The Call To Victory
Sermon
UNDER THE WINGS OF THE ALMIGHTY
Sermons For Pentecost (Last Third) Cycle A First Lesson Texts
The book of Revelation is a powerful and beautiful book designed to answer one question. The people of the early church were suffering under persecution and many were being martyred. They looked for the second coming of Christ as the grand and glorious answer to their pain. They asked the question, "How long will it be before Christ returns? How long will it be before the victory is final and complete?" The book of Revelation gives a clear and simple answer: "Behold, I am coming soon (Revelation 22:12)."
For the Christian, all of life is lived based upon this simple promise. In Revelation 7:9-17 the promise has been heard, believed and celebrated. "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb (Revelation 7:10)." The saints of God celebrate his eternal victory before there is a new heaven and a new earth, before there is a new Jerusalem coming down out of the sky, before there is a river of life flowing from the throne of God. The people of God celebrate as if it has already happened, for indeed, for the faithful it has.
A pastor had been invited to give the invocation at an athletic field used for the Special Olympics. Eight hundred special athletes came to participate in games designed just for them. The events started with a parade of athletes; 800 young men and women made their way around the track, banners held high and flags waving, cheering as they went. Some of them limped, some had braces on their legs and used crutches to walk. Others had arms that dangled uselessly by their sides. Some were in wheelchairs and had to be pushed but they were all there filled with the excitement of the games that were to come. Finally, they made their way around the track and into the main grandstand to await the beginning of the games.
Everyone looked down to the right corner for the entry of the olympic torch. A young teenage boy named Joel entered the stadium and began to run around the track with the torch held high. The farther Joel went the faster he ran until finally he was running as hard as he could go. The people in the stands began to catch the excitement of this young man and his run to the finish line and the platform. They stood and began to applaud, then to yell and finally to cheer. Young Joel came down before the stands, ran up the platform and at the top, turned and in true Rocky fashion, jumping up and down waving his arms, he thrust the torch in the air as high as it would go.
As the spectacle unfolded, one word came to mind -- victory. Victory -- they had already won it! Before the games start, before the first race is run, before any one of them grows too weak and tired to finish that race, before anyone finished last, victory had already been won. Victory was in the air, it was in their faces, it was in their voices, in truth it was in their hearts.
Eight hundred special athletes, bedraggled, maimed, crippled, and yet they stood and cheered young Joel. Why? Because, regardless of the outcome of the games, they had already won. That, my friends, is the spirit of the book of Revelation. It is the spirit of the Christian life. For all of us who have been baptized, before the games of life ever begin, we have already won the victory.
Victory is what All Saints' Sunday is all about. Victory is in the air this morning, it is in our faces, it is in our voices, and in truth it is in our hearts. We have already won. Our loved ones who died during this past year have lost nothing but have in fact gone on to claim the crown of righteousness which the righteous judge has kept for them.
We, too, have already won, before we lose that job, before the heart attack, before the operation, before the sorrow of grief, before failure with our children or spouse or self, before those feelings of being lost and lonely, before we wonder if we will ever smile again. Before any of that, the faith in our hearts cries out, "Victory!"
The victory was won on that first Easter Day. The stone was rolled away, the tomb is empty, he is not here, he is risen. On that first resurrection day God, through his Son, Jesus Christ, proclaimed victory forever and nothing can change it. Nothing can ever set it aside.
Why is it so important for us to know, believe and trust the promise of Revelation and the trust of Easter? It is important for you to know and trust so that when you run the race of life, when you stumble and fall, when you are hurt or injured, when things don't work out and you finish last, you still know that you are not defeated. You are not defeated for, regardless of the outcome or the course of human events, the one victory that really counts, that is above every victory, has already been won. Listen, listen, my friends, the world stands before us and shouts hate but God whispers love. The world shouts doubt but God whispers faith. The world shouts defeat but God whispers victory, victory!
Do not ever surrender your life to the power of darkness, despair or defeat. You are resurrection people. You have been given a different view. You no longer have to look out of the window of darkness and despair. You have been shown a new window where there is light, hope and victory.
