That’s it right there…these words from John’s vision…
in the book of Revelation…right there…the very reason we rouse ourselves out of our comfort zones…
the reason we speak out…against injustice and bigotry even when our neighbours might laugh at us…the reason we’re prepared to make sacrifices
in the book of Revelation…right there…the very reason we rouse ourselves out of our comfort zones…
the reason we speak out…against injustice and bigotry even when our neighbours might laugh at us…the reason we’re prepared to make sacrifices
Right there in those words…
‘a new heaven and a new earth…a new Jerusalem…
the home of God is among mortals…
they’ll be his peoples…and God himself will be with them he’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. No more death no more; mourning and crying and pain … no more
they’ll be his peoples…and God himself will be with them he’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. No more death no more; mourning and crying and pain … no more
And the one who’s seated on the throne says,
"See, I am making all things new.’ [pause]
"See, I am making all things new.’ [pause]
There it is…the reality all creation is headed for…
God’s intentions…God’s purposes… fulfilled.
God’s intentions…God’s purposes… fulfilled.
And everything we do… as individuals and as a church every action we take…every choice we make…
consistent with God’s purpose…is a pro-phe-tic act
I’d like our church family to be known as a prophetic community…I’d like the people of Wanaka …to say…
‘hey you know those people…who worship there in that church on Tenby St…well…guess what…
they’re a prophetic community…
‘hey you know those people…who worship there in that church on Tenby St…well…guess what…
they’re a prophetic community…
And when their friends ask, ‘what the heck does that mean?’
If they have any understanding of biblical prophecy… they’d reply…’well it’s not about predicting what’s gonna happen on October 9 two thousand and seventy two…
it’s not about fortune telling…
If they have any understanding of biblical prophecy… they’d reply…’well it’s not about predicting what’s gonna happen on October 9 two thousand and seventy two…
it’s not about fortune telling…
No they’d say…Biblical ‘prophecy’s...
about proclaiming the absolute future of God...
about speaking God’s purposes into the present.
In Matthew Mark and Luke…Jesus teaches…
the ‘Kingdom of God is at hand’…in John’s gospel… it’s having ‘eternal life’…it’s the earthly realization…
of the love of God dwelling among a people…
about proclaiming the absolute future of God...
about speaking God’s purposes into the present.
In Matthew Mark and Luke…Jesus teaches…
the ‘Kingdom of God is at hand’…in John’s gospel… it’s having ‘eternal life’…it’s the earthly realization…
of the love of God dwelling among a people…
wrapped up in the life of a particular community.
In the Bible…prophets are commissioned by God…
to speak and act…and interpret what’s happening in the world…in the light of God’s purposes for their community and the whole of humanity.’[i]
Their prophetic lifestyle’s about listening for the voice of God…and focusing the Word of God on the present.
That’s the defining feature of prophecy. [pause]
In the Bible…prophets are commissioned by God…
to speak and act…and interpret what’s happening in the world…in the light of God’s purposes for their community and the whole of humanity.’[i]
Their prophetic lifestyle’s about listening for the voice of God…and focusing the Word of God on the present.
That’s the defining feature of prophecy. [pause]
Moses was called by God…to speak God’s plan for the Hebrew people into their own experience…
to announce their freedom from slavery...and their covenant journey to the Promised Land…to speak into their lives… God’s call for them to be a ‘light to all nations’… to be a prophetic community…in the world.
to announce their freedom from slavery...and their covenant journey to the Promised Land…to speak into their lives… God’s call for them to be a ‘light to all nations’… to be a prophetic community…in the world.
Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel…and others in their turn
…spoke God’s purposes into the lives of the Jewish people…
And Jesus identifies himself as a prophet sent by God…
a first century Palestinian Jew living among Jews…
sent to interpret their lives as an oppressed people under Temple corruption and Roman rule. Jesus speaks and acts into their experience…in light of God’s purposes for them…for shalom…for peace and well-being for all
a first century Palestinian Jew living among Jews…
sent to interpret their lives as an oppressed people under Temple corruption and Roman rule. Jesus speaks and acts into their experience…in light of God’s purposes for them…for shalom…for peace and well-being for all
…even their so called enemies. [pause]
But prophets are never puppets…
everything depends on their obedience…on their ‘yes’
everything depends on their obedience…on their ‘yes’
to God. In the wilderness Jesus’ makes his choice…
to serve God alone. And later in the synagogue in Nazareth he explains the implications
to serve God alone. And later in the synagogue in Nazareth he explains the implications
of such a choice…quoting the prophet Isaiah
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he’s anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He’s sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free…
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.
There’s a strong sense… in which Jesus identity as prophet… is the core of our calling as his followers.
And when we choose to identify together…
as a prophetic community…then we ask ourselves… whose need is crying out for our prophetic response? What choices can we make…to shape a world
more in line with God’s purposes?
as a prophetic community…then we ask ourselves… whose need is crying out for our prophetic response? What choices can we make…to shape a world
more in line with God’s purposes?
In what concrete and particular ways… can we
bear witness… to God’s purposes in our community…
as Jesus did and the prophets before him?
bear witness… to God’s purposes in our community…
as Jesus did and the prophets before him?
