|
Search our Messages |
||
|
GOING TO THE DEEP - Isa6:1-8, 1Cor15:1-11, Lk5:1-11 - 7/2/2010‘Going To The Deep’ by Rev. Alan Shaw 7/2/2010 Epiphany 5 Yr C Isa6:1-8, 1Cor15:1-11, Lk5:1-11 [PRAY: Loving Lord, may the words of my lips & the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in your sight. In Jesus Name. Amen] This week’s readings feature 3 reluctant heroes who hear & eventually accept the call of God on their lives. Each of them takes on the challenge of proclaiming God’s message to a world that doesn’t always want to hear. >> In our OT reading we hear the account of Isaiah’s response to God. It’s as if he’s attending a perfectly normal worship service at the temple when suddenly everything in front of him slips away – a bit like a theatrical set in a musical - & he experiences a wondrous vision of the heavenly court. This vision is enough to convince Isaiah that he’s the one God really wants for the job of prophet – a job that – like prophets before & after him – will get people offside. The angel’s burning coal brings Isaiah the knowledge that he is indeed worthy & the right person to serve God as a messenger. His mission was to tell the Israelite people - who firmly believed they were God’s favourites - that instead God was going to destroy them because of their disobedience. It’s Isaiah’s example of recognising his inadequacy & sinfulness before God that encourages us to examine ourselves & do the same. Isaiah’s picture of God’s forgiveness reminds us that we too can be forgiven & so empowered by God to do what might seem impossible. >> In our Gospel from Luke we find Peter’s response is similar to Isaiah’s – with a very different setting. No grand visions of heaven & angels – just the ordinary everyday workplace for a bunch of uneducated professional fishermen – who have come home empty-handed after a long night on the lake. Jesus approaches Peter & the boys as they are busy mending their nets – Jesus often demands our attention when it’s inconvenient. Peter’s first reaction – like Isaiah – is to sense he’s in the presence of someone special – that something big is about to happen that he’s totally unprepared for. It’s interesting that Jesus tells them to go out into the deep & try again. Everyone knows you fish in the shallows in daylight. It doesn’t always seem sensible to obey Jesus. But they do - & are rewarded abundantly for trusting him. After the fishing miracle Peter – like Isaiah - acknowledges his inadequacy & his sinfulness. ‘Go away from me, Lord!’ he shouts. Notice Jesus doesn’t pronounce any words of absolution over Peter kneeling at his feet. He accepts Peter just the way he is. That’s how Jesus calls us – just as we are. And Peter is given the confidence he needs: God must trust him or Jesus wouldn’t have asked: ‘Follow me..don’t be afraid..you have important work to do.’ And they did. >> And again in 1Cor15, Paul – with all his faults - is talking about the wonderful world-changing truth of the resurrection that he has passed on as something so important it’s worth basing one’s whole life on. It changes everything! The central theme of the whole gospel is contained in this passage: vv.3-4 “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures..[v.3]” Without this truth Christ’s death was for nothing. Those who believe in him are still in their sins – without hope. Christ’s death was the fulfilment of ancient prophecies – no accident or afterthought – but was according to God’s plan. [v.4a] “...he was buried..” Many have tried to refute the facts surrounding his death. [v.4b] ..he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...” Christ was raised permanently - forever – by God the Father – just as the prophecies foretold. Paul assures us that many saw Jesus after his resurrection to testify to the fact. The physical resurrection was - & is – a difficult message to proclaim. But it’s the truth. >> The 3 reluctant heroes in our readings today - Paul - Isaiah & Peter who led the fishermen in leaving their nets to follow Jesus - all share in the realisation that no one is called by God to do what might seem impossible because they are necessarily the best person for the job. Rather it seems that one of the main criteria is realising that one is totally inadequate & therefore fully reliant on God. All that’s required is the ability to hear God’s call - & then say ‘Yes, Lord. Here I am!’ It’s all about trust & dependence & surrender. It’s about faith. These are stories about God’s miraculous power & love for his creation. And the people who had the courage to risk everything in obeying God’s call to follow. ?So what we can we take away from these stories today that will encourage us in our faith? Clearly the subtext of our readings concerns discipleship – evangelism – reaching out to others in God’s name. The Bible encourages us to proclaim the Gospel & make disciples of all nations. But only the few are called to leave home & family & job for a mission placement in a third world country. Only the few are called to stand on street corners & preach to passersby. Most of us are called to help fulfil God’s plans in far less spectacular ways. I have a friend who signs her emails with this phrase: ‘Bloom where you’re planted’. I believe God calls us to bloom where we are planted – to draw others to Christ through our relationships with others – wherever we are – school – work – uni – sports clubs – social networks – & at church. Wherever