Building & Abiding Campaign #1

Author: Noah Lawson

As we begin the first week of the Building & Abiding for Kingdom Peace & Prosperity Capital Campaign I am struck by the fact that we are also in the first days of what the Church refers to as “Bright Week” (the week that immediately follows the Feast of the Resurrection and kicks off the 50 days of the Easter celebration).

During these days of celebration we revel and glory in the fact of Jesus’ resurrection and the implications for the life of his disciples: what is true for Jesus is true for those who know him and love him…his disciples have been crucified with him and have also been raised with him! What good and great news!  

A careful study of the Bible reveals one of the most beautiful of all biblical truths: God has a plan for humanity’s flourishing in the present! God’s desire is that you and me, and everyone else, would not just survive but thrive! Our flourishing and thriving is made possible because of God’s limitless love and fathomless faithfulness as proven in the miracle of our Lord Jesus’ resurrection. The Building & Abiding Capital Campaign invites all members of Emmanuel Anglican Church to participate in God’s plan for our individual, and communal, flourishing and thriving; for our living into resurrection life here and now! 

In Jeremiah 29:5-7, we find these remarkable instructions:

"Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

God's first instruction to the exiles is surprising: "Build houses and settle down" (Jeremiah 29:5a). He's telling them to establish themselves in the foreign land, not to live as temporary residents. This command challenges the disciple to fully engage with their current circumstances, even when they're not what was expected or desired. When a person finds themselves in unfamiliar territory – whether it's a new job, a new city, a new phase of life, or even a new church location like 1300 E. Shaw Avenue – their instinct might be to hold back, to wait until things get better or until they can move on. But God calls us, the disciples of Jesus, to invest in where we are right now.  

The next instruction is equally practical: "Plant gardens and eat what they produce" (Jeremiah 29:5b). This isn't just about agriculture; it's about creating something sustainable, something that will nourish over time. In our lives, this might look like developing new skills, nurturing relationships, or investing in personal growth. In our context as members of EAC what does it look like for each of us to develop, grow, and mature as disciples of Jesus? 

As we begin this sermon series for the capital campaign, and continue to ask the Lord what he is wanting to do through each of us in this campaign, our theme passage invites us to engage in deep reflection as we discern the implications of God’s direction to his people. Some questions that we might ask ourselves are: 

1. How am I putting down roots where God has planted EAC?

2. In what ways might I be choosing to live with a “one foot out the door” mentality instead of committing to the place God has led us? 

3. What "gardens" am I helping to plant here at EAC? 

4. Am I cultivating habits, relationships, and the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given to me for the sake of EAC’s thriving not just surviving? 

As you ponder this scripture and these questions over the next week I invite you to join me in prayer as we offer this week’s Building & Abiding Capital Campaign Collect,

“Almighty God, Heavenly Father, you are the creator and sustainer of all things: enable us to confidently live into the vision that you have laid before Emmanuel Anglican Church; to build and abide where you have led us and to plant generously in faith-filled expectation of the fruit you will produce in us; through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.”  

Healing: Not in part, but the whole.

# When God Intervenes in Our Darkness

Have you ever felt like you're stumbling through life, desperately searching for a glimmer of hope? Perhaps you're facing circumstances that seem impossibly dark, leaving you feeling helpless and alone. If so, you're not alone. The Bible tells us that even God's chosen people, Israel, experienced such profound darkness.

## The Darkness We Face

In the book of Isaiah, we find a stark description of Israel's plight: "We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight" (Isaiah 59:9-10). This imagery paints a vivid picture of despair and hopelessness.

But it's not just ancient Israel that faced such darkness. Today, countless people find themselves in seemingly hopeless situations. I often wonder, "What is it like to live in Gaza or Lebanon right now? What about the eastern perimeter of Ukraine or anywhere in Sudan?" Closer to home, I think about "that man or woman mourning the death of their spouse this morning, even after weeks and months and years since their passing." Or consider those living on the streets, facing extreme weather conditions. These are just a few examples of the darkness many people face daily.

## God's Response to Our Suffering

In the face of such overwhelming darkness, where can we find hope? The answer lies in God's character and His response to our suffering. Isaiah 59:15-16 tells us, "The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him."

This passage reveals a profound truth about our God. He doesn't stand idly by when He sees injustice and suffering. Instead, He intervenes personally. God identifies so closely with His people that their suffering becomes His own. "God is not far away and removed, disconnected, and unfeeling. No. God is wounded and is hurting too. He identifies with those who suffer injustice. So much so that he intervenes."

