Sermon by David F. Keller, Pastor

South Avenue United Methodist Church in Wilkinsburg

Philippians 2:1-13

“Spiritual Strength”

September 28, 2008

In recent years we have been dazzled by live TV pictures of buildings being imploded. Some of us may have even seen in person the dramatic implosion of Three Rivers Stadium or of St. Francis Health Center, next to the Civic Arena. Implosions also can happen slowly as entities just wither away to nothing. In his book, Collapse, historian Jared Diamond chronicles how whole civilizations can implode when they cut themselves off from renewing economic, ecological, and spiritual resources.

This week we have prayed and hoped that we are moving properly to make sure that the US economy, as well as the world economy, does not implode in what has been referred to as a possible “financial meltdown.” We pray and work to make sure that our Wilkinsburg community and our South Avenue Church have the vitality they need and do not implode. I imagine there have been eras in your life, as in mine, when you felt that you were fighting the threat of a personal implosion.

Implosions happen when an entity just collapses in on itself, disconnected to renewing strength. A person implodes when he or she thinks and acts on the conviction, “It’s all about me.”

Paul wrote to the church in Philippi - knowing that they were squabbling - to urge them not to implode with divisions but to instead renew their vitality by drawing their strength from God. And they do that by following the example of Jesus. “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” And what is the mind of Jesus? “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit.” He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself” to be filled with God’s will, God’s presence, and God’s purpose. “He took the form of a slave to be obedient to God’s will to the point of death - even death on a cross.”

Using the words of an apparent hymn, Paul then rejoiced that “therefore God has highly exalted him and given him the name that is above all names… Jesus is Lord!”

Having the mind of Jesus is to humble oneself to the exalting power of God. What a concept! Paul would have loved the “prayer response song” we have been learning in worship, “Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord and God will lift you up and God will lift you up higher and higher, and God will lift you up!”

Those words remind me of Paul’s letter to the Romans in which he said, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)

I am left to imagine that what Paul is describing is a lot like being pregnant. The pregnant woman is sometimes sickened and sometimes worn down, but she is ultimately elated and humbled that she is a partner with God in this miracle of making a new life within her very body. Father and mother partner sexually and emotionally to make a baby, but ultimately they are humble partners together with the more awesome and wondrous power of God to create a new life.

Musicians and artists know well the dynamic of inspired work. Where did that masterpiece come from? The musician and artist invariably express gratitude for the inspiration that came somehow from beyond themselves. Even Newton and Einstein expressed gratitude for the insights that came to them as inspirations or glimpses into the mysteries of the universe.

Sometimes the miracle comes from 1% inspiration that needs developing with 99% perspiration, and sometimes the percentages are reversed, so that what we do is 99% inspiration and 1% perspiration. At any rate, it’s a “partnership.”

I loved the story that came out of our bible study this week. Janet told about a music education class in which the teacher recalled how music can grab hold of an audience with inspiration taking various forms. The teacher was describing how, at the end of dynamically loud symphonic masterpieces, the audiences sometimes will be caught up in the music so that when the music is concluded, they stand with a loud and boisterous ovation matching the inspiration of the dynamically loud music. The teacher then described her own experience at one such event. The orchestra played Ravel’s “Bolero.” After the orchestra ended that piece with its concluding, almost raucous crescendo, with all the dynamic and instrumentation imaginable, the audience jumped to its feet with corresponding raucous applause and shouts. The teacher telling the story said that three rows in front her was a woman dressed to the tees. At the conclusion of “Bolero,” that woman rose with the audience, grabbed hold of her mink or fox piece around her neck, twirled it above her head with uncharacteristic shouts of excitement, and threw the fur pieces toward the orchestra. She was caught up in the inspiration of the moment!

Paul is inviting us to live inspired lives. That same awesome crescendo – the creating power of God that gave you birth - can continue to create your life. God continues to create you and me each moment in each day as we open or submit to God’s creating, redeeming power. Faith can be understood as an openness. Faith is more than belief. Faith is an openness to God’s spirit working in us, transforming us.

Paul wrote “work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God at work in you.” God is at work in you! What a miracle! God is at work in you! In our bible study Wednesday, it was suggested that rather than be turned off by his statement to work out our salvation with “fear and trembling,” we can accurately translate it, saying, “work out your salvation, partnering with God, with awe and humble reverence.”

Recently I have been finding myself spontaneously reiterating the statement, “We live a mystery.” At my age of almost 63, it is a truth that resonates with my deepening experience of life and faith. The more I live, the more I realize that much more is going on in our lives than we consciously know or control. Of course, there is the astonishing wonder and mystery of your biological life. Of course, there is the wonder and mystery of your emotional life. But now, add to that the wonder - the miracle - that God is at work in you loving and healing and forgiving. God is working a miracle in you and through you to accomplish God’s will here on earth! We are partners with God in this awesome life of loving with God’s love!

None of this miraculous dynamic is possible if we try to live our lives solo, without each other and without God. The strength and resource that keeps us from imploding and that allows us to blossom in partnership with God comes from prayer.

Although Paul does not explicitly refer to “prayer” in this segment of his letter, prayer is the definition of what Paul is talking about. Prayer in all its forms is the connecting of our lives to God’s will and strength. Paul urges us to live prayerful lives, inspired lives. Therefore, pray for God’s strength and inspiration to move into one’s heart and life.

Pray like this,

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” (St. Francis)

“Lord, make me an instrument of your grace and love.”

“Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.”

“Lord, make me this day an instrument of your love, your forgiveness, your grace, your healing power.”

Of course it’s not about me. Of course it’s not about you. It’s about a much bigger miracle of us - you and me - being partners with God in caring for each other and caring for this earth, and in the process, giving glory to God.

If we think it’s all about me, or all about you, we are like the sailor who is trying to power his ship with his own breath. God invites us to open the sails of our hearts and let God’s Spirit to be our strength.

Such a life does not implode; it is dynamically alive now and forever to the glory of God!

Every day God invites us: “Will you be my partner today?”