Life Verse Philippians 4:13 RUMC 6/25/17

Life Verse Philippians 4:13 

RUMC 6/25/17

 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Really? Can I?

•           We have made great strides in feeding more people than ever… but I have yet to end world hunger. What am I doing wrong?

•           The world, and particularly the Middle East, is always in turmoil. It is really in my power even through Christ to broker peace agreements between the various countries and religions, and factions? What am I missing here?

•           I don’t know that I have ever prayed harder than when my dad was suffering from cancer. You know that I believe prayer is the greatest power in the world. When it comes to ridding the world of cancer, though, we need money, and laboratories, and researchers, and people a lot smarter than me. That’s not something I feel like I can do even with Christ’s strength in me.

Yet here we stand in front of Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

I hear it touted by prosperity preachers.

I hear it used to encourage people with great ambitions.

I hear it recited at baccalaureates to graduates who think they have the world by the tail.

 The way it is commonly used, it draws a picture of the Christian being like the lowly ant able to lift 50 times our own body weight.

Or superman, you know “Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!”

I don’t know about you, but that is not how I experience the faith. So what is going on here?

 This is the Life Verse that Debbie Knudtson shared. Thank you for sharing, Debbie.

She tells of growing up Roman Catholic and not feeling like she knew much about the Bible. She doesn’t recall hearing this verse until 2 of her daughters, Kim and Megan, were given the verse as their confirmation verse. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

That was about 17 years ago and since then the verse has seen Debbie through many hard times: the divorce, starting a new life on her own, and raising 3 girls by herself. This verse helps her as she walks beside Courtney in her struggles, as she builds a great marriage with Scott, and as she now walks with Scott’s kids and their struggles.

The verse keeps Debbie going. It gives her strength. It gives her hope. Just as it should

You see, I think Debbie understands this verse in a way that others seem to have missed.

Don’t let the prosperity preachers and the shallow encouragers mislead you here.

•           Philippians 4:13 is not a promise of superpowers for those who believe in Jesus. 

•           Philippians 4:13 is not a promise that, “I can ACCOMPLISH all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

•           Philippians 4:13 is not a promise that, “I can SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM through Christ who strengthens me.”

•           Philippians 4:13 is not a magic incantation we can recite to AVOID PROBLEMS in our lives.

So what does this passage say to us? The context of a passage almost always helps us understand what the Bible means.

 Notice the context of this passage. “I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

•           Here, Paul is not talking about his accomplishments.

•           Paul is not talking about his plans.

•           He is not talking about doing what he wants at all.

•           He is not talking about his strength, his victories, or his efforts.

•           Paul is not talking about his actions, but about his attitude.

Paul had an interesting life. The book of Acts and his letters give us a glimpse into times when he was jailed, beaten, run out of town, on trial, and shipwrecked.

Paul is reflecting on his life and saying the only way I got through is because of Christ who strengthens me. He is saying that there is nothing in him that explains why he is still alive. It is only Christ in him that has given him strength.

•           Paul had to admit his inability in order to accept Christ’s ability.

•           Paul had to admit his own powerlessness in order to claim Christ’s power.

•           Paul had to admit his own weakness in order to claim Christ’s strength. 

•           Paul had to stand face to face with his own limitations in order to receive the unlimited grace of Jesus Christ, which is his only strength.

Paul is saying that Christ’s strength is always ENOUGH.

•           Whether he had little or had plenty Christ was enough.

•           Whether he was stuffed or famished, Christ was enough.

•           Whether he was celebrated or jailed and tortured, Christ was enough.

•           Whether his life was smooth sailing, or if he was shipwrecked and nearly drowned, Christ was enough.

This passage is not about action, as some would have us believe--- you know, “you can do whatever you want through Christ who gives you strength.” No, this passage is not about what Paul did, it is about Christ being enough to get through anything.

•           When you are in trouble, Christ is enough.

•           When we have faced trials, Christ has been enough.

•           In every season our lives, good or bad, Christ has been enough.

•           And in this situation too, we trust that Christ will be enough.

