2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14; Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 and Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Last Sunday’s service was an intergenerational service. We also went on a picnic after the service. This is the first hail I’ve experienced since I came to Red Deer. It’s a series of new and thankful things. Additionally, a church member shared with me an article written by a seminary student for a newspaper about his experience visiting River Lutheran Church for two weeks. As we know, a variety of newcomers come to our chapel during the evening hours to worship and fellowship. We are grateful to be able to assist in this endeavor by providing the necessary facilities, including building rental.
For the past ten months, I have had one wish: that our church be filled with the energy of the Holy Spirit. The law of nature is that abundant energy flows to where it is not. So I had a dream that our church would be filled with the grace and power of the Holy Spirit to serve the surrounding churches, the region, the presbytery, and the world church. I am very happy with this ministry because our church members actively participate in all of this process.
If I have one concern, it is how we can better serve the community and the church as a downtown church. Sometimes, when I see the graffiti on the walls of this building and the broken windows, or the countless downtown residents who need help, I have a chance to reflect on what my priorities should be. There is no correct answer. However, we have good motives for this work, and we have a great asset behind us, God. As Psalm 77 says, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” We remember the wonderful things the Lord has done. As a simple example, today’s reading from 2 Kings is the story of Elijah’s ascension.
Elijah and Elisha are going from Gilgal to Bethel. God had a meaningful plan for the end of Elijah’s ministry. It was to be lifted into the sky through the Whirlwind. Elijah knew this and made Elisha stay away from him, fearing that he might get hurt. “Stay here.” However, Elisha declares that he will remain by Elijah’s side as his faithful disciple.
We can understand today’s message more deeply when we understand God’s intention in calling Elijah to Bethel and Elisha’s heart. Bethel means the house of God. This is the place where Jacob, the ancestor of Israel, built an altar and worshipped while running away from his brother Esau. It is also the place where the Ark of the Covenant, which was in Gilgal, was moved. Against this historical backdrop, Jeroboam, the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, created a golden calf here in Bethel. Through this, he aimed to create a religious symbol in Jerusalem’s temple. At this religious center, there was a school of prophets, and God invited Elijah to Bethel.
Next, what about Elisha’s heart? I will not leave you. His determination not to leave Elijah stemmed from his anticipation of an eternal separation. He may have felt insecure because he now had to walk in Elijah’s footsteps on his own. The religious situation he experienced at Bethel at the time was negative. The leaders, including the king, and the people did not worship God. They were just busy worshipping local gods who promised prosperity, like those in the surrounding countries. Elisha is left to fight against these forces of darkness and pagan religions. So, even if it meant risking his life, he wanted to become twice as good as Elijah. He earnestly desired that the power of God that came through Elijah would also come upon him, his disciple. “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit.” (9) This was necessary to demonstrate God’s glory, not his own. A double portion of the Holy Spirit was needed for the people who had lost their way and turned away from God. So, Elijah took his cloak and struck the Jordan River, and the water dried up, becoming dry land. And Elisha, his disciple, performed the same miracle with Elijah’s cloak after Elijah had been taken up into heaven. In this way, the disciple continues the work of his master. As disciples of Christ, we too can do it. You will be able to do the Lord’s work with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I hope that we will stand firm on this belief.
Secondly, to live and act in the Holy Spirit, we must practice the following principles of service. The Apostle Paul introduces this. Serve one another humbly in love. I think this advice from the Apostle Paul is excellent. The more we become leaders, the more we must serve. And at the center of it all must be love. We must get rid of the illusion of a higher position with a love greater than greed. Only then can we be free. Jesus Christ taught us that the greater a person is, the more they should serve. No one in history has ever humbled himself from the highest position to the lowest. No one has ever served humanity with greater love and humility. So, he became our eternal model. Therefore, we all must follow Jesus, our teacher.
Next, we must walk in the Holy Spirit. We have a powerful resource called the fruit of the Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is with us, human beings respond with various fruits of the Spirit. Christians who have been set free through Jesus Christ should strive to produce these fruits. These fruits also bring joy and happiness to their lives. The nine are as follows: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Through God’s total love for us, we are given many qualities such as joy, peace, kindness, patience, etc. I hope that we can use these qualities as weapons to overcome the desires of the flesh and keep in step with the Spirit. So, I hope that we all become people who bear the fruit of a perfect relationship with the world and God, together with the Holy Spirit, who is our good guide. Amen.