“Is It Suppose To Hurt?”
by Brian Reid
May 27, 2007
I have always had this ‘thing’ about Sunday morning offerings, the Collection; and giving to the church, in general. It’s not that I am against it, for I know it’s how the church survives, and how the church works in the community. I just feel that tithing is a very touchy subject.
How much do I give?
Did I give enough?
Have I given as much as the others?
Every Sunday morning, we are asking regular, common folk (like yourselves) to give up their hard earned money (to help the church operate). I feel, that in today’s world, a lot of people don’t have a lot to give. I feel, with the prices of food, gas and heating, there are a lot of working poor; those who work all week, making good money, but have so many bills and other responsibilities, taking, their take-home pay – that they are work all week, just to end up poor on Friday.
I have always had an offering introduction as part of my service; today this message is my offering introduction. I feel it’s quite important to try to show and tell, of the good your money is doing. I don’t think we need to be greedy, and it’s not the wants, but the needs, that we are trying to fill.
So for me, to ask you, to give, is not an easy thing. I respect all those who do give, and I know that some give more than others; and some weeks, we cannot give as much, as we would like to give; the important thing is that we give.
Even though the offering is suppose to be a sacrifice to God, it is a sensitive subject, none-the-less; so with my offering introduction, I do try and highlight the benefits, that our offerings and gifts make.
I feel people know that the church can’t survive or do things in the community, without that offering. You know that, and no matter how much is put into the collection plate, God provides, and somehow there is always enough.
The sermon, today, is not a message on titling your 10%, it is some practical advice on giving; it is a message on responsibility and practically.
In 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, we hear as Paul addresses the young church in Greece; he is writing this letter from Macedonia.
During his third missionary journey, which began in Antioch (on the north-eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea), he traveled along the bottom of Galatia, into and up along the coast of Asia.
Then he traveled by sea along the coast of Thrace, into Macedonia - stopping at various points along the way; and finally down the coast (again) into the region of Greece, stopping to meet with the Corinthian believers.
In his travels, Paul collected money for the impoverished Christian believers in Jerusalem. And many had given money, and they had even given more than Paul had expected. Although these churches (and their congregations) were poor themselves, they simply wanted to help – so they gave, and they gave generously.
As for the Corinthians, they excelled in everything; they could have been looked at, as leaders (in that region) - and examples to follow. They had strong faith, gifted speakers, had a wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm and love. But, Paul wanted them to become leaders…in giving. Paul did not order them to give; he simply encouraged them to prove that their love was real.
Giving is a natural response to love. When you love someone you want to give them your time and attention, and provide for their needs – if and when they are hurting. A lack of giving or helping, may suggest that your love is not as genuine as you say. Thus, was the case with the Corinthians. Paul wanted them to show the love they had for others – through giving.
The Corinthian church did have money, and they had planned to take up an offering for the church at Jerusalem, a year previous. Paul challenged them to act on their plan, and to show their love.
As Paul made contact with many churches; some were poor, and some had more. So, to those churches, whose finances were limited, or to those churches who didn’t know how to give, the Apostle Paul offers these 4 principles of responsible giving:
1. Paul states that; Your willingness to give enthusiastically, is more important than the amount you give.
If you give a large amount, which might put a financial strain on your family; and then you worry and wonder if you have done the right thing – then the very act of giving is diminished.
Your children should not go ‘without,’ because you have given too much to the church. God wants you to look after your children, God wants your family to be warm, God wants you to give the amount that you can give, and only that amount, but with much enthusiasm.
Paul says we should give according to our means, by what we have, not by what we don’t have. Sacrificial giving must be responsible giving. (x2) Paul is suggesting that believers should give generously, but not to the extent, that those who give must go without having their own basic needs met. The givers and their families should not have to suffer major hardships because of their giving. Give until it hurts, but don’t give so that your family is hurting all the time.
2. Paul then suggests; You should strive to fulfill your financial commitments.
God does not want you to give so much that you will not be able to meet your other responsibilities; that is not the way God wants you to give. Pay your bills, and make sure you have heat and lights for your family, make sure you have enough food in your house. God wants you to live life to the fullest and without suffering.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
3. Paul goes on to say; If you give to others in need, they, in turn, will help you, when you are in need.
Some times you may have “extra,” and can give more. Sometimes, God has blessed you with abundance. Some, Sundays, you know you can give, just a little bit more – and you should.
For, on that Sunday, you give so that the needy will have, and then - if and when, you fall on hard times; if and when, you find it difficult to meet your financial commitments; if and when, your family may need a helping hand - then those you have helped, those who see your need, those who have an abundance, will help you.
4. Lastly, Paul suggests; Give as a response to Christ, and not for anything you can get out of it.
If God blesses you, then show your thankfulness by giving generously, but giving in anticipation of getting something, is nothing more than manipulation. You should give in proportion to what has been given to you. Don’t ever give, thinking of your reward.
How do we decide how much to give?
