Message by Janice Good : October 12, 2008
“Complete Joy”
Text – Isaiah 55;
I need to tell you something very important today. Some of you may already know about this. But I feel that on this special day I should share with each of you, in fact I feel it is my duty to share this very important information with you. I don’t want to panic anyone, but I have discovered recently, but most especially this past week, that I have acquired an infectious, highly contagious condition. If it’s not bad enough that I stand here before you with this condition, it is my sincere desire to do all within my limited power to spread this condition to as many of you as possible! Don’t be alarmed. This is a good thing! This condition is an overflowing, bubbling forth, and unadulterated joy of the Lord. Now I know that you may be saying that I am just nervous or excited about the events to take place later today. Well, yes, perhaps that does intensify my condition. But this is a condition that has been present in my life for many years, even though I had periods of mild remission. I also know that as a good, life-long Presbyterian I’m not supposed to be so joyous that I want to shout “Hallelujah” at any given moment during worship, and I even know that I am not supposed to expect any of you to shout out “Praise the Lord” either. In fact, the more sensible, more conservative, or should I say more frozen part of me, controlled my urge to give balloons to each and every one of you this morning. Since we rarely, if ever would consider shouting “Praise the Lord” during worship service, the purpose of the balloons would have been for you to be able to quietly release your own joy as you worshipped the Lord. Even in silence though, we restrict ourselves in expressing our joy. We think we are supposed to be somber. But, as Christians we have much for which to be joy-filled.
Can you recall a time in your life when you were so filled with joy that you found it hard to express yourself in words? I think that is what has happened with the prophet Isaiah. I’ve found in my own study of Isaiah’s writings that he has some of the most delightful language, with hard to describe feelings and emotions expressed in some unique phrases. In this the 55th chapter of his writings, he shares the divine invitation to join in the joyous banquet… even if you don’t have money to pay, even if you don’t think you can afford it. This is an invitation from God to come and celebrate all there is in life. Thinking of your own life, and times when all things were good and wonderful. It was as if you were at a grand and glorious banquet, all kinds of foods before you, marvelous delicacies, multiple beverages, --- all you could eat! But the ancient Israelites to whom this message is addressed are in exile in Babylon, far away from their beloved Jerusalem, far from their own homes and lands, in a strange land, under oppressive conditions, feeling like prisoners in a foreign land. How are you supposed to celebrate under those conditions? Well, that is the great invitation of the Lord that Isaiah shares. But this is no ordinary invitation – this is an invitation to God’s grace in their lives, even in our lives. For all who hear Isaiah’s words, the Lord is reminding, nudging, pushing to embrace the promise of new life. He is reminding those who listen of the covenant that He made with their ancestors, with King David, the promise of a return to their homes, of a return to what they used to know as normal. This is not just simply a return to their homes, this is another exodus. This time though, it is not in haste as when fleeing Egypt. This time it is a joyous parade of return to the homeland, of being reminded of all that has gone on before, but also of all that is promised for the future. The Lord reminds His people that His Word does not go out and return empty handed. His Word will be accomplished. There will be a response, maybe not an immediate response, but truly a response. The Lord’s word is fruitful.
This celebration that all are invited to is so marvelous that even nature will join in the chorus, the mountains will sing, the trees in the field will clap their hands. What a wonderfully creative way to express a natural response to a joyous event! A few moments ago, if you thought of a special time in your life, how would you describe that wonderful occurrence that gave you great joy? Would you say it was special? Memorable? Exciting? Unforgettable? No doubt you might use such words, but would you ever think to speak of the mountains bursting into song, or the trees clapping their hands? If you actually think about it, it might make you laugh just picturing it. We can not possibly conceive how wonderful and marvelous are the things that God has done and will do within His creation. There is joy in the land, so much joy that even those solid, rigid, unmoving mounds of rock that we call mountains will break forth in song. And even though you might be able to imagine branches of trees slapping together in the breeze, can you truly picture them clapping in response to the joy of the presence of the Lord? This is life filled with joy! If that doesn’t bring you joy and a smile to your face, what will?
William Barclay has said, “We are chosen for joy. However hard the Christian way, it is the way of joy. There is always a joy in doing the right thing. The Christian is a [person] of joy. A gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms, and nothing in all religious history has done Christianity more harm than its connection with black clothes and long faces. (William Barclay, The Gospel of John, Vol. 2. Cited in Charles Swindoll, The Tardy Oxcart, Word Publishing, 1998, pg. 323)
The words of John’s Gospel, these words of Jesus (that John shared with us) tell of the joy that is to come for Christ’s disciples. He compares this joy to that time in a woman’s life when she gives birth to a child. Based on your gender or life circumstances, you may not be able to relate to this concept. But if you’ve ever given birth, or even been witness to the birth of a child, you know that labor pains are intense, perhaps even long and exhausting. And all the while there has probably been people around who were trying to encourage, trying to ease the pain, trying to convince the one in intense labor that it wasn’t all that bad! Well, let me tell you from personal experience, neither of my two sons were in a great hurry to leave the warmth and comfort of their nine-month home. There was pain, there were tears, and there were times when I thought I just couldn’t bear it anymore. But then there was that precious little bundle placed in my arms, that small wrinkled little child, who even though crying was the most delightful sight I had ever laid my eyes upon. Within minutes I could no longer describe what I thought was indescribable pain just moments ago. There was nothing but pure joy, joy beyond words, joy which brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face.
