Title: God’s Plan For the World

Date: 2007-08-05

Reference: Matt. 17: 14-21

"I thought twice about today’s sermon title. I am not so bold as to assume I know God’s mind. In the Bible God said: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

The Scripture does tell us much about God and God’s plan for the world He created. First of all we know God loves us as sons and daughters. Just this week I received the following on the computer. “While praying one day a woman asked ‘who are you Lord.’ He answered ‘I am.’ ‘But who is I Am?’ she asked. And he replied.’I am love, I am peace, I am grace, I am joy, I am the way, truth and the light. I am the comforter. I am strength. I am safety. I am shelter. I am power. I am the creator. I am the beginning and the end. I am the most high.’ With tears in her eyes the woman looked toward heaven and said.’I understand. But who am I?’ Then God whispered, ‘you are mine.’ “

We matter to God. We all matter to God. Whenever anyone of God’s sons or daughters is in need, in trouble, or suffering it breaks God’s heart. We are God’s plan to make the world a better place. Not the government, but you and I.

There is so much need in the world today. Billions of people have never heard the name of Jesus Christ. In his letter to the Romans Paul said: “Before people can ask God to save them they must believe in God. Before they can believe in God they must hear about Him. For them to hear someone must tell them.”

There are 2 million pastors and teachers in the 3rd world today and over half of them have not received any training at all. I’m not talking about college or seminary. Most of these pastors have not had the opportunity to even graduate from Middle School. And yet the fastest growth in our own denomination is in Africa where the Bible is preached without apology. Where people serve one another. There are more United Methodists at worship in the Congo this morning than in all of the United States combined.

Over half the world’s population live on less than $2.00 a day. Many have no skills, job opportunities, or future. They exist without hope. They are hungry, homeless, helpless. Millions of people will die in the next week from disease and starvation that could be prevented. Thousands of children die from curable diseases every day. In some villages in Angola 90% of the children have malaria. Many don’t have access to clean water. 14 million have become orphans due to AIDS. You had the chance to meet some of these children here in our own sanctuary earlier this Summer. This disease and starvation could be prevented. These are conditions no Christian can ignore and not attempt to change. The Bible teaches apathy angers God.

As we look around us we become overwhelmed at the great need we see. And yet God calls us to be involved to do our part in changing the world and making it a better place for all of God’s people. We do what we can and leave the rest to God. Jesus said: “Those things that are impossible for human beings are possible with God.” Jesus also said: “If you have faith no larger than a small seed you can tell a mountain to move from once place to another. Everything would be possible for you.”

Two weeks ago today I attended worship at The First Christian Church in Long Beach California. It wasn’t difficult to select a place of worship. There was only one church left in the neighborhood. Their mission statement said: “We are a downtown church on purpose. We desire to meet people’s spiritual needs in this changing international community. We believe the Bible is still God’s relevant message for the world today.”

As I came into the sanctuary I was warmly greeted by several people. Being the good Methodist I am I seated myself near the back of the church. A worship leader came down and invited me to move forward. There were no more than 30 of us worshiping.Blacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanics. The pastor of the congregation had just passed away after a long battle with cancer. They were grieving his loss. The usher who received the offering and served communion was a man named Raul. Raul had gang tattoos up and down his neck and arms. When he prayed he kept thanking God for mercy. An elderly woman sat off to the side of the sanctuary in her wheelchair. She was a matriarch of the congregation. Both of her legs had been amputated but she came each week to pray for renewal in the church. She remembered when the church had been full of people and her prayer was that the church would again be full.

Some might say this congregation is in desparate shape and maybe it is. I felt the strong presence of God’s Holy Spirit in that place. This congregation was absolutely determined to make a difference in their small corner of the world. They will do what they can and will leave the rest to God.

The congregation also has a Spanish and Cambodian Ministry.

The day before I met a Cambodian Cab driver named Steve Seng. Steve had lost his entire family during the Khmer Rouge terror. Steve loved America and appreciated the opportunities he has here. He is trying hard to learn English and his goal is to learn one new word a day. He told me how lonely he was and how he didn’t have any friends. It is no mistake one day I met a Cambodian man and the next day found a Cambodian Church. I gave Steve’s name to the pastor and asked him to follow up. An example of changing the world one person at a time.

Again we are called to build the church brick by brick. To change the world one kind deed, one prayer, one person at a time. Rather than sitting back and being discouraged at what we cannot do we do what we can trusting Christ to strengthen us in all situations. We have always known it is far better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.

If we have the faith the size of a small seed we can move mountains. Christianity is not a religion or a philosophy. Christianity is a relationship and a lifestyle. The core of that lifestyle is thinking of others and Jesus did.

One way to make a difference is to invest in the future. I was so impressed with the Wototo Children’s Choir and ministry that visited our church earlier in the Summer. As the children of the choir introduced themselves and shared their dreams many of them said they wanted to become pastors. Those children have the luxury of having dreams now because they aren’t living a hand to mouth existence. They aren’t worried about where they will sleep or where their next meal will come from. People like you, who attended the concert have made a difference in their lives.

God doesn’t say I may deliver. I will try to deliver. Perhaps I will deliver. If I feel like it I will deliver. If I’m not too busy I’ll deliver. God has said I will deliver. He who has promised to deliver has the power to do so. And God most often uses the efforts of people who love Him to make the difference.

Our lack of faith keeps God from working through us as He desires to do. In today’s Scripture lesson a distraught father brought his son to the disciples asking them for help. The disciples prayed but found themselves powerless to do anything at all. The father ran to Jesus and begged for his help. Jesus healed the boy. When the disciples asked why they had not been able to heal Jesus said: “It’s because you didn’t have enough faith.” If you had faith the size of a tiny seed you would have been successful. Jesus teaches we have great power available to us, given to us by God. The only thing that keeps the power of God from moving through us and working through us is our lack of faith.

God does not require any one of us to have a great faith. We are called to have faith in a great God. God is always willing and ready to hear from us. The Psalmist said: “Evening, morning, and noon I cry out to God and God hears my voice.

God wants us to stop trying so hard and to start trusting Him with our problems. If we take the focus off the problems and put our focus on God’s promises we move ahead. No matter how hopeless the challenges of life seem God brings hope. The same power that allowed Christ to rise from the dead will allow us to rise above our problems.

When the Apostles in Jerusalem faced serious opposition to their ministry, they didn’t pray for God to stop the opposition. Rather they prayed to God to give them supernatural boldness in the face of opposition. The Bible says God answered their prayers because they trusted in God.

There is so much to do in this world. God’s plan is to use our gifts, faithfulness, and devotion. May we be channels of blessing. People blessed by God to be a blessing."