MESSAGE:
“Fixing Our Hope
On Heavenly Outcomes”
NOVEMBER 2nd, 2008 PENTECOST 26
FIRST LESSON: 1 John 3:1-3
GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 5:1-12 The Beatitudes
MESSAGE: “Fixing Your Hope for Heavenly Outcomes”
THEME: The work of purifying ourselves driven by our hope fixed on God.
SPECIAL: ALL SAINTS DAY SERVICE
Gospel Hymn: #546 Grey “For All The Saints” vv. 1-3
Closing Hymn: #546 Grey “For All The Saints” vv. 4-6
Hoping in Christ,
we trade the rags
of our brokenness
for the riches
of his example
and of his powerful help.
INTRO
• Some things cannot be fixed by me.
• Need external expertise.
• Furnace repair—flame sensor needed cleaning.
our brokenness
• Have you ever been broken
our brokenness
• V.3 When at end of your rope: With less of you, there is more of God and His rule.
Trading in the rags
of our brokenness
• V.4 when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you, then you are ready to know God’s embrace [the One above all others most dear to you].
• Times of grief and loss
• There are thin spaces between heaven and earth
• God is very close to us wanting to heal our brokenness and reveal the depths of His closeness and love towards us all our days.
Trading in the rags
of our brokenness
• V.5 when you are content with just who you are, at that moment you find yourself the proud owner of what money cannot buy.
• Have you found such contentment?
• In our consumer society it is sometimes hard to remember that the best things about this life cannot be bought with money, including the fruits of God’s Holy Spirit—love, peace, patience, …
Trading in the rags
of our brokenness
• V.6 when you become hungry for God, you are ready for the best meal you will ever eat [God is the food and drink!].
• At communion we remember Christ is our food and drink—body broken and blood shed for our salvation and healing.
• We are called to feed on His word and on His loving presence daily!
V.7 when you care,
you find yourself cared for!
• When we go to visit the nursing homes, we get back far more than we give.
• As we show the care of Christ to those who worship with us, we experience their love and caring in return.
Trading in the rags
of our brokenness
• V. 8 when you get your inside world put right [mind and heart], you can see God in the outside world.
• Getting right with God helps me to see God in action—tuned in to His presence in all manner of people and circumstances in my world
Trading in the rags
of our brokenness
• V.9 when you help others cooperate instead of competing or fighting, you discover who you really are and your place in God’s family.
• Part of the work of church is to get our own rough edges knocked off and to learn to be the body of Christ working together.
Trading in the rags
of our brokenness
• V.10 when your faith provokes hardship, you will move even closer to God.
• Most of us seldom have had our faith tested by hardship—in our free society we have been free to worship God without interference—this is a blessing many Christians in our time and other places have not known.
Trading in the rags
of our brokenness
• V. 11 when people put you down, throw you out, speak lies about you to discredit Christ, the truth of Jesus is too close for comfort for them and they are feeling the heat!
• Have you experienced this—Nathan’s grade eight field trip—read Bible stories?—only adult teacher/chaperone without roommate!
V. 11 when people put you down,
… to discredit Christ,
the truth of Jesus is too close for comfort
and they are feeling the heat!
Earthly Choices
The riches
of Christ’s example
• Christ showed us how to live and His example is seen throughout the four gospels—He left us a path that we are free to walk in.
The riches
of Christ’s example
• V.3 the glistening purity of Jesus’ life is a model for our own.
The riches
of Christ’s powerful help!
àThe marvelous love
the Father has given us!
àChildren of God = who we really are.
àThe world doesn’t recognize you.
àThe world doesn’t take you seriously.
àThe world has no idea who God is
or what God is up to!
The riches
of Christ’s powerful help!
The Fatherhood of God
encourages us
in our struggles.
We are God’s children
for the present (v 1),
and also for eternity (v 2).
Smalley, S. S. (2002). Vol. 51: Word Biblical Commentary
The riches
of Christ’s powerful help!
When the going gets tough, it is not so much just sucking it up, rather we draw strength from the risen Christ to do in His strength what would otherwise be impossible.
The riches
of Christ’s powerful help!
God as “Father” to us His “children”
àshows God’s personal and loving nature,
and also
àshows our status of Christians
—children of the living God!
Smalley, S. S. (2002). Vol. 51: Word Biblical Commentary.
The riches
of Christ’s powerful help!
Because we are children of a heavenly Father, ß“like Father, like son/daughter.”
Those who reject God
will reject us, His disciples.
Smalley, S. S. (2002). Vol. 51: Word Biblical Commentary.
The riches
of Christ’s powerful help!
John’s words of encouragement:
For NOW, because of God’s love, we are called God’s children (vv 1, 2a); and,
for THE FUTURE, we will see Jesus as He really is and become like Him (v 2b).
Smalley, S. S. (2002). Vol. 51: Word Biblical Commentary.
The riches
of Christ’s powerful help!
John calls us to holy living
as God’s children!
We are called to a purity which answers to, and is made possible by,
the holy life of Jesus (v 3).
Smalley, S. S. (2002). Vol. 51: Word Biblical Commentary.
The riches
of Christ’s powerful help!
àWho we are as children of God
is only the beginning!
àWho knows how we’ll end up.
àWhen Christ is openly revealed,
we will see Him and become like Him.
Who God is!
Creator Sustainer Redeemer
Father Son Holy Spirit
Saviour Master Friend
What God is up to!
• Loving
• Caring
• Providing
• Saving
• Healing
• Transforming
• -
• -
Hoping in Christ …
Heavenly Outcomes!
“our retirement plan
is out of this world!”
Heavenly Outcomes!
deeply “happy, blessed”
The word describes
the nearly incomprehensible happiness
of those who participate
in the kingdom announced by Jesus.
The deep inner joy
of those who have long awaited the salvation promised by God and who now
begin to experience its fulfillment.
The blessed are the deeply and supremely happy. Hagner, D. A. (2002). Vol. 33A: Word Biblical Commentary.
Heavenly Outcomes!
deeply
happy
Hoping in Christ,
we trade the rags
of our brokenness
for the riches
of his example
and of his powerful help.
There are many things wrong with us
which we cannot fix ourselves.
We need external expertise—sometimes we need professional medical help or counselling.
—always we need the grace of God.
Our furnace kept calling for heat but would not deliver
—often I flounder for want of grace and light in my life until I turn back to the source
—my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Sister and brothers,
Today we are called to turn back to Christ and to hope in Him,
to trade the rags
of our own brokenness
for the riches
of His example
and of His powerful help.
• The free gift of God is offered to you this day, but you have to reach out your hand and say, “Yes!” to His amazing gift.
• If all of us did this, we would find ourselves deeply happy through the storms of this life and prepared and ready for that day when Christ comes to take us home.
Sisters and brothers, so may it be for you and for me!
LET US PRAY:
Come, loving Christ, help us to know the Father and our good fortune as His children. Teach us to fix our hope on God alone and to let go of these rags of brokenness to know the deep happiness of Your powerful help. In Your name we ask it, Amen and Amen.
