GOOD NEWS HAS TO BE GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR

Transcription

1 GOOD NEWS HAS TO BE GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR Series: For the Sake of the World September 2, 2018 Edgar King Justice, Mercy, Discipleship Matthew 28:16-20 There is a guy who got a homeless person and he was so moved by compassion and he took him home gave him new clothes allowed him to take a shower and gave him a place to sleep and food to eat. When Sunday came around he took him to church and seeing his pastor he ran towards him passionately, maybe even angry. He wanted to know what the church was doing to serve the poor in the community. Very like what some of you do when you meet people in need around and bring to the office. You want the church to help. Isn't the church the hands and feet of Jesus? So he said, I have picked this homeless man, and fed him and allowed him to wash and up and gave him a place to sleep and I did not see the church. Where is the church? Should it not be doing this kind of things? His pastor looks at him and said, well the church was on the streets, saw a homeless man, picked him, gave him clothes, fed him and gave him a place to sleep You see when we are involved individually in the works of showing mercy and justice, people see the body of Christ. People see Jesus. So we do not have to wait for church the institution. We are the church. Both together and individually. But some of us feel like as individuals our job is simply to focus on reading scripture and singing good songs and being good Christians and we do not see where seeking justice for the sake and the voiceless fits into that. I mean we wanna do it, but we do not see it as part of our own transformation into disciples of Jesus. It looks like a good thing to do on the side as we do the actual business of following Jesus, going to church, praying hard, singing harder, tithing and reading scripture as we speak in tongues. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. These are Jesus last words as he stands with his disciples before he is taken up before their eyes. He is telling them this is what it's about. This is the big picture. I am sending you out to make disciples. In other words, I am sending you out to invite people into the bigger story that I have invited you into. I am releasing you to go and teach people the same things I have taught you and to do the same things I have done before you and with you. And then they will, in turn, teach others who will, in turn, teach others who will, in turn, teach others. I am sending you to make disciples. This statement by Jesus has become known as the great commission. It is our job description of followers of Jesus. A band of humble forgiven sinners invited to join God in inviting the whole world under his rule and reign Edgar King Page 1 of 6

2 It has always been about the establishment of God s Kingdom on Earth. It is not about escaping hell or going to heaven whatever that means for you, it really is about submitting ourselves under the rule and reign of God by daily following Jesus and allowing him to make us like him. Allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us how to talk like Jesus and act like Jesus. And as we walk this journey invite the world around us to also come under the rule and reign of Jesus. By inviting them also to learn alongside us to talk and act like Jesus. And so for the sake of the world bring the whole world under the rule and reign of the world. And some of us get this, that all of life is really about following Jesus. I am convinced that this is the most important thing to do in life to be husbands and wives who speak and act like Jesus. To be brothers and sisters who act like Jesus. To be employers and employees who speak and act like Jesus. So I am guessing some people would wonder what the conversation we have been having about loving the poor has to do with the process of discipleship. Last week I put an invitation out there to all of you to purchase groceries and bring them here for anyone who is need to pick freely. And you all did. I also asked us to take some with us and simply find people who might be in need and just give to them. My invitation to you has been that you would step out of your comfort zones where you know no one who is poor or weak and find a way to serve the stranger and the orphan. I have invited you to step out of your comfort zone where it seems like you are the poorest and so you feel like the world should serve you and you have nothing to offer anyone because you do. But then the question is, How do all these good deeds fit in our journey of discipleship? What do they have to do with your transformation? Do we just do good things because we now feel guilty that we have 4 meals a day and someone else does not? Did we buy groceries last week because our emotions were whipped up and we thought we needed to buy them to get over it? Is it one of those responsibilities of being part of a church or being a Christian that we just do and sometimes have no idea if it is part of our becoming disciples and transformation? In other words, Does it help with my transformation? How does a life of seeking justice for the weak and the voiceless impact on my own life? How does loving mercy both for the wrongs I have done and the wrongs done to me have to do with me becoming a disciple of Jesus? Is there a connection between our seeking justice and loving mercy and our journey of becoming disciples of Jesus? Let s pray Jesus went to church at the beginning of his ministry and did his first sermon. The scriptures were handed to him and he found the place he was supposed to read from that day and he opens it. Isaiah 61. Let s read together what The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, 2018 Edgar King Page 2 of 6

