Lord, your love is long-lasting.  It never ends.

Your faithfulness is ever-present.  It never quits.

That’s why I long for the day when all the world will worship you.

That’s why I dream of the day when all the  peoples will praise you.

My greatest wish is for the world-wide worship of the One who leaves me speechless.

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Lord, the weak were worn down.

The powerful abused their position.

So you sent forth a king.

Through him you brought justice.

You lifted the lowly.

You collapsed those in control.

Now, Lord, send forth us.

Use us to bring justice to all.

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God, every time the powerful meet together, you take a seat at their table.

Though unseen, you see.

Though unaddressed, you address.

And you say to them, ”Strengthen the weak.  Stand up for the orphans.  Rescue the needy.  Pursue the wicked.”

But the powerful ignore your words.  They fail to consider your call.

Therefore, God, take charge.  Take over.

Do what they will not.

Strengthen the weak.  Stand up for the orphans.  Rescue the needy.  Pursue the wicked.

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If success means filled seats, last Sunday was a failure.  Our total worship attendance was less than normal.

If sucess means full contribution plates, last Sunday was a failure.  Our giving trended downward.

If success means a full schedule of events at the church building, last Sunday was a failure.  The crowds only filled the building for 45 minutes and quickly left.

But if success means engaging the community in the Spirit of Christ, last Sunday was a raging success.  Instead of our usual two worship services, we held only one combined service.  Instead of our normal schedule of an hour of Sunday School and more than an hour of worship, we met for only 45 minutes of communion and singing.  Instead of lingering and fellowshipping, we rapidly left the building in deployments of more than twenty groups to do specific acts of service in our community.  Homeless men were fed, children and families from Saint Jude and LeBonheur were blessed with gifts and grace, shut-ins received welcome guests, missionaries were sent cards of encouragement, and countless other acts of kindness were demonstrated.

In terms of filled seats, full contribution trays, and an overflowing schedule in the building, it was a bust.  But in terms of being Jesus to one of the poorest cities in the country, it couldn’t have been better.  I’m grateful for the chance to serve with a church full of people willing to re-imagine what it means to be a church.

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Enable me to show favor to the poor in spirit who have no one but you in their corner, the mournful so weary of the  wrong in the world, the meek and the missing out, and those who are hungering and thirsting for the world to be made right.

Empower me to show mercy, to practice a faith that is not merely external and superficial, to pursue your peace for all people, and to be willing to pay the price to do what’s right by others and by you.

Energize me that I might do the good deeds that act as salt and light.

In my relationship with others make me the one who does not harbor anger but seeks reconciliation, pays any price to think and act without lust, does not divorce but is faithful, does not deceive but lets my ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and does not respond to evil with violence but with love.

In my relationship with you assist me that I might give to the poor, pray, and fast for your sake and not mine; and that I might pray for your kingdom to come instead of for my will to be done.

In my relationship with money help me to not be miserly and serve Money but to be generous and serve you; help me not worry but trust in your caring provision and kingdom purpose.

May I pursue the strengthening of my own weaknesses rather than pointing out the weaknesses of others.

May I trust in a God who knows how to give good gifts.

May I do to others what I would have them do to me.

Let my path not be the crowded one but the little-traveled one.

Let me not listen to others because of the fruit on their resumes but because of the fruit in their character.

Let me not aspire to the claim of sensational spirituality but to the claim of simple obedience.

Transform me so that I do not merely listen to these words but do live them out.

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Here’s what I heard most frequently yesterday at the PBL when asking my fellow-ministers, “How are you?”

“I’m o.k…”  (Not, “I’m OK!”)

“I’m hanging in there.”

“I’m making it.  Making it.”

“I’m glad I’m here.” (Translation: “I’m glad I’m not there, in my local congregational setting.”)

These phrases are often followed by a tired gaze into the distance or by a tired smile.

Honestly, I said more than one of those phrases myself yesterday.

We ministers can be a weary lot.  You may not realize it, but we get stressed out, at times have trouble sleeping, are sometimes addicted to food or exercise or writing in order to self-medicate, wrestle with our own spiritual doubts, get our feelings hurt, and are sometimes just a mess.  Ministry is hard work and it sometimes works us over.

So, next time you ask your preacher, youth minister, children’s minister, or church leader, “How are you?”  don’t settle for the first thing that comes out of his/her mouth.  Press a little.  Ask what you can pray about for him/her.  Write him/her a little note of encouragement.  (And offer to help send him/her to Pepperdine again next year ).

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I often think of prayer as the pathway to two things: resources and relationships.  I pray in order to gain the resources which I cannot produce myself.  And I pray in order to gain the deeper relationship with God which I cannot create through any other way. 