Paul gives the Corinthian church these guidelines for giving:
Each person should follow through on any previous promises. Verses 10 & 11; “I suggest you finish what you started a year ago, for you were the first to propose this idea, and you were the first to begin doing something amount it. Now you should carry this project through to completion – just as enthusiastically as you began it. Give what ever you can according to what you have.”
Paul was telling them to finish what they had started; collect the offering they suggested the previous year, and give that gift to the church at Jerusalem.
If you have made a commitment to give something– no matter how long that takes- you should live up to your responsibilities; then, consider other giving and commitments.
Paul then suggests that each person should give as much as he or she is able.
Verse 12; “If you are really eager to give, it isn’t important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don’t have.”
Paul was suggesting that the Corinthians, give within their means, and not to stretch themselves too thin. He was saying to the people of the Corinthian church; “It’s not how much you give, but how you give – what is in your heart. The Lord loves a cheerful giver.
The Lord seeks a gift that is accompanied with the right attitude.”
The same goes for you, as well.
But, is it OK for us to give large amounts? Yes, it’s OK to do that. God (and the church) appreciate what you give, and if you give so much that it hurts, and it is a sacrifice or a hardship to you, God will acknowledge your gift and reward you for it. But, we should not give large amounts in, expectation, of that reward; for we are saved, not by our good works, but by the grace and mercy of God.
Give eagerly, but give a responsible gift, without any anticipation or incentive.
Next, in verse 13, Paul advises that each person must make up his or her own mind of how much to give;
“Of course, I don’t mean you should give, that you suffer from having too little. I only mean that there should be some equality.”
Paul was suggesting that the Corinthians follow through on their pledge, and give all they could. Then, he added that they need not short-change themselves, but there should be equality between churches; and the church at Jerusalem was hurting and suffering.
Today, some of our churches and congregations suffer financially – and they must close their doors.
As Christians, as members of the Family of God, we should try and help those churches – without creating for ourselves economic danger.
Also, Paul is suggesting there should be a balance between what you have and what you give. You should give enough to make a difference, but not too much that you bring poverty upon you and your family.
Finally, Paul recommends that each person should give in proportion to what God has given them.
Verse 14; “Right now you have plenty and can help them. Then at some other time they can share with you when you need it. In this way, everyone’s needs will be met.”
Here, Paul is reminding the Corinthians, that, right now, they have plenty and the church at Jerusalem does not. He is encouraging them to share what they have, and assuring them that the same would be done in their time of need.
God gives to us, so that we can give to others. Those who receive your gifts will be helped; they in turn will praise God and pray for you. As you bless others (by giving), you will also be blessed (by God).
If we share when we have much, then, when we do not have, much is shared with us. (x2)
The value of the gift is not determined by it’s amount, but by the spirit in which it is given.
A gift given reluctantly, or for recognition, loses its value. When you give, remember that gifts of any size are pleasing to God, when they are given out of gratitude, and with a spirit of generosity
Jesus told His disciples this, about the poor widow in Mark 12:43-44; “I assure you, this poor widow has given more than all the others have given. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
Simply put, our attitude is more important than the amount we give. We don’t have to be embarrassed if we can only give a small gift; for it is a gift, a show of generosity, a show of love, none-the-less. God is concerned about how we give, from the recourses that we have. (x2)
The very last verse of our scriptures for today, verse 15, is a flask-back to Exodus 16:18, where God provided Manna to the Israelites. Paul says this:
“Do you remember what the scriptures say about this? Those who gather much, did not have too much, and those who gathered little, did not have too little. Each gathered as much as they needed.”
Need should never be about greed. If we are in need, we should only gather to supply that need.
Conclusion
I challenge you to think about this; Giving is all about need. (x2)
Sometimes we give, so those in need will have. Sometimes, we are given, for we need. We should give what we think is right; knowing that there are others in need, always. We should never give too much, so that our giving, causes great strain and financial hardships upon our selves.
Stewardship is all about responsible giving; even though it can include giving beyond your means. But, sacrificial giving has to be responsible, rational, and sensible as well. God wants your commitment, He wants you to help build His church, but He also wants you to have adequate means, to meet all your financial obligations.
Putting titling aside; all God really wants from us, is our hearts. He wants us to love Him as He loves us. Money or earthly processions are not important to God. Commitment, devotion, adoration, praise, appreciation, thankfulness, gratefulness, purity of heart and service to Him; is what He seeks.
And, part of that service to Him, is giving to those who are less fortunate than you.
Giving is saying thank you – to God. (x2)
Stewardship also includes giving in other ways. We can supplement our giving, by doing. Our titles and offerings, also include the giving of our time and talents. Therefore, we can give back in so many ways; monetarily, but also in what we do – for the church, and in the name of the Lord; giving of our time and talents.
Your offering is representative of your sacrifice and your thanks, to God. And, after exploring the letter from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, and after hearing these suggestions, God wants you to answer this question for yourself;
“Is giving suppose to hurt.”