3 because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. to proclaim the year of the Lord s favor. Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. This was a big deal because Jesus after finishing reading this declared that this is what he was about. This was his manifesto. This was what he was about. If anyone was to follow him and love him or even study him or just be fascinated by him, here is a statement that would capture what his life was going to be about. So even for us who are called to be his disciples, those who are giving their lives to follow Jesus daily and to walk and talk like him, saying the things he said and doing the things he did, here is who he was going to be, here is what he is about. A Trinity Affair Jesus declares that he has been empowered by the Holy Spirit and chosen by God. Clearly what Jesus was about to inaugurate was not something he was going to be doing alone. All of heaven was involved. Our God who is one, God who is father son and Holy Spirit was going to be doing this. The whole Kingdom of God was in the business of what Jesus was about to start doing. Actually many times John one of the friends of Jesus in describing the things Jesus said and done he said that Jesus only did what he saw his father doing and only said what he heard his father said. And is this not what we have been called to be as disciples of Jesus? To join God in what he is doing? To speak the very words of God and to do the very works of God? And the only way we can do this is by the power of the Holy Spirit? Last week Gia and Davis spoke about the Kingdom of God. They said that Justice and Mercy try as we might is complete if not through and submitted to the authority of the Kingdom of God. In other words doing good deeds, fighting for the weak in society, feeding the poor and loving the widow and the orphan while is good is incomplete and often even harmful if not submitted under the rule of the Kingdom of God. Because we have skewed and incomplete views of Justice because we have skewed and incomplete views of mercy. I desire mercy for me but not so much for you. We often confuse justice with retribution and mercy with resignation in the face of injustice Edgar King Page 3 of 6

4 And the Kingdom of God is not confined to a physical geographical location but it is about the power and the rule of God. And the Holy Spirit is the empowering force. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we receive power to do the things God has invited us to. Jesus did all he did fully empower by the Holy Spirit. Actually, Jesus says that He has been empowered by the Holy Spirit and chosen by God the King of the Kingdom of God to then do the works of the Kingdom. Which he goes on to list. Remember, our calling from the great commission was to submit to the rule of the Kingdom of God and invite others to do the same until the whole world is under the rule of the Kingdom of God through becoming daily like Jesus. And here it is, Jesus says he has been filled with the Holy Spirit and chosen by God. He has been filled with the Holy Spirit to do the works of the Kingdom which he goes on to list. Good news to the poor Freedom to the captives Sight to the blind Freedom to the oppressed The portion ends with the words to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. This statement can only be understood in the context of the Kingdom of God. Then he says that day all that had become fulfilled. In other words, saying this was written about him In fact, the whole passage Jesus read that day was loaded with his declaration of his Kingship. So many years removed from what was happening we might not quite get it so it might help to see how the first listeners of Jesus heard it. Immediately Jesus read this and said that this had been fulfilled, people listening to him got so mad they tried to kill him. Imagine your first day on the job and already people are trying to get you fired? Now, this was Jesus first sermon and they already wanted to kill him. Because Jesus had not just read scripture about the Messiah, the awaited King, the awaited redeemer who would be specially anointed by God but he had openly claimed to be him, to be the one who would bring God s Kingdom on Earth. And followers of Jesus get that it is about establishing the Kingdom of God on earth by committing to follow Jesus. But look at the things he said about the Kingdom of God: Liberty to the oppressed, giving sight to the blind, both spiritually and physically, the release of the captives both spiritual and physical. And good news to the poor. Many Christians rightfully look at the great commission as being about declaring the good news of Jesus, of God s Kingdom. And guess what? If the Great Commission is about Good news of the Kingdom then it is good news to the poor. It has to be freedom to the captives both economic, spiritual and even political. It has to be bringing sight to the blind both physical and spiritual. It has to be liberty to the oppressed both from both demonic forces and even the wickedness of men. If we are involved in preaching the great commission, if we are in the business of making disciples, if we are in the business of declaring the good news of Jesus it must be good news to the poor. And conversely, therefore, it is not just about serving the poor for the sake of it but doing it fully aware that we are joining God in bringing his Kingdom. We are not just feeding the 2018 Edgar King Page 4 of 6

