Sermon: The Creative Word Sunday
14th. August 2005
But now, this is what the Lord, He who
created you O Jacob, He who formed you O Israel, says – Fear not for I have
redeemed you, I have summoned you by name you are mine, when you pass through
the waters I will be with you…………..
A
few years ago, there was a consultation, a high level conference between
representatives of the churches. The discussions went on for several months,
and as is often the case, a lot of common ground was discovered, in a variety
of areas. The churches discovered they shared a lot of concerns. One of the
most interesting meetings took place when morning worship was the topic of
discussion. In the conversations together the representatives of some of the
churches recognised that there were major differences between them.
Three
hundred years ago, the contrasts between morning worship in the different parts
of the Church were even greater. A mass in the city of
But
there was a reason for this, and there still is. There is a reason why the
Bible is brought in first in our morning service in Kirk o’ Field, a reason why
we read from the Bible, and why there is a sermon. And it is this: that through
His Word, God has promised life. The very first verses of the Bible declare
that God spoke and there was life – let there be light and there was light, the
sun, moon and stars, the green leaf, the darting flash of the kingfisher. God
has called these into life.
Over
the past few weeks , exploring from the Bible, the creative
power of God. Who has called the earth into being, has called
Well,
the prophet Isaiah proclaims that God still creates through His Word:
10 As the rain and the snow come down from
heaven, and do
not return to it
without watering the earth and making it
bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and
bread for the
eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not
return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and
achieve the purpose
for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in
peace; the
mountains and hills
will burst into song before you, and all
the trees of the
field will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine
tree, and
instead of briers the
myrtle will grow. This will be for the
LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign,
which will not be
destroyed."
These
are wonderful words declaring the creative power of God’s Word.
The
prophet Isaiah puts before us that great rhythm: As the rain comes down, on the
earth, the earth buds, flourishes, there is seed for the sower, and bread for
those who are hungry. One great power of creation. So,
says the prophet, the Word of God is like that rain: Like the rain on the warm
earth, His Word brings green shoots, green buds, green
leaf among us. And a harvest among us, His people.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine
tree,says Isaiah, and instead of briers the
myrtle will grow. instead
of the bent, cramped thornbush, or the unyielding brier, the tall gracious pine
tree and the sweet blossoming myrtle, so in His Word, God comes among His
people. His Word, shapes new life among us, brings blossom out of the desert, a
harvest among us.
Perhaps
we can glimpse something of why John, in His Gospel speaks of Jesus as the Word
of God. Jesus Christ, who has come upon this earth bringing blessing,
and through Him the earth buds, flourishes. Like the rain on the warm earth,
He, Jesus Christ brings green shoots, green buds, green
leaf among us. And a harvest among us, His people. 13
Instead of the thornbush
will grow the pine tree, and instead of
briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an
everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed." instead of the
hardness of the human heart, the unyeilding human spirit,
Christ
moves in His creative power among us. His Word, then shapes new life among us,
brings blossom out of the desert, a harvest among us. He who did not fail to
accomplish all that God wanted, God’s purposes.
The
reason why the Bible is brought in first in our morning service in Kirk o’
Field, the reason why we read from the Bible, and why there is a sermon, is
because of that promise in Isaiah 55. That there is a blessing waiting for us
in the Word of God, that through His Word, we receive life, new life, and blessing. Through His Word, he creates life.
And
yet – perhaps its important to pause there…………. You
see, we’ve been speaking about God creating through His Word, blessing us with
life, glorious words, and great things:
Yet
for someone visiting, the morning service, seems such an ordinary thing; we
gather, sit in the pews, someone reads from the Bible, the minister speaks, we
sing hymns together, there is a blessing and we leave.
Can
we really speak
about God’s creative power, bringing life ?
Yes
we can, because He has promised that He will bless us, and we come here because
we trust in His promise. Even here: for
the Lord declares to us:
4 Even if you have been banished to the most
distant land
under the heavens,
I will gather you and bring you back.
my Word is
not beyond your reach.
12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to
ask, "Who
will ascend into
heaven to get it and tell it to us
13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have
to ask, "Who
will cross the sea
to get it and tell it to us"
14
No, says the Lord,
the word is very near you;
The
reason we can meet together, is because God has
promised us that His creative Word is here, not far away in another country,
not far away in the past, not far away up above us, it is here, now, and close.
No
His Word is not far from us, the Father in His love,
comes and visits us, in these simple, plain words from the Bible. Each Sunday,
we have a man standing in the pulpit, frail, like the rest of the people who
listen. The Father’s promise is that He will create His church through that
Word.
so wherever the Word is
preached, the church springs into life,
the church grows, men and women
receive life
God speaks, and creates life through His Word,
Jesus Christ is called the Word
because God has created new life
through Him
Well - this springs from the loving heart of God
himself,
who knows us, and our weakness,
how frail we are as men and women
it's because the living God in
His kindness and love
comes down to our level and
speaks in words we can understand -
simple words - and through these
He gives us life
And in hearing the life
giving message of Jesus Christ: faith springs into being, deepens, and
strengthens.
AMEN