St Timothy Presbyterian Church in Toronto: Sermons

1 Peter 2:4-10

Happy New Year!

May God's blessings be upon you and your family!

God has been good in 2024. God will be also good in 2025.

Let us trust God. Everything will work out for good.

Even though there may be difficult times, God will give you the strength and the wisdom to deal with difficulties.

Not only that, he will work out everything for good for you.

This year's theme is Be the Rock.

I would like to focus on two things. One: Being a Rock. Second: How to live as a Rock.

In today's passage, Peter said this.

like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)

He said, Let yourself be

Being the Rock is about who you are, not about what you do.

You are the Rock. Nothing can shake that away. That's who you are. God made you be the rock.

Your understanding of who you are is the foundation on which you can build your life.

If you think you are the rock, then you will live like the rock. You will have the firm foundation for your life.

If you think you are chaff, then you will be easily scattered.

That was what the Psalmist said.

The whole book of psalms begins with the statement about two kinds of life. Life like the rock that is deeply rooted. And life like the chaff that is easily scattered.

First, life like a rock

They are like treesplanted (rooted) by streams of water,which yield their fruit in its season,and their leaves do not wither.In all that they do, they prosper. (Psalm 1:3)

Life like chaff

(they) are like chaff that the wind drives away. (Psalm 1:4)

If your understanding of who you are is not clear, you cannot have an authentic existence. You cannot be firmly rooted.

See – You can only be who you are. You don't have to pretend to be who you are not.

Not only your identity, but your understanding of your identity is very important. Everything flows from your understanding of who you are.

Don't let others tell you who you are.

You don't need to be so concerned with what they say about you. Do they really know you? No, they don't.

They judge you with their limited knowledge they have about you. And many times, their limited knowledge is filled with their own prejudices.

Jesus did not let others dictate his life.

He was rejected by people and that was Ok with him. Because he knew who he was.

Peter knew about this very well and so he said.

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight (1 Peter 2:4)

Chosen and precious in God's sight

Rejection was a part of Jesus' life in this world.

When he was born, there was no happy birthday Herod tried to kill him. Unfortunately, so many innocent babies were killed instead. He was rejected by Herod.

During his life time, his life was full of rejections. They even accused Jesus of being demon possessed. The cross was the ultimate rejection of Jesus Christ.

He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. (John 1:11)

So even if you feel rejected, not understood, and abandoned, don't ever doubt yourself.

You are chosen and precious in God's sight.

This is what Peter proclaimed.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people (1 Peter 2:9)

That's who you are.

A chosen race. A royal priesthood. A holy nation. God's own people.

To be honest, Peter himself was not like a rock.

He was flaky and flimsy. He made a commitment that he could not keep. He denied Jesus even three times because he was scared of people's rejection.

But Jesus chose him and told him that he would be the rock.

He used to be Simon. But Jesus gave him a new name, Peter, which means the Rock.

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18, 19)

What a wonderful proclamation about a person.

Peter was not that great yet. He didn't have a solid understanding of who he was or who Jesus was. He didn't even know what he wanted.

Right after Jesus' proclamation about Peter, there is a strange interaction between Jesus and Peter.

From that time on, (after Jesus' proclamation of Peter) Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.' But he turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.' (Matthew 16:21-23)

Can you believe it?

Right after Jesus said that Peter would be the rock on which he would build his church and he would give him the key of authority, Jesus said this.

You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things. (Matthew 16:23)

That's life.

There is no hero. There is no one who is so great that he or she is flawless.

You are not that strong. You are not flawless. You are not a superman or a Wonder Woman. You are as flimsy and flaky as Peter was.

When Jesus said to Simon, you will be the rock. What he meant was I WOULD MAKE YOU the rock.

God will make YOU a rock on which God will build a beautiful life.

Don't doubt yourself. No matter what people may say, you are a precious living stone.

So, the first point is about your identity. The second point is about how to live as the Rock.

You will face many difficult challenges in 2025 as you did in 2024.

You may encounter storms in your life. Your circumstances may not be so kind to you.

Don't be so easily influenced by your circumstances.

When things are going well, you feel loved by God. You will be thankful.

But when things are not going as well, you will doubt God’s love. You will be filled with fear. And you will do things that you shouldn't because of fear.

We are going to study that soon in February.

When you look at king Saul, the biggest problem he had was not that he was not smart or capable.

His critical problem was that he let his circumstances absolutely influence him and dictate his decisions.

He tried to deal with his situations with his own wisdom and strength. In the end, he went mad.

Be a man and a woman of principle. You have to have principles if you want to live a good life.

Principles you have are your backbone. That is the rock for you. They are the skeleton of your life.

It's a life philosophy.

Life is not just about doing well in your jobs and making money. Life is not just about enjoying good things in life.

There has to be a life philosophy.

The greatest principle that we hold is Love. Love God, love yourself, and love others. Always remember that.

No matter how hard life may be, how challenging people may be, always remember this: LOVE. That's all you can do.

In all circumstances, trust in God and simply practice your love.

Always go back to that. Trust and Love.

That's how you become the Rock.

The post Be the Rock appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Colossians 3:12-17

Last week, we talked about humility.

I said, humility is not just accepting your weaknesses and shortcomings.

Humility is trusting in God's power and looking to God in all your circumstances, even in an impossible situation. That was what Mary did when she said, Let it be so.

Humble people always look to God in all circumstances and leave their situations in God's hand.

That's why they experience the peace of God.

Every problem, every challenge, every difficulty – They all leave it in God's hands instead of worrying about it.

And God grants peace to those who are humble.

