Stone sermon

Re:Verse reading–Mark 15:16-20, 24-40; Mark 16:1-8 (day seven)

“When they looked up, they saw the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.”–16:4

It was an object lesson. One of many on that history-shattering morning. Silent, powerful testimony.  The first thing they noticed.  Their worries had been unnecessary.  God had already rolled away the stone.

It spoke to them of God’s power.  “You shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there, and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you.”–Matthew 17:20.  Over time we realize.  Our “problems” are not really the problem.  What we lack is confidence in God.

The stone spoke of God’s promise and provision.  Waters will part and obstacles will remove from the road that God calls us to walk.

But, sometimes the “stone” is not ON my path but IN my heart.  God will make the way possible, but ONLY for those willing to walk forward in faith.  The stone said so.

Achan and the Cross

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 7, Mark 15:16-20, 24-40; Mark 16:1-8 day six)

Achan’s sin is catastrophic. Thirty-six people died, not including he and his family, as a result of his disobedience. Like a cancer it spread, and although it began with him, he could not control it or contain it. A whole people were left demoralized because of one man’s moment of greed. And it resulted in death.

Jesus went to the cross for Achan. Holy Week is a searing reminder that we are no better off than Achan. We are worthy of being stoned; we are worthy of the cross, and yet while we were still enemies of God Christ died for us. In the cross and resurrection we discover the cure for that uncontrollable, uncontainable cancer. And so we lament at the great cost of our sin, and yet we also rejoice knowing that it is finished!

He is risen!

Good Friday

Re:Verse reading–Mark 15:16-20, 24-40; Mark 16:1-8 day five)

As believers, the Empty Tomb is the pivotal picture of our faith, hope, and life. But, before it was empty, it was occupied. The scripture tells us in all four of the gospel accounts, that Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb.  The details are given: Who, What, When, Where, and Why. What we know for certain is that Jesus was dead, and that His body was placed in the tomb. The occupied tomb communicated undeniable hopelessness to His followers.

I wonder if they were thinking somehow Jesus could escape death. Maybe at the last possible second, God would send an angel or another miracle would spare His life. There was no angel’s rescue that day. There was no life saving miracle. There was just darkness and despair. Jesus was killed. The tomb was sealed. The guard was posted to stand watch. The disciples were hiding in confusion, devastation, and fear. And the Savior lies lifeless in a tomb.

How did His followers process what has just happened? They must have had a thousand painful questions. “How could He be the long awaited King if He was just killed?” “Is there something we could have done to stop it?” “If they tortured and slaughtered Him like that, what will they do to us?” On Friday they watched, waited, and worried.

 

Door of Hope

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 7 (day four)

Achan had sinned.  God had commanded the Israelites not to take any spoil from Jericho.  He warned them that if they disobeyed Him He would not conquer the enemies before them.  When the children of Israel turned in retreat before the armies of Ai, Joshua did not know what had happened…but God knew.  After a careful winnowing by lot, Achan was discovered and confessed his sin.  He and all of his family were taken out to the valley and stoned for their disobedience.  From then on, the valley was known as the ‘valley of trouble’.

Fast forward now to the prophet Hosea’s day.  Hosea 2:15 says, “Then I will give her her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor as a door of hope.  And she will sing there as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.”  God promised to take the valley of trouble and turn it into a door of hope.  That is what He does with our lives through Jesus…He takes the disaster of our disobedience and through faith, He gives HOPE!

Do

Re:Verse reading–Joshua 7 (day three)

“What are you doing down on your face?”  When is it time to be done with prayer?  The answer is the one the Lord gives to Joshua: When prayer becomes a substitute for doing what needs doing.  Now, we do not ignore the Bible’s instruction to “pray without ceasing.”  We do, however, recognize the temptation to use prayer to stall for time, to keep confrontation at bay, to delay conflict.  If you’re honest, you know you would often rather ask questions of God than answer the question that has been put to you.  If action never follows prayer, to what end are we praying?  The steps will be faltering, awkward, arduous.  But so are a baby’s, and we cheer him on.  You’ve prayed.  Now what will you do?

