Epiphany 4

Sermon #101, Epiphany 4 Year A 2014

Sermon #101, Epiphany 4 Year A 2014

Our first lesson comes from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. In this selection, he makes clear that the only grounds any of us have for boasting is in the merciful goodness of the God, who through the humility and humiliation of Christ, has demonstrated his wisdom and power on our behalf who have believed in him.

1 Corinthians 1:18–31 (ESV)

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Last week, the Gospel reading told of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, offering a summary of his preaching and a glance at the call of the first disciples. This week, we begin a series of Gospel readings from what Matthew records as Jesus’ first detailed speech, the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:1–12 (ESV)

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

TITLE: A KINGDOM WAY OF LIFE

Theme: Jesus calls us into a way of life that is specifically aligned to him.

POINT ONE -what are the beatitudes? We are a called to see things from a divine point of view.

Example of Wheatcrofts. I couldn’t see it. Didn’t have the experience or perspective. As it turned out, the pipes burst while I was away. Well, that part of the story I’ll tell later.

We have that in many areas of life. Other example, experienced woman with young mother-to-be. Can’t appreciate it without the perspective.

Jesus’ teaching is challenging us to see things from a point of view that is beyond our experience and perspective.

The Beatitudes are not self-evident propositions.

I see a man sad in the hospital. Maybe those who mourn are ignored.

I held a door for an old lady, everyone went through. Maybe the meek get taken advantage of.

By the 21st century we might have gotten rid of Genocide, human trafficking, poverty. Yet our systems seems unable to offer change.

We need do-gooders, and we want to be forces for good...but are we up against an unbeatable foe? Will our efforts and hopes be wasted? Are we suckers?

But Jesus says from the divine point of view, from the point of view of the kingdom of heaven, we are not. Our status before God is clear and certain.

Poor in spirit. Mourn. Desire right. Merciful. Pure in Heat. Peacemaker. Persecuted. ALL BLESSED.

Blessed means, not happy, per se, but in a desirable relationship with God. Though the world around us or the worldly results we gain may be hard to discern, one this must be certain: our relationship with heaven is right. God approves of us.

Jesus teaching on a mountain like Moses. Yet, these beatitudes are not commandments. They are pronouncements. When you seem like the least, God sees you. A word of comfort!

Paul picks up this theme. How many of you were rich or powerful, etc.? But God chose what is weak and foolish in the world to shame the strong…

Let it sink in. Those places where you think you are broken. Empty. Needy. Standing there holding the door. Facing a problem that can’t be fixed. Thinking: There must be something wrong with my spirituality. Those are the things that Jesus says the God takes special note of. He has a special place in his heart for you. The Kingdom of Heaven is FOR you...not for perfect people. For you. Not for a perfect world, but for a world that needs the Kingdom.

POINT TWO - If we are blessed, why do we only sometimes feel or see that?

That point may settle uneasily within you. Hard to believe. If we are blessed, why do we only sometimes feel that way?

Well, let’s ask that question about some areas of life that are more familiar to us.

Those of you who are employed. We know that to have a job is a blessing. But does it always feel like a blessing? Those of you who are married. To be married is a blessing, but does it always feel like a blessing? Parenting? School? Friends? Many of the most important things in our life, the things for which we should thank God, are blessings that do not always seem like blessings.

Yet we invest in them. We trust that sometimes we have to delay gratification for the greater goal. We make sacrifices. We suffer. We endure because we believe we will reap if we faint not.

This dynamic should be paralleled in our spiritual life. If our earthly pursuits are only attained through trial and stick-to-it-iveness how much more our heavenly goals?

That doesn’t sound like the gospel? Where is it written that the spiritual life is easy? See the picture Jesus paints.

Blessed are the poor in spirit. To them belong the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. To them belong the kingdom of heaven.

These are the only two of the beatitudes in the present tense. The kingdom of heaven and these states of trial go together. If you endure poorness of spirit. You are in the kingdom. If you suffer for it’s principles. You are in the kingdom. That is your state -- like being married, like being employed, like any long range goal.

Sandwiched between status statements are several promises for the future. If you sorrow, you will be comforted. If you are meek, you will inherit. If you hunger and thirst for righteousness, you will be satisfied. If you are pure, you will see God. If you make peace, you will be called God’s child. Jesus is saying, it is not always easy, but you will reap if you faint not.

The only way we see the blessedness of the Kingdom of Heaven in our lives is to trust the pattern and stick to it.

It is really a blessing to feel that your will is consciously given up to God and that there is actually nothing, so far as you know, to hinder his grace from working in you. I love to feel just like a clay vessel in His hands which He is molding for His own purposes....I do long for more feeling, for more of the presence of Christ manifested in me, but I can wait on Him for this and there is a promise which says “They shall not be ashamed who wait for thee.” - (Smith, H. W., & Dieter, M. E. (1997). The Christian’s secret of a holy life: the unpublished personal writings of Hannah Whitall Smith. Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)

POINT THREE How can we really take confidence? They are rooted in the life and person of Jesus himself.

We are called to be comforted. We are called to be committed. God gives us a powerful aid. He gives us confidence in the truth of his promises through Jesus.

Jesus proves the truth of his statements through his own life.

He is the blessed one. Baptism statement.

Each point of the beatitudes we see in Jesus’ life.

Poor in spirit - Phil 2

Mourn - Lazarus

Meek - mocked and struck, but did not open his mouth

Righteousness - this is my father’s house

Merciful - Let the one without sin cast the first stone

Pure in heart - who convicts me of sin?

Each point we see rewards of his faith.

Raised from the dead

Name above all names

Ruler of Heaven and earth

Jesus lived the beatitudes to give us a template for Kingdom living. We will be out of place here, but perfectly fitted for the kingdom.

The crowds were amazed for he talked as one with authority, for they did not know him. We should be amazed for we do know him and he the one with authority speaks to us. He has the perspective. He has the experience. And he shares it with us.

The broken pipes. I was in Disney world. Got call. Good news and bad news. The members took care of me. I boasted of them to my parents.

1 Corinthians 1:30–31 (ESV)

30 And because of [God]you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

When it comes to entering into the kingdom of heaven, both now and when it comes in its fullness, God has taken care of us. Christ is the one who vouches safe for our destiny. We can look to him, listen to him, follow him and be confident that he has made the Kingdom of Heaven near. He call us, his disciples, to live it now and eternally.