Hebrews 11:1-8 (Common English Bible, 2011): 1 Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see. 2 The elders in the past were approved because they showed faith.3 By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from God so that the visible came into existence from the invisible.4 By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain, which showed that he was righteous, since God gave approval to him for his gift. Though he died, he’s still speaking through faith.5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he didn’t see death, and he wasn’t found because God took him up. g He was given approval for having pleased God before he was taken up. 6 It’s impossible to please God without faith because the one who draws near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards people who try to find him.7 By faith Noah responded with godly fear when he was warned about events he hadn’t seen yet. He built an ark to deliver his household. With his faith, he criticized the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes from faith.8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going.
Some
sermons are easy to preach. Others are
more difficult, especially when they touch our lives in specific and
challenging ways. This is where I find
myself today as we talk about faith here in Hebrews 11:1-8. Faith is difficult by definition – it is
trusting in something that doesn’t have substance, in something that we can’t
get our hands around. Faith is when we
claim a future hope and promise is real, even when it has not been realized.
We show faith by acting when we hear
God speak and following even though we are not sure where God might lead. Abel
had faith by listening and following God’s desire for sacrifice. Enoch was faithful because he drew near to
God and followed where God led. Noah
showed his faith by telling the world of the warning God revealed to him and by
building an ark (which was seen as ridiculous by his friends and
acquaintances). Abraham’s faith was obvious as he obeyed by going where he was
called – without a clue as to where God might lead. The story goes on through
the years…by faith Sarah…by faith Moses…by faith Rahab.
Again,
faith, by definition, is difficult. We
must trust that God loves us, that God wants what is best for us, and that God
will be our strength as we follow. I say
all of this because we have been drawn to a time which requires faith.
Some of you
may have guessed, and others will not be surprised to hear what I will say
next: After eight years of a blessed ministry with Antioch and Dacusville
churches, I have been appointed to another church beginning June 27. I am sharing this today with permission from
the District Superintendent because word is beginning to spread in the
community. We will make a full announcement
about who has been appointed to the North Easley charge next week. (Please do
not quiz the PPRC as they have not met the new pastor yet. The introductory visit is scheduled AFTER
next Sunday).
As
difficult as this news is for me to share, I have come to understand over the
past several months that this is God’s leading and God’s desire. Ashley and I have known that our time with
you is limited. Pastors are only
appointed for 1 year at a time, and are able to be moved any given year in the
UMC. Eight years is a long time for a
pastor to stay in one place. Not only
that, but this year is a year with many moves throughout the conference. My understanding is that there are over 3
dozen moves just in the Anderson and Greenville districts alone! Because of our length of time here and the
need for experienced pastors to serve churches where pastors are moving or
retiring, it was highly unlikely that we would remain for a 9th year, but we
still didn’t want to leave.
January 1
God began speaking to me most clearly about our possible move. After staying up to ring in the New Year, I
went to bed unusually late on Saturday night – after 12:30am. Even though I was exhausted, I awoke before
5am with an overwhelming sense of God’s Presence in the room with me and with a
specific message on my heart. That
morning I was preaching on the Wise Men listening to the angel’s warning to
travel “By a Different Road.” I knew
that this sermon was for me, and I knew that it was about where I serve as a
pastor. I was to allow Christ to be in control, even if I didn’t know where God
might lead – even if the road would be difficult.
I was
overwhelmed, unsure, and confused. I
prayed for some confirmation that this was, in fact, God speaking and
guiding. I turned on my phone and read
the daily scripture reading for that morning; it was Matthew 7:13-14 CEB
“Go in through the narrow gate. The gate that leads to destruction is broad and the road wide, so many people enter through it. But the gate that leads to life is narrow and the road difficult, so few people find it.”
Again, I felt this was pointing me to follow
God in faith even through I did not know where this road would lead, even
though it would be difficult.
I have
always told people that whenever I seek to confirm that God is speaking to me,
I make sure of two things: first, it fits within the Biblical understanding of
God’s will, and second, it is revealed to me three times from different
sources. (I believe that God speaks multiple times; we just need to listen.) Within a couple days of this experience, I
received an email from another pastor sent through the district office. I want to share some brief excerpts from this
letter:
..Several nights ago I was abruptly awoken by the Lord around 3 a.m. I am sure many of you have had a similar experience (where the Lord chooses such an “opportune” time to speak with you). As soon as my eyes opened my immediate thought was, “Encourage your fellow United Methodist brother and sister pastors.” It was such a strong emotion and inclination that I could not fall back asleep …Always view what the Lord is telling you through the lens of scripture, tradition, reason, and experience – but listen and trust! …Proverbs 3:5-6 reads, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”…Perhaps many of you need this note of encouragement. Perhaps one of you needs it… Lead with strength and integrity. Psalm 56:11 is the verse that has resounded in my mind over and over again, “In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” If God is leading you, obey….Let’s move forward, giving it everything we have, and trusting God all the way.
With all of
this on my heart, I met with Dr. Johnson, our District Superintendent, telling
him what I just shared with you. I
confessed that the only thing holding me back how much I loved the people in the
churches and knowing that I would upset and hurt some of them if I left. Two hours later, I met with someone who
shared with me how God has richly blessed him.
He also told the story of a time when he knew that God was calling him
to respond by going to the altar following the sermon. The reason he didn’t was that he loved his
wife and knew that she would be upset and hurt her if he did. He told me that he regretted not following
God’s leading and told me that if he knew that God was leading him to do
something, this time he would follow regardless of how he thought anyone else
might react.
Still
seeking confirmation of God’s will, Ashley and I fasted praying for God to lead
me away from this decision if it was not God’s will. During this time of discernment, I shared my
journey with a trusted colleague. She
said that it was clear what God was saying to me – that “it isn’t a matter of
interpretation, now it’s a matter of obedience.”
I knew that
it was very likely that we were going to move this year. Since January 1st, God has told me in a
number of ways that I needed to trust and follow in faith. As a pastor, if I teach that we should listen
and follow wherever God leads, do I have integrity if I refuse to listen and
follow? For these reasons, I indicated on the advisory form in January that I
was available for appointment to this or any charge, but that I felt God was
leading me to move.
Yes, this
has been difficult and painful. The road
is still long, and the future is filled with many things that we do not see.
But we are people of faith and people of hope.
By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from
God. By faith we can trust that that same God will lead us into a bright and promising
future that we can’t even imagine.
Faith, by definition, is difficult. We show faith by acting when we hear God
speak and following even though we are not sure where God might lead. I pray
that we trust that God loves us, that God wants what is best for us, and that
God will be our strength as we believe, even when things are not seen.
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