As you make up your mind, as you ponder God’s word, through Paul’s teachings, I ask the ushers to come forward; as you can now, cheerfully, enthusiastically, and with much confidence, present your offerings, before God, this morning.
Let’s Pray;
Dear Lord,
All we are and all we have are because of You. We have heard what Paul says about responsible, sacrificial giving; and now we offer these gifts, to symbolize and signify, our love for you, and our thankfulness – for all you do in our lives.
May these gifts be pleasing to you; Amen.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
MIA
“Miss In Action”
Brian Reid
May 20, 2007
In WW-1, there were about 53,000 Canadians soldiers presumed killed or Missing in Action.
In WW-2, the entire British Commonwealth estimated that 580,000 soldiers were MIA.
And, even though the Canadian Military never officially participated in the Via Nam War effort, it is estimated that between 5 & 50,000 Canadians, crossed the border, and enlisted as US citizens. Officially, between 110 and 145 Canadians were killed, with 7 being listed as MIA (in a war, that they never participated in).
MIA, Missing In Action, Missing.
When a soldier is listed as MIA, it means that (officially), no one knows where they are, or what happen to them. As far as everyone is concerned, they have simply vanished. No one can find them, or even knows where to start looking.
That’s MIA, Missing In Action, Missing.
How many soldiers, from all the wars and conflicts this world has ever had, how many soldiers do you think are still listed as Missing In Action?
How many people do you think go MIA, in every day life, without anyone every noticing?
How many people, do you think, go MIA, from our churches, every Sunday morning?
Why do people go missing or astray? How do people loose their interest in church? What do you think breaks down those relationships, we have with our church family – and with God?
And, how do you think those, that go MIA, feel?
Lost, lonely and unfulfilled?
Even though, last Sunday, I was somewhere else, doing something that was very meaningful to me, and very important in my life; I felt lost, not being here with you, I felt lonely - not being here with you, and I felt unfulfilled – as I knew I missed, something special.
But, I can’t be in two places at once, and for all intent and purposes, I was Missing In Action.
Some people can go MIA, and no one ever notices. Some people can go MIA, and no one says a thing. And, some people can go MIA, and no one really cares. How sad!
Others, can go MIA, and it is noticed. Others can go MIA, and people are looking all around. Others can go MIA, and everything comes to a stops.
What would it be like, if only 1 person went MIA, from your life? What would it be like, if only 1 person went MIA, from your home? What would it be like, if only 1 person went MIA, from this church?
We already know how that feels, for Winnie, Ruby and Eleanor all are Missing – from this church. Nothing is the same anymore. There is a void, which needs to be filled. There is a longing, which needs attention. There is a sense of being lost, lonely and unfulfilled.
The main message of today’s scripture, is that God is omnipresent. He is present, everywhere, all at the same time. I chose these scriptures because when we are feeling like we are missing something or someone, and we are feeling lost, alone and unfulfilled; these scriptures remind us, that no matter where we are, what we do, or how we feel, – God is there also, comforting us.
In Romans 8, we find evidence of God’s comforting presence.
V. 31; “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
V. 35; “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?”
V. 38; “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today, nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell, can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above, or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God, that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
These words re-affirm God’s profound love for His people, and clearly highlights His Holy presence – with us. No matter what happens to us, no matter where we are - we can never be separated from His presence.
Even when we go MIA, His love and Holy Spirit dwells within us, and no amount of suffering, and no amount of distance, and traveling from our home church can separate, drain or destroy His awesome presence – in our lives.
Psalm 118:5-6;
“In my distress, I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and rescued me. The Lord is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere morals do to me?”
Each and every day, in each and every situation, close to home, or far from safety, we must put trust and confidence in someone. Who will you put your trust in?
Let me remind you..
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
“Nothing can separate us from the love of God…”
“What can mere morals do?”
“In Christ alone, my hope is found.”
Are you willing to trust God to guide you here on earth, and (finally) to your eternal destination? How futile it is to trust anything or anyone, but God.
Isaiah 50: 4-8;
“The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.
The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting.
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know, that I will not be put to shame. He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to bring charges against me now? Where are my accusers? Let them appear!
See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side!”
No matter what suffering and persecution you go through, the Sovereign Lord is (always) on your side! Because of God’s continued presence, we have hope against, and we do not fear those, who persecute us. Hope, found in the scriptures, fight that sense of being lost, feeling alone and unfulfilled. For there is hope, in His presence. x2
Psalm 110:4 & 5, clearly tell, of God’s commitment to us:
“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow.”
“The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you.”
Nothing can be any more straightforward or clearer than that!
“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow.”
“The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you.”
Despite everything that this world will throw at you, take heart and have courage, you are never lost – for God knows where you are, at all times. Take heart and have courage, you are never alone – for Christ is never far from you. Take heart and have courage, you need never feel unfulfilled – as God’s Holy Spirit dwells within you. God will never leave you, nor forsake you!
In John 16:
Jesus asked His disciples this, on the verge of His departure; “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet, I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this, so that you may have peace in me.”
Yet, I am not alone because the Father is with me.
