God's Comfort • October 24, 2004

Joel 2:23-32; Psalm 65; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Ever have one of those weeks where you just don’t seem to get anything worthwhile accomplished and you are sort of feeling a bit down and a bit worthless? Well, I am at the tail end of two weeks in a row like that. I haven’t been getting anything done at work, days and nights have gone by with nothing accomplished. And right smack in the middle of it, a good friend dies suddenly.

Twenty four hours after hearing of Rob’s death, I found myself sitting with my bibles and my journal. I turned to a little resource I think I adapted from the back of an old Gideon’s Bible, entitled “Help in Time of Need.” I was directed to a couple of verses listed under “Comfort in Time of Sorrow” that I would like to share with you this morning. I guess if I have a message to share today, it is contained in these verses I am about to share, from the New Living Translation bible. May you be blessed and refreshed by His holy word.

2 Cor. 1:3-5 All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.

Romans 8:26-28 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

And I am not sure how I stumbled upon this last reading, but I hope you will find it as uplifting as I did.

Col. 3:12-16 Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

May God bless you and keep you, my friends.

Michael R. Martin – October 24, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Reflections on Galations 6:1-1

If another is overcome by sin, help them back and don't fall into the same trap. Share each others troubles and probems. Don't get tired of doing what is good, don't get discouraged and give up, for we will be rewarded at the appropriate time.

Gal 6:10 (NLT) Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.

Laity Sunday • October 17, 2004

Jeremiah 31:27-34; Psalm 119:97-104 or Psalm 19; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

I'd like to start by reading something by Sandy Zeigler (szeigler@gbod.org), Director of Lay Leadership Development at the General Board of Discipleship

Partners in Ministry: All God's People, Singing the Song and Living the Life

As this year's Laity Sunday theme suggests, we are all called to ministry and to sing the song and live the life. What is your song? How do you sing it? Are you a soprano, alto, tenor, or bass? We all have a song to sing, no matter how we sing it. We are all called.

It is not just the clergy who are called to live for Jesus and represent him to a hurting world; we all belong to a royal priesthood of believers.

How does the song you sing affect your life? Do you whistle while you work? Our lives should reflect Christ. No matter where we are or what we do, we must mirror our faith. Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world, that a city set up on a hill cannot be hidden, and that we should let our light shine for all to see and not hide it under a bushel.

To reflect the light of Christ, we need to spend time with him. Prayer, searching the Scriptures, Christian conferencing, worship, fasting, and Communion are ways to develop a closer relationship with Jesus. John Wesley called these practices the means of grace. They are ways in which we can partake of and experience more fully the grace of our Lord and Savior.

Living the life is more than just attending worship on Sunday or attending meetings or singing in the choir. Prayer, both private and corporate, is essential to a close relationship with God. Searching the Scriptures (Bible reading and study) is crucial to our development as disciples. Worship and Holy Communion and fasting can draw us closer to God and help renew our relationship with God. Small groups or covenant discipleship groups help us to grow and persevere in our daily walk. Acts of compassion and justice reveal our faith to others.

How are you singing the song and living the life? Are you devoting time to abiding in Christ? Can others see Christ through your actions? I would suggest that you seriously consider practicing the spiritual disciplines — means of grace — so that you can more perfectly reflect the light of Christ and live as his disciples.

As part of the family of Christ, we are all automatically part of the priesthood of all believers. Laity Sunday is designed to recognize those who are committed to discipleship. But I think that is all of us: by living a Christ-filled life, we are bringing his light into this world for others to see. Its as simple as being nice, being generous with your time, your good attitude, your skills – and not just to the church, but to all around you, stranger and friend alike.

I am reminded of a saying I heard last weekend: God does not choose those who are talented and gifted, but gives gifts and talents to those who choose him. I have seen this happening in my own life. People tell me I have a powerful speaking voice – first of all, God gives me the words to speak. And 20 years ago, about the best you could say about my public speaking ability was that I could read pretty well. In fact, the first time I ever spoke in public, at a conference, the comment I got at the end was that my talk was “very nicely read.” And people seem to be moved by the music when I play and sing. I have been playing guitar and singing for almost 25 years, but it wasn’t until the last five years when I began to sing regularly for Christ that my humble talents really began to shine.

Whatever gifts or talents you have, God will use them if you let him. And if you pledge to serve God, ask him “Lord, use me as you can, your will, not mine,” listen, and go where he calls, you will find gifts you didn’t even know you have.

2 Corinthians 5:17 speaks of what it means when we become part of the Body of Christ. “What this means is that those who became Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life is begun!”

