January 11, 2015
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Worship
Theme: Our Baptism
Baptism
of the Lord Sunday
Mark
1:4-11 NIV
Acts 19:1-7 NIV
Wade In the Water
Prayer
for God’s word to come from my mouth and that His word would be heard through
me or in spite of me…
A
Reading From the Book of Acts, Chapter 19, verses 1-7…listen for a Word from
God to you me the people of God…(Read Scripture)
(Wade
in the water…wade in the water children…wade in the water…God’s gonna trouble
the water…)
(Start pouring the water) Water…it has a
various usages in our lives. It can be life giving but it also can be life
taking. Water has so much power. When it is held back, we have ponds where
ducks can swim in the summer and we can skate on it in the winter. When it is
held back, we can have water to drink from our faucets at home. But when it is
let loose…then…then we can see its awesome power. When it is let loose we see
how a rain storm can cause flooding and damage to our homes. How can something
that is so life giving also be devastating? It is definitely a force to be
reckoned with…
(Wade
in the water…wade in the water children…wade in the water…God’s gonna trouble
the water…)
We use water to help us. Some use water
to make machinery work as in mill with a water wheel to work its machinery. We
especially use water to put out fires. This may be one of the most important
ways we use water. Without it…a fire could burn out of control…we need to
quench the fire to save lives.
But there is one instance where water
and fire work together. It’s when the water of our baptism works with the
flame…the fire…of the Holy Spirit. You need both in baptism, both fire and
water. In our baptism of water…our rebirth…we are given the gift of the Holy
Spirit…the flame within us. We are re-created into a new person. God, through
Christ, recreates us into a new creation. God loves to create. In Genesis we
hear about how God created light over the waters. God created…the earth was
birth, out of the waters that covered the earth. Something new was created out
of the water. But in our baptism there is yet another element that is added to
the creation. Fire is added…the Holy Spirit…to complete the new creation.
(Wade
in the water…wade in the water children…wade in the water…God’s gonna trouble
the water)
There are many stories in the bible
about water, some good and some not so good. Out of the water God created the
dry land in the Book of Genesis. Through water, the Israelites were saved from
the Egyptian’s in the Exodus story. Out of a rock Moses was able to find life
giving water for a thirsty nation. Through the waters of the Jordon River the
Israelites entered into the new land. But…but…out of water also came the flood
that wiped away almost all of humanity in Noah’s day. Out of water the
Israelites enemies, the Egyptians, were drowned in the Red Sea. There are many
more stories about water in the bible. It has an important place in God’s grand
design. Water is a holy and powerful thing. Water…at times we can’t live with
it but more often we can’t live without it.
(Wade
in the water…wade in the water children…wade in the water…God’s gonna trouble
the water…)
Today is Baptism of the Lord Sunday in
the Christian calendar. It is a day when we remember that baptism that changed
all other baptisms to come. It is a day that through water a new era emerged.
Through water we are saved. Through water we are adopted. Through water we are
claimed. And through water we are freed. Water has many images for me. In
today’s readings, I had many different images come to mind.
(Wade
in the water…wade in the water children…wade in the water…God’s gonna trouble
the water…)
In the Acts Scripture this morning, we
heard about how Paul was to some disciples. He asked them if they had received
the Holy Spirit at their baptism. Now…this question that Paul asked them makes
me wonder. What was it about these disciples that Paul had to ask this
question? He knew they were disciples but there must have been something wrong
about them, something missing that made Paul question them. What was missing
was that one baptism that is in and through Jesus. What was missing is that
fire of the Spirit that we receive at our baptism. They had the repentance part
but not the fire that was needed. Praise God that when we are baptized in Jesus’
name we receive both…
(Wade
in the water…wade in the water children…wade in the water…God’s gonna trouble
the water…)
And then we have the baptism of Jesus.
John knew who Jesus was and that He would bring about a new baptism. It would
not be a baptism that just cleanses you with water from your sins but a baptism
above all baptisms. This baptism will be one that has never been seen before…A
baptism of the Spirit and fire…A baptism that God comes and lives within the
baptized person through the Spirit…a baptism that would change all other
baptisms. John knew you need both the water of repentance and the “fire” of the
Holy Spirit. Unfortunately in these days,
there are many who have one…not both. They have their baptism of repentance but
no “fire”. They are very lukewarm and they are happy just the way they are.
But as I read the passage, the most exciting piece for me is the part when the
voice says… (I like how the Message Bible
puts it…) “You are my Son, chosen
and marked by my love, pride of my life.” In
our baptism we too here…You are my
son…you are my daughter, you are chosen and marked…I have claimed you and you
are mine…the pride of my life…through this water I have marked you with the
seal of my Spirit.
(Wade
in the water…wade in the water children…wade in the water…God’s gonna trouble
the water…)
Today is the Baptism of the Lord Sunday,
the day when we remember not only his life changing baptism but ours as well.
Through water we are saved. Through water we are redeemed. Through water we are
given a new life. In just a moment we are going to share the joy of baptism
with Wanda. How awesome it is that she is going to wade in the water of grace…of
love…of peace…of redemption.
Let us pray over the water of grace:
Let
us pray: Almighty God, the life you birthed in us by baptism into Jesus Christ
will never die. Your justice never fails. Your mercy is everlasting. Your healing river flows. Your Spirit blows
where you will. We cannot stop you, God!
We
are dry and thirsty, O God. Come, refresh us!
Come
upon us, Holy Spirit!
Come
upon these waters.
Let
these waters be to us drops of your mercy.
Let
these waters remind us of your righteousness and justice.
Let
these waters renew in us the resurrection power of Jesus.
Let
these waters make us long for your coming reign.
Most
Holy God, Father! Full of Truth and Grace! Glory to you!
Jesus
Christ, Savior, Lord! Glory to you!
Spirit of fire, Spirit over the waters, Spirit
of holiness! Glory to you!
Eternal
God, One in Three and Three in One! All glory is yours, now and forever. Amen!
So you have heard me talk a lot about
our baptism this morning, but there is one thing that I want you to take home this
morning. That one thing is that within our baptism we have a promise of love…a
promise of joy…and a promise of hope. So
when the waters of life seem as if they are about to overtake you…remember
your baptism…God’s promise is…when you walk through the
waters they will not over take you. When you feel as if you have no one
who really cares in your life…remember your baptism…God
says…I have claimed you and you are mine. When you feel like an outcast
in this journey of life…remember your baptism… Through
the waters of baptism we are included in the family of God. You have
been sealed with love…you have been sealed with power…you have been sealed with
grace…you have been sealed by the Spirit. Remember your baptism…
Let
us pray…Pray about our baptism…
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