"Good Equipment"

Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

INTRODUCTION

THE EMINENT AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOLAR CHARLES ERIC LINCOLN, ALSO KNOWN AS C. ERIC LINCOLN WAS NO

STRANGER TO TIMES OF TRANSITION AND TIMES THAT HE HIMSELF SURELY FELT TESTED.....

C. Eric Lincoln was born in Athens, Alabama, on June 23, 1924.[1][2] He was abandoned by his father, then

by his mother, and raised by his grandmother.[1] He attended Trinity School in Athens, where he edited the

school newspaper, the Campus Chronicle.[4] At the age of 13, he picked cotton to support his family and to

buy books for his studies.[2] He graduated a valedictorian from high school. After studying and working in

Chicago, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945.[1][2] He received a BA in sociology and philosophy

from LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1947.[1] In 1954, he received an MA from Fisk

University in Nashville, Tennessee.[1] In 1956, he received a Bachelor of Divinity from the University of

Chicago, and in 1957 he was ordained as a Methodist minister.[1] He went on to earn a master's degree in

education, and in 1960 he received a PhD in Social Ethics from Boston University.

AND IN IS LIFE AND CAREER YOU COULD SEE HIM JUST KEEP STRIVING, KEEP PUSHING, KEEP MOVING TOWARDS

THAT NEXT GOAL.......PERHAPS REALIZING THAT GOD WASN’T THROUGH WITH HIM YET.....

IN 1958 LINCOLN WROTE A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER.....THAT IS AMAZING BECAUSE IT PROVES HE WASN’T GOING TO LET

ANY SETBACK STOP HIM, HE WASN’T GOING TO LET ANYTHING PREVENT HIM FROM SEEING THE BEAUTY AND THE

WONDER OF GOD....AND THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS A MARVELOUS GIFT....HE WROTE:

O LORD, HOW PERFECT IS THY NAME, IN ALL THE EARTH HOW GREAT THY FAME!

ABOVE THE HEAVENS THOU DIDST SET THY GLORY, GRACIOUS LORD, AND YET OUT OF

THE MOUTHS OF BABES CALLS THEE THY STRENGTH TO STILL THE ENEMY!

WHEN I BEHOLD THY HEAVENS SO GRAND, THE MOON AND STARS AT THY COMMAND,

LORD, WHAT IS HUMAN THAT THOU SHOULDST HEED OUR CALL, OR VISIT WITH OUR SEED?

NEAR ANGELS THOUGH HAS FIXED OUR STEAD, HONOR AND GLORY CROWN OUR HEADS

O’ER ALL THEY WORKS WE MAY RULE COMPLETE: ALL THINGS THOU PLACED BENEATH OUR FEET

BIRDS OF THE AIR, BEASTS OF THE FIELD, THE FISH THAT SWIM THE SEAS MUST YIELD.

O LORD, OUR LORD, HOW GREAT THY NAME! THROUGHOUT THE EARTH, HOW WIDE THY FAME!!!

AS I SHARE THIS MIGHTY PRAYER WITH YOU THIS MORNING I AM REMINDED OF THE ENCOURAGEMENT OFFERED BY

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES WHO REMINDED US NOT ONLY TO PRAY, BUT REMINDED US WHY WE PRAY AND WHAT

HAPPENS WHEN WE PRAY....IT WAS ALMOST LIKE HE WAS SAYING, PRAYER IS GOOD EQUIPMENT FOR THE

CHRISTIAN SOUL, HEART AND MIND HE SAID,

An Introduction to the Devout Life (Chapter I: The Necessity of Prayer)

PRAYER places our mind in the brightness and light of God, and exposes our will to the heat of heavenly love. There is nothing that so effectually frees our understanding from its ignorance, or our will from its depraved affections, as prayer. It is the water of benediction which causes the plants of our good desires to grow green and flourish. It cleanses our souls from their imperfections, and quenches the thirst of passion in our hearts.But, above all, I recommend to you mental and heartfelt prayer, and particularly that which has the life and passion of our Lord for its object. By making Him the frequent subject of your meditation, your whole soul will be replenished with Him; you shall learn his carriage, and you will conform your interior and exterior conduct to his. As He is the light of the world, it is then in Him, by Him, and for Him

THIS PRAYER IS A PARTICULAR PRAYER.....IT IS A PRAYER OF BENEDICTION......

