Untitled (12)

Now the red one. Red one. This is my story.

This is my song. This is our story. And this is our song. Praising our Savior all the day long.

Father, we pray may only your word be spoken. And only your word heard. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Please be seated.

There's a popular initials that have been, have kind of spread throughout the church over the past couple of decades.

The, what would Jesus do? WWJD. And we like to think that everything is new, isn't it? Do you realize that those initials, that idea, what would Jesus do, actually was popularized in the late 19th century?

Did you realize that? A pastor, I believe it was in Massachusetts, had a personal renewal and awakening that the gospel needed to go out into the world.

And that was the mantra that he decided that he was going to live by and preach Sunday after Sunday. And so we did.

And it brought, not huge revival, you might say, but it renewed the spirit of his congregation. Because he recognized, and they recognized, the words of scripture are those for us to embrace and to hold on and to live by.

And so today, you know, as we come in and started back in the 80s and went through the 90s and so on, we still see it today.

WWJD. What would Jesus do? And we think, yeah, this is great. We thought of something new. Not really. Not really. So as we hear God's word, as we embrace it, as we hear our passages time and time again, God calls us to renew and take a step back and to allow his Holy Spirit to speak his word new into our hearts.

Not to dig so much into each and every syllable. Not to dig so much. But to actually take what God is giving us in his word and use it and run with it.

It's like a spiritual football. He gives it to us and we're supposed to go. And you know, in our gospel reading, follows right on the heels of last week's reading when we heard of Jesus in Capernaum.

Casting out an unclean spirit, as the text says, from the man in the synagogue. And what was the response of the people in the synagogue?

Whoa, this is different. This is new, isn't it? So what do we do?

Do we respond in a new way? Or do we just kind of keep on going as business as usual? We all have our traditions.

We all have our traditions. You know, there are some congregations where there is a group after church.

They get together and go eat. Have you noticed that? Some people. And it's just not quite the same unless they go together and eat.

Unless they do the same thing week in, week out. That tradition. We've got to do it. We've got to do it.

So what happens? We get a little insight into what happens from the synagogue in Capernaum. What do they do? Hey, this is something new has happened.

So we hear, and they went into Capernaum. And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John with him.

So immediately, right after church, you might say, what do they do? Okay, going to go home. And I'm sure, you know, this is one of those passages that you can just hear Simon Peter's wife.

Come home right after synagogue. Okay? Mom's in bed. Don't dawdle. Okay? And like a good husband, he is so conscious of his feelings of his wife, he brings everybody with him.

You notice that? It's that Jesus and he went into Simon Peter's house with Andrew, his brother, and James and John.

He had just cast out a demon. He says, immediately they went in. And so what do they do? Hey, Jesus. It makes kind of sense, doesn't it?

He just cast out a demon out of a man. You come into the house. What are you going to ask this guy to do? He introduces.

They introduce Peter's mother-in-law. And they introduce her to him. She is sick. She has a fever. So what is Jesus' response?

Nothing grand. He goes in. He takes her hand. Lifts her up. Fever leaves her.

Boom. So she gets up and begins to serve. And so we see this amazing thing happen.

Something new happen. Not a lot of fanfare. He just came in. Touched her hand. And she got up.

And began to do what she does normally. Now as Jerome asked that question.

Can you imagine? Put yourself in her spot. Can you imagine for a moment? She wakes up and she looks. And there's Jesus standing before you at the edge of your bed.

Would you stay asleep? No. It's absurd to think that anybody would remain asleep. With the Son of God in their presence.

But yet so often with this newness. The church stays asleep. When God does something new.

When he works and he moves in our lives. And the Holy Spirit says something new to us. What is our reaction? Do we say this is new?

Do I need to wake up? I need to get up and serve as Peter's mother? Do we get up and recognize the needs that God has answered for us?

That Jerome continued in his commentary on Mark. And he says this. Faith beholds Jesus among us. And if we are unable to seize his hand.

Let us prostrate ourselves at his feet. If we are unable to reach his head. Let us wash his feet with our tears. Let our repentance be the perfume for the Savior.