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6, 7)

Memory Card – today's passage too.

Humble people are comfortable with themselves.

Because they don't have to prove to the world how great they are. Because they don't have to control others as they wish.

The opposite of humility is pride.

Pride is the root of all our sins. It destroys peace within us.

C. S. Lewis said, in his book, Mere Christianity

According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil.

All the great Christians in history warned us against pride. Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestants, all of them warned us against pride.

Pride is poison to our soul.

Proud people can never please God. God resists the proud.

God opposes the proud,but gives grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5)

Do you know why pride is so bad?

Pride does not allow forgiveness. Proud people cannot forgive themselves either and also others.

Pride and forgiveness don't go together.

In today's passage, St. Paul advised us to do this.

Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:13)

This – proud people cannot do.

Pride dismantles our ability to receive and give forgiveness. That's why it is the greatest sin. It immobilizes the power to forgive.

Our spiritual discipline is to turn pride into humility.

In humility, we can receive true forgiveness. Our humility can kill our pride.

The greatest message Jesus brought to this world is Forgiveness.

The cross is all about forgiveness. He took our sins upon himself and forgave us.

Isaiah saw that very clearly.

But he was wounded for our transgressions,crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the punishment that made us whole,and by his bruises we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Jesus was humble to take on all that suffering. To let us go free, he took our punishment upon himself.

THAT IS THE ULTIMATE FORM OF HUMILITY.

Pride will never do that. Will never be able to do that.

Forgiveness comes from this kind of humility.

This is unthinkable in this ego-filled world. This is not possible in those who live their lives with the entitlement attitude.

This world lost the ability to be compassionate, kind, meek, and patient which are hall marks of being a good Christian. Being a good human being.

As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

Jesus was humble and that's why he was able to take our punishment upon himself.

He was meek and gentle. He took our burdens upon himself and now we can have true rest in Jesus.

Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

And this he told us to do.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)

Jesus had the power to forgive because he was humble. Jesus gave you the power to forgive.

Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. (John 20:22, 23)

We are living in the world of division, separation, and animosity. People are polarized.

There are so many hurts, pain, and sadness. We don't see peace around us.

Hurt, anger, disappointment, and hatred – These are like poison. They poison our soul.

They cause division, separation, violence, and many heartaches.

We know how divided we are.

We are divided by our cultures, races, ideologies, and politics. We are divided because we have hurt each other.

We live in the broken and dysfunctional relationships.

Let us put down our pride and clothe ourselves with humility. Let us bear one another. Let us be peace makers.

Power can never bring peace.

It brings more division, more fights, more violence, more sadness, and more victims.

Humility brings peace to the world.

Listen to the prayer of St. Francis.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seekto be consoled as to console,to be understood as to understand,to be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive,it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

We dream of the world where there is peace.

That was what John saw.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;mourning and crying and pain will be no more,for the first things have passed away. (Revelation 21:1, 4)

Today is the last Sunday of 2024. Do not get stuck in your old baggage.

Send away your anger, disappointment, hatred, and animosity.

In humility, clothe yourself with love.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. (Colossians 3:14, 15)

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Luke 1:46-55

Merry Christmas!

We are celebrating today as Christmas Sunday even though it is the fourth Sunday of Advent.

Today, we are celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

His birth changed the way we think about our life. His birth gave us hope. His birth showed God's desire for this world.

What was God's desire for the world?

What did God want us to do? What message did he want to get across through the birth of Jesus?

I think that message is this.

Be humble!

That is the Christmas message this year.

God became a human being. That is the message of being humble. The king became a servant. How much more humble can you get?

St. Paul clearly understood this when he said this.

though he was in the form of God,did not regard equality with Godas something to be exploited,but emptied himself,taking the form of a slave,being born in human likeness.And being found in human form,he humbled himselfand became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8)

Jesus – even though he was God, he humbled himself to be human – not only human but the form of a slave.

He was not born in a royal family. He was not born to a powerful king. He was not born in rich and influential parents.

He himself did not enjoy the privilege of the power of this world.

He was not a partner in a big accounting company. He was not an investment banker. He was not an MP. He was not a doctor. He was not a lawyer.

Pharisee, a scribe, a priest – they are the ones who held the high position in their society. Jesus was none of that.

He was nobody in the eyes of the world. He was humble in every sense.

His birth, his life, and his death – they all point to the humility.

But the irony is: the humble Jesus revealed most clearly, the power of God.

A very strange dynamic!

He had no power but he changed the world. He defeated all the powers of this world. He destroyed the Roman kingdom.

That is the power of humility.

St. Paul talked about Jesus' humility and immediately after that he said this.

This captures that power very clearly.

Therefore God also highly exalted himand gave him the namethat is above every name,so that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bend,in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue should confessthat Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Everyone will worship him – That is what we do now.

When St. Paul wrote this passage, he didn't see that yet.

Jesus was not a world famous figure. The universal recognition of Jesus was not yet the historical reality.

But somehow Paul saw that. It was his prophecy.

Mary captured this sentiment very well when she found out that she had a baby.

She expressed her own humility first.

he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. (Luke 1:48)

She was very conscious and aware of her humble status.

Why me? I am nobody. I am just a poor peasant girl.

Then the message came to her.

He has shown strength with his arm;he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,and lifted up the lowly;he has filled the hungry with good things,and sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1:51-53)

She was not just impregnated with a baby physically.

She was impregnated with the message. She was impregnated with God's desire for the world.

God's desire for the world is this. Be humble!

Lack of humility brings disaster to you.

Herod lacked humility and that's why he killed so many babies because of the birth of Jesus. He was scared because his kingship was threatened.

People who built the Babel tower lacked humility and that's why they built the tower high. They were scared to be drowned from the flood.

The king Saul lacked humility and that's why he tried to kill David. He was scared and threatened.

Lack of humility is very much to do with your fear.

Humility is the acknowledgment of God's power.

It is not just the acknowledgment of your weaknesses. But it is the acknowledgment of God's power.

So humility is always accompanied by trust in God.

Even in impossible situations, even in helpless situations, we trust in God's power.

The news of having a baby for a little girl was too much to take.

Who can handle such a devastating news? That was an impossible situation.

Mary could have wished that it was somebody else who was chosen to do what was given to her.

And yet, at the end, she said, let it be so.

I don't have power. I don't have power to run away. I don't have power to handle the scandal. I don't have power to control my future.

I may be stoned to death. I may be rejected by Joseph. I may be kicked out from home.

I have no power to control my situations.

But let it be so.

That's what humility is.

In her humility, she recognized the power of God. That's why humility is powerful.

Humility is not just seeing who you are. Humility is seeing what God can do.

In humility, we trust God. In humility, we will experience the power of God as Mary experienced it.

Because of her humility, Mary was able to go through even the most difficult time of seeing his son being crucified.

Even after Jesus died, she did not give up. When 120 gathered together in Mark's upper room, Mary was there, praying with others.

Because she believed in the power of God.

Humble people don't give up. Humble people don't fear their impossible situations.

Humble people always look to God.

Humble people do not focus on their lowliness but on God's greatness.

My friends, God wants us to be humble. Because God can only work through humble people.

Through humble people, God's power is manifested. Through humble people, God's love is shared.

Humble people will see that it is God who has exalted them, not themselves.

That's why they have deep joy. They know clearly that salvation belongs to God, not to them.

You don't have to save yourself. You don't have to worry about what is in store for you. You don't have to create a path for yourself.

God saves you. God knows what you need. God takes care of your future. God creates a path for you.

That is the Christmas message. Be humble and trust in God's power.

The post Be Humble appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

John 1:1-14

Merry Christmas!

On Christmas we celebrate birth of Jesus. We celebrate because it has meaning.

How did the gospel writers in the Bible view the birth of Jesus?

John: wasn’t focused on physical birth of Jesus, but the spiritual meaning of it

Spiritual meaning for John: the light has come into the world

Most similar to what prophet Isaiah saw:

For John, Christmas is about the light coming into the world.

Before light, there was darkness.

When all is dark, we can't see. We can't see what's around us, where we're going. We’re moving, but we don't see where. We have to be careful because we can bump into things. We feel afraid and frustrated.

In the light, we can see what's around us. We can see where we're going. We navigate around obstacles.

Jesus is the light that has come into this world.

John's view of the world: the darkness tries to overcome light. It tries to make people lost again. It makes people confused. We don't know where we're going.

If I were to describe this year in one word, I would use the word lost. People can't see clearly what's going on. People can't see the way. The future is unclear. Even information is not clear. We are lost.

It's in this context that Christmas has real meaning for us.

John's crucial insight was this: the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

This is the real meaning and power of Christmas. Jesus came as light. The world did everything to overcome the light but it could not. It tried to overcome love with hate, healing with sickness, life with death. But not even death could overcome the life.

The light that cannot be extinguished has come into the world.

Because of that, we have HOPE. No matter how lost you are, there is a way. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

Hope is not hope when everything is going well. Hope is most real in the midst of darkness. Hope leads to joy.

Joy because we know that: after sadness comes laughter, after the night comes the day, after darkness comes light.

That's why Christmas is filled with joy, because we have hope in the midst of our present darkness. What a gift to receive from God! The gift of hope, and the gift of joy! The delight that children feel when they open presents represents the joy we have because the light has come into the world.

The birth of Jesus represents light that cannot be overcome. Let the light of Jesus shine brightly in you. Let that light be the light for your families, be the light for those who are lost, and let it be the light for those who have lost hope.

I pray that this Christmas you may be filled with the light of Jesus. May it fill your hearts with hope and joy. Merry Christmas!

The post The Light Shines in the Darkness appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Luke 3:7-18

Do you know what you were born to do?

Many people don't. Some do – John the Baptist was one of them.

What he was born to do was foretold even before his birth.

Zechariah and Elizabeth – righteous but no children. Promise to Zechariah:

But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Zechariah said to the angel, How can I know that this will happen? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years. (Luke 1:13-18)

To make ready a people prepared for the Lord. That was what John was born to do.

When he became an adult, his ministry became a very powerful movement. People came to him from all over the countryside.

Many even thought he might be the Messiah who saved them from their troubles.

But John was very clear about who he was:

John answered all of them by saying, I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Luke 3:16)

His role was to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

John the Baptist plays a prominent role in all of the gospels.

His role is very important. He comes before Jesus to prepare us for him.

Preparation for Jesus is a very important thing.

As we approach Christmas, we prepare many things. Gifts, parties, get togethers.

What is it that we're preparing for?

Yes, we are preparing for the birth of Jesus. Birth of not just any person.

Birth of the one who would give life:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10b)

Birth of the one who would show us the way:

Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Birth of the one who would satisfy all of our needs:

Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)

Birth of the one would give us eternal life:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (John 3:16)

John came to prepare us for life itself.

Let me ask you this question: have you prepared yourself for the best life ever?

That is what John came to do.

In Jesus, God promises us the best life ever.

Isn't that amazing news?

The most fulfilled life. The most meaningful life. The complete life.

That sounds like a great promise to me.

But it doesn't just happen. It doesn't come out of nowhere.

It comes when we are prepared for it.

The best things in life don't just fall into your lap. They come to you when you're ready for it.

There is a show called Band of Brothers. Company in the 82nd Airborne Regiment in WWII. Two years of intense training.

Can't predict situation in combat. Nerves and fear can take over. But training enabled them to stay calm.

Led by officer who remained cool and applied training. Because of preparation, able to achieve objective.

If you want the best life that Jesus offers, need to prepare yourself.

Crowds were coming out to be baptized by John. It was a frenzy. Like a Taylor Swift concert.

What were they seeking? Why did they make all this effort to go out there? Not easy to get there.

THEY WERE SEEKING CHANGE.

Change because life had become so hard.

Roman rule: appointed ruler of region – Herod Antipas. Born in Palestine but educated in Rome.

Ambitious. Had greater aspirations, but had to prove himself in Palestine.

Providing taxes to Rome. Set up an efficient and effective system of tax collectors.

Support of populace by becoming benefactor to Temple. Supported temple tax system.

Crushing tax burden. Debts, loans, loss of land. Old ways of life, communities broken down. Relations torn apart.

People came to John in hopes of change.

God would do something. Take down corrupt rulers. Drive out oppressive Roman system. Make Israel great again!

They were hoping John would be the one to lead this change.

But message of John very unique:

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? (Luke 3:7)

What was he saying?

He's saying: What are you doing here, you snakes! Why are you trying to escape? What were you hoping to find here?

He wasn't offering comfort and an outlet for their frustrations. Instead, he had harsh words of judgment.

Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our ancestor,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (Luke 3:8-9)

All of your problems: stop blaming others for them. Change yourself!

That was his message: CHANGE YOURSELF!

Just because you're a child of Abraham, don't think you're innocent.

Just because you call yourself a Christian, don't think that you're righteous.

God can create Christians out of the stones here. God is ready to chop you down and throw you into the fire.

Harsh words.

He wasn't excusing the hardships caused by others.

He was very critical of Herod Antipas and was eventually executed because his criticism became a threat to him.

But his message is that change starts with yourself.

When things are difficult, the easiest thing to do is to blame others.

But all this will do is make you angrier and more bitter. It won't change anything.

Preparation for the best life ever begins with recognizing that YOU need to change.

Don't take the easy way of blaming others.

Don't be so blind to think you're righteous and innocent. Open your eyes and see how you are contributing to the problem.

John's harsh words of judgment pierced the hearts of people.

They saw that they needed change.

Their natural question was: what then should we do?

John's instruction was simple: go back home and be different.

And the crowds asked him, What, then, should we do? In reply he said to them, Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise. Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, Teacher, what should we do? He said to them, Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you. Soldiers also asked him, And we, what should we do? He said to them, Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages. (Luke 3:10-14)

Go back and right your wrongs. Go back and repair relations. Go back and be the change that the community needs.

The crowds were gathered by the Jordan river.

This is where many centuries ago, the Israelites crossed over into the Promised Land.

When they escaped Egypt, they were just a loose group of fugitives. But after 40 years in the wilderness, they made a covenant with God at Mount Sinai and became the people of God.

The covenant was this: they would honour God.

They would honour God by how they treated one another. They would show mercy, justice and kindness to others.

Through baptism in the Jordan river, John was sending them back as people of God once again. To live as people of the covenant.

When things are good, when they're plenty to go around, it's easy to be generous, fair and compassionate.

The real test comes when things become difficult. When times are tough.

Even though times were tough, John was sending them back to live as people of God. This is how they would prepare for the coming of the Lord.

Canadians have prided themselves on being a generous, fair and compassionate country.

We have welcomed many immigrants. We have been tolerant and embrace diversity.

But our identity as a welcoming country is being strained and challenged.

Recent survey: people not proud of Canada or being Canadian. Correlates to tough times.

Something snapped after COVID pandemic. Everything became shaken. Life has been hard.

With that, the values we once embraced are shaken.

In this world, how do we prepare for Jesus?

We turn from the way we've been living.

Especially in times that are challenging, we take care of the weak and vulnerable. We treat others with respect and dignity. We live as people of God.

Resist the thinking of this world.

St. Paul said it clearly:

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Do not be conformed to this age of meanness, selfishness, self-centredness.

But be transformed by the renewing of your minds. Let us see and think clearly!

Do not fall into the behaviours and patterns of this world.

Taking care of the weak, being with the vulnerable, who did that?

Jesus Christ.

He cared with compassion, he took care of the weak and vulnerable.

By doing as John says, we are preparing to follow the way of Jesus.

We begin forming the spiritual muscles to live as Jesus did.

Jesus identified himself in this way:

For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

Following Jesus is not about having your spiritual needs met. It is not about feeling good or connected to God.

It is ultimately about giving yourself for others as Jesus did.

In the process of following Jesus, he supplies all of our needs. He fills you up and you are connected with him.

But that is the blessing you receive as you follow him in being a blessing for others.

Following Jesus is not an easy journey.

It is not a popular path. It will lead to difficulty.

That is why it requires preparation to take this journey.

Change yourself. Change how you treat others. Especially when things are difficult for you.

You will see how hard this is.

That is when you will be ready to meet Jesus.

John said that Jesus would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire. He will give us the power to be like him.

When you prepare the way by acting justly and loving kindness, that is when God will come to you.

Christmas is a time to feel joy. It is a time for family and friends.

But it is a season to prepare ourselves for the gift of Christ.

It is a season to repent.

Who have you mistreated this past year? Whom have you caused hardship?

