"In ALL Things - Thankful"

 Scripture:   Romans 1:20-25, Philippians 4:4-7, Matthew 26:26-28,  1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

 In this, our 4^th week of considering the attitudes and call that John Wesley places on us through his tract “The Character of a Methodist”, we come to his thoughts on the necessity and extent of having a heart filled with thanksgiving.  For many in our nation, Thanksgiving is a holiday in late November, and for the rest of the year, thankfulness is something that we have for only a few, major events and gifts that come into our lives.

 But Wesley wrote “From him therefore he cheerfully receives all, saying, Good is the will of the LORD: and whether the LORD giveth or taketh away, equally blessing the name of the LORD.”  In more contemporary words, we might say that we are being called to be thankful for all that comes into our lives, whether we appreciate them or not.

 Of course this isn’t always easy!  But 2 Corinthians4:15  tells us “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”  That word “ALL” is the key, and if we give thanks for all, that will certainly be a lot of praise lifted up to the LORD! 

 So why should we ever be expected to give thanks for the bad stuff, like the betrayals, the pain, the loss, the struggle, the darkness that comes into our lives?  Does God really expect us to thank Him for the terrible things that “try men’s souls”? 

 Thomas Payne wrote those words during a time of great distress, as an encouragement to the American colonists to take a stand for what was right, in spite of the consequences, and to be thankful for the sacrifice.  The quote continued with this – “These are the times that try men’s souls.  The summer solder and the sunshine patriot will, in the crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”  It is a very short step, indeed, to move this into a scriptural context with the words “Don’t let your faith be shallow - give thanks to God in all things, regardless of what may be happening”.

 So today, we will consider what some other biblical passages would have us know about the constantly thankful heart.

 Read Romans 1:20-25

 Paul begins by saying that no one has any excuse for not experiencing and understanding that the existence of creation is all the evidence that we will ever need to know that God deserves all the praise we can muster.  For it is the proof that the LORD’s infinite power and perfect nature is an unavoidable truth. 

 Unfortunately, all too many believe that if you can’t see it, and can’t easily prove it, it probably needs to be questioned!  Paul isn’t suggesting that this recognition will be our salvation, but instead proclaims the acknowledgment that God is who He says He is, and rightfully demands our allegiance.

 And for this reason, the unavoidable evidence deserves our thanksgiving!  But God never forces us to praise Him for all that is, and even allows us to make our own way in this world.  The apostle tells us that when we choose to go our separate way, and to offer our gratitude to the things of creation, instead of to the One who did the creating, we accept futility and foolishness for the way of the life that we claim.

 But futility and foolishness isn’t some new chain of thought in Paul’s day – it all began in Eden when the two people chose to not only ignore God’s ways, but to make their attempt to mimic them on their own behalf!  This is equivalent to humanity’s patting themselves on the back for being so smart and capable, instead of giving God the glory and admiration for doing so much for us.  And when we do, our very lives turn out to be a lie instead of praise for the truth of our Almighty God.

 Putting creation, which includes ourselves, above the Creator can never be a good idea, and yet, the masses of earth do it every moment of every day!  So much for living in covenant with God!  Free will is one of His great blessings, but it is also one that we sometimes turn around to produce our very own curse!

 Read Philippians 4:4-7

 Interestingly, Paul’s phrasing makes the point that the presence of gentleness in our life, as well as the absence of anxiety, is the reason for our praise and glorification of the LORD.  The apostle also tells us that whenever we pray, regardless of the overriding issues we lift up, we must do it thankfully.

 Now this doesn’t mean that a heart that is troubled, or fearful, or anxious over some impending trial has lost hold of their faith!  Remember that in Matthew 26:39, as Jesus was praying in the Garden, He fervently asked the Father that if it was at all possible, to remove the Cup that He would be facing at Calvary.

 This does mean, though, that if we honor the LORD in spite of our struggle, and give praise for all that will come because of the trial that is before us, the peace of Christ, the same peace that He knew on the cross, will sustain us and enable us to bear the trial with a thankful heart and soul.

