'Throw down' - short for "throw down the gantlet," like the posture taken by this penguin from the animated movie "Madagascar." As noted last week, God is always challenging authority, worldly authority, that is. This week, the throw down continues toward worldly success, worldly empires and conqueror heroes, and even traditional religious institutions, like ours.
The gods of success, achievement, and power reflected by the Babylonian Empire get thrown down by Isaiah. The prophet seeks to awaken the people of God whose faith has waned over decades of occupation, exploitation, and bondage. These upstart empires come and go in an ever-changing parade - Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, something Americans should always remember. Isaiah notes their frailty before the greatness of the Lord God of their ancestors. These young powers will not only pass away, but pass out from exhaustion while those faithful to God will soar on eagle's wings.
Jesus' ministry has only begun, but he finds huge success as a healer. This intense experience leaves him disoriented, it seems. His disciples expect him to continue here as an awesomely successful healer. Jesus isn't so sure, sneaking away to pray and wait upon God's counsel. He comes away determined to fulfill a different mission from simply being a healer. He will travel and preach and cast out demons. Success on worldly terms is no measure for seeking to fulfill the will of God.
One other noteworthy item is that, as we saw last week, the demons are not hiding. They are worshiping with and among the the people of God in the synagogues. That's a reminder to the church that the demons aren't in some horrible, scary place. They're in the pews! What does that say?
Check it all out in the sermon video below. The camera shut down inexplicably and the beginning of the sermon didn't record, but the rest is there. Anyway, there is the sermon download below the video panel if you want to see what was missed, as well as the Fairfielder answers.
The gods of success, achievement, and power reflected by the Babylonian Empire get thrown down by Isaiah. The prophet seeks to awaken the people of God whose faith has waned over decades of occupation, exploitation, and bondage. These upstart empires come and go in an ever-changing parade - Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, something Americans should always remember. Isaiah notes their frailty before the greatness of the Lord God of their ancestors. These young powers will not only pass away, but pass out from exhaustion while those faithful to God will soar on eagle's wings.
Jesus' ministry has only begun, but he finds huge success as a healer. This intense experience leaves him disoriented, it seems. His disciples expect him to continue here as an awesomely successful healer. Jesus isn't so sure, sneaking away to pray and wait upon God's counsel. He comes away determined to fulfill a different mission from simply being a healer. He will travel and preach and cast out demons. Success on worldly terms is no measure for seeking to fulfill the will of God.
One other noteworthy item is that, as we saw last week, the demons are not hiding. They are worshiping with and among the the people of God in the synagogues. That's a reminder to the church that the demons aren't in some horrible, scary place. They're in the pews! What does that say?
Check it all out in the sermon video below. The camera shut down inexplicably and the beginning of the sermon didn't record, but the rest is there. Anyway, there is the sermon download below the video panel if you want to see what was missed, as well as the Fairfielder answers.
| 02-08-15-ff-answers.pdf |
| 02-08-15-waiting_to_throw_down.pdf |