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The Coming King

Isaiah 9:2-7

Preached on Sunday, 21st December 2008

Introduction

In the news this week: The Archbishop of Canterbury and Gordon Brown were at loggerheads last night over the morality of the Government's plans for Britain to spend its way out of recession.

Dr Rowan Williams took the extraordinary step of suggesting that Labour's high-spending solution to the economic crisis was like 'an addict returning to the drug'.

The leader of the Anglican faith also encouraged people to ignore the Government's encouragement to go shopping to save the economy. But his intervention prompted Mr Brown, the son of a Scottish Presbyterian minister, to invoke scripture by insisting he would not 'walk on by' when others were in difficulty.

The Prime Minister appeared to be likening himself to the Good Samaritan in the Bible parable and the Archbishop to the priest who ignored the plight of a robbery victim.

Was the Archbishop right to make comment on government policy? I think yes. Jesus is the hope of the world. When we read this prophecy of Isaiah at Christmas we often think of it in personal terms, when in fact it is really about a king who is coming to reign. It is telling us about the kind of reign he is coming to bring. The government will be on his shoulders. More and more Christians are waking up to this fact. This is at the heart of the Good News. This is at the heart of the Christmas message. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not about a private spirituality and the promise of an escape hatch out of this world altogether: ‘fit us for heaven, to live with thee there’ as in one of the most twee (and one of my least favourite carols) declares. Instead ‘his kingdom shall increase continually’. The angels announced a birth to the shepherds and Mary that heaven is taking over the running of earth. Which is why in Luke’s gospel we get the mention of who was ruling and reigning – not to give historical perspective. But to say during the reign of an emperor who called himself “lord of the earth” another lord was born – the king of kings and lord of lords.

Many people would say to us how is the message of a baby born so long ago good news for us today? The question is what sort of Good News do we have for people? I said last week that the C of E has reported increased numbers at this time. People are looking for hope and help. We’ve seen how that Isaiah was speaking to his nation in dark times, very dark times – economically, morally, spiritually and politically. But there was a message of hope – a baby was to be born, a son. The Messiah, he was going to bring light and hope and joy. There needs to be hope spread about at this time in our nation and at this time with all the economic turmoil, people losing their jobs, people losing their homes, terrorism, moral and spiritual problems in our nation etc. What we find in this passage is a message that Christ is not just light dispelling the darkness but a child to be born who would rule, be the king, who would take upon his shoulders the government. The Message puts it like this: For a child has been born - for us! the gift of a son - for us! He'll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. 7 His ruling authority will grow, and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings. He'll rule from the historic David throne over that promised kingdom. He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going With fair dealing and right living, beginning now and lasting always. The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies will do all this. God Answered Fire with Fire

Wonderful Counsellor

Contemporary kings of Judah had been disastrously advised. Powerless in warfare, they had failed abjectly. Isaiah tells of a coming king whose counsel would be wonderful. All leaders receive constant advice. If they fail to receive good advice then the likelihood is that they will not govern well. Isaiah’s prophecy is that this king will be a fantastic counselor. His rule will be a wise one. In these days when governments are struggling to cope with the numerous problems nations face how we need leadership that is wise. How we need people who are in touch with the Wonderful Counsellor to advise those in charge, to do the right things in the right ways at the right time. That is what we need to pray for. In Scripture we are told to pray for those who rule: 1TI 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- [2] for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. [3] This is good, and pleases God our Savior, [4] who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

We should be praying for governments, prime ministers and presidents, that they will know something of the Wonderful Counsel.

Mighty God

This is a reference to his power “in battle God-like”. Israel had suffered defeat at the hands of their enemies. But a king was coming who would ensure that evil would not triumph, darkness would not overcome light. Later he speaks of how justice and righteousness would prevail in contrast to what was currently happening in the nation. There remains much injustice and unrighteousness. The kingdom of this child would be established and so would these qualities of justice and righteousness. We are part of that process. In previous generations we can point to William Wilberforce and others who worked to bring about justice and righteousness. John Glass in his editorial in Direction mentions a story that I heard him speak of recently. Whilst in Ghana he went to a place on the coast where slaves were kept before their terrible voyage. The unbelievably cramped and squalid conditions they lived in. Yet within sight of this place was a pretty whitewashed building that served as a church for the slave masters and their families in their fine clothes. The Good News is not about private religion – but about “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. We can all be part of that in small ways if not large.

