Enlightens Our Hearts

¹⁷I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, ¹⁸so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,…(Eph. 24)

A few weeks ago I was writing about Jesus’  commissioning of the disciples; telling them: ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these thing,…(Lk. 24)

When I read a passage, from Ephesians 24, I thought to myself, "self," Paul is doing exactly what Jesus was asking of the eleven — go and witness. 

I am thinking Paul had a much clearer vision of Jesus’ request than the disciples, who stood face to face with Jesus.

You see, Paul didn’t have the privilege of walking and talking to Jesus.  He met him in a much more dramatic way.   A more violent and monumental way.  You can read the story in Acts 9.

In many ways Paul came to faith the same way we have — second hand.

I read somewhere, years ago, that Jesus’ request entailed more than mere information “to be rehearsed.”  Rather it was a commission to reenact — carry-out - Jesus’ story.

Teaching all that Jesus said and did by: living Jesus’ love, mercy, compassion forgiveness and manner of being.  So that others might perceive what Jesus’ taught.  

Doing it all by the power of the Holy Spirit just as Jesus had done.

A commission, by the way, that the disciples saw as impossible.

Paul did not think it was impossible.

My point is, it is not what we know.

        It is not a matter of how much we believe.

               It is not even about whether our faith is strong enough or not.

It is about an old vision of living in a way that actually does expresses peace as possible.

15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason ¹⁶I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, ¹⁸so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. ²⁰God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. ²²And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.(Eph. 1)

Sometimes The Spirit Is Not So Gentle

⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised;(Lk 24)

This last Sunday, May 31, we celebrated the birthday of the church — Pentecost.

The day the God’s Original Wireless Designed was set loose in the Disciples.  

And they dared to speak.

Peter, the realistic one, the one who denied Jesus, was one of the ones who hide behind locked doors in fear of the Jews. That first Easter night.

Now stands brave and bold in front those he once hid from, and fearlessly speaks. 

Witnesses, unafraid, to what he knows as truth.

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. ¹⁵Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 

22 ‘You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— ²³this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. ²⁴But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.(Act 2)

He is speaking to all those who have gathered to witnessed the Spirit’s mighty power.   All nationalities, yes even the Jewish leaders.

And he begins to take his responsibly — his privilege — of accepting Jesus commission to go and witness to all the world.

Reading about this extraordinary event, I encourage you to go back to before and after Jesus was arrested and crucified.  When this same man denied he even knew Jesus.

Think about when Jesus came among the disciple, as they hovered in fear that first Easter night, when Jesus breathed on them and said; “receive the Holy Spirit.” (Jn 20)

And their reaction was to go fishing.

That same Peter, after a violent wind and tongues of fire invaded his skin, was transformed from fear to courage and spoke.

Sometimes God needs to be a bit more forceful with we strong minded people.

If the Holy Spirit can connect with a strong minds such as Peter’s.  Imagine what it can do for you and me.

In What Ways Do We Witness

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,(Lk. 24))

With the world situation, as it is today, it is very easy to become self-involved.  If you are like me it has become quite easy to be a bit whiny.  

Right?

Well, I listened to a sermon, ( by Pastor Ida at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hartford Wisconsin) Sunday May 24, that created in me an attitude adjustment.

She used the wearing of masks as a point of reference.

She acknowledged that it is uncomfortable, and somewhat embarrassing, to wear a mask in public. Mentioning  she didn't particularly like foggy her glass would get.  

Her point was that we wear masks not just for ourselves but for others around us.  We wear masks because we care for others welfare.

We do what needs to be done in life to bring Jesus’ ministry of mercy, compassion, love, peace and justice to the world around us. 

She made a point that caught my theological mind:

“The Kingdom of God is peace, love and justice.  These core values came into a sinful world.  A world that challenges such values.”

These core values, that Jesus came to correct the human mindset, are more or less considered idealistic to some.

Peace, love and justice don’t fit into our well ordered dysfunctional way of being.

And yet, we are all called to witness peace, love and justice in the middle of our everyday reality.

⁴⁸You are witnesses of these thing,…(Lk. 24)

Even though the Kingdom of peace, love and justice just does not make sense; we are ask to live our lives as witnesses to what Jesus clearly calls us to do,

The church today is not the church of yesterday — where we find our inspiration sitting in the pew.

It is now out on the streets, in the supermarket, malls, on the side walks of our towns.

Jesus is once again entering the story to remind us of our Call.

44 Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations,..(lk. 24)

We are Called to show the world of today what the Kingdom of peace, love and justice is supposes to looks like.

Everyday all the time where ever we are.

44 Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’

50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. ⁵¹While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵²And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; ⁵³and they were continually in the temple blessing God.(Luke 24)