1/25/04

Isaiah 43:1-7

1 John 3:18-24

John 14:12-21

Jesus promises two things to his disciples that I want to focus on this morning in this portion of his farewell words to them. The first is that he will not abandon them, he will not leave them as orphans, when in a little while he returns to God and is no longer with them in the flesh. And the second is that those who believe in him will do the works he does, and even greater works. Let's look at each of these for a few minutes.

Though the world will not see Jesus when he has gone, his disciples will recognize his presence because God will send the Holy Spirit to be with them - who is sometimes called the Advocate, or the Counselor, or the Comforter of God. Many times throughout the Bible, God speaks these words of promise, that we will not be left alone. We are assured of God's presence no matter what our circumstances. We do not need to be afraid or fearful of the future, because we can be confident that God will always be with us.

For example in Genesis, God tells Abraham, "Do not be afraid ... I am your shield," (i) that is, his divine protector. Later God appears to Isaac, and says, "I am the God of your father, Abraham; do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you ..." (ii) Moses advises his people when they are confronting their enemies to be brave. "... when you see horses and chariots, and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt." (iii) Twice in our Hebrew Bible lesson from Isaiah today, God says through the prophet, "Do not fear ... I will be with you ... I am with you." And we all know the verse from the 23rd Psalm: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." We keep hearing the message over and over that God is with us. God promises time and time again to not leave us alone.

We don't like the thought of being left alone because we don't like the state of loneliness. Sometimes we try to make light of loneliness, perhaps to cover up our uncomfortable feelings, like the story of the three men stranded on a desert island. One day, as they were walking along the beach, they discovered an ancient lamp, and when one of them rubbed it, a genie sprang forth. "For freeing me from my prison," said the genie, "each of you shall receive one wish." "I'd sure like to be back on my ranch," the cattle baron said. Poof! Gone. "I sure wish I was driving my hack again," the cabby said. Poof! He was gone also. "And what is your wish?" the genie asked the third man. "Gee," he said. "I'm kinda lonely with the other guys gone. I sure wish they were back here with me." Poof! Poof! (iv)

Loneliness is usually something that isn't very funny. I read about a heart-rending story of a young man who shot himself to death in a tavern phone booth. James Lee had called a Chicago newspaper and told a reporter he had sent them a manila envelope outlining his story. The reporter frantically tried to trace the call, but was too late. When the police arrived they found the young man, slumped in the booth with a bullet through his head. In his pocket they found a child's crayon drawing, much folded and worn. On it was written, "Please leave this in my coat pocket. I want to have it buried with me." The drawing was signed in childish print by his daughter, Shirley Lee, who had died in a fire just five months before. Lee was so grief stricken he had asked total strangers to attend his daughter's funeral so she would have a nice service. He said there was no family to attend since Shirley's mother had been dead since the child was two. Speaking to the reporter before his death, the heartbroken father said that all he had in life was gone and he felt so alone. He was giving his modest estate to the church where Shirley had attended Sunday School, and said, "Maybe in ten or twenty years, someone will see one of the plaques and wonder who Shirley Ellen Lee was and say, 'Someone must have loved her very, very much.'" The grieving father could not stand the loneliness and the terrible loss, so he took his own life. How many James Lees are there in the world do you suppose? One thing we know, they don't wear signs saying, "I'm lonely . . . will you please help me?" (v)

There is a difference between loneliness and solitude. Solitude is a choice, when we choose to be alone, to meditate, to pray, to take a break from all the busyness of life. But loneliness is more insidious. In some respects we post-modern folks are more lonely than those in previous generations. Though central heating is a great benefit and comfort, families no longer gather around a communal fire, but instead each goes to his or her own room and stares at a piece of glass, either a TV or computer screen. People need people, not mechanical objects.

An 11 year old orphan had been in institutions most of her life, shuffled from one orphanage to the next. She was a defiant child and had very poor manners, and had few friends because of her social backwardness. On one occasion her roommates saw her write a note and hide it in a tree that overhung the orphanage wall. For some reason, such a practice was strictly forbidden, so the two girls retrieved the note, figuring to tattle on her and get her in trouble. But any thoughts of betrayal or blackmail were soon dismissed when they read these simple words: "To whoever finds this - I love you!" (vi) Each day millions of lonely and hurting people in the world are looking for a way to let others know they need love. Oh, that we were more sensitive to the needs all around us.