A little girl was standing at a window; it was dark and cloudy outside, tears were streaming down her face. She wept as she watched her father and her big brother bury in the backyard her closest friend, her little puppy. Her grandfather came and stood beside her for a few moments. Understanding her grief he reached down and gently took her hand and led her through the house to another room, to another window, a window that looked out across the front yard and her mother's flower garden. He knelt down beside her and pointed to a little spring flower that was just beginning to push its head above the soil and whispered to her, "My dear, you have been looking out of the wrong window."
God comes to us when we look out of the window of darkness and despair and takes us by the hand and gently leads us to another place, shows us another window and whispers to us, "My dear children, you have been looking out of the wrong window. Let me show you a new window where there is light, life and victory for all."
John Quincy Adams was one of the early presidents of our country. When he was very old, he endured a particularly bad winter. He was in bed for months. When spring came he was determined to go for a walk and, with the aid of his cane, he made his way slowly down the street. A friend passing by said to him, "Well, tell me, how is John Adams today?" The old gentleman replied, "If you're asking about this old house in which John Adams lives, I can tell you it is in pretty bad shape -- the windows are broken out, the roof is caving in, I can't remember anything any more. The foundations are weak and tottery. Why most any wind that comes along makes this old house shake and tremble. I dare say that this house is in such ill condition that no doubt its tenant will soon be moving out. But, if you're asking about John Adams himself, then I can tell you he's all right and will be a thousand years from now."
Do you hear it? Do you hear the note that he sounds? The note of victory? It's the same note that we hear from the apostle Paul when he says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith; now I go to receive the victory, the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award me on that day and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8)." Do you hear it? Do you hear the note of victory that is sounded, the same note that was heard that day from 800 special children as they gathered for their own olympic festival?
Have you not noticed that Easter always comes early? Our celebration of the resurrection always comes before Good Friday, Holy Week, Lent, before Ash Wednesday. The resurrection of Christ is celebrated any time anywhere Christian people proclaim the great victory of God.
Dear friends, we live in a world that has become accustomed to defeat. The people around us have made peace with darkness and gloom as if despair is their only choice. It isn't, we know it isn't. The victory of God is for all his children. Go with your light into the darkness, share it, proclaim it, give it, and live it victoriously. Amen.
For the Christian, all of life is lived based upon this simple promise. In Revelation 7:9-17 the promise has been heard, believed and celebrated. "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb (Revelation 7:10)." The saints of God celebrate his eternal victory before there is a new heaven and a new earth, before there is a new Jerusalem coming down out of the sky, before there is a river of life flowing from the throne of God. The people of God celebrate as if it has already happened, for indeed, for the faithful it has.
A pastor had been invited to give the invocation at an athletic field used for the Special Olympics. Eight hundred special athletes came to participate in games designed just for them. The events started with a parade of athletes; 800 young men and women made their way around the track, banners held high and flags waving, cheering as they went. Some of them limped, some had braces on their legs and used crutches to walk. Others had arms that dangled uselessly by their sides. Some were in wheelchairs and had to be pushed but they were all there filled with the excitement of the games that were to come. Finally, they made their way around the track and into the main grandstand to await the beginning of the games.
Everyone looked down to the right corner for the entry of the olympic torch. A young teenage boy named Joel entered the stadium and began to run around the track with the torch held high. The farther Joel went the faster he ran until finally he was running as hard as he could go. The people in the stands began to catch the excitement of this young man and his run to the finish line and the platform. They stood and began to applaud, then to yell and finally to cheer. Young Joel came down before the stands, ran up the platform and at the top, turned and in true Rocky fashion, jumping up and down waving his arms, he thrust the torch in the air as high as it would go.
As the spectacle unfolded, one word came to mind -- victory. Victory -- they had already won it! Before the games start, before the first race is run, before any one of them grows too weak and tired to finish that race, before anyone finished last, victory had already been won. Victory was in the air, it was in their faces, it was in their voices, in truth it was in their hearts.
