SEPTEMBER 3rd, 2023 PASTOR DON PIEPER
ONE AT A TIME Ephesians 4:21-32/Luke 7:36-50
“SPEAK LIFE!”
May I begin by simply saying, “You look maaavelous!” A little affirmation goes a long way, I always say! You know what one of the best complements I ever received was? Someone from my Dad's church told me that I reminded them of him. That made me feel good because they love him...
Better than that even, would be to be told, “you remind me of Jesus”! That's what we hope will happen if we take seriously Jesus call to follow him, isn't it? That's what the word Christian means.
That's what we're exploring in this sermon series, “One At a Time”. We're digging into the Gospels to learn how we can engage those around us like Jesus did.
To help us get there I'd like to tell you a story from history. It's about a 19th century physician by the name of Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis. How many of you heard of him....? What....?
Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis worked at two maternity clinics in the 1840's. One was staffed by doctors and the other by midwives. Dr. Semmelweis discovered that women were dying of childbed fever at a rate five times greater than the midwife clinic. When he looked into it he learned that the doctors were doing autopsies of the women who died and then immediately would go in and deliver a baby without washing their hands or instruments.
Remember, this was the 1840's, before Louis Pasteur discovered the existence of germs. Semmelweis didn't know why this made a difference but he told the doctors that they were to wash their hands and to kill the smell of their autopsy work by rinsing things with chorine. He didn't know anything about germs or that chorine is a disinfectant he was just concerned about the odor.
The doctors didn't like it but when they followed suit, it changed everything. Even though they didn't understand why, or its significance, their washing their hands was a matter of life and death.
I shared that story to ask this: What if the secret to being identified with Jesus and having a life-giving impact on those around us were tied to something so mundane as to also seem insignificant?
The apostles point to this little secret repeatedly in the New Testament. James put it this way: “A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can enhance life – or destroy it!” (James 3:5) Or as we heard from Paul: “Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
(Ephesians 4:29)
Or in the words of wise King Solomon: “The tongue has the power of life and death.”
(Proverbs 18:21)
Studies show that we speak around 16,000 words a day. Some of us, are a bit above average...!
16,000 words is like writing 60 page book every day. The sheer number of words we use may cause us to underestimate that signifiance of those words, but here's the thing: So much of learning to love and impact people the way Jesus did has to do with the words we speak.
I remember giving a talk at youth group some years ago and using an expression I'd seen on Facebook. It seemed like a good way to connect with the kids. Afterwards, our son, Chris, came up to me and said I should be careful quoting expressions on Facebook. “Why is that?” I asked.
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Then he quoted Inigo Montoya: “Because, Dad, I don'ta think it means what you-a think it means.” I seem to get that a lot! Turns out the expression I'd used had sexual implications. Ooops!
Clearly we should think about the words we use. Thoughout his ministry, we see Jesus using words to convey the Father's heart and to bring his kingdom in heaven to earth. For example in the opening chapter of Mark's gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that: “I must go and speak to others else-where, because that is why I have come.” (Mark 1:38) It's kind of a mission statement.
He makes a similar mission statement at the outset of his earthly ministry, here in the gospel of Luke by saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to speak good news.”
(Luke 4:18)
Jesus was constantly speaking life and healing and blessing into the lives of those around him. When he arrived at the tomb of his friend Lazarus he didn't dramatically remove the stone from the tomb like a Las Vegas magician, or slap his friend's forehead like some faith healer you might see on TV. No, he did what he always did, he spoke a life-giving word: “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:44)
If we want to live and love like Jesus, we need to understand that words have the power of life and death and start choosing them more carefully, stragically and lovingly. Take this story Luke tells about this poignant, unexpected moment in the middle of Simon's dinner party. Luke tells us that “A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.” (Luke 7:37)
Seems like she thought there might be an odor issue there too! More on that in a moment. Luke's phrase, that she lived a sinful life was code for “town prostitute”. She heard that Jesus was going to be at this religious guy's house so she showed up, uninvited, slipping in when noone was watching, with a jar of fragrant, expensive perfume.
Clearly the dinner host was not happy with her crashing his party. She was a woman of ill repute, after all, and he was all about upholding his reputation. Her appearance set the room of his esteemed guests a-murmuring. She was used to it, but not numb to it. And in spite of their glares, and their gestures and their whispers, she made her way to his table. “She knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet and so she dried them with her hair.” (Luke 7:38)
Yuck. As we learn later, Simon had failed to provide customary service of having water ready to clean Jesus' feet, so they were dirty, and smelly. There was an odor and an audible gasp in the room. Women didn't let their hair down in that culture. To do so publicly, and in front of a man who is not your husband, was absolutely taboo. It was grounds for a divorce!
