Celebration worship
Today, on the week of the 250th anniversary of the United States, I want to talk about key reminders to consider in our walk with Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we appreciate His provision in our lives. Each Sunday, we recite the Affirmations of the Creeds that “For our sakes Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate. “ We even believe that He is first in all we do. Our Lord’s Prayer teaches us to seek the will of Jesus “On earth, as it is in heaven.” Having said that, sometimes we need daily reminders about the place of Jesus in our lives, don’t we? Sometimes, we are simply a forgetful people. As a former History teacher, one of the most forgetful yet important moments I would teach kids in US History was the year 1787. The former American colonies (now independent states) were struggling under the weak government created by the Articles of Confederation. The national government had little power to collect taxes, regulate trade, or maintain order, and many leaders feared the young nation might fall apart. To address these problems, delegates from twelve states met at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Leaders such as George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin debated how to create a stronger national government while protecting the rights of the states and the people. All knew it would be a time of transition for the nation, but that a change was needed to move the people in each state forward. At the beginning of the gathering however, there was a lot of talking and not much compromise. The transition to something new wasn’t looking very promising. Ben Franklin then gave one of the more famous speeches in the nation’s history. Some of which are quoted below, and in full is kept in the Library of Congress. Addressing the Chair of the Convention, Ben Franklin declares
“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men.”
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Franklin reminded the delegates that they had prayed for divine assistance during the dark days of the American Revolution, and had been blessed by their efforts with His presence in such a adverse time and asked:
“Have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without Hiis notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that “except the Lord build the House they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel before God brought it down in the Book of Genesis: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a byword down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest. I therefore beg leave to move — that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service.”
While the motion did not pass due to a lack of funds, the nation did adopt it as a practice years later, before each session of Congress, to open it in prayer. Also, after months of discussion, debate, and compromise, the delegates produced the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787. The document then had to be ratified by at least nine states. This sparked intense debate between the Federalists, who favored the new Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who feared the federal government would become too powerful and threaten individual liberties. The ratification process was not just a political debate—it was a national conversation about what kind of country the United States would become. Many states ultimately agreed to ratify the Constitution after promises were made to add a United States Bill of Rights, which would protect fundamental freedoms. Here is my question: Would the nation have made it, if Franklin had not give that reminder to pray? These men believed that God governed the affairs of men, but still needed a reminder to seek His assistance as the nation went through a season of transition. Do we need that reminder of who Jesus is today? After all, First Methodist is in a transition season as well. The Bible says yes. Let’s talk reminders of who God is so we can seek His help daily in the weeks ahead , and not just on Sunday.
God is a God of grace: “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”-Romans 6:11-12, 14. The Grace of God simply defined is this: God showing favor and blessings on sinners. Sometimes we take this favor from God to far don’t we? A lot of times, “you are not under the law but under grace” is used as an excuse to sin. A person today will say “it doesn’t matter if I sin, God will forgive me, right?” But remember, Paul is writing a group of Christians. He is writing them to remind them just how fortunate they are to be friends with Jesus. “We were therefore buried withhim through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”- Romans 6:4. Think of generous that verse is! In our worse moments, when we admit we can no longer live without help, Christ is with us! How fortunate are we indeed! Our lives should then reflect just how fortunate they are in Christ.The 16th-century theologian Martin Luther put it well: Grace makes Christ and His law lovable. Which is also true for our own lives, isn’t it? I asked the Council a few weeks ago, how fortunate are we to be followers of Jesus? I could be doing something else. As disciples in His church, we could be doing something else that depends on finances, a bottom line, etc. Yet, thanks be to God that is not the case! As followers of Jesus, we could have a million dollars in the bank, the best leaders and facilities, but if we don’t have the grace of Jesus, none of it matters! To paraphrase a great song I heard the other day. If all I saw was Him, I would see it all. If I only met Him under a tree, that’s all I would need. If all I had to offer Him was two cents, it would be enough because of who I gave it to!! His presence is the blessing, see? That is what it means to be under a God of grace.
God is a God of freedom: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”-Galatians 5:1. When Paul says Christ has died to set us free, He is saying Jesus has given us worth that no amount of work can ever surpass. Biblical freedom is not a lack of rules or doing whatever you want, but living under the rules and will of Jesus: Therefore, don’t go back to a way of thinking life is up to you and me: “Do not let yourself be burdened again to a yoke of slavery.” Friends, we live in a world that works really hard to program us to believe we don’t follow anyone. That we are the masters of our fate, and the captains of our souls. Friends, that is not freedom, it is a burden we were never meant to carry. Do you feel that burden to live up to a standard you can never reach? Your job has high expectations, your circle of friends and family loves you, but you feel like you can never do enough for them. I confess I relapse into that line of thinking often. But as Jd Walt said in his Exodus Devotional: “Our worth does not come from what we can do for God, but who we are in Christ.”
Our freedom in Christ is whispered throughout the New Testament, in particular in Colossians 1: “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”-Colossians 1:13-14. I want to remind you briefly about 3 words of worth and freedom In Christ that might be helpful for you this week. We have been rescued. To be rescued is to be saved, dragged out of danger. Already, any believer should know just how important they are to God. You are of infinite worth to God, so much that He came in flesh in Jesus to live, teach, die, and raise from the dead so we might be saved from sin!
We have also been transferred. Friends, what a reminder!! We were lost, wandering and wondering what our future would be like, and, through Christ, our position and status have been changed because of Jesus! Our life now has purpose and fulfillment because Jesus came to the devil‘s desk and said, “Set down my name sir, I have authority n their lives now!” The prophet Isaiah tells God’s posture beautifully: “I have redeemed Israel, I have called ______(fill in the blank with your name!), they are mine!”-Isaiah 43:1.
In Christ, we have redemption. I told the story a few weeks ago of how I wasn’t ready to date when my brother Christ and Paul moved out to get married. The other half of that story goes like this. I fell for comparison syndrome very quickly. I compared my life to theirs, and just knew somewhere I was missing it. I am and will always grateful for what Mom and Dad did for me in that time, it was very tempting to compare to what Paul and Chris were doing. But then I went to worship at the shelter Jacob’s Ladder in the Depot District in Lubbock. I don’t remember why I went, I do remmber the song that reminded me I didn’t need to compare to what Paul and Chris are doing anymore. A simple verse, but powerful, and changed my mindset.
“Praise the name of Jesus, Praise the name of Jesus, He is my rock, He is my fortress, He is my Deliverer in whom shall I trust. Praise the name of Jesus.”
I still compare some, but that memory of knowing I was redeemed in Christ told me that comparison to others is wrong. To covet more of Christ is to live under His calling and purposes, not covet what someone else is doing. I would meet Rhiannon two years after that Holy moment.
What reminder about the goodness of God do you need in this season? To get the reminder I need, I turn to scripture and Benjamin Franklin. “My grace is sufficient for you, my grace is made perfect in weakness.”-2 Corinthians 12:9. Don’t sweat your weaknesses, friends.Did it ever occur to you God put you were you are because of your weaknesses? You and I are not alone are we? Ben Franklin’s counsel to remember God is with us is noted: Remember to pray. Keep seeking the will and purposes of Jesus. For centuries, He has taken care of the nation, of His church, and of you and me, weaknesses and all! Scripture testifies hat He has not given up on us. In Christ, He never will. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.