March 17 2013 - 5th Sunday in Lent, “Victorious Lifestyles – Go For The Win! “

March 17 2013 - 5th Sunday in Lent, “Victorious Lifestyles – Go For The Win! “ - Isaiah 43.16-21, *Philippians 3.10-14  

Have you won anything lately? Our church has enjoyed winning. We’ve won notoriety for paying 100 per cent of our apportionment to maintain the United Methodist Church.  Allen won a prize that we displayed in this sanctuary. It is an award for spending over ten years racing against poverty, serving as President of the Spring City Outreach Committee. Children and youth at Bethel have competed as teams and as individuals and won local, state, national prizes– in swimming, karate, academics, and countless others. There have been those who’ve earned training certificates and diplomas after competing with high standards; they are the world’s winners.

In the church we also work to win souls, to win the confidence of those we invite to share our faith.  In this Lenten season, we compete against our own willfulness in order to be prepared and equipped to fully participate in the kingdom, or the Kin-dom.

As we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we remember that Patrick was a soul winner. He was born to a very loving family in Wales, but when Irish pirates raided his country, they kidnapped him and made him a slave to an Irish chieftain. St. Patrick was imprisoned for 6 years, herding sheep, pigs, and cattle against his will. He learned to pray in those fields; it was during this time that a guardian angel guided him to a ship so he could escape and return to his family. Though he was now safe and content back at home, he heard God’s call to return to Ireland, not as a slave but as a missionary to win hearts for God.

St. Patrick became known for using the shamrock as a visual aid. Shamrocks are a common Irish plant and their three-leaf clovers were perfect to teach the concept of God as the father, son, and Holy Spirit growing on that one stem.  Mary’s nephew Sam interestingly enough collects shamrocks as a hobby. There were so many blessings and miracles surrounding St. Patrick’s ministry that it wasn’t long before the shamrock was thought to bring good fortune or luck. As a result of his work, Ireland’s first century Christian roots were deepened and Ireland is still considered a Christian nation.

We know first-hand a church that is fervent about winning souls. The United States of America has the largest Christian population in the world, followed by Brazil and Mexico. Learning to win is so very important if we are going to keep pace with the will and way of God.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians he talks about winning the prize of the high calling to which God calls us. Winning is an occasion for joy.  “The early church was known for its joy and gladness. They “gladly received God’s word”. (Acts 2:41) They “ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart praising God and having favor with all the people”.

(Acts 2:46,47) Even when they were persecuted, beaten, and put in prison

they were “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for

His name.” (Acts 5:41) There is no question but that these Christian were

happy people who found joy in their new found relationship

with God and their fellow Christians…The Ethiopian, after he was baptized into Christ, “went on his way rejoicing”. (Acts 8:39) The jailor in Philippi, when Paul and Silas preached Christ to him, believed “And immediately he and all his family

were baptized. And when he had brought them into his house, he set food

before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.” (Acts 16:33,34). "  [ The Clifton Church of Christ – sermon by William Hopkins –" he Happy Church" ]

We celebrate when we see others take dramatic steps in their faith. It’s a joyous occasion. Scriptures say that the joy of the Lord is our strength. We need strength to participate in each powerful resurrection planned for the Church. We need joy to be a church that rises above whatever trials that come our way.

A few years ago, I rejoiced with a woman who joined a new church. She was involved and filled with the spirit; she was tithing and testifying often to the goodness of God and the many blessings she had received. This week, though, she mentioned that she had not been to church in several weeks. It was so sad to hear her say that she had no excuse, that she knew she was wrong. She will learn like we all learn that there is mercy as well as a risk of losing so much when we choose to turn away from the light of God’s love.

It is better to suffer to win, even to die to win than to give up the victory altogether. One of the surprises of the election of Pope Francis is that he is a Jesuit, the order of priests most known to put their lives on the line for the sake of justice. There is a Jesuit Center a few miles away in Wernersville. Two Jesuit priests working among the poor of Argentina were told by the political and religious powers that be, to stop their work. Consequently, they were kidnapped by death squads and killed.

The victory in their death comes because there is light shed on those who are willing to help the suffering poor. It sheds light on the suffering of a nine-year old in that same country pregnant with twins by her stepfather. Her mother arranged for an abortion. The little girl, her family, and the physician who performed the abortion were excommunicated from the church, but not the stepfather.

The Lord gives us power that helps us maneuver through every injustice and rise above every difficulty and sorrow. Our ultimate prize, however, is not the joyous rewards and prizes we have on earth. Our ultimate prize is heaven.

Heaven is real even though we have as many questions as we do about many things in this life.  There seems to be no wisdom in guessing or worrying what heaven could be like. Part of the work of the Holy Spirit is to help us to taste and see just enough to keep us running the race toward the prize. Don’t be surprised if you resonate with those who’ve experienced a glimpse of heaven. A four year old boy who almost died when his appendix burst went to heaven and saw a man with red marks on his hands who hugged him and spoke kindly to him. Those listening to his story knew that man was Jesus the crucified one. Another during prayer felt he was momentarily lifted to a heavenly place. He saw Abraham and got a look at his heavenly home with all kinds of special touches reflecting the love the heavenly father has for him. One woman heard glorious music in heaven, saw flowers that she had never seen on earth, and the tears of the heartbroken carefully and lovingly stored in a bottle. Families were picnicking. Praises to God were everywhere and bubbled up in hearts regularly.

The Screwtape Letters written by layman CS Lewis is a novel about strategies the devil uses to tempt Christians and keep them from Heaven. He quickly finds that the best way to make them stumble is to try to convince them that they have all the time they want to run this race, that time will never run out for them to make the choice to put their hand in God’s hand, that there is no urgency to make it to heaven and avoid eternal damnation in hell.

The bible tells us that heaven is for real, that the day will come when those who receive the word will hear his voice and come into the kingdom. And those who stubbornly rebel will find that it is too late, that time is up, that the race is over. May the mercy of God overshadow us, that the souls of all our family friends, and neighbors would be saved and not lost, for before you know it, time will be up! Amen.