See how costly his compassion of our Savior is. Our sins give off a terrible odor. They are rotten. Nevertheless, if we repent our sins.

They will be transformed into the perfume of the Lord. And therefore, let us ask the Lord to grasp our hand. And at once, as it says, the fever left her.

And she immediately began to serve. To put all that in another way. When Jesus meets anew. He comes into our lives in a very, very personal way.

Doesn't he? And when Jesus comes into our lives in a very, very personal way. How do we respond? Do we respond by going out to lunch?

Or are we going to respond to the newness that the Holy Spirit is giving us? And serve. To serve those around us.

We kind of forget at times. John chapter 4. When Jesus met the woman at the well. Remember Jesus immediately started.

He started talking with her. And. Through this, she recognizes this guy's different. He told me everything that I've done.

He must be a prophet. And when Jesus was done speaking with her. She immediately. What did she do? She got up.

She ran back to the village. To Sychar. And said, come on out and meet this man. Because. There's something special about him.

She didn't keep the message to herself. She immediately shared. The newness that Jesus had just given her. And so what happens?

If we look at our passage. We come to a second scene. After Jesus. After Peter's mother-in-law is serving them. It says that evening at sundown.

They brought to him. All who were sick and oppressed by demons. The Sabbath is done. The Sabbath has been finished. Sundown.

So the community. They do the nice thing. They're going to wait and make sure that. Peter and his family have finished their Sabbath observant. And when they're done. Hey we know this guy.

He just did something special. He speaks with authority. He teaches with authority. He casts out demons. So let's go join him. They all get up. They all go to the door.

They all go to the door. Immediately the newness is expanding. From the personal family. From the personal. Of Peter and his family.

And it is spreading to the community. After Jesus renews us personally. There is a drawing of the community.

unity. To him. Through us. Jesus. And that's what he's calling us to. And very significant in this.

Is this. What they do. It says. They brought all who were sick to the door. They brought him to the door. And they're standing. We're ready. Here Jesus. Help us. More.

Is that Jesus. Healed them. And he cast out demons. Why is this significant? In the gospel of John. Chapter 10.

What does Jesus call himself? He says. I am the door. If anyone enters by me. He will be saved. And will go in.

And out. And find. Pasture. You see. The progression here. The newness. That Jesus. Brings into the world.

And brings into our lives. The people. Come to us. To see the door. That is an opened. In our lives.

And we are called. To give that same door. To those around us. To the community. Around us. Just as the woman.

Ran to Sychar. And invited them. To come and meet. This new man. And to hear this message. So they are called.

So we are called. To show. And share. The newness. That Jesus has given to us. The gospel. The gospel. The gospel.

That we have received. In the gospel. Which is our story. Is not. A solo story. It is not a story.

For us to. Go and sit in the corner. It is a story. For us to live. And let those around us. See it.

In our lives. To see. The intensity. In our lives. And the ministry. Which he gives us. And so. The story continues.

And we share. With each other. Because what did Jesus. Said after. After the revival meeting. You might say. As he came. As all. He went. And he healed. All the people.

And he cast out demons. And then it said. Very early. In the morning. While it was still dark. Jesus got up.

He departed. And he went out. To a desolate place. To pray. And they woke up. And they looked. And they said. Oh he is not here. So being good disciples. They said. Let's go find him.

And so. Simon. They went out. And they found him. And Simon said. Hey. Listen. Everybody is out. Looking for you. Another way to say that. And another way to look at that.

Is to say. This newness. That you brought. To us. And our family. The newness. That you gave. To all those. Who came to the door. Is being sought out.

Again. And what did Jesus say to them? Of course. If you look at the text. What does it say? We need to plan a revival meeting.

At your house. Okay. We are going to do that. Right? No. No. That is not what it says. You know that. And they said. Let us go. To the next town. That I may preach there.

For. That is why I came out. And he went throughout. All Galilee. Preaching in their synagogues. And casting out demons. Do you see the progression here?

Jesus operates. In our lives. Gives us the newness. Of the Holy Spirit. And from that. We share.

We share Jesus with those around. And the community around. And from that. It continues to go out. And you know something.