If he were writing about an athletic career, Paul might have written, “After training my guts out and giving my all on game day, I can live with the results. Regardless of what’s at stake, I can play by the rules. Win or lose, I can genuinely treat coaches, officials, and fellow competitors with love and respect. I can express gratitude regardless of the outcome—all because of the strength I possess as a follower of Christ.” In other words I can do victory or I can do defeat and I am OK because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

If he had applied this to farming, Paul might have written, “I did everything I know to do. I tilled, I planted, I fertilized, I cultivated, I sprayed, I watched and I prayed. So now, when I harvest I will be grateful for what I receive. I pray for a bumper crop but even if it is a failure and I am OK because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

If Paul had applied this to parenting, he might have written, “I fed them, and burped them, and changed their diapers. I taught them everything I know. I taught them how to be good people and now I trust that God will care for them. I hope they are successful in every way,  but if not… if they get involved in drugs, or have a mental illness, or are in a terrible accident, or can’t hold down a job, or get divorced 5 times, or end up in jail… I can do that too, I am OK because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

I have said before, that I see other people going through things and I think, “I could never do that.” Then I remember that if I had thought about pastoring a church through a fire, I would have said, “I could never do that.” But I did it with Christ who strengthens me.”

 If I had thought about doing flood relief in a major flood, I would have said, “I could never do that.” But I did it with Christ who strengthens me.”

If I had thought about raising a disabled child, I would have said, “I could never do that.” But I did it with Christ who strengthens me.”

On our own, I am sure that LILGHT would have been a failure, but it was a great ministry because we did it with Christ who strengthens us.

If I would have thought about the Celebrate what is GR8 event I would have said, “We could never do that.” But we did it with Christ who strengthens us.”

If I had thought about raising $25,000 for Safe T homes a few years ago, I would have said, “We could never do that.” But we did it with Christ who strengthens us.”

Notice I am saying, “WITH Christ who strengthens us.”

  In the literal translation of the Greek, which you can see in the second line on the screen, the word “through” is implied. You see the literal translation is “All things I am strong for in the one strengthening me.” The word through is not there, but the translators had to add it in order to make a good English sentence. Why did they choose “through” instead of “with?” In isolation, there doesn’t seem to be any good reason to choose one over the other.  In the context, however, I think using the word “with” makes a lot of sense. In fact, I think it makes all the difference in the world to the way I hear the passage.

 “I CAN DO ALL THINGS WITH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME.”

•           I can get the job or not; and I am OK, because I can do this with Christ who strengthens me.

•           I can be loved and admired, or not; and I am OK, because I can do this with Christ who strengthens me.

•           I can reach my goals or face failure; and I am OK, because I can do this with Christ who strengthens me.

•           I can have the biggest church in the conference, or the smallest; and I am OK, because I can do this with Christ who strengthens me.

•           I can have a house as nice as my coworkers, or I can live in a shack; and I am OK, because I can do this with Christ who strengthens me.

•           I pray for healthy children, but if my child has a disability or is sick; I am OK, because I can do this with Christ who strengthens me.

•           We pray that the biopsy comes back negative... That is natural, but even if it doesn’t, I am OK, because I can do this with Christ who strengthens me.

•           We want more than anything for our loved one to sit up from the coma and say, “just kidding” but if they don’t… and if they die… I am OK, because I can do this with Christ who strengthens me.

Life is hard… really hard… you know that! I know that. Paul knew that.

But please hear this life verse for what it is intended to say.

•           There is an internal strength that comes from having Christ in us.

•           There is a spiritual strength that comes from having Christ in us.

•           There is a supernatural strength that comes from having Christ in us.

 “With Christ strengthening us, we can face anything.”

With Jesus, there is nothing we can’t handle. Nothing!!  

Life Verses Matthew 25:40 Reinbeck UMC 6/18/2017

Life Verses Matthew 25:40

Reinbeck UMC 6/18/2017

Cliff tells of traveling across the southern shore of Lake Superior about 15 years ago. Maybe they were looking for scenery like this. You know the highways are never the best way to see the scenery, though, so they were on some mud and dirt road about 1000 miles from nowhere that probably looked more like this… . Or knowing Cliff’s adventuresome side, it might have looked more like this .

Whatever the road looked like, they saw a car pulled over and a set of legs sticking out from underneath. Cliff sent the family on a hike and went back to help. It turns out that the last pothole had knocked the man’s fuel tank loose from its hangers. Most of us would be helpless, but you know Cliff doesn’t go anywhere without bailing wire. He said, “Let me go get my bailing wire and we’ll get this fixed up for you.” The man was grateful. As they worked, Cliff discovered the man was a preacher. He would have helped him no matter what, but that was just frosting on the cake.

After re-hanging the tank, cliff offered the man enough fuel to get to the next town but the man’s vehicle was a Diesel so he would have to head out on a wing and a prayer.

Before they parted, the preacher blessed cliff saying, “Matthew 25:40.” Cliff smiled politely and wished him good luck.