This brings us to the second promise of Jesus we're focusing on today - that those who believe in him will do the works he does, and even greater works. These greater works are deeds of love. As First John says, "Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action." Many of us might say, "I can't do that. Where would I begin? What qualifications do I have? How would I even find out who is in need? They don't wear signs saying, 'I'm lonely. Please help me.' I'd like to help others, but how can I?"

And this, my friends, is where the Stephen Series system of distinctive Christian lay caregiving comes in. In this program, lay care givers, called Stephen Ministers, support and care for people who are hurting. Stephen Ministers receive some 50 hours of extensive training, provided here by our Stephen Leaders, assisted by yours truly in the background. That's the primary reason we're all going to the Leader's Training Course next week - to learn how to train others and how to organize the program here.

But back to the Stephen Ministers. These are lay people - not clergy, counselors, therapists, nurses, or doctors. Their job? - simply to listen, encourage, and pray for their care receivers. For their care receivers, Stephen Ministers are God's love made visible. Our trained Stephen Ministers will bring God's love and caring presence to those who feel lost or abandoned, lonely or distraught, to whoever needs God's love the most. They will be ready to stand beside those who are troubled, confused, or perplexed. They'll be there to help folks in the many sorts of difficult transition times. For those who are feeling helpless or fearful, our Stephen Ministers will offer support, a prayerful presence, and a helping hand through the sometimes perilous journey of life. (vii)

I hope you will listen intently if you hear God calling you to consider becoming a Stephen Minister. We will probably only be training a few folks in our initial class, and the screening process will be very thorough - it has to be. You will hear more about this when we get back from Texas. But for those chosen to become Stephen Ministers, they will experience a chance to give the love that destroys loneliness, they'll get the opportunity to express their gratitude to God by doing something profoundly significant for others.

As we step forward into this new ministry at Pilgrim Church there are many things that need to be done, the first being the training our Stephen Leaders will receive, enabling them to train others and administer the program. There are some significant expenses to be incurred, not covered completely by some generous donations we have already received. So, mark on your calendars Feb. 29th - leap year Sunday, for a fun-filled dinner and auction to help us raise the balance of the funds needed. See your Pilgrim's Progress newsletter for further details this coming week.

But more important than any fund-raising is our need to pray. Whenever we embark on any new ministry it is important to pray for God's guidance. As Jesus says in our lesson, "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." This is why we pray in Jesus' name. God calls us to pray because God desires our prayers.

In a worship service in Kentucky, an especially boisterous and unmanageable child was being hurried out of worship by a parent sensitive to the well-being of others. The parent had the child slung under one arm, quickly heading for the door before any more disruption occurred. No one thought much of it until the child yelled out in a thick southern accent, "Ya'll pray for me now!" That's what we four who are heading to Texas need, your prayers that we have a good week, a meaningful week, and that we come back charged up and raring to go, to put Stephen Ministry into place here in our congregation.

One final word. When we pray, we are not only to speak. We're also supposed to listen. Let God communicate with you in prayer. Let God work in your life through prayer. E. Stanley Jones, a great evangelist and social reformer, was giving a talk at Asbury College about the need for students to consider becoming missionaries. He had prayed that God would give him just one missionary as the result of his efforts. To his surprise God spoke to his own heart, and answered his prayer by calling him to be that missionary. In a sense he was the answer to his own prayer. (viii) As we pray, let us be open to God's interaction with us. Let us pray, speaking to God and listening to God. Who knows? Maybe you will find yourself called to minister. Maybe you will find yourself given to others, as an answer to your own prayers. If so, so may it be. Amen.

The Pilgrim Church of Duxbury

Rev. Kenneth C. Landall

i Genesis 15:1

ii Genesis 26:24

iii Deuteronomy 20:1

iv Bill Flanders, Autoillustrator #9516.

v Robert J. Strand, Autoillustrator #70.

vi Leadership, 4/12/94, p. 16, Autoillustrator #15512.

vii Stephen Series Sample Sermon, 2000.

viii ibid.