In the midst of your difficulties and challenges, how have you instead hurt others? How have you become selfish?

We give gifts to others. The greatest gift we can give to God is our contrite hearts.

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)

This Christmas, prepare your heart for the Lord. Give him your contrite heart and ask for the power to change your ways.

The post Prepare the Way appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Luke 1:68-79

I enjoy buffets. There is a sequence, method.

Purpose of first round: whet the appetite, get me going for the main courses and proteins.

Luke is about Jesus – the main course.

But Luke 1 is about things that take place before Jesus is born. The set-up to what God does through Jesus.

Central character in chapter 1 is Zechariah. Today's passage – Benedictus. Last part of chapter 1.

Chapter 1 begins with Zechariah and ends with him.

Luke is communicating something important. Zechariah is a set-up story for the main course of Jesus.

It's a substantial appetizer – so much good material. God has something amazing to say through story of Zechariah.

Luke's introduction of Zechariah and Elizabeth:

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. (Luke 1:5-6)

Zechariah and wife Elizabeth descended from Aaron.

Bloodline survived the whole history of Israel up to now.

Faithful to that heritage, faithful to God. Righteous, blameless.

But Luke introduces issue:

But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. (Luke 1:7)

Barrenness.

Whole future is in doubt. Rich past coming to an end. No future.

God makes promise to Zechariah through angel:

Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. (Luke 1:15)

Not only that, but great purpose through this promise:

Even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:15-17)

Stories of barrenness are a common starting point for God's action. Abraham and Sarah. Hannah.

God gives promise that addresses the barren situation.

But something different in Luke's story of Zechariah: He goes silent upon receiving the promise.

When he did come out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. (Luke 1:22)

Zechariah became silent. An alternate title to this sermon was Zechariah's Silence .

He remained silent until the prophecy we read as today's passage.

What made him go silent, and what does this silence represent?

Last thing that Zechariah said:

How can I know that this will happen? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years. (Luke 1:18)

Angel's response:

I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur. (Luke 1:19-20)

Many scholars believe this is punishment for Zechariah's lack of belief. This may be true, but I believe there's a lot more here.

When the angel communicated God's promise, it brought to the surface the pain he had been feeling for years.

He stated the facts as he experienced it: I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.

These were irrefutable facts. These facts were his reality.

The gap between that reality and God's promise was so vast. It was a wide chasm.

There was nothing more that Zechariah and Elizabeth wanted than a child.

In their younger years, they probably prayed very fervently for one. They probably kept hope for many years.

But as each year went on, that hope slipped away.

Their prayers probably stopped. They resigned themselves to the facts as they were.

The promise reminded Zechariah of the wide chasm between what he really wanted and the reality he experienced.

That gap was so painful. The pain silenced him.

More than the pain, it was his loss of hope that silenced him.

Hopeless pain makes one silent.

The wide chasm between your heart's desire and facts that are the complete opposite leaks hope.

The longer this chasm remains, the more hope dissipates.

The chasm hangs in the air like a great weight. The weight squeezes out hope. It silences prayers and cries of the heart.

Hopelessness renders you mute, silent and unable to move.

It makes you resigned to reality as it is.

Zechariah and Elizabeth resigned themselves to life as a barren couple. They remained faithful, righteous and blameless in their actions.

But underneath those actions were empty hearts.

They were empty of joy. Empty of purpose. They had no future to live for.

I wonder how many people today live like this. No future to live for. No hope that fuels them.

Human beings are born to dream. We're born with desires that are unique to our hearts.

But the facts on the ground often make that desire seem impossible.

At first, we hold on with hope. We try what we can. But in the end, we resign ourselves to reality as it is.

We come to believe that this is as good as it gets. So we try to make the best of life as it is.

We try to enjoy what we can. We forget about the pain of unfulfilled promises.

The pain of the gap between promise and reality becomes more and more silent over time.

Do you truly believe that your life right now is as good as it gets? Do you believe your situation is the final conclusion?

Zechariah went home. We don't know what else we did.

But the scene in chapter 1 shifts from Zechariah to other things.

Luke makes clear that while Zechariah is silent in hopelessness, God is on the move.

God makes Elizabeth conceive. God speaks to Mary that she will give birth to the Saviour of the world.

Mary goes to visit Elizabeth, and Elizabeth's baby leaps in her womb. Things are happening.

Finally, a son is born, and he is named John. Zechariah is able to speak again at this point.

Luke's message is clear: even in our silent hopelessness, God is on the move.

More accurately: it is especially in our silent hopelessness that God moves.

While Zechariah was silent, God began his plan of salvation for the world.

How many of you have experienced hopelessness, and somehow came out of it for reasons that had nothing to do with you?

That has been my experience.

Post-articling experience. Until then, charmed life. Things went well on the surface.

But underneath, always a tightrope. Tricky balance between doing what I felt I needed to do, and what I really wanted to do.

That tightrope broke, things came to a head. Not hired back – only one in my class. Darkness of next 8 months.

Look back: period of silence. Nothing positive, no good lessons learned, no real growth.

Just sheer silence and darkness. Didn't grit it out and fight my way out of it.

How did I come out of it?

Very random. Partner from old firm. No reason for her to really.

Didn't solve things – many ordeals to come. But it stirred me out of the darkness. Put me back on my feet to get moving again.

Advent: beginning of new Church year. Meaning: arrival or coming.

Lectionary passage for this season: Luke 1. Purpose: to stir the heart, reawaken the hope that has been lost.

Appetizer: stirring up of hope, so we can wait eagerly for the main course – what God will do for you.

As the people sat in darkness, they began to await the arrival of a Saviour. That happens in chapter 2 of Luke.

