The Call To Meet With Jesus

It's this idea about sharing good news and proclaiming, proclaiming Jesus in all that we do and all that we say.

There was a vicar, a new vicar in a church, and he thought on this thought it would be a good idea to actually encourage people to proclaim the name of Jesus.

So he said, just at the beginning, let's shout out a word, shall we? And then Doris on the organ will find something suitable to play with regards to the thing that you shouted out.

So first of all, we had this great shouting out, and it was shepherd. So Doris, Julie, well, shepherd, that was great.

The next one, of course, is somebody shouted out grace. So we had amazing grace.

There was a young lad in the congregation who thought, this is good fun. So he shouted out sex, whereupon Doris played memories all alone.

The thing is, we are called to proclaim. We are called to proclaim. And I'd like you to think maybe, have you ever been to a major concert?

Maybe the biggest concert that you've ever been to. We, maybe it's the O2, a big gig that you went to, where you wait for that main artist to come on.

You've waited, you've paid a lot of money, maybe you've had a hotel overnight, you've had transport to get there, you've paid a lot for your ticket.

But there's an anticipation that grows within us all the time of the person that's going to come on.

Mandy and I, this year, as part of our 40th wedding anniversary, we went to see Ed Sheeran.

Here's a little picture of us there.

Whoa!

Ed Sheeran.

And of course, what they do is you arrive, and already by the time you get there, it's building, isn't it?

You've queued up, you've gone through security, you get in, and then as people, the stadium fills up, you get the first act that comes on, that's really warming up.

Then the second act, there was a second act as well.

And then, then you see all the roadies come on, and they start to change the stage around.

And you think, this is it.

And there's an electricity amongst in there, you know, and then on comes, even before that, and you've got ladies and gentlemen.

And that is it, isn't it?

Once you get ladies and gentlemen, and the place goes berserk.

Maybe not with all the glitz and sparkle, John the Baptist comes to proclaim the greatest event ever.

He comes to proclaim that the Messiah is here.

Not with all the glitz, not with all the glamour, but to announce Jesus's ministry to a waiting world.

And that's what we capture this morning.

This idea of announcing and pronouncing Jesus to a waiting world.

John has waited, he's been waiting a long time to do this introduction.

He knew that Jesus was coming.

He knew that Jesus' time was coming.

And as he and the prophets have been preparing the whole community and the Jewish people, many of them who weren't listening,

but he didn't stop pronouncing Jesus.

John had made many enemies in speaking the truth.

And in fact, John would be decapitated at the behest of a dancing girl's mother who wanted his head on a plate.

He wasn't afraid to pronounce Jesus.

This is the first reference.

No wonder Matthew begins by introducing us to John the Baptist, who comes into this Judean wilderness in the middle of seemingly nowhere,

and makes this amazing announcement for the world that this is Jesus's time.

This is his ministry.

This is the first reference to the kingdom in Matthew.

Kingdom language signaled to John's listeners who had long awaited to hear this.

They'd long awaited to hear this kingdom is coming.

The kingdom is now here.

It heralds a person that they were waiting for.

God's promises to restore God's people, as we heard in Isaiah.

In Isaiah 40, it's no coincidence that Matthew then actually cites Isaiah 40.

Described John as a voice crying in the wilderness.

A voice crying in the wilderness.

Hold that picture for a moment of a voice that is crying in what seemingly feels like a wilderness.

What does John ask of the people that have been waiting?

Does he ask for a round of applause?

Does he ask for clapping and cheering?

Does he ask for streamers and party cannons?

Pyrotechnics?

No.

He doesn't even ask for a big thank you.

But what John is asking for something is far more for those who have been waiting to receive Jesus.

Is he asks for repentance.

And as I read this chapter, that was the word that stuck out for me.

Repentance.

Repent for the kingdom of heaven is come near.

Is what John proclaims.

And for some people, that repentance is mostly about feelings.

You know, feeling maybe sorry for your sin.

I'm sorry to say, but in these days there has been a whole industry that has been built around feeling sorry for your own sin.

And the church in many ways sometimes has colluded with that as well.

When some people, you know, really don't really want to do anything about their sin.

They just want to feel sorry about their sin.

The thing is, is that repentance is a doing word.

It's not a feeling word.

It says, repent.

To do something.

I think Jesus had a really great counselling technique when he was talking to people about sin.

You know, if your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away.

You know, no messing.

It's a doing word.

If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away.

You know, it's not literal, of course, but those who heard it actually got the point.

