[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 4B- “Listening to God” or “Good Morning, Lord!”

[Joe Parrish]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Jun 2, 2018 6:23 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 4B- “Listening to God” or “Good Morning, Lord!”



Dear Friends,
 
This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Listening to God” or“Good Morning, Lord!” and deals with the Old Testament lesson (1stSamuel(3: 1-10).  Here it is: 
 
This morning, we heard the ancient story of the call of the childSamuel- the story that we probably heard in Sunday school many years ago,unless you’re a child and you heard it this morning.  In Sunday school they didn’t tell you thewhole story.  Actually, our Bible lessondidn’t tell the whole story, but if you listen- you will hear the whole storyright now.  Samuel was the only child ofHannah- born late in life after she had long since given up on the idea thatshe would have a child.  She was so thankfulto God for hearing her prayers that she dedicated her infant son to the Lord’sservice.  As soon as Samuel was oldenough, he went to the sanctuary at Shiloh (kind of a temple) to serve Eli, thechief priest.  This is where our storypicks up.  We heard how Samuel was asleepafter working all day, and how he heard a voice call his name: “Samuel,Samuel.”  As you recall, he assumed Elihad called him, but when he went to check, Eli had said not a thing, so Samuelwent back to bed.  Again he heard the voicecalling his name, and again he ran in to Eli, but again the old priest had notcalled.  When Samuel heard the voice callhis name the third time, Eli realized something significant was happening, sohe told Samuel to say, “I’m listening, Lord. What do you want me to do?”  WhenSamuel did as Eli suggested, God answered and told Samuel what to do.  Do you know what God said?  God told Samuel that Eli’s sons would notsucceed him as the chief priest at Shiloh, because they were misusing theirprivileges.  It was almost as if theywere the first corrupt evangelists.  Theywere imitating the surrounding culture and were trying to turn the sanctuary atShiloh into a brothel for prostitution like all the pagan temples around.  So God said, enough is enough- Eli, trainSamuel; he’ll be next priest in charge. That’s what happened.  Samuel hadtrouble hearing God’s voice, and many times so do we.
 
Did you hear the story of the Sunday school teacher who was trying tohelp her little children learn to listen to Jesus, so she asked, “Where isJesus?”  One sweet little boy said thatJesus was in heaven.  Another smartlittle girl proclaimed that Jesus was in her heart.  Finally little Johnny raised his hand andsaid, “Teacher, they’re all wrong.  Iknow exactly where Jesus is!”  “Where?”asked the teacher, wondering what in the world he would say.  “He’s in our bathroom!” answered Johnny witha sense of certainty.  “In yourbathroom?!” responded the teacher.  “Whyin the world would you think Jesus is in your bathroom, Johnny?”  “Well,” said Johnny, “every morning, myfather gets up, bangs on the bathroom door, and
yells, ‘Good Lord, are you still in there?!’”  We laugh, but are you close enough to God torecognize his voice?  Let’s look at whatgets in the way.  What interferes in yourlife so you have trouble hearing God’s voice and recognizing God’s call whenyou hear it? 
 
THEREFORE, WHAT INTERFERES WITH OUR ABILITY TO LISTEN WHEN GOD CALLS?  OUR SINFUL SELFISH NATURES.  Do you remember this conch shell?  I last showed it to you back in June, 2016.  As you know, we’re not talking about thesound of the ocean, we’re talking about the voice of God, but the process hassimilarities.  Has anyone ever donethis?  I have.  Do you remember what we’re reallyhearing?  It’s not the sound of theocean.  When all outside sounds aremuffled by the shell, what we hear is the rush and beat of our own blood- whichsounds like the ocean.  Something likethis sometimes happens when we try to listen to God.  We are so full of ourselves that instead oflistening, we take to bossing.  We tellGod what we want instead of asking what God wants.  Our culture teaches us that we can doanything we want to.  How many people doyou know like this?  Where does that kindof attitude lead?  Sure, it leads to sinand confusion and pain and life-diminishing consequences.  Eli’s sons were so busy trying to turn Shilohinto a modern temple full of prostitutes that they didn’t listen to what Godwanted.  In Paul’s time, Corinth had atemple to the pagan god Aphrodite with 1,000 slaves as prostitutes- both maleand female.  Anybody who was anybody wentto that temple and did their thing every time they wanted a baby or a fertilefield.  When you make your decisions,when you make your choices, whose voice are you listening to- God’s or yourown?
 
WHAT INTERFERES?  SIN THAT KEEPSUS FROM CHURCH AND GETTING CLOSER TO GOD. Sometimes it’s past sin.  We’vedone some terrible things in our lives, and we just don’t feel worthy to cometo church.  Remember Paul?  He considered himself among the worst ofsinners, because he persecuted the church of Christ.  Yet, he became one of the greatest missionarybishops who ever lived.  Your past isjust the college of life; God can use your past sins to touch present lives.  Perhaps it’s not past sin- maybe it’s presentsin.  You’ve got sin right now in yourlife, and you don’t really want to give it up. Tell me, how will you ever get the courage to get your life on trackwithout the Lord?  Don’t wait untilyou’re perfect.  Listen to the words ofthat old song, “Just as I Am,” and come as you are.  Then see what God does with you over time.  No pressure; no promises- just start or renewthat relationship with God.
 
WHAT INTERFERES?  A BITTER,POISONED SPIRIT.  Why do you think Jesusreminds us in the Lord’s prayer, “Forgive us our sins AS (i.e. the same way) weforgive those who sin against us”?  Apoisoned spirit blocks the wires, the message can’t get through.  Forgive anybody you’re mad at.  Your anger doesn’t hurt them, it only hurtsyou by poisoning your spirit and blocking your access to God.  What if The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.had allowed the evil people he encountered to poison his spirit?  Our nation would not even approach being “theland of the free and the home of the brave,” much less “one nation under God.”  We probably would never have had Barack Obamaas our first Black president.
 
WHAT INTERFERES?  BUSYNESS!  Did you notice when it was that God spoke toSamuel?  Sure, in the middle of thenight.  Maybe Samuel was so busy waitingon Eli and doing his chores, that night was the only time God could getthrough.  Think of the shell again.  What’s the first thing you must do if youwant to hear the ocean in the shell? Sure, stop and be still and really focus and then wait and listen.  No matter how busy your life is, if you wantGod as your daily companion, if you want the power, if you want the peace, ifyou want to do anything but rush through life- experience by experience, you’vesimply got to find a time to stop and focus and say your prayers and readsomething from the Word, and confess your sins and listen to him as youorganize your priorities for the day.  Youknow how some people force themselves awake, stumble out of bed, and mutter,“Good Lord, it’s morning.”  Don’t you bethat way.  When you open your eyes, don’tsay, “Good Lord, it’s morning!”  Instead,say “Good morning, Lord.”  Then shut offthe radio, shut off the TV, shut off your cell and games, SAY YOUR PRAYERS ANDGIVE GOD YOUR DAY.  You’ll notice thedifference.
 
May God bless us all as we plan our lives to listen to God before weget going on our own agendas.  Amen.
 
For anyone who isinterested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements areposted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

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