3rd Sunday in Lent 2019 If you think you are standing....

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT    Year C     March 24, 2019

 Isaiah 55:1-9  •  Psalm 63:1-8  •  1 Corinthians 10:1-13  •   Luke 13:1-9

“So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall”  

Balance is a funny thing… Imagine walking a tightrope…If you don’t have any confidence, you may wobble and fall, and yet if you are overly confident and don’t remember to respect the fine line you are walking, you can easily fall off.

Working with kids means I get the opportunity to witness human nature in a unique way.  Some are just so dependable it is truly amazing, and the parents of these kids are sometimes surprised to hear this….  Many kids do naughty things even when they are actually pretty good kids and some….Well they are always looking for trouble but will argue black and blue with you that they didn’t do that thing that you just saw them do.

Are adults any different?

I often try to explain to the kids that integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is looking to see you do it.  Many great kids, given the right opportunity will do the wrong thing.  We should know, better than anyone that this is simply the story of human nature.

Our Scripture passage from Corinthians warns us to watch out when we think we are standing.  Adults pretty much always think they are standing, and most of the time we think our ways are right.  We think we are strong and beyond the naughtiness of children.   Like Children, we need to be open to correction and realize how frail we are.

There was an international Bible speaker who had a terminal illness at the time I heard him speak and he had a way of cutting to the chase and saying things straight.  I remember him saying, “Don’t think that just because you’ve been a Christian for many years that you can’t be just as easily led to sin as anyone.”   

Time after time we have seen the great Evangelists fall and we kind of go… “ah yep…. Phony!”  No… no phony…. I’m betting that there was originally genuine evangelical determination to be the best that they could, however pride somehow snuck in and just when they felt secure, and probably without them even recognizing the consequence, they fell.

Saint Paul tells the Corinthians that all the Israelites were baptized into Moses and ate the same spiritual food…. But some of them fell too.  What he is trying to get through to the Corinthians, is that these were the very people who witnessed the signs and wonders in Egypt. These are the people walked through the parted sea.  These people were led through the desert by a miraculous cloud - the very presence of God.  After all this, these same people then made an Idol from their combined jewellery and worshiped it.  They seem ridiculous to us, that they could witness God in this way and still fall, but we don’t understand their culture and their ways.  And if we dismiss them as being ridiculous and primitive in their understanding, we do not comprehend how easy it is to fall.  Their story is here to serve as a warning for us that no matter the magnitude and intensity of your spiritual experience, if you think you are standing, watch that you do not fall.

But why do we fall?

The areas where people fall into sin are in those same temptations that Jesus faced in the desert.  The first temptation is the inner desire and hunger for things… more bread, more finance, more security.  And you might recall, our first reading asks us, “why spend your money on what is not bread?”

The second temptation is about the lust of the eye….Things we see and then we want them… All that Jesus could see was offered to him in return for his allegiance. I notice that when I look through a catalogue I see things I want that I never dreamed I wanted until I saw them…  Of course none of these things is actually sinful until they cross a line… but where is that line?

The third temptation is about pride and ego and relates to what we’ve just spoken about with feeling so secure in our relationship with God that we assume spiritual superiority.   Jesus was told, “Throw yourself down and you will not fall…” I wonder how many of those Evangelists were convinced, with all the good they were achieving for God’s kingdom, they could leap and not fall.   Also note that to be secure in our relationship with God and know that he will catch us is a good thing – but there is a line we can cross, where it becomes pride instead of faith.

As we hear of the scandals of others and make our judgements about how all these things happen, we need to hear the response of Jesus when he was told about the Galileans whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices.  Assumptions were made and conclusions drawn about the sinful state of those Galileans.  Jesus surprisingly assures them that their conclusions are incorrect.

You’ve heard the saying, “there but for the Grace of God go I”.  We really need to realize it. 

There are Church people fervently praying for the community, but never being part of it.  It is safe and smart to keep ourselves separate from the possible negative influence of the secular community, but how can we be the salt of the earth that God called us to be if we don’t allow ourselves to be part of that secular world?

