Has anyone done something small for you that is highly significant in your life?
Slide #1 Sermon Series Slide
Glen’s stories over the past few weeks have provided us with a cause to pause. The first week it was about the importance we place on Jesus in our lives. Last week it was about what constitutes a miracle. And this week, it’s about the interruptions of our life. An interruption is by its nature an action, an utterance a break in what was the normal flow. The point I liked to explore is the importance of the interruption.
John Lennon once said, “Life is what happens while you are making other plans.”
I used to get incredibly frustrated when life interrupted my plans. When I sure I needed to leave for that appointment early and the kid barfs. Or the dinner we have had planned for a month happens to be on the night with the worst snow storm ever. Or the missions plane get into Miami late, we miss our connection and we have to stay overnight in a hotel delaying our time to serve. While I still get annoyed, I have tried to see these as Holy Interruptions.
SLIDE #2 Holy Interruptions
You see, over the course of time, I have realized that the Lord’s plan and mine do not always sync. I always believe I am following his directions. However, sometimes he needs to stop me in my tracks because there is a real opportunity to learn more about him if I ask the question: what am I to learn by this. By asking the question, the moment turns into a holy moment. What is God’s holy interruption trying to get us focused on? I can remember a time a number of years ago, I was all bunched up about something and I was talking to a dear friend. She looked at me after hearing my dilemma and said, “Bob, be where your feet are.” I said what do you mean? She went on to ask:
• Have you seen that even from the worst events of your life that you have learned powerful lessons? “Yes.” I answered.
• Do you believe that God is present today in your life today through the counsel of the Holy Spirit? “Yes.”
• Do you trust that God love for you means he will be present with you no matter what life brings? “Yes”
Then, “Be where your feet are” and make time for God by remembering the most important moment in this life is the one you are in right now.
I’m sure I’m not alone in looking back as well as ahead in time. I believe people throughout the ages have wrestled with this and it’s what makes prophecy so intriguing to so many. It provides assurance of the future and can be adequately proven and measured. It also speaks of a Holy interruption we need to take notice of. Isaiah prophesied about the prophet John The Baptist and the Messiah. His predictions were well known and respected so as people began to hear about the miracle at the temple with Zechariah, people became very interested in Elizabeth’s baby. They kept asking, What is this child going to be?
SLIDE #3 What is this child going to be? Luke 1:66, 76 & 80
Verse 66 says: Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him. What is this child going to be was the question of the day. The people had heard in the temple for over 400 years that the messiah was coming. They knew the scriptures. They understood that one would precede the Messiah. So it was no surprise when Zechariah freed from his angelic sanctioned silence began to prophesy. Verse 76 says, “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,” The implication being that John which means “Jehovah is Gracious,” would be the trumpet for the coming King. The awareness of which creates a dilemma. If the world knows you are destined for greatness they either circle around and paying close attention supporting you or they look for ways to discredit you. In John’s case, he decides to pull a geographic and move to the wilderness. Verse 80 says, “And the child grew and became strong in spirit and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.” It would be another 29-30 years before he would appear on the scene. The people of Israel continued to wait and wonder. Was that real? Did that really happen? In many ways, we are like them. We know Jesus is returning but we aren’t’ sure when. Some people are beginning to doubt and others are wandering away.
But just like Jesus’ will once again interrupt our lives, John does through his ministry in the wilderness. In Luke 3, we see where John seems to become a bit irritated with the religious leaders of his day.
SLIDE #4 This is who he is. -Luke 3:7-3:18
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”
15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[a] /in water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.
As I reflected over this scripture, I began to wonder if John struggled with the same ego issues that you and I do. Did John have moments where he struggled in the fame of being recognized? I began to think off all the times in my life where I didn’t give God the glory. John pointed everyone towards the God and his coming. He always demonstrated that he knew his role was to be less so God would be more. It’s an incredible Christian principle: If Christ is to be witnessed in and through our lives, we must become less so others can come to know him more.
SLIDE #5 We must be less so that He is more.
I will never forget a man who I was introduced to a number of years ago. His name was Ed. He was an average guy. He had run his race. He had been married and divorced three times. He had been seminary trained and he was still working in his 70’s. I would learn he was two years younger than my dad. He grew up in Michigan near where my Father was from. He went to the same college as my Dad and that he was dying of cancer. Our relationship grew over many years. We talked about everything. He was a guide on this journey of life. In his final days, his cancer was so bad that they took his voice box; he had radiation burns and was continually battling the disease. The day before he died, we met for breakfast. We laughed and joked. He even tried to pick up the younger waitress using his voice box. I can remember thinking, you are teaching what it means to live and now die with dignity. It was a powerful thought. Towards the end of the breakfast, he wrote a saying on a small tab of paper that I have kept. It’s a little reminder of all the moments we spent together. I realize today that the time spent with me was precious. He was passing on to me wisdom so that in my life, I might make more of the time I’m given.
We have all heard a story of someone important. They are the people who take time to listen. They are never to busy for our Holy Interruption. The Glen’s and Ed’s of the world know what’s important and they share it freely. You always feel blessed to be around them. You feel like you matter. You’re somebody. Our question this morning is, How many times do we take the time? People may not remember what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel.
So, over the course of the next two weeks:
Are you going to take the time with those that look up to you and think highly of you?
Think about this:
-Who do I need to spend some time with?
-How can I be less so they can become more?
Have you ever thought about someone and then later forget? What if you would have just called them right then? What if you would have stopped by? What if you would have sent them a text? Don’t let the opportunity the prompting pass.
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