|
|
Back to Sermons Index Back to Home Page 13th May 2007 PMA HOLY NATION Pastor Colin Meadows Deut 28:9-10, 1 Peter 2:9-10
Ø The Acropolis – Athens’ holy mountain! We visited Greece earlier this year and enjoyed looking at some of the amazing ancient sites that are scattered around the country. Many of these are to be found in the capital Athens, with the most amazing I feel to be found on the Acropolis. This ‘high city’ of ancient buildings is situated on a limestone outcrop and has been the site for fortifications and temples for thousands of years. On the hill can be found, amongst other buildings, the Propylaia, the temple of Athena Nike and the Parthenon. The current Parthenon is thus just one of several beautiful buildings on the Acropolis. It was built in the 6th century BC and later modified around 438BC. It is considered by many to be the finest building from ancient civilizations still existing in the world. It was initially used to house a 12 metre high golden statue of the goddess Athena, with the gold alone weighing over a ton. The statue mysteriously disappeared in the 5th century BC! In the 6th Century AD it served as a church right through until 1640 when it was converted into a mosque. Later it became a fortress for storing explosives before it was blown up in 1687AD. It has been declared an archaeological site since 1854AD and reconstruction work continues to this day. Athenians refer to the Parthenon region as their holy mountain. Here is a place that is set apart from the rest of the city, a place of beauty and wonder. It was built with the illusion of perfection, with symmetry made possible by building in a 9:4 ratio. To counteract the laws of perspective, the walls are slightly curved, to give the appearance of symmetry. A very special holy building, set aside for a special purpose. In a similar way, the people of God have been set apart for a special purpose. Tonight we will look at a further image of the church, that being a ‘Holy Nation’. Just what does that mean? Ø The church – we are to be holy! The Apostle Peter speaks of the church as being many things, one of which is ‘a holy nation’. 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” To be holy means to be ‘separated or dedicated’. For the Greeks of long ago, the acropolis are in Athens was set apart to the Greek gods and venerated. The area was not to be used for any other purpose. In other words, it was declared holy. Christians are pictured as being holy, set apart for God’s purposes. We are not to allow ourselves to be used for any other purpose other than to bring glory to God. Christians thus began to be called ‘the holy ones’ or ‘separated ones’ or, as we have expressed in English, ‘saints’. Ephesians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ.” Please note that one does not earn the right to be a saint. We become a saint as we submit to the Lordship of Christ, and ask for his cleansing from sin. I read that this week in Brazil the Pope created what has been called ‘Brazil’s first saint’. The canonization of a Franciscan monk took place after three miracle cures had been attributed to him. The newspaper article noted that at least two miracles are required as proof of sainthood. That is not what the Bible teaches concerning becoming a saint. One becomes a saint by submitting to Jesus as lord and master, by repenting of our sin and asking for God’s forgiveness. A person who has done that can then be called a saint or holy one! To be holy is to share the likeness of God, to grow to become like Jesus. As we do this we will start to walk as Jesus walked. 1 John 2:5-6 “But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. As we submit to Jesus in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to empower us and constantly cleanse us, so we more and more conform to the character of Christ. We will be living as holy people, people demonstrating Christ-like characteristics to others. We can only do this as we each day ask for the Holy Spirit to empower our lives, guiding us into paths of righteous living. Yes, God’s people are called to be holy. Ø The church – we are to be a nation! We are thus called to live in holiness. We are also called to be a nation. The word ‘nation’ used here speaks of a group of people sharing things in common. In a general sense it was used of people who shared a similar culture and who spoke a similar language. For Christians it reaches to an even deeper meaning. What do you and I have in common as believers? Ephesians 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” It is truly amazing how much we share in common with other Christians. Let’s begin at the centre and move out. We have one God and Father of all, the incredible creator God of the universe. He is at the centre of all that we share as a nation of believers. We have one Lord, Jesus Christ himself as our master and commander. He unites us through his death on the cross and now empowers us through his resurrection life. We have one Holy Spirit, the promised comforter who indwells all followers of Jesus who have submitted to him as Lord. The Holy Spirit