The great commission was to go into all the world, but some denominations more than others believe that we need to stay completely separate.  It is true that it can be risky and we can become absorbed by the secular, yet how can we fulfil God’s mission if we remain behind church walls, looking at the world through stained glass windows?

Alternatively, I know of some Christians in the community whose Christian witness is a tragedy, charging more than what is fair and operating businesses without integrity.  

Two points about this; If we could begin to see less divide between the sacred and secular and understand that all the earth belongs to God perhaps we can hold all things as sacred.  Secondly, there but for the grace of God go I.

When some of the Street Chaplaincy group meet for mid-week prayer we pray for the Christians in the community and we pray for their Christian witness.  I get rather up-set when I see Christians in the secular world doing things that they wouldn’t do in their church world, but I understand their desire to be accepted.  I don’t go into that world advertising my Christianity, but somehow most of them figure it out pretty quickly.   But I need to remember that I can fall just as easily as any, so how do I keep the balance and how can we all keep the balance?

The answer is both in our Gospel and Old Testament reading.  Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree that is not fruitful.  Our Old Testament reading from Isaiah urges us to come to the water all who thirst and asks us why we labour for things that can’t satisfy.

There is a gardener who intercedes for the fig tree and explains that he will dig around the roots of the tree and fertilize it.

When I was a school student, computers were just coming into use and we learnt some of the basic language.  There was a term GIGO…  Garbage in, garbage out.  A computer works on a binary system and is completely logical, therefore the output was determined by the input.

We are the same – another saying; “you are what you eat”….  All the influences to which we subject ourselves, become who part of who we are.  Just think for a moment about your daily, weekly influences.  Being part of this world means we are going to have some negative influences…. But don’t be afraid of them, we are after all, called to go into all the world, … simply be deliberate with your gardening of yourself and ensure that you deliberately invest in that which can make you a fruitful fig tree.

Why labour for that which doesn’t satisfy?

Our temptations are tempting because we have a desire for something.  Isaiah tells us that these things can’t satisfy us.  They seem to satisfy for a while, but ultimately leave us empty.  When we come to God, to the living water, we find that what we have is enough…. And what we have in him is far more satisfying.

A few weeks ago when I looked at the reading of Jesus’ temptation in the desert I noticed that it was an attack on Jesus’ identity….. “If you are the son of God….”  Emphasis on “If”.

I talked about our identity in Christ and how it is a sure thing and dependant on what Jesus has accomplished and not anything we do.  We can neither judge another person’s standing with God depending on their actions either, because we all fall.

Somewhere between these temptations is the all-important understanding of who we are in our relationship with God. 

You may have noticed that the Evangelists did fall….  Even though our readings tell us that God will provide a way out.  It seems like something isn’t quite right.  What isn’t quite right is our understanding of the way out that God provides.  Sometimes that very public fall is God’s mercy in a big wake up call.  The way out that God provides is the Grace and finished sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and ultimately our redemption.  God’s love is sure and we are told in the letter to the Romans 8:38 – 39 “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. “

It doesn’t seem so logical to us.  Just like the computer system, we notice that these people have fallen and we expect that God would cut that unfruitful tree down. It is only logical.  But Isaiah says, “let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, (not “turn” as if it is the first time, but RETURN) that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

Isaiah reminds us that God’s ways and thoughts are far higher than ours.  God’s way of operating is beyond our understanding.   And Jesus tells us, leave it to me and I will dig around the roots and fertilize it.

There is a saying…. Lead me not to temptation, I already know the way.  We certainly do.  A few years ago I wrote a song called we can fly.  The words beginning from the second verse are; Lead me not to temptation; I know that road so well - It is the place, where often I dwell

There in my heart I desire to live life right and true - But then I stumble, and my confidence crumbles too.

It is a blessing disguised when I am broken and down - That’s when grace comes and turns me around.

I can not earn His favour, yet I am favoured it’s true - Just for believing in Him and His saving grace too.

