November 18 Sermon  Beginning of Birth Pangs

Old Testament  Ruth 1 Samuel 1:4-20

There is a tangle of relationships in this story.  Elkanah has two wives. Peninnah, who has borne numerous children, and Hannah, who has been unable to conceive because “the Lord had closed the womb”v6.  In this culture, childbearing was a woman’s only unique ability. To be unable to conceive was cause for great shame. To make matters worse, Peninnah uses Hannah’s unfortunate circumstance as occasion to taunt her rival, increasing her distress.

In looking at the situation Hannah is grieving because she cannot have a child. In grief there is acute pain, anger and even bargaining which is reflected in this story. “Hannah made this vow---O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death.  He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head” .

Hannah wanted Eli to bless her. He did --but it is a perfunctory one: Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him. In v. 19 we see “the Lord remembered her.”

Both Hannah and Mary (mother of Jesus) are unlikely mothers to give birth to great men. One will anoint kings and one who will be the King of Kings. And yet both births are made possible only through the extraordinary faith of the mothers.

How many times have we bargained with God.  Oh God if you will…..I will……

How many times in your life time have you heard that the World is about to end? Repent and be saved is the cry. Many have said the earth is in travail even now as we await the Lord’s return.  The Mideast is a hot spot right now.  Many governments are on the verge of crumbling.  Things in general just seem to be out of sink with the way things should be. Change is in the air. We can sense it. We are aware of it. Many have said what is going to happen next.  The end of the world is not something new. They discussed this in Jesus day. The disciples wanted to know When will these things come to pass.

Psalm 113

When we read a Psalm such as the one today we are encouraged to know that  the Lord has all things in control. He is high and above all nations. There is none like our God that raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with the princes of God’s people.

God gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of Children.

Maybe the world is about to end.  Maybe Planet X is going to topple our world as many proclaim. But in all instances and chances to worry God says to look up for your redemption draweth nigh. God created this world and he proclaimed that Jesus would come and rescue us at some point.

 Even though the world is in the middle of birth pangs of something new on the horizon we can be assure that God will save His people as he proclaimed. There is hope in God. When we begin to praise Him our problems seem to just go away because He gives us the peace that passes all understanding. Regardless of the trials and tribulations that you may be facing.

 

Epistle- Hebrews 10:11-25

The book of Hebrews is a reminder of hope.  We are to approach God with confidence and “hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful” v23.  The early Christian community faced struggles that we can only faintly comprehend.

Few of us face persecution or martyrdom for being Christian.  Yet we often find it difficult to live out our faith to our full potential.  As we read Heberews 10, we should be encouraged to approach God in faith and worship, hold fast to our public confession of hope, and consider how we can help others in love.

This is a threefold reminder of what it means to be Christian. We would do well to remember these on a daily basis.

Gospel  Mark 13:1-8

Towering buildings are not supposed to crumble to the ground. Oceans are not supposed to leap out of their seabeds and flood miles inland.  The ground is not supposed to shake and tremble.  The sky is not supposed to form a funnel cloud and destroy a town.

Yet all who watched the World Trade Towers collapse, seen a tsunami flood a nation, experienced an earthquake, or suffered through the power of a tornado know that such events happen.

The disciples remark about the large stones and the buildings that appear immovable.  Jesus startles them about his prediction that even the great stones that form the temple will one day be thrown down. Some of these stones were a large as a Semi-Truck.

As they sit together admiring the view of these buildings from the Mount of Olives the disciples were disturbed. Just as any of us would be startled we would want to know When such an even might occur.

Jesus said for them not to be worried by wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, or famine as these are just signs of the beginning of the end. Just as a mother knows that a birth is close by early labor pains Jesus has told them that these signs are for a warning.

Today the internet is loaded with End Times Messages.  After all this is the year 2012. On December 21, 2012 it has been prophesied by the Mayans and thousands of others that the world will end. WE can become so focused on the end that we neglect the important mission that we have to witness to the gospel of today.

So how does one survive any events that happen that are tragic as those mentioned? How does one survive the devastation of an aggressive cancer diagnosis or other life/death diagnosis.

Our focus must not be on the signs themselves, but rather on the one who is to come – the one who enables us to look up after such devastation and claim the certainty of blessing. Things may seem to have fallen apart. I have faced death many times over in my own family. 13 uncles and aunts on my fathers side and 8 uncles and aunts on my mothers side. My own father and mothers death. Yet, everytime God’s Grace was what surrounded me.

Death is not the end. I call it graduation from this life to the next. It is part of life. Just as birth is part of life. It may appear that anarchy has been loosed on the world. But I think of that song we sang as children:  He’s got the Whole world in His hands…..Birth is painful. Life if painful. Death is painful. But God has us in the palms of his hands.

Prayer:

All knowing God, we live in a world  uncertain of what the day may bring.  We fear the things we can’t plan and try to protect ourselves from things too massive to stop. Give us faith to combat our fears and guidance to direct our paths. Amen.