Sermon: St Michael & All Angels, Year C
Readings: Revelation 12:10-12 & Luke 10:20
Pastor Mark Winter has kindly provided the sermon notes from which he preached in our parish on September 30, 2007.
Introduction
- Relationship between texts for St Michael & All Angels day and the AFL Grand Final in Melbourne (both on September 29 this year).
- Amazed by the celebrating and rejoicing over winning the premiership, especially when it’s taken such a long time.
- Focus on players, supporters and town.
- Celebration on an achievement.
- Sermons texts call for celebration and rejoicing by heavenly beings together with us.
- Not so much in achievement but because of who we belong to and who we are.
Part 1
- The result is known and the victory is won.
- Now have come – Salvation; Power; Kingdom of God; Authority of Jesus his Christ.
- Your names are written in heaven.
- The enemy is defeated now and for good. Jesus did it once and for all. The great dragon – the devil, Satan – has been cast down once and for all. The enemy has not won and can never win.
- We are totally and completely secure as members of the kingdom of God. We are brothers and sisters with Jesus now – it is not only a future hope but it is a present continual event.
It is a matter of who we are and to whom we belong.
Part 2
- But the old enemy will keep on with the accusations. The enemy has not given up the battle. The devil is filled with fury because the time is short.
- The enemy attacks on what you do; attacks your performance.
- “You’re not good enough. You have failed to be faithful. You need to experience more of God’s power. You should be much stronger. You don’t pray enough. You don’t give enough. You don’t do enough ...” etc
- But this is empty by the enemy. Has no substance because our worth and value is tied in whose we are. We are Christ’s.
Part 3
- Use the power that has been given to us to deal with the enemy’s accusations, to overcome him.
- We have the Blood of the Lamb. This not only defeated the enemy when Jesus was on the cross but is available to you and me still today. Come eat the Body and drink the Blood, and receive assurance and forgiveness, and tell the accuser where to go.
- We have the “word of their testimony” (Rev 12:11) – this gives us a sword which constantly fights off these accusations. The “word of their testimony” does not talk of great deeds performed by the saints but of the great deeds performed through the saints because they are in Christ. It is in who we are and not what we do that Christ prevails.
- We need not shrink from death but pass through death to life. We can lose ourselves or our great goals and desires, and rely on Christ to bring in us what must be.
Conclusion
So join the angels, those who dwell in heaven, and celebrate and rejoice because your names are written in heaven. You belong to the Kingdom of God you are part of the family and nothing will prevail against you. Cling to the Blood of the Lamb, the word of testimony and face death boldly in who you are – Children of God.
Amen.