When hope is stirred, it transforms the pain. From silent pain to pain that cries out.

Pain retrieves its voice – it cries out to God. It seeks God. It waits for God.

When the Israelites were exiled in Babylon, during their darkest time when all hope seemed lost, God pierced through the silence through the prophet Isaiah:

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:1-2)

These are the opening words of Handel's Messiah.

These words stirred up hope in the people.

It made them open to what God might do. It made them look once again to God.

During this Advent season, open your ears to the tender voice of God in the night.

The final words of Zechariah are the final words of chapter 1 before Jesus is born:

Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:78-79)

Press these words on your heart.

Let them awaken hope in you.

Lift up your heads and wait for what God is about to do for you.

The post

John 18:33-37

I don't like the term, king or queen. The image of king or queen – it doesn't mean much to me.

It rather gives me a negative image. Power, Privilege, Entitlement, Domination, and even Corruption.

These are not the words I am not so attracted to.

Especially when they use this term for Jesus whom I love, I feel uncomfortable.

King is a political language. Isn't there a better word than king to describe Jesus?

But when you read today's passage, Jesus clearly said he was the king.

You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world (John 18:37)

This statement is so strange.

Because we all know that Jesus was never the king while he was on earth.

He didn't become the king. He was simply a carpenter. And he became an itinerant preacher. Then he died as a criminal.

Never the king.

Why did he say that he was born to be a king. And for this he came into the world?

That was exactly what they wanted Jesus to say. They wanted to frame Jesus by saying that he acted like he was a king.

They wanted to charge him with a treason. It could be a very dangerous statement for Jesus.

That was why the first question Pilate asked Jesus was this:

Are you the King of the Jews? (John 18:33)

The only real king to Pilate was Tiberius, the Roman Emperor. The most powerful man in the world at that time. That was the image of a king Pilate knew of.

No Power, No King.

Tiberius sacrificed everything to have the power. Including his wife.

Tiberius had a wife whom he loved. He lived a happy life. But to be the emperor, he was forced to divorce his wife.

Why? Because Tiberius was not his blood line of the previous emperor and he Octavius wanted to have his blood line in the next emperor.

So Tiberius had to divorce his wife and marry Julia, the daughter of the first emperor. He wasn't happy about it.

But he did it to be the emperor. He did it to have the power. That is the kind of king Pilate knew.

Jesus did not look like a king to Pilate. He had no power in the eyes of Pilate.

Just an innocent poor man who was caught up in the political turmoil.

That's why after meeting Jesus, he said,

he went out to the Jews again and told them, I find no case against him.' (John 18:38)

Why did Jesus say that he was the king?

Jesus' kingdom was different from Pilate's kingdom.

Pilate's kingdom was defined by the power. Controlled by the power. Jesus' kingdom was not Pilate's kingdom.

This was what Jesus said.

My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here. (John 18:36)

Jesus' kingdom is the kingdom of the truth.

Jesus came to testify the truth. Jesus came to proclaim the truth. Jesus came to make us people of the truth.

Because only the truth will set us free.

You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. (John 8:32)

To Pilate, that was a foreign concept.

So he asked Jesus,

What is truth? (John 18:38)

His question is this: What's the truth got to do with anything?

The kingdom is all power; nothing but the power. The truth has nothing to do with the power.

To have the power, lies are permitted.

Sometimes, lies are much more effective and efficient. You can lie through your teeth if that gets you the power.

I see that a lot these days. Truth can be inconvenient.

That is very different from Jesus' idea of kingdom.

In Jesus' kingdom, we are free. In his kingdom, Pilate was not free.

Pilate met Jesus again. That comes out in chapter 19. He believed that Jesus was innocent for sure but the crowd shouted to crucify him.

So, he came back to Jesus and asked him.

Where are you from? (John 19:9)

Jesus didn't answer this time.

And he said,

Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you? (John 19:10)

THEN Jesus said,

You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above. (John 19:11)

Pilate did not have the power to release innocent Jesus. Jesus knew that clearly.

Pilate wanted to free Jesus but he couldn't. He was not free to do what he believed.

Only the truth can set you free. Not the power.

Pilate lived in that kind of kingdom. The kingdom that doesn't make sense.

The kingdom that benefits only those who are powerful and privileged. The kingdom where the powerless and the voiceless were ignored, rejected, and abandoned.

The kingdom where the prejudices control human thinking. The kingdom where selfishness dictates and overpowers justice and humanity.

The kingdom where there is no eternal life but only destruction in the end.

That is not Jesus' kingdom.

Jesus' kingdom is the kingdom where everyone is respected, honored, and loved.

The kingdom where the truth dictates and the justice is upheld. The kingdom where humility takes priority over bragging and pride.

The kingdom where there is eternal life.

Jesus came to be like us.

He denied even his divinity. He emptied all his power to be even like a servant. He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death.

Who lifted him up?

Not Jesus.

Who lifted him up?

God lifted him up.

Therefore God also highly exalted himand gave him the namethat is above every name,so that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bend,in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue should confessthat Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

He became the king not in a palace through grand coronation. He became the king on the cross.

Ironically it was done by Pilate.

Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.' Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Do not write, The King of the Jews , but, This man said, I am King of the Jews. ' Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.' (John 19:19-22)

What kind of kingdom do you live in?

The Kingdom of Power?

Or

The Kingdom of Truth?

We are IN this world but we are NOT OF this world.

Who is Jesus to you?

I hope that Jesus is your king. I want to have Jesus kind of king.

That is my true king.

