Oct 19, 2014
Fr. Phil Eberhart
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A Congregational Testimony
As I read the passage that introduces Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica I was struck this week with the testimony of the church. What Paul was alluding to in his opening greeting here is something that I covet for us here at REZ - that we would be known in the area of Centennial, of Denver and of Colorado, even around the world for the testimony of Jesus and what He has done in our midst.
Don't you have that same desire?
I want to look at some of the phrases that Paul uses in this greeting to the church and then drill down on three areas in particular:
he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.
I will never forget the first days of my ministry with this group of people at REZ, then St. George Episcopal Church. God gave me a blue print from Ezek 37 - the valley of dry bones -- that was an apt description of the state of the church when I came in the door - hanging on for dear life, but hanging on!
Three facets of that Word from Ezekiel struck me:
A. Walk among them
[Eze 37:1-2 NLT] 1 The LORD took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out.
B. Speak the Word
[Eze 37:4-5 NLT] 4 Then he said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, 'Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!
C. Invite or Command the Wind (Spirit) to come
[Eze 37:9 NLT] 9 Then he said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.'"
As I obeyed the Lord in those three areas He revealed some truths to me about this church and its people.
When I came they (some of you) were like broken soil, ready for the planting. I was simply to be the sower.
I was to sow out of this source - the Word of God - to preach from an open bible, something that had not been done much to that time. To plant the Word of God in this broken soil.
And I came to love the tenacious spirituality that I found. People that would not give up! I will never forget, we did a summer ALPHA class for some of the young adults that were in our church at the time, and Marge Peterson, we called her MUM - an English war bride who was the matriarch of St. George's parish, was our cook, along with another young lady named Winnie. They would come mid afternoon and begin their duties in the kitchen, and feed about 25 or so of us each week, and then as we began the video they would clean and close up the kitchen and head home. One night as I was sitting and watching the video, I glanced down the hall, and the two of them were heading out the front door, hand in hand. And I started to cry. Even as I wrote this I cried! God was proud of the two of them! He gave me a glimpse at His heart for the people who had hung in and hung together for so many years - through thick and thin (mostly thin in those days.)
As we began to love on people, preach the Word and call on the Spirit, God answered with amazing miracles, testimonies of God's love and power, long prayer sessions, and I felt as though I was a stander by at times, watching God do it. I think that is how He likes it!
Fast forward - God has continued to mold us through His Word and His Spirit into the body we are today here at REZ. It's not been a journey without bumps, stops and starts, uphill climbs or rough roads, but God, over the years, has given us a testimony and a reputation - a name - among the churches of the city of Denver.
What does REZ stand for?
REZ stands for JESUS first. We are known to be a people who love Jesus and who walk out that love for Him in real, tangible, visible ways.
REZ stands for The Word of God. We are a people of the Book. Not the Prayer Book, but the Bible! While the prayer book is important for us, the Bible is essential.
REZ stands for the Kingdom of God, manifested locally and connected globally. It's not just about us and our church - this thing we are doing is the work of the Kingdom of God. It is Him and His Kingdom that we seek first,
trusting that all else will be given to us, according to our need and His provision.
and finally, REZ stands for the Anglican way of worshipping and being Christ-followers. A way filled with beauty and symbol, with piety and devotion, with history and with God's presence in our midst.
In the greeting to the church at Thessalonica Paul says...
you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known
Is it undue boasting for me to say that REZ has such a name? Here in Denver and around the US and the World.
You received the Word with joy, inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit
You are and example to all the believers in Denver and in Colorado and all over the world!
The Word of the Lord is going forth from this place, from this people as your faith in God is becoming known.
But Paul commends them first in three areas - and I want to camp for just a few minutes here:
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Work of Faith - The Labor of Love - The Steadfastness of Hope
I spent a few minutes looking at the action words here:
WORK:
This is the word Jesus used when He commanded us to "Let your Light so Shine before men that they may see your good WORK and glorify your Father in heaven"
The same word used by James who said that "...faith without [the accompanying] works is useless."
This work is the result of faith - it grows from faith and is the culmination, the outcome of real faith
LABOR: Paul uses this word as well in 1 Cor 15:58, one of my other favorite verses:
[1Co 15:58 NASB] 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
This is the troublesome part! Love is toil - trouble - bother! It is labor! Not just work. Love is hard work, it produces weariness, feelings of being beaten down.
No its not just unique to you!! You thought it was just you! No, Love is hard to do.
And the love that is being spoken of here is the word AGAPE - God's kind of unconditional love.
STEADFASTNESS:
Perseverance, Endurance, how about Tenacity! Now there is a picture:
A Tenacious HOPE! Just let that sit for a minute in your mind.
What is the hope that you continue to come back to? Over and over and over and over again, through the dark times, through the rain and storm, through the good time and bad times?
Our hope is of Jesus, Our love is for Jesus, Our Faith is in Jesus.
This has been a very long month of travel and activity, as you all know. I have felt the bouying effect of your prayers along the way and it is really good to be home. As far as I know I'm home now through the holidays. We look very much forward to a more regular pace and getting back into the normal swing of life at REZ.
I look at you as I return from these trips and say with Paul:
We always give thanks to God for all of you...
we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you...
in every place your faith in God has become known
[how you] serve a living and true God, and wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-- Jesus!
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Shall we pray:
God of grace and glory; You have called us as Your people - a people of the RESURRECTION to live a risen life, to glorify you by the lives we live, and to tell others of your glory and goodness.
Come, wind of the Spirit, and blow on us, who are your chosen people. Make us glow with the light of your fire, and draw to yourself through our witness, those you are calling to yourself.
Blow among us, Lord Jesus, by your Spirit and warm our hearts, refresh us in our work, cause us to be renewed and empowered for the work of ministry. And send us, dear Lord; send us to a broken and dying world, so in need of your love, your healing and your peace.
Clothe us with your Spirit that we may touch, speak, and heal in Your Name. That Name that is above every Name, the Name of Jesus.
And everyone said.
Amen.
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