In this sermon on February 5th 2023 - Fr. Dan Shoemake talks about inviting the Holy Spirit to empower us.
Sunday, February 5th, 2023 (Epiphany 5)

2 Kings 22:8-20; Psalm 27; 1 Corinthians 2; Matthew 5:13-20

Spirit-Talk, Spirit-Walk

Setting the Scene: 2 Kings 22:19

• The people of God did not live in the way that the Book of the Law commanded. By the time Josiah the King heard the book for the first time he was 26 years old. 
• In 2 Kings 23 he has altars, firepits, dedication places all taken down and destroyed, some within the temple itself.
• If this story happened in Jerusalem, during the reign of the Kings of Judah, could it happen today?

The Past: NaCl - the Salt
Kingdom of God without God:

1. I believe that we are living in a time period very similar to the kingship of Josiah. 
   1. We have institutionalized and religified apathy, lifeless religion, judgementalism, and giftless ministry.
2. The very same ruler who enslaved the Hebrews before (the Pharaoh of Egypt) is knocking on our door again.

Untasted Salt

1. I think Jesus hits home this message of lifeless religion in his sermon on the mount. 
2. “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.” (Matthew 5:13)
3. What Jesus is saying here is that we are not actually savoring the SALT: the Spirit of God. We are preparing a table, scarfing down the food, and not tasting the food. 

Question: Why are we doing all this?

1. Why did you drive to Church this morning?
2. I have all sorts of reasons why I COULD go to Church:

The Goal: Falling in Love with our Savior 
The Psalm: 

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord; one thing I seek: *

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord  all the days of my life,

5 To behold the fair beauty of the Lord, * and to seek him in his temple.

Why are you here?
But if we can re-align our priorities and place God at the center - we will experience the Spirit of God.

1. I will receive all the money that I need from God
2. I will receive true friendship with God
3. I will worship my Lord Jesus.
4. God speaks to me through the liturgy.

The Disconnect of verse 5

1. I think that some of us have never SEEN the beauty of the Lord - we have not sought GOD!
2. If this is the case, we are saltless salt, lightless light, the Children of God with no God. 

Religion in the WEST

Decline of religion: Christianity especially
Rise in Spirituality and Belief in God

Pandemic, Economic decline have resulted in an INCREASE in god-awareness/interest.

1. In short - HATE the Religion // Interested in the God.
2. If we actually WALK the WALK and TALK the TALK
   1. Talking and living like Jesus. 

Conclusion: The Spirit
Old sermon: Why is the Church dying?

1. When was the last time you saw a miracle?
2. When was the last time you actually SAW the power of God. 

Invite the HOLY SPIRIT

Communion, Prayer, Worship - Invite the Spirit in

AMEN

Thank you for listening!
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