God's At Work Restoring His Church, Restoring You

Isn’t God wonderful?

Doesn’t God do some amazing things?

One of the amazing things is that he forgives us,

not once but constantly.

Think about how many times God has forgiven you.

Boy he must really love us.

And another amazing thing he does is that despite our flaws and our tendency to mess up

he includes every believer to be part of His team of sharing his love and forgiveness.

He calls each one of us to not just receive His forgiveness

but to also actively share His forgiveness and love.

Listen to this from 1 Peter 2 verse 9

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

This text forms the basis of what many Christians refer to as the Priesthood of all believers.

A teaching that states that every Christian is involved in sharing God’s love and forgiveness

in every situation God has placed them.

So no matter who you are or

what you do

every situation you encounter is an opportunity for you to share with others how good God is.

And this is something important to remember as we contemplate today’s Gospel reading.

We all are responsible for bringing God’s perspective of life into this world.

This is every Christians number one responsibility as they live.

This is why God gives us money, time, intelligence, skills and anything else we have.

So keep this in mind as we contemplate today’s Gospel reading.

The Gospel reading today is a parable that follows some events in the life of Jesus where he interacted with some religious leaders.

Jesus had entered Jerusalem on a donkey,

where people acknowledge him as king and from God.

Now if you were to arrange for the mayor to parade into Burnie/Devonport/Launceston would you organise a donkey?

A large horse, maybe an elephant or what about one of those new Hummers they sound more appropriate.

Jesus however came into Jerusalem on a donkey to fulfil one of the prophecies of the Old Testament.

Then he went to the temple where he saw something that resembled a market, rather than what it was supposed to be a house of prayer.

The problem wasn’t the market, but rather that people had become lazy.

Instead of bringing their sacrifices, their first fruits from the market.

This had become an inconvenience, so they bought it at the temple door.

And so he gets angry and turns over the money changing tables stating that God’s house has been changed from what it is meant to be.

Shortly later his authority is questioned by religious leaders.

And in response Jesus tells three parables to some Pharisees,

Some religious leaders.

To get some points across.

In today’s parables the first thing Jesus reminds the Pharisees of is that this kingdom is God’s kingdom.

It is not their kingdom but God’s.

They are servants in the kingdom.

And the same also applies to us.

This is God’s church, God’s kingdom.

Think about what it means for you and me.

It is not my church or my kingdom

It is not our church or our kingdom

But God’s kingdom

God’s church.

Now what does that mean for you?

The first thing that comes to mind is a passage in Matthew 16:18, And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it

God’s church will always exist.

The second thing that comes to mind is that God is constantly caring for the church.

Remember that famous passage Psalm 23.

And thirdly if it is God’s church

Then we need to constantly listen to him,

Not just to understand what to do,

But also to understand what is happening and why?

Now is there anything that comes to mind,

when you hear this is God’s church?

The second thing Jesus highlights in today’s parable is that even though it is God’s church

God chooses not to act alone,

Instead every Christian invited to actively be part of it.

He calls every Christian to be workers in His church, His kingdom.

Now this is not an option.

You can either be a good worker or a bad worker.

Be a worker for God is a privilege, a gift to each one of us.

What we specifically do will vary.

And where we work for God will vary.

However something important to remember is that

everything you have is for sharing God’s Good News.

Everything you have is for sharing God’s Good News.

Whatever you have,

whether it be a job, an education