November 3, 2019 Our Estate

November 23 2019 “Our Estate” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

When we consider the church around the globe, we know some are rich and some are poor. In our Eastern Pennsylvania Conference we have churches whose buildings have been in dire disrepair for decades and others, like our own, who are renovating. As our District Superintendent Dawn Taylor Storm reminded us, Bethel is so blessed. While we burned our mortgage early, other churches are closing because they cannot afford to pay their mortgage. EVERY church wonders what their future holds. EVERY church wants to live forever. Every church wants to see their children and youth be present in the worship service and become strong in the faith that we work so hard to hand over to them.  

God speaks to all churches, regardless of resources. So what’s going on with the church today? God provides all the power and the money and the talent that we need to fulfill the vision God gives us. Every one of us knows the plans God has for our church. God’s plan begins with the bible. Every one of us needs the bible. Our mission printed on every bulletin reflects the bible. Every week that mission is before us. Our Bethel Covenant affirms the bible. We have had copies of our covenant for months in the Banner, at committee meetings, and in the lobby on the table. You can get one today to remind you of where God is leading us. As you prayerfully read the covenant, you can also read the communion prayers that are in your bulletin today and remember with confidence that God will provide us with everything we need for the journey. It may not be everything we want as Elaine said last week, but we are confident that we will have everything we need.

Billionaire real estate giant Leona Helmsley dubbed by the news as the “Queen of Mean” was a Jewish sister.   She was not active in any synagogue according to the internet, nor did I find a record of her helping churches, but we are told that she helped poor people in New York and Israel. She gave millions to medical institutions for research on chronic diseases like diabetes and is still providing after her death through a trust fund. She was a saint in her own way.

We can’t really be mad at her for not helping churches, especially since Jesus reminds disciples that if someone is not against him, they are really for him. We should appreciate those who help the Christian mission even if we mourn that they are not a part of the church and do not call themselves Christian. They may be missing out on the deeper joys of being with Jesus that we want to share with them. I have no right to be upset that Leona had a will giving 5 million dollars to her two grandchildren, even though she left millions more to her pet Maltese . He had $100,000 a year - $8,000 per year for grooming, $1,200 for dog food. It is almost easy to understand why there were dozens of threats to kidnap and kill that dog. The estate had to hire a 24 hour security guard for the dog’s protection.

The typical church is not accustomed to such excess, though we often wish for more money and more of everything - as if more money and more of anything solves all problems. Truth is, money can create as many problems as it solves. Whatever we need, God can provide. We need to ask so that we can receive. We need to seek in order to find. We must knock so that the door will be opened for us. Without God, we can do nothing!

Paul reminds the first century church in Ephesus of God’s riches that all Christians have. God’s riches are just as important as money. In verse 13 he mentions truth.  Truth is worth gold. Paul also mentions in verse 17 God’s PRICELESS gifts of wisdom and revelation.  Wisdom tells us what to do and when to do it. When I was attending Eastern College, I was riding in the front seat of a station wagon with a staff member who regularly gave rides down Lancaster Avenue. On the way he stopped and picked up another rider and I was now in the middle. I began to chat in an effort to be friendly. I felt like the Holy Spirit was surrounding me like a cloud urging me over and over again to stop talking. I finally obeyed that strange sense and later found out the driver had picked up a stranger and I imagined that I was in a reckless situation and did not even know it. The wisdom of the Holy Spirit told me what to do and when to do it even when I did not quite understand why?

Paul focused on God’s revelations because God REVEALS what we would not know unless GOD tells us. During my morning prayers, years ago, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that there would be trouble that day. I was forewarned. It was revealed to me, so I was prepared and braced for what came later that day.  

In his letter Paul especially makes a big deal of the importance of God’s power that is above all other powers, a power so great that he calls it immeasurable. We can have all kinds of political power and personal power, but when God gives us power, we are on the winning side. We can pay for power, give and take favors to get power - that can be very good. When God gives us power, we are SURE to be on the right side. The riches of God’s kingdom include money, though God’s truth, wisdom, revelation, and power are worth more than the billions provided by any saint. God’s riches help us to be a people who are holy and who have good character.

All Saints Day is our time to give thanks for those who have served our Lord, faithfully and sacrificially – whether others know their name, whether their works were great or small. Whether they were in the church or outside the church, whether they were weak or strong, rich or poor, we are God’s people and our lives contain God’s riches. Paul tells the Ephesians that our lives and our lips are made to pour out praise to God. Verse 11 says - “In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, …  so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.” . You have heard the saying, “When the praises go up, the blessings come down. Praise is a weapon that defeats our enemies. 

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, really loved this day called the festival of All Saint’s Day. He looked forward to celebrating the beautiful work and fellowship and testimonies of those who had gone on to glory. It is a good thing to remember some things. John Wesley did draw theological lines that have directed us and distinguished us from our Catholic sisters and brothers in regards to sainthood. Wesley discouraged two things in which our Catholic brothers and sisters find spiritual strength. He did not encourage Methodists to pray to saints. He saw no biblical basis for it. Nor did he teach purgatory - that place Catholics acknowledge Christians go after death to be purged of our sinful ways in order to get to be good enough for Heaven.

On his deathbed, holding tight to the hands of those who loved him, Wesley uttered these words “Best of all. God is with us.” He knew our estate is God, for the Christian who has enough faith to walk with Jesus is rich beyond measure and forever shares those riches with all who will receive them.  Amen.