COMPASSIONATE

This is about developing an understanding of and empathy for the difficult experiences and backgrounds people have; seeing others as fellow travellers. Showing a non-judgemental attitude to people suffering from a variety of addictions; reflecting a preference that they will get the help they need over any desire that they might disappear from view or have justice exacted upon them. This is about having a naturally occurring compassionate response to the existence of suffering. As difficult as this is, we should not easily close our eyes to the tragedies and disasters that befall other people, even when these are thousands of kilometres away.

(f) TUNED TO GOD

Here is a heart that first and foremost seeks after God, through being prayerful, a sincere and consistent worshipper, a regular searcher through the scriptures (for knowledge of God), and a full participant in church community. Through this intimacy with God, this person continually assesses whether their motives are pure and their priorities and goals are worthy, and thus steadily becomes a better and better decision-maker. This person deals with any bitterness they carry, so this does not negatively affect their behaviour toward others. As well, such a leader becomes tuned into God’s big picture, looking past personal agendas toward what is and what is not important, gaining real vision into God’s purposes (both local and global).

(g) PEACE ORIENTATED

This is someone who brings people together who would otherwise be estranged or separate from one another. This is a person who can harmonise a variety of views toward a unified way of moving forward. A “peacemaker” is a careful and good communicator. Here is someone who stands against the notion that attack or revenge can achieve anything. This is a person, who is like Jesus when on the cross, has the instinct to forgive well over and above any thought of getting even (refer Luke 23:34).

Yet, this is a person who will stand firmly for what is right in terms of justice and fairness. This is not about evading issues or wishing conflict would go away, but rather proactively taking the positive action that needs to be taken to break the negative and destructive cycle that would otherwise persist. This is also someone who works steadily on the quality of their own relationships, and seeks harmony with all of creation.

(h) COURAGEOUS

This means being willing to stand out in a crowd for what one believes, no matter where this might lead or what trouble it might bring. One would be deemed courageous where one’s strong Jesus following ethos was maintained in the face of equally strong counter views. This is about not bowing to certain cultural norms just because they’re prevalent and popular. John Stott wrote that, “Persecution is simply the [result of the] clash between two irreconcilable value systems”. Thus, a person who maintains the same life orientation no matter what group of people they’re with could be deemed courageous. Such a person is growing in their trust that God will provide for them.

3. Experiencing Blessing

Jesus refers to those with the character traits laid out here as “Blessed…” These will be those who are thoroughly fulfilled by their growth, usefulness and sense of God’s presence with them. They are in the position to experience distinctive spiritual joy and peace.

As mentioned earlier, as we live in agreement with the character traits and principles of leadership referred to here, we confirm to one and all that we are members of God’s family on earth, and participants in God’s Kingdom rule, and we will be in receipt of God’s continual concern and care as our life journey progresses.

"The Value of Rest" - a Sermon on Matthew 11:28-30

(1) What does Jesus mean by “rest”?

We all need rest – rest for our weary bodies and tiring minds. We need sleep on a daily basis, so that our bodies and minds can recuperate for the next day (or for those shift-workers, they need sleep to properly prepare for the next period of time in which they will work and recreate). This all goes without saying; however this passage is dealing with much more than this.

We also need times away from normal routine – holidays; where we do different things, and think about different things, and try to relax a bit. Whether we stay close to home or travel far a-field, we need time to restore ourselves and gain some new perspective, which can lead to better discernment and decision-making. Travel, recreate and rest are the things I have been able to do over the last six weeks. Through just breaking routine and putting aside normal responsibilities, I am indeed seeing life and ministry afresh.

However, this passage is dealing with even more than this! This passage places rest, real rest, into the context of an ongoing relationship (outside of ourselves). This is not just about a good night’s sleep or four weeks annual leave, but a day-by-day orientation toward a relationship with Jesus. Jesus is what life, real life, is all about. This is about a real sense of peace, peace that will survive past breakfast or a return from holidays to work; and such peace ultimately comes from the ‘Prince of Peace’. You want rest, you want to experience life in such a way that you feel properly rested and satisfied, then Jesus says to all, “Come to me”.

This sort of “rest” that Jesus is referring to, is liberty and freedom from the power of what whatever it is that oppresses us. For those living in Jesus’ time, it may have been the overburdensome religious rules that hung over them every day of their lives. One example of this is contained in the passage that follows in Matthew 12 – where overburdensome Sabbath regulations had been imposed upon the Jewish people of Jesus’ time (you couldn’t even pick up something that someone else had dropped, lest it be regarded as work on the Sabbath). This required Jesus to clearly demonstrate, by healing a man with a withered hand, that indeed it was right to do good for others no matter what day it was.

For such people in that day, it may have also been the tension and sense of loss involved in being under Roman control and domination. What Jesus was offering was a dynamic that allowed fulfilling life to occur over and above these earthly conditions, where one could even shine in the face of such severe realities.

(2) The Reality of Heavy Burdens

Despite the lack of religious or political persecution where we live today, life can still be very complex and difficult. This at times can wear very thin, and make us weary and tired. Some problems just become heavier and heavier, and daily living can seem all too hard.

What are some of the heavy burdens that we have to bear and carry through life?
· Grief and loss
· Work pressure
· Family issues
· Illness, injury and pain
· Ongoing conflict
· Past abuses, disappointments and loneliness
· Fears, doubts, spiritual needs, temptation, guilt
· Financial worries
· World concern
· Feeling overloaded with a sense of responsibility (eg. church & community challenges)

The burdens are great and so we need help, for human resources in themselves are way too limited. I stand here, and I can only offer you one solution. Whatever the burden (and none of those mentioned are too heavy for God), Jesus says, “Come to me … and I will give you rest”.

Why Jesus? Because Jesus, in being God’s Son, not only shows us what God is like, not only reveals God to us in a personal way, but also completely understands all of what it is to be human. It’s not as if Jesus doesn’t get what we’re going through, he completely understands! Listen to Philippians 2:7-8 …

"But [Christ Jesus] emptied himself, taking on the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross."

Now listen to Hebrews 4:15-16 …

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have One who in every respect has been tested [or, tempted] as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Jesus fills the gap for us between the depths of God and the depths of ourselves. Jesus gives the “rest” when we come to him. Jesus raises us up to our highest capabilities.

(3) Coming to Jesus

Okay, how then do we “come” to Jesus?
· Open our heart and mind to the possibility of change
· Put aside our desire to stay in absolute control of our lives
· Confess our wrongdoing and selfishness
· Receive forgiveness and enter the process of transformation
· Accept that there are things we need to learn
· Be willing to focus without distraction on the Jesus revealed in the Gospel narratives
· Say yes to following the Jesus we read about and discover in the Bible
· Prayerfully listen to the Spirit of God’s leading

Most importantly, we come as we are (right here and right now); we don’t try to become good enough, or put it off for another day!! There are no (hard) conditions to this invitation aside from humility and sincerity. It’s not like needing to have formal wear before we can accept an invitation to a black-tie dinner. T-shirt, shorts and thongs are always okay!

Remember too, that we are ‘coming’, not to a philosophy or dogma or religion, but we are ‘coming’ to a person. And this person is Jesus, the epitome of all that is good in life – love, compassion, faith, selflessness and hope. And Jesus is inviting us into a conjoined relationship, where we start to participate with him in such things.

He says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me”. The use of the image of the “yoke” is based on the wooden collar that ran across the shoulders of a pair of oxen which had been hitched to a plough.

{To see a picture of such a yoke go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoke.}

This “yoke” enabled the oxen to jointly pull enormous weights, as the burden was equally distributed over both animals … neither one becoming overwhelmed.

So we get a picture of being conjoined with Jesus in dealing with life’s complexity and all the stuff that happens. Having a partner like this will allow us to deal with great weight, more weight than we could have ever imagined; because the burden is spread across two sets of shoulders, and because Jesus is taking up at least half the load.

This is liberation, this is freedom from enslavement to circumstances, and this is life-giving for us. If we exclude Jesus from his God-given role of salvation in our lives, then we do so to our own detriment.

Now, as we spend more time living in partnership with Jesus we would naturally “learn” to be more like him and cope with life in the most creative of ways. Whereas life does not necessarily in itself get any easier [former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser was right when he said, “Life wasn’t meant to be easy”], having Jesus onside brings a calmer and gentler response to life’s issues. This is because, unlike the world, unlike the Pharisees, and even unlike ourselves, Jesus is not about judgement, but about grace, mercy and forgiveness. Jesus does not carry a big stick to correct us with, but rather guides gently through a heart of compassion.

Being able to receive forgiveness, and forgive ourselves, and forgive others, is a great and most ‘restful’ resource. This means that our burdens tend to weigh less, we don’t slouch around under the heaviness of guilt or feelings of unworthiness, and we find new ways of coping and growing and healing.

Although some problems will fade and disappear, not all the difficulties we endure will necessarily be removed, nor will we necessarily get the cure we desire or the smooth sailing that we’d prefer; but there is the certainty of the nearness of Jesus on which to rely (he being right next to us).

(4) Mutuality and Lightness

There is of necessity of course some mutuality in such a partnership as pictured here. We still retain our particular weight-bearing duty. We’re in a team. Jesus shares our life burdens, while we take up and share Jesus’ (redemptive) cause in the world. How is it then, that where there seems to be so much responsibility to witness and be involved in mission (which after all is quite challenging and difficult), that Jesus can say that his “yoke is easy, and [his] burden is light”? Do you read this verse and wonder about that?

This is because our call to witness and mission is not a human work, but a divine work … Jesus takes the lead and guides us along the way, and teaches us on the job (if we let him). And remember that while Jesus calls us into action in the community in his name, he is bearing at least half (and probably a whole lot more) of the load we carry. I have read that some farmers will “yoke” together a mature hardened ox with a younger weaker bullock, where the younger one hardly bears any of the weight at all – simply learning the basics of ploughing the field in combination with another.

Being “yoked” with Jesus can also be regarded as “easy” and “light” because this particular “yoke” has been perfectly designed for us according to our unique needs [like my perfectly fitted Levi jeans for instance]. This is not ‘one size fits all’ where there is likely to be some level of discomfort or sizing problem, but rather perfectly fitting according to our particular all round situation.

Jesus has issued the most wonderful warm invitation ever offered. This invitation is for all who admit they need to be rescued, and commit themselves to a conjoined mutual partnership. In response to the trust we place in Jesus, we find refuge, consolation, peace, liberty, insight, strength … life at its best – in a word … “rest”. We don’t have to strive for God’s favour anymore – for we are fully accepted, thoroughly valued, and belong wholly to Him. We have chosen well – we have settled in a good place. There is a joy in having entered such a relationship with Jesus. This is a relationship in which we are completely and wholistically cared for along life’s journey.