Everlasting Father

Not referring to God the Father, but rather to the fact he would be like a father to the nation. His rule would be one of compassion. He would genuinely care for his people. When you look at a nation like Zimbabwe where many people are dying and the leadership of the nation doesn’t seem to care the contrast becomes clearer. The rule of King Jesus is a benevolent one and his care is genuine. God’s rule is not a tyrannical one. People have a choice as to whether they want to be part of it or not.

Conclusion

I will leave the title Prince of Peace to Christmas morning. But when we put the picture together of what Isaiah was talking about we see that the child he spoke would establish a kingdom whose rule would extend and bring blessing. Which is why it is so relevant to today at this time when there are so man problems people are facing. Many people would say how is the message of Christmas relevant? Isaiah’s answer is because the real king has come. Jesus himself declared that the kingdom came with him. It’s time Christmas got its edge back – not just a sentimental time but a time when we remember that a revolution was started. The job won’t be completed until he comes again, but in the meantime we are part of God’s chosen taskforce charged with introducing God’s rule more and more. Christmas is about God acting in the real world. The zeal of the Lord of hosts, says Isaiah, will do this. The way God’s zeal goes to work is through the cheerful and prayerful zeal of God’s people.

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The Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9:2-7

Preached on Christmas Day 2008

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Introduction

The year was 1809. The world was in an upheaval. Napoleon was sweeping through Austria and soldiers from many countries were dying on the battlefield. The fate of entire kingdoms and nations hung in the balance and the world as people knew it seemed on the very edge of collapse. It was 1809. And in that same year several significant people were born: William Gladstone - destined to become one Britain’s finest statesmen. The poet Tennyson was born to an obscure preacher and wife. It was also in that same year the wife of a physician named Darwin gave birth to their child and named him Charles Robert who was to so influence biology. And that same year produced the cries of a newborn infant in a rugged cabin in Kentucky, the baby’s name: Abraham Lincoln.

If there had been a news broadcast at that back in 1809 these words would have been heard: “The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today.” But history was actually being shaped in the cradles of England and America. Similarly, everyone thought taxation was the big news--when Jesus was born. But a young Jewish woman cradled the biggest news of all: the birth of the Saviour.

As we’ve seen Isaiah was speaking to his nation in dark times, very dark times – economically, morally, spiritually and politically. But there was a message of hope – a baby was to be born, a son. The Messiah, he was going to bring light and hope and joy. There is much doom and gloom around at the moment. The news would have us believe that the destiny of the world is being shaped in the deliberations of the G8 nations, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Barack Obama. When in fact the world’s destiny could be influenced far more by an infant newly born in a maternity unit or home somewhere on the planet. Who and where we just do not know. But it is the birth of this one baby we are celebrating today – called the Prince of Peace.

“peace on earth”!

If God were to write a Christmas card to the world this is probably what it would have on the outside, since it is what the first Christmas message passed on by the angels. The word the angels would have used to those shepherds was the one Isaiah used, “SHALOM”. It is how a Jewish person would greet someone. We’d say “hello” – they say “shalom” the word that is nearest to it in English is peace, but that doesn’t do it, it is untranslatable. So on the inside of God’s card might elaborate on God’s Christmas wish with things like:

• Live Long and Prosper in the New Year. When we say, “We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year we are expressing something of God’s heart in declaring peace on earth. Jews still use “shalom” to greet one another. In the old version of Star Trek Mr.Spock from the planet Vulcan had a special greeting - LIVE LONG AND PROSPER. That is a bit like what “Shalom” means. It is what Christmas is about. Jesus was born to bring God’s peace, “shalom” to the world - he was saying live long and prosper.
• Deep sense of well-being. We talk about being a person being “at peace” (not just when they are dead!”) God’s goal is that all people will have a deep sense of well-being. That things would go really well and we have a great life.
• Inner peace – God wants us to know his peace in our hearts, freedom from fear, anxiety, and worry.
• Harmonious relationships with God and others. God wants people reconciled to him and to one another. This is of course critical, because until we are reconciled to God how can we truly know his peace? How can we know peace with others?

