Sermon: Do Not be Afraid

Do Not Be Afraid
Jeremiah 1: 4-10
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
August 25, 2019

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’
Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the Lord said to me,
‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”;
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,says the Lord.’

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me,
‘Now I have put my words in your mouth.
See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.’ - Jeremiah 1: 4-10

Before Jeremiah was born, God had a purpose for his life. God chose him to be a prophet, God’s mouthpiece, to God’s people of Israel and to the nations. Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. When he grew up into his calling, his heart broke for his people as they were traumatized by the Babylonian exile.

Jeremiah was the one who spoke God’s word of hope when Israel had none: “Thus says the Lord - Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile – and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its wellbeing you will find your wellbeing… For surely, I know the plans I have for you; plans for your welfare and not for harm, I have plans to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:7, 11).

But when Jeremiah first heard God’s plans for his future, he wasn’t feeling it. Jeremiah backpedaled saying, Hey God, I am too young. You want me to speak to the people and to the nations, but I have never even taken a public speaking class! You got the wrong guy!

Have you been there? Maybe you have sensed God guiding your steps with the Lord’s purposes on one particular day. It may be that God needs you to be Jesus’ hands and feet to someone in need. But our first response is a lot like Jeremiah’s – we are afraid. We quickly feel inadequate and unprepared to do something on God’s behalf.

In the biblical text and in the school of life, God does not take “No” for an answer. Do you know why? God pursues us! Because it is not about our ability. It is always about God’s ability and what God will do through us.

God reassured Jeremiah, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:8). And God’s words reassure us as we consider God’s purposes in our lives. God’s Word encourages us to grow into our future with hope as an ambassador of Jesus Christ.

Do not be afraid of your God-given purpose in life because you matter. God promised to deliver Jeremiah because the Lord delighted in him (Psalm 18:19). And the Lord delights in you. We cannot find meaning in life or find our God-given purposes without knowing that we are loved.

Being loved is our greatest human need because we are created by a loving God to live in relationship with God and one another. If we are not nurtured in a web of loving relationships then we will struggle in searching for our identity.

So, I have a word for you. In the case you have not heard these words lately, you matter because God loves you. God loves you and there is nothing you can do about it! We know love because God first loved us ( 1 John 4:19).

Do not be afraid of your God-given purpose in life because you are fearfully and wonderfully made. God has blessed each of us with unique talents, passions, and gifts to discover and hone throughout our lifetimes. Since being in ministry my tagline has been, “The life of faith is an adventure so jump in.”

We have to take a risk to jump in and explore who God has made us to be and to discover what we are made of. Just as a parent gives a child opportunities to discover their strengths and growing edges in sports, so God gives each of us opportunities to do the same. Self-discovery is not made on the sidelines. We have to put ourselves out there.

Do not be afraid but look towards your mentors. God was Jeremiah’s sacred center and spiritual mentor. God promised to be with Jeremiah every step of the way. The promise holds true for you and me as well. God’s Word in Jesus Christ is our sacred center and God’s Spirit is our mentor. We cannot live into God’s plans for a future with hope if we are not digging into God’s Word and seeking the Spirit’s guidance. It is impossible.

Gods’ Word and Spirit is our compass to give us direction. But you know what? We need the help of others to know how to use that spiritual compass. We need spiritual mentors to walk beside us to help us discern the ways God is shaping our lives for the Lord’s purposes.

Spiritual mentors are everywhere. And some are just waiting to have the opportunity to take someone under their wings. That grandmother; that Sunday school teacher. That co-worker. Many here have found spiritual mentors and prayer warriors one of our small groups for men, women, and youth.

Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. God promised to be with Jeremiah as he left what was familiar to try on different experiences that would empower him to do God’s work in the world. One of the best ways you and I can do that is to serve others. It is so important for our children, youth, and adults to put our faith into action and serve our community. We have some movers and shakers here in this congregation. Many among us have passions to serve Jesus in the community.

But as your pastor, I keep praying for God to lead our church to know what is that one thing we are known for? Where do the gifts of Van Wyck Presbyterian intersect the needs of this community to bring about God’s glory and God’s kingdom? How might we unify our service to God and neighbor? We cannot know if we do not step out of our comfort zones and serve in different capacities.

Do not be afraid of God’s purposes in your life or in the life of this church but be patient. You and I might not have a life-defining moment to know God’s purposes like Jeremiah did. For many of us it takes time. God uses our experiences, failures, and successes for God’s purposes in the world to show God’s steadfast faithfulness and eternal love for all of creation and humanity. Nothing reveals God’s love and redemptive purposes more than Jesus Christ.

As you and I strive to keep in step with God’s Spirit and discover the hope of God’s plans be patient. Come to the Table this morning to taste and see the goodness of God in your life. Let the bread of life and the cup of salvation nourish you for the journey ahead.

Our highest calling is to glorify God and enjoy our relationship with God forever [1]. We glorify God by loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves; that will always be our life’s purpose. The particular ways that you and I do that takes intentional prayer, a risk to put our faith into action, and the loving support of the family of faith.

The Lord will fulfill his purposes for us (Psalm 138:8). May we be the body of Christ and join the Lord in making a difference in the world.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] The Book of Confessions, The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Part I (Louisville: The Office of the General Assembly), The Larger Catechism of the Westminster Confession of Faith, 7.111.

