April 7 2019 Fifth
Sunday in Lent “The Joys of Finally Finishing” Pastor Jacqueline Hines
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This is the word of the
Lord to us, today: “Do Not Despair”. [slide # 1 do not despair!] We need to continually hear God’s word to
keep our chins up because we are so often tempted to keep our heads down in
despair and disappointment because of the dire needs and distress that may be a
part of our everyday experience.
We must remember not only
that our God is God of our present but our God a God of our future. Jeremiah 29
encourages us with these words of God saying, “I know the plans I have for you,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. [slide # 2 I know the plans]
If God is leading us
into a bright future, then the words that Andre Crouch’s cousin Danniebelle
Hall sang are inspiring: This is not the time for giving up, it’s time for
holding on. This is not the time for looking back it’s time for being strong…
when you started running this race, you were given a job to do. Who knows if
you turn back now somebody may fail who’s depending on you.” [slide # 3 Danniebelle
Hall]
Our text this morning
from Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for every season. You heard the
scripture telling us clearly that God wants us to be happy and enjoy ourselves
as long as we live; moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink
and take pleasure in all their toil."
Children like to pile
blocks together and build a fort or a house. They also appreciate knocking them
all down and building something new. [slide # 4 child
building] Whether we are working
to build or working to rebuild,
there is joy at the finish line. We eat a good meal and sit back in
satisfaction when it is over. At the same time, we get ready to “build” the
next meal and work until our joy is complete as the work of building is
complete. Either way, in God, it is a joy to be finished because we then have
the joy of beginning again. God is a God of our hope, coming and going.
We all know it is not
possible to be happy and worry at the same time. So why not choose to be happy,
to eat and drink as God provides and to enjoy the various jobs that God give
us. Why not hold on to happiness as long as you can. You remember that catchy
song from the 80’s sung by New Yorker Bobby McFerrin [slide # 5 Bobby
McFerrin] in his made up Jamaican
accent: Don’t Worry Be Happy. It was the first acapella song to reach number
one on the Billboard top 100 chart, a position it held for weeks. Though we
might be concerned that such songs allow us to deny or escape our troubles,
there is a season, a moment that we do well to hold on to happiness and enjoy
life in spite of our frustrations. [slide # 6 holding onto Jesus] it does not matter what is going on around
us. What matters is that Jesus is with us and will never leave us. [ slide # 7 leaning on Jesus] Rejoicing in the Lord
refreshes us and strengthens us to bear every
burden and to triumph in every
trial. Can I get an “amen”.
McFerrin sings:
“Here's a little song I
wrote
You might want to sing
it note for note
Don't worry, be happy
In every life we have some
trouble
But when you worry you
make it double
Don't worry, be happy
Ain't got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took
your bed
Don't worry, be happy
The landlord say your
rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don't worry, be happy
Ain't got no cash,
ain't got no style
Ain't got no [body] gal
to make you smile
Don't worry, be happy
'Cause when you worry
your face will frown
And that will bring
everybody down
So don't worry, be
happy.
That song may have its
history, [ slide # 8 Don’t
worry…] but between you and me,
it came right from the wisdom of the book of Ecclesiastes. The sage says - I
know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy
themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat
and drink and take pleasure in all their toil." — Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
There are at least
three ways to enjoy the benefits of submitting to God’s inspiration for us be
happy and stop worrying. They are number one -to worship God, [slide # 9 worship
with heart inside the word] number two to give thanks to God, [ slide # 10 give
thanks] three to praise God. [Slide # 11 praise God]] When we worship and give praise and
thanksgiving to God, something happens. The atmosphere within us and around us
changes for the better in real and abiding ways. Our worship brings the
sunshine and makes the clouds take cover. Our praise melts troubled hearts
in the same way that a smile warms up a room. Giving thanks to God multiplies
the fish and the loaves and increases the loved ones who can join us at each
table. Some of you may have one of those dining room tables that has a section
in the middle where you can add a piece and make the table wider so more people
can fit around the table. It is true, the more the merrier – even when we are
getting to know and appreciate one another.
Worship with praise [slide # 12 dancing] and thanksgiving creates a
rhythm and dance and song that erupts and overwhelms our troubles [slide # 13 why should I…] and
makes what seems impossible, possible. [slide # 14 possible]
As we think about all
the challenges we face day by day and we see others facing day by day, it is
easy to sink into a pit of despair. [slide # 15 don’t give up…] But, in this season, God’s season, the word
of the Lord to us is “do not despair.” The God who loves us – each and every
one of us - wants to gift us with hope no matter what we are doing and no
matter what we are dealing with. In this Lenten season let us remember to
worship our God [slide
# 16 hand raised in worship] to
thank our God [slide # 17 thanks] and to praise our God [slide # 18 praise] and whatever we do, when we
finally finish, we can have joy, knowing that there can be joy as we finish a
job that builds up God’s people and God’s purpose as well as beginning whatever
comes next. Joy is God’s gift to us. [slide # 19 …plans Jeremiah..] We can accept it. [ slide # 20 be joyful…] We
will need it in this journey. Amen. [slide # 21 …thank God for you]
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