Step Back into Grace

February 1, 1998

Now the Word of the LORD came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Then I said, "Alas, Lord GOD! Behold I do not know how to speak, because I am (only) a (boy.)"

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am (only) a (boy,)' because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I AM with you to deliver you," declares the LORD.

Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant." Jeremiah 1:4-10

The personal word that I got from the month of Say Yes has been very encouraging. Even though it came from a dozen different speakers, the Word was remarkably unified to my ears. I heard that God's blessing will follow simple obedience to Him. I heard that love and humility can release God's power into hopeless situations even when high powered human resources fall short. I got the word— "Step back! Humble yourself before God! Let Him lead! Build up the community of faith! Ask God for what you really need to do His will! Ask God for His Holy Spirit!" General Superintendent Jim Bond said it in the Chinese service last Sunday: "The secret of a fruitful church is Spirit-filled members!"

The word came through Dale and Pat Stotler: When they were about worn out and almost discouraged with the impossible size of their task they seemed to hear God saying, "Back off! Don't try so hard! Trust Me! Pray! Keep your eyes open, but don't worry!"

Almost by what seemed an accident an opportunity to hold a few services in a women's prison. A number of women found Christ, and the atmosphere of the prison was changed. Contacts from that humble start have opened up channels for God's Spirit to move where Dale and Pat never imagined they could or would go. Don't make any mistake— these people are heroes of the faith! They are humbly doing what most of us could never do— and going where most of us will never go. But what they are seeing done is NOT simply human; they are tapping into God, into His Spirit, and He is leading them in answer to prayer!

The messages of Chuck Zink, our district superintendent, and of Milton Karahadian, and of Dean Flemming were encouraging reminders that God answers prayer. Dean Flemming kept reminding us that God helps us tear down walls, and build bridges. He sometimes gets very specific in answers, as Milton found; he sometimes surprises and comes from a different direction as Jack and Natalie Holstead testified.

I was tremendously encouraged by the message and spirit of General Superintendent Jim Bond. It was refreshing to hear a top leader put our great denomination in humble perspective as 'just a tiny segment, a tiny piece of the great pie' that is God great Church— and at the same time say from his heart that we have a vital and important task in that one great Church of Jesus Christ. No blinders on that good and great man. He has seen his role as a vision-caster, and not just a keeper of the status quo or a ecclesiastical bean-counter.

Maybe the most refreshing word I heard was on the last Wednesday of Say Yes, when John Calhoun, the pastor of the Lamb's Church of the Nazarene, was with us. Operating from a building just of Times Square in New York City, he has perhaps, as daunting a task as any pastor in the entire world! 20,000,000 people go within a block of his church every year— and they are just the tourists that visit Time's Square. In his parish are rich businessmen and street walkers and college kids looking for an adventurous way to serve the Lord and homeless people who live in cardboard boxes over sidewalk gratings. He told us with a wry smile that he is getting used to operating on the brink of financial disaster. But he was far from defeated!

So— what was his victorious testimony? God has showed him that his first task as pastor is to step back into God's love. The only way he has found to effectively minister is out of a loving, trusting, genuine community. The obvious thing to do in the midst of such great need is to plunge in and begin spending and being spent— laboring with all the strength he has. But instead, the word John Calhoun has heard and passed on is that the Christian's task— his task— and our task— is to listen carefully

Today's scripture 'connects' with the message we have been hearing. In Jeremiah the young prophet says, "I am only a boy!" And God tells him, "Don't say 'only a boy!'" The passage from I Corinthians reminds us that finally only love makes everything worth while. And the gospel story, from Luke 4, where Jesus preached in Nazareth and was almost lynched, shows the other side of this truth— that when people think they know who Jesus is, when at the same time they doare not willing to really love Him and call Him 'Lord;' when they think they know all what Jesus can or can not do, even God can't change their sinful unbelief.