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRAYER IS TO OFFER PEACE

THIS PRAYER INVITES THE READER OF HEBREWS TO FOCUS ON THE “GOD OF PEACE” NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE

GOING THROUGH.....THE “GOD OF PEACE” WHO IS ULTIMATELY ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SEE US THROUGH........THE

GOD OF PEACE WHO WILL NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US......

the expression, “God of Peace,” is located only here and in the prayers of the apostle Paul. It is found, for

example, in Romans 15:33, “Now the God of peace be with you all, Amen.” Again, it appears in Romans 16:20, “And

the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” And in Philippians 4:9, “Those things, which you all

have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.” Finally, in 1

Thessalonians 5:23 it affirms, “And the very God of peace sanctify you totally; and I pray God your whole spirit and

soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

IT IS THIS BOND OF PEACE THAT I HOPE TO LEAVE WITH YOU…THAT I PRAY WILL ABIDE WITH YOU AND YOURS

THROUGH THIS TIME OF TRANSITION AND ON INTO ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIVES.....

The writer of Hebrews used this Greek word for “peace,” with its Hebrew roots of shalom to refer

to every benefit that our Lord can give: physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally — everything!

NOT ONLY IS THIS PRAYER PART OF THE GOOD EQUIPMENT GOD OFFERS FOR US FROM THE WHOLE, HOLY

BIBLE....WE ALSO REMEMBER THE WORDS OF JESUS FROM THE GREATEST OF ALL THE SERMONS HE PREACHED

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT IN MATTHEW 5:9

Matthew 5:9 NRSV

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

GOD IS STILL MAKING YOU COMPLETE

IN THIS MIGHTY PRAYER OF BENEDICTION, THE WRITER OF HEBREWS WANTS BELIEVERS TO KNOW IT IS GOD’S OWN DIVINE HAND ACTIVE IN OUR LIVES, ACTIVE IN SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT DEMAND MUCH OF US AND OR CHALLENGE US…HEBREWS 13:20-21

Hebrews 13:20–21 NRSV

GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE....AS I HAVE BEEN ASKED THIS PAST WEEK, QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO CHOOSES THE

NEXT PASTOR OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF MONTBELLO, HOW THAT COMES TO PASS I THINK THESE QUESTIONS

HAVE BEEN ONES ABOUT PROCESSES AND METHODS......

THIS PRAYER HELPS REMIND US OUR GOD IS THE GOD WHO’S DONE WHAT THE WORLD DEEMED IMPOSSIBLE,

THIS IS THE SAME GOD “WHO BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST”.....THIS IS THE SAME

GOD WHO IS THE GREATEST OF ALL SHEPHERDS HAVE PROCESSES TO GET ALL THIS DONE, AND STAFF THAT WILL

OFFER THEIR HELP TO YOU.......

THIS PRAYER HELPS REMIND US OUR GOD IS THE GOD WHO’S DONE WHAT THE WORLD DEEMED IMPOSSIBLE,

THIS IS THE SAME GOD “WHO BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST”.....THIS IS THE SAME

GOD WHO IS THE GREATEST OF ALL SHEPHERDS IS THE SAME GOD WHO IS IN CHARGE.....BECAUSE IT IS GOD WHO

MAKES ALL THINGS COMPLETE…YES YOU AND I, WE DO OUR PARTS AS WE GO......WE DO WHAT WE’RE REQUIRED

TO DO…AND WE DO OUR BEST TO DO IT WELL.....BUT GOD IS THE ONE WHO MAKES ALL THINGS COMPLETE....

AND GOD IS GIVING YOU STRENGTH AS YOU GO ALONG......THIS MORNING, WE REMEMBER THE STORY TOLD IN A

DEVOTION WRITTEN IN THE NEW YORK TIMES IN AN ARTICLE CALLED, “2 NORMAL GUYS TRANSFORMED” THE

ARTICLE REPORTED ON THE EXEMPLARY CONDUCT OF 2 MEN WHO WORKED FOR THE MAYS DAVIS GROUP, A SMALL

MINORITY OWNED INVESTMENT FIRM WITH OFFICES IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER.....

THEIR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN ON THE WORST DAY OF THEIR LIVES, AND ONE OF THE WORST DAYS IN AMERICAN

HISTORY SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001......

