Freedom in the Spirit-- this past Sunday's sermon

I have gotten behind in posting sermons.  Not that I post all of them, but I do try for the most part to post the transcripts, the recordings, the bulletins, some of the songs, etc.  That is, when I have time and energy.  I haven't posted sermons in the past three weeks.  Things have been busy in life.

I will start with yesterday's sermon and hopefully catch up with the other two as well.

In addition to the recorded sermon, I'm including the special music this time because I recorded it.  I don't always record the special music, but I did yesterday.

I included a song in the sermon.  You might can hear it in the recording, but I will also add it to the sermon script.

In the sermon, I mention something and include the link in the transcript.  I will post it too.

I wore my butterfly stole yesterday that I bought to wear for my niece's wedding.  I thought it was appropriate for Transfiguration Sunday, as I shared about transformation for all of us.

I don't know who reads or listens or if this meets anyone where they are, these sermons.  But, I share, in the off chance that the Holy Spirit, who is always teaching, may use it somehow, someway, for someone.

Peace,

Debra

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“Freedom in the Spirit”

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 (CEB)

March 3, 2019 (Transfiguration Sunday/Communion Sunday)

Fort Oglethorpe UMC

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 (CEB)

¹² So, since we have such a hope, we act with great confidence. ¹³ We aren’t like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the Israelites couldn’t watch the end of what was fading away. ¹⁴ But their minds were closed. Right up to the present day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. The veil is not removed because it is taken away by Christ. ¹⁵ Even today, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever someone turns back to the Lord, the veil is removed. ¹⁷ The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ All of us are looking with unveiled faces at the glory of the Lord as if we were looking in a mirror. We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

4 This is why we don’t get discouraged, given that we received this ministry in the same way that we received God’s mercy. ² Instead, we reject secrecy and shameful actions. We don’t use deception, and we don’t tamper with God’s word. Instead, we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God by the public announcement of the truth.

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THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

THANKS BE TO GOD.                      

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Today is Transfiguration Sunday.  From the UMC discipleship.org page, today “we celebrate the revelation of Christ’s glory “before the passion” so that we may “be strengthened to bear our cross and be changed into his likeness.”  The focus of the Lenten season is renewed discipline in walking in the way of the cross and rediscovery of the baptismal renunciation of evil and sin and our daily adherence to Christ.”  

This prayer from The Book of Common Prayer helps us put today in perspective: “O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/transfiguration-sunday-why-do-we-celebrate-it-before-lent

As we dig into today’s passage, keep in mind that we are to become more and more like Christ, as we celebrate the revelation of Christ’s glory.

The title for today comes from verse 3:17—“The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom.”

There is freedom in the Spirit.  Amen?!  Do you believe that?  Have you experienced the freedom that comes in, with, through, and by the Spirit?  Once you have, there’s no turning back.  When you’ve been set free, you don’t go back into bondage.  You cannot un-see what you have seen. 

Before today’s key verse, 17, there are key words in other verses that might have stood out to you—hope, confidence.  In verse 17, freedom.  After verse 17, transformed.

4:1 tells us to not be discouraged.  Others versions say, do not lose heart.

Today’s passage is one that calls us from bondage and blindness into freedom, hope, and boldness, all because of an encounter with the Spirit and being transformed into the image of God (verses 17-18) [Feasting on the Word, Donald Musser, 446]

A quote from this week’s reading: “Hardened hearts are softened and blind eyes become sighted as the glory of God is revealed and lives are transformed (3:18) into God’s image.” (Feasting on the Word, Donald Musser, 446)

The life changing experience that Jesus had on the mountain, his transfiguration, is available for every one of us.  We can all be transformed.  An encounter with God will not leave us the way we were, if we are open to the life giving freedom of the Spirit.

Let’s think for a moment about what things might cause us to experience bondage or blindness. [PAUSE]

What if we were to fill in the blank for this sentence: “He/She/They was/were blinded by ______________.” What would you say?  [Now, if you’re thinking ‘she blinded me by science, then you are familiar with the 1982 song by Thomas Dolby, but that isn’t where I was going, though it did come to mind. 

Things that come to my mind that often cause us to be blinded or in bondage are: fear, hate, ignorance.  There are many other things that cause blindness and bondage. 

The good news is that there is freedom in the Spirit.

We can be transformed.  We can change.  We aren’t stuck in the environment in which we grew up, our thoughts, our habits, etc.  Because of the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, we are transformed into the likeness of Christ, as we grow as disciples of Christ. 

In my preparation this week, I came across a recommended video.  I had never heard of it before, so I looked it up.  In a few minutes we will show this video.  Before we do that, I ask that we pray this prayer from Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)--

²³Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

This video is a song by Montgomery and Gentry, “Some People Change”.  Listen and watch.

[VIDEO]

[Read the closing words again from the screen:]

“Here’s to the strong

Thanks to the brave

Don’t give up hope

Some people change

Against all odds

Against the grain

Love finds a way

Some people change

Thank God for those who make it

Let them be the light”

As we prepare our hearts for Holy Communion today, may we remember that there is freedom in the Spirit.  May we recognize the gospel of love, hope, and deliverance in Jesus Christ.  On this Transfiguration Sunday, the transforming power and love of God is for all of us.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

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Recorded sermon

Special Music