strengthens us to live in obedience to Christ. We have one faith, centred on God’s Word. As we study the Scriptures so we learn more of how God wants us to live. Romans 10:17 “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. ‘ Our faith thus grows as we listen and respond to the Word of God. We have one baptism, outwardly identified as God’s people. In the days of the New Testament, people demonstrated to the community at large that they were now followers of Jesus by the public act of baptism. There was no mistaking just who were believers and who were not. As we publicly acknowledge Jesus as Lord in baptism, so we say to the world that we are part of God’s nation, we are following Jesus, we have crossed the line. Perhaps at this point you may be thinking that it is all too much! How can we possibly live in such a way? We are struggling with life issues and feel helpless. How is it possible? Ø God will enable us to be a holy nation! God’s words to his people long ago remind us that it is He who will provide the strength. Deuteronomy 28:9 “The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways.” God will establish us as we submit to him. We must not rely on our own strength and seek to summon up the courage to live a holy lilfe, set apart for God’s use. We daily submit to the Holy Spirit, acknowledging our weakness and fraility, our sinfulness and rebellion, and asking for his cleansing and strength. We then step out by faith, trusting that God will enable us to live a life that honours him. But we need to step out in faith, to get out of our comfort zone and to walk with God. Stop being a silent believer, hiding your faith under your chair. The Apostle Peter was a follower of Christ’s who didn’t always want to step out. One time he was in a boat on the Sea of Galilee and a storm came up. The boat was at the point of sinking when Jesus came along, walking on the water. The disciples were amazed and didn’t know what they should do. Peter however knew that he had to commit publicly to Christ, to get out of the boat and follow. But he held back, frightened by the storm, afraid that he could not do what Christ was doing, walk on water. The words of Jesus to the disciples at that time are so helpful for us today Matt 14:27 “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Ø It’s time to get out of the boat! I sense that Jesus is speaking to us today about this same issue. We have been called to be a holy nation, a group of people, with so much in common, people who have been called to live holy lives, lives dedicated to God. We however are afraid of what this might mean and shrink back in fear. It is just too hard even to contemplate, we think. What should we do? Get out of the boat. Step out in faith and trust God. Peter stepped out but then he took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink. AsPeter started to sink, Jesus grabbed him and said: Matt 14:31 “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt.” Take courage, remember that Jesus is present, stop being afraid and get out of the boat! Step out in faith, trusting that the Holy Spirit will enable you to walk on water! And if you start to sink, so what! Jesus is there to grab you by the hand, just as he grabbed Peter’s hand so long ago. Get out of the boat, even if the other disciples around you are staying glued to their seats. Don’t let others hold you back from following Christ. Peter didn’t. In 1910, US President Theodore Roosevelt gave an address in Paris that I have found to be so inspirational. Part of his speech went like this: “It’s not he critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who, at best, knows achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.” Yes, step out in faith with Jesus and begin a new journey of faith. Back in the late 1970’s my wife and I sensed that God was calling us to give up teaching in High Schools in Australia and prepare to go to Africa. The more we sensed that this was what we should do, the more difficult it seemed and the more obstacles that appeared in our way. I remember at one time talking to the Principal of the Bible College we were attending, and timidly saying ‘What if we are making a mistake. What if God isn’t calling us to go to Africa. Perhaps we have got this all wrong?” He replied “So what if you are making a mistake! God will soon correct you and point you in the right direction. Step out in faith and allow God to direct you.’” I was hoping that he might have some deeper theological response to make than that but he was quite right! We needed to stop being worried about what people might think, stop worrying if we were making a mistake and instead trust God and get out of the boat. God has called us to be a holy nation, a group of disciples set apart for his glory. Are you living in obedience to that call or are you timidly sitting in your boat and hanging onto the seat! Why not step out in faith and trust yourself into the hands of Jesus. He will be there to grab you if you start to sink, just as he took hold of Peter’s hand. It’s time to get out of the boat. Step out in faith tonight!
|