Gateway Church Sermons
Alder Road Site | 4th August 2024 | Jon Clark | And Also Much Cattle
- Okay, if you'd like to enjoy your conversations to a close, find a seat. My name's John, and this morning we are continuing our God of all creation series. And hasn't this been an amazing week to enjoy God's creation? Who's been down to the beach this week, anybody? Great, this is a time where we can feel smug about living near the beach, isn't it? You think this is where we get to live all year round? And actually I was, this week with Ken and Marguerite, Marguerite's been back home from hospital, and I was chatting with them, and Ken admitted to me that he actually doesn't like the beach. I know, controversial, there's no shame there, anyone here not like the beach? No one would admit to that, ah, Kenib isn't sure. But having said that, a shout out to Ken and Marguerite and to those who would love to be here on a Sunday, but are watching online, it's so good that they can connect in that way, so those who'd love to be here but can't because of health and circumstance. So a shout out to you, and also a big thanks to the livestream and to the tech team that make it all possible. Let's give them a little show of appreciation. (audience applauds) So as locals, we get to go and enjoy the beach, and particularly this week feel smug that we know where to park. We've got our game plan worked out of how you go to the beach, and you kind of sneered only at those who are obvious amateurs about how you do beach. Unfortunately, on Wednesday night, I was one of those amateurs because we went down paddle boarding, we wanted to both paddle boards, so we borrowed one, and I got there, pumped it up after a little bit of difficulty, and then realized that this, the paddle, came in three parts of which we only had two. (audience laughs) So out there, you see people paddle boarding, gliding past gracefully, standing up, and there was me with this tiny little paddle, (audience laughs) sat on the paddle board, going frantically like this. (audience laughs) Yeah, so I was humbled by that experience, but even so, to be out on the water at sunset, seeing the wonder and splendor of God and all he's made, it's wonderful to see, isn't it? And that's really the heart behind this series that we get to see, the God of all creation and what he has made and what it tells us. Because some things are obvious, you see a sunset, you see the water, and it stirs worship in us. But through the series, we are looking at some of those things that we might miss because of our context, because of our culture, some of these illusions in scripture that are not so obvious to us. So last week, we were looking at dogs, and this week, we're in the book of Jonah, and I know you're thinking, God of all creation, Jonah, it has to be big fish. It isn't actually a big fish, we're gonna look at an animal that isn't mentioned until right at the very last word, the very last word of the book of Jonah. And many of us will be familiar with the story of Jonah because of the big fish, it's in all the kids' story bibles. The image of Jonah in the belly of a huge fish really captures the imagination. Now, Jonah found himself in this predicament because he heard the call of God to go and preach against the great city of Nineveh, part of the Assyrian Empire and arrival to the Israelite nation. Jonah did what we often feel like doing when we're faced with a huge challenge. He ran away. He ran away, he went in the opposite direction. And I love that scripture is full of normal people because it means that we have hope that God would use us, that God would involve us in his plans because sometimes we may not physically run away from a difficulty, but we can enter denial or we can enter into a place where we think, actually, I'm not gonna engage with this at all. But God graciously reaches us and he restore us. That's a story of Jonah. Jonah literally ran in the opposite direction or was caught in a boat in the storm, thrown in the sea and was rescued by this huge fish. And it was in the belly of that fish that Jonah called out to the Lord. He repented and went on his original mission. And following Jonah's warning, the people of Nineveh turned from their evil ways and the promised judgment did not occur. So we're gonna now pick up the story in the last chapter of the book of Jonah, page 929. It'll also be on the screens. Vicki's gonna come and read it for us. - Oh. - But Jonah, this seems very wrong and he became angry. - He prayed to the Lord. Isn't this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to full store by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you were a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and a bounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life for it is better for me to die than to live. But the Lord replied, is it right for you to be angry? Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort. And Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day, God provided a worm which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die and said, it would be better for me to die than to live. But God said to Jonah, is it right for you to be angry about the plant? It is, he said, and I'm so angry, I wish I were dead. But the Lord said, you've been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh in which there are more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left and also many animals. - Great, thanks for you. So Jonah throws this tension because God is gracious and doesn't bring judgment on the Ninevites. And we notice that Jonah was more concerned about the plant. It was giving him shade than anyone or anything else. And at the very end of the last verse, we see the aspect of the God of all creation we're focusing on today. And that is cattle. So verse 11 it says, and also many animals. And so that word animals is also translated cattle or livestock. Now, you may feel this is a little bit unexpected because you look through the story of Jonah, think, where is cattle in the rest of the story? Like, have I missed a theme that's coming up? Was there also a cow in the belly of the fish with Jonah? Have I missed that somewhere? Well, it can feel like an abrupt deviation, but cattle are mentioned for a particular reason. And we'll see why God mentioned them here in his word. We've seen that Jonah was concerned about the plant. He was also outraged at God would show compassion on these undeserving Ninevites. But in contrast, God says that he is concerned about the 120,000 people and also much cattle. He's saying, Jonah, your priorities are out of order. His ranking should be plant, then cattle, then people. But why mention cattle at all? Why not say Nineveh has 120,000 people and also many ants or also many dogs or also many birds? Why mention cattle? Well, one of these aims of this series is to help us to connect with some of the creation imagery in scripture. Andrew Wilson says this, "Most of us are not farmers or ranchers. We get food and drink from the shop. We buy our clothes, made of cotton or polyester, power our machines with electricity, store our money in banks and get around using planes, trains and automobiles. In the ancient Near East, by contrast, people relied on livestock for meat, milk, eggs, clothes, shoe, shoes, power, plowing, milling, traveling and going into battle. Flocks and herds were the primary marker of wealth in many cultures and nearly everybody would interact with farm animals on a daily basis." I don't know how many of you have been in contact with cows this morning. I actually went up for a walk on the Heath Near our house where they have three balls which are grazing. But generally in our lives, we don't come into contact with them. So this morning, I'd like God to be speaking to us through cows and to help us see some of the significance of them. I came across this video while preparing. This came in an email update from the Great Lakes outreach. A number of us will be familiar with our ministry in Burundi that we've supported over many years and had Simon Gilbert with us on a few occasions. So I'd like to watch this quick video on the power of cows. Burundi is one of the poorest countries on earth. It has been ravaged by wars under the state of Hawaii. But it's also a place of great beauty and reconciliation. In the older days, we had elders who kept peace amongst our people. They were called Kahuzamigang, which means they were consilers of families. Although we no longer have a system of elders in Burundi, there are still many who seek to reconcile families from violence and poverty. And this village is an example of that. In Burundi long, one cows are a symbol of wealth. But they produce little milk and they overgrazed the land. But frigid cows, they are much different. In 2006, Everest Nairuki acted on the promise of God to bring transformation to his home village in Burundi. God told him the problem is cows and the answer is cows. Though there was difficulty, Everest persisted and was able to convince his village to raise frigid cows so they could reap the benefits of these animals. Today, our village thrives as our people own their own frigid cows, keeping milk for themselves and selling the surplus to people in the city. They are business owners who have daily work and renewed purpose. They milk the cows, care for them and work alongside our ministry to distribute the extra milk to others in our country. Every day milk is carried from our village to the big city of Bajumbura to be distributed to our neighbors throughout the country. God has turned our village's poverty into excess and that excess will share with the rest of our people. Thousands of Burundians have now been impacted by the work Everest started in this little village. Every day hundreds of liters of milk are processed, transported and sold. In the past, God has spoken through donkeys and every day in our village. He speaks to us through cows. - Wonderful to see, isn't it? The impact of what we're doing in Burundi and particularly for us this morning, the impact of cows. Great Lakes Outreach do incredible work bringing my leaf from poverty and bringing the truth of the gospel into desperate situations. And a result of these few cows, 5,000 people's lives have been impacted. God speaks through cows. He speaks of God's desire to lift people out of poverty to give work and livelihoods, to transform a community. And this morning I wanted to see how cows can speak to us about the care of God. And speaks into questions we can often ask God, will he provide? Where is my identity and security? What is my purpose? And so we're exploring these three areas of wealth, of worth and of worship. And we're gonna listen to what the cows will tell us this morning. And the key thread throughout is that God cares. God is a God who cares. The story of Jonah tells us that God cares. He cares about the cattle. He cares about the Ninevites, lost in their rebellion against God. He cares about Jonah in the depths of the fish. He cares about Jonah when he throws a tantrum about the plant. And we're to see this morning, as it says in Jonah 4, verse two, that God is a gracious and compassionate God. Slow to anger and abounding in love. Jonah got most worked up about a plant that grew up and gave him shade for a day. But not only does God know and care about that plant, he cares about the cattle. He cares about the souls of those who are far from him, who can't tell their right hands from their left. Jonah was angry because he thought these Ninevites did not qualify for mercy, but God's grace and care is not based on merit, but it's based on his compassion. That's true for Ninevites, that's true for us here today. It's true for you who, thinking, is this God, does he really exist? Is he as good as we think, or we are saying he is here today? I want you to see that God cares that he is good. He is compassionate and he reaches right into each one of our lives here and now. These cows are speaking to us this morning. Let's first see what the cattle can tell us about wealth. God says to Jonah that there is much cattle in Nineveh. And this is significant because in this context, cattle are hugely valuable, something that we don't recognize so easy today in our context. But we saw in that video that impact of a few cows can transform the prospects of a whole community. And the value of cattle is recognized in the Ten Commandments. In that last one, God says, "You shall not covet your neighbor's ox." And if I'm honest, as a part, I don't get many people coming to be saying they're struggling with coveting their neighbor's ox. There's ministry here if you would like prayer from the prayer team, you're coveting your neighbor's ox. We think we can take that off pretty easily. We don't want someone else's cattle. But this isn't the heart of what God is saying. If we ask this another way, when we last envious about something that someone else has, would their car, their house, their friendships, their lifestyle, that speaks directly into our hearts. In scripture, cattle holds real value. We see that right at the very beginning, Genesis chapter one, let the earth bring forth livestock. It's the same word, cattle. When the armies won a victory in the Old Testament, they take the spoil of the city, including the cattle. Flocks and herds were a mark of wealth and a symbol of status. They're valuable because they're a source of food. We saw with the milk, the power that that has. And the land promised to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament was known as a place flowing with milk and honey. It speaks of prosperity and abundance of cattle and good grazing. There's source of food also via its meat. I was chatting to Chris Clark last week who works regularly with cows and cattle. And he grew up in a family that worked with cattle. And he told me that half a cow would feed his whole family for three years, such as the vastness of that animal and the amount of meat that you could get from it. His other comment to me, stateably, is that cows give life the whole year round with milk and with meat. You don't need to wait for a harvest. They provide all year round and they give life. Cattle's also good for clothing, for manure, for crops, for muscle power, for farming, for plowing, for shifting equipment, for pulling the carts. And in the agricultural community, we can see that having cattle is hugely valuable. The sign of wealth and provision. These are big and powerful animals as I was walking on the heath this morning. I mean, I'm not around cows a great deal, but there's always that little nervousness, isn't there, when you walk past a cow. You kind of make eye contact, but not too much. And try and get past as quickly as possible whilst trying to show a cool exterior, because they are huge. They're powerful animals and powerful creatures. It reminds us that this power and provision ultimately comes from God. The food that they give, it comes from the one who loves to supply every need. The power that they carry, it comes from the one who is infinitely more powerful than we can imagine. We see this in Psalm 50 verse 10, says, "For every animal of the forest is mine "and the cattle on a thousand hills." It belongs to him, the cattle shows the power, the provision of our heavenly father. And so this brings a new perspective on wealth. We're not to cover our neighbor's ox, or car, or shoes, or anything else. We to know that God provides. We need to fight this urge to cover, and the only way to do that is to live content. Live content. Because God cares for you as you are, and he loves to provide. Paul says in Philippians 4, 11 to 13, he says, "I'm not saying this because I'm in need, "for I have learned to be content "whatever the circumstances. "I know what it is to be in need, "and I know what it is to have plenty. "I've learned the secret of being content "in any and every situation, "whether well-fed or hungry, "whether living in plenty or in want, "I can do all things through him who gives me strength." Paul says, and we can learn with him. I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances. When we're tempted to put our trust in the wealth of our job, or our qualifications, or our health, or our friendships, which is trust in the one who owns all the cattle. Because true wealth comes from knowing that we are secure in him. We're loved, we're cared for by the creator, and the sustainer. And we to know that whether we have much cattle, or few cattle, we are rich in the care of God. We are more wealthy in the love of God than owning the vast herds of cattle. Cow speak to us about wealth. They also speak to us about worth. And we can have some sympathy with Jonah. We know what it's like for small things to have a disproportional impact on our lives. You know, the tiniest splinter gets into your finger, and it shapes your whole day, doesn't it? And you try and get it out and you ask someone to help, and then they pull it out, and it's always disappointed me small, isn't it? You want it to be like this huge log that's having a real impact. But small things can really get under, sometimes the splinter's literally under our skin. Jonah was more concerned about the plant that sprung up overnight than the people of Nineveh, who were lost and far from God. Jonah's priorities were out of order. The plant provided shelter for just a moment. That's part of God's creation. This plant is worthy of care, but not as much as the cattle, the cattle that will bring food, clothing, agricultural provision. But how much more then do the people of Nineveh deserve care? Or Jonah, even in the depths of that fish. Jonah had assigned worth in the wrong way. He cared about the vine, but it's actually a selfish care. He cared about the vine because of what it did for him. It gave him shelter and protection. But God is challenging Jonah. He says, "Is it right for you to be angry?" And he's asking us today, other things that we are worked up about, are they really worth it? Think back over the last week. The things that you've really got worked up about. And if we're honest, they tend to be the smaller things, don't they? Running late for that meeting, or the day not panning out as you wanted, smaller things can really have a disproportionate impact on us. If I'm honest, I've been more concerned about how my boiler's playing up, then the things that God sees as real priorities. God wants to do a work in our hearts about what we think are worth, our care and attention. God challenges Jonah. He didn't think the need of us deserved care, and he challenges us today. What are we caring about? We to know that God cares for the cattle, and we ought to be secure in the love that God has for us. To know that he delights in us. Zephaniah 3.17 tells us of this truth that God delights in us. He rejoices over us. We're singing. And so here this morning we need to know this, and we need to receive it, and we need to live in the security that this brings. God knows. God cares. And then we need to allow our cares to be reordered in that place of security of knowing the care of God. We have a role in creation and to care for the world that the God has made, but we do this from this place of security, of knowing that we know his care. Genesis 1 tells that we have a role of dominion, but we're not to turn this into exploitation. And as we see the issues around us, of pollutions, of plastics, of deforestation, of biodiversity problems, of climate issues, we're to engage in those, seeing the impact of the industrialization. And this is hard because being in an industrialization, it removes us from creation. But as Christians, we should care more, not less, about the world that God has made. Not in a scaremongering way, but remembering that God is sovereign, that he is a God of grace, and he's called us to be good stewards. And we're to be engaged in ways to reduce pollution, to live sustainably. And as I was preparing for this, I was looking at some materials by Jubilee Plus, and I'd really recommend you and explore this further, and to think about how we can show care for our world, have a look at some of their publications, particularly Creation at the Crossroads is really helpful. So look at Jubilee Plus on their website. But there's a worth about us, and there's worth about the creation that God has called us to care for. Let's care for the world in even bleak situations. Jonah came to God in exasperation, because of the situation he was in. He was met with a God of compassion, one whose care went deeper, one in whom we see our worth. And so we can turn to him in the small things, in the withering plant, in the splinter, in the boiler breakdowns. But we could also come to the God of compassion, the God of concern with the bigger questions, when we see the impact of conflict in the Middle East and in Ukraine. When we see the events in Southport and the subsequent unrest that we've already been praying for this morning, we can come to a God who cares, a God who is involved. Job 12 verse 7, Job is speaking in the midst of huge trials, and he says, "Ask the animals to get in this same world cattle, and they will teach you." What do they teach us? Verse 10, it says, "In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." And then verse 13, "To God belongs wisdom and power, counsel and understanding." This is a time to lean in to the worth that God gives to the people that he has created and to trust his fatherly hand. There's at work in all the world and in our lives. Nothing is outside of his care or control. The last thing I'd like us to see, cattle speaking to us this morning, we speak of wealth, of worth, and then thoroughly worship, because we are made to worship, is how God has designed us. Unfortunately, our hearts have been affected by sin. And instead of putting God first, we make idols out of other things, and often good things become ultimate things and take the place that only God should have. Before Jesus came, sacrifice were made so that a fallen people could come before a holy God. And one of the key ways that cattle was involved in worship in the Old Testament was in this sacrificial system. In our bread readings, this week we read from Judges 6, a bull being given as a burnt offering. Cattle were also offered as peace and sin offerings, and they were substitutes, and their blood was built so that an impure people could come before a holy God. But why use cattle in this way? Why use it in this area of worship? Well, we've already seen how valuable cows and bulls were for the food and livelihood of the communities. And so, surrendering them as sacrifices sends an important message to us and to God. It says to God that you are worthy of the best. And it enables us to come to that place of surrender and trust that God, you are the one who will provide. I will not trust in my own wealth. I will not trust what is in my bank account. I will not trust the cattle in my field. I'm going to trust in you. It's a statement of faith. And that's why we take up an offering on Sunday, so though many of us will give by standing order direct from a bank. As the baskets go round, it reminds us that actually everything comes from you and I will give my offering of worship, whether it be cash, check, bank transfer, a cow. You could probably put a cow in the offering. I don't know the finance team. I'm sure we'll make a way to get that to work. But our offering helps us to take a focus from ourselves and puts it on God. And this is hard in our culture when it's all about the individual. Songwriter Matt Reminds puts the challenge like this. It's hard for us to cry holy, holy, holy in a world of me, me, me. I think it's such a helpful phrase. It's hard to cry holy, holy, holy in a world of me, me, me. But worship helps us to do this. Worship helps us to say to God, you are the center of this world. Not me, you are holy, you are awesome. You own the castle of a thousand hills. You know the beginning and the end. You are creator and sustain a God. Worship helps us to say to him that you have first place, that everything comes from you, I'm dependent on you in every moment. This world has a soundtrack of me, me, me. And we live in it day in, day out, to speak your truth, to do what's right for you. And we're so immersed in it. It's difficult for us to sing. I was hearing a podcast by Richard Osman's and he said that there has been a disappearance of bands getting to number one in the first half of this decade. I don't know if anyone else came across this. I thought that was fascinating. Look at the 80s and 90s. Huge numbers of bands getting to number one. Now, three weeks in the first half of this decade was there. A band at number one, which is staggering. It's all individuals and collaborations. I think it's an interesting reflection on the me, me, me culture of today. And that's what we need to be fighting against. And we need to be bringing costly sacrifice in worship. Saying it's not about me, it's about you, the Almighty God. Enable us to come to this heart of surrender. So cattle were offered in worship and they were offered as a sacrifice because we as imperfect people cannot come before the God who is holy, holy, holy. We need to look to him to be overcome by him, to have a right and holy fear and a reverence for his glory. And we need to know that we cannot possibly approach him on our own. And so throughout the Old Testament, these cows and bulls were a substitute, but they needed to be offered again and again, time after time. But there is one who makes a way for us. There is one perfect sacrifice. A substitute that enables us to worship for all eternity. I love it's just a turn to Hebrews chapter nine. If you have a Bible in front of you, if you can turn there page 1,207. But this is our confidence to come before a holy God. Hebrews nine, verse 11. Says, "But when Christ came as high priest of the good things, they are now already here. He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands. That is to say, is not part of this creation. He did not enter by means of blood and goats and calves. But he entered the most holy place, once for all, by his own blood. For obtaining eternal redemption, the blood of goats and bulls and ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are so many unclean sanctified them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more then will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciousness from acts that lead to death? Something may serve the living God. We don't need to wonder whether God cares for us. We can see it through the cattle, but we can see through the Son of God coming, taking our place, giving his life for us. He did not enter by means of cattle, but by his own blood. He entered the most holy place once for all. There is no need for offerings to be made again and again. He obtained not just redemption, but eternal redemption. So we are not just to be outwardly clean, to be looking good on the outside. But we can come with a clean conscience. Something that the sprinkled blood of heifers, heifers could not achieve. Do you want to come before God with a clean conscience? Come boldly to know his love and care. With a come to Jesus repent, put our trust in him and his work on the cross. There is a way for us to come to this God of all holiness. We approach not through the blood of cows and bulls, but through the blood of Jesus. And so God is calling us to this place of surrender. His care is greater than anything that we can imagine. And he is calling us to have our cares aligned with his. We are to live in a place of being secure in the care of God, knowing that we don't need to strive for wealth and riches. We don't need to stop huge herds of cattle or cars or cash because God cares enough to provide for us. We don't need to be looking elsewhere for worth. God cares for us as we are and calls for us to reflect this care. Cows matter, creation matter, others matter, we matter, but we find our ultimate worth in him. And we don't need to look elsewhere for the focus of our devotion and worship. God deserves all praise and has made a way for us to come to him. Not through the blood of bulls, but the blood of Jesus. So his compassion is boundless. God's ways are not our ways. His grace reaches into places where we think there is no hope. He is the God of all cattle. He is the God of all creation. And his care shines through. He calls us to experience it and to demonstrate his care to a broken world around us. From his stance and his responding worship. Look, I wonder who you are. We thank you that you speak to us in many and varied ways. We thank you that you are the God of all creation and that you formed us to know you. And so Lord, I pray in this moment that we would know your incredible care, that you reveal to us. And I pray that as we are transformed by your cares, we know security in you. We know confidence in coming through the blood of Jesus. I pray that we will be demonstrating that care to those around us. Care within this church community. Care within the community beyond these walls and to the nation and the nation's will God. We thank you that your love, your compassion is vast. I pray that we will come now and surrender in worship and obedience to go where you call and guide us. Amen.