We Need to Change!
Listen.April 26th, 2009
Rev. Dr. Craig A. Wagner
Introduction
There’s an amusing story about a woman who bought a parrot. Though the parrot had lovely feathers, his beauty was only feather deep. The bird had an extended vocabulary consisting mainly of vulgarities. The woman set out to help the parrot learn appropriate language. She worked daily to train him.
There came a day when the parrot began to shout and scream nasty words, louder and more vulgar than ever before – the woman lost her temper. Grabbing the parrot from his perch she shook him, told him to be quiet or else! The bird continued his tirade and the woman threw him into the freezer. After much thrashing and screaming from the freezer, all was quiet. The woman opened the door and the parrot walked out, repentant. He apologized for his behavior and promised to change his attitude and his vocabulary.
Then the parrot asked, “What did that turkey do?” (LectionAid, Vol 17, No 7).
We are in the Easter season still celebrating the resurrection of Jesus with all its joy and wonder and excitement. However, this morning in both our reading from Acts and Luke the subject is one of repentance and change. Actually, this is very appropriate, isn’t it? The bottom line is that Easter is not about more of the same old same old, it is about new life. It is about a life that reflects the power of the resurrected Lord. If we are living in the same old pattern, we need to confess and repent; we need to change our minds and our conduct. This morning as we consider the reading from the Book of Acts, we are challenged to go deep within ourselves and consider the new life we have in Jesus. Has it made a difference?
Peter’s sermon
Our passage from Acts is a part of Peter’s second sermon in that book. The first sermon, you remember, was on the Day of Pentecost; that sermon brought a conversion experience for three thousand people. This sermon will result in Peter and John being hauled before the religious council for proclaiming that in Jesus there is resurrection.
This sermon comes directly following Peter’s healing of a man who was lame from his birth. In context, we find that Peter and John were going to the temple in order to pray. Three o’clock in the afternoon was a designated time for prayer in the temple and as they went they came in contact with this lame man and healed him. In reality many beggars would arrive at the gate of the temple at this particular time because they felt that people would be more generous when they finished prayer. It was a good strategy. At first when Peter looked directly at the man, the man probably felt that Peter would be giving him something; never imagining the great gift he was about to receive. Peter took advantage of the crowds around him, seized the opportunity and began to proclaim Christ Jesus. I wonder, do we seize opportunities to proclaim Christ or do we miss the opportunities perhaps even not realizing the potential for speaking the word and inviting others into a glorious Easter life?
Peter does not take credit for the healing rather he focuses on God and points the people to Scripture. He refers to the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors and how God glorified his servant Jesus. This Jesus was the one that was handed over to be crucified in exchange for a murderer named Barabbas. Peter doesn’t hold back, but accuses the listeners, the crowd of rejecting and being a part of sending Jesus to his death. But God raised him from the dead and this is the name by which the man was healed. God’s plan was being fulfilled through Jesus. Peter pointed beyond himself to the Christ of the world and this is where healing, wholeness and true life is found.
The healing comes in Jesus’ name; faith in that name brings power and miracles. And then on top of everything else, Peter continues to confront the crowds by telling them that they acted in ignorance when they condemned Jesus. The ultimate call and challenge was for the people to repent. Peter called them to repent and turn to God so that their sins would be wiped out and they would receive the fullness of life.
Jesus makes a difference in the lives of those who believe in him; those who have faith in his name. Easter people, people of the resurrection live differently than those who do not believe. There is a power and fullness of life that reflects Jesus and seizes the opportunities to share the message with others.
Our response to Easter
This morning we ask ourselves, “Has Easter really made a difference in our daily life?” “Is Easter only about the future and the promise of heaven or about today?” Has there been an impact made because we celebrated the resurrection? If we are still living, acting, thinking the same as before Easter, then have we missed the new life that Christ has for us? We say we believe, but has our faith made a difference in our life, in our relationships and even in our attitudes? If we are still living in the old patterns of life, then we are continuing to crucify Christ by our sinfulness.
We need to repent of the sin, the wrongs, the evil intentions, the lack of focus on Jesus, the crippling fear of sharing our faith. Repentance literally means to turn around; to change our minds and to walk in the opposite direction. By the way, it is not a turning of 360 degrees – that would mean we would be walking in the same path. It’s a turning of 180 degrees to a different direction.
Consider what needs to be turned around in your life. What is there in you that does not reflect Jesus and a life lived as Easter people? Allow the power of the spirit to turn you around and to change your mind. Of we need to change our thinking and our attitudes toward others. Are we overcome with hatred toward someone? Do we nurture grudges or allow jealousy to take over our thoughts? Do we attempt to remain distant from people who need us? Do we get so wrapped up in ourselves that thoughts are directed only upon ourselves with no thought to God’s wishes for us? Change is called for. We need to change our minds!
The second aspect of change is to change our conduct. The way we act speaks volumes about what is inside of us. How do we act toward others? Do we speak harsh words; do we allow relationships to be severed because of an overbearing personality or a personality and behavior pattern that is selfish and perhaps even argumentative? Do we do things that continue to irritate others even though we know we could stop? Does your conduct bear witness to Christ? If not repent, turn around and change your conduct, your behavior, the way you act.
By the power of God within us, we can choose to change! We can make the choice to rearrange our priorities in life. We can choose to put God first in our life and make a conscious decision to think about and consider Jesus in all that we do. We can experience the peace of knowing the love and forgiveness that God offers us. We can have that peace that passes all understanding as our priorities reflect the indwelling of the spirit; peace in all situations is ours.
And we can access that power from on high that will move us to make a difference in the world and in our neighborhood and with our friends for Christ’s sake: PRIORITIES-PEACE-POWER. We need to change!
A refreshing drink
As the days are getting warmer and the sun shines brighter, I have been able to ride my bicycle more. One thing about riding, especially if the ride covers many miles, is that a rider needs water. Water is vitally important. During a long ride under the hot summer sun, a cool and refreshing drink of water certainly satisfies, refreshes and brings new life and vitality into my life. It gives a rider and new outlook. Peter’s call for repentance is like a refreshing drink. Repentance brings forgiveness and new life.
This new life washes over us and brings us a new outlook, a chance to seize new opportunities, and a vitality that is oriented toward God and his wishes. Easter people understand the importance of repentance and forgiveness and a turning to a new mind and a new conduct. When we are filled with the power from on high everything looks difference; everything is seen in the light of Christ and his love and grace. When we become new and refreshed in the love and grace of Jesus even our old problems are not as overwhelming for our new perspective takes on eternal significance.
I pray that anyone here this morning who is having difficulties, living life without meaning or purpose, who is overwhelmed by their own situation would feel the love and grace Jesus offers. Repent of trying to do it on your own, give it up to God, change your mind, change your conduct and feel refreshed by the drink of living water which is Christ our savior.
We need to change. This morning we have heard Peter and we know that to experience the glories of the risen Christ we are called to change and to repent and to live in the peace and grace of Jesus.
Conclusion
If you take a pig from the pig sty and wash him off to get rid of all the dirt. If you sprinkle perfume on him and put a cute little bow around his neck, the pig will look good and smell good, but turn him loose and he will go back to wallowing in the mud. You’ve changed his looks but not his nature.
Only in Christ is our nature changed from the old person to the new one in Jesus. Allow the spirit to turn you around so that Jesus is reflected outwardly and inwardly, then we are truly Easter people. Yes, we all need to change! Amen.