## Blind Bartimaeus: A Story of Faith and Healing

The story of Blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52 beautifully illustrates God's intervention in our darkness. Bartimaeus represents every one of us – blind not just physically, but spiritually. His blindness "was only a symptom of the underlying pathology... the deeper darkness that he found himself in."

When Jesus passed by, Bartimaeus refused to be silenced. He cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (Mark 10:47). Despite attempts to quiet him, "he shouted all the louder, so convinced of his helplessness that he could not be shut up."

Jesus' response to Bartimaeus is the same response He gives to each of us: "What do you want me to do for you?" (Mark 10:51). It's a profound question that cuts to the heart of our needs and desires.

## What Do We Really Need?

Bartimaeus asked for his sight, and Jesus granted his request. But the story doesn't end there. After receiving his sight, we're told that Bartimaeus "followed Jesus along the road" (Mark 10:52). This road led to Jerusalem, to the cross, where Jesus would make the ultimate intervention on our behalf.

You see, Bartimaeus received more than just physical sight. By following Jesus, he gained spiritual sight as well. "Blind Bartimaeus needed physical sight in order to see Jesus enthroned on the cross, high and lifted up. He needed physical sight to see Jesus' parched lips, barely audible say, 'Forgive them, including Bartimaeus, for they know not what they do.'"

## Life Application: Embracing God's Intervention

So, what does this mean for us today? How can we respond to God's intervention in our lives?

1. Recognize Your Need: Like Bartimaeus, we must first acknowledge our spiritual blindness and our need for God's intervention.

2. Cry Out to Jesus: Don't let anything silence your plea for help. Keep calling out to Jesus, even when others try to quiet you.

3. Respond to His Call: When Jesus asks, "What do you want me to do for you?", be honest about your needs. But also be open to receiving more than you initially ask for.

4. Follow Jesus: True healing comes not just from receiving what we want, but from following Jesus, even when the road leads to difficult places.

5. Embrace the Cross: As we follow Jesus, we're called to "engage in a life of cruciform living, the life of discipleship that embraces the cross, trusting that the Holy Spirit will crucify that which is in us and needs to be dealt with."

Remember, God sees your darkness. He feels your pain. And He is ready to intervene. Will you, like Bartimaeus, receive His gift and follow Him along the road? "By the aid of the Holy Spirit, this is possible and therefore good news." Amen.

Let It Go

Fr. Noah begins this past Sunday's sermon by examining the story of the Rich Young Ruler from the Gospel of Mark. He draws attention to the young man's eagerness to learn about eternal life and Jesus' intriguing response to being called "good." Fr. Noah emphasizes that Jesus is more than just a good teacher; He is God Himself, a crucial point that the Rich Young Ruler fails to grasp fully.

The sermon then explores the insufficiency of mere moral living for salvation. While the Rich Young Ruler has kept the commandments and lived a morally upright life, Jesus reveals that he still lacks one thing: the willingness to sacrifice everything for God's purposes. Fr. Noah points out that we often focus on raising "good" children and being morally upright citizens, but Jesus calls us to a higher standard – a life completely transformed and given for God's purposes.

Fr. Noah addresses the powerful hold that wealth and other idols can have on people. He explains that money, though neutral in itself, can become an ultimate thing in our lives, preventing us from fully surrendering to God. Fr. Noah challenges the congregation to examine their own lives, asking if they have given the entirety of themselves to Jesus or if they, like the Rich Young Ruler, might walk away sad when confronted with Jesus' demand for complete surrender.

The sermon emphasizes the impossibility of salvation through human effort alone. Fr. Noah quotes Jesus' words, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:25). He explains that this applies not only to material wealth but to any sense of self-sufficiency that prevents us from recognizing our need for Jesus' saving work on the cross.

Fr. Noah shares a personal experience of encountering a homeless man at the church, using it to illustrate Jesus' compassion and love for all people. This anecdote serves as a powerful reminder of our own need for God's grace and the importance of seeing others through God's eyes.

The sermon concludes with a call to confession and surrender. Fr. Noah encourages the congregation to identify whatever they might be withholding from God and to offer it up in poverty of spirit. He reminds them that Jesus looks at each person with love, just as He looked at the Rich Young Ruler, and that with God's help, it is possible to let go of whatever we're holding onto that prevents us from fully following Christ.

Fr. Noah's final message is one of hope: through the power of the Holy Spirit, complete surrender to Jesus is possible, and this is indeed good news for all who hear and respond to the call of Christ.