For those not familiar with an Anglican Service; there are four Scripture readings prior to the Message. The readings assigned for today are: Genesis 17:1-7,15-16; Psalm 22:22-30; Romans 4:13-25 and Mark 8:31-38
Shaka ......also known as Shaka Zulu ......was one of the most influential monarchs ......of the Zulu Kingdom.
He ruled the Zulu empire in the early 1800's
He has been called by some ..... a military genius...... for his reforms and innovations, ......and condemned by others ......for the brutality of his reign.
A Captain Fairwell .......had built a guarded closeness ......with this powerful Zulu warrior ....and spent much time .....in the monarchs presence.
The Captain went to the British fortress in Cape Town .....to see if these two nations..... could live together in harmony..... merging custom..... and respect .....for their differences.
On a return from Cape Town,..... Captain Fairwell came cautiously..... into Shaka's presence .....and awaited recognition.
Shaka was familiar .....with the various inducements .....England had offered .....previously.
After a long pause .....and without turning toward his guest, ......he broke the silence.
"Tell me, Zebana," .....his name for the Captain,...... ......."How do you catch a monkey?"
Captain Fairwell responded, ......"A gourd is used ....that has a narrow neck.
The top is cut off .....and something is put inside,..... a piece of fruit .....or some shiny trinket.
He reaches in and grabs the bait.
He then is trapped .....because he cannot withdraw his fist."
Shaka continued, ......."Once the monkey realizes he is trapped, ......why does he not ......let go of the bait?"
"Because his greed makes him blind," the Captain answered.
"And what is he greedy for,"..... Shaka asked?
"I suppose for something he cannot have," .....was the answer.
After another long pause, ....."And what new bait have you,..... Zebana, ......brought for this monkey .....I yearn for something shiny?" (Long Pause)
Beloved..... We all seek to go to Heaven.
We want to serve God ......and walk in His favor.
The worldliness of sin .....is our gourd .....and it has a very narrow neck.
We need to let go ....of the shiny things inside .....and give our lives completely to Jesus, ..to yield to his Lordship. (Long Pause)
Charlemagne (742-814) was the most infamous ruler of the Middle Ages ....and a key figure ....in European history.
It is reported ...that after his death, ....Charlemagne was buried ...wrapped in royal robes ...and placed in a marble chair.
On his lap ...was a Bible opened ...to Mark 8.
His finger pointed to verse 36.
(Slow) "For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, yet loses his own soul?"
O' Beloved.....Our soul is far more valuable....then anything shiny trinket ... that this world...can offer.
Far too many ....seek fulfillment... only from what this world .......can offer.
Far too many.... depend on this world.... not just for food and health, ....but to fulfill..... all their emotional needs.
I am convinced.... for us to become ....all that Christ has called us to be .... we must become .... Hear me on this ..... We must become.... losers.
The big (Right Hand) "L" ........we must become losers.
The Scriptures tell us....."We must lose ourselves..... in order ....to find ourselves."
Jesus is clear.... that ....he who loves his life loses it ..... and he who hates his life..... will what? ..... keep it.
Jesus of course, ....is speaking of...... eternal life.
Now,..... a loser by social standards ....is one who has failed to accomplish.... any relevant success ......in life.
But by God's standard... a loser is one ....who has totally dedicated their life..... to His will ....to the will of God.
By God's standard ... a loser is one who has declared Jesus..... to be not only Savior.... but to be Lord..... of their life.
The Gospel is about losing your former life ..... and gaining ....a new life.... An eternal life.... in Christ. (Long Pause)
Beloved (Slow) It is time to let Go of the shiny trinkets .... It is time to get your hand out of the gourd.
Let go of the worldly things..... that are holding you back....that are weighing you down.
Are there areas of your life... where you have not let Jesus .....be Lord? (Pause)
Has the Lord ever asked you .....to give up something?
Many people quickly say..... "NO NEVER"
Why? Many say no... because they seldom or never make time ..... take time .....to seek God's will.
They seldom or never quiet themselves down ... in order to hear his voice.
We cannot mature in the faith.... We cannot unless we change.... We cannot be conformed to the likeness of Jesus.... if we do not yield.
