The Lords Prayer: Your Kingdom Come...

Psalm 99 18/1/15 Pilgrim 2#2

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven”

Where Is The Kingdom Found?

Imagine the scene:

“Gosh, what a lot of dog hair!”. And Mum says nothing.

“It would be good if someone could clean up this Dog hair”, And Mum says nothing.

“Ugh a Dog Hair in my dinner!”. And Mum says nothing.

“Aargh! My socks are completely covered in Dog hair!!” And Mum says nothing.

“Right! I'll get the Vacuum out and clean it up myself!” and THERE is the Kingdom of Heaven!

What Is The Kingdom Like?

The Kingdom: where god has his way and everything comes right.

Jesus message “the kingdom of God has come close to you”

Nature of the Kingdom = the nature of the King. Ps99 “Justice”, “Holiness”, “Engaged”, “Forgiving”, “Correcting”.

The Kingdom is not the Church, it is supposed to be the whole of creation.

But we are often so aware that our bit of creation doesn't look as if God is is King now.

Is that what we want? “Your Kingdom Come”?

Brian McLaren “The church is a community that lives to see God's dream come true for the world”

What Are We Praying For Here?

Prayer in & for the Kingdom: on earth.

Compare with: ISIS & the Caliphate – Claim and Establish. The Moorish occupation of Spain and the rise of the Camino Frances which forced the Holy Roman Empire to defend they route instead of retreating beyond the mountains. We are not defenders of a shrinking and endangered kingdom. We are not "Dads Army". We are the invading force ushering in the rule of God.

This is not a prayer of abnegation. We are not saying “It's up to you Lord, I give up”. Cyprian of Carthage AD 200 “When we pray “your will be done on earth as in heaven” we are not praying that God may accomplish what he wills, but that we may be able to do what God wills”.

We are the invasion force. We strive to usher in the Kingdom of God. When we pray “your kingdom come, your will be done” we hear God say “Great. My will is that you usher in my kingdom of Justice, Holiness, Engagement, Forgiveness and Teaching on earth – as in heaven.”

Jesus says that we are like yeast, light, salt – things that are common and start small but whose influence is far reaching, who grow and change the environment around them and usher in the life, the rule, the kingdom of God.

Harvest Time? Ants and Grasshoppers Luke 12

But what if it really said....

If you are nor dancing,

If you are not singing God's praises;

You are not really living at all.

So don't be fooled by the "wise"

• Your purpose is not "to survive".
• Your purpose is not "to be self sufficient"
• Your purpose is not "to leave a legacy".
• Your purpose is "to seek His Kingdom" Luke 12:21

How will you "seek His Kingdom"?

Some have rejected the received wisdom of the time in which they lived and determined to make things better.

This celebration of those who fought fascism in Spain reads "Better to die on your feet than to live forever on your knees." 

Robert Owen set up a new community at New Lanark to allow mill workers to escape the "dark satanic mills" that seemed essential for wealth creation. 

People can make things better if they seek the Kingdom of God - by which I mean - wherever God has his way and everything comes right.

Amen and Alleluia!

Look around you wherever you are and see what you can say "Amen!" to. Amen as in "I agree, I recognize that as being in harmony with God's kingdom, Lets have more or that!"

Look around and notice, really notice, anything that you cannot say "Amen " to, Its not in harmony with God's kingdom. Then ask what you can do to change it - and do something.

And when you see the Kingdom of God coming, as Jesus taught us always to pray, then say, shout, sing out "Alleluia!" as a witness to God's glory in that place.

For

If you are nor dancing,

If you are not singing God's praises;

You are not really living at all.

And when Jesus says "Seek his kingdom and these things will be given you as well", He means it.

Look out for the Amen and Alleluia this week.

Angry?

Mark 11:11-17 What's it all about? 

Mark 11:11-17New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Jesus curses a fig-tree and clears the temple courts

12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig-tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree,‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And his disciples heard him say it.

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, ‘Is it not written: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”? But you have made it “a den of robbers”

We are looking at 3 target areas to make our church more healthy.

Real Hospitality - New Housing Areas - Relevant Worship all to improve our Need Oriented Evangelism. We call them Heart, Home & Heaven. This is about the life of Heaven – Relevant Worship.

Figs and fiddlers.

Jesus being unfair? Jesus being angry? What's going on?

How relevant are these two stories if you don't like figs or do gardening or if you don't pay to get into the cathedral anyway?

But what if we ask about what you do with your anger?

Who are you angry with and why? 

What makes you angry?- really. Think about your last outburst- 

Losing things when in a rush. Kids being awkward or defiant. Being cut up or tailgated.

Someone not texting or turning up. Plastic wrapping that you can't undo. The boss. The taxman. Waiting for the NHS. These are not Jesus' issues.

