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Sunday 27 November 2016

'AM I LIVING LIFE WEARING BLINDFOLDS?'

Rev. Canon George Sinclair
by Rev. Canon George Sinclair                           
 Pastor of the Church of the Messiah, Ottawa, ON.
 www.messiahchurch.ca 

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(Podcast of CFRA broadcast on Sunday, November 27th,  2016)

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Broadcast Notes:



   A shout out this morning to Bethel McClelland whose generous donation allowed this show to go on!


Am I Living Life Wearing Blindfolds?


This is an abbreviated version of a longer sermon that I gave at Church of the Messiah. The sermon is part of a series where I will preach through all of 2 Corinthians over 19 Sundays. The series is called, "Jars Of Clay: Being Human In Christ."




Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one[a] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord[b] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[c] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[d] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Footnotes:
1.       2 Corinthians 3:16 Greek he
2.      2 Corinthians 3:17 Or this Lord
3.      2 Corinthians 3:18 Or reflecting the glory of the Lord
4.      2 Corinthians 3:18 Greek from glory to glory
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1. If all I have are rules and rituals to follow, I will die a failure.

2. Human beings have multiple blindfolds, but the root blindfold blinds us to our Creator.

2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Rev. Canon George Sinclair
Church of the Messiah
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To listen to the above broadcast, click on the following link:

 

Sunday 20 November 2016

'PEACE ON EARTH'

Rev. Juliet Schimpf
By Rev. Juliet Schimpf 



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Broadcast Notes

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LINK to CFRA broadcast of Sunday, November 20th, 2016
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'Peace on Earth'



  • Global Language Monitor:  the list of the top 25 words of the past decade—“WMD (weapons of mass destruction),”slumdog” (referring to slum-dwellers in Mumbai, popularized by the film “Slumdog Millionarie”), and tsunami
  • Global Language Monitor:  in the top five words:  9/11, bailout, and evacuee/refugee
  • Global Language Monitor:  The word of the decade is actually two—“global warming” is the word of the decade

  • The above may sound like bad news….

  • BUT Luke 2:10  “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.”

  •   The “good news” on offer is peace—we’re going to look at that peace by focusing on Luke 2:14.

SECTION:  1
THE PEACE OF GOD

  • CONTEXT OF LUKE 2:14:  In the time of Jesus, there existed what was called PAX ROMANA, the Roman peace.  The Romans claimed that they had brought about peace in the entire Middle East and Europe.  But what kind of peace was it?  It was a peace built upon terror, militarism, force, and intimidation buy the power of the Roman army.  They had a peace of subjection.  Few would call that peace today!  The fact that people wanted so much to throw off the yoke of Rome indicates that it was only an imposed peace. 
  • PAX ROMANA had been in effect since 27 BC, but the absence of war doesn’t guarantee the presence of peace
  • The Stoic philosopher Epictetus said, “While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief, and envy.  He cannot give peace of heart for which man yearns more than even for outward peace.”
VS. 8
  • Into this context, an extraordinary announcement of peace is delivered from God to an ordinary people. 
    • William Barclay:  Shepherds were despised by the orthodox people of the day.  Shepherds were quite unable to keep the details of the ceremonial law; they could not observe all the meticulous hand-washings and rules and regulations.  Their flocks made far too constant demands on them; and so the orthodox looked down on them. 
    • William Barclay:  But these were in all likelihood very special shepherds.  We have already seen how in the Temple, morning and evening, an unblemished lamb was offered as a sacrifice to God.  To see that the supply of perfect offerings was always available the Temple authorities had their own private sheep flocks; and we know that these flocks were pastured near Bethlehem.  It is most likely that these shepherds were in charge of the flocks from which the Temple offerings were chosen.  It is a lovely thought that the shepherds who looked after the Temple lambs were the first to see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

    • Christ’s first worshippers were shepherds:  G. Campbell Morgan:  “”He [the angel] did not appear in Caesar’s palace, nor in the Temple; he came to shepherds.  To them came the angel message and the glory of the Lord…”

VS. 9
  • PEW BIBLE:  “Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them…”
  • PHILLIPS TRANSLATION:  The angel (the word means “messenger”) is not identified.  But his appearance struck terror into the shepherds as “the splendour of the Lord blazed around them.”

VSS. 10-11 
  • The angel announces:  “there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, Who is Christ the Lord.”
  • in the Greek there are no articles at all.  The three names were uttered by the angel thus, “There is born to you this day in the city of David, Saviour, Christ, Lord.” 

  • FIRST CLUE AS TO THE NATURE OF THE PEACE OF GOD
  • G. CAMPBELL MORGAN: 
    • Saviour, someone confronting all the sin of the world with regal authority based upon redeeming power;
    • Christ, someone confronting all the chaos of the world, the Messiah, who will be able to realize the true hegemony, the Kingdom of God;
    • Lord, the One Who confronts all eternity and all ages.