What do you need to set aside... to let go of .....so God ....may transform you .... Into the spiritual man or woman ......that He has called you to be. (Pause)
We need to give up... we must be willing to give up .....our habit ....of not finding time ....to come before the Lord .... Hear his voice....to seek his will!
Beloved ...you are children of the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings.
Take time ... make time to be with him.... yield to his will.
We are called to lose our life ....to find it.
We are a new creation .....in Christ Jesus.
A ministry that costs nothing .... will accomplish nothing. REPEAT
Discipleship ......requires discipline.
Discipleship.... Is based on discipline.
The shiny trinket you hold on to ..... is anything .....that keeps you ....from focusing fully ....on God.... That keeps you .....from fully yielding to His will. (Pause)
Beloved ...... (1 Finger) First and foremost Let go of the shiny trinket.
(2 Fingers) Secondly Depend on Jesus ....Not on the world.
Abide in His Word..... Abide in the Scriptures.
There was a sign in a textile mill that read: "When your thread becomes tangled,.... call the foreman."
A very straight forward message.
A very clear message.
A young woman.... was new on the job.
Her thread became tangled ...... and she thought she would straighten it out ......by herself.
She tried, ....but the situation...... only got worse.
Finally ......she called the foreman.
She told him that she had done...... (Slow) the best she could.
He replied, "No mam you did not.
If you would have done your best,..... you would have heeded the instructions.....and you would have come to me first."
Yield to the foreman of the Universe ...trust in his word.....seek his voice .....seek Him.... first.
And the place to begin ..... is to humble ourselves.
Hear God's word:
BIBLE "All who exalt themselves ....will be humbled, and all who humble themselves..... will be exalted." END
Peter goes on to share this promise in his epistle: BIBLE "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that (Slow) he may exalt you in due time." ?END
The beginning of maturity ..... is a humble heart.
God allows us to choose ...... to follow ... Or ....not to follow.
He will not force you... the weight of that decision lies in your hands.
The writer of Hebrews helps us to understand what we are called to do:
BIBLE " Let us also lay aside ....every weight.... and the sin that clings so closely, ....and let us run with perseverance
....the race ....that is set before us, ....looking to Jesus ....the pioneer and perfecter ....of our faith." END
Those that are committed to Jesus ......continually shed the worldly trinkets ..... for the sake of Gospel. (Pause)
The Christian singer and songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman, ....sated it this way:
We will abandon it all...... For the sake of the call. REPEAT
(1 Finger) Let Go of the Shinny Trinket
(2 Fingers) Depend on Jesus ....Not on the World
(3 Fingers) and Lastly ..... Beloved.... Stop trying .... to be the leader.
There are far too many ..... who have reversed the words of the great Hymn ....."Wherever I Lead, I demand Him to Go."
Do not be obsessed .....with self.
Do not be obsessed by your feelings.
Do not let your feelings control your life.
You are stronger than your feelings.
The way ....in which we live ..... will always demonstrate the level of our commitment. REPEAT (Long Pause)
One thing is for certain.
One thing is perfectly clear.
If you are willing to let Jesus be Lord of your life, .....he will lead you .....he will continually call you to yield to his Lordship....
He will lead you .....to give up..... the shinny worldly trinkets .....that needlessly ....fill up your life.
Things that writer of Hebrews states are not necessarily sin .....but are a weight ..... a weight ... holding you down.....holding you back.... in this race ....called life.
Beloved... I am sure in your heart..... you want a deep meaningful relationship with our God.
But in order to do that... we need to yield.... We have to yield.
We will not experience a deeper relationship... if we continue to do the same things .... That we have done in the past
.
As the old professor stated... Doing the same thing over and over again ....expecting a different result ... is a mark of insanity.
We need to change .... We need to do something different... we need to let go of the shinny trinkets.
We need to find time... to make time ... to spend time one on one... with our Lord.
Discipline is at the heart of discipleship.
Transforming disciples ......are disciplined.
They yield time.... To be in His word and to seek his will.
Remember our Lords words to us this day: BIBLE "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ?For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. ?36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? ?END
It is time to get your hand out of the gourd. It is time to let Go of the shiny trinkets
(Slow) Beloved.....Let Go ... and let God
And if you do ...he will transform you... he will conform you .....into the image of His son
And he will take you .....from Glory .....to Glory.
Amen and Amen!
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