The King’s Call for a Changed Heart

A Sermon Preached by Nathan Mountney on Matthew Chapter 3 verses 1-12

Sunday 15th July 2012 at All Saints Church, Loose

Are you ready to meet your maker? It sounds like something from the movies? I should probably be holding a gun. Pushing you up against the wall “Stick em up! Reach for the sky. Punk. Get ready to meet your maker?” Is it a throw away line? A meaningless threat?

BUT what if the question was a real one. You were faced with the very real prospect of loss of life. If you knew there was a way to make yourself ready. You could chose to prepare. Would you be ready? Would you make that choice? The fact is we’re either ready. Or we’re not. There’s really no grey area.

I think our problem is this. We all want the security of knowing. Knowing that if I make a choice. A decision. The outcome will be favourable. 

The issue of meaningful choices extents to every part of life.

·          If I choose to put in the revision, will I get the A grade

·          If I choose to listen to guidance from parents, will path I take will be all right?

·          If I choose to work hard, will I keep my job? Get paid on time? Pay my bills?

·          If I choose to apply for the job. Work hard at the interview? Will I get it?

·          If I choose to take the advice of doctors. Will I be well again?

·          If I choose to move on from a broken relationship? Will I get hurt again.

I want to make a choice and I want it to work out.

But … experience takes its toll –

·          I don’t get the grades

·          The advice was wrong

·          I didn’t get the job

·          I’m still sick

·          I moved on and got hurt again!

Experience force us back in. To shut off. To guard our hearts from making the same mistake again. 

We have to continue to make choices. But without any expectation. Without any hope.

So what about God? I’m expected to open my heart. Acknowledge who and what I am. And to confess it. Admit it. How will God react? I’m accepting my sin before the Holy God.

Experience says to stay closed. But the call is to open up.

I hope from our reading we’ll see that if we’re prepared to acknowledge who we truly are - open our lives and turn to God – it will work out.

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” ³ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”^[a]

⁴ John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. ⁶ Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

God's message is to HEAR THE CALL AND SEE THE SIGN. PREPARE YOUR HEART TO ACCEPT THE LORD

This is a MAJOR TIME for God’s people, Israel. Radio silence for hundreds of years. Then suddenly the voices of the Prophets crying, culminating, echoing at God’s people. HEAR THE CALL AND SEE THE SIGN. The fulfilment of your faith is about to occur. God is coming to His people. Ready your hearts.

Readiness is repentance. Repentance is readiness. Change what it is you’re living for. Return to the covenant relationship with God.

God’s call “I will be your God and you will be my people”. God’s calling them to possess the hallmark of His people. To possess a heart for Him! What’s the condition of your heart this morning? Does God need to perform a little work in you? Don’t close off. Listen in. And it will work out.

The warning is the Kingdom of Heaven is coming. This kingdom is the place of God’s rule. Matthew really makes an effort to tease out Jesus’ teachings on the Kingdom throughout this book. Here he means the very place and presence of the Lord.

So when the Lord comes the people will be sifted out. Those who have a heart for Him. And those who don’t.

And it’s an urgent call. V1 “Repent [turn your heart to God], for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”.

It is imminent. It is now. Really? How do we know John’s not just pulling their leg?

Matthew’s Answer: v2-3 You’re looking at the answer!! John’s right there. In the wilderness. Crying for repentance. This prophecy - the words quoted by Matthew - have been fulfilled. That’s the urgency. The Lord is coming.

The words quoted were spoken by Isaiah. His cry to Israel for … yes you got it … repentance. But these words were spoken over 500 years earlier. Old words from a distant prophet – but being lived out in front of the people in the wilderness.

And it’s not just an audible call – there’s something to look at.

V4 “Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waste, and his food was locusts and wild honey”. Let’s just hope Gordon Ramsey and Gok Wan aren’t around – otherwise he’s gonna get an absolute ear full. Even by 1^st century middle-eastern standards this is frankly odd! This is not your everyday - run of the mill - Godly guy. What’s the visual spectacle all about?

John’s clothing was reminiscent of another prophet. One of the big guns. In fact the biggest – Elijah. This guy also lived in the wilderness, wearing camel’s hair and a leather belt. And He too was a prophet calling Israel to … you got it … repent. Bit of theme developing!

But here’s another surprise. His return is prophesized "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord". Any Jew who’s worth their salt is going to know Elijah is somehow due to return. And here’s John, same uniform same nutritious diet, in the wilderness. This is the appearance "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord".

Matthew highlights God’s call is an audio visual spectacular. The visual sign that the ‘great and terrible day of the Lord’ is coming and the audible call that heart readiness is the way to prepare.

The call is an audible and visual. The kingdom of heaven is near, the Lord is coming! Prepare your heart.

That’s the call.

It's a bit like this. A person on the pavement is about to witness someone get mowed down by a car. They need to let this person know.

What they’re NOT going to do is idly stroll up to the edge of the pavement and say

“Excuse me Sir, ... in the not too distant future ... you may happen ... to be struck by ... a moving vehicle”.

NO! they’re gonna wave your hands and shout “LOOKOUT!”

God us using John the Baptist to shout “LOOKOUT!”

We’re the guy in the middle of the road about to get hit. What possible reason do I have to ignore the warning?

The world’s single biggest single problem is it doesn’t believe God exists.

And the content of the Bible is not to be taken seriously.

That’s like the guy in the middle of the road asking the person on the pavement as the car horn blasts and the headlights flash “Are you sure the car exists?”

For these people the question of God’s existence never came to the fore of their minds. God exists. God freed them from Egypt. God led them through the desert. God was with them in taking the Land. God settled them in the Land. God rebuked them for Godlessness. God Exiled them. And God brought them home. All with mind blowing miracles on the way. God exists. And the Bible is a historical record of that.

The question is not can I believe these words?

The question is how am I going to respond to them?

Or how am I going to engage others to respond to them?

Will my experience of life force me to shrink from openness? From openness to this message?  

Or will I allow myself the honest response of an open heart? A heart desperate for change?

Let’s take a look at that heart change.

⁵ People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. ⁶ Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

HEART CHANGE STARTS WITH OUTER MARKS OF INNER CONVICTION

Jerusalem is a city of 100,000 population, the Judean region of over 1000 square miles and not forgetting the Jordan River which runs 60 miles, the only water supply for a good proportion of the region. We are looking at thousands of people coming out to listen to John in the wilderness.

It’s not an easy message to listen to. But it’s the genuine word of God. 

It’s not easy to get to him either. It’s a good day or so’s travel. It’s a dangerous journey. No Winnebago’s or 4x4’s back then. You’re carrying your food and water for the journey. Possibly bandits and thieves along the way. You even had to get your affairs in order before leaving to go into the wilderness.

Is this you before leaving for church? Filling the boot with a few days of supplies. Food and water. Getting the kids in. Not the boot mind. And then a tap on the shoulder. The wife kindly asking you to sign the amendments to the will. And who are these people? The solicitor and witnesses. Delightful.

Going to hear the word of God was a dangerous business. But it wasn’t going to stop them! Why? Desperation for the heart change.

Look at vv5 and 6? They’ve gone through the trial of getting to John and what happens when they’re there? The response of the people’s heart flows out. They’re confessing their sins. And being baptised as a mark of their confession. Not yet for forgiveness. But the Lord is on His way. Outward marks of an inward change.

Are we desperate and expectant enough to get to church to hear God’s Word? When we do - are we allowing the changes to show? Or are we putting on the masquerade? My hope is that you make this a place where you can be honest with one another. This is not a place of business. It’s a place of worship. Allow yourself to show conviction and change.

We’ve seen the way to ready ourselves is from the inside out.

… NOT FROM THE OUTSIDE IN

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
 

I can’t remember the last time we welcomed a baptism party with the phrase “You brood of vipers!” Not the best way to encourage a return. Do come back you poisonous snakes.

What on earth causes John to spit out such an insult?

The Pharisees and Sadduccees are not groups you would often put together. The legal and political experts of the day.

The Pharisees, legal experts - handling the Jewish law for the good of the people of course. A high power and wealthy position. Experts zealous for the independence of Israel.

The Sadducces superpowers in themselves. Politically wise they kept the Roman occupiers sweet. And skimmed a little off the top along the way. Sympathetic to foreign relations. 

You can’t see the two together can you?

But V7 “many of the Pharisees and Saduccees came to [check out] the baptism”.

As we all know lawyers and politicians are good with words! They could talk the hind legs off a donkey. But here John sees their wordsmithery is fatal for the people and for themselves.

“You brood of vipers” is a harsh phrase. Vipers are subtle and slow. Reeling in prey by their calm movements. And a deft single strike kills instantly. The calm words from lawyers and politicians would seem to lead the people to spiritual security. It all seemed very religious and godly. Not so says John. Their teaching about Jewish status is death to anyone who listens.

The message of these men was if you’re part of the Jewish covenant community – your “in”. If not – you’re “out”. The status of being a Jew is where it’s at. Being ‘in’ is your security and guarantee for salvation. Regardless of the state of your heart.

And John is clear. That is a deadly falsehood. The real message is the Lord is coming. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. With Him comes wrath and salvation.

You can’t rely on the fact you’re a chip off the old Abrahamic block. Personal heartfelt change is required. Will you turn to the Lord?

Are you going to “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance”?

