ENC Chapel Notes

The Feast of Epiphany, the Twelfth Day of Christmas

January 6, 1999

FIRST READING: Isaiah 60:1 3,9

ARISE, SHINE; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord shall arise over you, And His glory will be see upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

SURELY THE COASTLANDS shall wait for Me;
and the ships of Tarshish will come first,
To bring your sons from afar,
their silver and gold with them,
To the name of the Lord your God,
and to the Holy One of Israel,
Because He has glorified You.

This is the last time I'll be speaking in chapel, I'm sure– and I really ought to try to preach a decent sermon, I suppose. I've known for some time this morning was coming, and it would be easiest to hang out three points and a story or two.

But somehow I thought I'd just give my testimony. It is sort of fun getting older— sometimes. Sometimes it isn't. Sometimes I feel invisible when I get around young people: sometimes I feel like a tombstone. Lawson Saunders gave me a fitting epitaph:

Behold all ye who pass me by
As you are now so once was I
As I am now so you will be
Prepare to die and follow me.
...To which he added:

To follow you I'm not content
Until I know which way you went

Actually— I'm not ready to lie down and die just yet— I don't think. I may be, could be, might be hanging it up this year as a pastor, but I've got a few good things I want to do before the people in the white coats come for me. I'm on a journey, and I haven't arrived yet. And that is why life is so good.

As a teenager I began a serious search for God. My church told me– or at least I understood– that if I would do certain things- and NOT do certain other things– I would be, could be filled with the Spirit and be holy.

I confess I have never FELT very holy in all my life! But I began running to God! Literally, at times! I really wanted to reach out and touch God. And when ever I FELT blessed I would think that my "connection" was now good so I would start asking for what i thought I needed– and poof!

But I kept on running! And from time to time God let a little crack of assurance, or guidance, or growth fall down on my head. I've been a slow learner. And for years I was quite an undisciplined scholar of the Word– undisciplined scholar, period.

But once in a while there would be a little break-through. I learned– or came to believe that I would never be a Christian to amount to anything unless and until I found a way to cultivate a simple but consistent relationship - - covenant relationship - - with God.

I discovered Isaiah 41:10 just for ME! In 1949 on my way here from Ohio.

In Edison, New Jersey, in the pastor's study, after I had been a pastor for more than fifteen years, one day I knew God loved me! I know I was saved and wholly consecrated and sanctified before that– but I don't know how else to tell it. It was just one of those affirming moments that come.

Little by little my understanding of our church's teaching on heart holiness has come to mean to me belonging to God– total willingness to let God have control of my life.

On this day of Epiphany I can't give you words of wisdom on how to follow your star and bring your presents to the King - - but I can share with you my working patter for personal devotions:

  1. Some kind of plan for letting the Scriptures address me. I believe the Bible has been given to us to show us who Jesus is. Begin. Haphazard isn't good– but keep at it whatever you do. The Holy Spirit will be your teacher!
  2. Find verses to help you focus:
    • Hebrews 11:6 diligently SEEK– expect to be REWARDED with God Himself
    • Ephesians 4:32 seek a spirit like God Himself( KIND, tenderhearted, forgiving)
    • John 15:8 Don't just settle; bear MUCH fruit!!
    • Luke 11:13 If we ask, the father will give us the Holy Spirit! (Jesus said!)
  3. Use the Lord's Prayer. Like the Ten Commandments, it has two parts– toward God - - and from God toward US.

    After a few years it has a way of addressing the day– where we are just NOW!

  4. Keep some sort of written journal. Write out your heart. You can be honest with God– and he will help you see your growth.

I'm not a prophet. But I do know the only thing we can be sure about is we can't know the future. And I do know that if God spares you, and you have forty or sixty or seventy more years to live, they will go by faster than you can ever imagine! Lots of things in this world I don't understand–and lots of things seem to make no sense at all. But I am determined I will not be a sour old pessimistic old man. When I can't make sense of things, I have something that gives me real hope:

There's an old story about a mother who wanted to keep her child informed as well as amused; so she bought a jig saw puzzle picture map of the earth, with lots of pieces. "See how long it takes you to put this map together," she said.

The boy had the map finished in just a very few minutes. It was amazing! "How did you do it so fast?" the mother asked.

"Actually, it was easy!" was the answer. "There is a picture of a man on the back. I just slid it on the checkerboard and turned it over!"

There is the face of a Man at the Back of All History! And that Man is even now at the Throne of the Universe! He ascended into heaven! If we keep His face in view, He will make sense, finally, of your world and mine!

Do YOU need reassurance in your world? I do in mine! There are times when I am absolutely overwhelmed! IT IS THEN I REALIZE I NEED TO LOOK FOR 'THE MAN'S FACE ON THE BACK OF THE PUZZLE!'

Prayer:(For Epiphany)

O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

January 6, 1999
Chapel, E.N.C.
R Metcalfe

When I was about eight my parents rented a small house at 610 S. Magnolia in Lansing, Michigan. It was the first house, the first room of my own. But that's another story.
I learned that it was safer to walk to school with the other kids from S. Magnolia. If we went together we usually weren't bothered. But if we got caught alone it might be a different story. The kids who lived on Hayford Street seemed to love beating up kids who didn't belong to their gang.

[The Hayford Street Gang story.]

. . . has become a metaphor for me– finding out that when I face frightening situations there is Someone who comes along side.

I have found that at times in my life when I needed help the most there was a Big Brother very near to me. I am sure He is near to us at all times. But it is very comforting when He lets us know He is there.

Isaiah 41:10 on the way here, in 1949 !

The walk to the hamburger stand - the "Presence!"

In the Edison study - after facing evil people- when "I knew I was saved"!

The Road to Emmaus . . . Jesus came along side: through scripture, through Presence: the "Presence" is enhanced by developing a walk, a daily time of prayer. I cannot be a vital Christian apart from some kind of regular coming alongside HIM!

Bible

Focus (life verses) Lord's Prayer:

Surrender & Trust

Intercession

(Journaling)

Jesus makes sense of your world! Look for the "Face of the Man" and your world will come together.