Sermon, Sunday January 25, 2009

We’ve been talking about the economy and the troubles that are all around us
How does that God want us to live in these times?
What does it mean for us to be the people of God?
How is it that we live out God’s command
to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God”?

Take some time to reiterate some timeless truths that we have come to know
These are the very truths that will undergird us during these times
The truths that enable us to follow God even when it is hard
Truths that we have learned through our own experiences—that have been life changing
Because we grow and change—we’re a dynamic community of faith
It is good to pause and restate those things that bind us

First one is that we are enough to do everything God is calling us to do

Miraculous truth that God saved us while we were still sinners
Rom. 5:8 God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
2 Cor. 5:21 In Christ, God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong,
so we could be put right with God.
God came all the way to us with transforming life out of love
Scripture is full of stories about God coming to us—pursuing us
Parable of the lost sheep and looking for the 1 lost
Wonderful and miraculous what God has done

How then shall we live?
Here is the sad part…
because I see many Christians move from grace to becoming worthy
focusing on the spiritual disciplines and doing our Christian duty
striving to live the faithful life
striving to be good and not sin
Just the opposite of the miraculous grace of coming to Christ
Working so hard that they miss the joy and wonder of living in Christ

Truth is that God comes all the way to us
We are enough to meet God every day, all the time
There is no gap between us and God—ever
Therefore our striving to come up to God is nonsense
Striving only serves to take our focus off God
—the very opposite of our intentions

But what about our weaknesses?
2 Cor. 12:7-10
Vs 9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness."
Phil. 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

What about sin?
Read Romans 8 out of the Message Bible every day until it permeates your very being

There are many stories about God using us when we are down

Thomas Kelley—when you slip don’t fret. Simply turn and begin again
Step into the light
Focus on God—not the trouble biting at my heals
Give divine inattention to anything not of God—more troublesome, greater you ignore it
Walt and their story about sailing—had to watch the compass because they couldn’t see
Peter walking on the water—God said why do you doubt that I will help you?
Cracked pots won’t hold water—but when we are submerged in water, the cracks don’t matter

Truth—we are enough!

Story of a man carrying water everyday
Everyday he lot water on the way to the house
Apologized about losing water
Answer—“no, look at the flowers on the path from the well to the house”

Truth—we are enough to do everything God asks us to do!
Is my divine purpose to carry water to the house? Or is it to water the flowers?
Sometimes we have to lay down our own expectations of what we are supposed to do
Because the truth is we can’t do everything
Usually we can do everything we think we should do
We have to Listen for God’s direction—a topic for another Sunday

We are enough!
We are enough to do everything God asks us to do!