Yet on both of these counts, it would seem that Jesus would not need prayer.  Consider resources.  Jesus had the power to create most resources by himself.  He had the power to create food—multiplying fish and loaves.  He had the power to heal illness—from blindness to leprosy.  He could control the weather—stilling a storm with just a phrase.  Why would someone Jesus even need to pray?  What resources would Jesus require that he could not produce himself?  In addition, consider the issue of relationship.  Jesus is God.  He and the Father are one.  If one purpose of prayer is to cultivate intimacy with God, it would appear as if Jesus already has the deepest intimacy possible.  He is so intimate with God that he is God.

In spite of all of this, Jesus still prayed.  There are at least 29 references in the Gospels to the prayer-life of Jesus.  From his baptism in Luke 3:21 to his ascension in Lk. 24:51, we find Jesus praying.  As Luke explains in Lk. 5:16, “But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”  Prayer was a habit.  It was something Jesus constantly did.  He prayed at the feeding of the 5,000 (Mk. 6:41) and after the feeding of the 5,000 (Mk. 6:46).  He prayed for the forgotten (children) (Mk. 10:15-16), his fellow workers (John 17), his global family (Jn. 17), and his foes (Lk. 23:34).  He prayed when healing (Mk. 7:32-34) and when hurting (Matt. 27:46). 

It seems there were resources needed by Jesus that he could gain in no other way but through prayer.  It seems there was a level of relationship with the Father that could be experienced in no other way but through prayer.  Because of this, Jesus prayed. 

The mere fact that Jesus prayed so passionately and so consistently is striking.  As someone who wants to pattern his life after Jesus’ life, I am compelled to pray as Jesus prayed.  As those who wear the name of Jesus, it seems especially crucial for us to make room in our lives for prayer in the same way Jesus did. 

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Here is today’s prayer event: 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (John 17:17-19 ESV)

To be “sanctified” is to be set apart.  Set apart for what?  In this prayer–part 3 of a 3 part prayer for his disciples–Jesus links being “sanctified” with being “sent.”  Just as Jesus was set apart for the purpose of being sent into the world, so now he prays for the disciples to be set apart for the purpose of being sent into the world.  Jesus prays about their mission.  He begs the Father to set these men apart for the holy task of continuing Jesus’ mission.  He prays that they might fulfill their true purpose in life.

Consider the people in your life: friends, family members, fellow believers, church/organizational/governmental leaders, etc.  Pray for each today, that God would set him/her apart for His mission to the world.  Pray that each would fulfill his/her true purpose in life.

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Here is today’s prayer event: 27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” (John 12:27-28 ESV).

As with all of the prayers for which we have Jesus’ actual words, this one is prayed in the cold shadow of the cross.  Here, Jesus lays out the two options we have when faced with pain and suffering: “Father, save me.” or “Father, use me.”  The prayer, “Father, glorify your name,” is a plea for God to use the cross and Jesus’ suffering for His purposes, to reveal something about Himself.

Save me.  Use me.

Take a few moments right now to identify a circumstance in your life that brings you pain or suffering.  Rather than asking God to save you from that circumstance, ask Him right now to use you in the midst of that circumstance.

SHARE WITH READERS BELOW A DIFFICULT TIME WHEN GOD USED YOU  OR THE CIRCUMSTANCE FOR GOOD.

[image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/grujbarova/3323702112/]

Chris Altrock – February 28, 2010

Recently, the New Orleans Saints won the National Football Leagues’ Super Bowl.  It is the most important professional football game in the United States.  And the Saint’s win is all the more remarkable given where their road to victory began.  After being founded in 1967, the Saints went more than a decade before they finished a season with a .500 record.  Ten years of games passed before the team managed a season in which they won half their games.  In addition, it was two decades before the Saints celebrated a winning season.  They played twenty years before they had one season in which they won more than they lost.  In fact, in 1980, the Saints lost their first 14 games.  A local sportscaster urged Saints fans to wear paper bags over their heads.  Many of the bags had written on them the word “Aints” rather than the team’s name, “Saints.”  And even after their first winning season, it would be another two decades before the Saints made it to this year’s Super Bowl.  The end of their story is all the more amazing given its humble beginnings.