In our Anglican tradition. We recognize. This is a wonderful. Wonderful thing. That we have. Because when we share. When we share Christ.

We know. That there are others. There is a place to go. So you can say. All right. As we come through here. And Jesus speaks new to us. What do we do?

Are we responsible? You know. What do we do? You can say. No wait a minute. I can't just walk around. And preach the gospel. I need to go over here. I need to go over here. Many of us still have jobs.

Many of us have families. We have to work at. We have to look after. But we know. In our Anglican tradition. That we have brothers and sisters. All around us.

In our area. Other congregations. That Jesus is making new. Other groups and people. That he is making new. But unfortunately.

The church again. Has a. This idea. That the gospel. Is a zero sum game. How many times. Have. You heard the comment.

Oh. If this new church. Open up over there. They can't do that. Because we might. Lose. Somebody. You know.

I first joined. Our diocese. I was told. By somebody. In my old diocese. When.

That. When you do a church plant. When you start a new church. Joel. They said. Please. Don't go back. And take any of the parishioners. Or any of the members. From these other congregations.

Don't go reaching. Don't go get them. To start your new church. Why? Because. They're already struggling. For membership. Don't pull. Members now.

See. The church has this. Idea. That. That. The gospel. Of Jesus Christ. Is a zero sum game. That we only have.

A certain number. Of people. And that's it. We can share it. Through this crown. And that's it. There's nobody else. To share it with. My brothers and sisters.

That. Is a heresy. Because. God's gospel. Is an infinite game. Is an infinite game.

Using the term. That Simon Sinek. Titled. His most recent book. Which says what? He said. It's. If we don't. Look at things. From a term.

Of. Win. Or lose. We look at terms. Of. What is our calling? What is our why? Why? And in that.

We can. Do the ministry. That God has given us. The world is full. Of people. Who need.

To be healed. Who need. To hear. The gospel. Who need. To see. The gospel. At work. In us. It is not. A zero sum game. Excuse me.

It is a. God. Expanding. An infinite sum. And God.

Does this. So often. In our lives. But we fail. To react. To it. Think about.

Through church history. Every now and then. There has been. Large. Groups. These great. Revivals. That have happened. That have changed. The world. We can look at.

For example. John Wesley. In. The first great awakening. As it affected. England. And how. His ministry. Also affected. Here.

In the U.S. Here. John Wesley. As mentioned. A couple weeks ago. In the sermon. How God. Changed his heart. In his desire.

To share. Did he stay home? Did he just go. To the latest. Anglican church. And wait for them.

To do something. No. He went out. He went out. And said. Here's people. Who need to hear the gospel. He went. On the highways. And the byways. He went to the factories.

He went to the coal mines. He went. Wherever. There were people. Who needed to hear the gospel. And proclaim the gospel. It is said. That Wesley traveled.

Over 25,000 miles. In the course. Of his preaching. The gospel. And to think about it. He didn't have a car. He did that on.

Horseback. Continually. Talking. Of Christ. Emphasizing. The repentance. In calling upon people.

To repent of their sin. And it is said. That because. Of the ministry. Of John Wesley. And Charles Wesley. That.

The country. Of England. And Great Britain. And everybody there. Did not go. The way. Of. The atrocities. That happened. In France. In the French Revolution. Why?

Because the renewal. Had happened. And it wasn't. Man made. It was God made. Anti-slavery. Societies. Prison reform. Groups. Were formed.

Relief agencies. Took the good news. To the poor. And the people. Who needed to hear it. Numerous. Missionary. Societies. Were formed. Religious. Tract.

Societies. Became the norm. The British. Foreign. Bible. Society. Was established. Hospitals. Came about.

But one man. Took. His faith. Which found. A grounding. In the Methodist. Movement. Of John Wesley.

And went into. The parliament. And through his work. Abolished.

The slave trade. William Wilberforce. Took that same teaching. Took that same faith. He and the clapping step.

Continued to preach. The gospel. All because. They were faithful. For something new. That God did in their life. And they continued. To proclaim it. Do you see the pattern.

That Jesus is giving us here. Peter. He entered. Peter's home. The people came to the door. Jesus is the door. And then he said.

