[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 26A

[Joe Parrish]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Fri, Oct 28, 2011 9:42 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 26A


Dear Friends,

Tomorrow’s sermon is entitled “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve
Got to Get Out of the Boat*” or “He’s an On-Time God” and deals with
the Old Testament lesson (Joshua 3: 7-17). Here it is:

The Old Testament lesson we read this morning is an amazing story of
faith.  Do you remember some of the frightening TV pictures of floods
that have the potential to sweep everything away?  That’s what the
Jordan River looked like at that time of year, since it was at flood
stage in the spring.  What really speaks to me about this story (and
therefore my life) is that those four priests had the heavy tabernacle
of the Lord (our Bible translation calls it a “holy chest”) on a
stretcher-like device.  Each priest was stationed at a corner of the
stretcher, probably with the poles on their inside shoulders.  Their
orders were for the first two priests, carrying their portion of the
heavy tabernacle, to step into the raging water.  Joshua told them
that God said when their feet touched the water, the flow would stop.
What a risk!  If they stepped into the rushing Jordan and God didn’t
stop the wall of water, the weight of their load and the strength of
the current would wash them downstream and underwater to their death.
Those priests following behind with the back of the two stretcher-
poles would probably be overbalanced and therefore also be swept to
their death.  What a test of faith!  However, those priests trusted
God, stepped into the raging flood, and (just as God had promised),
the water stopped so the Israelites could walk across the Jordan River
bed on dry land.  (Sounds like the same thing that happened about
forty years earlier at the Red Sea, doesn’t it.)  Actually, today’s
Bible lessons hold four basic truths.  Let’s look at them..

FIRST: WE’VE GOT TO STEP OUT IN FAITH.  Just as those priests had to
trust that God would keep his promises, so must we if we’re going to
really live for the Lord.  Do you remember how Peter stepped out of
the boat when Jesus called him?  In fact, the title of this sermon is
really from a book written by John Ortberg: “If You Want to Walk on
Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat.”  As God called those
ancient Israelite priests, as our Lord called Peter to get out of the
boat and come to him over the storming waves, so God calls us to get
out of our comfort zone and do what needs to be done for him-
regardless of the cost.  His promise (provided we don’t make Peter’s
mistake of losing focus) if we stay focused on Jesus, he will never
leave us nor forsake us.  We may have to sweat it out a bit, but our
God is an on-time God and God will be there for us in exactly the
right time.

SECOND: DON’T TAKE THE EASY WAY, TAKE THE RIGHT WAY.  Look- the
Israelites had other possibilities; there were easier ways to enter
the Promised Land.  They could have waited until the spring floods
were over.  Perhaps they even could have found an easier way to cross
the Jordan River.  They rejected the easy way for God’s way.  What
about you?  When you’re facing a hard call- do you find the easy way?
When you are called to speak up for Jesus and justice, do you wait
until it’s popular or else wait until no one is listening because
they’ve all gone home?  The process is as important as the end.
Endure the struggle- you’ll grow from it and you will make a
difference for God.

THIRD: REMEMBER TO THANK GOD FOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS.  This basic Bible
truth comes from the portion of scripture right after our assigned
reading.  Do you remember how each of the twelve tribes of Israel were
to choose one man who was to get two rocks- one for a memorial stacked
in the middle of the river and the other for a memorial stacked on the
shore of the newly entered Promised Land.  Why the memorials?  So they
and their children would see them and remember that our God saves-
then and now.

FOURTH: DON’T BE ARROGANT.  In today’s gospel, we hear Jesus scolding
the Jewish leaders for being show-offs.  Their dress and behavior was
predominantly for show.  Our culture encourages us to do the same
thing.  How many people have you seen act or dress outrageously so
others would see?  We often hear present-day athletes thanking God for
victories.  I only hope they aren’t like those ancient leaders who
“say one thing and do something else” (Matthew 23:3b).

So, what are you bringing to the altar from today’s meditation?  What
decision do you need to make for the Lord.  What spiritual gift are
you sitting on because developing your talent might be hard or take
some time?  What habit, new life style, is God calling you to adapt?
What comfort zone is God calling you to leave?  Remember, you can’t
walk on water if you don’t get out of the boat.

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements are posted on our parish web site. The address is:
http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .

Blessed preaching.
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

 
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