My grace is enough for you

I usually base my sermons on the gospel each Sunday, but since today Jesus suggests that a prophet is never accepted in his own home town!

… having been born in Willington Quay,  I decided not to explore this gospel, but instead concentrate on a part of our  New Testament lesson, which spoke to me so much more.

Listen again to what St Paul says…

But the Lord said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’

So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can dwell in me.

Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong!

Beautiful words of encouragement and power… from the lips of St Paul. He knew very well what it was to suffer shame and insult, having many times been beaten, stoned, whipped and insulted for the sake of Christ. He knew that God’s power had moved mightily through it all.

He knew, as did the twelve disciples who were sent out by Jesus in today’s gospel, what it was to venture out into the unknown, risking everything, with nothing to give but the good news.

These were the times when one had to rely on God’s power alone, when one’s own abilities and strengths were diminished.

I’ve been saying something very similar to school leavers this week in the schools I’ve visited…to trust in God, and keep our eyes focussed on Jesus, on the kind of way he would have us live, if we want to get to where we’re going.

Only I’ve used a different gospel reading, one that has been very important to me over these last few months. But rather than tell you about it, let me tell you this story, exactly as I told it to them this week. I’ve even brought my props.

(produce a large empty wallpaper sample book to represent the prow of the fishing boat)

Story of Peter walking on the water.

It goes something like this…

So Jesus said to his disciples,

‘Look you go on ahead, get in the boat and go across to the other side of the lake.  I’ll follow you later. O.K.

And off he went into the hills to pray, once the crowd had gone.

When evening came, Jesus looked out over the lake, and he could see the boat the disciple’s were in. It was being tossed about on the waves because the wind was against it.

We know that between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. Jesus went out to meet them, WALKING ON THE WATER!

The disciples got the shock of their lives. They thought it was a ghost! Well wouldn’t you?

They began yelling, ‘Aaaagh!’

Jesus said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid! It’s only me!

Peter said, ‘Lord if it’s really really you, tell me to come to you on the water!

‘Come’ Jesus said.

Now you might think that’s very brave of Peter, but I think he was very nervous.

I wonder if he got out quickly, or hesitantly, I wonder if it took him ages to pluck up the courage.

I think it went like this.

(stand behind prow of the boat)

I’m coming Lord.

Well come on then.

My foot is out of the boat, I’m coming. (lift one foot up)

OK so put your foot on the water.

It’s on the water! (place it on the floor, keep weight in the boat)

No, put your weight on that foot, the water will hold you up.

EEEEH I don’t believe it! (foot down)

Now the other foot.

That’s not so easy Lord!

Yes it is, trust me, you’ll be fine.

No I won’t!

Now let go of the boat Peter,

Like this! (keep toehold on the boat)

Good but one of your toes is still in the boat!

I’m frightened! (cling onto boat with hands)

Don’t look down, keep your eyes on me!

But the water’s very deep Lord.

Walk Peter, keep walking, you’re doing it! (begin to walk)

Am I? AAAAGH!

No don’t go back, turn round look at me!

It’s wonderful, what’s that, no! the waves they’re high, the wind’s too powerful HEEEELLLPPP!

Look at me!

I’m sinking! (begin sinking)

No you’re not. I’ve got a hold of you!

Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.

You need more faith Peter. Why did you doubt?

They both climbed into the boat and the waves died down.

When we venture out for God, the safest place they say, is right in the centre of his will.

When moving forward to do something for God, we find that the that the very first step is so hard to take! It takes real courage!

Probably the most difficult thing is letting go of something or some place where you feel absolutely safe and secure and loved.

 Another difficulty is to focus on Jesus and the way he has told us is the best way to live our lives. The temptation is to fear and doubt whether God is with you at all and that he has a purpose for you.

God’s grace… the love he has shown us in Christ Jesus, his ability to lift us up and lead us on, his power at work in us and through us….is ENOUGH. It’s all we need for the journey! If we keep our eyes upon him.

There are massive challenges for us as Christians in today’s world.

…not to remain in positions which are mismatches for us…….

…not to get stuck in ruts and be afraid to move forward or change direction

…not to ignore a clear calling because of fear or put it off indefintely

…not to put gifts on hold that are meant to be used…

…not to be afraid to pray to be empowered by the Holy Spirit in WHICHEVER way God chooses.

not to spend our lives imitating other people’s ministries instead of seeking and discovering who we are meant to be in Christ.

(A person who once inherited his father’s business once suddenly realised that all his life he’d been trying to be his dad, and his gifts were not the same as his dad’, nor his drive!

That’s a great compliment to this man’s father, but a tragedy not to discover oneself.)

It’s a question of reaching out and then trusting.

Henri Nouwen once wrote about some trapeze artists who became good friends of his, and they told him that there is a very special relationship between the flyer and the catcher.

(This doesn’t surprise me, I would want to have a good relationship with my catcher if I were a flyer. I would want him to like me a lot!)

As the flyer is swinging high above the crowds, the moment comes when he must let go of the trapeze, when he arcs out into the air. For that moment, which must feel like an eternity, the flyer is suspended in nothingness. It’s too late to reach back for the trapeze. There is no going back. At that point it’s too soon to be grasped by the one who will catch him. He cannot accelerate the catch. His job is to be as still and motionless as he can.

The flyer must never try and catch the catcher, the trapeze artist told Nouwen.  He must wait in absolute trust. The catcher will catch him. But he must wait. His job is not to flail about in anxiety. In fact if he does it will kill him. His job is to be still and wait. And to wait is the hardest work of all.

Yes there will be fear in stepping out of a boat, but when it really is God’s will it can be an exhilarating journey. Peter sank, but he knew empowerment, the absolute glory of being caught up and walking on water.

I wonder what does the boat signifies for each of us as we are sitting here today?

I wonder what it means for us to step out of that boat?

When was the last time we took a serious compassion risk?

It could be something as simple as sharing your faith with someone you know, who doesn’t even know you are a Christian !

It could be that you’re holding back on striking up a conversation or making a gesture of friendship with someone.

It could be a chat to someone you’ve never spoken to yet in all the years you’ve attended this church.

It could a commitment to more community work, such as helping with the Walking With project Ian spoke to us about last week.

Where God calls, God gifts it says in a book I’ve just been reading..

It goes on to say

Your new commitment may mean hours of work and effort~ Will you do it?

It may mean no recognition, wealth or influence~can you let that go?

Your dream may turn to disappointment~ can you persist?

People may disapprove of you or even block what you try to do~ can you endure?

Can you be patient if you see no immediate results in what you do~ will you be patient?

A true calling out onto open water is about something we are willing to do for God, it may even be something difficult, it may involve suffering, humility. It may involve learning to trust in a strength beyond our own resources.

Are we prepared to spend time listening to what that call may be, if we don’t know it all ready?

We all have weaknesses, and it’s good that that is so, because then we are able to acknowledge that it is indeed God’s power that carries us through, and not something we can boast in doing ourselves. It is God’s strength we will rely upon.

Whatever our weakness, God will make us strong .

Whatever the outcome of our sinking and stumbling on our journey as Christians, God’s good will come out of it, if our hearts have been all for him.

My prayer for you all here at Church of the Good Shepherd as I move on in faith, is that you remain faithful to your calling here in this church, and that you become adventurous and bold for Christ’s sake, that the good news of the gospel become known here in this area, and that you will all put your whole weight and support behind Janet, your new priest and leader chosen for this place by God’s hand.

May God bless you all, and may you come to know that grace which is sufficient for you as you continue your Christian journey.