we find ourselves - it means not keeping our faith a secret. If we truly believe Christ’s message of hope & forgiveness then we have an obligation to share it with others. How we do that will depend on a number of things: our personalities - how well we know our Bible – self-confidence. But above all it will depend on our relationship with Jesus. If others can see the joy of having Christ living & working within us they’ll be more open to hearing about him. We should not feel awkward or embarrassed about being a Christian. It’s something we should be proud of. And iwe must remember it’s not US or anything we do that brings people to Christ – but the Holy Spirit. We simply sow the seeds through our words & actions – often unknowingly – seeds that may take some time to bear fruit. And when they do we’re usually surprised. We’ve heard it before – it’s not our ABILITY but our AVAILABILITY that God wants. >> Another aspect of our readings is worth clarifying – that of EMBRACING OUR FEARS. Jesus’ instruction to the fishermen in v.4 of our Gospel passage: “Put out into deep water & let down your nets..” has a slightly different meaning in the original Greek. A more accurate translation is “Go to the Deep….” It’s important to understand that the Israelite people generally had a deep fear of the sea. To them it was a symbol of the chaos which existed before creation. According to the first Creation story in Genesis - before God brought order to the earth by separating the water & land - the earth’s surface was covered by water which the Israelites believed flowed from great fountains deep below the oceans. These fountains or springs were believed to be guarded by a sea monster called Leviathan. Anyone who ventured out into the deep water far from land risked being taken by the sea monster. Fishing was therefore considered a dangerous occupation. If you’ve ever been on a boat where you can’t see land in any direction - you might have experienced a sense of unease as I have. Even good swimmers get nervous. Our natural home is on dry land - not the ocean. The Israelites were predominantly desert people who had a fear of the sea & therefore no need to learn how to swim. And Jesus says, “Put out into the deep….go to the deep…” In other words, “Go to the place where you believe the fountains of water that can flood the world & bring chaos are to be found. Go to where the Leviathan sea monster lives. Go to the place where you risk drowning – the place you most fear to go. And there you’ll find what you are looking for.’ ? What might Jesus’ instruction “Go to the deep…” mean for us today? >> At a corporate level – as we interact with others, the call to ‘Go to the deep’ may mean being prepared to go with others – to support others as they go into their dark & frightening places - to be their companion on the way as they lower their nets into the dark places of the soul – as they wrestle with their fears & imaginary monsters. To wait with them as they haul their net to the surface. To share in the joy of their rewards. >> At a personal level it might mean that we must be prepared go to where we’ll face our deepest fears - our dreams & nightmares & monsters – where we lose control, like storm-tossed fishermen - & learn how to truly trust in Jesus. >> ? What might ‘The Deep’ mean for us? ? What would it be like to go fishing in that place? ?To go fishing there with Jesus? >> Telling others about Jesus is every Christian’s responsibility & it isn’t as difficult as we might think. Luke gives us 6 simple steps to becoming a true disciple: 1. LISTEN TO JESUS [5:3] “Then Jesus sat down & taught the people from the boats..” Everything begins with listening to Jesus - studying His Word – praying for ourselves - praying specifically for someone to come to the Lord. We can’t tell others about Jesus if we don’t know him ourselves. 2. LAUNCH INTO THE DEEP. [5:4] Jesus calls us to leave our places of safety & go out deeper than we’ve been before – to take risks & trust him. We don’t fish for disciples in a bucket – or in the shallows - but in the deep! 3. OBEDIENCE TO HIS WORD. [5:5-6] Peter & the boys were tired & disheartened after a lousy night’s fishing. Jesus tells them to try one more time. And they obey. ? How often do we too give up when all seems hopeless – perhaps just one attempt too soon? 4. SEEK THE HELP OF OTHERS [5:7] Peter asked His mates for help. It helps to have a prayer partner – as you encourage & support one other you become a team & can share in the delight of hauling in the nets when the time is right. And the catch is always surprising! 5. RECOGNISE OUR OWN INADEQUACY & SINFULNESS. [5:8-10] We may call out "Go away from me Lord, I’m a sinful person!" But that’s something Jesus will never do. He has promised to never leave us no matter what. 6. DON'T BE AFRAID - JUST FOLLOW JESUS! [5:10b-11]. Jesus’ call to be a fisher of people is as clear as it ever was. ? Can we hear his call? ?Do we dare follow? PRAY: LL – you sometimes call us when it’s not convenient – when we’re not ready to hear you – not ready to obey you. Forgive us our selfishness. Give us courage to put out into the deep – to trust that you will be with us no matter what – as we face our darkest fears. Give us the patience to stand alongside others as they wrestle with theirs. May all we do & say be to your glory & point the way to Jesus – in whose name we pray. AMEN. |
|
© 2010 Lismore Anglican Church :: Admin