Liz Pemberton November 1st 2015 ~ Let it Shine!

I love the book of Philippians.  There are lots of reasons for that, the spiritual truths it communicates are wonderful and I love the way it is written but most of all I am so thankful for what God has said to me through it.Back in my early 20s when I was studying theology at Bible College, I was asked to give one of my first ever sermons in a church at the small evening service at St John’s Campsie, in Sydney.  This was (and probably still is) a highly multicultural church which at the time I think boasted around 20 or more different nationalities in attendance.  I was studying in a college for evangelists and was still really working out what it meant to be an evangelist and a witness.   My sermon passage was Philippians 2 v 12-18.  I was new at this sermon-writing stuff and went to the library to borrow commentaries and Bible dictionaries to do the proper amount of research needed.  I have always liked to get the words for sermons ‘just right’ so although I can’t exactly remember how much time I put into preparing that sermon, I’m sure I spent a few hours reading, writing and practising.In our preaching classes we were reminded to have the one big message in mind when delivering a sermon. I remember praying about this and I felt God said to me “Get everyone to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Now this was not a family service. It was not a kids’ service. It was an adults’ service. I must admit my sense of humour was tickled but as a Bible College student I was also more than a bit hesitant to do this.  But then I read the passage again in my trusty NIV Bible: Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life.     In that Bible College, as I was learning to hear God’s voice better, I knew that He was saying something to me.  And so, alongside my carefully-constructed words, our evening service all sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, how I wonder what you are!   Without drawing too deep a theological meaning from those lyrics, it reminded me of my call to shine like a star, so brightly that others would see and wonder at the reason why. This really spoke to me (as often happens when you’re writing sermons) and I felt the stirrings of the Holy Spirit as God both increased my understanding of Him and drew me closer to Him. I learned that this shining stuff was a big part of being a witness and an evangelist.  And the best part was that we don’t have to make ourselves shine, God does it!  As we hold on to the word of life, God continues his work in us and through us as his children.  God calls us to shine, he is the reason we shine, he makes us shine.  And others will notice.This, then, is my prayer for the beautiful Rose this morning as she is baptised. Her parents already shine, and I have no doubt will continue to do so in their new calling.  And so I pray that little Rose, a child of God, may also shine like a star in her generation, full of God’s light and love.Looking forward to digging into Philippians!Blessings,   Liz