 Read Matthew 26:26-28

 This passage will be familiar to everyone who participates in Communion.  It occurred but a few hours before Jesus would be arrested and condemned to die by crucifixion.  The central theme here is actually the thanks that Christ was offering to the Father for the opportunity to be the source and means of our salvation!

 He knew that He would not only be taking on sin, but it would be the sin of the entire world for all time, for this was the only way that we could ever know God’s forgiveness.  He knew that His 3 days of death, and subsequent resurrection to life, would be the only thing that could stand against our eternal condemnation, and that by His great gift, we could, in turn, know life everlasting.

 His words of thanksgiving were for the opportunity to serve His Father in this new way, as well as for the divine blessing that would come to all who gave thanks for the commitment that Jesus was about to make on our behalf.

 I pray that we will always see this means for our thanksgiving every time we receive the sacramental gifts of Body and Blood, given in thanksgiving by our LORD and Savior.

 Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

 This passage is not intended to be individual guidance in our efforts of faith, but for the church as a whole.  It is calling us to be united in faith, to reach out to all whose faith is marginal, especially to those in the church, and to be a Christian example in all that we do.  And Paul reemphasizes His call to be gentle and never anxious, regardless of what we may be facing.

 John Wesley wrote similar thoughts in his tract about the characteristics that each and every methodist should exhibit.  “He is therefore careful (anxiously or uneasily careful) for nothing: As having cast all his care on Him that careth for him, and in all things resting on him, after making his request known to Him with thanksgiving.”

 John Wesley and the Apostle Paul were certainly in tune with each other, as well as with Jesus when they call us to live our life in Godly, consistent, and faithful ways, and to give thanks for whatever that might come our way – for joy, for a divine relationship, and for all that our Almighty God will do for us, and through these humble and grateful lives we have been given.

 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for [each of us] in Christ Jesus”.  This is the Christian character that all methodists are called to live by.  May it be so for both you and me.

 Amen.

“Heart-felt Love”

Scripture:   Mark 7:20-23, Luke 8:11-13 , Deuteronomy 11:12-14, Joel 2:12-13, Romans 5:5

In his tract “The Character of a Methodist”, John Wesley hypothesized this question from someone who may have been unfamiliar with the methodist movement - “What then is the mark of a methodist?  Who is a methodist according to your own account?”  This is obviously opening the way to offer his own definition of a methodist, and not that of his detractors.  As we have previously seen, the differences between the two would be dramatically different, and Wesley didn’t want us to have any misgivings as to how he saw the call that was upon those “people called methodists”!

 So the response that he gives to his own question is multifaceted and very specific, and in general, includes the following:

 - first, a methodist is one who has the full love of God in his heart,

 - second, it is one who loves the LORD his God with all his heart, his soul, his mind, and strength.

- third, it is one who sees God as the joy of his heart, and the desire of his soul

- and lastly, a methodist is one who constantly cries out that God is their one and only desire, in heaven and on earth, and that He is their all in all forever.

 At first glance, this list may seem fairly self-explanatory, but today, we will look at what the depth of these “marks” are truly calling us to be as methodists, as well as what we should NOT be.  As so we begin.

 Read Mark 7:20-23

 In verse 8 of this chapter, Jesus tells a group of Pharisees “⁸ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”, and He goes on to tell all who are within hearing distance, Pharisees and people alike, what this mistaken loyalty will do to them.  He makes the point that it isn’t the things that can be seen that condemn us, but that it is all that is in our heart and mind that is our downfall.

 He tells the Pharisees that they are the ones who are corrupting the faith of the masses, by putting human understanding and traditions ahead of the ways of their Almighty God.  Jesus never was very subtle when it came to denouncing the trend of putting human tradition ahead of faith in God!  And this is the basis for the first answer that Wesley gives to the question regarding methodist understanding – that we need to give our love of God the first place within our heart, and not the ways of earth!