This is a doing word.

I've got to do something about my sin.

Because I'm being called, in that call, to repentance.

That's why repent is such an acting word.

It means a shift.

It means a shift in us in order to do something.

Repent means to turn.

To turn away from your sin.

Not merely to feel sorry for what you've done.

Repentance means to speak of change.

A change of direction.

A change of heart.

Repentance means freedom that Jesus brings.

Repent is what grace and coming to God is all about.

And how can we engage what the kingdom of heaven is unless we leave our sinful ways and our self-seeking, maybe in selfish ways, and habits behind, and turn and face God?

That's what John was proclaiming.

Turn around.

Turn around.

Repent.

That's why I'm here, says John.

Because this person is now here.

Don't leave it too late.

There's a little picture on the screen.

I remember when I worked on the Broadmead in Bristol.

In the place, there was a guy, not this guy here, but very similar.

Each day, he used to walk up and down the Broadmead.

You might have seen him.

And he would shout at people.

And he would say, repent.

The end is nigh.

Repent.

You know, I'm not sure how many people actually really repented there on the spot.

I'd like to think that they did.

In fact, there are people, frankly, I thought at the time that he might have been a little bit unstable.

But I'd take my hat off to him, you know, and he was out there proclaiming, probably not in a way in which we would do.

But many thought the same of John the Baptist.

There was no difference.

John the Baptist was in a culture where he was calling people to repentance.

The message is right in your face.

You know, we know that we're called to turn from our sin.

But most people will acknowledge that they've done wrong and fallen short.

We all did.

We've just repented at the beginning of our service.

Many people want to turn from their sin and seek a new life.

Many people, you know, in that turning, want to turn.

But this is where the rubber hits the road.

You see, if you're going to turn away from something, you need to know what you're turning to.

That's the issue.

If we're asking people to repent and to make a change, what are you actually turning from and to?

And they won't know what you're turning to until you actually introduce them to the person that they're turning to.

It's that basic thing.

You know, this is your sin.

This is Jesus.

This is death.

This is life and hope.

It's that simple.

But it means turning and facing.

John was proclaiming that.

John was wanting to do that.

And we'll sing again over the coming weeks.

A place where the hopes and fears of all the years are met in you tonight.

You know, I don't know about you.

I'm meeting people with lots of fears at the moment.

You know, fears of this, fears of that.

Seems to be you turn on the news.

It's all about fears.

Turn to a place of hope where Jesus actually encompasses those and can actually meet us in that place.

And if I leave something behind, I want to know where I'm going to.

Repent is central to the proclamation of John the Baptist.

Repent is central to Jesus' message.

Repent was an essential element in the disciples' lives.

Repent is a call which in many areas of his church today needs to heed if we are introducing people to Jesus, the person that we need to meet with.

We, the church, live by what it says in the book.

And it's Matt Redman.

I think that Matt Redman's song reduces me again and again to a place of emotion where it says,

I'm coming back to the heart of worship.

It's all about you.

It's all about you, Jesus.

And I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing that we've made it.

I sing that to say I'm sorry Lord with the thing I've made it you know when it's all about you

it's that turning that we're asking this is why John was so urgent in his call

to repentance because he said the kingdom of heaven is at hand this week we heard the statistics

you've probably heard them the same as I have on the television and on the radio that Christians

now account for less than half of England and Wales's population for the first time in the census

and in government figures the Christians are now less than half in our population the ONS results

show that 46.2 percent of the population described themselves as Christian in 21 and this marks a

decrease from 59 percent in 2011 people who declared that they had no religion or as somebody

said on the radio this morning they're called nuns I think that's I don't think that's very helpful

really but they said that people with no religion has risen increased to 37 percent how do you feel

about that as a disciple do you feel like a voice crying in the wilderness

personally I am fired and excited by those figures because if there are people who have declared

themselves that they have no religion that they are nuns that is a great pool to fish in

if we're going to go fishing and proclaim Jesus in what we do what a great pond to fish you know we are

disciples we what could the church look like if we caught that renewed sense of urgency that was there in

the desert with John calling people to repentance Jesus about to arrive the Holy Spirit comes on

Jesus and suddenly there's this explosion in Jesus his ministry and then at Pentecost we all get the same

Jesus Messiah and Savior if we're asking people to turn away from something then let's be clear and

proclaim what people are turning towards and let's get enthusiastic intentional and missional about that

in the weeks and the months to come as we will hear again Jesus and scripture people left the safety of the ordinary to follow Jesus

