“With Our Focus on Jesus”  2013

Isaiah 45:18-23          Philippians 2:1-11

 

Isaiah 45:18-23

18For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it a chaos, he formed it to be inhabited!): I am the Lord, and there is no other. 19I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, “Seek me in chaos.” I the Lord speak the truth, I declare what is right. 20Assemble yourselves and come together, draw near, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge— those who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save. 21Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the Lord? There is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is no one besides me. 22Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 23By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: “To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”

 

Philippians 2:1-11

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Try to recall a particularly inspiring   worship experience,

    one of those energizing moments where our spirits soar;

                   ~such as when a powerful choir piece touches and moves us,

                                         ~or when a congregation sings

                                                 a favorite hymn together especially well,

              ~or participating in a huge church gathering

                        with hundreds of people singing in worship together.

 

**      And what was it about those worship experiences,

               that made them so inspiring and meaningful?

 

                             I am pretty sure it had something to do with

                                    lots of people all singing the same tune together…

              … and that those many voices blending in harmony     

                        somehow helps produce a glorious sound of worship

                                          that is far more

                                             than just the sum of the individual voices.

 

 

    Something special happens when we all lift up our hearts

          and voices to praise, honor and celebrate our glorious Lord…

             … and we know instinctively

                    that it is more than just a musical event or experience.

 

*          Actually when the people of God sing praise together that way

                        the Holy Spirit’s presence, love and grace makes us one,

                                        which is an important focus of Reformed theology.

 

One of the concerns 

            that the Protestant Reformation was intending to correct

                        was that  medieval Roman Catholic worship, the mass,

                                    was performed almost entirely by the priest,

                        and the congregation was reduced to spectators watching

                             with very little sense of active participation.  

 

In contrast to performers doing everything for the spectators,

                the early Reformers

                        put tremendous emphasis on congregational singing.

             In fact, both Martin Luther and John Calvin are responsible

                 for several hymns that we still sing from time to time.

 

More than just the music itself,

            they were convinced that when we sing together,

                        and when we listen, and we blend our voices in worship,

                                    it expresses our Christian fellowship and unity.

 

The many voices singing in harmony become a visible sign

            and reminder  that   all are loved, precious and called by God,

                        and that we all have something meaningful to contribute.

 

When there is a solo artist,

    there is an inherent focus on their voice and skill,

                            that is different than

                                    the blended harmony of congregational singing…

… and the participation by everyone

          represents an important part of our theology…

                    … inferring   by the worship and singing we share,

                             that we are one in community   by the faith we share,

                       and with all of us focused on our Lord Jesus Christ,

                             the other stuff that may divide us,  fades away.

 

The passage we read from Paul’s letter to the Philippians

            proclaims that same sense of  communal theology,

                        of everyone listening, and blending their voices

                             by singing the same tune together in harmony…

                          … with our focus on Jesus instead of our differences.

 

In the ancient world,

            there was considerable emphasis on social status

                        and the rights and privileges due to one’s position.

 

The city of Philippi was a privileged and favored colony of Rome.

           Its citizens were very conscious of that elevated status,

                        and were opposed and hostile toward the Christians.

 

That put pressure on the church from the outside,

            in addition to disagreements among themselves on the inside…

 

  … so Paul urges them, vs. 1-2

            If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

                       

Paul’s point was, that ifà

           their faith was authentic and actually meant something,

                        then they must cooperate and be united in their faith.

 

“If there is anything

       that will give you the strength, courage and support you need,

                   it will come from the faith you share in Jesus Christ…

                              … so you must all be singing to the same music,

                                      listen and blend your voices together in harmony.”

 

By this,

               Paul isn’t saying that we all have to agree on everything,

                        or that we all must share the same ideas and opinions.

            But as Christians, the most important truth in life

               is that God loves us and through Jesus we are saved.

 

    That single and most critical truth unites all Christians,

          and to follow Jesus as his disciples   is our life’s priority-

                   not all the other stuff that can distract and divide us.

 

So Paul is urging the Christians in Philippi to focus on Jesus--

            - to be of one mind, focused on the life and teaching of Jesus-

 

  -then in the next section, Paul illustrates that message,

            by pointing to the truth and sacrifice of Jesus.  vs. 5-8

                        Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.

 

Paul first urges his friends, “be of the same mind”,

            then specified,

                        “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.”

 

* So what was the Christ’s example,  or the “mind of Christ”?

 

      It was humble servanthood, in contrast

            to the status-seeking and self-promotion of their world.

In contrast to the status conscious culture around them,

   be a community of grace, one that reflects Jesus Christ.

 

As Paul explains, Jesus had the highest status possible,

            “he was in the form of God”, “but emptied himself,

                        taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.”