When we choose Christ, it is not a one-time thing. We are baptized once in our lives, but we choose Christ daily, sometimes minute by minute. We are sinners by nature, frequently tempted or distracted by daily life. Micah 6:6-8 (NLT) speaks to us sinners who choose Christ:

What can we bring to the LORD to make up for what we've done? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and tens of thousands of rivers of olive oil? Would that please the LORD? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for the sins of our souls? Would that make him glad? No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

We who have made that choice to follow Christ, who daily make that choice, our fate is sealed. We can not give back the knowledge we have gained in knowing Christ, the knowledge of right and wrong, the call to serve. However, in return we are many times blessed by God’s love, God’s forgiveness, and God’s grace. Yes, we are sinners, but it is our sins that have made us who we are. It is our sins that have brought us to this very place in our lives. And it is God’s forgiveness that enables us to use our humanity to serve others, to tell others. We have been filled with the Holy Spirit. Now that we have it, what are we going to do with it? Now that you know the power of Christ in your life, what are YOU going to do with it?

Michael R. Martin – October 17, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

A High Priority Relationship • September 19, 2004

Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107:1-9, 43; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Introduction

In a couple of weeks, I will be spending the weekend with a number of pilgrims who will be experiencing the Walk to Emmaus program. In the past, my role on these weekends “Short Crash Courses in Christianity” has been as music team leader. This coming weekend, God has called me to serve as a group table leader and giving a talk, entitled “Life in Piety: Giving our Hearts to Christ.” The talk is the keystone talk on Friday. The day focuses on God’s grace and ends with my talk about developing a close relationship with Christ. I would like to share a little of this subject with you this morning.

The subject of my talks is “Life in Piety.” My dictionary defines Piety as “Religious devotion and reverence to God” and it stems from the Latin pietás, meaning dutiful conduct.* A life in piety is a life lived in close relationship with God. I am not talking about random acts of kindness here, but a life where God is THE priority. It means surrendering your heart, mind & will to God. As Kahlil Gibran wrote in The Prophet, "Your daily life is your temple and your religion." Living a life in piety means changing the priority of your life. Think about your life today. How do you spend your time? How do you spend your money? Where you spend your time and/or money is generally where your priority is. A life in piety means living a life where God is number one, above all else.

Living a life in piety doesn’t mean that you give up your present life & livelihood to become pious. It does not mean we become celibate or silent monks or anything like that. Living a life in piety doesn’t mean your life will be without its share of pain and woes. Even Jesus, whose relationship with God was his total being, experienced some tremendously painful events. Living a pious life does not mean you become perfect, either. None of us are perfect, we are humans. Fortunately, God never asked us to be perfect. But God does expect us to live as best we can in His way, to have a personal and ongoing relationship with him. Lastly, living a pious life does not mean you are better than anyone else. In fact, in time you’ll seek being the least, the servant.

Ephesians 3:7-8 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me. . .

Philippians 2:3&5 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. . . Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Characteristics of High Priority Relationship

The characteristics of ANY high priority relationship are honesty, authenticity, depth, and resourcefulness. These are also the characteristics of a high priority relationship with God. To me, the key to living a life of piety is recognizing, truly recognizing, that all that you are, all that you have, all that you have been, life’s past journey and your future, all of these you owe to Christ, to God, to the Holy Spirit. Be ever thankful for all that you are and have been given.

Let’s examine the four characteristics of the high priority relationship we seek with God: Honesty, Authenticity, Depth & Resourcefullness. Honesty, first and foremost, is essential in any relationship that matters. Honesty means sharing your true feelings with God, even when they are negative. One of the most wonderful enlightenments I have ever had in my conversations with God began with me alone in church late one night, kneeling at the alter, yelling in anger at God. I don’t even remember now what got me to that place, but I clearly remember how my honesty was rewarded with an overwhelming feeling of peace.

Authenticity means sharing yourself completely. It means giving your best to God, rather than trying to hold a little something back for yourself. Depth means being willing to give your self completely to God, all that you are and all that you do. Resourcefulness in your relationship with God means having the assurance to deal with life’s ups and downs without forgetting your most IMPORTANT relationship. Resourcefulness is living a life in God’s grace, using the gifts He has given you, to make a difference in the world.

Devotional Practices That Enhance the Relationship

God wants a total commitment. Mark 12:30 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'

Any great relationship requires focus and attention. As Rick Warren tells us in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, "Like any friendship, you must work at developing your friendship with God. It won't happen by accident. It takes desire, time, and energy. If you want a deeper, more intimate connection with God you must learn to honestly share your feelings with him, trust him when he asks you to do something, learn to care about what he cares about, and desire his friendship more than anything else."

John Wesley talked about a variety of works of piety – devotional practices that enhance our relationship with God. Wesley said: “The chief of these means are prayer, whether in secret or with the great congregation; searching the Scriptures; (which implies reading, hearing, and meditating thereon;) and receiving the Lord's Supper, eating bread and drinking wine in remembrance of Him. . .”

With that in mind, let us now examine the devotional practices that enhance our relationship with God.