The Prince

When Luke records that Caesar Augustus reigned when Jesus was born everyone in Luke’s day knew he had turned Rome into the greatest empire of them all. He used the term “gospel/good news” to describe his rule. The message everyone heard when Jesus was born was “Divine Augustus Caesar, son of god, imperator of land and sea, the benefactor and saviour of the whole world has brought you peace.” Augustus had achieved this Pax Romana by military might and the threat that anyone challenging this “peace” would be crucified. Luke records the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy - whilst the child is born on a hillside, outside Bethlehem, angels announce to shepherds that a saviour has been born, not Caesar the Lord, but Christ the Lord. They declare that God’s peace and favour is now with men. Isaiah foretold hundreds of years before that this one who had now been born would be called the “Prince of Peace”! The Prince of Peace had now arrived. He was born to deal with those things that prevent God’s shalom filling the earth – greed, selfishness, hatred – in short sin.

Conclusion

How can we see more of this rule – because it is by no means everywhere? By more and more people making this Prince of Peace their ruler, trusting him and following him, living life his way. It is what we should be believing, praying and working for. But a son is born, wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting father, Prince of Peace. That is why we hope and celebrate.

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God Why don;t you do something?

Habakkuk 1:1-11

Preached on 4th January 2009

Introduction

Not many people forecast at the beginning of 2008 the kind of turmoil in the world that would be experienced by the end of it. On this first Sunday of 2009 we look ahead to a new year, not knowing what will happen. We look around us and with all the doom and gloom may have real concerns. In the first few weeks of this year I want us to have a quick look at one of the Old Testament prophets. I am finding that they are remarkably up to date and relevant – and neglected. So step forward Habakkuk. Who can spell his name?

The trouble with the prophets we the bible doesn’t come with an explanation of the context of their lives. History of OT is that around 900 BC after Solomon Israel divides in two Israel in north and Judah in South. In 722BC Israel falls to Assyrians and is no more. This leaves Judah on its own. During the next century Judah repeatedly falls into sin and idolatry. But in 621BC there is a religious revival under a new boy king Josiah.

Habakkuk fits in a few years after this – maybe around 615?BC. Habakkuk knows the Babylonians are on the rise soon to take over from the Assyrians and he prophesies into the state of his nation. His message has something to say to us in 2009.

1.  Habakkuk has a moan (ch. 1:1-4)

Do you ever moan and complain to God? What have you whinged about lately when you have prayed? It’s okay to do – there is a strong biblical tradition of moaning prayers! Lots of the Psalms are just that. God is not some delicate wall flower, who will fall apart if we have a moan, nor is he some precious Diva who will throw a tantrum if we dare to complain. Nor is he a megolamaniac who will destroy all who dare to speak out of turn. If you have to have a moan then it is to God that we should direct it.

Why does he moan? Well Habakkuk looks out on a world where sin is in control. His nation has turned its back on God, moral depravity is everywhere, there seemed to be little hope of revival. Josiah’s renewal had achieved little - prophets like him are disillusioned and disappointed that the renewal had proved superficial, hardly touching society at large. His complaint why didn’t God do something? Sound familiar?

We can identify with him and say that our nation is in a similar predicament, having largely turned its back on God, in moral meltdown and there have been renewal movements – Charismatic renewal in 60’s and 70’s, Toronto Blessing in the 90’s, which have largely failed to touch society at large. The word “oracle” in v.1 can mean burden or “problem” as in the Message. All of this weighed heavily on Habakkuk. Sometimes we feel that burden, we see the news, we are in conversation with someone or personally know of a situation where we sigh deeply and inside we pray – “God do something!” That is the essence of prayer – something that comes from deep within us, a cry from the heart. Not some perfectly constructed piece of prose that dots the theological i’s and crosses the t’s. When you feel like that pray away that is the kind of prayer that God loves to hear – from the heart.

Habakkuk clearly prays with his eyes wide open to all that is going on around him. As Christians we should be concerned about the world around us. Traditionally the Jews prayed with their eyes open. That means people in the bible probably prayed like that. The hands together eyes closed in not very biblical. Perhaps it springs from the desire to shut all else out. But prayer is not about shutting all else out but seeing all that is around us and talking to God about it – even if it is a moan! So let us bring before God as does Habakkuk the knife crime that made such news in 2008. Let us bring to God the injustice of the poor suffering, not just at the hands of Mugabe, but at our hands too when we buy goods made by a 9 year old in a sweat shop for a pittance. Many other things may come to your mind too. The good thing about our society is that we can become the answer to our own prayers, we can sometimes do more than pray we can do something about these situations.

