Called!

9.30am Sunday 23 December 2007

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-16; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

 

+Welcome, Notices, *Light Candle, Prayer

(Service takes the form of an interview with Isaiah)

Des: It has been a great privilege having you read from your prophetic book over this Advent period, and we appreciate your willingness to be resurrected to share in these services. You have written a very impressive part of our Bible. One scholar has described your work as "the theological high water mark of the whole Old Testament."[1] I would call it the Mt Everest of the Old Testament. There are some wonderful passages that continue to inspire and encourage us today, and there are also some tough messages that must have been hard to share but which God's people needed to hear. Tell us a little about your role as a prophet back in the eighth century? How important was it for God's people to have someone like you around?

Peter: You could say that my role was to be the conscience of the people. All the prophets in the Bible had that job and it was critical to the well being of Israel and Judah. There were three things in particular that we did:-

First, we constantly reminded the people that God is the centre of all of life, that he was, and still is, the 'key player' in their destiny as a nation. They were inclined to forget that. They constantly needed reminding that God is in control, He hadn't deserted them - particularly when they were going through tough times. As you'll hear from my reading on Christmas Day that message is still relevant for you here today "Your God Reigns".

Secondly, we came to speak of the new order God would establish, one in which there would be justice, righteousness and peace. Those three things would mean that all people would be fairly treated, they would gladly do all that God required and would be reconciled to God, to one another and to creation itself.

Thirdly, the new order would embrace all the nations of the world - not just Israel. God always had that much greater purpose in mind. Remember in Genesis 12 He promised Abraham "that all peoples on earth will be blessed through you".

Des: Wow! This is amazing! You mean that there will come a day when people from every nation, tribe, people and language will praise God. No wonder you call it 'good news!'[2] I'm sure we have a song about that.

Sing "Ancient of Days"

Des: I could imagine you being really excited about it, particularly after Jerusalem had been burnt, the temple destroyed and the people taken into exile in Babylon. It must have been a wonderful experience bringing hope and comfort to people. It would be interesting know where it all began for you. The theme for our service on this fourth Sunday in Advent is "Called." Perhaps you could tell us a little about how you were called into this ministry?

Peter: It was in 740 BC - the final year of the reign of King Uzziah. I was in the temple when I saw a vision of the Lord our God - seated on a throne and the light from His robe filled the whole temple! Above Him were seraphs - not angels. Seraphs are God's special messengers who use heat and fire to convey their message. They each had six wings - two to cover their face, two to cover their feet and two to fly with. They were worshipping God and singing "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory". The whole temple shook and was filled with smoke!

At first, I was terrified - just to be in the presence of God and all I could think of was how unworthy I was and how everything that came out of my lips was unclean. I spoke just like the people I lived with. I thought I was doomed! Then one of the seraphs flew down; picked up a live hot coal from the altar with tongs, and touched me on the lips with it. It didn't burn my lips but cleansed them. The seraph said, "Your guilt is taken away and your sin is forgiven"

I was absolutely speechless and all I could do was sink to my knees in humility but then I heard the Lord God speak "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" I had no idea where I would have to go but my heart just leapt and I called out immediately "Here am I. Send me".

Des: That must have been an awesome, life-changing experience, and humbling, too.

Sing "Potter's Hand"

Des: So what was the first message God gave you for his people?

Peter: It came immediately after I said I was willing for God to send me. The message was strange, in that God said that although I'd speak the words he gave me, God's people wouldn't understand or receive them. They would fall on deaf ears, and that they wouldn't be able to picture the visions I described. I asked God how long it would be like that. He answered that the city of Jerusalem would have to be destroyed and the people exiled before they would eventually come to their senses and begin to heed God's word. At least they couldn't say that they hadn't been warned but when I spoke they just didn't want to hear. God's last words in the vision were "Just as trees leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land." There's that word stump again! It's interesting that this part of Chapter 6 is quoted in all four Gospels in the New Testament - and by Jesus in three of them. He connects it with his parable of the sower. The holy seed corresponds to the good soil in his parable. Paul also mentions the vision twice - in Acts 28 and Romans 11.

Des: What parallels would you see between life in Jerusalem in the eighth century BC and 2007? Does the message you gave so long ago still have relevance for us today?

Peter: There are a number of similarities between the time when I spoke God's message and life as I've observed it in Auckland in 2007.

