October
2 Lamentations 1.1-6, *Luke 17. 5-10 “More Faith” Pastor Jacqueline Hines
The apostles said to
the Lord, “Increase our faith!” If the apostles
asked for more, we the little people do not feel so bad asking Jesus for more.
The apostles were the top guns, the prominent leaders. [ slide # 1 apostles] The book of acts tells us that during the early
church persecutions the Christians ran into hiding like overwhelmed children
taking refuge in the heavenly fathers skirts, but the apostles stayed strong in
Jerusalem City, ready to fight, ready to sacrifice everything in order to make
their point that Jesus was the king of kings, [slide # 2 Jesus is king] that he was the light that scattered the
darkness, [slide
# 3 Jesus is light] that he was the bread of life. [slide # 4 bread of
life]
The apostles were great
because God had given them the gifts and talents and resources and the will to
be great. They had been called to be the front of the line and they had agreed
like prepared soldiers. Soldiers do what soldiers do because they are soldiers.
Just because one of us is at the top of our game and another is at the bottom,
does not mean God cares about us any less or any more than all the other of
God’s children. [slide
# 5 God loves each…]
Jesus said 9Do you
thank the slave [ or the servant] for doing what was commanded? 10So you also,
when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless
slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’” [slide # 6 We have done only…] The apostles were very special but not more special
than any of God’s children.
When they asked for MORE faith, this is what Jesus
told them: All you need is a little bit of faith, [slide # 7 mustard seeds]even
the size of a mustard seed. [slide # 8 One seed in finger]
I have a confession to
make. I usually ask God for more when I am feeling overwhelmed and do not want
to do what I need to do. I want to do what I want to do and I want
someone else to do what I
need to do. When things get hectic, I need to be reminded of the small things
that I need to do to stay on track. For example, sometimes I do not want to
cook. I want to snap my fingers and have the meal jump out of the freezer and
cook itself or go to McDonalds and have it appear instantly on the counter. What
I need to do is just take a few minutes, even a few seconds and organize the
day and prepare a simple meal ahead of time that is more nutritious, delicious and
to my liking.
There are lots of little
things for all of us that can make a gargantuan difference in our lives and the
lives of those around us. For example, just one teensie, weensie [slide # 9 Compliment] compliment can put a big smile on a child’s face. [slide # 10 Children smiling] Just
a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down. [slide # 11 spoonful of brown sugar] Just an itsy bitsy smile [slide # 12 smile on a subway] can calm a distressed stranger in a grocery line or
on a subway car or grocery line. Just a four-second hug [slide # 13 hug from Jesus] can warm the hearts of those who mourn. Even one
gesture [slide #
14 positive regard] of positive regard
can lift another toward their next level of excellence. [slide # 15 lifting] One soft remark [slide # 16 soft answer] can transform someone’s[slide # 17 angry woman] anger
into laughter. [slide
# 18 laughter] As well as we understand
this, there are days we need to be reminded.
The apostles had
sacrificed so much and worked so hard. Why in the world would they ask for more
faith when they had already proven to have great faith? Were they like
spiritual Olympians, wanting to reach the limit in exercising their spiritual
strength? Did they want to break the esteemed records for the deepest sermons,
greatest debates, most jail time or best heartwarming testimonies?
Yes, the apostles were
good, they were the top of the line disciples – learners, followers,
disciplined ones, and Jesus was reinforcing the lesson they knew but had
quickly forgotten. Little things matter and little things can be very hard to achieve.
[ slide # 19 little
things…]
A little habit is hard
to break because it may have very deep roots in fear and pain that we have not
yet surrendered to our God. A little kindness is hard to share with someone
when we keep reminding ourselves of the many reasons they don’t deserve it,
even if God says he or she deserves good things. Forgiving others, even a
little, seems impossible until we can give God the little things that shame and
embarrass and guilt US. Others may have the
things that shame, embarrass and guilt us. Others may want them, but they belong
to God and God alone knows best what to do with us.
The apostles had used
great faith to be star witnesses, remaining in Jerusalem for the showdown with
the Romans and the people of God with whom they had religious disagreements.
What the apostles did was a really big deal. What Jesus had for them to do this
day was something so small in their eyes that they had not paid any attention
to it.
So it is for us as
disciples, learning and following. We may have a habit that can be broken if we
would date to take the tiniest first step. Do we have a relationship that would
be blessed if it were t sweeten it up a bit? Is there a tiny bit of kindness in
your hands that belongs to someone with whom you been withholding because you have
bitter feelings? Does even a hint of forgiveness seem like a faraway country?
These are the situations
that Jesus calls us to exercise a little bit of faith so we can do great things
for God, so we can heal and open the floodgates of blessings. Like the little
mustard seed that grows into a great tree, [slide # 20 mustard tree] large enough
for birds to build a nest, we can grow something large enough to overcome evils
of violence and poverty, brokenness and
distance and danger and hatred and holding grudges. By faith, we can begin this
moment to do the small thing that we know to do to put an end to something that
is overgrown and needs to be weeded out.
On this World Communion
Sunday, let’s show the world that even a little bit of faith matters. [slide # 21 faith
matters] Amen. [slide # 22 more smiles] [slide # 23 Keep Calm]
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