And then in John 14:27, Jesus says;
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give, is a gift the world cannot give.
So, don’t be troubled or afraid.” x2
Our highlighted scripture, tell us many things about God’s presence. Let me remind you…
“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me, and the light around me to become night - but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
And, when I wake up, you are still with me!”
No matter where we venture, travel or trek, God’s presence is felt; in Heaven or Sheol, in the morning and in the farthest oceans – He will guide, and support us.
Not even the darkness can hide us from His presence and light; for God dwells in the darkness and it becomes light.
God knows the very being of our souls, for He created us – so wonderfully complex. He knit us together and formed us, in a most delicate way. Our days were recorded in the Book of Life, and every moment of our lives were laid out before the earth was ever created.
God loves us, has always loved us, and will continue to love us – His people, His children. We are highly valued by God and of great importance, we are rare and unique to Him, much loved, treated with care and compassion, and His affection for us is immeasurable.
And He cares for us enough, He is concerned about us enough, He is worried about us enough to send His very best. He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins – so we would not have to. He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, so that we might feel His presence always. And, He, Himself makes His presence known to us, by revealing Himself in all things and in all people.
Conclusion
Having a right relationship with God, through Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal happiness.
God’s Holy Spirit, which dwells in us all, produces that sense of peace and comfort; so no matter where or what, don’t be troubled or afraid. Calmness and tranquility smooth over those feelings of being lost or alone, and God’s Holy Spirit is what gives us that sense of fulfillment; all made possible by our Heavenly Lord.
Even though, at times, you may feel lost, lonely and unfulfilled, if you seek Him, and search for Him; He is there. “Seek and you shall find!”
“And when I wake up in the morning, You, O God, are still with me.”
Acceptance of Christ, is your salvation. And when you wake up in the morning, God will still be with you.
Never again will you be lost, lonely or unfulfilled; and never will you be listed as MIA.
Let’s pray;
Brian Reid
May 20, 2007
In WW-1, there were about 53,000 Canadians soldiers presumed killed or Missing in Action.
In WW-2, the entire British Commonwealth estimated that 580,000 soldiers were MIA.
And, even though the Canadian Military never officially participated in the Via Nam War effort, it is estimated that between 5 & 50,000 Canadians, crossed the border, and enlisted as US citizens. Officially, between 110 and 145 Canadians were killed, with 7 being listed as MIA (in a war, that they never participated in).
MIA, Missing In Action, Missing.
When a soldier is listed as MIA, it means that (officially), no one knows where they are, or what happen to them. As far as everyone is concerned, they have simply vanished. No one can find them, or even knows where to start looking.
That’s MIA, Missing In Action, Missing.
How many soldiers, from all the wars and conflicts this world has ever had, how many soldiers do you think are still listed as Missing In Action?
How many people do you think go MIA, in every day life, without anyone every noticing?
How many people, do you think, go MIA, from our churches, every Sunday morning?
Why do people go missing or astray? How do people loose their interest in church? What do you think breaks down those relationships, we have with our church family – and with God?
And, how do you think those, that go MIA, feel?
Lost, lonely and unfulfilled?
Even though, last Sunday, I was somewhere else, doing something that was very meaningful to me, and very important in my life; I felt lost, not being here with you, I felt lonely - not being here with you, and I felt unfulfilled – as I knew I missed, something special.
But, I can’t be in two places at once, and for all intent and purposes, I was Missing In Action.
Some people can go MIA, and no one ever notices. Some people can go MIA, and no one says a thing. And, some people can go MIA, and no one really cares. How sad!
Others, can go MIA, and it is noticed. Others can go MIA, and people are looking all around. Others can go MIA, and everything comes to a stops.
What would it be like, if only 1 person went MIA, from your life? What would it be like, if only 1 person went MIA, from your home? What would it be like, if only 1 person went MIA, from this church?
We already know how that feels, for Winnie, Ruby and Eleanor all are Missing – from this church. Nothing is the same anymore. There is a void, which needs to be filled. There is a longing, which needs attention. There is a sense of being lost, lonely and unfulfilled.
The main message of today’s scripture, is that God is omnipresent. He is present, everywhere, all at the same time. I chose these scriptures because when we are feeling like we are missing something or someone, and we are feeling lost, alone and unfulfilled; these scriptures remind us, that no matter where we are, what we do, or how we feel, – God is there also, comforting us.
In Romans 8, we find evidence of God’s comforting presence.
V. 31; “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
V. 35; “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?”
V. 38; “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today, nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell, can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above, or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God, that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
These words re-affirm God’s profound love for His people, and clearly highlights His Holy presence – with us. No matter what happens to us, no matter where we are - we can never be separated from His presence.
Even when we go MIA, His love and Holy Spirit dwells within us, and no amount of suffering, and no amount of distance, and traveling from our home church can separate, drain or destroy His awesome presence – in our lives.
Psalm 118:5-6;
“In my distress, I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and rescued me. The Lord is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere morals do to me?”
