Fifteenth Sunday of Kingdomtide
Worship Theme: Openness To Life
Proverbs 2:1-8 The Message Bible
James 1:17-27 The Message Bible
Mark 7:31-37 Gods Word Bible
Heart Light by Neil Diamond
An Open Door Life
A reading from the Gospel of Mark. . . chapter 17 verses 31-37 and I will be reading from the Gods Word Bible this morning. . . listen for a Word from God to you and me, the people of God. . . (Read Passage) here ends the reading of the Gospel of Mark. . . thanks be to God.
When I was at Boston University, one of my teachers really wanted to be there for all of their students. They even went as far as to have an “open door policy” with the students. We could come and time and talk with them. We didn’t need an appointment. They were never too busy when they were in their office to take time with their students. This was wonderful. If I had questions or concerns, they were right there to help me through whatever it was that I needed. I was a good feeling to know that I was valued enough for my teacher to take time out of their schedule for me.
We as Christians have an open door offered to us at any moment of the day. . . if we need help. . . or just want to talk to someone who really cares. That open door is with our God and our Savoir Jesus. What an astonishing relationship we can have. The One who created the heavens ad the earth cares about us and wants a relationship with us so much that He has created that open door policy for us. . . the door of prayer that we can access any time, day or night.
But not only does God give us that open door but He wants us to live “An Open-Door Life.” Now everyone needs to have an open door life and this is why. Unless we are open, we cannot receive anything for any one, not even from God. Imagine the blessings we miss because we are living “closed doored” in parts of our lives. . . how many times have we missed out being blessed because we have closed the door on certain people or situations. . . we are blessed in the blessings we give. If we are not open, we become enclosed. . . separated so to speak. . . within ourselves which could lead to self-centeredness, worry, and fear. We become locked up, tense. . . apprehensive. . . anxious. . . uneasy. . . and fearful of life itself.
But the latch to the door. . . our door. . . is on the inside. No one can unlock it but us. . . we hold the key. And the sad part of this is. . . even though God offers us every blessing under the sun, He cannot help us. . . He cannot bless us. . . He cannot wipe away our fears and cares unless we are open to Him. . . unless we let Him in. . . unless we slide the deadbolt of our life into the open position. And once we do. . . O the wonders and blessings there are in our lives.
“An Open Door Life” is open to health. In the Mark Scripture from this morning The people who knew about Jesus. . . were open to His “new type of ministry”. When Jesus cried open as He looked up to heaven, the man was cured. He was able to not only hear but speak. There is healing for those who are open to the miracles that await us.
“An Open Door Life” is open to wisdom. From the Proverbs Scripture this morning, we learn that when we have an open door life with God He gives us wisdom. . . not as the world gives but as the One gives who created wisdom. We are given wisdom, understanding and insight as we open our minds to what God has to tell us. . . as God counsels us in the way we should go. As it has been said “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of understanding. . . of wisdom.” Now not the fear that you have for someone who would hurt you but the fear. . . the reverence. . . the awe. . . the astonishment that we feel for our God and King. . . trusting our God with our lives.
“An Open Door Life” is open to the Word. This is hard sometimes but we are called to be doers and not just hearers of the Word. Having an open door life with God will allow God to use us in ways that we can’t even imagine. But we must be open to what God tells us in His Word because without it. . . without that open door. . . we are the sound of a clanging cymbal or banging drum, there is no beauty in our song. . . there is no rhythm in the dance. We are just the same old words with no meaning. We talk the talk without walking the walk. With an open door life with God we act on what we hear. We don’t bring it to committee for a vote. . . or say “I’ll think about and get back to you God”. . . we trust and act.
As with Jesus, God is there waiting for us to cry open to Him. He can and will open our eyes, our minds, and our vision if we are open to the possibilities that He gives us. We need to be open to God’s vision and closed to our own. Sometimes it’s our own vision that gets in the way of God’s vision for our lives and ministry. Our attitudes are healed and reformed into what the great Creator meant them to be. But we must be open to change in our lives.
By living a life wide open to God, there is such a difference in our lives. We see and act and do differently. It is a life that God had intended from the beginning and he still is reaching with and outstretched arm for us to open our hands and grab hold. Then that light within us will shine with the love and openness of our creator. But that change begins when we slide that deadbolt over. . . when we open the door to the glow. . . the brightness of the “Son”. . . then and only then do we shine as that city on a hill for our Lord and our Savoir. We reflect His light for the whole world to see.
OK. . . this is my analogy for becoming an open door for God now this may take a minute but work with me the ending is astounding. We begin with that closed door. It’s locked and bolted. Our life is dark. The shades are dawn to keep the light out. Then there is a knock on the door. But there is something familiar about that knock. We have heard it before.
So we decide to open the door just a little and in comes a breeze of the Holy Spirit. The fire place that has been cold and dark in the corner begins to glow a little. There is a little bit of light in the corner because of it. The light is warm and inviting so we open the door even more.
As we open the door the ambers in the fire place of our heart becomes a blaze in the wind of the Spirit. Next thing you know you begin to open the blinds and are able to see outside. The next thing that happens is that you open the windows to let the breeze from outside come in filling your heart with the smell of Spring. . . the smell of love. . . the smell of grace. At this point there is no turning back. You love the feel of your “newly aired out home” and begin to warm yourself by the fire. That fire begins to change your heart and you yourself begin to glow with the love of God. You are on fire for God with an unquenchable flame. You become and open conduit. . . a means of expression. . . a channel. . . an instrument of the Holy Spirit touching the world around you.
Be loved church. . . as Neil Diamond would say “This is your “Heart Light”. . . it is what makes you. . . what helps you to be that open door for God and live that “Open Door Life”. Are there places within you that are still locked from the healing grace of God? Are there places that are dead bolted from the Wisdom of God? Do you need to be open to God’s Word to move from exclusionary living to inclusionary living? Open the door of your heart to the One who gives love, wisdom, grace and healing. Open your mind to the possibilities that God has placed before you. Open your life to health and healing. Turn on your heart light, let is shine wherever you. Let it make a happy glow for all the world to see. Turn on your heart light today!
Amen!
September 9, 2012
Worship Theme: Openness to Life
Mark 7:31-37(God’s WORD Translation Bible)
Proverbs 2:1-8 (The Message Bible)
James 1:17-27 (The Message Bible)
Call to Worship (Worship & Song ©2011)
Unison Prayer (Worship & Song ©2011)
Pastoral Prayer by Pastor Ruth Foss
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23)
Message for children
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon – “An Open Door Life!”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
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Suncook, NH
September 9, 2012
Fifteenth Sunday of Kingdomtide
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