Prayer: constant conversation with God

The first of these devotional practices is prayer, what I like to call a constant conversation with God. John Wesley considered prayer an essential part of Christian living, calling it, in many of his writings, the most important means of grace. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 reminds us to “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

I’ve spoken to you here about prayer before. Remember that the average American Christian prays four minutes a day and the average American pastor prays seven minutes a day. Jesus tought us to persistence in prayer, to knock often (knock, knock, knock, knock, knock) yet this is the prayer life of American Christians (knock). Prayer was enormously vital to Jesus. And so it should be with us. God wants that relationship with you as much as you need it from Him. Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Life reminds us that "Friendship with God is built by sharing all your life experiences with him. . . . He wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem, and even every thought. You can carry on a continuous, open-ended conversation with him throughout your day, talking with him about whatever you are doing or thinking at that moment. "Praying without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) means conversing with God while shopping, driving, working, or performing any other everyday tasks."

Searching the Scripture

Conversation in any relationship is a two way street. One of the best ways we can become closer to God so that His will becomes more evident in our lives is to read the scripture. The scripture is the source from which we learn the heart, mind, and soul of the One who calls us into this relationship. If all you get of the Bible are the few verses that are read to you each Sunday and the preacher’s interpretation, you are not getting the full story at all and you are not having a conversation with God. It wasn’t until I really started studying the bible that I realized how MUCH I was missing from this brief exposure to the scripture. It is but a teaspoonful of the Bible’s richness at best. Immerse yourself in the book, and read beyond the few verses that come up every year in church. This book will illuminate your life!

Meditation: Seek God's word & will

Meditation is another devotional practice that enhances your relationship with God. Meditating on the scripture is how we seek God’s word and will for our lives. As Billy Graham wrote in his wonderful summary called Living the Christian Life†, “The Bible is God's inspired Word. Besides revealing the Good News about forgiveness and eternal life, it can also answer the many questions you will have as you try to live a life that pleases God. It will enable you to be "thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17, NIV). Think about what you read; study and analyze it. Pray for understanding. The Holy Spirit will help you (Psalm 119:18), and you will begin to see life from God's perspective.”

The bible tells us in John 4:23-24

''Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

One cannot worship in truth unless one knows the Bible, God’s word. We are not commanded to worship God as we'd like him to be, but in truth, as He is revealed to us.

Once you become more confidant in your understanding of God’s word through study and meditation, venture forth and start reading some of the “popular” Christian books – you’ve heard me quote from several here already. But always be strong in your personal relationship with God, put your relationship with God first, and filter everything else through that relationship, no MATTER the source. As Rev. Matthew Baldwin tells us in the Dirty Hippy Liberal Christian Home Journal: “We must not assume that a Biblical teaching is immediately clear or applicable . . . (and) . . . We must also not simply accept another Christian's interpretation, however authoritatively it is given.” The familiarity with God’s word I have gained through study and meditation helps me evaluate all that I hear and read, whether it comes from a pastor, radio minister, or Christian author.

Worship

Worship is another devotional practice that enhances your relationship with God. Billy Graham wrote “When you received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you began a relationship not only with Him but also with all other Christians. Whatever it meant to you in the past, going to church can now become a rich and rewarding experience”

Billy Graham pointed out that, through organized worship:

• “You will grow in understanding by hearing God's Word preached and taught.
• You can ask questions and discuss Scripture with others.
• You will learn to worship God, which means praising Him for all that He is and thanking Him for all that He has done for you.
• As you worship, learn and serve with other Christians, you will find individuals with whom you can form lasting friendships (friendships that will last for all eternity!).”
  

Worship is not only what we do in our outward life, but what we do inwardly as well. The apostle Paul instructed the Romans in this fashion: “Use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God” (Romans 6:13b). Rick Warren wrote: "Worship is far more than praising, singing, and praying to God. Worship is a lifestyle of enjoying God, loving him, and giving ourselves to be used for his purposes. When you use your life for God's glory, everything you do can become an act of worship. "

Communion

Communion is another form of worship that enhances our relationship with God. Through communion, we actively participate in the drama of forgiveness and thanksgiving, receiving the bread of life and being restored as brothers and sisters in God’s family. Through communion, we celebrate with God remembering the love He shows us in Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Direction

Spiritual direction is a practice that will help you get the most out of the other relationship-enhancing practices. Spiritual direction is a relationship with a clergy or layperson who practices a relationship with God and is willing to guide you as you seek to experience your own fuller relationship with God. As your relationship with God grows, this spiritual guidance can grow into a mutual relationship of spiritual guidance called spiritual friendship.

Conclusion

Living a life of piety IS a life lived in a close relationship with God; a life lived with God as your number one priority. It is a life not just committed to making a better you, but becoming more Christ-like through your relationship with Him. It is a life of constant conversation with God, through prayer, scriptural study, meditation, and worship.

I promise you this: do these things and there will come a time when all of this will be natural, this conversation with God, this closeness to God, and that will be its own reward. Do these things and you will find that which is bad in you will become easier to manage, and that which is good in you will become richer, more evident, and more beneficial to you and those around you.

Romans 8:35-39 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Michael R. Martin – September 19, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM