Unfinished Work
Scripture References
Isaiah 66:10-14
Rejoice with Jerusalem
10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her; 11 that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance.” 12 For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 14 You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like the grass; and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants, and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.
Galatians 6:1-10, 14-18
Bear One Another’s Burdens
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load. 6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Final Warning and Benediction
14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Luke 10:1-20
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[1] others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Woe to Unrepentant Cities
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. 16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
The Return of the Seventy-Two
17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Sermon Script
Unfinished Work
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
For you patriots among us, you know this is not part of the Declaration of Independence we celebrated on Friday. For on that day, we were tasked to rejoice in the true freedom our soldiers fought for. Now we are tasked to maintain that freedom. That is why I thought it’s appropriate now to share a portion of the Gettysburg Address given by Abraham Lincoln.
Honest Abe goes on to say… “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us…” President Lincoln delivered a great speech in 1863 dedicated to remembering those who fought for liberty and equality… and by the same token, spoke to preserve freedom in a future for what we call home.
To this day… the independence we enjoy within our home we owe to the brave men and women serving our country. For that we give thanks! Forever grateful for the sacrifice invested for that privilege. So, during this patriotic time… for those who still cherish the Constitution, we recognize that while this country is not perfect, it is also not beyond hope. As Abe Lincoln described, it remains “unfinished work.”
Jerusalem’s Battlefield
Pivotal events such as the battle grounds at Gettysburg where Lincoln give his address, can easily describe Jerusalem’s battlefield back in the days of Isaiah. All of Judea really. But as the heart of God’s chosen people, Jerusalem was the center of “unfinished work.” God was watching closely for centuries as nearly all of Judea fell into disobedience. Thus, God allowed the Babylonian’s to conquer the city, destroy the temple, and take His people into exile for nearly… three score and seven years.
But in a strange and distant land God restored them, helped them, and healed them. When they returned, they were ready to proclaim… “It is for us the living, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work.”
In the Old Testament lesson, Isaiah writes in chapter 66 verse 10, “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her, rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her.” A glorious day of rejoicing it was indeed when the exiles returned from Babylon. Yet at the same time, God’s people mourned over the perception that they had lost a battle, as their home lay in ruins.
But Isaiah encouraged them to rejoice with winning the war of God’s promise through the dedicated task within unfinished work. God’s unfinished work of rebuilding Jerusalem. For that, we should rejoice as well. And here’s why.
Shout For Joy
You see, Jerusalem is more than just a place of prophecy and the ancient tourist center of Christs work on earth. Jerusalem is a symbol and a promise of the presence of God. When we come to worship, God takes us to Jerusalem. When we sing “This is the Feast,” or “Thank the Lord and Sing His Praise,” we are the fulfillment of this prophesy by Isaiah. We are Jerusalem. In fact, Isaiah saw us sitting right here in worship when he wrote these words. God put to death the Old Testament congregation and give birth to a new church. A church with unfinished work.
That’s why in the Psalm of the day, we read… “Shout for joy” as the Psalmist writes in chapter 66. Then in verse 5… “Come and see what God has done; he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.” God had a plan back then and still does today. You see, it was by God’s hand that guided Nebuchadnezzar’s army. In one way or another, it was the same hand of God that directed the Red Coats, Blue Coats, and Grey Coats… Did you know that Jesus is also guiding us today as an army of Church militants? In fact, you are already enlisted. Are you prepared for bootcamp?
The High Ground
Recently, I had the privilege of visiting the battlefields at Gettysburg as part of a leadership training program focused on “The high ground.”
This concept refers to the strategic importance of securing elevated ridges by the Union army, which provided General John Buford with a significant defensive advantage. It was enlightening to learn about the successful strategies implemented by General Meade and the less effective ones by General Robert E. Lee. Tragically, in this three-day conflict, 50,000 soldiers and 5,000 horses and mules were wounded or killed.