Chorus -

No more need to climb, no more need to cry.  

We are lifted by His love to that place on high

There’s a reason for singing, its the gift that He’s bringing

Means that on the wings of His grace We can fly.....We can fly........ 

Lent is a time to prepare for the resurrection.  We remember the journey and focus on the sacrifice, but we need to keep in mind that it was accomplished for sinners, because that is what we all are.  Understand that those that fall are given the mercy and grace of God and if you think you are standing, stand in the confidence of God’s love and grace and not in your own ability, because that ability is a mere illusion…. There but for the grace of God go I.

If you think you are standing, stand in the confidence of God’s Love and Grace… not in your own ability – watch that you do not fall and show compassion and mercy to others. 

LENT 1 C   2019

On Ash Wednesday we have the sign of the ashes and we begin to fast, but even here at the beginning of the Lenten Season, the reading from Deuteronomy promises the fulfillment of God’s promise, therefore reminding us of the Good News of the Salvation that is ours through Christ.

Our First reading tells us about the Israelites coming into the Promised Land and although this is their history, for us, this is actually a parable of our Salvation story.

The reading begins with instructions about bringing to God the first fruits of the land and, did you notice, there is also a script which they recite.

I find this to be fascinating.  It is a declaration of who they are and what God has done for them.  Each week we also declare our Christian experience, reminding us of who we are in Christ.  Looking at this ancient story, however, I think of Australia day and how some conflict about the day could be resolved if we too followed this format, as it is a declaration of the truth and an acknowledgment of history – The land was not originally the Israelites and they were slaves in Egypt, but God brought them out of that place and gave them the promised land.

This recited script was a kind of creed about who they were in relationship to God, their land and their life.

It was forty years that the Israelites were wondering in the desert and it would be forty days that Jesus would fast in the desert. 

The Spirit led Jesus out into the desert.  Recently someone pointed out to me that this word “Led” is actually a poor translation and in some other accounts we read that the Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert and in other translations the Spirit compelled Jesus.

But let’s put the story into context; Jesus had come to the Jordan to be baptised by John and the Holy Spirit had descended on him in bodily form like a dove.  With this, a voice spoke to him saying, “You are my son, with whom I love. With you I am well pleased.” 

Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.   It seems like this would be a high point in a person’s life, to be affirmed by God and filled with the Holy Spirit, yet the result is that the Holy Spirit compels Jesus to go into the desert and fast for 40 days. 

40 days seems to me like an extreme fast.  I get headaches and feel sick within 24 hours, but I have a friend who regularly fasts and is quite emphatic about the health benefits (though not for 40days). If you do a google search you will find that people who are fit and used to fasting, can actually fast up to 40 days so long as they are well hydrated, but beyond 40 days you enter starvation – apparently.

One person shared his account where he initially fasted for health benefits, but after achieving this he found other mental and emotional benefits also.  It is not recommended that anyone fast as extremely as Jesus, but the idea of a fast in our season of Lent is meant to also tap into those mental and emotional benefits.  Our fast is meant to focus us to communion with God where our prayer life is enhanced and our commitment to God is re-ignited.

It is important to note that it was the Holy Spirit that directed Jesus into the desert to fast. 

Jesus is the visible expression of God – he is part of the God head, yet when he was walking this earth he was fully man.  This is really important to keep in mind, other wise we fall into the trap of minimising the enormity of Jesus’ actions.

Jesus was completely human, but we often erroneously believe that the extraordinary things he did was because he was God.  The truth is that when Jesus was on earth he did things as a human who relied on God – exactly the same way that we can.  Jesus gave up the power that was his own, and then all that he did while on earth, was through prayer, reliance on and unity with the father and the Holy Spirit.

While Jesus was like us in all these ways, the difference is that Jesus had a destiny that no other human could possibly achieve.  While he was in his frail and human state he needed to be completely in unity with the father – so in the desert he fasted, and then in the desert he was tempted.

