I COULDN’T KEEP IT TO MYSELF!

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SCRIPTURE

Mark 7:24-37 (NRSV)
Christ heals a little girl and a deaf man

From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." But she answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Then he said to her, "For saying that, you may go - the demon has left your daughter." So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."



SERMON

Being a good evangelist, I see the work of evangelism all over today’s gospel reading! In two separate instances we see how Jesus is at work, moving in the lives of the most unlikely people, to bring good news to those in need.

So, what is it that we can learn about evangelism from today’s scripture reading? Well, the first thing that I learned is that we are always to be on the lookout for where Jesus might be at work next!

Scripture records that Jesus was in the region of Tyre and that he was “hiding-out” in the house of a friend. Mark says, “Jesus did not want anyone to know that he was there.” We don’t know why Jesus entered that house to hide from others, but perhaps he needed some good old fashioned Rest & Relaxation. After all, Jesus was always busy, preaching, teaching, healing, praying, and delivering people from evils known and unknown.

Well, before Jesus could get in the house good and put his stuff in the drawers here comes a Gentile woman begging for him to heal her daughter who is afflicted by a demon. Good grief!

Can you just imagine? Who was this woman that she knew so much about Jesus? What was it that kept her from going to a healer in her own community? When did she come to be on the lookout for Jesus? How did she know where Jesus was, when so many others did not? And why did she think that Jesus would help her?

It seems to me that scripture leaves more questions than answers in regards to this Gentile woman. All that we know for sure is that she was on the lookout for Jesus and that although Jesus was trying to keep his appearance in the region on the down low, he was not able to escape the notice of this desperate mother.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be on the lookout for the move of God just like that! I want to be so attuned to the move of Spirit that when Spirit blows left, I’m there! When Spirit blows right, I’m there! When Spirit ascends up a hill, I’m there and when Spirit descends into the valley, I’m right there!

I want to be the type of Christian that is so attuned to the work of God, that God is unable to “escape my notice.”

I once read Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life and in it he says something like, “We ought not to pray, ‘God bless what I am doing, rather we should pray God let me do what you are blessing!’”

Hallelujah!

That one phrase fundamentally changed how I pray and how I do ministry! I realized that my job as a Christian is to be on the lookout for the work of God all around me and to get along side of Spirit helping, lifting, praying, and believing as I am led.

In all things, we are to remember that ministry is God’s work and if God chooses to use our hands, feet, mouth, brains, or hearts to discharge God’s work of Love in the Earth, so be it!

And this brings me to the second thing that I learned from today’s gospel reading. God is often at work in the most unexpected places!

As Christians, it is imperative that we do not allow our personal prejudice to get in the way of the work that God wants to do—in and through—us! Scripture says that the woman who came to Jesus was a Gentile of Syrophoenician origin.

Now, we know how Jewish people felt about Gentiles, right? And we remember that Jesus was a Jewish man socialized in the ways of the Jewish community…

So, initially, for reasons unknown to us, and only known to Spirit, Jesus reacted to the woman in the way that his community had taught him, calling the Gentile woman a dog and declaring that his healing virtue was for Jews first.

But, when the Gentile woman courageously spoke Truth to Power, pushing back against his discriminatory and inflammatory words, I imagine that just Jesus smiled and flew into action appreciating her great faith in the Law of Love.

See, the Gentile woman understood that the Law of Love demands that all of God’s children be treated equally and fairly. The Law of Love tears down the walls of discrimination, segregation, and hate. The Law of Love dictates that all of God’s people--red, yellow, black, and white--be recipients of the good news message that Jesus saves and He saves to the utmost!

When Jesus healed the daughter of that Gentile woman her good news testimony must have taken root and spread throughout her entire community! And when Jesus healed the deaf and mute man, the same thing must have been the consequence.

See, when we are on the lookout for Spirit, we will often be called to work in the most unlikely of places! We will be inspired to work amongst the least of these in our communities. We will be led into places and communities that we otherwise would never have gone to. For Scripture teaches us that God cares passionately about the outcast, the socially unacceptable, and the so-called dregs of our society.