 Jesus gives us a very detailed list of those heart-felt beliefs that convict us.  His lesson for us is that if we never gave these issues intentional and deliberate consideration in our lives, they will never emerge through our voice, our hands, or in any other way of the flesh. Jesus and Wesley are telling us that keeping the ways of earth out of our hearts, and the love of God within, this is what will distinguish us from the rest of humanity.

 Read Luke 8:11-13

 This passage is the conclusion of Jesus’ Parable of The Seeds.  You will remember that it tells of a famer who sowed his seeds on 4 different kinds of soil, but only one, the good soil, could produce a crop that was so abundant that 100 times more would be harvested than what was sown. 

 And what do the various items represent?  The seed is God’s word, the poor soil and the weeds and birds that prevent the seed from taking hold in our lives are those things of Satan that keep us from hearing and accepting Jesus and the word that He brought to us, and the good soil that produces such a great harvest is the faithfulness that grows and thrives within all who believe and follow Jesus.

 The parable is about the heart, mind and soul that exists within us, and whether we listen and love the ways of the LORD or not.  In Deuteronomy6:4-9, in the words of the passage known as the Shema - a commandment that every Jew is encouraged to remember and live out, even today - we are told to love the LORD our God with every ounce of our being.  

 Each one of us is called to be the good soil that God can use to advance and enrich His kingdom right here on earth.

 Read Deuteronomy 11:12-14

 When we are faithful, God will care for our lives and efforts as well as anyone should care for their own creation and plans.  He will see to it that we are nourished, and enabled, and strengthened, and blessed in ways that far exceed anything that we deserve or understand, and we will be able to bring in a harvest of souls that will both honor and praise the LORD who has already given us so much.

 God’s great gifts are intended to bring power to our works of faith, but they will only come to us when we love and honor the Giver of those gifts.  They will never be intended to strengthen us in our worldly life, and they must never be used to bring us advantages in our life’s dealings.  Each gift that comes from God is intended to nourish and grow us in our relationship with Jesus and all that He has taught us.  And when they are used as God has intended them to be used, they will fill us with a joy that overwhelms even the gift itself.

 There is a contemporary song that I especially like and one that expresses this very image – it’s called “Spring Up, O Well”, and speaks of the immeasurable joy that comes to us when we follow the word and way of our LORD and set the ways of earth far behind.  And I believe that this is what John Wesley intended when he wrote in his tract that we will be overjoyed in the LORD “as having in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life, and overflowing his soul with peace and joy.”

 Read Joel 2:12-13,

 The LORD is telling us through the prophet that even though we may have lived a life that was totally outside of the divine way, there is still a chance that we might come to know the joy and love that God is so well known for.  And what does it take on our part?  Our return to God - humble, repentant, and seeking. 

 For ancient Israel, the rending of a person’s clothing was a sign of a deep emotion for God during an especially difficult time of trial, but Joel reminds us that in the end, it isn’t our actions that reveal our need for divine love in our life, but rather the rending of our heart.  This is the change that God is calling us to make on His behalf– and it will be one of change in our heart’s desires and a shift in the focus of our soul’s vision.

 The word repentance actually implies a turning around, or turning back to the true source of joy.  Wesley wrote “Having found redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of his sins, he cannot but rejoice whenever he looks back on the horrible pit out of which he is delivered”.  That is the joy that all will know when we “Return to the LORD our God, …[His] graciousness and compassion, His abounding love”, and our freedom from the calamity of our sin.

 Read Romans 5:5

 I’m sure that we all are familiar with the picture depicting Jesus knocking on the door of our life. The inspiration comes from Revelation 3:20, where we read these words - “²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” 

 Image!  Christ, the Son of God, wants to be with us, and to have us be in Him so badly, that He will never let anything stand in the way of our salvation - if we hear and accept His word, and if we invite Him into our life, He will, without hesitation, enter into our life with forgiveness, and fellowship, and service, and overwhelming love, and blessings beyond measure - and the best of all, eternal life with Him, and the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

 And what is required on our part to receive God and all that He is prepared to provide for us?  To listen to the fullness of His words, to repent of our sin, to love Him with the very depth of our heart, and to invite Him into our life for ever more!  Can it get any easier than that?