VS. 12 
  • The angel completed his message by giving the shepherds a sign
  • SECOND CLUE AS TO THE NATURE OF THE PEACE OF GOD—“YOU WILL FIND A CHILD WRAPPED IN BANDS OF CLOTH AND LYING IN A MANGER”
  • This would help them recognize the baby, but it would also attest the truth of the angel’s words:  In Bethlehem that night, there might be one or two babies wrapped in swaddling clothes, but surely only one lying in a manger.
  • PEACE IS FOUND IN A PERSON—AND A SMALL BABY AT THAT! 
    • FULFILLS ISAIAH 9:6-7
      “(6)For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  (7)  There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace.”

VS. 13: 
  • PEW BIBLE:  “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God…”
  • MESSAGE TRANSLATION  “At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises”


VS. 14
  • PEW BIBLE:  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”
  • THIRD CLUE AS TO THE NATURE OF THE PEACE OF GOD
  • C.E.V. TRANSLATION:  “Praise God in heaven!  Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.”
  • N.A.S.B.:  “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

  • “peace among those whom God favors—the key here is that there is an emphasis on God, not humanity.  It is those whom God chooses, rather than those who choose God, of whom the angels speak.

·         WE TEND TO PUT THE FOCUS ON HUMANITY

·         Misunderstanding:  King James Version:  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

  • Humanity everywhere has been talking about peace, and has been trying to produce peace for centuries:  notion that peace will come by the exercise of good-will…
  • The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded 90 times to 120 Nobel Laureates between 1901 and 2009 – 97 times to individuals and 23 times to organizations.

  • there is no peace for the earth, except among those in whom God is well-pleased….that is the basis of peace, men and women of His pleasure….

  • So the question becomes:  How do you please God?

SECTION 2:
THE GOD OF PEACE

  • C.S. LEWIS’ ANSWER:  “God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from ___[HIMSELF]_______, because it is not there.  There is no such thing.” 
  • WE PLEASE GOD BY ACCEPTING THE GIFT OF HIMSELF
  • THIS MEANS ACCEPTING BOTH THE GIFT OF THE BABY IN THE MANGER AND ALSO THE GIFT OF THE MAN ON THE CROSS

  • WE MUST VIEW THE MANGER THROUGH THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS
    • COLOSSIANS 1:19-20:  “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [JESUS], and through him to reconcile to himself all things…by making peace through his __[BLOOD]______, shed on the ___[CROSS]______.” 
    • EPHESIANS 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  (14)  For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, (15) by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace…”

  • SO NOW THE QUESTION BECOMES:  What type of peace is established by Christ’s blood shed upon the cross?

  • JOHN MACARTHUR:  “‘on earth peace’ does not refer to peace of mind, rest for the weary, or absence of wars.  The angels meant peace with God that results from genuine salvation.  Because His Son has brought reconciliation, we no longer need to be God’s enemies.” 

  • BILLY GRAHAM:  “Peace can be experienced only when you have received divine pardon—when you have been reconciled to God and when you have harmony within….If by faith we accept Him, we are justified by God and can realize the inner serenity that can come to man through no other means.  When Christ enters our heart, we are freed of that haunting sense of sin….we know that we can stand before God in the hour of our death with this same feeling of peace and security.” 

  • A KEY THING TO EMPHASIZE:  The Jewish word “Shalom” (Peace) means much more than a truce in the battles of life.  It means well-being, health, prosperity, security, soundness, and completeness.  It has to do more with character than circumstances. 

  • John 14:26-27  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

  •  “Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.”  (anonymous)

  • BILLY GRAHAM:  “In Christ we are relaxed and at peace in the midst of the confusions, bewilderments, and perplexities of this life.  The storm rages, but our hearts are at rest. We have found peace—at last

  • THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: 
    • MATTHEW 10:34:  “Do not suppose that I have come to bring __[PEACE]_______ to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a ___[SWORD]______.” 
    • MESSAGE:  MATTHEW 10:34-39:  “Don’t think I’ve come to make life cozy.  I’ve come to cut…”

  • The sword Jesus brings is not here military conflict, but, as vv. 35-36 show, a sharp social division which even severs the closest family ties.

  • R. T. FRANCE:  “…the peace the Messiah brings is much more than the absence of fighting, which men dignify with the name of ‘peace’; it is a restored relationship with God.  And in the bringing of such ‘peace’, paradoxically, conflict is inevitable.” 

Conclusion

  • Paul writes in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

  • JESUS:  John 16:33
    "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Let’s pray:

Dear God, We thank you for your promise of peace that you give us through your Son; born as a babe, declared our Saviour, Lord and Christ.
And we thank you for the peace that we also receive through the Cross.
(We offer) prayers that Listeners today, will call out to you for their peace, surrender their lives (and) fill up on every good gift you offer, in Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Rev. Juliet Schimpf

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To listen to the above broadcast, click on the following link: