Ablaze Church Sermon Podcast (Audio)

Touch is a strong Love Language. God speaks that language to us. Jesus was God bringing physical touch into our world. Just about everything he did involved touch. He embraced the children. He touched the lepers, the deaf and the blind – even the deceased. The Risen Christ invited the disciples to touch him and be assured that what they saw was real. Jesus was in touch with the world, and he keeps in touch. His touch comes to us today as well. The sacraments are real time experiences where God Himself brings a physical touch of his grace into our lives. His presence with us is palpable. We “feel” it. We experience relief, joy in our hearts, peace that passes nderstanding.

God expresses his love for us through Acts of Service. Jesus is the ultimate servant. His whole life on earth was focused on serving. He said that he came not to be served, but to serve. He is the one who did the duties of the lowest of ancient household slaves by washing the feet of his disciples.

For many people, gifts is their primary love language. If someone gives them a gift, it feels a lot like love. When they want to express love to another, they give a gift, especially one that is carefully selected according to the likes of the recipient. You may be a good giver, but God is the greatest giver who has given the greatest gift to meet the greatest need of humanity. The gift is Jesus – you know, “For God so loved the world that he GAVE his one and only Son.” Within that gift there are so many facets, like all our physical and material needs, our emotional and relational needs, and our spiritual needs. Our spiritual needs include salvation, forgiveness of sins, reconciliation, restoration, the Holy Spirit and eternal life. All of those are found in Jesus.

For many people, receiving quality time from others is experienced as an expression of love. Their love tank doesn’t get filled without that. God know that because it is one way that he shows his love. God is not only almighty, transcending everything, he is relational. Though he is invisible spirit, the Timeless One literally spends time with his human creation. Think of God and Moses on Mount Sinai. 40 days of conversation. Think of Jesus being close full time with the twelve disciples for three years. The parting promise of Jesus was “I am with you always. "Think of St. Paul and his several years of being taught in the desert by God.

God IS love. That being true, it follows then that God loves us. How does he love us? Sure, we know that he always loves us and cares for us, forgives us, accepts his naughty children, etc. But how does he love us, personally? What language does he use to communicate that to us?

What does God want more of from you? More service? More money? More effort? More time? The answer is simple. He wants a closer personal relationship with you. With the separation and alienation of sin nailed with Jesus to the cross, the way was opened for reconciliation and a restored closer relationship. He wants more of you. He loves each of us so much that he desires fellowship and union. The Bible often speaks of it. Christ in you. Vine and branches. United with Christ. The list is long. Put him first in all things, just as he put us first by sending his Son into the world to suffer death on the cross and pay the price of the penalty of all our sin, and to bridge the gap that existed.

There is a calling that goes deep to the core. It is the call by God to become a believer in Jesus. He reaches out to us with the good news of Jesus and the free offer of grace that brings forgiveness and eternal life. Within that new relationship, God has a role, a calling, a vocation for serving Him and serving others. It is a divine assignment. Do you know your assignment? Pray about it and assess your abilities, your passions and your opportunities. You may discover more fully what He had in mind all along when He first thought of you. It is an exciting and joyful journey.

When the Christian Church first got started after Pentecost, the Fire of Pentecost didn’t go out. Acts 2 tells us that immediately a community of believers spontaneously sprang up and the new movement caught fire. When one had a need, everyone pitched in with their time and their funds. As a result, the church grew. Ablaze’s Vision is that the characteristics of those early Christians would show up strongly among us.

Adam and Eve had the perfect life, the perfect marriage, the perfect job. Then everything suddenly “went south,” by the presence of sin and its devastation. Adam and Evve went the wrong direction, running from God and hiding. Their priority became themselves, forbidden fruit and the chance to “be like gods.” They and all their descendants needed a new creation. That is provided in the “seed of the woman,” Jesus Christ. They needed a new direction, running toward God and reaching toward others. That chance was provided in Jesus. They needed new priorities with God first, others next, and self last. That is given in Jesus because in Him the old has passed away and the new has come.

God calls us to freedom to become his willing servants, serving Him and serving others. It sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it? But in actuality, self-serving is the greatest tyranny. Jesus came to free us to follow Him and to be his servants.