 Is this “mark of a methodist” upon you?  Can others see it in you?  Is the “well” of Christ springing up in you?  Is it flooding the world with the love of God?

 If you have never welcomed the LORD into your life, will you do it today, and take the "mark" of Christ for your own?

“Holiness Brings Salvation”

 Scripture:   1 Samuel 2:2-3; Romans 13:11-14; 1 Peter 1:6-9

 On May 24, 1738, John Wesley attended a religious gathering on Aldersgate Street in London.  As a result of his presence at this service, John discovered that - beyond his service as an Anglican priest, beyond his trust that Jesus was the Son of God, beyond his understanding of what eternal life was all about - the one thing he lacked in his life was the assurance of his own salvation.  (Mark Olson, in an article “Wesley’s ‘Warmed Heart’ at Aldersgate – What Really Happened?”)

 At that meeting, the leader was reading from a paper by Martin Luther, and later in his journal, Wesley wrote “In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s ‘Preface to the Epistle to the Romans’.  About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

 This statement regarding “the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ”, is quoted by many, but few fully understand the complete significance of these words.  Fewer still live in the fullness of faith that Luther was writing about, and especially in the change which had touched John Wesley’s heart in such a powerful way.

 If last week’s weather had permitted safe travel to worship, which it unfortunately didn’t, we would have considered the introduction to a new series titled “The Character of a Methodist”, which will be based on a John Wesley tract of the same name.  Today we begin to examine the first point that he made – that simply proclaiming faith, or even acknowledging faith, is not nearly enough.  Let’s see what the fullness of faith may truly entail.

 Read 1 Samuel 2:2-3

 These words weren’t spoken by a priest, or a royal advisor to the king, or even by one of Jehovah’s prophets – they were a praise offering from a woman by the name of Hanna.  Hanna had been barren, and had prayed that the LORD would bless her with a child, and if her prayer was granted, she promised to dedicate the child to service for Jehovah.  The child who she was offering to Eli the priest would become the faithful prophet, Samuel.  

 Prophets in general, especially those whose books appear in the Hebrew scripture, were humble and dedicated to their calling, as were the disciples of Jesus.  In Ephesians 2:8-9, we read “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 

 For many, they believe that a simple faith in who Jesus is should be sufficient.  But Wesley writes in his tract that “Nor, lastly, is he to be distinguished by laying the whole stress of religion on any single part of it?  If you say, ‘Yes, he is; for he thinks we are saved by faith alone:’ I answer, you do not understand the terms. By salvation he means holiness of heart and life.”

 Salvation is received not only through an understanding of Jesus, but by a depth that leads us to live and serve in the way of Christ.

 Read Romans 13:11-14

 Let’s consider the meaning of some of these terms. 

First, “wake up from your slumber” – is a call to move out of a life of ignorance in the ways of God, and to “wake up” to the new life that Christ offers, leaving the ways of death (our “slumber”) behind us.

 Second, the references to night versus day, and darkness versus light – in the darkness of night, our sight is extremely limited and in this context, we have little understanding of Jesus and all that He taught and offers to those who believe.  And on the other hand, the light of day is the richness and depth that comes to us when we open our lives to God’s way of holiness. 

The other issue connected to these terms is the slow transition from night to day.  We all know that there is a short time of overlap – we call it the dawn – when the darkness is beginning to be replaced by the light, but it still isn’t quite complete yet.  This is related to our growth in Christ, and the sanctification that slowly gains momentum in our life.

 Third, the “deeds of darkness” versus “the armor of light” – is simply the burden that blankets us because of our sin, compared to what the glory and truth of God can do for us.  This difference is further reinforced in the final verse of this passage – “clothe yourself with the LORD Jesus Christ” compared to “gratifying the desires of the flesh”.  The first assures us that a life in Christ brings His truth, His hope and all of His glorious promises into our entire being, while the other means that we are only interested in living a life of personal gratification and worldly function.