First, I fear that when one looks at the bigger picture in Auckland and indeed the whole of New Zealand it is clear that falling church attendance and an increasing materialistic society suggests that many people have become like the people of Israel and Judah in my time - hearing but not understanding, seeing but not perceiving and having calloused hearts. I think that the message I gave long ago definitely still has relevance but at least you live in a time after Jesus and you have the benefit of his teaching and example - like the parable of the sower. It just needs more sowers to spread the seed!

19c

Second, when God first called me to speak his word, it was a time of relative prosperity for God's people. King Uzziah had organised the army, improved fortifications, and had gained important victories over the Philistines and Arabs and Judah had become a strong nation. Also, he promoted agriculture by providing irrigation in the desert and generally he became quite elated by his prosperity. This rubbed off on those people who also became prosperous and owned property. Two words describe their lifestyle - 'leisure' and 'luxury.'[3] When there's material prosperity, people are inclined to forget about God, and choose to ignore the fact that all that they have comes from him in the first place. When I lived, those who had plenty wanted more, but it often came at the expense of under-paying employees, and neglecting the needy in their community. God's law made it very clear that those in need, particularly orphans and widows and those from other countries, were to be supported and helped. No one was to be neglected. As God had blessed the rich of the land materially, so they were to share that blessing with others. The same is true for you people here in Hillsborough. I understand that your congregation is supporting needy people, both in your community through food parcels, and also through the Christmas Appeal.

Des: Yes, that's correct. The food that's brought each Sunday is given to families in need, and people have brought gifts to give to the children in those families who receive little at this time of the year. We are also supporting the Christian World Service Christmas Appeal, which is helping needy people in Cambodia, Nicaragua, Tonga and South Sudan. The latter would be the project that's closest to where you come from. The need in that country is great in that they are trying to rebuild their lives after decades of civil war. It's a wonderful opportunity to assist those who are seeking to gain the skills that will help them earn a living. CWS have provided us with a brief presentation that talks about how the funds from this appeal will help people in Cambodia and Nicaragua. We will watch this and then Marion will lead us in prayer for these projects and other people in need.

Play DVD

Marion - Prayer for Others.

Des: Helping people in practical ways is simply following what Jesus did when he was here on earth.

Sing "He came singing love"

Des: Going back to your being 'called' by God, this is something that Paul refers to several times at the beginning of his letter to the Church in Rome. It would be helpful to hear what he has to say on this matter.

Reading: Romans 1:1-7

Des: Paul speaks of being "called to be an apostle" to share good news like you were, Isaiah. He also refers to people like yourself when he says, "...the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son."[4] What never ceases to amaze me is how accurate you were in what you told us about Jesus. What are your thoughts on this now that you are able to look back on it from the vantage point of the 21^st century, because when you first spoke these words they probably seemed hard to imagine?

Peter: It never seemed hard to imagine for me because I knew with absolute certainty that they were God's words and that He was just using my now cleansed lips as His means of communication. The awesomeness of that first call from God in the temple never left me. I was interested to read in the Oxford Dictionary the other day that a prophet is defined as an inspired teacher, a revealer or interpreter of God's will and an apostle as a messenger sent forth to preach the gospel so it comes back to Jesus' parable of the sower again - the holy seed is provided by God through the prophets and sown by the apostle messengers. It's just mind blowing for me to see how God's message which passed through my lips has been used by so many wonderful apostle messengers through the centuries.

Des: Paul also mentions something that you referred to when you spoke at the beginning of our interview about the role of a prophet. Paul said, "Through him (that is, through Jesus Christ) we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to faith and obedience."[5] That includes all of us here today, doesn't it? What you and Paul shared centuries ago is good news for every single person on earth. That's certainly reason to be grateful to God, and in particular that people like you and Paul were obedient in sharing the message God gave you! (Blank Screen) You have another message to share us today, haven't you?

Peter: Yes, it's from the seventh chapter of my book.

Des: Could you give us a little background as to what this passage is all about?

Peter: It was some years, and two kings after King Uzziah. Ahaz was the king and frankly he was not a great leader - he was an idolater and he wasted the national assets built up by his predecessors. Jerusalem came under attack by Syria in the north and also relations between Judah and Israel started to fall apart. I tried to set him in the right direction - back to putting his trust in God but he wouldn't listen. I even caught him pilfering treasures from the temple and the palace to gain some brownie points with the powerful nation of Assyria which was in the area you now call northern Iraq. After that he got even worse by paying homage to the Assyrian king and worshipping at their heathen altars.

Des: So what was God's message to King Ahaz?