Literally, Jesus poured himself out for our salvation…

            … or as John Calvin described it,

                   “he let the humility of flesh   cover the divine majesty.”

 

The lesson is that Jesus surrendered his high status,

            and accepted slave status of human flesh;

                        his whole life submitted for God’s will and purpose;

 

- and from that example, Paul is urging the Philippian Christians

            also to surrender their status, their rights and desires,

                        try to cooperate and get along for the benefit of all—

            - all for the sake of discipleship  and their mission,

                        and serve together  to build-up the Kingdom of God.

 

  Then Paul pointed out, how God vindicated and glorified

            the obedient self-denying sacrifice of Jesus with victory,

                        that had been promised through the prophet Isaiah.

vs. 9-11

            Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Those words and that image, “every knee and every tongue”

            comes from a promise that was given through Isaiah

                        toward the end of the Babylonian exile and captivity.

 

It was a very discouraging time for the Jewish people.

            They had been defeated and scattered all over the world,

                        and they were questioning God, God’s reign and power.

            Their world didn’t look   much like God was really in charge,

                        and there didn’t seem to be any plan or purpose in play.

 

So in response, the prophet begins by reassuring the people

            that God created all that is for a definite purpose,

                        for humanity to dwell with God in relationship.

 

            But when Adam and Eve rejected God’s plan and command,

                        by turning aside from God, their sin had produced chaos.

 

But the prophet assures the people, that despite human failure,

            God’s purpose will not and cannot be thwarted –

                        - there are no other gods, there are no other options,

                                         and the sovereignty of God will not be overthrown

                                                just because humans choose to sin and rebel,--

                             -- and eventually, everybody is going to know it.    

 

The promise and word of hope mentioned by Paul comes from  vs. 22-23

            Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: “To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”

 

            The victory of the Lord and his will, these are certain,

                        and every knee shall bow, every tongue will confess it…

                                                … so turn to me and be saved, there is no other.

 

Building on that, the message to the Philippians,

            was to focus on Jesus, by having the mind of Christ,

                              by making their attitude

                                     consistent with the life and teaching of Jesus.

 

            And in humility, set aside their selfish desires and rights,

                        so that God can accomplish the Kingdom through them…

 

                        … and with singular focus on Jesus, be a faith community

                              that sings together  the same tune in joyful harmony…

… which is always an appropriate lesson for the Church.

 

I am always amazed by all that the Lord can accomplish when

            we, the children of God are focused on Jesus, and willing

                  to serve in harmony toward accomplishing our mission.

 

One time it was decided

            that we needed a garage for parking the church vans.

                        So plans were drawn up, the materials were gathered,

                                    and volunteers

                                                working together built the garage in one day.

*        Isn’t it amazing what can be accomplished when God’s people

                   focus on Jesus and decide  to work together in harmony?

 

Back in July, while I was away on my sabbatical,

            I woke up one night in a terrible panic, and feeling anxious,

               and worried about our youth and children’s programs,

                   and wondered how we would manage, being so short on staff.

 

     With so little time or plans in place, how could we possibly

            be ready in time for Salt and Light to start in the fall?

  So I wanted to start making plans and lists, and phone calls.

 

But it was also clear that despite my anxiety and concerns,

            the point and purpose of a sabbatical   was not about

                trying to make plans and arrangements for Salt & Light…

… and I had to wait, obey, and trust that the Lord would provide.

 

I have been absolutely amazed and thrilled to see

            how quickly and eagerly volunteers have responded,

                        all that God is accomplishing among us… in abundance.

 

            We are ready to go with joy and anticipation,

                        for the Lord has called volunteers and planners …

                                    … and no doubt, this semester will be wonderful,

                and that together we will make a difference

                        in many lives, in meaningful ways, to the glory of God.

It’s a God-thing, and we need to give thanks.

 

This world, our culture ,

            so many things are changing and seem less secure these days --

                        and for the church, challenges are huge, even daunting…

… so how do we respond?

 

We could let our struggles overwhelm, distract us, and divide us,

            or we will keep our focus set on Jesus

                        and follow as faithful disciples,  our eyes on mission.

 

            Our call is not for us to be perfect, or to figure it all out,

                        but it is for us to be authentic, faithful and focused,

                           reflecting the grace that we ourselves have received.

 

I read this in an article recently, and I think it applies.

          It’s not just inviting Jesus into  my heart,

                        but allowing the Lord to reign and change my heart.

 

          It’s not just receiving Jesus as my friend and Savior,

                        but actually following Jesus as my Lord,

                                    and a discipleship that means giving up my rights

                                        according to the will, purpose and glory of God.   

 

As Jesus explained about who we are and our focus,    Matthew 5:14-16

            You are the light of the world.

                        A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 

                                    In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.