 The darkness of night will always be devoid of Godly purpose, while the armor of light brings the glory of God to surround us, to challenge us, to call us, to guide us, and to bless us.  The dawn, especially during that earliest hint of the coming day, is a time of danger when we can still stumble, and misunderstand, and make decisions that lead us away from the light and back into the darkness of the world. 

 This is a shallow faith without a heart-felt commitment to living a full and precious life in Jesus, and may be what Wesley was referring to when he wrote “May the Lord God … preserve me, from such a poor, starved religion as this!”

 Read 1 Peter 1:6-9

 When Peter wrote about the “proven genuineness of [our] faith” having great value, we are to understand that simple faith is no longer sufficient – that there has to be proof (unquestionable evidence) of a genuine (honest, truthful and complete) faith if Jesus is to be revealed to others through the life we are living. 

 In Romans 5:1-5, Paul wrote something similar to this – “we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” 

 In other words, don’t let the world distract you from living a true and full faith.  All will be revealed when we do, and “praise, glory, and honor” will be heaped upon our marvelous and loving God.  And when we move out of the darkness, and past the weak and minimalistic dawn of faith, we will experience the promise of faith with an “inexpressible and glorious joy”! 

 This is basically the conundrum that the United Methodist Church finds itself in today.  It isn’t my intent to question the faith, or lack thereof, in those who find it necessary to question and rewrite the means of faith, to make it more palatable to the masses of society.  But I will suggest that our hesitation to surrender to the depth and fullness of God’s ways may be the very dagger that is striking at the heart of this denomination.  Some are still walking in darkness, others are perched on the edge of dawn, and others have emerged into the fullness of God’s daylight.  And confession of our failure to truly be a people who are united in Christ is the cause of the great divide that is tearing the Church apart.

 It is only when we give up on our own desires and give a life in faith a chance, that this life will begin to live a holy, God inspired, God created, and truly faithful life that brings true glory to our precious LORD and Savior Jesus Christ!

 Will you walk in His light and life today, and give God the glory for the holy salvation that He has won for you?

 

“Beyond the Root of Christianity”

Note:  Due to icy weather conditions, worship services were cancelled at both churches.

Scripture:   1 Timothy 1:3-7; Psalm 25:8-11; Hebrews 11:1-3; Romans 8:5-8

 Today, we begin a new series that will take us through Palm Sunday, and is based on a tract that John Wesley wrote named “TheCharacter of a Methodist”.  He doesn’t explain the reason for putting this document together in that day, but it could have at least a couple of purposes for the fledgling society. 

 First, the term “methodist” was never coined by either John or any other participant in the Holy Club of Oxford University, but rather by fellow students as a dig at the strict routine and lifestyle that the club’s members observed.  Communion was celebrated every week, members fasted regularly, they refrained from frivolous entertainment and luxuries, and consistently and consciously visited the sick, the poor, and those who were in prison.  They were very “methodical” in their worship, in their accountability toward each other, and in the ways they lived.  Hence, the name of ridicule and explanation - “Methodist”.

 Second, John Wesley never actually liked the term, but he accepted it as being descriptive of this new movement in faith.  And as this new approach to true faith began to grow throughout both England and the British colonies, the tract would provide direction and focus for the new followers of Methodism.  We also need to remember that membership in the societies did not imply a relationship with any formal denomination.  The people were Anglicans, Presbyterians, Arminians, Calvinists, and probably a few who were non-denominational and even non-Christians.

 In his tract, he made it very clear that being a Methodist had nothing to do with formal liturgy, or individual opinions and interpretations, or dedication to any denominational concept.  Wesley wrote “We believe Christ to be the eternal supreme God, and herein are we distinguished from the Socinians and Arians. But as to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think. So that whatsoever they are, whether right or wrong, they are no distinguishing marks of a methodist.” 

 It would seem that Methodism must go beyond anything that we know about “religion”, and center on all that Jesus taught us about the depth of faith and trust in Him.

 And so, we begin to consider what it truly means to be a Methodist.

 Read 1 Timothy 1:3-7

 Paul had spent about three years in Ephesus, teaching, challenging, and growing the church, but now it was time for him to move on to the next place that the LORD had called him to.  But he couldn’t just leave and let an inexperienced person lead the people - he was entrusting this church to the care of his trusted and beloved friend Timothy. 