The Joy Before Him

Re:Verse reading–Mark 15:16-20, 24-40; Mark 16:1-8 (Holy Week reading, day two) Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,  save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” 15:29-30

…”fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame…” Hebrews 12:2

Jesus endured unimaginable torture before succumbing on the cross. He knew what he must do, and he knew that it would be unbearable…and yet he did it. The writer of Hebrews calls it “joy”. The joy was not the cross, but the victory beyond it. Jesus knew this too. His eyes were fixed, not on the cross, but on the throne. My allegiance is to the one who bridged the gap on the cross for sinners like me to have access to that joy.

Have a blessed Holy Week.

They put a purple robe on Him

Re:Verse reading–Mark 15:16-20, 24-40; Mark 16:1-8 (Holy Week reading, day one)

“They put a purple robe on Him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on Him”–15:16-17

It was a joke. Cruel. Expensive.  Ordinary people in that day couldn’t afford cloth with color dye.  Especially not purple cloth.  VERY expensive and therefore a symbol of royalty.

But, once a mob gets going, no one worries about expense.  So, the soldiers wrapped a purple robe around His bloody shoulders and plaited thorns to make a pretend crown.  To ridicule a dying man?  Yes, but also to express the hostility toward God that lies in the human heart!

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the WICKED, nor stand in the path of SINNERS, nor sit in the seat of the SCOFFERS”–Psalm 1.  Sadly, the world still has people who don’t listen to God because they are too busy making a joke.

Take time to be holy

Re: Verse reading–Joshua 3:5-17, 4:14-24 (day seven)

“Joshua said to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.’ “–3:5

The word in Hebrew is qadash (pronounced ka-dash’).  It meant to set apart, to dedicate for a specific and high purpose, to make holy.

The day before the Jordan crossing, Joshua instructed the people of Israel to “qadash themselves’. Time taken to give themselves (again) to the Lord for His purposes. Moments spent in self-reflection, self-challenge, self-surrender.

Similar thought in Romans 12:1  “Given His mercies, (you) present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice.”

Do we?  Joshua seems to expect it of his people.  God will always be “all in” for people who are “all in” for Him. So, it isn’t optional.  Will I GIVE MY LIFE to Him the way He has GIVEN HIS LIFE for me?  Will I dedicate myself to His purposes?

“Take time to be holy” sings the old hymn.  Yes.  That.

Wonders

Re: Verse reading–Joshua 3:5-17, 4:14-24 (day six)

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” Joshua 3:5

Anxiety and uncertainty must have followed the death of Moses. Furthermore, once the children of Israel crossed the Jordan they were to provide for their own needs, no more food from heaven, AND begin a military campaign against the nations in Canaan. How could they do this?

How would He ease their fears? By exalting Joshua through doing wonders among them. They had to know that the one leading them into the Promise Land was walking with the Lord, that like Moses he could hear the voice of God, and would be faithful to follow Him. He had to be exalted, lifted up, glorified. Not unlike Jesus.

Consider the fear and anxiety of the Apostles after Jesus’ death? It all changed the moment they encountered the risen and exalted Jesus! God worked wonders among us
to secure our salvation and our trust in Christ the exalted one! We have no fear because he has overcome the world!

The Significance of God’s Presence

Re: Verse reading–Joshua 3:5-17, 4:14-24 (day five)

The Ark of the Covenant is mentioned nine times in Joshua chapter three, and seven times in chapter four. What is SO important about the Ark? One of the most important things about the Ark was that it symbolized God’s presence. What were the effects of God’s presence on this generation of Israelites? They trusted and obeyed God with courage as they looked toward their future. They were able to move an extremely large group together (unity) across the Jordan. They recognized and affirmed the leadership God had provided.

A frequent comment I hear from guests and visitors at our church, is a real sense God’s presence. I wonder what it is that causes them to identify His presence at FBCSA?

Perhaps our prayers for FBCSA these days should be that God’s presence would remain in our church and continue to have the same kind of influence in our hearts and lives as it did for the Israelites: courageous trust and obedience, God’s provision of leaders, and unity.