Untitled Sermon

These last couple of weeks, we have been discussing being reoriented as believers of Jesus' lockdown. We spoke about remembering that the God of the Exodus is Jesus in the flesh, Immanuel. That walking with the Lord is about listening, learning, and loving well. As we commune with God, we are called to commune with one another in Community.

Today we are talking about reorienting ourselves to this amazing city Portland.

We: The world is ever-changing, and sometimes that can cause us to fear rather than embrace the new changing world. Our fear can manifest itself in the form of isolation and retreat. We believe that we are safer by not engaging.

You: You may have had that impulse and probably can point to thousands of articles that support it. Or you may reject that impulse but use the “tools” of this community to engage in debates in person or online. There are more thoughts/opinions than ever, and it can begin to feel that our task as church is to throw more thoughts and views into the fray!

God: Beginning with Abraham all the way to the church of the New Testament, God's desire was always to work through His presence. And His presence is made manifest through His church. So yes, we teach one another the ways of God and live those teachings out as a community with one another. The church as a herald of Good News is a way of accomplishing His desires. The Kingdom is whatever God desires to happen actually happens. And one day, God will fully establish His Kingdom with heaven and earth coming together.

Me: I have often wondered to what degree do I labor for this present reality knowing that this is temporary. Then one day I heard a teaching on the Lord's prayer, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” that phrase and drastically shifted how I think, live, and serve God, you guys, and the city we are living in. Homecoming and exiles. We are exiles that are called to be people who live in such a way as to be a signpost of the coming Kingdom.

Us: Portland is a very special city, a take it easy kind of place, the crime is relatively low, this city all over signs of compassion is displayed. As followers of God, we realize that because everyone is made in the image of God that we all have the capacity to do God's will even if we are unaware of it being His will. Imagine if as followers of Jesus we would partner in this city in the places that the Holy Spirit is already working and if we would be pioneers to serve where the Holy Spirit is looking to send.

I want to begin with Jeremiah 29:4-7 because in many ways as followers of Jesus waiting for His coming we find ourselves in a similar situation as the exiles of Jeremiah time. I would like to give some context to draw out the story more clearly.

People of God currently sitting in exile are given a letter by Jeremiah (595). Couple of years from most of Judah being exiled to Babylon. He heard God and processed it, and wrote what he heard down. How was he feeling as God told him what would would perceive as bad news? Walter Bruggeman said part of a the prophetic witness of the church is to give it a new imagination. To see it present circumstance in ways that God can work.

Jeremiah 29:4-7

4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

God's word to the exiles was to prepare for a long stay in Babylon. They were to build houses and settle down. They were also to plant gardens to sustain them during them during the period. Life was to go on as normal. The people were exhorted to marry and have sons and daughters. Instead of hoping for Babylon’s quick demise they were encouraged to seek its peace and prosperity. Pray for them (Babylon!)

Babylon was their rival and was in many ways the opposite of Israel. Politically, socially, culturally, and religiously.

They conquered them, destoryed their homes, killed many of them, and subjected them as a people. Common sense says this should be your nemesis for all of eternity As believers in this city we may feel like we are disliked, we may feel persecuted, hated, and if a prophetic like Jeremiah wrote this to us we might be tempted to do to him what Israel did which is harm him. The words God use here are a call or an echo to Eden the garden of delight.

Build an Eden in Babylon not just for you but for them Israel was being called to drastically different relationship dynamic with Babylon.

Living, learning, and appreciating Babylon. They needed to familiarize themselves with Babylon’s needs.

Fred what are the needs For many who grew up here it isn't unique to you but I want to say this part of being that blessing is to see this place as a place to invest in.

Maybe you are not fond of Portland for many reason. I implore to begin to pray to have your heart changed

Easy to see brokenness everywhere, harder to see the glory of God everywhere (Isaiah 6:3) The newly exiled people are called to pursue “salôm” peace, prosperity, success, welfare.

How do we do this? Changed mindset followed up by an invitation/offer. Jesus said find a worthy person (hospitable). We are guest here in Portland.

We do not enforce His will on people who do not invite His presence into their lives. We care about their spiritual, mental, and physical health

In conflicts we are a path toward peace, In failures we offer comfort and a path toward proserity In hardship we offer welfare Spiritually does looking to be in His Kingdom we offer the Good News of Jesus! Make what people need if possible Partnership (Boys and girls club, etc) Portland needs to answer the questions if they will welcome us as ambassadors of Christ. Our solo task is to make ourselves available.

The aching questions for millennials maybe everyone else is that if we vanished today would anyone notice? The manner in which we serve God as exiles.

Matthew 6:1 Audience of One

The teaching is not that we should hide our good deeds. Not are we seen doing a good deed, but are we doing a good deed in order to be seen. In any case where we use, on ourselves or others, promised recognition as a motive for doing what should be done for its own sake, we are pre-empting God's role in our life.

Our intent is determined by what we want and expect from our action.

Being godly for romance When we do good deeds to be seen by human beings, that is because what we are looking for is something that comes from human beings. God responds to our expectations accordingly. When we want want human approval and esteem, and do what we do for the sake of it, God courteously stands aside because, by our wish, it does not concern Him. The Gospel of the Kingdom

It is good news because Jesus' Lordship will be blessings to all people we interact with. The Kingdom provides “benefits” even to non-citizens If a life of living like Jesus and partnering with Him has you excited then repent (in whatever way you did not trust or believe Jesus and His ways) believe, and be baptized. Partner with God in bring His blessings to this city.

The God revealed in Jesus is who we follow. Let's reorient ourselves and begin to live out what we believe. Information doesn't equal transformation. Information plus submerged equals transformation. As we serve Jesus, each other, and this awesome city we the question may be how do we keep ourselves from becoming Babylonians? Cross, Community, and Communion

Communion