Each and every day, in each and every situation, close to home, or far from safety, we must put trust and confidence in someone. Who will you put your trust in?
Let me remind you..
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
“Nothing can separate us from the love of God…”
“What can mere morals do?”
“In Christ alone, my hope is found.”
Are you willing to trust God to guide you here on earth, and (finally) to your eternal destination? How futile it is to trust anything or anyone, but God.
Isaiah 50: 4-8;
“The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.
The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting.
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know, that I will not be put to shame. He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to bring charges against me now? Where are my accusers? Let them appear!
See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side!”
No matter what suffering and persecution you go through, the Sovereign Lord is (always) on your side! Because of God’s continued presence, we have hope against, and we do not fear those, who persecute us. Hope, found in the scriptures, fight that sense of being lost, feeling alone and unfulfilled. For there is hope, in His presence. x2
Psalm 110:4 & 5, clearly tell, of God’s commitment to us:
“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow.”
“The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you.”
Nothing can be any more straightforward or clearer than that!
“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow.”
“The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you.”
Despite everything that this world will throw at you, take heart and have courage, you are never lost – for God knows where you are, at all times. Take heart and have courage, you are never alone – for Christ is never far from you. Take heart and have courage, you need never feel unfulfilled – as God’s Holy Spirit dwells within you. God will never leave you, nor forsake you!
In John 16:
Jesus asked His disciples this, on the verge of His departure; “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet, I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this, so that you may have peace in me.”
Yet, I am not alone because the Father is with me.
And then in John 14:27, Jesus says;
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give, is a gift the world cannot give.
So, don’t be troubled or afraid.” x2
Our highlighted scripture, tell us many things about God’s presence. Let me remind you…
“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me, and the light around me to become night - but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
And, when I wake up, you are still with me!”
No matter where we venture, travel or trek, God’s presence is felt; in Heaven or Sheol, in the morning and in the farthest oceans – He will guide, and support us.
Not even the darkness can hide us from His presence and light; for God dwells in the darkness and it becomes light.
God knows the very being of our souls, for He created us – so wonderfully complex. He knit us together and formed us, in a most delicate way. Our days were recorded in the Book of Life, and every moment of our lives were laid out before the earth was ever created.
God loves us, has always loved us, and will continue to love us – His people, His children. We are highly valued by God and of great importance, we are rare and unique to Him, much loved, treated with care and compassion, and His affection for us is immeasurable.
And He cares for us enough, He is concerned about us enough, He is worried about us enough to send His very best. He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins – so we would not have to. He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, so that we might feel His presence always. And, He, Himself makes His presence known to us, by revealing Himself in all things and in all people.
Conclusion
Having a right relationship with God, through Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal happiness.
God’s Holy Spirit, which dwells in us all, produces that sense of peace and comfort; so no matter where or what, don’t be troubled or afraid. Calmness and tranquility smooth over those feelings of being lost or alone, and God’s Holy Spirit is what gives us that sense of fulfillment; all made possible by our Heavenly Lord.
Even though, at times, you may feel lost, lonely and unfulfilled, if you seek Him, and search for Him; He is there. “Seek and you shall find!”
“And when I wake up in the morning, You, O God, are still with me.”
Acceptance of Christ, is your salvation. And when you wake up in the morning, God will still be with you.
Never again will you be lost, lonely or unfulfilled; and never will you be listed as MIA.
Let’s pray;
MIA
“Miss In Action”
Brian Reid
May 20, 2007
In WW-1, there were about 53,000 Canadians soldiers presumed killed or Missing in Action.
In WW-2, the entire British Commonwealth estimated that 580,000 soldiers were MIA.
And, even though the Canadian Military never officially participated in the Via Nam War effort, it is estimated that between 5 & 50,000 Canadians, crossed the border, and enlisted as US citizens. Officially, between 110 and 145 Canadians were killed, with 7 being listed as MIA (in a war, that they never participated in).
MIA, Missing In Action, Missing.
When a soldier is listed as MIA, it means that (officially), no one knows where they are, or what happen to them. As far as everyone is concerned, they have simply vanished. No one can find them, or even knows where to start looking.
That’s MIA, Missing In Action, Missing.
How many soldiers, from all the wars and conflicts this world has ever had, how many soldiers do you think are still listed as Missing In Action?
How many people do you think go MIA, in every day life, without anyone every noticing?
How many people, do you think, go MIA, from our churches, every Sunday morning?
Why do people go missing or astray? How do people loose their interest in church? What do you think breaks down those relationships, we have with our church family – and with God?
And, how do you think those, that go MIA, feel?
Lost, lonely and unfulfilled?
Even though, last Sunday, I was somewhere else, doing something that was very meaningful to me, and very important in my life; I felt lost, not being here with you, I felt lonely - not being here with you, and I felt unfulfilled – as I knew I missed, something special.
But, I can’t be in two places at once, and for all intent and purposes, I was Missing In Action.
