Sermon at First Presbyterian
Church Lockhart
by James Greene
The title of today’s sermon is Love In,- The Father.
Now back in the ‘60’s the term Love In reflected a counter cultural
movement that went against the grain
of the society in the
There was little
permanence in the relationships that the “modern” generation was engaging
in. It was nothing close to the intimate relationship displayed within fellowship of the Trinity that we see in the text
this morning. That kind of Love is
intimate and everlasting. It is the Love of the
Father, to the Son, with the Holy Spirit.
In John Eldrige’s book “Epic”,
he uses the image from the beginning
of the movie “The Last of The Mohicans” to describe the intimate relationship of the Trinity. The three men are running in concert through the wilderness,
each one in tune with
the other as they were
hunting. It is a conversation without words. It is an understanding
without the need to explain. They
were working in concert, and they
were in relationship, and they moved
as one.
Eldrige
uses this example to explain how there was a time “before” the
creation when there was a relationship within the God Head of the Trinity. It is the intimacy that we see in the readings from the texts
this morning.
In our reading from Acts,
we see Paul and Silas in prison. In spite of their trials and hardships they continued to pray and sing hymns to God.
They were faithful in their circumstances. They were faithful to the guard
who was their jailer. They saved
him from death. Because of their relationship
to Christ, they changed his
view and he came to believe
in God through their example
and their fellowship. This changed
not only the guard, but
also his entire household.
In Psalm
97, God reigns
in all the earth. God has power over all the earth. The Lord
calls everyone to worship
him in
In the
reading from Revelation reveals
Christ, coming in his righteousness and his glory, to
bring his reward to those
who believe in him, and are apart
of his Kingdom. It is about his being in time and before time and the end of
time, and how the righteous will
be with him, in fellowship,
in the New Jerusalem.
1
In the reading from John, we see the amplification of the intimate relationship within the Trinity, between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Just like Eldrige’s example of the Trinity, Jesus demonstrates that example by praying for all believers in the church of the future, that they will hear the Apostle’s preaching. It reveals that Christ is praying for us. Just as we, as followers of Christ, are called to pray for each other. It is all part of the concept of being one with each other and being one with Christ. The church should live near, with, and in God, just as the church should be nearer to each other. The one way we see this example, is with our evangelical brethren who call each other “Sister”, or “Brother” because we are called to be in relationship. It is through The Word, that believers are brought to Christ. When we worship God, as the fellowship, it draws us together. We, even as different denominations, sing the same hymns, and we have the Love of God in us and about us, as Christ’s followers.
In this passage we also notice, that Christ gave away His glory. What is his reason for sharing and giving away his glory? It is so that they may be one, just as He and the Father are one. It is so the world would know that the Father had sent Him and that the Father loved them, as he demonstrated that love to the Apostles. We see God choosing to love the creatures and the Creation.
The text is confusing when we first read it with all of the in me, and in you statements. But the key focus is still, to demonstrate that intimate relationship within the God head, and the demonstration of the same intimate relationship with Christ and among believers. It is the innate atmosphere of the Trinity, and call of the fellowship of the Church to reflect that atmosphere. Just as we have seen in the previous weeks, this form of Agape love, a love of total acceptance in the spirit, is the kind of love we are to reflect as followers of Christ. We are called to share that Love in, the Father, just as Christ has shared and demonstrated the Father’s Love towards the Apostles and towards his followers. It is all focused upon the relationship that is within us, and demonstrated through us, to those around us. We are called to share that love in the Father, to all we come to meet, like Paul and Silas with the jailer, and with each other…
In the Name of … the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Pastoral
Prayer 5/16/10
Dear
Lord, we give thanks for the Father’s Love
revealed to us through you.
You are the Lord that points us, to the
Father. In our praise to
you, we give thanks for the unity you
offer to us, your people, - turn us towards You, and towards each
other. Help us to live in your love, in the
fellowship of the church.
O
Lord, we pray for Your Spirit that teaches and sustains us in and through your Word. Bring about your Oneness with you in
our lives. Help us to live in the intimate
fellowship of the Trinity revealed in
Christ. Turn our hearts to you, help us to live into your love, and will. We give thanks for your provision for us.
We
pray for those in leadership in our government that their focus is in Your Word and Your Will. We pray for our
President and those in Congress. Watch over the men and women in our armed
forces, who answer the call to serve
You and our country.
Stand with and comfort them on their duty, and in their service; be their
comfort, defender, and shield
We
pray for the capping of the well in the Gulf, that it would prevent further
damage to the creation.
Your Son laid down his life for us, in Righteousness.
Help us to live our life in Your Love and Righteousness as The
People of God.
We pray for those who's
spirit need our comfort. For the Wilson and Hoffman families in the loss
of their mother Estelle. Let us be your helping grace.
We pray for those who are
sick, or in the hospital, or in need of your healing compassion.
name:
*George
Miller for healing, *Tom Miller for healing
*Leticia
Frausto for healing, and chemo *TheWallace family
*Betty
Burton for strength *Kimberly Preweet – for recovery chemo
*Pastor James
Lee for strength *Kay Duffield – for strength and
recovery
*Lyle
Looger -for strength and recovery *Tom Bennet – for
strength
*David
Koch - for healing and recovery. *Wayne Casteel – for recovery
We
pray for those we name, in our hearts, … and to
remember that all things,
including
this life, is a gift from you.
We give thanks for this Christian fellowship,
that sustains us in our trials and problems; You hold us in the comfort of your
loving care. We know Salvation is found in you alone. And help us to live our lives and trust in you alone, through
your living Word,
Jesus
the Christ, -who taught us to pray:
"The
grace of God, which passes all
understanding, TBoCP
keep your hearts
and minds in the knowledge and love
of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord:
And
the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be amongst you and remain with you always."