[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #563, Pentecost 5, 7/1/07

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

Pentecost 5 -- July 1, 2007


2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Luke 9:51-62

The Mantle of Christ

Being led by the spirit is the issue. Elisha wants to have the spirit 
in him that was in Elijah, his father in the faith. With this spirit 
comes power and direction, the power to part the waters so that one may 
go as God directs. With this same spirit comes direction that is 
superior to the law. Christ has set us free from the law not that we 
might be set adrift but that we might be led by his spirit. People 
adrift wash up on flesh beach. At first we think Paul is just talking 
about hedonism, but his detail list includes idolatry, sorcery, 
enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, envy and 
factions. In an election cycle it is good for us as a country to 
measure ourselves against this list. “My political party, right or 
wrong,” sounds mighty like factionalism. Campaign media consultants 
promise their sorcery. Any contest for power has swirling around it all 
the other signs of the flesh-directed life.

Jesus says if you are going to water-ski, grab the line and don’t let 
go – use both hands. Otherwise you are all washed up. It is the power 
and direction that keeps you afloat. People that dabble in discipleship 
are just wading in the shallow water. When the boat motor roars and the 
line tries to pull your arms off, if you gird your loins and brace your 
legs, you will soon be walking on water. The spirit is this kind of 
force. It doesn’t leave you much time or reason to consider another 
direction. That’s why you don’t need the tedious law. But let go the 
Spirit and you need all the law and then some.

Have you picked up the mantle of Christ? Have you traded the sinful 
reflexes of this world for his high calling? Are you his disciple lock, 
stock and barrel? Martin Luther said that his young colleague Phillip 
Melanchton had swallowed the Holy Spirit feathers and all. He meant 
this as a criticism, but it is an image of doing more than just 
nibbling at the Spirit of God. Are you just nibbling, washed up on 
flesh beach. It’s time to walk on water. It’s time to part the sea. Can 
you hear the motor revving? God is about to line up both hands and your 
whole heart.


May these thoughts strengthen you.

An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor
(an e-mail service)

[See Web Page address below for a Children’s Message coordinated with 
these lections.]

http://www.webspawner.com/users/ChildPage/

Multiple Sermon Starter Essays are available at
http://www.webspawner.com/users/McGregorPage/

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  --Copyright 2007, Roland McGregor, all rights reserved—
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