Some people can go MIA, and no one ever notices. Some people can go MIA, and no one says a thing. And, some people can go MIA, and no one really cares. How sad!
Others, can go MIA, and it is noticed. Others can go MIA, and people are looking all around. Others can go MIA, and everything comes to a stops.
What would it be like, if only 1 person went MIA, from your life? What would it be like, if only 1 person went MIA, from your home? What would it be like, if only 1 person went MIA, from this church?
We already know how that feels, for Winnie, Ruby and Eleanor all are Missing – from this church. Nothing is the same anymore. There is a void, which needs to be filled. There is a longing, which needs attention. There is a sense of being lost, lonely and unfulfilled.
The main message of today’s scripture, is that God is omnipresent. He is present, everywhere, all at the same time. I chose these scriptures because when we are feeling like we are missing something or someone, and we are feeling lost, alone and unfulfilled; these scriptures remind us, that no matter where we are, what we do, or how we feel, – God is there also, comforting us.
In Romans 8, we find evidence of God’s comforting presence.
V. 31; “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
V. 35; “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?”
V. 38; “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today, nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell, can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above, or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God, that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
These words re-affirm God’s profound love for His people, and clearly highlights His Holy presence – with us. No matter what happens to us, no matter where we are - we can never be separated from His presence.
Even when we go MIA, His love and Holy Spirit dwells within us, and no amount of suffering, and no amount of distance, and traveling from our home church can separate, drain or destroy His awesome presence – in our lives.
Psalm 118:5-6;
“In my distress, I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and rescued me. The Lord is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere morals do to me?”
Each and every day, in each and every situation, close to home, or far from safety, we must put trust and confidence in someone. Who will you put your trust in?
Let me remind you..
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
“Nothing can separate us from the love of God…”
“What can mere morals do?”
“In Christ alone, my hope is found.”
Are you willing to trust God to guide you here on earth, and (finally) to your eternal destination? How futile it is to trust anything or anyone, but God.
Isaiah 50: 4-8;
“The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.
The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting.
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know, that I will not be put to shame. He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to bring charges against me now? Where are my accusers? Let them appear!
See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side!”
No matter what suffering and persecution you go through, the Sovereign Lord is (always) on your side! Because of God’s continued presence, we have hope against, and we do not fear those, who persecute us. Hope, found in the scriptures, fight that sense of being lost, feeling alone and unfulfilled. For there is hope, in His presence. x2
Psalm 110:4 & 5, clearly tell, of God’s commitment to us:
“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow.”
“The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you.”
Nothing can be any more straightforward or clearer than that!
“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow.”
“The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you.”
Despite everything that this world will throw at you, take heart and have courage, you are never lost – for God knows where you are, at all times. Take heart and have courage, you are never alone – for Christ is never far from you. Take heart and have courage, you need never feel unfulfilled – as God’s Holy Spirit dwells within you. God will never leave you, nor forsake you!
In John 16:
Jesus asked His disciples this, on the verge of His departure; “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet, I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this, so that you may have peace in me.”
Yet, I am not alone because the Father is with me.
And then in John 14:27, Jesus says;
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give, is a gift the world cannot give.
So, don’t be troubled or afraid.” x2
Our highlighted scripture, tell us many things about God’s presence. Let me remind you…
“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me, and the light around me to become night - but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
And, when I wake up, you are still with me!”
No matter where we venture, travel or trek, God’s presence is felt; in Heaven or Sheol, in the morning and in the farthest oceans – He will guide, and support us.
Not even the darkness can hide us from His presence and light; for God dwells in the darkness and it becomes light.
God knows the very being of our souls, for He created us – so wonderfully complex. He knit us together and formed us, in a most delicate way. Our days were recorded in the Book of Life, and every moment of our lives were laid out before the earth was ever created.
God loves us, has always loved us, and will continue to love us – His people, His children. We are highly valued by God and of great importance, we are rare and unique to Him, much loved, treated with care and compassion, and His affection for us is immeasurable.
And He cares for us enough, He is concerned about us enough, He is worried about us enough to send His very best. He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins – so we would not have to. He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, so that we might feel His presence always. And, He, Himself makes His presence known to us, by revealing Himself in all things and in all people.
Conclusion
Having a right relationship with God, through Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal happiness.
God’s Holy Spirit, which dwells in us all, produces that sense of peace and comfort; so no matter where or what, don’t be troubled or afraid. Calmness and tranquility smooth over those feelings of being lost or alone, and God’s Holy Spirit is what gives us that sense of fulfillment; all made possible by our Heavenly Lord.
Even though, at times, you may feel lost, lonely and unfulfilled, if you seek Him, and search for Him; He is there. “Seek and you shall find!”
“And when I wake up in the morning, You, O God, are still with me.”
Acceptance of Christ, is your salvation. And when you wake up in the morning, God will still be with you.
Never again will you be lost, lonely or unfulfilled; and never will you be listed as MIA.
Let’s pray;
Brian Reid
May 20, 2007
In WW-1, there were about 53,000 Canadians soldiers presumed killed or Missing in Action.