By virtue of this battle at Gettysburg, it gives opportunity to learn great leadership, communication, and strategic lessons. But also, one can learn something else from a tragic time in history such as this… the selfless desire to work together for a purpose. That is what Abraham Lincoln wanted to instill in the hearts of his listeners with his address… He writes, don’t forget what brought you here, who fought on your behalf, and where your focus must lie… directing the attention to unfinished work.
This address also applies to us as children of God. It is by grace through faith that brought you here. Then as a Christian, you know that from Jesus’ selfless sacrifice on the cross He fights on your behalf. And as members in the body of Christ we know our focus lies with His eternal promise… But to be fully ready for a battle of unfinished work… we need divine intervention. Even though bootcamp begun at baptism in the army of believers… in our daily preparations, it is important to faithfully stay in His Word in the battle of unfinished work. Yet we must keep in mind… even though we can put on this armor, it is Jesus who is our strength and shield… It is in Him through faith we will get the courage to stand on the front line.
Church Militants
I bring this truth to your attention because we are engaged in a real war as members of the Church militant. So, as we march in this broken world, we can confidently sing… Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before… A war where our enemies, sin, death, and the devil, have no mercy or pity for us as we dare not believe that we can negotiate a peace treaty. Not on our own.
That is why Jesus wants us to join Him on the high ground. Giving us strength found in Him through faith, we can pull together and take a strategic advantage to combat our weaknesses. Communicate as fellow members of Christ to strengthen those lines of faith. And use the leadership skills we learn from Jesus to grow a great army of believers. For through Him we are the foot soldiers for God in rebuilding Jerusalem. Securing our defenses on the high ground, where He will restore us, help us, and heal us.
The team of 72 that Jesus sent out in the Gospel lesson of Luke, were the first infantry foot soldiers of the Church militant to come. Working together for a purpose. Sent out as pairs to restore, heal the sick, and proclaim the Kingdom of God with a message so astounding that Jesus will see the evil one fall from heaven. That my friends, describes the Jerusalem Church of the here and now. The unfinished evangelistic work where Jesus sends us out… to strengthen His church.
Laborers Are Few
Jesus touches on this unfinished work by saying at the beginning of verse 2, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few… Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”
Without a doubt, there is much unfinished business in the mission field. The enlisted members are not over abundant, and Jesus comes right out and tells us it won’t be easy. But isn’t that the way it is with most of our battles? Isn’t that the Jerusalem for which Isaiah mourned?
“Follow me” Jesus says! As He is recruiting each one of us. We are the laborers. We are Jerusalem. We are the hands and feet in the Kingdom of God. By following Jesus’ example, we can use our God given talents through leadership, communication, or strategic initiatives to present Jesus Christ to this savage world and to tell others about forgiveness and the Kingdom to come. Best of all, we are assured right there in the Gospel lesson that you don’t have to be good at it or worry about failing, just be willing. Then Jesus also goes on to say that you don’t have to face this challenge alone. Just prepare the way.
Don’t Grow Weary
Paul adds in the Epistle lesson in his letter to the Galatians, verse 9, a word of encouragement… “Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” For that harvest… for that Jerusalem… we can shout for joy.
Wouldn’t you agree it would be easier to just waive the white flag? The world is such a large battlefield, and Satan has a lot of ammunition. But in the midst of unfinished work, we dare not grow weary or give up.
For Jesus will give us the strength to fight the good fight through faith… We may be few, but the reward will be strategically abundant. Yes, we are just laborers, but proudly enlisted members within the body of Christ. A victorious army where Heaven will join in and hold the high ground found in the forgiveness through Christ.
Christ’s Church
That is the victory the Israelites rejoiced over. They found rewards beyond the physical structures destroyed in Jerusalem. With those exiles we can rejoice as Jesus will keep His church thriving even after these walls no longer stand. He is the Builder and Maker of the church on earth which is much larger than this place… We are members of Christs Church… it is in His fields which we labor… Jesus will ensure the harvest. He will be by our side in that unfinished work… As we go out like the 72 that is how we can hold the line, even if nothing more than to remain faithful to Christ and His Word. Jesus has promised to build His church, and so He does. That Jerusalem cannot fail!