Peter: Read Isaiah 7:10-16

Des: God's people had been told not to put God to the test.[6] What was wrong with Ahaz refusing to ask for a sign?

Peter: Ahaz gave the answer he knew he was supposed to give but he didn't really believe it so it was fake - or faithless! His words refer back to Exodus 17:2 when God's people didn't trust God to provide water for them in the wilderness. They were testing God because of their faithlessness and Moses told them off. In Ahaz's case the Lord told him to ask for a sign but he refused to trust the message God gave him through my lips, and so he did not obey. In the reading we heard earlier from Romans 1 Paul reminds us that obedience comes from faith - they go together. We all need to put our faith in God and do what he asks us to do. That's why I love that old song 'Trust and Obey.'

Des: Verse 14 of that passage is the one that's really amazing, because it's what happened to Mary. Matthew's account of the story is worth listening to.

Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

Des: I notice you often used images and pictures to help people understand God's truth. For example in the reading on the first Sunday of Advent you used the image of a mountain to describe how important the Lord's temple would be. On the second Sunday of advent you shared about a stump from which a shoot would grow out. Last Sunday you told of the desert and parched land blossoming, and today the picture of a virgin having a baby. I wonder what kind of pictures or images we could use today that could help us, and particularly the children, to understand what God is saying to us here?

Allan: (Calling out from the congregation) I can share something that may be of help.

Des: Would you like to share it with us, please?

Allan: (Shares Children's Talk on how different sweets can help us remember the Christmas Story)

Des: I think that will be helpful for the adults as well as the children because many of us like the sweets Allan mentioned. Going back to Matthew for a moment. I notice that he makes reference to the words you spoke to King Ahaz seven centuries before when he writes, "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" - which means, "God with us."[7]

Sing "Jesus, name above all names"

Des: That's a wonderful truth. What did it mean for God's people when you first spoke it, and what relevance does it have for us today?

Peter: Matthew picks it up very well. First of all I addressed Ahaz as the house of David. This meant that God's sign would be through a descendent of King David but not necessarily Ahaz or his son Hezekiah because he was already born. It would be some time in the future at the Lord's own time. Second I said that the sign would come through a virgin giving birth. The wonder, mystery and purity of a young woman before marriage was always held in high regard by the people of Israel and dates right back to the story of Rebekah in Genesis 24. You'll remember how she married Isaac and became the mother of Esau and Jacob. Thirdly. God told me that the virgin's baby would be a son - another indication to Ahaz that it would not be him but it also meant that the people would more easily accept that the Messiah would be of important and noble lineage from the house of David. Lastly. The son's name would be Immanuel which means "God with Us". What better name for someone who was expected to bring the nation out of the low points it was to experience after my prophecy and it was a constant reminder to them of the main message of mine and all the other prophets.

Des: Thinking of our theme today of being 'Called,' you've shared how God called you and the impact that had on your life. We've seen from the reading in Matthew how God called Mary and Joseph to play a very special part in making the truth of God being 'with us' real to humankind, which was part of your message to King Ahaz. We have also read how God called Paul to be an apostle of the good news about Jesus to non-Jewish people. From your perspective, having lived several centuries before Christ, and now seeing life as it is in the twenty-first century, how can we apply this to our lives today.

Peter: I'm just blown away when I think about how the likes of Paul and some of the Apostles presented God's new covenant. And all down the centuries since then there have been wonderful "Apostle Messengers". A few years ago I read about a pastor named George Mller who ran a children's home in Bristol, England in the 1800's. He had complete faith in God, obeyed him in everything and trusted him every hour of his life. He finished up supporting over 2,000 orphans in five different orphanages. One of the scriptures which kept him going was from Chapter 46 of my book:- "You survivors in Israel, listen to me, the Lord. Since the day you were born, I have carried you along. I will still be the same when you are old and grey, and I will take care of you. I created you. I will carry you and always keep you safe."[8]

God wants us all to be part of his family. To do this we need to do three things:- (1) Acknowledge our sinfulness and accept his forgiveness and renewing grace (2) Get to know his Son Jesus Christ and be empowered by his Holy Spirit (3) Trust and Obey him and be ready with the reply "Hear I am. Send me" whenever he asks.

I look forward to beholding that blessed baby boy Jesus Christ with you on Christmas Day.

Sharing Time

Sing "O little town of Bethlehem"

Offering & Dedication

Sing: "Angels from the realms of glory"

Benediction