Rev. Chism's Weekly Message

Jesus empowered people. We have amazing examples of His empowerment in the four gospels. In the Early Church, we can read how the good news was empowering followers. Let's dive into one of the stories from Mark 1:21-28.

Mark reports that Jesus visited the synagogue in Capernaum. Like churches and synagogues today, this was where the community gathered to worship, pray, and teach. Back then, Capernaum was a vibrant city and a melting pot of people. It was a desired location because of its proximity to the Sea of Galilee and the commerce it created. Today, Capernaum is more of an archeological site where people visit on their pilgrimage while in Israel. If you visit, you will still see the columns of the synagogue that Jesus visited.

Central to the theme of is authority. Jesus was in the very beginning of ministry so His authority was being established. We know from the passage that people were amazed with how He taught and the depth of knowledge shared. People that do this often gain trust easier. And this is when empowerment often comes.

Authority doesn't come overnight. It is established over time. Just because you have a title doesn't mean people will respect you. When it happens, things really begin to click and the empowerment of others starts to happen.

Churches and their actions empower people. Our church works in our community to empower people through missions. So many have food insecurities and very few resources. Through our giving, our Missions Committee shares our abundance with others. Empowerment comes from giving to others. It also comes from ministries we support building up people by teaching life skills. When loving our neighbors, all people are empowered because we are practicing the principles of the kin-dom of God. Great examples of this are found in the Book of James which basically reminds us to practice what we preach.

I think of all the civil strife we have had in our country recently. One way to look at it is through empowerment. Black and brown people seek empowerment in hopes our society is not held back by racism and a system that is unfair at times. Do we hear them?

Also, let us consider the spiritual part of life. A healthy spiritual life brings salvation and empowerment. Trust grows in Jesus and a person begins to be transformed into the new creation the Apostle Paul spoke about in his words. Paul also said it was a lifetime thing. We work it out trusting God and in awe. The point? Growing spiritually is a practice of life-long devotion to God.

People are especially empowered when the balance between spirituality and service occurs. The feed off of each other. Our souls are nourished. Let me be bold to say empowerment is part of sanctifying grace as we feel the gaps of life with holiness.

A man came up to Jesus in the synagogue possessed by an unclean spirit that day. Jesus basically tells the unclean spirit to go away...you have no place in this man's life or this place. The spirit knew Jesus and didn't want His authority to change things. Mark doesn't tell us anything about where it went. So maybe we learn that evil and oppression just don't go away. They have no place in the kin-dom of God Jesus would announce. We are empowered to resist, like we promise in Holy Baptism, and not let these things control our lives. The authority of Jesus replaces the trap of evil and oppression.

This past Sunday, I got a call from a young lady that reached out to our church for help over a year ago. She dropped by our office and we spoke for about an hour. Her daughter and her moved to our town seeking a fresh start. We talk about God and a lot of things. Sadly, her boyfriend was murdered. Involvement in drug culture was the culprit. She was looking for answers. After she left that day, I wondered if I would see her again.

She watched our worship service this past Sunday and was moved. Her goal now is to help and serve others through missions and she felt her call was confirmed. One of her requests was that she, her daughter, significant other, and baby on the way be baptized together later in the year. Beautifully, she is becoming a new creation and positive example to her family. Jesus has saved her from her past. She has been empowered. I would say she was baptized by the Holy Spirit. She and family will make it official later when baptized with water. Resurrection is occuring.

There are a lot of things that can possess our lives. But they don't have too. The good news of God shows us the way by giving us freedom. The Word of God empowers!

Think of ways God has empowered you. And think of ways you have resisted this empowerment. What comes to mind? What do you want to do with it?

Let us trust in the empowering faith we have been given.

Stay Safe,
Rev. Baxter