Marvelous Light of Gods Grace

May 2, 1999 - cf. May 5, 1996

Last week was no time to analyze the horror; it was time to pray for the hurting, and to marvel at the faith of those who showed us Jesus. Cassie Burnell must have been used of God, for many, many pulpits of many points of the spectrum of faith were catching her clear martyrdom faith.

But if last week as NOT a time to look at possible reasons for our violent society, maybe this week, and this week's scriptures could be at least a starting place.

(The following is NOT a manuscript, nor a complete set of notes for the May 5 sermon; more of a diary of what I was thinking about before during and after I stepped into the pulpit last Sunday. RFM)

Communion Meditation

Acts 7; 1 Peter 2:9; John 14: 1 14

Introduction

Today we need to learn again something which we already know, but which come to us in the words of Peter:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Who We Are

If we are Christians, and can say from our hearts with the help of the Spirit, "Jesus is Lord!" then these statements apply to us now, in the present.

AN EXAMPLE OF LIVING OUT THIS SPIRITUAL REALITY

The early church reached the end of the earth in a generation. There were great miracles along the way. There were stories of deliverance from illness and death and danger. But those stories actually are incidental to the march of the kingdom.

One of the very first stories is that of Stephen the deacon who became the first martyr. He proved he belonged to a chosen race by his spirit. He was unafraid to confront unbelievers when they questioned him about the faith. All the disciples did that. But in Stephen's case his confrontation brought persecution to the extreme. And his spirit did not waver there was a gentleness, a forgiving spirit, and a vision of the eternal that proved he belonged to a higher plane of life. As a royal priesthood we have never forgotten the sacrifice Stephen made.

What kind of sacrifices do we of the royal priesthood make? (Laura Kottis raised this question in our study last Wednesday evening.) Whenever a Christian, living in this world, in this limited flesh, obeys the Spirit, and says "No" to the so called "wisdom of this world" he or she is making a sacrifice that is acceptable to God (Romans 12:1,2) and is bringing heaven and earth together. Not too many we know have been called upon to make the kind of sacrifice Stephen made, although thousands still make it in other parts of this world. Stephen saw the throne of the royal kingdom that day. He saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God the Father.

But of course that was not the end of the story. In God's kingdom there never is a final end of good things. Stephen's sacrifice brought God and a young man named Saul closer together. Stephen had his part in everything God did through the ministry of the Apostle Paul.

JESUS IS THE KEY TO WHO AND WHAT WE ARE ( JOHN 14: )

Before Pentecost, before the Resurrection, before Calvary Jesus told the disciples about this life we Christians know. He told them that there was plenty of room in the kingdom for all of them, and that he, Jesus himself, would prepare a place in the kingdom and makes sure they found their place.

He said, "Where I am going you know, and the way to get there you know." Thomas was like us, all too often. he was thinking strictly in this world's thought mode, of what he could see and handle. "Lord, we DON'T know about heaven! We've never been there! How can we ever know the way?" Jesus answered: "If you know ME, Thomas, then you know the way to God!"

Philip said then, "Show us God the Father and we will be satisfied!" ( The Jews had the highest imaginable concepts of God, and have passed that reverence on down to us if we will but receive it: no pictures of God no portrayals for that would be to construct an idol. So what Jesus then said would either be the highest blasphemy possible OR the declaration of a wonderful revelation:) Jesus said, "If you know ME, you know God! If I am with you, God is with you!

I am with you, and I will be IN YOU!" (He was speaking of the Spirit who would inhabit the church beginning at Pentecost!)

PRAYER (contemporary language) Almighty god, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

IN THE SACRAMENTS WE SEEK TO DO JUST THAT: TO KNOW JESUS BETTER We affrim that we are a chosen race HIS race A royal priesthood HIS priests, to offer spiritual sacrifice A holy kingdom and HE is LORD and KING!

Two Ways to Look at Grace

Grace over and above to be reached for in our need to keep us alive in a hostile world sort of punching holes in a dark sky to let pinpoints of light shine on us

Grace permeating all of creation and life. Sacraments help us to be aware that Jesus IS Lord to be aware that wherever we are Jesus is already HERE.

The sacraments, all our worship, remind us that Jesus goes before us. Grace is here for you and me today.

THE HOLY COMMUNION

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."

Shall we pray:

Search us, O God, and know our most private thoughts. Try us, and show unto us the deepest motives, the real state of our hearts. Forgive us where we have been selfish, or insensitive, or sinful in any way. We cannot keep the Great Commandment, and truly love You, O God, with all our heart, soul, and mind unless You in mercy grant to us the grace of Your indwelling Spirit. We cannot love each other as we should unless Your love is shed abroad in our hearts.

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. 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

Let us confess our faith: The Nicene Creed (STL # 14)

The Informal Invitation ("This is not my table . . . ")

Holy and gracious Father; in your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin, and were worthy of death and hell, you, in your mercy sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to You, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

The Words of Institution

On the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had give 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 give 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 we receive the Gifts of God for the People of God