THEIR ACTIONS WERE TAKEN ON THE WORST DAY OF THEIR LIVES, AND ONE OF THEIR WORST DAYS IN AMERICAN

HISTORY SEPTEMBER 11th, 2001......THE TWO MEN OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS NO GENDER, NO RACE, NO

RELIGION ON THAT STAIRCASE......IT WAS EVERYONE HELPING EACH OTHER. THEY DIDN’T WAIT TO HELP EACH

OTHER UNTIL THEY SAW PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS, NOR DID THEY WAIT TO SEE IF OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS

WOULD SHOW UP.....THEY DIDN’T WAIT, THEY STARTED WITH THE STRENGTH, AND DILIGENCE GOD HAD GIVEN

THEM......AND THEY SAVED LIVES THAT DAY, BECAUSE WHAT WE KNOW NOW IS THAT EVERY MOMENT MADE A

DIFFERENCE....WE KNOW NOW THAT TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE THAT DAY.......AND THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN’T

DO WHEN EVERYONE HELPS EACH OTHER....OH, BELOVEDS, IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE WHAT WE CALL IN THE CHURCH,

THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS…AMEN?

WITH THE GOOD EQUIPMENT GOD HAS GIVEN EACH OF YOU, BELOVEDS.....YOU CAN FACE EVERY CHALLENGE, YOU

CAN OVERCOME EVERY OBSTACLE, YOU CAN BUILD THE BRIDGE CONGREGATIONS BUILD FROM ONE PASTORATE

TO THE NEXT.......

WITH THE GOOD EQUIPMENT GOD HAS GIVEN EACH OF YOU, BELOVEDS.....YOU CAN FACE EVERY CHALLENGE, YOU

CAN OVERCOME EVERY OBSTACLE, YOU CAN BUILD THE BRIDGE CONGREGATIONS BUILD FROM ONE PASTORATE

TO THE NEXT.......

CONCLUSION

AS YOU ARE EQUIPPED BY THE GOD OF LOVE WHO SENT JESUS HERE TO SAVE YOU, BELOVED, REMEMBER THE

ENCOURAGEMENT OF THEOLOGIAN N.T. WRIGHT.....HE WROTE:

WHAT YOU DO IN THE PRESENT---- BY PAINTING, PREACHING, SINGING, SEWING, PRAYING, TEACHING,

BUILDING HOSPITALS, DIGGING WELLS, CAMPAIGNING FOR JUSTICE, WRITING POEMS, CARING FOR THE

NEEDY, LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF ----WILL LAST INTO GOD’S FUTURE. THESE

ACTIVITIES ARE NOT SIMPLY WAYS OF MAKING THE PRESENT LIFE A LITTLE LESS BEASTLY, A LITTLE MORE

BEARABLE, UNTIL THE DAY COMES WHEN WE LEAVE ALL THIS BEHIND......THEY ARE PART OF WHAT WE MAY

CALL BUILDING FOR GOD’S KINGDOM.....

YOU HAVE THE EQUIPMENT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU.....THE EQUIPMENT YOU NEED EVEN IF YOU PAUSE FOR A

MOMENT TO CONSIDER WHETHER IT’S IN THERE OR NOT......

I’M HERE TO TELL YOU ---- YOU HAVE MORE STRENGTH THAN YOU KNOW

AS YOU GO FORWARD DO SO KNOWING TOO, WE ALSO HAVE A PART...THE PART WE DO NOW....SO OTHERS CAN DO

THEIR PART LATER......AND THE PRAYER WE OPENED WITH IS PART OF A PAIR OF PRAYERS FOR YOU TODAY.....

THE SECOND PRAYER IS TO GIVE YOURSELVES THE GRACE YOU NEED AS YOU’RE GOING FORWARD TOO.....

IT IS THE PRAYER OFTEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE SAINTED ARCHBISHOP WHO WAS KILLED BRUTALLY IN HIS CHURCH

WHILE SERVING HOLY COMMUNION.......AND I CLOSE WITH IT THIS COMMUNION SUNDAY....IT SAYS:

It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view.

The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts; it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.

Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings

perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the church’s mission. No set of

goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water the seeds already planted, knowing that they hold

future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces

effects far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do

something and to do it well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an

opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the

difference between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future not our own.

KEEP PRAYING AND PRAISING GOD TOGETHER, EVERYONE HELPING ONE ANOTHER AND YOU’LL SEE BLESSINGS