in-right out-right happy all the time
John 17:1-5
Jesus Prays for the Father to Glorify Him
17 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you— 2 just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. 4 I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory I had with you before the world was created.
When Brian was at Cliff college in Derbyshire he used to have a programme of mission where they taught at schools, peoples houses and children's groups - it was these children's groups he reflected upon today when they used to sing a song "in-right out-right happy all the time" The song is in the video and it is usually sang each time faster to make the action even more difficult.
How does this reflect on the Gospel? Upwards, downwards and outwards!
Upwards!
The disciples were looking upwards on Ascension day - we look upwards and remember that Christ is seated at the right hand of God, he constatntly prays and interceeds for us.
Downwards!
The Holy Spirit will come down and give you power to act. The Holy Spirit comes and shows us that He can make a change in our lives. We heard the story of the Anglican priest when he encountered the power of the Holy Spirit.
Outwards!
As we look upwards we pray that the Holy Spirit will come downwards, but what is the purpose? To do work outwards!
Does He want to make our life more comfortable or does He want to make us reach out to help and minister to others. The Christ Church has had a presence in Fulwood for 150 years as of next year and this shows that the Holy Spirit must have been at work.
Brian ended on the collect for this Sunday
O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Upwards, downwards, let us go outwards
Amen