This political legal alliance doesn’t seek the inward change. But instead are content to rely on the root of their religious family tree.

So goes the story of the family who had a tree in their garden. It was supposed to be a fruit tree. But it never bore fruit. Year after year they hoped an apple would begin to bud off the branches. No such joy. One year the wife said to the husband. “Dear – this tree of ours. Are we going to carry on hoping in vain? Can’t we dispose of it? Use the wood … do something with it?” At that the husband disappears. A little later he bustles past with crates and crates of apples. And finally he passes by with a hammer and some nails. And the wife and kids watch on in amazement as he begins to hammer apples into the tree. What do you think happened to those apples? They rot. Fell away. And the tree? Stayed barren.

V10 “Even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire”.

The tree didn’t need to fruit to be added on. It needed a whole new DNA. It needed a new identity. It needed a new root.

When you come to confess does your heart cry for a new root?

If so, where does that change come from?

¹¹ “I baptize you with^[b] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with^[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The change doesn’t come from John.

John looks from His own ministry of preparation and points to the mighty saving work of the coming Lord.

John points from his own baptism of confession of sin to the baptism of forgiveness of sin.

John points from his own bptism of water to the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

John points to the one who will take the full threshing floor of humanity. And with the words of His Father divide the confessing heart from the proud heart. 

John points to the one who will have authority to judge the proud. And authority to take in the meek.

Who is this mighty Lord?

Who is it that will baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire?

Who will divide the proud and the meek?

Who is it that comes to save confessing sinners?

The first three words of v13 – “then Jesus came”

It is Jesus who is mighty.

It is Jesus to whom all hearts are open and desires known.

It is Jesus who will take the wrath of God upon Himself.

It is Jesus that saves.

It is Jesus that sends the Holy Spirit

It is Jesus who has authority to judge.

It is Jesus who is the Lord

The message is clear …

IF YOU’RE PREPARED TO CHOSE JESUS IT WILL WORK OUT!

If you come to Him with an open and honest heart.

Confessing.

He will take you in!

Nathan Mountney: Reflection on an Apprenticeship

Some films begin with the end, and end with the beginning. By a stroke of genius writers and directors somehow manage to tell the story, developing characters and a decent plot in reverse. Revelation upon revelation. With ‘Ah!’ moments along the way. Finally inviting you to take step back right at the end, after the final twist, to observe and soak in the full picture. That is an invitation God has now afforded me after serving at All Saints Loose. The RSVP reads ‘Invitation accepted’.

My farewell this Sunday gone, 15^th July 2012 was both heart warming and heart breaking. How I have learnt to love God’s people here in Loose! 22 months hasn’t passed as a single block of time, but more a collection of moments. Now memories. Precious ones at that. Sharing time. Living out the fullness of our lives together. How I have been taught that the life in Christ is not one lived autonomously but in community.

I have an open road before me. I know that God will take me by the hand and take me where he wants me to go. That is by far the best thing for me. What it does also mean is the real possibility that it takes me from the fellowship here. That is what is heart breaking. When Paul and Timothy were divided there were tears. Paul still recalling them years later. I shall always fondly remember time spent with all the saints and your absence will be very real. But I shall also look forward to meeting again, here or in glory.

So what about the sandwich filling? The stuff between the beginning and the end. Or is it the end and the beginning? To use a grave analogy, it’s the dash on a tombstone! It’s the most important bit!

It’s been a game of two halves. Two years at Cornhill, which in turn changed the nature of my ministry at All Saints, presenting different challenges along the way.

Year Two offered so many new opportunities. From meeting and teaching new Disciples of Christ, to training more in the children and youth ministries, and from getting a real view of what Christmas is like for a living church … to looking after babies (eek! I never found the off switch!!)

Year One a rich and diverse experience of ministry which stretched and tested me in all areas of my life. That seen by the public. And that behind closed doors. Deeper still. That within. From Toddlers to Teas, TABS to “more tea” at the Men’s Breakies, and Teens to “London Town” for the London Men’s Convention. Thank God for His work in me, and in us together.

When I first arrived it was with a view to testing a call. To training to see if God had any plans for using me in the ministry long term full time. I’ve discovered that the life of a Disciple of Christ is a full time endeavour. A whole hearted commitment. Whatever the weather! Whatever the job description! Apprentice or minister. Accountant or tradesman. Fisherman or lawyer. All are one in Christ. The call is the same. Whole life Discipleship.

So from end to beginning, beginning to end, God’s at work. And yet He's finished the story. But for me, in the meantime, it’s on to the next chapter …

Art Exhibition Success

Thank You

The Loose Church Heritage Group would like to thank all those who took part in the Art Exhibition weekend from exhibitors to visitors. The weekend raised £800 which will go towards the maintenance of the church. Photos from the event can be seen here.