2.  God’s Shocking Answer ch.1:5-11

Sometimes we get speedy answers to our complaints – sometimes not. Habakkuk does – but that doesn’t make it very satisfactory from his point of view. Because God’s answer shocks him to the core: verse 5 "Look around at the godless nations. Look long and hard. Brace yourself for a shock. Something's about to take place and you're going to find it hard to believe.

God is in fact already at work in his situation bringing about his purpose. At this juncture, at the outset of 2009 God is already at work. He is at work in the world, among the godless nations. He is at work in your situation, taking account of all the possibilities and variables. He is working his purpose out. As we in Britain have prayed for revival, revival has gone on in a massive scale in Africa, in South America and Asia. Hundreds of millions of people have come to Christ in China, Korea and many others nations. The answer may shock us as it did Habakkuk – God is at work just look at what were once godless nations. It is their turn now! Interestingly v.5 is quoted by Paul in Acts 13:41. When he says to the Jews that from now on the Gospel is going to the Gentiles. This was a major shock in the first century. We lose sight of the fact that the disciples of Jesus only slowly and in some cases unwillingly realised that the Gospel was for all men not just the Jews. Perhaps that kind of major shift is taking place. The message is going to those who will receive it while in the West where it has been largely rejected look on. Does that shock you? One commentator observes that the word for shock here is the strongest word for surprise – Habakkuk is gobsmacked!

This is because he is told that God is going to raise the Babylonians, godless and cruel and use them to punish God’s people. Words that were fulfilled just a few years later – a holocaust ensued, with Jerusalem laid waste, the Temple utterly destroyed, its people butchered and the best taken into captivity and exile. Habakkuk is left under no illusion God is at work, but you won’t like what I am going to let them do.

God is at work in the nations of the world. This raises complex moral issues I know (we may think of some of these next time) but it is the inescapable conclusion. The bible does not encourage deism – the belief that the world is like a clock which God has wound up and just allowed to carry on. No he is at work in history. Major shifts in power, empires rising and falling are all part of the work and continuing judgement of God. Perhaps in the current economic crisis is God working to speak to the nations?

But let us individualise this too. For in our personal circumstances God is at work in the events of our lives. He allows things to happen good and bad. Why doesn’t he do something? He is – he is supplying our needs whatever they are. Whatever is your greatest need at this time God is at work even now in your circumstances to meet that need. You may think I need x, y or z. But God says no – this is what you need and this is what I am doing. 2008 held a few surprises for me, things I didn't see coming. But in the end I can see God’s hand in it, though I don’t know what he is up to. But I can see God’s provision.

Conclusion

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Making the Most of Each Day

Relationships

2 Cor 2: 14-16; John 12:3

Preached on 23rd November 2008

Introduction

Smells – I have a sensitive sense of smell. My wife says it’s because I’ve got a big nose to smell with! Joseph when he comes home and changes out of is uniform squirts copious amounts of deodorant and fills upstairs with its fragrance. Mary in performing this famous action for Jesus filled the house with a beautiful fragrance. There was a song written by Graham Kendrick “May the fragrance of Jesus fill this place….”. You get a different fragrance from places too. It can be a school, hospital, office or church. We want the fragrance of Jesus to fill this place. What do people get from this church, what is the fragrance? The apostle Paul said we are a smell – that’s something to take away with you this morning – “You smell!” But it can be good or bad!! Sometimes someone passes you and you get a whiff of his or her perfume or aftershave, or BO! What do people get from you when they encounter you in terms of the fragrance give off by your words and deeds?

1.  The Fragrance of Jesus

Grace – There is an Old Testament which was actually 2 words put together but which I think some of the NT writers were thinking of when they used the Greek word “charis” which means grace: It is Lovingkindness. This was the fragrance of Jesus.