Eight hundred special athletes, bedraggled, maimed, crippled, and yet they stood and cheered young Joel. Why? Because, regardless of the outcome of the games, they had already won. That, my friends, is the spirit of the book of Revelation. It is the spirit of the Christian life. For all of us who have been baptized, before the games of life ever begin, we have already won the victory.
Victory is what All Saints' Sunday is all about. Victory is in the air this morning, it is in our faces, it is in our voices, and in truth it is in our hearts. We have already won. Our loved ones who died during this past year have lost nothing but have in fact gone on to claim the crown of righteousness which the righteous judge has kept for them.
We, too, have already won, before we lose that job, before the heart attack, before the operation, before the sorrow of grief, before failure with our children or spouse or self, before those feelings of being lost and lonely, before we wonder if we will ever smile again. Before any of that, the faith in our hearts cries out, "Victory!"
The victory was won on that first Easter Day. The stone was rolled away, the tomb is empty, he is not here, he is risen. On that first resurrection day God, through his Son, Jesus Christ, proclaimed victory forever and nothing can change it. Nothing can ever set it aside.
Why is it so important for us to know, believe and trust the promise of Revelation and the trust of Easter? It is important for you to know and trust so that when you run the race of life, when you stumble and fall, when you are hurt or injured, when things don't work out and you finish last, you still know that you are not defeated. You are not defeated for, regardless of the outcome or the course of human events, the one victory that really counts, that is above every victory, has already been won. Listen, listen, my friends, the world stands before us and shouts hate but God whispers love. The world shouts doubt but God whispers faith. The world shouts defeat but God whispers victory, victory!
Do not ever surrender your life to the power of darkness, despair or defeat. You are resurrection people. You have been given a different view. You no longer have to look out of the window of darkness and despair. You have been shown a new window where there is light, hope and victory.
A little girl was standing at a window; it was dark and cloudy outside, tears were streaming down her face. She wept as she watched her father and her big brother bury in the backyard her closest friend, her little puppy. Her grandfather came and stood beside her for a few moments. Understanding her grief he reached down and gently took her hand and led her through the house to another room, to another window, a window that looked out across the front yard and her mother's flower garden. He knelt down beside her and pointed to a little spring flower that was just beginning to push its head above the soil and whispered to her, "My dear, you have been looking out of the wrong window."
God comes to us when we look out of the window of darkness and despair and takes us by the hand and gently leads us to another place, shows us another window and whispers to us, "My dear children, you have been looking out of the wrong window. Let me show you a new window where there is light, life and victory for all."
John Quincy Adams was one of the early presidents of our country. When he was very old, he endured a particularly bad winter. He was in bed for months. When spring came he was determined to go for a walk and, with the aid of his cane, he made his way slowly down the street. A friend passing by said to him, "Well, tell me, how is John Adams today?" The old gentleman replied, "If you're asking about this old house in which John Adams lives, I can tell you it is in pretty bad shape -- the windows are broken out, the roof is caving in, I can't remember anything any more. The foundations are weak and tottery. Why most any wind that comes along makes this old house shake and tremble. I dare say that this house is in such ill condition that no doubt its tenant will soon be moving out. But, if you're asking about John Adams himself, then I can tell you he's all right and will be a thousand years from now."
Do you hear it? Do you hear the note that he sounds? The note of victory? It's the same note that we hear from the apostle Paul when he says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith; now I go to receive the victory, the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award me on that day and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8)." Do you hear it? Do you hear the note of victory that is sounded, the same note that was heard that day from 800 special children as they gathered for their own olympic festival?
Have you not noticed that Easter always comes early? Our celebration of the resurrection always comes before Good Friday, Holy Week, Lent, before Ash Wednesday. The resurrection of Christ is celebrated any time anywhere Christian people proclaim the great victory of God.
Dear friends, we live in a world that has become accustomed to defeat. The people around us have made peace with darkness and gloom as if despair is their only choice. It isn't, we know it isn't. The victory of God is for all his children. Go with your light into the darkness, share it, proclaim it, give it, and live it victoriously. Amen.