The same is true regarding the story Paul’s been telling in Eph. 4.  During this Sunday morning series, “Meant for More,” we’ve been exploring the more we are meant for in Christ:     

• Paul has revealed that we Christians are now part of a community meant for more than just this—more than just the ordinary routine of every-day life.  Instead, as Christians we are part of a community that participates in a cosmic restoration process.  We get to join God in putting the pieces of people’s lives and of all creation back together.
• Paul has also revealed that we who have faith in Jesus are now part of a community meant for more than just me—more than just loneliness or relationships which revolve around me.  Instead, as people with faith in Jesus we are now part of a contrast community in which real and deep relationships thrive.
• Paul has revealed that we Christians are now part of a community meant for more than just “us” and “here.”  Instead, as Christians who confess that God is Father of all and that he is working through all creation, we belong to a community that places no limits on God’s love and labor and places no limits on our own love and labor.    
• Paul has further revealed that we who have faith in Jesus are now part of a community meant for more than just religion.  We who have faith in Jesus are part of a community pursuing increased intimacy with and imitation of Jesus Christ. 
• And finally, Paul has revealed that we Christians are part of a community meant for more than just sitting in the stands.  Every Christian has been given an ability to do the work of ministry which impacts people’s lives. 

All of this is ours as Christians.  God has invited us into this amazing community of “more.” 

But that community of “more” is even more amazing given its humble beginnings.  In Eph. 1:11-14 Paul reminds us of our beginning: 11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory (Eph. 1:11-14 ESV). 

For a brief moment, Paul speaks about how he, and others like him, took their first steps into this community of “more”:  11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.  Verses 11-12 are about Paul and other Jews who were some of the first to put their hope in Christ.  Paul says that for him and for other Jews, this community of “more” began when they put their hope in Christ. 

But in verse 13, Paul moves from “we” to “you”: 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.  The “you” refers to the Ephesians, and more largely to the non-Jews or Gentiles in Ephesus.  How did they become part of this amazing community of “more”?  Here’s how it began: 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.  These formerly pagan Gentiles were now part of the great community of “more.”  But how did they get there?  Paul mentions three parts of their beginning. First, they heard.  The Ephesians heard about Jesus.  Paul travelled to Ephesus and spoke to them this “word of truth” about Jesus.  It all began when Paul started talking to them about Jesus and they heard about Jesus.

Second, they believed.  Once Paul shared with them the story of Jesus, they wrestled with it, dialogued about it, and processed it.  And eventually, they believed it.  They trusted it was true.  It all began when one morning or one late night their hearts and minds finally decided that this “word of truth” really was true.

Third, they were sealed.  Paul writes that they were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.  In the ancient world, cattle and slaves were branded with their owners seal.  It was a mark of ownership and way of protecting them.  Someone of ill-will might leave something alone if they recognized on it the seal of an important owner.  Paul’s not calling us cattle or slaves.  But he is saying that when the Ephesians heard about Jesus and believed in Jesus, they were sealed, marked, or branded by the Holy Spirit.  God took possession of them.  He took ownership of them.[i]  The fact that Paul calls this Spirit the “promised” Holy Spirit should cause our minds to go back to Acts 2 when Peter preached about how God had promised in the Old Testament to “pour out” his Spirit on “all people.”  Then, later in Acts 2, 3,000 are baptized and receive the Spirit.  Thus, Paul is reminding the Ephesians about the day when they were baptized and they received this Spirit.  They heard about Jesus, believed, and were sealed by the Spirit when they were baptized.  It all began when they got immersed in a pool of water.  This amazing community of “more” began in that humble way: when they heard, and believed, and were sealed. 

The same is true for every one of us who follows Jesus.  Our first steps into this community of more began when we heard, believed, and were sealed.  Do you remember the name or names of the people who shared with you the word of truth about Jesus?  Maybe it was parents, a preacher, or a friend.  For me, it was Gary Cox, a high school senior and Marlon McWilliams, a rural small-town preacher.  Do you remember those days when you started taking seriously what you had heard about Jesus, when you really began considering that it might be true?  For me, it was the first few months of 1984.  The story of Jesus got into my heart and wouldn’t let me alone.  And do you remember the day of your baptism?  Do you remember who spoke the words: “I baptize you into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit”?  That’s how all of this began.

With that in mind, listen to how Paul closes Ephesians: To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Eph. 6:18-20ESV)  Paul wants to proclaim the good news about Jesus.  He wants to share it with boldness and courage.  He wants that so much that he begs the Ephesians to pray for him as he tells others about Jesus.  As Paul wraps up the letter what matters most to him is his mission of sharing Jesus with other people. 

Why?  Because Paul knows that this is how it begins.  Paul wants every person to participate in this community of “more.”  He wants every person to know the joy of living for more than just this, and just me, and just us, and just religion, and just sitting in the stands.  And Paul knows that this is how that begins: someone has to share the story of Jesus, so that another person can hear, believe, and be sealed by the Holy Spirit.