On most job applications the following affirmative action statement is usually present. It reads, “We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, color, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.”

I believe that The Church of Jesus is called to proclaim the same message. WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE!

All of God’s children are welcome to come to Jesus, just as they are, and receive the good news of God’s salvation, love, care, and healing which is for all people!

I am always profoundly disturbed when I walk into a church that is segregated by race and/or class! I am always disappointed when I notice that everyone in a congregation looks, acts, smells, talks, and worships in the same way.

Uniformity in any Christian congregation begs the question, “Where are the least of these?”

Where are the non-Christians? Where are the disabled? Where are the drug and alcohol addicted? Where are the people of color? Where are the prostitutes? Where are the homeless who sleep under the bridge at night? Where are the folks with HIV and AIDS? Where are the people who have been convicted of felony crimes? Where are the least of these—the folks pushed to the margins, who make their homes outside of our camps, who face discrimination on a daily basis? Where are the folks who are truly desperate for Jesus?

This last question, leads me to my final lesson from today’s scripture. For today, I am reminded that Jesus is inviting us to walk through the open door of opportunity, where God is at work, and where we can zealously proclaim, the astonishing good news, that Jesus has done all things well!

When Jesus healed the deaf and mute man, scripture records that Jesus, “took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.”

Wow! My holy ghost inspired imagination is truly captured by God’s simple command “Be Opened.”

And I can hear still hear that command ringing in the air today. I believe that God is saying be open to new experiences. Be open to a new season in the life of your church. Be open to new people. Be open to new partnerships. Be open to new opportunities to bring the good news to people in need of it! BE OPEN SAINTS OF GOD!

See, when Jesus healed the deaf and mute man, Jesus ordered him and his friends to tell no one what had been accomplished for them!

But, scripture says that the more Jesus ordered people to be silent, the more zealously they proclaimed the astounding good news that Jesus does all things well! They simply could not keep the good news to themselves!

Wow! So today, I ask you, what is it that you are zealous about? Today we are reminded that as Christians we ought to be zealous about sharing the astounding good news that God loves, gave, and saves!

God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. Doesn’t God do all things well?

God is so powerful that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected on the third day just like he promised! Doesn’t God do all things well?

God is so awesome that on the day of Pentecost God sent the Holy Spirit to teach us all that we needed to remember to share good news effectively. Doesn’t God do all things well?

God cares for us so much that God extends to us love, joy, peace, hope for the future, and an attitude of gratitude. Doesn’t our God do all things well?

God protects us so much that God saves us from dangers seen and unseen, heals our bodies, reconciles our relationships, and makes provision for our every need. Doesn’t God do all things well, my friends?!

I could go on and on, but I know that you have your own bold testimonies about how God keeps you healthy, happy, holy, and whole for our God does all things well!

As Christians it is our honor and our duty to be on the lookout for where God is at work and to work at God’s side without respect for persons, casting aside our prejudices and declaring with great zeal, “Our God does all things well!”

As we share this good news message, Jesus will become truly famous within our spheres of influence and we will be blessed to see our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even our enemies come running asking, “What must I do to be saved?”

Now, ain’ta that good news?!

In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we pray, Amen.



INVITATION

There may be someone who is listening today, who is ready to declare for the first time, “My God does all things well.” If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, won’t you please pray with me?

Holy God, thank you that you are constantly at work in my life. I am sorry for the many times I have missed the move of Spirit working to bring me love, joy, and peace. Today, I am putting all of my hope in Jesus. I believe that you love me so much that you gave Jesus to die on the cross to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life. I know that Jesus did not stay dead, but he was resurrected on the third day just like He promised that he would. Today, I can say with great zeal, “You do all things well!” This is good news in my life, and I simply cannot keep it to myself. I pledge to share good news with others everywhere I go and I pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.


SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday, my friend! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!

Peace be with you all and thanks for listening to GOOD NEWS LIVING with Pastor Yolanda.

*For my readers—Won’t you please click “yes” in the poll located at the top right-hand corner of this blog? Did God save you today? YES! http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/