I know it has been a few days since I posted the last transcript of the sermon Run but in my defense I have been running pretty fast this last week.
Anyway if you need to catch up:
PT.1 IS HERE
PT. 2 IS HERE
AND PT. 3 IS HERE
NOW HERE IS PT. 4
It was mentioned Run Pt. 3 that some people run away from life and its battles. They withdraw. Hide. While that is true it is not the only way people run. Some people don’t run away. They run to battle. They are like Peter in the Garden of Gethsemene
John 18 relates the story: “When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
8Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”a
10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
In Matthew 26:52 Jesus is recorded as saying these words at that event, “…all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53
As Christians many of us are engaging in the battle We use Facebook to belittle political candidates we do not like. We use profanity and disparage people we don’t like We take a fighting stance all to defend out rights that we think are being stripped away from us as though we think God’s kingdom is a Democracy that requires our action or our voice to defend it.
The problem with both running away and running into battle is that both focus on the problems we face and upon our ability to solve those problems while discounting God’s actions as though God is not capable of solving our issues for us.
God’s word doesn’t call us to run away or to run to battle. God’s Word tells us to run to God and nowhere else.
Lillie-Put 