Like the citizens of Jerusalem… it is easy to grow weary and believe all is lost. But has that mentality really changed over time? In a world heavy laden with anti-Christians attaching moral and spiritual values… along with challenges around the country keeping church doors open… I can see how the perception can be that we are losing the battle.
However, Isaiah writes that even in a foreign and distant land, divine intervention restored, shielded, and healed God’s people. God will be our protection and shield as well. As Paul assures, our efforts will not be in vain… we will eventually reap the rewards of our labor at the appropriate time. Jesus will remain with us in this Kingdom and eternally with us in the New Jerusalem. That is why we march with the cross of Jesus going on before… this eternal kingdom is ours. Through faith.
And in the miracle and mystery of our faith we are promised that even though Jesus sends us to sow in the fields, I can’t say enough, that He also goes with us. He goes before us. He follows us as we follow Him. He is with us in the trenches and with us on the high ground. For that we can shout for joy.
Your Name
That brings me to my last point. When I was touring the Gettysburg battlefield, I was able to visualize what it might have been like loading a musket in the trenches or trying to hold the high ground. It was hard to imagine there being much to shout for joy about after viewing numerous state memorials located throughout the park. The one that drew the most attention was Pennsylvania.
On this very elaborate structure were engraved the names, by infantry, of over 34,000 soldiers who fought for a new beginning. I then realized the names of those that returned to the safety of their home, come back rejoicing.
The 72 that Jesus sent out returned rejoicing as well.
He says to them “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” There was a safe place waiting for those 72, especially for their names.
You are part of those 72. Your name is written in heaven just as the names are on that memorial wall. In fact, there is a memorial called the book of life that has your name etched in it right now. Truth to be told, your name has been engraved there since your baptism. For that you will find security… Now, with Isaiah, will you rejoice and shout for joy?
Yet Unfinished Work
But like I mentioned earlier, there is still unfinished work to remain faithful to Christ and His Word. Even though our names are safe, our bodies are not. Satan will still try to breach the defensive line. That is why we are tasked on this day to hold the high ground. Keep the Church militant strong. Protect against the flank attack of temptations. And stay the course for a tactical and eternal strategic move within the stronghold of faith.
This we can do with Christ as our leader… yes, this is a time to shout for joy to God for sending His son to the cross to redeem us, to shield us, and for showing us what the Kingdom of Heaven looks like through faith and hope.
This is the Kingdom of unfinished work our Lord revealed to us with every leper healed, demon cast out, and blind man given sight.
In this same Kingdom of unfinished work today… we rejoice through every act of feeding the hungry, every sin forgiven, every cross seen, and every church door held open…
We participate in the Kingdom of unfinished work with every child we teach at School Of Religion, Sunday School, or Preschool. Our work in the Kingdom of unfinished work is active in all the children and volunteers at Vacation Bible School, or any other volunteers at church, donating to the food pantry or visiting shut ins. Amid our unfinished work, there are many other ways to rejoice in the Kingdom of God I did not mention.
A Fight Worth Fighting For
That is why in our unfinished work this side of heaven… that selfless desire to work together for a purpose worth fighting for… is your Jerusalem. Now as you march on with Jesus going on before, shout for joy that the new Jerusalem where your name is engraved… is your eternal home because of the temple Christ rebuilt in three days.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, that is where our rejoicing will be… Onward Christian soldiers… marching as to war with confidence that our King’s unfinished work is mighty to save through His eternal promise. Now as you go out, let Christ be your leader to secure the high ground in this Jerusalem, for there we will dedicate to the great task of unfinished work remaining before us… with the cross of Jesus going on before.
And May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all…
Amen