Jesus as we say in our creeds will come again that's worth turning away from sin because repenting may be of our apathy

repenting of our love of our love of our love of our love of our love of our love of power and privilege in denomination

maybe repenting of self-sufficiency rather than trusting fully in Jesus

repenting of our lack of faith and trust in what the Holy Spirit is and can do through us

and yes with a large majority of young people having little or no interest in who we are in this country

what a great lake to fish in

and maybe we need to throw our nets where Jesus is showing us

where to fish rather than to fish in old waters

from this week onwards as it was this morning this place will be filled with young people

tomorrow there will be preschools then there will be scouts and

cubs and everybody then there will be the schools that will come in

hundreds and hundreds of young people will hear the message of Jesus at this time of the year

I think our challenge is is who is there to tell them about Jesus for the rest of the year

and that is us

and how will we do that

what is our challenge to proclaim and to turn back

you and me rising up proclaiming Jesus the urgency of the season to make him known in 2023

to a waiting world to the 37 percent of nuns

who are lost

the axe is ready to fall at the root of the tree

and the tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire

I baptise you with water for repentance

for turning around

but after me comes one who is more powerful than I

whose sandals I'm not worthy to carry he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit

and fire

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 inquenchable fire

people are talking about warm spaces at the moment

hell is amazingly warm

let's introduce people to the warm space that Jesus invites us to

and not the warmer place that the world is talking about

let's make sure it's the right sort of place

a place where Jesus is proclaimed

a place where scripture and the gospel is upheld and lived out in love and peace

a place where the power of the Holy Spirit is alive

active and burning brightly

in his people

in the everyday

a place where we acknowledge sin

and a safe place to repent

amongst ourselves

and not be judged

a place of grace

a place where truth and love abounds

how will we personally and as disciples

proclaim Jesus

in 2023

how will we do that during this Advent season

what is the Holy Spirit saying to us

personally

about how we do that

corporately

as a church

individually

as individuals

because it's a call on each of our lives

I talk about bringing five people to faith in 2023

2023

if each of us brought five people into relationship to meet with Jesus

in 2023

we'll need a few more seats

yeah

wouldn't that be a great day

yeah

honestly

you bought it

let's do it

let's do it

because if we're moving in the power of the Holy Spirit

we repent

we turn

how many will make an active commitment to bring friends to Alpha

if you're turning from something you want to know what you're turning to

bring people to Alpha

they'll know what they're turning to

about the Christian faith

they're not buying into something

that they don't know

and I'm just going around with a picture

I don't know whether you get pictures in your shower

it's probably the only place that's quiet for me in the morning

maybe

I don't know

but I just sensed this morning

of

if this is your sin

and you're backing away

and suddenly

you bump in

to somebody

that makes you turn

I believe

there's a whole load of people

who are wanting to back away from their life

of sin

of money

of everything

and are suddenly going to meet with Jesus

I pray

that we will be there at that time

to encourage

support them

enthuse them

empower them

and bring them into that place

that Jesus calls

and as John the Baptist calls us to

to proclaim him

in all that we do

can we do that?

we can

let's pray

Holy Spirit

would you come

Holy Spirit

would you come

on each

and every one of us now

I pray for maybe

those who are here this morning

or those listening

now on the podcast

for whom

there is a real call

away

from maybe

something

but you haven't

really yet engaged

and committed

to Jesus

I pray Lord

that maybe

if that is a

now moment

now

you would just say

Lord I repent

of my past

and I'll meet with you

and if that is for you

this morning

here

or if you're listening

now

whatever you're doing

especially if you're driving

not on the motorway

but if you're driving

just maybe pull over

at the next available time

and just

seal the deal

with Jesus

Lord I'm yours

I turn from everything

that is wrong

Lord I want to get

to know you better

just pray for that

as an answer

for a waiting world

and the community

that we're called

to serve

I pray now

is maybe

there are pictures

coming to mind

of people

maybe three

or five people

that you are praying for

for whom

that

you would long

for that

to be a moment

for them to do that

trust in the Lord

with all your heart

just trust in the Lord

with all your heart

don't lean on your own

understanding

fall into what

the Holy Spirit

wants to do

in them

and through them

so Lord

empower us

and infuse us

excite us

and encourage us

this Advent

as we wait

for that great event

because Jesus

is coming again

and that's what

we're getting ready for

he will come again

and let's be ready

along with those

who are coming to him

whenever that moment is

in Jesus name

Amen