These lessons encourage me, remind me again, reinforce the truth that GOD'S CALL IS TO MORE THAN WE ARE OF OURSELVES

Jeremiah is just one in a long line of people God has called— right down to this very moment— that said to God, "But LORD! I am only . . . ." In a way that is a standard, and even GOOD reaction! HUMILITY is a virtue that opens the doors of prayer! When we are so cock-sure that we are the ones! we are disqualified!

GOD'S WORD TO JEREMIAH WAS: DO NOT SAY 'I AM ONLY . . .'

But more, these lessons reminds us that GOD LISTENS WHEN WE VOICE OUR DOUBTS

It is not a sin to have an honest dialogue with God. There is a difference between doubt and unbelief! God doesn't ask us to believe the absurd or obviously untrue— he does ask us to trust Him!

GOD'S CALL IS GOD'S ASSURANCE OF GOD'S PRESENCE

WHERE FAITH COMES IN IS DARING TO GIVE OUR ALL AND TRUSTING GOD WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE . . . and if He has called, God WILL! The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 is in all four Gospels, and we know it was a miracle that took five loaves and two fish and fed the multitude.

But only John told us where the five and two came from: a lad— "only a boy" — had enough for himself and maybe his little sister. But he gave his all to Andrew, who in turn brought them to Jesus— and the rest is history ![Maybe I need to remind some of us to bring our five loaves and two fish to Faith Promise yet!] GOD IS WORKING ON US . . . TO MAKE US INTO A COMMUNITY OF LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE RIGHT HERE IN OUR WORLD, WHERE WE LIVE

PRAYER

OH, FATHER, HELP US TO 'STEP BACK INTO GRACE', AND LET YOU MAKE US INTO THE KIND OF LOVING COMMUNITY THAT YOU CAN USE TO LET YOU CHANGE OUR WORLD IN OUR GENERATION.

THIS WE ASK IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, OUR LORD, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, WORLD WITHOUT END. AMEN

COMMUNION IS A WITNESS TO GOD'S PRESENCE

THE HOLY COMMUNION

Wherever you are on your Spiritual Journey -     If you believe God is seeking fellowship with you— and if you want to turn to Him, I invite you to come in faith to the Table of the Lord. Draw near with faith and take this Sacrament to your comfort, and make your humble confession to Almighty God in humility before Him. - The Apostles Creed #8 in Sing to the Lord

The Law Read and Confession Made - The Lord Jesus Christ has said to us: "Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This if the first and great commandment. The second is like unto it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Brothers and sisters, let us search our hearts. In silence let us ask God to draw us near to Himself so that we can come to his table with confidence.

(Reading No. 750) A prayer in unison, from scripture:

Unison: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there      is any offensive way in me. Lead me in the way everlasting. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Pastor: Hear what our Lord has said: Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and i will give you rest. And he has also said, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Prayer: Thank you. O God, for your forgiving us when we come humbly to you. We do not presume to come to this table, O God, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your great mercy and grace. Grant us to eat the Bread of heaven, and drink the blood shed for the remission of sins, that we may live in Christ, and Christ may live in us forever. Amen

(In Place of Gloria Patri ) sing "Father, I Adore You, Lay my life before You How I love you!

"Jesus, I adore you . . ." and :Spirit, I adore you . . ."

The Informal Invitation

("This is not my table . . . " Do not come irreverently. Do not come because someone else expects it. But if the Host invites you, and you want to walk with Him, then you are welcome at His table... )

The Words of Institution

On the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to You he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said, "Take eat: THIS IS MY BODY, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.     After supper he took the cup and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you; THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW COVENANT, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink this, do it in remembrance of me: Amen

We praise you for the mystery of our salvation! We truly believe Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!

Bless these emblems, O God, and make them to us the Body and Blood of your Son, spiritual food, and spiritual drink of new and unending life in Jesus Christ.

And now, together, we pray, as Jesus taught us:

Our Father which art in heaven . . .

Now, humbly come and receive the Gifts of God for the People of God [January 4, 1998 - also February 1, 1998]

#754 God of the Ages