In WW-2, the entire British Commonwealth estimated that 580,000 soldiers were MIA.
And, even though the Canadian Military never officially participated in the Via Nam War effort, it is estimated that between 5 & 50,000 Canadians, crossed the border, and enlisted as US citizens. Officially, between 110 and 145 Canadians were killed, with 7 being listed as MIA (in a war, that they never participated in).
MIA, Missing In Action, Missing.
When a soldier is listed as MIA, it means that (officially), no one knows where they are, or what happen to them. As far as everyone is concerned, they have simply vanished. No one can find them, or even knows where to start looking.
That’s MIA, Missing In Action, Missing.
How many soldiers, from all the wars and conflicts this world has ever had, how many soldiers do you think are still listed as Missing In Action?
How many people do you think go MIA, in every day life, without anyone every noticing?
How many people, do you think, go MIA, from our churches, every Sunday morning?
Why do people go missing or astray? How do people loose their interest in church? What do you think breaks down those relationships, we have with our church family – and with God?
And, how do you think those, that go MIA, feel?
Lost, lonely and unfulfilled?
Even though, last Sunday, I was somewhere else, doing something that was very meaningful to me, and very important in my life; I felt lost, not being here with you, I felt lonely - not being here with you, and I felt unfulfilled – as I knew I missed, something special.
But, I can’t be in two places at once, and for all intent and purposes, I was Missing In Action.
Some people can go MIA, and no one ever notices. Some people can go MIA, and no one says a thing. And, some people can go MIA, and no one really cares. How sad!
Others, can go MIA, and it is noticed. Others can go MIA, and people are looking all around. Others can go MIA, and everything comes to a stops.
What would it be like, if only 1 person went MIA, from your life? What would it be like, if only 1 person went MIA, from your home? What would it be like, if only 1 person went MIA, from this church?
We already know how that feels, for Winnie, Ruby and Eleanor all are Missing – from this church. Nothing is the same anymore. There is a void, which needs to be filled. There is a longing, which needs attention. There is a sense of being lost, lonely and unfulfilled.
The main message of today’s scripture, is that God is omnipresent. He is present, everywhere, all at the same time. I chose these scriptures because when we are feeling like we are missing something or someone, and we are feeling lost, alone and unfulfilled; these scriptures remind us, that no matter where we are, what we do, or how we feel, – God is there also, comforting us.
In Romans 8, we find evidence of God’s comforting presence.
V. 31; “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
V. 35; “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?”
V. 38; “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today, nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell, can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above, or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God, that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
These words re-affirm God’s profound love for His people, and clearly highlights His Holy presence – with us. No matter what happens to us, no matter where we are - we can never be separated from His presence.
Even when we go MIA, His love and Holy Spirit dwells within us, and no amount of suffering, and no amount of distance, and traveling from our home church can separate, drain or destroy His awesome presence – in our lives.
Psalm 118:5-6;
“In my distress, I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and rescued me. The Lord is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere morals do to me?”
Each and every day, in each and every situation, close to home, or far from safety, we must put trust and confidence in someone. Who will you put your trust in?
Let me remind you..
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
“Nothing can separate us from the love of God…”
“What can mere morals do?”
“In Christ alone, my hope is found.”
Are you willing to trust God to guide you here on earth, and (finally) to your eternal destination? How futile it is to trust anything or anyone, but God.
Isaiah 50: 4-8;
“The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.
The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting.
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know, that I will not be put to shame. He who gives me justice is near. Who will dare to bring charges against me now? Where are my accusers? Let them appear!
See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side!”
No matter what suffering and persecution you go through, the Sovereign Lord is (always) on your side! Because of God’s continued presence, we have hope against, and we do not fear those, who persecute us. Hope, found in the scriptures, fight that sense of being lost, feeling alone and unfulfilled. For there is hope, in His presence. x2
Psalm 110:4 & 5, clearly tell, of God’s commitment to us:
“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow.”
“The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you.”
Nothing can be any more straightforward or clearer than that!
“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow.”
“The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you.”
Despite everything that this world will throw at you, take heart and have courage, you are never lost – for God knows where you are, at all times. Take heart and have courage, you are never alone – for Christ is never far from you. Take heart and have courage, you need never feel unfulfilled – as God’s Holy Spirit dwells within you. God will never leave you, nor forsake you!
In John 16:
Jesus asked His disciples this, on the verge of His departure; “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet, I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this, so that you may have peace in me.”
Yet, I am not alone because the Father is with me.
And then in John 14:27, Jesus says;
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give, is a gift the world cannot give.
So, don’t be troubled or afraid.” x2
Our highlighted scripture, tell us many things about God’s presence. Let me remind you…
“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me, and the light around me to become night - but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
And, when I wake up, you are still with me!”
No matter where we venture, travel or trek, God’s presence is felt; in Heaven or Sheol, in the morning and in the farthest oceans – He will guide, and support us.
Not even the darkness can hide us from His presence and light; for God dwells in the darkness and it becomes light.
