Sermon at First Presbyterian
Church Lockhart
by James Greene
In our sermon from Pentecost,
we remember how it marked the foundational
beginning of the church, and the
beginning of The Great Harvest
that is the work and mission of the church. In today’s sermon we see the dynamics of God’s healing, and salvation in our Working through The Harvest.
In the reading of II Kings is the story of Naaman who is a valiant commander of the army of
Now the name Naaman
means: “Pleasantness, charm,
or loveliness”. This is truly a pun on the character of
the man and the text. He is anything but pleasant, or charming in his actions or character. He is a typical A-Type personality.
He is a warrior-leader and he
only gives orders. Ironically,
it is an Israelite slave girl
who tells about Elisha the
prophet. So Naaman’s king allows him to go with money, his letter, and clothing, to ask the king of
Elisha tells the king of
Elisha sends out his servant, telling Naaman, to wash himself seven times in the
what to do, and where to go! He goes
into a rage.
Aren’t we a lot like Naaman
in our personal expectations? Don’t we carry a preconceived idea of what is wrong
with us and how we are to
be healed or to be saved on our terms? He is blinded by his own arrogance.
Finally, his own servants
ask him the direct question: “If
the prophet had asked you to do something great, wouldn’t you have done it, to be healed? It is only then does he comply with his servant’s instructions. He still is defiant in the way he follows orders. He only dips himself instead of washing himself as
instructed. He is reluctant and defiant
even in the face of being healed.
Haven’t we done that at
times in our lives, where we’ll do it, but
only if we have to,
and we’ll still try to heal ourselves our own
way? Sometimes, we as a people are hard
to teach, and it is even
harder to follow instructions.
1
God still heals us in spite of
ourselves. He heals us not through people of power or super natural events,
but through the actions of servants, and simple acts of cleansing. There is nothing complicated in the
way God heals us and sets us free if we just take time to hear the instructions.
In
the reading from Psalm 30, we see David’s dedication of the palace.
It also another view of God’s healing and salvation. In the light of the New Testament, we see the outline
of the Resurrection and a view
of the Second Coming with the bringing
in of the
Isn’t this the way it will
be in The Kingdom? Our weeping
and loss will only last the night,
but we will rejoice in the
morning with The Resurrection. The sackcloth will be removed, and we will be clothed with joy. It is in and because of God’s salvation that we will sing and give thanks - forever. What could be more descriptive
of The Resurrection and the joy
of the resurrection, outlined
here, where it describes the healing
and restoring work of God? Isn’t that
what the Great Harvest is all
about? This final goal of the
work and mission of the church is being done during our time of harvest?
The reading from Galatians,
is the example of the Christian
life. It shows us how we should carry each other’s and our own burdens. It speaks to us
about sowing and reaping. How sowing
to the flesh reaps destruction,
and sowing to the spirit reaps
eternal life. It is about how we should love one another in the relationship of the Christian community.
What is this talk about
bearing burdens? How can we carry each other’s burdens, yet we are charged to carry our own burdens? It is about, staying the course, and not giving up or giving out,
in our efforts. It is about our work in The Harvest
of God, in bringing about The
Kingdom, into the here
and now.
In the Marine Corps we spent a lot of time running, and a lot of
time caring all your gear, and wearing a pack.
In a Platoon run everyone would run in step to a beat.
As a group we ran 1
mile. Then, if you can run 1 mile, you can run 3.
If you can run 3 miles, you
can run 8. It is during this running, you come to
understand the theological concept
in the Galatians text. Because
while running 1 mile or 3 miles, we would sing or recite chants
to keep everyone in step, and in rhythm. Like the church where we were of one beat, and of one mind during the run.
This encouraged us all,
and helped us all to carry
the burden, of finishing the
run, no matter how long. It kept you from dropping
out of a run, because, to stop, and start running again, caused muscles to cramp. Then the running became twice as difficult. There is also social
and peer
pressure, to have the mental
toughness to finish.
Running, like working The Harvest, is 90% mental. You have to set a pace to hold on mentally,
and not quit, or stop in the middle of the run.
2
It
is like pouring concrete, you
cannot call a ‘time out’ with
16 concrete trucks churning
away, ready to pour for the buildings foundation. Once the pouring starts, you have to, keep up with the work, until the last truck is emptied, and the slab is completed. This same concept applies to working
The Harvest.
It is a group effort. We help
each other to bear that load. It is about relationship in the community. It is about caring for each other and not giving up in the middle of the run, in the middle of the pour, or in the middle of the harvest. Our work, as the church, is the bringing
of God’s healing and salvation to all people,
and to help each other in the work.
In the Luke we see the beginning
of the Lord’s Harvest and Salvation in sending out the 70 apostles in pairs. This is what Christ was teaching. It is the beginning, it is the bringing
in, of God's people with healing
and salvation. It is his teaching and his declaration
that,
“The harvest is plentiful,
but the workers are few: ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out
workers into his harvest field. Go! I am
sending you out like lambs among wolves."
Here and in Galatians, is
seen, the beginning of the work
of the harvest. Jesus tells the 70 if
the people listen to you, they
will “listen to me”. It is the outline of the spreading of the
Good News of The Kingdom. Just as the salvation and healing in
the Psalm reflects the joy of
the believers who have
experienced the healing and salvation, so the 70 apostles experience
the joy of the harvest in
bringing healing and salvation to the people of
God in the harvest.
Like the Parable of the workers where some were hired in the morning and some at noon, and some in the last hour, yet all participated, in The Harvest, and all received the reward (the coin) of salvation, because of their labor.
Just
as in II Kings, God is the source
of each blessing and healing, so is, the praise to the Lord, for his healing and salvation in Psalm 30. It is all about working The Harvest. Just as
Luke shows us, God is the Lord of the harvest, Luke also shows how God leads the mission of bringing
in The Harvest. The 70 Apostles go with their calling, in spite of the dangers
and the hard work. Their focus
and priority is their ministry. Like running 3 miles, is not just a requirement
of strength, but is a requirement
of a mind set, and a mental toughness, where we stay the course. We don’t give up; even when it is tough. It is a mind
set of relationship to,
and with each other, in the work of the harvest. It is bringing in the Kingdom that is “coming upon you”, and happening through you.
It is the rule of God through
Jesus,
bringing in His Kingdom. It is the time for us,- gathering in of God’s people.
Now is our time,- working
The Harvest….
In
the Name of … the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit. Amen
3