This is the same intense feeling of joy that Jesus is sharing with His disciples. Yes, they will suffer, just as the church suffers even today. Yes, they will face fears and persecution. They will come to a time in their lives that they will think perhaps that they just can’t do it anymore. But even as He faced His own crucifixion, Christ was able to talk about joy. There is the promise of new life, the promise of hope and joy that can only come through the suffering and pain. We have been chosen for joy! Even in suffering, there is the joy of Christ living within us. This is the intense feeling of joy and of life that I’m trying to spread to all of you.
One Sunday in a church, there was a small boy who kept turning around and smiling at everyone. He wasn’t gurgling, spitting, humming, or even tearing the pages from the hymnals, or digging through his mother’s purse. All he was doing was turning around and smiling. What joy must have filled his soul? But his mother realized what he was doing and suddenly jerked him around. In a harsh whisper that everyone overheard, she said, “ Stop grinning! You’re in church!” With that she gave him a smack on his bottom. As he quietly sat down with tears rolling down his little cheeks, she said, “That’s better” and returned to her praying. (http://elbourne.org/sermons/index.mv?illustration+4793) Now if you can’t smile in church, where else can we truly be happy?
Maybe we do need to look to the young people to truly show us the joy of the Lord. Just this last Thursday, as we were having closing worship at the Kids for Christ program, Corinne reminded the boys and girls that this Sunday was a very special day for someone. Almost instinctively and without hesitation, nearly every one of them pointed to me and bubbled over with excitement. – not even fully understanding the meaning or purpose of ordination. You all know that I am full of joy, but even I was moved nearly to tears by the overwhelming joy of those children.
There is life in this church, a life with a strong and vibrant heartbeat. Can’t you feel it? I have felt it from the very first moment that I walked among you. I can’t be the only one who feels this life, this great joy. And I know, in fact, I’m positive it’s not me who brings this life to this church. I’m convinced it’s been here long before I ever darkened the steps of Tower Church. Can you feel the new life kicking inside this church? Can you feel the strong prods and pokes of that new life being nurtured and fed by your brothers and sisters, whatever their age? If you can feel that life, that overflowing joy, do whatever you can to encourage it, to keep it growing and alive. Don’t stifle it. If you can’t yet feel it, be patient. Pray for it. Join the excitement that you see in others and soon you should be able to feel it too.
I know sometimes with all the conflict and confusion in the church today often we may think that we, the church, just can’t take anymore. But it’s not about us! It’s not about our pain or our frustrations about whether we are growing in numbers or declining in wealth. This is not my church, not your church… this is Christ’s church! He reminds us that He will come again, we will see Him, and rejoice. No one will be able to take away that complete joy. But until that time, we must continue in prayer, continue to be good stewards of Christ’s church in all we do and say to keep His church alive. Just take a moment and open your heart to the possibilities.
New life! Joy! Hope! Wonder of wonders! This is God at work in the world. He invites you to join Him in the celebration of new life, to know the joy of this new life, celebrating at His joyous feast. What role will you take in bringing this new life? Perhaps you will act as the obstetrician or pediatrician, nurturing and caring for the physical beings involved in this new life. Perhaps you are like the Lamaze coach or midwife or even the husband, standing along side, encouraging, talking softly and tenderly, reminding us to be calm and to continue to breath between the pain. Perhaps you just don’t know what your role is yet. But you have a role. Each and every one of you, of us, has a role in this birth, this new life. This is Christ’s church, this is where the Word of God is read and heard. God’s purpose is in His Word and it will be realized. The Word of God will bring about change. This change, this new joyous life will happen with you, or in spite of you. So prepare to be energized, to revel at the banquet of the Lord, to be filled and led out with such joy that you cannot but come back in peace. This is God’s Word at work and it will not return to Him empty. Yes, there is life in this church, living and breathing in this congregation. . Although this church has suffered, even grieved, there is new life to be experienced. No, it won’t be the same as before – it many ways it will be even better!
But in order to experience the church’s great joy, we still need to go through the pains of re-birth…to go through that intense labor to bring this new life out into the world. Even though we do not yet know the time of delivery we must continue to prepare, to face the aches and pain. We must continue to nurture those who would carry this new life. We must continue to nurture those who will bring forth the new life, even though we don’t really know who they might be. We need to be ready to face whatever lies ahead in the next days, or weeks and month, or even years. Mother Teresa has said, “Joy is very infectious; therefore, be always full of joy.” Are you ready to be infected with the condition that allows you to truly sense the new life within you, within the church? Are you prepared to go through pain, even intense pain to give birth to this new life in the church, to face complete joy? Well then, get ready. Ladies, you may remember this routine…. take a deep breath… Hold it… blow it out through your mouth. Again, breath in… and slowly blow it out. Again, a big breath… and …SHOUT with joy, “Praise the Lord!” Hallelujah! So be it! Amen.