Epiphany 4
Jan 31, 2021
Fr. Phil Eberhart
This morning we mourn the loss of a good friend and servant of God, Rev. Dr. Stanley Katungwensi. Fr. Stan as we all knew him, served this congregation with me at St. George's Episcopal Church and again, he and his family came later to REZ and resumed staff work, especially with the Ugandan community through REZ with Albert Senkeeto and others. Fr. Edward was a part of that community and many here remember those times with great fondness and joy.
We grieve today for this loss and for his wife, Anne and their children, Tim, Sam, Charity and Gloria, who are still dear to us. I do not have a lot of information, other than this was Covid related. We are going to be collecting a gift to send to the family to help with expenses, so if you are so moved please make it to the Discretionary fund with Fr. Stan Memorial in the memo.
This morning's scriptures paint a picture for us of God's continual involvement, care and direction in the affairs of our world, even in the face of what seems to be unmitigated chaos. My prayer this morning is that God gives us eyes to see His Hand at work in the midst of the circumstances and systems of this world, and ears to hear His Voice speaking to us, by Word and Spirit, as He directs those of us who are in His Kingdom; The Unshakeable Kingdom that we are even now receiving.
Friends, look with me at some key verses in our readings today:
"How can we recognize a word that the Lord has not spoken?"
How familiar are you with the Words that you already know GOD HAS SPOKEN? With the WORD(s) of the Scripture(s)? The way that we come to know the fake is by handling the real! Tellers at banks can tell the counterfeit dollars because they feel wrong to the touch. Their touch is trained by use!! Likewise our hearing of God's Word must be trained by all the things we talk about when we hold up our Scripture hand:
A. Hear
B. Read
C. Mark
D. Learn
E. Inwardly Digest
To have a firm grasp on the written Word of God is to be prepared properly with the discernment necessary for when the voices of many are speaking with a "Thus Saith the Lord".
Our scripture is severe this morning for those who would deign to speak for God, especially with specific dates and times. Fulfillment is the test of accuracy! And thus, legitimacy.
I must say that I personally begin with a dose of scepticism, and come from there to faith, based on how the "word" lines up with the grid of the WORD in Holy Scripture.
I want to reiterate what I already know about our times:
God is the One who has initiated a RESET. The world and the flesh and the devil are attempting a coup with a "counterfeit reset" - a wholesale transformation of our culture to the ways and the means of the enemy of our souls! BUT GOD...
What is the way through? What are we to do in the face of this chaos?
We must stay in - ABIDE in - HIS WORD. Jn 15 is clear. It is here that we are to ABIDE - IN HIM AND IN HIS WORD.
That will keep us in a place of REPENTANT OBEDIENCE. It is only through the portal of REPENTANT OBEDIENCE that we can move into the REALIGNMENT, THE REFRESHING AND THE RENEWAL that God intends to bring to us and through us to the world.
It seems that we always think that God is going to move faster than He does. The timeline of God's Hand is HIS, not ours!! It is for us to watch with open eyes and to listen with open ears; to discern His ways and means in the times we live in, and to be actively moving in REPENTANT OBEDIENCE as He directs us, each and every day.
In that way we will see and we can be a part of God's KINGDOM WAYS AND MEANS to bring stability in the times of shaking.
God is fulfilling His Word in Our Day.
5 movements we are going to see:
RESET - REALIGNMENT - REFRESHING - RELEASE - REJOICING
We are still in the place between the first two! That is the place of Repentant Obedience. It is fortuitous that we are coming again to Lent.
I urge you to look at one of our PUSH programs from last April:
Jon Peterson and I reflect there on what God is doing in this shaking. Take the time to watch it. We must learn the lessons that God is trying to teach us in His Kingdom -
If MY PEOPLE, the ones who are CALLED BY MY NAME, will HUMBLE THEMSELVES, PRAY, SEEK MY FACE, TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS
THEN... THEN... THEN...
I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN,
FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND
I WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.
GOD has not forgotten us, nor is His Hand too short to save. Look at the Psalm again with me. In fact let's do it again slowly by half verse...
1 Praise the Lord. I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart, * in the company of the upright, and among the congregation.
2 The works of the Lord are great, * sought out by all who have pleasure in them.
3 His work is worthy to be praised and held in honor, * and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 He has made his marvelous works to be had in remembrance; * The Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He has given food to those who fear him; * he shall ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works, * that he may give them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithfulness and justice; * all his commandments are true.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, * and are done in truth and equity.
9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant for ever; * holy and awesome is his Name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; * a good understanding have all those who live accordingly; his praise endures for ever.
This is what God has done, and it is what God IS DOING. Listen to some of the words you just said:
His righteousness endures forever...
The Lord is gracious and merciful...
He shall ever be mindful of his covenant...
all his commandments are true...
and are done in truth and equity...
holy and awesome is his Name...
a good understanding have all those who live accordingly; his praise endures for ever!!
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
AMEN.
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