Sermon: Empowered by Their Acts: Keeping Up Courage

Empowered by Their Acts: Keeping Up Courage
Acts 27: 1, 13- 26
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
August 4, 2019

After three missionary journeys, the Apostle Paul experienced his second arrest and imprisonment. He remained a prisoner in Roman custody for two years (Acts 24:27). He had defended himself on trial before the governor and also before King Herod Agrippa II (Acts 24, 26).

Paul maintained his innocence; he had done no wrong to the Jews whom accused him of being a pest, an agitator, a ringleader, and profaning the Jewish temple (Acts 24: 5-6; 25: 10-12).

And now he boarded a ship with 275 fellow prisoners, soldiers, and sailors (Acts 27:36). They set sail for Italy where Paul would make his appeal before the Caesar.

This is where we enter the story of Acts 27: 1, 13-26.

When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius.

When a moderate south wind began to blow, they thought they could achieve their purpose; so they weighed anchor and began to sail past Crete, close to the shore. But soon a violent wind, called the northeaster, rushed down from Crete. Since the ship was caught and could not be turned with its head to the wind, we gave way to it and were driven. By running under the lee of a small island called Cauda we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. After hoisting it up they took measures to undergird the ship; then, fearing that they would run on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea-anchor and so were driven. We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard, and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss. I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.” So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we will have to run aground on some island.’

Paul was no stranger to seafaring. He had sailed throughout the Mediterranean as an ambassador for Jesus Christ. I have a feeling Paul had seen it all. The journey to Italy encountered many weather-related delays. On the first leg of this journey to Italy, an alternate route was being assessed. When Paul gave his seasoned advice the centurion (the captain of the ship) respectfully disagreed with Paul (Acts 27: 9-11).

Those who were at the ship’s helm needed to determine a plan B to ensure the ship’s safety. And yet the options significantly decreased when a violent wind rushed down (Acts 27:14). As they struggled to get the boat under control, the situation went from bad to a worst-case scenario.

After three days of being pounded by the violent storm all hope was lost (Acts 27: 18-20).

In that moment when everyone on board was beyond the limits of human exhaustion, Paul received a word from the Lord; God had two purposes for Paul on that ship: (1) to take the gospel to Rome thereby fulfilling Jesus’ command at the beginning of Acts (1:8), and (2) to speak a word on God’s behalf to those men.

Therefore, Paul told the men on the ship two different times, “Keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only to the ship…Keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told” (Acts 27: 22, 25).

My commentary says Paul’s words seemed completely unrealistic in their present situation; Paul’s words were prompted by a [divine] vision that offered a different future [to everyone on that ship] from the one anticipated [1].

Paul knew a lot about courage needed to get through tough times. During the course of his ministry he had many sleepless nights - hungry, thirsty and naked. He had been flogged, stoned, encountered great dangers and many near-death scenarios (2 Corinthians 23-28). And through it all God’s faithfulness sustained him through the gift of faith. Gods’ faithfulness gave him the courage to persevere against the odds.

In fact, when it seemed like Paul’s ministry was dead in the water after his second arrest, the risen Lord stood near him and said, “Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome (Acts 23: 11). The risen Christ was telling Paul your life matters and I have graced you with gifts and a purpose in this life! Don’t give up.

Just as the risen Christ encouraged Paul to keep courage, Paul was encouraging the sailors on that ship– not from the reserves of their fading human strength but from the strength of God’s faithfulness. The Lord called Paul to put his faith into action so that others may be assured of things hoped with Paul’s conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

And Paul’s courage was contagious. While the sailors saw Paul’s words become reality, the text does not say that any of them became men of faith. But surely Paul’s actions made an impression on each one. Surely Paul had planted seeds of faith; some may take root, and some may not. But more than anything, Paul blessed the 275 men on that ship by giving them a word of hope when they were desperate to hear one.

Each of us here today has endured unpredictable storms in life. That bully who always seems to have the upper hand. The pit of depression which seems too deep for the light of hope to touch. The unexpected change in employment that threatens the livelihood of our future. The relationship that seems beyond repair. That health concern that is not improving.

When we find ourselves in the storm, we all need someone who will encourage us to keep up our courage in God’s faithfulness. When we are at our most vulnerable self, we all want to know that we are safe and that we are loved no matter what.
We all need someone who will come alongside us and say, “Keep up your courage and do not abandon that confidence of yours, it brings a great reward. (Hebrews 10:35).

The writer of Hebrews says, “We who have taken refuge [in God] might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:18b-19a).

When you are going through that storm – whatever your storm might be – remember that God’s faithfulness is the anchor of your soul. Let your spiritual anchor steady you as God’s hope brings calm in the chaos.

And yet we cannot be faithful followers of Jesus Christ and stop there. Just like Paul, you and I are called to put our faith into action and share the good news with others.

On any given day, the Lord will place you and I in another’s path – maybe even in the midst of another’s storm - for God’s purposes of giving a word of hope to someone who needs it. For someone else you just might be the conduit of faith to allow that person to seize the hope set before them.

Open your spiritual eyes with Jesus’ compassion to those around you.

Sit beside that student who is trying to hide the tears of being excluded and show that you care and that you see their pain.
Behold that mother’s frustration with her screaming child with words of empathy, “It’s hard being a baby and it’s hard being a mom too.”

Check in with that friend whose life just turned upside down and let him or her know you are praying for their well-being and their next right step.

Let God’s Spirit lead you to inspire courage in another.

May we be empowered by the Apostle Paul’s acts of keeping up courage in the storms of life.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary Volume IX Acts (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 276.