Figs

No fruit. No sign of fruit. This is about using resources with no result. This is not the life of heaven. Not how the creator designed it. Jesus kills it. This is not punishment or retribution it is action to remedy a wrong.

Fiddlers

Corruption. Exploitation. Dishonesty. Power in the hands of the mercenary. Worship controlled by those who are not worshiping. Jesus drives them out of the temple. This is not punishment or retribution it is action to remedy a wrong.

The things that should make us angry are the things that made Jesus angry.

People and structures that use up resources with no positive results. Waste, whether it is leaking water mains or an endless cycle of military or economic repression. Regulation ostensibly to protect people's health which leads to food being destroyed at the end of the day rather than being given to those who are starving. Where can we cut out this waste as Jesus cut out the fruitless fig tree.

Worship is relevant when it allows us to bring as much as we know of ourselves to as much as we know of God.

Can anger be part of worship? If we look at something and think “No! That's not right!” then we are shining the light of heaven onto it. When we say “This has to change!” we are pronouncing heavens judgement. And when we say “This is how we will change it” then we are bringing in the kingdom of God. That is relevant worship.

We need to bring our anger to God and ask: does this make you angry too Lord? How do I respond in my righteous anger? Well Jesus didn't hang about- he acted.

“Do not let the sun go down on your anger” Act not for punishment or retribution but act to remedy a wrong. Then anger can be worship too.

How To Be A Father. How To Be A Child. Hosea 11

Hosea 11:1-4, Jn 3:1-17

11 ‘When Israel was a child, I loved him,
    and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 But the more they were called,
    the more they went away from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
    and they burned incense to images.
3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
    taking them by the arms;
but they did not realise
    it was I who healed them.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness,
    with ties of love.
To them I was like one who lifts
    a little child to the cheek,
    and I bent down to feed them

This week's question: Do You Believe in God the Father?

What do Father's do?

They love you. v1 - When a new father is presented with the baby in the delivery room the response should not be “It's a bit red”, “They all look alike to me” or “Ugh!” but “Wow!” (free advice for new fathers..)

They call you out. v1 – A bit old fashioned perhaps - and I am aware that mothers can do "fathering" and fathers "mothering" too but Mothering = gather in, reassure, Fathering = encourage, draw out, challenge.

They get rejected. v2 – parenting is painful. You wanted independence? You got it!

They teach you to walk. v3 – develop coordination, strength, security, independence. Hold two hands (Oh the backache) then one hand, then stand off like a slip fielder....

They heal you. v3 – inevitable  bumps and scrapes, forgiveness, saving and guarding

They lead you with Love  v4 – not coercion or fear of punishment but approval, example, celebration

They hold you close. v4 – accepting your mess and valuing you. Roger a young missionary in an African shamba where the amimals were brought in for the night and the resulting dung was prized for building material and fuel so stored in a  midden, saw his toddler -with the family  all dressed ready for church - fall  full length into the stinking morrass. What did the father do? Heedless of his sunday best suit he runs and picks up the besmirched child and holds him in his arms to comfort him. That's much more important to the father than his own dignity.

They feed you as a priority. v4 – going hungry, eating healthily

Look - This is your God. He is that sort of Father.

Do you believe in your Father? That's the question.

Some people have earthly fathers who exist – but are not present or not trustworthy physically, emotionally or spiritually. Our view of God may be skewed by our experience. Do we believe in a heavenly Father?

Is God Present To You?

Hosea says that the people have stopped knowing that He is with them. They didn't respond when he called. They didn't think that healing came from him. Many of us go through times when we think and act as if we are on our own. Do you?

Is God Trustworthy?

Hosea says that God is faithful but the people are faithless. Like Hosea's wife. Hosea was told to marry a harlot – Gomer. She was consistently unfaithful. But Hosea had to stay loyal and welcome her back as a picture of how God loves his wayward children. That's how he loves you and me. He is utterly dependable. Utterly trustworthy. Utterly present. Nothing you have done can stop his loving you.

Is He Father To You?

Will you hear his voice and respond? Will you dare to walk – risk falling? Will you acknowledge that He has healed you and will continue to do so? Will you be led by His love – or insist on chains or separation?

Are you Child to Him?

Do you know yourself to be “born from above”? Held cheek to cheek? Sustained?

Is your Spirit alive and kicking?

In John 3 Nicodemus came in the dark – literally and spiritually. A rumour brought him. A question. And he found his way in the dark to Jesus. Jesus gently leads him into the light of understanding. He says “really you understand these things already. Think about it. Its what you have been teaching”. Most of us pilgrimage into faith. Its not a flash in the pan. Jesus wants Nicodemus to see that he is a child, born of God, God is a Father to him.

This is the God who loves you – who loves everyone – so much that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

If God Made Everything Good How Come Its All Pants? Rom 8:18-25

Rom 8:18-25

If “All things were made by him and for him” – why is it all such a mess?

3 options – like when you order something from Amazon and it arrives in bits.....

1. It was rubbish in the first place
2. It was OK but someone spoilt it.
3. This is a kit! You have to make it yourself after all.

But these are wrong! God saw “It was good!” not “Watch some swine spoil it” OR “OOPS!” or “OK, so far so good – I wonder what happens next?”

So option d) It is all part of a bigger plan.

Simple Answer b)

God made it Good.

The Devil comes and spoils it (with our help)

Jesus comes to put everything right again.

“To every complex and difficult question there is a simple and straightforward answer – and it’s wrong!” . There are too many unanswered questions in this picture. If all things were made by him – where did the devil, or the rebelliousness in the spiritual being, come from? If Jesus merely returns things to their original state – a sort of heavenly “Restore” disc - is everything that happens since merely wiped out?

Beware the simple answer!

Complex answer d)

God made it good “Fit for Purpose” – What purpose?

Fit for the unveiling of “The Sons of God” – creatures who would bear the image of the invisible God in their hearts and minds and bodies.

Creative, Just, Loving, Open, Joyful, Merciful, Redeeming.

Paul’s view of creation is like the Dragonfly – a pure start – a rapacious development – a season of frustration – and a glorious liberation.

“the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it”. Creation was not allowed to develop without the children of God”

Somehow the process of rebellion, repentance, forgiveness and restoration are part of God’s plan, not just for us, but for all of creation. We are not colossae striding a stage, we are intricately connected to the rest of creation. When we care for it, we are caring for ourselves. When we destroy it, we are destroying ourselves. When we turn back to God in repentance and receive salvation, we are bringing salvation to God’s creation too. “The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth” . Creation is the womb of the children of God and we, as part of it, share in that birthing experience as we await the redemption of our very bodies.

Do not be downhearted or dismayed – “trust in God. Trust also in me”. Jn 14.

Sin and the dirty jumper. Eph 4:17-end

Amos 2:6‘For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent.

They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.
7 They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed.
Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.
8 They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge.
In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines

Eph 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned21when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbour, for we are all members of one body. 26 ‘In your anger do not sin’: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

What's So Bad About Sin?

An arrow missing the target is a “sin”. Missing the target. At least they tried?

What do we get so het up about? As last week it is about At-one-ment – being at one with God and with all his children.

Sins?

What are they? In Hosea sin= treating the poor as a sub-human resource to be exploited for personal advantage. When those who are troublesome to us become “them”. When we generalise unscrupulously - “They're all the same”. In Ephesus that greed shows up in immorality – it is treating other people as being there for our personal gratification. Churchyard bag snatch.This week a 90 year old lady had her bag snatched by a youth in our churchyard. How could anyone live with themself who did such a thing? 

In these cases Sin is not offending against some arbitrary deontological law. It is not a rebellion against God and His authority. It is the effect on those around us that matters, says the prophet.

Sins?

What's the effect? I don't mean the effect on those whom we sin against. I mean the effect on us who sin. Sin will harden hearts and darken understanding – Eph 4:18. We develop a loss of spiritual sensitivity. We become dominated by our appetite. Even Christians who have been set free from the law of sin and death are enslaving themselves again to sin when they succumb to its blandishments. There is a foolish moment when we, knowing that what we about to do is wrong, go ahead because we know deep down that we can be forgiven. Yes we can. But that sin has an effect upon us and our ability to maintain a close relationship with God. If you sleep awkwardly your arm will be uncomfortable and you will wake up. If not it will go dead – and then not hurt at all. When you wake it gradually come to life with pins and needles – painful. Maybe you wish it were numb again? Sin is like that. Painful to wake up to. Tempting to go back to. Deadening. Deadly.

Sinlessness: Christ is our norm. Eph 4:25-32 We are to know At-one-ness with Him.

You may not snatch anyone's bag. But what weakness or foible or character trait do we excuse in ourselves? Where have we given up the fight?

John B had a dirty jumpers. The curate's direct action. Here's a new jumper. Put it one and give me the old one. Its going in the bin! Have you got used to an old familiar dirty jumper.

Take off old ways - like a soiled jumper. You need an intention. You need to struggle. You need a new jumper! A renewed way of thinking.

A rule of thumb:

Old way                                     New way

appetite                                      God?

False                                          True.

Anger                                         Forgiveness.

Steal                                           Work.

Badmouth                                  Blessing.

Weigh every action and decision. Sin gives a hold to Satan – and he is tenacious.

Put on a new jumper!