 The Church of Ephesus had its own internal struggles, even while they had at least a measure of faith.  They would be the first of seven churches mentioned in Revelation, where God tells them “You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Revelation2:4-5)

 And it would be Timothy’s task to call them to account for their “fall”.  Teachers in the church were deviating from the truth of the gospel, and it apparently wasn’t just a few misunderstandings!  The problem was that they were proclaiming personal opinions and un-Christ like ideas, in place of the truth of Godly ways which come by faith in Jesus Christ.  In verse 6, Paul writes that “Some have departed from these (true teachings) and have turned to meaningless talk.”  Paul obviously believes that these teachers in Ephesus don’t know what they are talking about!

 And, as a personal observation, this is where the United Methodist Church finds itself today, and what has brought about the significant movement toward separation.  Methodism requires a commitment to the full truth of scripture and a dedication to trust in what Jesus taught, not in what humanity would like faith to mean.

 Read Psalm 25:8-11

 This Psalm is attributed to King David, who the LORD described as “a man after my own heart”. (Acts 13:21-22) David believed, as should we, that it is God’s words and guidance that we should trust for all of our learning and growing in faith, not in our own understanding or desires.  While this Psalm, in its entirety, is a plea for help from Jehovah God, this passage is primarily a song of praise.  Even the final verse is immersed in trust of the one and holy God!

 So how strong should this trust be?  Israel had always seen the sinner and the poverty stricken as unworthy of coming to the LORD, but here we see that the LORD reaches out to them!  And who is God so “loving and faithful” toward?  It’s the people who are faithful, loving and obedient to the call He places on their lives!  And when the Psalmist freely confesses his sin, and asks that he be forgiven, he knows that his faithful God will be faithful toward him.

 And so it will be for us, if we are also loving and faithful to all that the LORD has shown to us.

 Read Hebrews 11:1-3

 This passage challenges us through the definition of faith and what it should be for each of us, and, apparently, it has nothing to do with human understanding or our own desires.  We like that it involves confidence and assurance, for that implies a conviction that comes through a decision that we can make for our lives – EXCEPT that this conviction is based, not in worldly truth or physical fact, but in a hope and the unseen things of God!  It means that this confidence has little, if any, basis in our own understanding, but that it is solely in our trust that the fullness of God’s word and inspiration is always right!

 How far will this trust take us?  It takes us beyond the obvious, and into the richness, the abundance, of the LORD’s heart!  And what does that mean?  Consider the explanation of Micah 6:6-8, where the prophet reveals that it isn’t obedience to the strict command of law that is called for, but to the heart of it. He asks what does the LORD require of us?  And the answer that he offers is “To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with [our] God.”

 Note that to espouse justice, and to do merciful things, and to proclaim the way of the LORD isn’t enough – we need to love, and live, and appreciate, and strive to go beyond just the simple words of God, and immerse ourselves in the heart of God’s word.

 Read Romans 8:5-8

 When Paul wrote this passage and used the word “flesh”, he was cautioning us against a minimalistic form of faith, for this will never be the way of our God.  Matthew 7:21-23 warns us that doing the things of God will never be sufficient – that we must do them in the way and love of God, too.  A shallow faith, a surface face, a partial faith will never be the means of bringing glory to our LORD and Savior.  Faith must always be full, and loving, and discerning, and submissive to the heart and will of our Almighty God. 

 This is what John Wesley was telling us when he wrote this tract to describe the true mark of a Methodist – that just getting by in this life will never be enough, that we can’t just depend on what the legalistic side would have us believe, that God’s love must be all inclusive in both His word and in His welcome, that we must never take the word of God for granted, and that those who claim the ridiculed and demeaned name of “Methodist” must also live and walk in the fullness of that precious name of Jesus.

 “Take up your cross and follow me” (Mark 8:33-35) is far more than just a saying – it must be the heartfelt way of both a disciple and a Methodist.