Over and Under, Around and Through
Blake Heffner July 30th, 2006
Over and Under, Around and Through
Bulletin Insert: Promises of God’s Presence and Providence
1. Over
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” Isaiah 55:8-9
See also: Psalm 145:3 Job 5:9 Romans 11:33-36
2. Under
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.” Isaiah 54:10
See also: Psalms 27 and 46 Hebrews 12:28
3. Around
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good… The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry… The lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34
See also: Psalm 145 Isaiah 43:1-5
4. Through
“Who then can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death? No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! Fro I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death, nor life, …neither the present nor the future – there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8
See also: Jeremiah 29:11-13 Ephesians 1:3-14
“Over and Under, Around and Through”
Sermon by Pastor Blake Heffner - July 30, 2006
Texts: Psalm 145 Romans 8
INTRO Question: How easy is it for you to talk about God? You see a co-worker who is hurting; you know neighbor is going through a rough time – you want to reach out to them… But, how many of us have the facility to talk to them about the Lord? My guess is precious few of us. I know I feel inadequate.
So, this message is geared for me and anyone else who may like me – who want to share God’s love with others but find it dreadfully intimidating. Somewhere in our childhood we all learned how to tie our shoes. At least most of us. Kids today, with all the Velcro can possibly survive without the skill. But anyway, most of us were taught a little jingle: “over and under, around and through.” If you can remember that jingle, and connect it to Psalm 145, you’ve got a handle for talking about some of the most precious nuggets of God’s Word.
1. Over
How often is someone around us – at work or even at home – downcast, discouraged and maybe even depressed. That person may tell you; “I can’t make any sense of God! I try to read the Bible and just can’t seem to understand it.”
What can you say to that person? Well, you might want to begin by affirming them right where they are: “Yeh, God is really over our heads, we can never fully understand his thoughts or ways.” That’s biblical. The psalmist, wrote in awe: “God, no one can fathom your greatness!” Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God says: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you ways my ways! As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8)
If someone is completely confused about God, that may be a good starting point. It is much harder for the Lord to get through to someone who thinks she’s got all the answers! We often can’t explain how or why God acts as God does. The psalmist suggests that we simply focus on “what God has done” – just recount real experiences (145:4-5): “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your might acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.”
You and I can tell that person who is downcast about what God has done in the past with people who were in the pits – like Joseph who was literally thrown into one by his brothers. It’s good to tell bible stories, but it is even better to share something in the first person: how the Lord responded when you were in a pit and cried out to him! We need to put the good news into real, concrete terms!
2. Under
The mudslides in California offer a vivid picture of how one’s whole life can come apart in just moments. Perhaps you know someone for whom the earth has been shaken beneath their feet - someone who has been rocked by a severe diagnosis, or a pink slip, or a relationship problem. They are anxious and afraid. Maybe they can’t sleep or eat.
What can we say or do in such a situation? Definitely do not try to give glib answers to complicated questions. What we can and should to do is offer words of faith and hope. The Bible is full of such words, like these from Isaiah: “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.” Even when our world is rattled, God offers a firm foundation.
We are familiar with Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” It is based on Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” The question is – when we discover a friend who’s been rattled, can we tell them about that mighty fortress in our own lives? Can we relate how, when we were in a time of great anguish, the Lord gave us peace and serenity and strength? Although the Lord is over us, he is also a solid rock under our feet, a refuge in Whom we can find safe shelter during life’s storms.
3. Around
Have you ever fallen completely flat on your face – made total mess of things? It is in such times that we discover the Lord is also around us. Psalm 34 paints a marvelous picture of this: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the person who takes refuge in him… The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears area attentive to their cry… The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Actually, there is an advantage in being completely broken, so far down that there is no other way but up. When we have used up all our own strength and ingenuity, then we are in a position to hear the good news, turn to the Lord and put our hope in him. And that’s precisely when we discover the angel of the Lord has been camping around us all along, and the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. Moreover, “[he] is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love… The Lord picks up all those who fall; he lifts up those who are bowed down” in humility and shame.
When we encounter someone who is broken, are we willing and able to tell them how gracious and merciful the Lord has been to us? How when we failed, the Lord heard our cry for help. He forgave our sins and took away our sense of guilt and shame. As disciples of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit empowers us to express his amazing grace and forgiveness to each other. Our lives should be the clearest illustrations that the Lord is truly around us and among us.
4. Through
Some of us are just plain worn out. We can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. The daily grind is burning us out – so much so that even weekends away from it all do not restore our enthusiasm and energy for living. We are running on empty, we aren’t sure whether we will ever find a sense of fulfillment or satisfaction. This often leads to despair and self-destructive behavior.
Maybe you came here this morning feeling that Jesus Christ might as well be on some other galaxy; because he doesn’t seem very real to you. Maybe, despite his promise to be with us always, you feel very much alone and adrift. If that’s so, listen! The Lord, has made a remarkable promise to you and me through the prophet Jeremiah (29:11-13): “I have plans for you – plans to prosper you and give you a future and a hope. When you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Friends, God is not only over us, under us, and around us. God has plans for us that transcend this world. These plans include an abundant and fulfilling life here and now, and a glorious eternal life with God and the communion o saints in heaven. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and trust him as our Lord, we are guaranteed this inheritance. God has promised to carry us through our present trials and beyond them.
The Apostle Paul was so convinced of this truth that he willingly endured persecution, punishment and imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. While a prisoner, he declared that nothing can separate us from the love of God, absolutely nothing at all. When God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, we are able to conquer every and any obstacle. And we can share this victorious perspective with others who live without hope.
Let’s close our reflection this morning by reading this remarkable proclamation together…
The funny thing is that I never quite got that over and under, around and through stuff. As a boy of 3 or 4, I heard the jingle, saw the illustration, and went away and to practice. And, I came up with a knot that is just a little different. But it worked and I never really learned “the usual method.”
That’s what I want to say about God-talk too. You may not remember any of this by tomorrow morning. You don’t need a formula to talk about God. Just be genuine and caring. If you are willing to talk about God in your own words, using your own experiences whenever possible, the Lord will bless your conversation. Remember, wherever two or three are gathered in his name, Jesus is there! That is what someone right around you may need to hear. And if you feel you don’t have enough experience with the living God, then you’ve come to the right place. Get to know the Lord better by reading his Word – begin with the psalms as we did today. Just meditate on them and pray them back to God. You’ll be surprised how quickly the Lord speaks to you and begins to shape your life. Let us pray…
Prayer
Heavenly Father, kindle a flame within us as the psalmist had who wrote: “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name… You are great and most worthy of praise. Indeed, no one can fathom your greatness! And yet, we can tell of your mighty acts, your wonderful, awesome works among us.
Lord you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Have mercy on us, forgive us for falling away from you and getting so involved in our own agendas. Wake us up. Fill us with your Spirit of love and joy and peace. Help us to share the great gifts of faith with those around us – so that others may know you are near to all who call.
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