Immediately

August 25 “Immediately” *Luke 13.10-17 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

We rose early this morning to be here, just like a certain woman Luke talks about in the 13^th chapter of gospel. Just showing up was an important step in what was about to happen next in Luke’s story.

This worshipping woman was bent over. When she arrived that Sabbath, she had had a hunched back for 18 years. She could not straighten up by herself. There is no doubt that she had a few aches and pains from stiffness.  None of this stopped her from coming to the House of God to give thanks, sing praises to God, and leave her offering. She knew there was a blessing for her in the House of the Lord, and she was not about to miss it.

The woman appeared for worship, and Jesus welcomed her. He invited her to come and be blessed, he spoke healing words to her, he placed healing hands on her, and her life was radically changed, immediately. So it is for us; accepting the Lord’s invitation, coming into his presence and listening to his voice will always bring an immediate change. We know it’s true.

In the Fall of 2011, we had a healing retreat here at Bethel; it was a time set aside to bring our aches and pains, our emotional hurts and pressing issues. It was a time for recognizing that our Creator is a Healer, sometimes suddenly, sometimes gradually over the years. Sandy Davies and I met to plan the retreat. We sat talking expectantly, waiting for God’s direction for the right person to help lead the retreat. It was no surprise when both of us began to understand that God was guiding us to a person with tremendous physical challenges to come and lead us on the retreat.  We called Rev. Jerry to lead us. He was restricted to a wheelchair, but his heart was free and full of the Truth of God’s word which set us free to go where God was leading us.

Since that retreat we have heard God whispering in many ways that we should never stop opening our hearts to the constant flow of God’s love and guidance, that we should prepare a way for everyone to be an honored guest in our hearts and in the House of the Lord. We knew we  should never forget to make those with physical challenges to feel at home, welcomed, special, and important whenever they cross that threshold. We should do our best to stir up an atmosphere of healing in this place.

Jesus welcomed a woman with physical challenges and no doubt a few other challenges, and she was set free. Isn’t that what we are doing too? The Spirit of Healing is in each of us, isn’t? Everything about us was designed by our Creator to bring the power of life, love, healing, wisdom, and strength, immediately. We make a difference in each other’s lives. We are healers. We heal each other, we touch one another’s lives in ways that make a difference. We know it’s true.

Our history shows we have been good disciples by God’s grace. We have come a long way. We have done well. Miracles and outstanding jobs have been witnessed here through the years. We are dedicated in many ways. There is a dedication to missions – we have three committees that show compassion to those in need who are far and near; there is a dedication to excellence in service here. From bulletin boards to barbecues – we experience the pleasure of working with others who are organized, creative, and neat; there is a dedication to prayer and the study of scriptures – in any given week the prayer lines are on fire with requests and every week there are from 2 to 12 opportunities for someone to study God’s word. There is a dedication to young people and a dedication to seasoned citizens exhibited every single day at Bethel.

Even greater than all that God has accomplished through us is the spirit of forgiveness that flows in us and around us. No church would last two weeks without the ability to forgive and continue in love. After all, no two of us are alike. We all like different music, we get different things out of the same sermon, we have our own preferences in how things should happen, how much money should be spent and where. Just like on Noah’s Ark, from time to time, toes get stepped on, feathers get ruffled, but when it is all said and done, we choose to continue the journey as ONE body, ONE family in Christ.

As long as we wake up every morning and choose to follow where Jesus leads us, we will be on a great path to healing. We will be farther away from a treacherous path Satan plans for us. Every day in the news we see the results of Indulging in just a few weeks of division and discord, rather than choosing  forgiveness, unity, and love. We see how bitterness, revenge, and disobeying God opens the floodgates for blood to flow in the streets.

Just a little love, forgiveness, and unity go a very, very, long way. An ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure. There is hope for us as a healing church because, over generations, we have learned to forgive.  We have nurtured our souls with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Meditating on the fruit of the Spirit -  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity (goodness), faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,  praying that the fruit would be more a part of our life, exercising the fruit as best we can -  all help us to be a healthy body of Christ.

When I think about the discipline it takes to bear the good fruit of the spirit. I think of the model of fortitude I witness in one set of Bethel parents. They make my heart burst with pride and inspiration when they talk about how they manage their children. When the children are out of work, they give them jobs to do. The jobs are usually so challenging that it inspires them to quickly leave the nest and find a job in the “real” world rather than remain under the scrutiny and rigor of their parents.

It is not easy to walk any righteous path, much less be a good parent. but if we are willing to follow, God will lead us. Being a good parent is no guarantee that children will be perfect any more than being a good church means that all will be perfect Christians. What matters is that we follow faithfully through the hills as well as the valleys, through the sunshine and the rain, through seasons of disappointment as well as seasons of celebration.

It has taken generations to build what we have as a church, to be a church that matters. One step at a time, day by day, week by week, year by year we have become a church that is a blessing to many. Bethel is no 170- year- old accident.  I was reminded last week at my family reunion that my great, great grandfather was born was born in 1844 –the same year Bethel was born. He was such an excellent carpenter that he survived the hardest of times. He built St James Temple Baptist church that is so well done that it still stands today after more than 100 years. That did not happen by accident. Good things emerge from all kinds of challenges, and good comes as we build on a foundation of faithfulness to God and to one another.

When I was in the classroom, my kindergarten students always enjoyed plants. It was all fun to pour the dirt, bury the seed, and watch it grow Over one weekend one of the plants withered. Within an hour of getting watered and being placed in the light of the window, the plant revived. The children were so excited at seeing the immediate results of just a simple glass of water.

The worshipping woman whose life Jesus touched that day was changed immediately. That is what happens when we accept the Lord’s invitation to  be in the House of the Lord, to dare to come into his presence, and  to listen to his healing words.

*Sherri rose describes herself as a Jewish American Princess. She grew up in a Hollywood Home, experienced 5 blended families. At the age of 16 she was addicted, angry, hating life and worshipping a rock band. She was raised in a Jewish home but with no commitment to the Temple – yet told if you choose Jesus as your savior – the family will disown you. She became a Christian at age 24.  Later beauty became her focus and in spite of falling off the runway in 1994, she won the Mrs. America pageant. Now she brings God’s healing word to thousands as a sought out speaker.

Her story is a reminder that it does not matter the cultural hills and religious valleys that we travel. What matters is that we show up with all of our brokenness and listen for the words that will immediately heal us and make a difference in some way or another. What matters is that when others how up, we make sure they see Jesus in us, and we immediately offer healing words that Jesus wants us to share with everyone, and that means everyone. Amen.

*Focus on the Family with Jim Daly. Overcoming the Heartaches of Life – 1. Monday, August 19, 2013