 Sometime later Cliff decided to figure out what Matthew 25 said, he read, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” He had heard it all his life, but it suddenly became real.

Matthew 25 is a series of teachings about the coming kingdom and the judgment. It starts with the PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS, 5 were ready, 5 were not, and Jesus says, “Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

That is followed by the PARABLE OF THE TALENTS. One servant gets five talents, another- two and the last- one. When the master returned and found that the servant with only one talent buried it, and did nothing good with it…Took no risk… Made no effort...and acted selfishly… the master replies, “As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Immediately after that, Jesus begins this parable we heard today. The separating of the sheep and the goats and the faithful saying, “When did we do these things to you?” and Jesus’ reply, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” And of course the flip side of the coin. ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did not do it to me.”

That seems pretty clear:

•           Helping someone, is helping Jesus

•           Not helping someone, is not helping Jesus.

•           Loving someone, is loving Jesus

•           Not loving someone, is not loving Jesus.

When I started studying, I should not have been surprised, but I was just a little, to find scholars arguing about whom Jesus was talking about when he referred to “the least of these members of my family.” There are some who say he was talking only about the Jews. There argument makes no sense to me. There is another group who says he was talking only about Christians. I can understand that argument a little better because Jesus uses the term, “my family,” or “my brothers.” They argue that in other passages where Jesus refers to his family or brothers, he means fellow believers.

 They may be correct about what Jesus was saying in the other passages. I just can’t draw that line in Matthew 25 saying these people are brothers and these are not. These people are in and these are out. I look at Jesus whole ministry, which was to the Jews, and it was to the disciples, but it was also to the Greeks, and the Romans, and the Samaritans and the unclean, adulteresses, and prostitutes, and sinners of every kind. Jesus refused to follow the commonly understood lines of his day and ministered to every person he met regardless of which side of any imaginary boundary they might belong. Jesus respected no boundaries in his ministry.

When we ask, who was his family, or his brothers, it sends me back to another parable… the PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN. The question was “Who is my neighbor?” It could very well have been “Who is my brother?” Jesus’ answer to the question featured a no good, dirty, sub-human, Samaritan. In the disciples eyes he was certainly among the least of these… maybe even less than the least of these. YET HE is the one who showed love to the man along the road. Who is my neighbor? Who is my brother?

 I challenge you NOT to be one of those people who draw lines around “the least of these” and “not the least of these.” We are all Jesus’ Family. In some way, we are all THE LEAST OF THESE. And in some way we can all make a difference to others who are also THE LEAST OF THESE.

It is a matter of one beggar telling another beggar where to find food. 

•           Maybe you have money but you are among the least of these because you are lonely.

•           Maybe you have a home, but you are among the least of these because you suffer from a mental illness.

•           Maybe you are healthy, but you are among the least of these because you are mourning the loss of a loved one.

We have to get over the US/THEM kind of thinking that draws line between people. The least of these are out there, but they are also in here. We are each among the least of these in some way.

A few years ago, the initials WWJD were popular. Do you remember what they meant? (What would Jesus do?)  I want us to replace that with WWIDITPWJ. I know it doesn’t roll off the tongue. It doesn’t fit neatly on a bracelet. However, the fundamental question posed by this parable in Matthew 25 is WWIDITPWJ. “What would I do if this person was Jesus?” That is the key question. Everything we do, either builds up Jesus body, or tears down Jesus’ body.

Matthew 25:40 begs us to ask, every time we meet someone… because we are all the least of these… “What would I do if this person was Jesus?”

In addition to erasing the lines of who are the

•           “doers unto” and who are the

•           “least of these”  Cliff and I want you to notice that Jesus is not asking you to give your heart to someone for a transplant, or buy a homeless family a house (If you can, that is great! But most of us can’t. And that’s OK too. )

It is great when we can do something big, but it is the little things every day that make a difference in the world person by person, day by day. You can make a difference doing little things.

 Jesus doesn’t ask us to end world hunger, but to give a hungry person some food.

 Jesus is not asking us to end drought, but to give someone a drink of water.

 Jesus is not asking us to do the impossible, but just to be accepting of those who are different.

 Jesus is not asking us to end poverty, but to donate some clothes, or mittens, or socks.

 He is not asking us to cure cancer, but to care for the sick.

 He is not asking us to free the prisoner, but to visit them.

 He is not asking us to change the world in one grand campaign, but to make

a difference every day of our lives.

I will be going on my 28th week of youth mission trips next month. Have I changed the world? Obviously not, but I have tried to make a difference.