5 hungry and loving the orphan and severing the stranger and giving good news to the poor for the sake of it but doing it like Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit and chosen of God. This is an integral part of our becoming disciples and making disciples who will make disciples. This is an integral part of our submission to the rule of God and inviting others to do the same until we see the whole world under the authority of God s Kingdom. It is not a side job. It is not unimportant. And not only is it about obedience, but the poor are Jesus to us. Jesus categorically says that anything we do to the least of our brothers we do to him. See the weakest in your family? The weakest tribe in our country? The less fortunate in your neighborhood? The not-too-popular person in class? The hungry guy? That old lady who you looks like a nuisance? Whatever you do to them or not do to them you do or not do to Jesus. But this statement was not about instilling fear to make people be kind to not miss out being Kind to Jesus. This was a very powerful invitation to not miss out on meeting Jesus in our daily lives. The Spirit of God is not of fear but freedom. It is the age-old story of Abraham inviting total strangers to his house to rest and be fed and surprised that he had invited angles of God into his house who went on to prophecy over him and his life was never the same again. He was being kind and he ended up meeting God. It is the story of a widow who had a child and took a stranger and decided to be so kind to him that she cooked the only food she had remaining at a time of great famine for this man. Even at the possibility of her and her son had nothing else she was still kind to a total stranger. Guess what this man turned out to be a prophet and not only was their food multiplied but his son was healed when she was about to die by this man. What if she had not been kind to this stranger? It is the story of a young man who carried only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and said yes to going his lunch at the crazy request of one of Jesus friends. I mean there is no way 5 loaves and 2 fish could have fed the 5000 men that were there and if they tried it could mean that he may get very little or nothing out of his lunch because some people were not smart enough to carry their own. But the young man decided to be kind and trust Jesus and 5000 men were fed and there were so many baskets left over that he could have carried home and maybe even sold for some income. What if he had not? What if he held on to it? Would he have known Jesus the way he got to know him that day? It's My story with an old woman who approached me after church. And it easy to think that as the pastor I was being kind to pay attention and to listen to her. It is easy to think I was doing my duty and I was serving. But that old lady served me. She encouraged me by her words and kindness to me. She had listened to my talk and gave me feedback and said to me, You are my friend and I will be praying for you You see she was Jesus to me. She was rest for my soul that day. What if I hadn t? It is your story when you go to an old ladies house with a water Filter from Uzima or a bag of food from Trinity Vineyard. As you sit there her kindness towards you, transforms you. she makes you a cup of tea over an open fire and sits with you and she asks you how you are doing and she has time to listen to you and simply love you something that you have been unable to get in your seemingly wealthier lives Edgar King Page 5 of 6

6 It is going to a hospital to pray for someone and you get there and they ask you how they could pray for you and immediately you feel the power of God s presence. It is visiting a widow with a bag of groceries and her strength just gives you strength and encouragement. A friend of mine posted this on facebook "when we give, we heal. The giver becomes the receiver". See every time God is inviting us to serve the poor and the weak and be a voice for the voiceless, he is inviting us to meet him. This probably why it is frustrating to Jesus when we want to focus on fasting and tongues and prayers and these fancy things but neglect the poor. It really is for us. There is a way we would meet him that we can not in any other way but in serving the poor. When you buy food for a hungry person, it is not God wanting something from you but God wanted something for you. Because every time you give, it comes back to you. Because when we live generous lives we find satisfaction that a life filled with stuff cannot bring. I wanna invite you into a life of generosity. Not to give because the church asked. Not to serve the way because we saw a picture on a screen or heard a story that aroused our emotions but let us make generosity part of our lives as individuals and families and as a church. Don t let be a once in a while thing let it be something in your schedule. Let it be something in your budget every month, let it be something you allow for every day. As a church, we will continue to give, but even more intentionally we will keep having the bags at the bag weekly and any of you is can pick them at any time and buy groceries. It will not be something we just did once to feel good but part of our church culture. At the back also there is a refrigerator with canned soda. Sold at 100/-. Everything above the retail price will be used in keeping our grocery bags full and in the mercy ministry kitty. The empty cans will be donated to a jua kali guy who works on aluminum to make crafts. You can buy the groceries yourself, buy the sodas or replenish our stock of soda. Either way, be intentional about this as a church I invite you into the same. As you consider your day and your week and your life as a whole, in which ways can you being filled with the Holy Spirit make it part of your life to serve the poor? Where can you curve out time to love the orphan? What in your budget can you cut off to make sure that someone else has at least a meal or clean water or school stationery? You will be surprised how much healing it will bring you, how much you will meet Jesus, how much more you will get every time you give. Let s pray 2018 Edgar King Page 6 of 6