Truth - Truth is most powerful when it is seen in another person. A person who tells us they love us and show it. That’s truth. A person who says they will stand by us, that they will be with us, faithful and true. That is the kind of truth we are all really interested in. Someone who is honest, has integrity, genuine. That is the kind of truth John was talking about when referring to Jesus in this passage often read at Christmas. Jesus, who was his best friend, was full of grace (loving kindness) and also full of truth. He is the real deal, authentic. People could smell truth around Jesus

2.  The Fragrance of our lives

This means for the fragrance of Jesus to fill our lives we need to be…

Gracious - Why then are Christians sometimes very ungracious. Jesus calls us to be gracious in all our dealings, to show lovingkindness in all we say and do. I wonder whether the heart of the problem is that some of us have not really understood grace, we can be well versed in a theological system and not grasp the essence of God’s nature of lovingkindness. We turn grace into a scheme of salvation by which Jesus saves the world instead of understanding it as an adjective describing the character of God. When you meet someone who is truly gracious you get a whiff of Jesus. Let Jesus smell cling to you.

Authentic – the same goes for truth. In us this means authenticity, honest, integrity, genuineness. It means we are people who are not hypocrites, WYSIWYG – what you see is what you get. We not only tell the truth we live the truth. We are known for our integrity. We cannot be bought. We are the real deal – words and actions in perfect harmony.

Not everyone likes that smell of grace and truth, it is the smell of death, it highlights that their lives lack those things.

3.  The Fragrance of Jesus in this place

What will the fragrance of Jesus be like in this place? What will it look like?

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Atmosphere of grace - We need an atmosphere where there is the liberty to learn what it means to be a follower of Jesus at our own speed without being sent on a guilt trip because that leads a joyous atmosphere. We are all at different stages of the journey. We don’t have it all sorted out; we all struggle with in one form or another. Those who are not yet followers of Jesus should be able to feel at home with those who already are followers of Jesus. In these days when the lifestyles of many are a million miles from biblical holiness it may take a very long time for lives to look like the biblical model. I was reading something the other day and it gave 9 signs of a losing organisation. No. 3 was “Discouraging Culture” identified by a “blame culture; focus on problems, not opportunities; people don't have fun…; diversity is not celebrated; failures are not tolerated….”  (Fuzzy vision and lack of leadership skills were the top two).

Authentic Followers of Jesus – Jesus wants his church to be about grace and truth. He wants us to be people who follow him and obey him. We need to be serious about our genuine and authentic in our discipleship. We are all on a journey of discovery – none of us has arrived. I have spent my whole adult life (24 years) studying and trying to understand what that means. In the last few years I seem to have learned more and got nearer to the heart of what Jesus was about. I hope that continues. Jeff Lucas commented on the truth of a book in his notes recently subtitled “Almost everything we believe about God is wrong”. There is so much about God we don’t understand and have misunderstood or been misinformed about. So we as a church are about asking questions, express our doubts, feelings and fears as well as our certainties and successes. In our cells we have lots of opportunity to do this and to help each other and pray with one another. The goal is that we understand Jesus better, we become more like him and that we obey everything he commanded us. Honesty and authentic discipleship is part of what we need.

Ambassadors for the Kingdom – UNICEF employs “Good Will Ambassadors” – at Christmas the angels declared “Goodwill to me” – that is what we are Christ’s “Goodwill Ambassadors” to this world. The British Ambassador to a foreign country is charged with representing the United Kingdom. We are charged with the responsibility of representing the Kingdom God, everything we say and do matters. We do it in word and deed and it is the express wish of the King himself that we be a source of blessing to our local community, the wider community and indeed the world, that we invite people to join us in this journey of following Jesus and living out the principles he gave us. The earliest Christians grasped this: After the time of the NT they didn’t talk much about evangelism yet the church grew at a rate of about 40% per decade, in spite of the fact that persecution was a realistic possibility. Why was this? Because of the quality of the lives of the believers, their integrity and how they dealt with major life issues e.g. the pagans discarded unwanted babies on the tips. Christians went to the tips to rescue them and loved and raised them as their own. Their commitment to the sanctity of life spoke volumes. Also people wanted a decent burial and the poor could not afford this, but in the church people were buried free of charge. People were also terrified of plague, with good reason as up to one third of a population could be wiped out by it. So pagans ran away from plague hit areas. In contrast Christians were urged to stay in the cities and nurse the sick, including the pagans. Christians didn’t need to be afraid of death and so the church grew because people saw Christianity as a religion that worked and responded to people’s crises.

Conclusion

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