The post Who Is Jesus? appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

1 Samuel 1:4-20

The sermon script is currently unavailable. We are sorry for the inconvenience!

The post Waiting and Prayer appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Mark 13:1-8

Nowadays we use GPS, before we used to look to the stars.

Stars that orient you. The terrain changes, but you know where you're going.

We have foundational things that anchor our lives and give direction. They give shape and direction to day to day life.

We don't even have to really think. For me, it is my kids, church, family.

Seasons, details change, but the general shape of my life doesn't.

What happens when any of these things are taken away?

There are foundational changes taking place in the congregation.

Aging parents, looming loss of loved ones. Some are already grieving the loss of loved ones. Retirement and loss of anchor that gave shape to life for years and decades. Transition from school and anchored life to new routines. Your own health.

If stars you relied on for direction were to disappear, you would feel lost, disoriented. We wouldn't know what to do or where to go.

Likewise, when these things that anchor our lives change, we feel lost and disoriented.

For Jews in Jesus' time, the Temple was the anchor of Jewish life. They had the Temple and they had the Law.

The temple was the visible and tangible anchor. It set the routine for Jewish life. It was where God resided. Hence there was admiration.

But Jesus was saying it will be destroyed. This was very concerning.

The disciples wanted to know when this would happen.

If something like this is going to happen, you want to know when and what the signs will be. You want to prepare.

But Jesus doesn't say when. Instead, he gives warning.

Then Jesus began to say to them, Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, I am he!' and they will lead many astray. (13:5-6)

Why did he say this?

When that anchor is gone, you feel lost.

Being lost and not knowing where to go is an uneasy feeling.

Staying still makes you feel vulnerable. Our tendency is to want to move and do something.

When you are lost, that is when you're most vulnerable to being led astray.

You're most vulnerable to listening to the wrong voices. Because you want to do something and will listen to someone who sounds convincing and confident.

There are so many voices out there.

I am off of social media because there are too many voices. Too many influencers, too many experts.

Too many people trying to gain a following by saying I am he! or I am she!

Everyone nowadays is an expert. Everyone has an opinion.

Many people gain a following by tapping into people's fears and sense of being lost. They say follow me and everything will be alright.

But many of these are false promises.

Many of these leaders and influencers' true agenda is not to help you. It's to gain a following. It's more for themselves, not for you.

Led astray: be deceived.

Main deception: destination will be great, journey will be easy. Leave out the difficulties in that journey.

Don't be led astray.

When the stars you relied upon for direction disappear, you are tempted to just start moving. But if you get lost in the forest, that's the wrong thing to do.

You feel like you're doing something by walking. You just end up walking in circles and you end up in the same place.

If you're lost, you need to take time to be still. You need to attune yourself to other things in your surroundings.

Before, all you needed to do was look at those stars you relied upon. But now you need to notice other things. Notice other stars in the sky. Notice the landscape around you.

Become familiar with other things that can guide you: rivers, hills, rocks. Slowly, you will become familiar with the new landscape.

There will be other things to guide you and give you direction.

All of this is becoming in tune. Reflected on this on Friday.

Need to be in tune, connected.

With yourself:

Be aware of how these changes are affecting you. Find space to process these changes. Give yourself room to mourn, think, reflect.

Be in tune with your life:

Be aware of changes that are happening. Notice what's going on in your life.

These are all part of noticing things in the landscape that you didn't before.

But most importantly, know which voice to listen to.

Jesus called himself the good shepherd.

This is what he says:

The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers. (John 10:2-5)

We need to be spiritually in tune.

We need to learn to listen to the voice of God. It is not easy to do that.

You are here in church today to listen to the Word of God. To hear what God has to say.

Preparing sermons is so difficult because it's not about information or data. I am trying to be in tune with what God wants to say.

To say words that our good shepherd wants to say to help you navigate this often treacherous terrain of life.

Be in tune with yourself. Be in tune with your life. Be in tune with God.

Then you will know which way to go.

Jesus is our good shepherd because he cares for us. We follow him because we can trust him.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:11-15)

All those people trying to gain your following?

They are hired hands. They will abandon you at the first sign of trouble to save their own skin.

Jesus is the good shepherd. He cares for you. He lays his life down for you.

Foundational changes are not easy to deal with.

Wars, famines, earthquakes: these are things that shake up the foundations of life. They disrupt the routines of life. They are scary.

We cannot avoid them. That is what Jesus is saying. These changes are a part of life.

But what he also says is that they are not the end.

When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. (Mark 13:7)

Painful and scary as they may be, rather than destroying you, these changes will be the beginning of something new.

Jesus tells us not to be alarmed.

When your foundations are shaken, he will guide you through these things.

Like sheep, we will have to go through treacherous terrain.

To get to pastures, they have to travel across rocky ledges and high mountains. There are all sorts of dangers along the way.

The journey is not easy. That's why it's often a slow journey. So that you don't fall off a cliff. To tenderly navigate you through dangerous paths.

Sheep follow their shepherd's voice. They trust the shepherd. They don't panic, but calmly travel along the path laid out by the shepherd.

When big changes come, don't be led astray.

Be in tune with yourself, with your life, and most importantly, with God.

Big changes will continue to come, but everything will be alright.

The post Everything's Gonna Be Alright appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

Mark 12:38-44

When life is not on your terms, how do you respond?

That's an important question we must ask ourselves. It has implications for your life and those around you.

We all try to do our best to make a good life. We understand the rules of the game and work hard to do well within them.

But sometimes, even if you follow all the rules, things don't turn out the way you expect. Sometimes, life is not on your terms.

No one likes that. No one wants to lose control over the terms of your life.

