All Saints Day
Rev 21:1-8
Young boy and grandfather in large cathedral
Stained glass pictures
Pictures of Saints of the Church
“Oh…Saints are people the light shines through”
We hear “saints” we think of…
Canonized
Perfect people
“Old” people
New Orleans football
People with halos in paintings
We are usually embarrassed when someone calls us “saint”
“All Saint’s Day” or “All Hallow; Day” was begun circa 700 AD
“Halloween,” the day of Druid worship of the dead, came first
Because of the Roman penchant for turning pagan days into Holy days (holidays)
“All Hallow’s Day” was set against the Druid feast
Figuring that two can play that game, “All Hallows Evening” later became “All Hallows E’n” and more recently, into “Halloween”
Originally, All Saint’s Day was to honor the martyrs that were not know to the church in general
Later, the dead of the church, whether martyred or not
You see, the early church thought of themselves as “saints”
ANYBODY that had been baptized was considered a “saint”
When Paul wrote, he used the word “saints” for the church
Today, we usually honor those that have gone before, and those still with us
All Saint’s Day was originally Nov, 1st.
Now the first Sunday in November
Some Protestants have a challenge honoring saints
This discomfort comes to the Protestant from the Romanic idea of canonization of, and praying to, the “Saints”
We do not vote to make anybody a saint
Neither do we pray to anybody but God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
We are all Saints
The “light of Christ” is supposed to shine through us
As it shines through those that have gone before us
As we commune with Christ today
And with the saints around the world
And with each other here
Let us also remember those that have gone before us
Parents and grandparents
Those that led us to Christ
Those that stood firm in the Reformation
Those that lived in the desert to get away from the things of the world
Those that stood firm before Nero, Caligula, Vespasian and Domitian
Those of all races and nations
Let us see them around us
Surrounding us
Cheering us on
What makes saints different?
We have a different leader
We follow Christ instead of the World
We are supposed to look differently
See differently
Act differently
Think differently
Behave differently
We are supposed to have Christ as our leader
As well as, living inside us
Saints are supposed to build up and not tear down
Stand with, and not fight with
Serve and not be waited on
Work and not be lazy
Lead and not follow
Support and not gossip
Praise and not attack
Pray and not worry
Each of these ideas is completely scriptural
Hebrews says we are surrounded by clouds of saints that have already conquered these things
We can too
What can we expect if we do?
In today’s scripture (Rev 21:1-6) John says we can expect
New Heaven and New Earth
New Jerusalem
God living with us and being our light
No more death, sorrow, crying or pain
Christ told John, “These words are true and faithful. It is done”
“(Those) that overcome shall inherit all things.”
“I will be their God and “(they) will be my (children)
Until that time, remember . . .
We are the hands, feet, ears and mouth of Jesus Christ
The “Body” of Christ
We are all “saints”
You, and you, and you are saints
If the light of Christ shines through you
Let the light of the SON shine through you
In God’s Name
Think about it
To read more go to www.opendoorstochrist.org
Rev O. K. Neal
