GAB
May 8th, 2005, 11:51 AM
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Laurel, Maryland
7th Sunday of Easter, 8 May 2005
Pastor Michael Flannery
Sermon texts:
Acts 1: 6-14
1 Peter 4:12-14, 5: 6-11
John 17:1-11
Matthew 20:28
As a boy, Pastor Michael was afraid. He did not grow up in a great situation. His mother and father fought, especially when Dad, who worked late, stopped by a bar on the way home. However, he learned from Sunday School that Jesus was with him in the room, even when frightened.
Knowing that Jesus is with him always has helped him through the phases of his life, from his dreams of building within the church, to enabling him to help carry out the Great Commission, to being able to reply confidently when someone says "there is no God." This is not true, for Christ has been with Michael.
During Easter, we have been focusing on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:20. Today's focus is "I am with you;" a promise for everyone. Jesus will be with us for all eternity. He is with us personally.
Loneliness is terrible We were made to be in a community: our parents, our family, and with spiritual believers in community. Yet often we live lives in isolation. By personality and preference, Pastor Michael is an introvert. (So am I, by the way.) But we also can deliberately isolate ourselves; we can build walls around us, and we can find ourselves out of the community by our own doing--our sin, our anger--and we think that we are alone. But we are never alone! When we are moving away from others because of our sin and selfishness, God comes to us and says "we are not alone!" We can try to isolate ourselves, but God is with us.
People ask Pastor Michael "Where was God on 9/11?" He replies, "Where He always is: grieving over the sin and isolation of a fallen humanity."
God is with us even in suffering. Sometimes He leaves us alone so we can be alone with Him. He teaches us when we have nothing else to turn to. When we are alone, ask "What are You trying to teach me?"
In 1 Peter 5:10-11, Peter says "And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen."
In a little while--it doesn't seem like a little while while we are suffering. But it is a little while.
God is a God of grace. He is not a God of punishment. He is not a God of 'getting even." He will restore you.
Peter talks about us suffering for our fatih, but this can apply to ALL suffering.
In Acts 1:9, Jesus ascends into heaven. "When he has said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight."
Jesus was lifted so He would be available to all.
Jesus was lifted so He could prepare a place for us.
Jesus was lifted so He could intercede before the Father.
We are talking to a real Person, and He never puts us on hold!
There is a picture many have seen of a man holding a hammer--he represents the fact we all were responsible for Christ's crucifixion. However, he is fainting, and it is Jesus who holds him up.
He never leaves us alone, and this enables the church to do its mission. In Acts 1:8, Jesus says "But you weill receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
"You will be My people in missions," He says. We can't all be missionaries, but we can all be witnesses.
He has called us to ministry and mission, but not OUR mission:
Not our pet projects.
Not the ministry we've had for years.
His mission. If we let Him do His work and get out of the way, it is His mission. Sometimes God has to say, "Michael, get out of the way and let the people of God do their work!"
In John 17:20, Jesus is praying on our behalf. He is always praying on our behalf. He lifts the Church up in prayer always, always.
Jesus is with you at the doctors' office, when you hear that diagnosis you hoped not to hear.
Jesus is with you when you are trying a new thing and you're afraid.
Jesus is with you when you are at work in a workplace hostile to Him.
Jesus is with you when you are holding your hurting child.
Jesus is with you when your child tells you "Mom, Dad, I'm struggling with my faith."
Jesus is with you when you are in a new ministry.
You are never alone.
7th Sunday of Easter, 8 May 2005
Pastor Michael Flannery
Sermon texts:
Acts 1: 6-14
1 Peter 4:12-14, 5: 6-11
John 17:1-11
Matthew 20:28
As a boy, Pastor Michael was afraid. He did not grow up in a great situation. His mother and father fought, especially when Dad, who worked late, stopped by a bar on the way home. However, he learned from Sunday School that Jesus was with him in the room, even when frightened.
Knowing that Jesus is with him always has helped him through the phases of his life, from his dreams of building within the church, to enabling him to help carry out the Great Commission, to being able to reply confidently when someone says "there is no God." This is not true, for Christ has been with Michael.
During Easter, we have been focusing on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:20. Today's focus is "I am with you;" a promise for everyone. Jesus will be with us for all eternity. He is with us personally.
Loneliness is terrible We were made to be in a community: our parents, our family, and with spiritual believers in community. Yet often we live lives in isolation. By personality and preference, Pastor Michael is an introvert. (So am I, by the way.) But we also can deliberately isolate ourselves; we can build walls around us, and we can find ourselves out of the community by our own doing--our sin, our anger--and we think that we are alone. But we are never alone! When we are moving away from others because of our sin and selfishness, God comes to us and says "we are not alone!" We can try to isolate ourselves, but God is with us.
People ask Pastor Michael "Where was God on 9/11?" He replies, "Where He always is: grieving over the sin and isolation of a fallen humanity."
God is with us even in suffering. Sometimes He leaves us alone so we can be alone with Him. He teaches us when we have nothing else to turn to. When we are alone, ask "What are You trying to teach me?"
In 1 Peter 5:10-11, Peter says "And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen."
In a little while--it doesn't seem like a little while while we are suffering. But it is a little while.
God is a God of grace. He is not a God of punishment. He is not a God of 'getting even." He will restore you.
Peter talks about us suffering for our fatih, but this can apply to ALL suffering.
In Acts 1:9, Jesus ascends into heaven. "When he has said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight."
Jesus was lifted so He would be available to all.
Jesus was lifted so He could prepare a place for us.
Jesus was lifted so He could intercede before the Father.
We are talking to a real Person, and He never puts us on hold!
There is a picture many have seen of a man holding a hammer--he represents the fact we all were responsible for Christ's crucifixion. However, he is fainting, and it is Jesus who holds him up.
He never leaves us alone, and this enables the church to do its mission. In Acts 1:8, Jesus says "But you weill receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
"You will be My people in missions," He says. We can't all be missionaries, but we can all be witnesses.
He has called us to ministry and mission, but not OUR mission:
Not our pet projects.
Not the ministry we've had for years.
His mission. If we let Him do His work and get out of the way, it is His mission. Sometimes God has to say, "Michael, get out of the way and let the people of God do their work!"
In John 17:20, Jesus is praying on our behalf. He is always praying on our behalf. He lifts the Church up in prayer always, always.
Jesus is with you at the doctors' office, when you hear that diagnosis you hoped not to hear.
Jesus is with you when you are trying a new thing and you're afraid.
Jesus is with you when you are at work in a workplace hostile to Him.
Jesus is with you when you are holding your hurting child.
Jesus is with you when your child tells you "Mom, Dad, I'm struggling with my faith."
Jesus is with you when you are in a new ministry.
You are never alone.