Cliff and Kim spent several summers working with your habitat for humanity project. Are there still people who need better housing? You bet. But there are also several families for whom you all made a difference because they do have a house.

Cliff, Kim, I, and several others, went to Haiti to build SAFE-T-HOMES. Is Haiti still the poorest country in the western hemisphere? Well yes, but to those families who are now living in the homes we built, and to those orphans we took to the beach, we made a difference.

Cliff and Kim went to New Orleans after the hurricane. Did he end the suffering? No, could still see it when we were there in November. But did he make a difference? I bet he did. And I hope I made a difference as we packed flood buckets and health kits at UMCOR.

Cliff has helped us with various local projects to help people right here including building the ramp at Beverly Christiansen’s house. Did we keep her in her house as long we hoped? No, but we made a difference not just because she was able to come home for a short time, but also FOR HER it was a tangible sign of our love and God’s love.

Jesus is not asking you to change the world today, but to make a difference right now.

 Be difference makers in our world. You might not think anyone cares, but it matters to Jesus.

Be difference makers in our nation. You might not think anyone cares, but it matters to Jesus.

Be difference makers in our state. You might not think anyone cares, but it matters to Jesus

Be difference makers in Reinbeck. You might not think anyone cares, but it matters to Jesus

Be difference makers in our church. You might not think anyone cares, but it matters to Jesus.

Be difference makers for anyone you meet. You might not think anyone cares, but it matters to Jesus

You might not think anyone notices, but it matters to Jesus.

You might think the little bit you can do won’t matter much, but whatever you do matters to Jesus.

When we make a difference in someone’s life… we make a difference for Jesus.

Look for places to make a difference this week. Think outside of the box and outside of the lines you normally draw. Take a chance to do something you don’t normally do to make a difference to someone you don’t normally help. Reach out in a way you normally would not.

Because, trust me, you can make a difference. 

Maybe you can’t do much by yourself, but letting the Christ in you out of the box… letting the Christ in you work outside the lines you normally draw… letting the Christ in you loose on those around you, will make a difference… I guarantee.

You have heard it before… but it is too good a story not to use as a conclusion.

The little boy was standing among all of the star fish washed up on the beach and throwing them back in the ocean one at a time. After watching for a while, the elderly man walked up to him laughing and said, look at all these starfish. You aren’t even making a dent in them. You can’t make any difference here. The little boy stopped and looked at him. Bent down to pick up a starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. And said, “For that one I made a difference”

 You can make a difference, even if it is only for one person. You can make a difference in the difference-making name of Jesus.

AMEN

This week is annual conference. I'll be back next week. 6/11/2017

Life verses: Isaiah 40:31 RUMC June 4, 2017

Life verses: Isaiah 40:31

RUMC June 4, 2017

One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. Naturally, he was afraid to jump. His father kept yelling, "Jump! I will catch you." Nevertheless, the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters."

1.         God promised Abram that he would have a son... 24 years passed and no son was born to Sarah. Abraham said, “God, I can’t see you.” God replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters."

2.         Joseph was given dreams that he would become a ruler. Instead, his brothers sold him into slavery and imprisonment for 13 years. Joseph said, “God, I can’t see you.” God replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters."

3.         Moses felt called to lead the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt. He fought with an Egyptian and ended up killing him. Moses became a fugitive from justice for 40 years. He cried out, “God, I can’t see you.” God replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters."

4.         Samson was supposed to fight the Philistines, but because he messed up, he was blinded. So how could a blind man fulfill his calling? Sampson said, “God, I can’t see you.” God replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters."

5.         Lazarus became ill. His two sisters sent for Jesus, but Jesus did not come right away. Lazarus finally died, and was placed in the tomb. When Jesus arrived, it was too late. Martha berated Jesus “If you had been here my brother would not have died. Where is God when we need him the most?” In other words, “God, I can’t see you.” OIn Jesus, God replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters."

Scott Knudtson chose Isaiah 40:31 as his life verse.

“Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,

    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

    and they shall walk and not faint.”

He chose that verse because there was a time in his life when he couldn’t see God.

Scott’s friend, Pastor Phil from North Carolina, kept telling him, “Scott, read Isaiah 40:31.” Scott never did. Pastor Phil helped Scott with all kinds of troubles in his life.

•           He’d help with troubled relationships and say, “Scott, read Isaiah 40:31.” But he never did.

•           Pastor Phil helped with Scott’s negative attitude and said “Scott, read Isaiah 40:31.” But he never did. 

•           Pastor Phil helped him with his struggle with alcohol and said, “Scott, read Isaiah 40:31.”