Jesus makes a contrast between the rich people and the poor widow.

He sees the rich people put in large sums of money into the treasury. He then sees the poor widow put in two copper coins.

He says this in response to what he saw:

Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. (Mark 12:43-44)

Jesus is not criticizing the rich people.

But he's pointing out a crucial difference between the rich people and the poor widow. What was that difference?

The rich people lived life by their own terms. Life was in their control.

Yes, they gave large sums, but it was on their terms. That money came from their surplus. Life was in their control.

The poor widow, on the other hand, did not live life on her own terms.

All she had was two copper coins. That amounts to 1/32 of a day's wage. In today's minimum wage, that would come out to about $5. You can barely buy a cheeseburger from McDonald's with that amount.

No one would choose to have so little to live on.

Life for the poor widow was not on her terms.

Not all widows were poor in Jesus' time. Some were wealthy. They were allowed to own property.

But they were nonetheless very vulnerable. If they didn't have a wealthy or powerful family to protect them, they were susceptible to abuse and exploitation.

Widows and orphans were the most vulnerable people. This is why the Law paid special attention to them. It provided special protection for widows and orphans.

James says this about the perfect religion:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:27)

As the early church began to grow, the first issue was how to take care of the widows in their community.

The community and the religious system built around the Law was supposed to protect vulnerable people like widows.

But in reality, the system was often broken. They were victims of the community that was supposed to take care of them.

Religious leaders often took advantage of widows for their own gain. Experts in the Law often used their knowledge to cheat or take more from widows.

This is what Jesus was implying when he criticizes the scribes:

Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation. (Luke 12:38-40)

The poor widow was likely the victim of this abuse.

Life was not on her own terms. She could barely survive day to day. Life was precarious and uncertain.

Life today feels like that for many people. Very precarious. Very uncertain.

It used to be that if you did all the right things, things would turn out okay.

If you studied hard enough, you would get a good, steady job. That job would allow you to afford a house. You could then live a good middle class life.

That situation is harder and harder to come by. Getting a good job is so competitive now.

Even if you do get a good job, they're often not steady like they used to be. There is constant pressure.

More work is contract or gig based. So there's less stability and predictability.

Even if you do get a good job, owning a home is out of reach for so many people.

Everything is so expensive. Our dollar doesn't go as far so we feel more poor. Eating out seems like a luxury.

Life is less and less on your own terms.

When life is not on your own terms, it creates uneasiness. It creates frustration.

When things seem out of control, it makes you anxious. It creates fear.

Fear is the most primal emotion for human beings.

It activates our brain the fastest. It propels us to move fast (Joonie as toddler getting chased by dog). It helps us survive.

But if fear is not managed, it can morph into other things.

Fear can become anger. Fear breeds suspicion. Anger and suspicion lead you to look for people to blame.

Fear divides.

It points the finger at others for the difficulties you face. It creates walls so that you can feel safe.

The world is absorbing the result of the US election this past week.

Donald Trump won because he was able to tap into the sense that things are out of control. He was able to convince people that with him as President, they will be able to once again live life on their own terms.

Whether that is true, or whether it creates more chaos and division, we will have to see.

Fear takes on a life of its own. It's a natural emotion but it can create so many problems.

This is why so much of the Bible addresses fear.

Whenever God speaks to people in the Bible, the first words are often do not fear or do not be afraid . The first thing God does is bring peace to ease your fear.

When things seem out of control, the most important thing is to experience peace.

The poor widow's life was not on her terms. Life was not in her control.

But what she did was remarkable. She gave everything she had to God.

She didn't cling onto the two coins she had. She put in everything she had.

In other words, she surrendered herself completely to God. She placed her total trust in God. For her survival. For her life.

We don't know anything about this poor widow, but we see her faith. Not just a meek faith, but a tenacious faith. A faith that believes and fights against all odds.

It's remarkable!

That is what she put into the treasury – her tenacious faith and trust in God.

The rich people didn't put in faith. They put in their surplus on their own terms.

Faith is not on our own terms. That's what we learned on Friday at our Bible study.

Faith is not on your own terms. It is on God's terms.

To have faith is to live by God's terms. It is to place yourself in surrender to God's terms.

That's how Jesus lived. He lived completely by God's terms. Accepting the cross was his complete surrender to God's terms.

That is what the widow did.

Surrendering yourself is not easy.

Faith doesn't shield you from life's problems. So it brings testing.

The problems make you doubt God's presence. They shake your trust in God. They tempt you to take matters into your own hands.

I'm sure the poor widow was afraid and worried about how she would survive.

Tomorrow was uncertain. Where would her money and bread come from?

But she had a relentless, tenacious faith. A faith that would not be deterred.

No matter what my situation is, I will give to God. Whatever my situation, I will trust in God.

That's how she was able to give even her last penny.

Life was not on her terms, but she gave everything to God.

The poor widow gave all she had because giving was baked into who she was. No matter what her situation, she would give to God.

Worship was a habit built into her. Trusting God was baked into her. It's what gave her a tenacious faith.

Worship is a habit.

Every week, worship needs to be a habit. A habit where you come and give everything to God: your fears, your worries, your anxieties, your money, your future. Where you hear what God has to say to you.

Through the discipline and habit of worship, you will build a tenacious faith that withstands what life throws at you.

This is what James says:

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

My friends, build up a tenacious faith.

When your faith is tested, persevere.

When life is not on your terms, don't let fear and anxiety take over your life. Rather, bring everything to God in prayer.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

When life is not going your way, when life is not on your terms, give everything to God.

God will give you a tenacious faith.

God's peace will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God will take care of you.

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