The reality is that there are millions around the world and thousands in the Mid-South who are not a part of the community of “more.”  And the only way they become a part is the way the Ephesians became a part: they must hear this word of truth, believe in it, and respond to it through baptism, being sealed by the Holy Spirit.  If you have not done that, you are not a part of the community of “more.”  You need to begin this morning by believing in the word about Jesus and responding to it through baptism.  That’s why Paul could think of nothing else at the end of this letter than telling others about Jesus.  Because that’s where it all begins.

But it may be tempting to leave Ephesians and assume that only a trained professional like Paul can help others begin this journey.  We might close the last chapter and assume that only someone like an apostle can share Jesus well-enough for others to hear, believe, and be sealed.  But if we take the Ephesian’s story back one more chapter, we’ll see that this is not the case. 

The very first Christians lived in the city of Jerusalem.  But there came a day when many of them were driven out of Jerusalem.  Here’s how Luke records it: And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (Acts 8:1 ESV).  Notice what happens: the apostles—the spiritual elite—remain in Jerusalem.  But average and ordinary Christians get run out of town.  And notice what these ordinary and average Christians do: 19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:19-21 ESV).  Some of these average and ordinary Christians who had been run out of Jerusalem make their way to a city called Antioch.  They are so average that Luke doesn’t even name them.  These Christians aren’t even important enough to be named.  But in Antioch, these nameless and ordinary Christians share the word of truth with Jews and Gentiles.  And many of these Jews and Gentiles hear the word, believe the word, and are sealed with the Holy Spirit.  Luke says “a great number” of them do.  Then, they form a church.  And it is that church in Antioch which ultimately sends Paul to places like Ephesus where the word is preached and the Ephesians hear, believe, and are sealed.  The real beginning to what Paul has shared in Ephesians is right here in Acts 11: ordinary, unnamed Christians sharing the story of Jesus.

The point is that for every person, the journey into this community of “more” begins in the same way: it begins by hearing, believing, and being sealed through the waters of baptism.  And who does God use to bring about that beginning?  For sure, he uses seasoned preachers like Paul.  But God also uses ordinary and average Christians like us.  Through you God can create a beginning for the people in your class, in your neighborhood, at your work, and in your family.  You can share that word of truth so that the people around you can enter into this community of “more.” 

How?  There are a lot of different ways.  But one way is demonstrated by what we are calling “throughYOU.”  “ThroughYOU” is based on how Jesus himself enlisted people into his community of more.  We’ve handed out a description of it this morning.  I’ll share some of it with you.  In Matt. 5-10 Jesus demonstrates the four simple ways in which God can work through you to lead people into this community of “more”:

1. Cultivate the Character of Jesus.  In Matt. 5-7, also known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls us to not merely tell others good news, but to become good news.  His Sermon reveals that we become salt and light through who we are and not just through what we say.  If every person at Highland became a living example of Jesus’ teaching in Matt. 5-7, that alone would attract others to Jesus.
2. Pursue Closeness like Jesus.  In Matt. 8-9, Jesus leaves the summit where he’s retreated with his followers and draws close to people who are far from God.  He touches them, serves them, and befriends them.  Every one of us needs to find ways to get onto the “turf” of people far from God and to draw close to them.  Simply put, more of us need to start spending more time around non Christians. 
3. Initiate Conversations about Jesus.  In Matt. 8-10, Jesus shares good news about himself.  Then he sends his followers to share that good news with others.  Every one of us can initiate conversations about Jesus with people around us.  We need to start talking to people about Jesus once again.  If you’d like some guidance on how to do this, look for the web address on the Sermon Notes section of the Link.  At that address you’ll find three resources to help you tell others about Jesus.
4. Invite them to participate in the Community of Highland.  Leading people to Jesus is not a solo activity.  It requires community.  At some point, you’ll want to invite that individual to participate in the community of Highland.  This community has four primary expressions: ministry, worship, Sunday School, and Reach Groups.   You’ll want to invite someone to participate in one or more these expressions.

These are the four practices through which God can lead people through you to faith in Christ.

We believe there are certain habits which can help you live out these practices.  Those are listed on the handout.  And, during the next year, we’re planning several specific activities to help you live out these practices.  Those are also listed.

Pat Wilemon is long-time Highland member.  For several years Pat and her husband Bud have coordinated the Welcome Center prior to worship at Highland.  Pat is a seasoned Christian with a sincere faith.  But she had never talked at length about Jesus with a non Christian until several weeks ago.  Pat decided to take a step of faith and ask her neighbor to study Jesus’ story with her.  Her neighbor said “yes.”  And a few days ago, Pat shared that her neighbor was thinking of being baptized into Christ.  A new beginning—and it all started when an ordinary Christian started talking about Jesus.  Let’s watch this video of Pat [VIDEO].