This was an important part of our redemption.  When we are tempted we often fail.  If Jesus was going to be the perfect Lamb of God to be sacrificed for the redemption of our sins, he had to be tempted as we are but not fall.

Twice the temptation began with the words, “if you are the son of God”.  This was an attack on Jesus’ identity.  I find this point the one that needs addressing, as Christians can sometimes be the voice of Satan when they cast doubt on who you are, and who I am in the Kingdom of God.

Let me explain; Many years ago on a Scripture Union camp where I was a leader, the leaders questioned the Christianity of a teenage, loud mouth boy.  He’d been supposedly converted at the last vacation camp, but he didn’t “behave” like a Christian.   I was surprised at their doubt, as his Christianity seemed obvious to me.  That boy was simply authentic…. He was honest about everything and that meant that he was no hypocrite that looked all proper on the outside…. His inside and outside were the same and he was a Christian…. He just didn’t speak, “Christian – ese”.. 

More recently, I was devastated to find out that a friend who had moved towns very dramatically took her own life.  A comment was made, “If Jesus was in her life it would have been different”. 

I don’t know if she was Christian or not, but there have been others who I know were certainly Christian and yet have died from suicide.  Is it fair to say, “If they were truly God’s they would not have done this”?  It most certainly is not fair or true.  Our actions are influenced by who we belong to, but there are many other influences and to say this kind of thing, is like saying, Talitha is not really my daughter because she eats gluten!  It’s neither logical nor true.

A big mistake we can make, is to think that just because we are Christian we won’t fall.  Only Christ passed that test.  He is the only one who could be tempted in all these ways and not fall, and for this reason he is our saviour.  You are not your own saviour and if you try to be you will only be disappointed.

So the devil says to Jesus…“If you are the son of God”…. It was a little jibe that sought to reveal doubt, but was met with absolute conviction.  For us, the jibe is, “If you are a real Christian”…  or “If you really belonged to God’s family”….  I have had it said to me, “You can’t be a real Christian – you are divorced”.  Well the fact is you are a real Christian and you do belong to God’s family .  And this is not because you are perfect, but because Jesus is, and you are loved by God so much that Jesus was sent to redeem you. 

Many years ago a young lady asked me if she was really a Christian and how she could know (because someone had looked at her life and told her that she wasn’t a real Christian…. In fact, some will make this judgment based on your denomination).  I took this lady to our reading from Romans -

And there it is in black and white. “if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.”

None of us are perfect, so why do expect it in others and feel the need to know the Christian status of another? 

Have you noticed how we come up to the altar at church and bow to acknowledge its sacred connection to God?   How much more do we have a sacred connection to God?  It was for you and me that he died – not the altar.  I often wonder if we’d be less inclined to judge others if we acknowledged Jesus in each other in this same way and as we greeted each other we bowed to each other acknowledging that Jesus is in you and Jesus is in me? 

When the Holy Spirit gets a hold of us we may, like Jesus, feel we’ve been driven out into the desert to be tested.  The Challenge that I used to set my kids at Lent was not about giving up chocolate, but in doing something nice for someone each day.  Taking the challenge just a touch further, and because we know that a fast is meant to be a sacrifice, this taking up doing some nice or good deed should also have an element of sacrifice – so perhaps this means doing something nice for that family member who most irritates us – and without expecting anything in return.  This is where I believe the heart of God is driving us…..  In fact God tells us all this very plainly in the book of Isaiah 58:4-7  - Through the voice of Isaiah he said to the people,

““Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.  Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists.  You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.  Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves?  Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?  Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?

 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?  Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? “”

I pray that in the fast of Lent 2019 we can remember and confess our story like the Israelites, and in that confessing know our salvation.  Through our time of Lent, I pray that we can spend time in prayer and like Jesus, confidently face temptations, seeing them for the poor things they are compared to belonging to our God who loves and saves us.  But more than anything, I pray that we grow to know who we are in God’s heart.  Whether it is bread, power or kingdoms of the earth, none of these can possibly compare to richness of love we have in God through Christ.