Now I will go out. And preach. And heal. Further on. It didn't change. Right there.

In the house. He continued. And continued. And continued. We can look at here. Recently. In the United States. In 1906.

The Azusa Street Revival. Happened. Because a preacher. Was going to Los Angeles. And he wanted to get with a group. And they were going to pray.

For a move of God. And they began to pray. And they did. And they prayed. And they prayed. And they prayed. So much so. That when people recognize.

What was happening. The people gathered. At this house. On Bonnie Bray. And it broke. The porch. And collapsed.

And given the wisdom of God. They looked and said. You know. Maybe we need a larger place. And so they moved out. From Bonnie Bray. And they went to Azusa Street. And for the next three years.

God moved. In Azusa Street. Now. For those. Who may not be familiar. With it. This. This. Was a Pentecostal revival.

They started meeting. At the armory. On Azusa Street. Crowds. 300. To maybe 1500 people. Began to meet.

Regularly. For three years. And they went out. From there. And today. We have. Many of the Pentecostal. Denominations. Simply because.

They were faithful. For three years. But what is even more. Responsible. What was. Even more. Amazing. About this revival.

Because they were faithful. To hear. What God's word. This revival. Wasn't just. A bunch of people. With Pentecostal gifts. This is.

1906. To 1909. This were people. These were people. Who were. African Americans. And whites.

Women. And men. Baptists. Methodists. Catholics. Episcopalians. All different denominations.

People. Went. To. Azusa Street. In Los Angeles. And they. Changed. The world. Because. They went.

And met. The door. Do you see. What God's doing here? Do you see. What God is doing. As he's telling us here. In this passage.

Jesus. Jesus entered the house. Healed. Peter's mother. The people. Came. To the door. Then he said. Let me go.

And continue. To proclaim. The gospel. When. Jesus. Enters our hearts. And lives. In us. And gives us. Something new. We are called. To do the same.

When Jesus said. You shall be my witnesses. In Judea. In Judea. Jerusalem. Judea. Samaria. And to the uttermost ends of the earth.

We never minister alone. We are always ministering. In the power of the Holy Spirit. We rely on his word. And to move forward.

That's our calling. That's our message. That he is giving us here. In the church. The gospel is not a zero sum game. It is an infinite game.

He has people who. We don't know their names. We don't know their circumstances. But right now. In this city.

There are people God wants to meet. God's waiting. They have heard the gospel. They are ready. To accept Jesus. They are ready. To hear something new.

And have God do something new. In their lives. And he's calling us. To go out. And do that. Let us not.

Think. That the gospel is ours. And do nothing. Oh we can't share the gospel. Because that person. Might leave our congregation. We can not.

Spread the church. Spread the gospel. Because they might get up. And leave another church. No. God is calling us.

To recognize in the power. In the ever expanding power. Of the gospel. To take. His good news. To enter.

To enter. Other people's homes. Take their hand. And raise them up. To let the fever.

Of sin. Be removed. From them. In the power. Of the Holy Spirit. And. Walk. In the power. In the newness. Of God. That's what he's calling us to.

Let's renew our hearts. Renew our hearts. Renew our mind. And remember. That the gospel. Is not. A simple box.

The gospel. Is ever. Ever. Ever. Ever. Expanding. Because he has given us. A wonderful message. Forgiveness of sins.

Something. A solution. To a problem. That man cannot solve. But Jesus. Has solved. Let's do that. Let's.

Embrace. A new. That newness. That Jesus has given. In our lives. In our families lives. In the congregations lives. But above all.

In. The city. And all around us. Jesus is calling us. With those words. To do that. Let me go. And proclaim the gospel.

To those. I've called. To do so. Let us pray. Oh gracious.

Heavenly Father. Father. You give us. Your word. You give us. Your power. You give us. The newness. And the power. Of the Holy Spirit. To take your message.

To the lost. And Father. We just pray now. A special anointing. Upon each. And every individual. Here. That you will give us. And renew us. New hearts.

New life. You will not. Be ashamed. Of the gospel. Because it is the power of God. Salvation to all. Who believe. Let us go forth from here.

To be your disciples. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.