At-one-ment. Hebrews 2

At-one-ment.
Identification? Heb 2

10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
12 He says, ‘I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.’
13 And again, ‘I will put my trust in him.’
And again he says, ‘Here am I, and the children God has given me.’
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death– that is, the devil 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.



125 if that is the answer – what is the question? (vox pop) (5*25), (no of times a man has to be asked to put the bins out), pairs of shoe under the average lady's bed....

ANS: Number of under 18's involved in All Saints Church!
“Look what God is doing and do it with Him”- the Jesus model of discipleship. If this is what God is doing – how are you doing it with Him? Prayer? Finance? Refreshments? Promotion? Participation? Leadership..... Gift Oriented Ministry. Good News M&M am – Muriel, Frank & Edwina. Who is God calling to be the church leader in the morning instead of me?
Do you identify with this? 

Identification?
Hello Mr Jones. Nice to see you as always. Regular as clockwork you are – every Thursday. How is Mrs Jones? Her lumbago? Will you be at the Whist Drive on Saturday? Good. How are the grandchildren...and Sophie? Gosh is she really 16 already. I remember her on her scooter! Right. Pension is it? I don't have to ask do I? Now – do you have 3 forms of identification....! It's more than knowing, or even proving, who you are.

Jesus Identifies With Us
What does it mean when you identify with someone? The Football Shirt. The Cross. The Nikab. The Turban. Not only that you want to advertise your beliefs and your belonging; but also that you accept whatever comes as a consequence of that – good and bad. Colours to the mast.
So on the Candlemas we remember that Jesus does this. He identifies with us. Heb 2:10 reminds us that God's plan is to bring “many sons and daughters to glory” “Many” here does not mean “quite a few” or even “a large number” it means the majority - everyone who will. Hoi polloi (Ancient Greek:οἱ πολλοί, hoi polloi, "the many"), is an expression from Greek that means the many or, in the strictest sense, the majority. In English, it means the working class, commoners, the masses or common people in a derogatory sense. Synonyms for hoi polloi which also express the same or similar contempt for such people include "the great unwashed", "theplebeians" or "plebs", "the rabble", "riffraff", "the herd", "the proles" and "peons" . He identifies with us “perfectly” by suffering the deepest separation for us so that we can know that God our heavenly Father is “in Christ reconciling the world to himself” 2 Cor 5:19. We are the same family (v11).

Jesus Shares All Our Humanity.
Here we have “sons and daughters” explicit – not just assumed. Here we have “children” not just adults explicit. He shares “flesh and blood” , the awareness of death and the debilitating power of it. Hebrews says He had to be made like us in every way so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Without this experiential knowledge he might not be merciful – losing patience with the weak. He might not be faithful – bailing out when the going gets tough or the fruit is uncertain.
Lets talk about children. Its not easy bringing them up. They are not all the same. We are not all perfect parents. We teach bad habits and are too lax or too severe (sometimes both at the same time!). Our children fill us with joy and pride – but also with despair and disgust (sometimes at the same time!). We should all understand. We've all been children even if we haven't been parents. But we are not always merciful – sometimes judgemental. Take care! And we are not always faithful – we can opt out. Take care! When we welcome children we are welcoming people who have just as much right to be here as adults – and just as much responsibility to act appropriately – not to the building, but to their own age and development. But we, as their family, are here to help them and their parents to know that they are loved and accepted - and protected and corrected by that family. We are all to “take care”. This is the common humanity that Jesus shares and elevates to heaven.

Jesus frees those who are powerless.
World views change. Its not that they are better, just different. Today in the affluent west we are desperate to hold onto the world view that says that we are in control – and its corollary, that we are responsible. Every action has a reaction. From homelessness following drugs and gambling to global warming following poor insulation – its all out own fault. Well, if not mine then yours. The old idea of sacrifice to pay for your sins is not so useful for us. The idea of some external spiritual enemy who is active for our harm is not so palatable. So how in this world view does someone make atonement for sin? At-one-ment. An action at great cost to one person that enables relationship between two others to be made whole again perhaps the “peace-maker” model. Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.
When children and young people come into a church they bring a challenge. Perhaps not intentionally, but effectively. There are issues of content, of behaviour, of noise, of sensitivity. Can we look at them as human beings with whom Jesus identifies. Can we look at their parents and carers in that way? Can we ask what God is doing in their lives and seek to do that with Him? Then, as we try to help and support, to value and encourage, to teach and to celebrate then we will find by some alchemy of God's grace that we know that He is helping and supporting, valuing and encouraging, teaching and celebrating us too.


How do I do what God is doing here?
We have been given at-one-ment with God through Jesus. So we must try to help others to experience at-one-ment with us, in the community, with Jesus themselves. The more we give this away – the more we will have; in our church, our community, our hearts and minds.
Welcome. Befriend. Help. Enjoy. Encourage, Walk with. Guide. Share. Love.
Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’