Everyone, especially Simon, was expecting Jesus to rebuke her. “Woman, what are you doing? Get off of me!” But Jesus says nothing, so Simon does, and he mutters it loud enough that everyone can hear it: “If this man were a (real) prophet he'd know what kind of a woman is touching him, (and making a scene, embarrassing me). She's a sinner!” (Luke 7:39)
If that weren't bad enough, and from Simon's perspective it was..., she went on and emptied that expensive jar of perfume on Jesus' feet. It was not just perfume, it was her savings, and it represented the life she'd been living and now she was pouring it on the one who was all about saving her!
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In the midst of all this scandalous behavior, and rather loud whispering and muttering, Jesus tells a little story. The point – the woman's behavior reveals her gratitude for being forgiven a great debt. Then he turns to her and speaks life into her soul: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
(Luke 7:50)
I can't help but wonder how she wound up there. Luke simply tells us that she heard that Jesus was to be Simon's dinner guest that day, but how did she hear? And what was it that she'd heard about Jesus, or heard him say herself, that compelled her to risk all that scorn that day? I wonder. Maybe she was there that day when Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (In me) you will find rest for your weary souls.” (Matthew 11:28-9)
We can be sure she was used to being spoken ill of, that those around her were quick with the gossip and condemnation. She didn't grow up hoping to become a prostitute. No little girl dreams of that. No one grows up planning on being ashamed. But then she hears Jesus speak life into her soul. Come to me and find rest for your weary soul. In that moment, she realized it didn't matter what she'd done or what others thought of her. God was for her. Jesus really saw her.
Simon didn't think he had, but Jesus did. Just as he sees you. And as he did with her, he offers to speak life and truth into your soul. When she stumbled in, she was broken, and she broke down in a flood of tears, and broke her jar, breaking the bonds of lies spoken over her, and to her, and within her, and in doing so she embraced his words...: “You have shown me much love. Your sins are forgiven.”
(Luke 7:47-48)
She walked out a new woman. Jesus' words had recreated her. Our words have similar power. I hope you've had people who've done that for you, who'e spoken lifegiving words that helped you to see yourself more as God sees you than as others see you, to believe that God is for you, not against you.
You've probably also had words spoken to you that have felt more like death, that have kept you frozen or stuck in a place of self-doubt and condemnation. Those who come in for inner healing often wind up stuck in such lies as: “No one really loves you”, “You're such an idiot”, “It would've been better if you'd never been born”, “You're such a worthless failure”, or “You're inherently no good.”
The Holy Spirit, whom Jesus identifies as the Spirit of Truth, seeks to set us free... As followers of Jesus, we're called to help break that cycle of pain by speaking healing, equipping words of life into the lives and souls around us as well. How so? Three main ways stand out in Jesus' approach.
First, speak words of affirmation. Everything we say either tears down or builds up, and we need to choose words that do the latter. Consider again what we read in scripture: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up accord-ing to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen to you.” (Ephesians 4:29)
Don't let saracasm and criticism dominant your conversations. Look for ways that you can say something encouraging and affirming to those around you. Send positive texts. Speak life to each other
After all, “You are the salt of the earth...; the light of the world! You are God's masterpiece. He created you anew in Christ Jesus, so you can do the good things He planned for you long ago.” (Matthew 5:13-14/Ephesians 2:10)
Second, speak words of affection. God does that for us and we need to hear it from each other. For example, God says to us: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
Or as Jesus says about you: “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me... You are my friends. You didn't choose me. I chose you so you can produce lasting spiritul fruit!” (John 15:9f)
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Wives, tell your husbands: “I'm so glad I'm married to you. I admire and respect you.” Husbands, tell your wife: “I love you. You are so beautiful and thoughful and insightful.”
To your kids: “I am so proud of who you've become and of the growth I see in you.”
To your colleagues: “I really appreciate you. You're great at what you do!”
Or to anyone, as I now say to you: “You look maaaaarveous! You ARE marvelous!”
Third, speak words that point people to God. Think of how John the Baptist would respond to people's praise of him. His response was: “I am not the one. Jesus is the one. I'm here to point people to Jesus. He's the one who can annoint people with the Holy Spirit!” (John 1:19f)
When people commend you for your Christlike qualities, for being kind or gracious, point to Jesus. Say something like, “Thanks but it's not me. It's the impact Jesus has had on my life.” Or 'I appreciate that but it certainly doesn't come naturally to me. That's the difference Jesus has made.'
When the voices inside/around you tear you down or leave you feeling empty or defeated, listen to what Jesus has to say about you and then ask his help to equip and motivate you to be a similar voice of affirmation in the lives and souls around you. “Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those around you.” (Ephesians 4:29)