If Biblical prophesy is our model…then our words and actions won’t be all fluffy clouds and angles on harps \…otherworldly…ours will be more like Jesus…
words and actions that relate God’s purposes to
everyday reality in this world: to farming and baking, and shepherding or tax collecting; to parenting and hospitality, to travelling and building houses, borrowing and lending, marrying, giving birth, and dying.
words and actions that relate God’s purposes to
everyday reality in this world: to farming and baking, and shepherding or tax collecting; to parenting and hospitality, to travelling and building houses, borrowing and lending, marrying, giving birth, and dying.
In Jesus teaching and actions… he proclaimed the Kingdom of God into his present reality…and against the norms of culture and politics and religion.
And if Jesus prophetic ministry is our model…
then we’d be calling our whole community to prophetic action … Jesus wanted participation…Jesus asked his hearers to make a choice… ‘Who do you think showed himself to be a good neighbour to the one left on the roadside by thieves? What would that vineyard owner do to those wicked tenants? Should the last shift workers have gotten paid as much as the first ones? [pause]
Jesus isn’t looking for pat answers to these questions
then we’d be calling our whole community to prophetic action … Jesus wanted participation…Jesus asked his hearers to make a choice… ‘Who do you think showed himself to be a good neighbour to the one left on the roadside by thieves? What would that vineyard owner do to those wicked tenants? Should the last shift workers have gotten paid as much as the first ones? [pause]
Jesus isn’t looking for pat answers to these questions
…Jesus is looking for action… ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand…an alternate reality is already here…choose it!
Decide on a life that bears witness to God’s grace and compassion… act in ways that bring about God’s purposes of Shalom…of peace with justice and mercy
Decide on a life that bears witness to God’s grace and compassion… act in ways that bring about God’s purposes of Shalom…of peace with justice and mercy
…choose to be part of God’s dream for all creation. [pause]
You know…much as it sounds out of date to us…
Jesus used the word “kingdom” for a reason…when he says the Kingdom of God is at hand.
Since two different kingdoms can’t operate in the same place at the same time…by naming the reality he was sent to bring about… a ‘kingdom’…
Jesus is invalidating all other principalities and powers
Jesus used the word “kingdom” for a reason…when he says the Kingdom of God is at hand.
Since two different kingdoms can’t operate in the same place at the same time…by naming the reality he was sent to bring about… a ‘kingdom’…
Jesus is invalidating all other principalities and powers
…and in particular…the violent domination of the Roman Empire and the slick corruption of the religious authorities.
Jesus was inviting whoever would listen…
to live in a new kingdom…one governed by the inclusion of outsiders and sinners, and ruled by compassion love and justice…
a kingdom where only God is sovereign…
not Caesar…not the Temple authorities…nor
Jesus announces a kingdom… radically different from the two-tiered world… in which a small minority controls almost all the resources…while the vast majority… teeters on the edge of destitution. [pause]
And two thousand years later… we’re called to prophetic witness right here…in our own present reality…
in our own community…beneath these mountains and beside these lakes…
But sometimes … in our plenty and privilege
don’t we use living here…as an excuse to avoid such actions…don’t we sometimes say…
in our own community…beneath these mountains and beside these lakes…
But sometimes … in our plenty and privilege
don’t we use living here…as an excuse to avoid such actions…don’t we sometimes say…
‘Oh…but the injustice and suffering of in the rest of the world seems so far away…so difficult for us to do anything about… prophetic acts aren’t really an option for us… what possible prophetic choices could we make. [pause]
Well…one choice is right there in your hands… even your cup of coffee after church could be a prophetic act.
Well…one choice is right there in your hands… even your cup of coffee after church could be a prophetic act.
Today kicks off Fair Trade Fortnight in New Zealand… when our churches are encouraged
to focus on the benefits of just and fair trading practises
for the farmers and makers of the goods we consume.
Next time we go to the shop…we’re encouraged to swap just one item in our grocery basket…for one which will actually improve the wellbeing of producer families and their communities.
A product which bears the fair trade logo which guarantees a better deal for third world countries.
It’s my conviction…every time we choose a fair trade product…we’re taking a powerful prophetic action … which bears witness to God’s purposes for humanity … a prophetic choice that injects the values of the Kingdom of God… into our everyday… here and now. [pause]
As followers of Jesus…we hold to the hope
spoken out by the prophets…for a renewed and transformed world…where all humankind lives in harmony with one other and with God.
Where the impact of human selfishness and greed…
is no longer felt. Where there’s no more poverty; no more war; no more sickness…no more death.
spoken out by the prophets…for a renewed and transformed world…where all humankind lives in harmony with one other and with God.
Where the impact of human selfishness and greed…
is no longer felt. Where there’s no more poverty; no more war; no more sickness…no more death.
When we hold to this future hope…how we live now… is important. It matters. When we choose to buy fair-ly traded products… we make a prophetic statement…
that one day exploitation will cease…poverty will no longer exist… and all humankind will live in just and dignified relationships. [pause]
that one day exploitation will cease…poverty will no longer exist… and all humankind will live in just and dignified relationships. [pause]
Today we live in a post resurrection world…
one where Jesus has committed his prophetic mission to us…called us to “proclaim into the present,” by our words and actions…the absolute future of God...
one where Jesus has committed his prophetic mission to us…called us to “proclaim into the present,” by our words and actions…the absolute future of God...
So it is my prayer that as a faith community we will embody that…as Jesus did…in every choice we make.
"See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away."
And the one who was seated on the throne said,
"See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."
[i] I am grateful to the insights of Sr. Sandra Schneiders http://ncronline.org/news/women/call-response-and-task-prophetic-action