Finally one day, with nothing to lose, Scott sat down, and read Isaiah 40:31

“Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,

    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

    they shall walk and not faint.”

Over the course of a month or so, Scott read the verse a few more times and it began to sink in. As he read it more and more, it began to take root. As Scott continued to read the passage, it began to change him.

•           Scott held on to the promise of Isaiah 40:31 and 7 years ago, God freed him of his alcohol abuse.

•           Scott continued to read Isaiah 40:31... And God helped him with his negative attitude about himself and life.

•           Scott continues to read Isaiah 40:31 and through it, God continues to change him and shape him today.

Like all those Biblical characters, it was as though in desperation Scott was standing on the roof saying, “God I can’t see you.” And God responded over and over, "But I can see you and that's all that matters."

No wonder this is a popular, passage. Because in some way, some days, or some seasons in our lives we are all like the little child on the roof, saying, “I can’t see you daddy.” And God replies over and over again, “But I can see you, and that is all that matters.”

 As I look a little closer at the passage, I wondered what the word “wait” meant… I hoped it would mean something profound. It does not. Frankly, wait just means “wait.”

Waiting is hard:

•           waiting for the doctor,

•           waiting for the college acceptance letter,

•           waiting for the job interview,

•           waiting for the car to be repaired. There are, however, two kinds of waiting. One is passive waiting; tapping our toe waiting for time to pass, or for the clerk to finish with the person in front of us.

 The other might be called pregnant waiting; like

•           waiting for that precious baby to be born.

•           Or waiting for that wonderful last day of school.

•           Or waiting for a loved one to get off the plane.

 There is just plain waiting and then there is pregnant waiting…

•           Waiting in anticipation.

•           Waiting in trust.

•           Waiting in hope.

Isaiah doesn’t just say wait… he says those who wait will ...in other words, there is a for those who

•           Wait in anticipation.

•           Wait in trust.

•           Wait in hope.

 The promise is those who wait upon the lord will renew their strength. The word renew in this passage means “get something new or change.” We might say to exchange.

•           Those who wait upon the Lord will exchange their weakness for God’s strength. 

•           Those who wait upon the Lord will exchange their inability for God’s ability. 

•           Those who wait upon the Lord will exchange their hopeless situation for one that is filled with hope and possibility because “God can see you, and that is all that matters.”

1.         Abraham exchanged his hopelessness for faith, and was given  Isaac

2.         Joseph exchanged his betrayal, for a seat beside Pharaoh.

3.         Moses exchanged his comfortable shepherd’s life, for the freedom of a whole nation.

4.         Samson exchanged his sight, for an opportunity to gain a legendary victory for God.

5.         Martha exchanged her grief for trust, and got her brother back.

Scott Knudtson exchanged his alcohol and negative attitude for a whole new life in Christ.

One day took the risk of  exchanging my tool belt for a pulpit; not realizing that I was really exchanging selfishness and hopelessness for a life of serving Christ and proclaiming hope.

 What about you?

Where are your struggles?

•           Finances,

•           medical situations,

•           your mental health,

•           your job,

•           your family,

•           your self-esteem,

•           your joy,

•           your hope… where do you struggle.

I wish I could tell you that God will fix it today. I can’t. Maybe God will, but I can’t promise that.

I can promise, however, that if you wait expectantly, doing the best you can, one step at a time;

•           If you wait with anticipation…

•           If you wait in trust…

•           If you wait in hope.

•           If you wait upon the Lord,

You too will exchange your despair for hope

You will exchange your negativity for Joy.

You will exchange your brokenness for healing

You will exchange your blindness for sight

You will exchange your fear for courage

You will exchange your confusion for clarity

You will exchange your paralysis for wings like eagles.

You will exchange you exhaustion for running without being weary.

You will exchange your weakness for walking and not fainting.

For today, however, we wait… Waiting in anticipation is hard… just as the little boy said “Dad, I can’t see you.” Our faith takes a beating, our hope is broken, our sense of future is distorted, and we say, “God I can’t see you?”

But God responds from somewhere on the other side of the smoke

•           “Don’t worry I can see you and that is all that matters.”

•           “Don’t worry I love you and that is all that matters.”

•           “Don’t worry I have a plan for you and that is all that matters.”

•           “Don’t worry you are my child, and I am your God, and that is all that matters.”

Go ahead … jump… and God will renew your strength

God will lift you up with wings like eagles,

you shall run and not be weary,

    you shall walk and not faint.”

Thanks be to God.

AMEN