God knows the very being of our souls, for He created us – so wonderfully complex. He knit us together and formed us, in a most delicate way. Our days were recorded in the Book of Life, and every moment of our lives were laid out before the earth was ever created.
God loves us, has always loved us, and will continue to love us – His people, His children. We are highly valued by God and of great importance, we are rare and unique to Him, much loved, treated with care and compassion, and His affection for us is immeasurable.
And He cares for us enough, He is concerned about us enough, He is worried about us enough to send His very best. He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins – so we would not have to. He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, so that we might feel His presence always. And, He, Himself makes His presence known to us, by revealing Himself in all things and in all people.
Conclusion
Having a right relationship with God, through Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal happiness.
God’s Holy Spirit, which dwells in us all, produces that sense of peace and comfort; so no matter where or what, don’t be troubled or afraid. Calmness and tranquility smooth over those feelings of being lost or alone, and God’s Holy Spirit is what gives us that sense of fulfillment; all made possible by our Heavenly Lord.
Even though, at times, you may feel lost, lonely and unfulfilled, if you seek Him, and search for Him; He is there. “Seek and you shall find!”
“And when I wake up in the morning, You, O God, are still with me.”
Acceptance of Christ, is your salvation. And when you wake up in the morning, God will still be with you.
Never again will you be lost, lonely or unfulfilled; and never will you be listed as MIA.
Let’s pray;
Friday, May 18, 2007
"Fear" by Jonathan Thompson
A Mother’s Day story:
Gold, Common sense and Fur,
My husband and I had been happily (most of the time) married for five years but hadn't been blessed with a baby. I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with his word as my
guide.
God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son. The next year God blessed us with another son. The following year, he blessed us with yet another son. The year after that, we were blessed with a daughter.
My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty. We now had four children, and the oldest was only four years old. I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it. As a minister once told me, "If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella."
I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs. I was off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I didn't want to disappoint him.
I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks. I tried to be understanding when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs.
When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor rather than the mess. In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at
a time, I still thank God daily for my children. While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother - I didn't even come close - I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God. I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to "wash up" Jesus, too.
Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."
My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine.
My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, "We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes." But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes." My four-year-old "Mary" said, "That's not
'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."
A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing. I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus,
and it bounced down the aisle crying, "Mama-mama." Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived.
My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, "We are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur." The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation. "I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one," laughed the pastor, wiping tears from his eyes. "For the rest of my life, I'll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur."
"My children are my pride and my joy and my greatest blessing," I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.
Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. Had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered
the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves
us.
________________________
Luke 2 :39-52
"39When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 43After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
49"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" 50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."
______________
The Message - Fear is something not to be taken lightly. When I think of fear I think of being afraid of something. Spiders for example I am terrified of. For you younger kids it might monster under the bed or in the closet. For the older ones it might fear going into a job interview. The dark was and sometimes still is scary for me. However, this is not the type of fear I am going to talk about today. We can read the bible over and over again and somehow every time seems different. It says is the bible multiple times to fear God. This again is a different kind of fear. The fear I am going to talk about is the fear a parent, particularly mothers have, for their child or children.
I have seen in the past two years the love a mother can have for their child. I have not had the luxury of having that experience yet but I am a witness to it. And with this love also comes fear. Whether it be babies first step, babies first tooth or even babies first fall, fear for that child is almost instant he/she is born and it continues through out the child’s life.
Dolores you can probably relate to this one, dropping your kids off to camp for the week. I can remember when I went to camp up Amherst way. I’m sure mom was terrified to let me go there by myself, at least I hope she was. Letting your children grow up can not be easy. Knowing they are going to move out one day and are going to be on their own, well a whole other kind of fear sets in.
We sometimes read in the news papers or see on TV of kids who have either been kidnapped or who run away from home. Not knowing where your child is has to be the ultimate fear. This is exactly what happened to Mary and Joseph in Luke 2:44-45. The thoughts that must have ran through their minds must have been worry which in turn is fear. Fear for his safety.
It’s one thing to go to the grocery store and forget your list or misplace an item like your glasses or wallet but how it must feel to go somewhere and forget your own child. How many here have ever gone home and forgot your child at church.
A situation such as this would make parents very distraught. This is probably exactly how Mary and Joseph felt. They knew of course they had left him in Jerusalem but he was only a boy and it was a big town. Imagine leaving your child in a city such as Halifax. It would be scary but for who. Is it more scary for child or parent? Jesus knew exactly where He was but His mother and father did not. Do you suppose it was a relief to them to find Him in a temple talking with the priests? It would certainly give me comfort but between the time they realized He was missing to the time when they found Him must have been pure torture.
When we are overcome by fear we tend to make the situation seem bigger than it really is. We tend to assume the worse about things and also assume it will never get any better. Well guess what folks, it can always be worse then it is. If we strongly believe in God and the Holy Spirit then we should know God will take care of us and the situation and I can almost be sure in assuming that May and Joseph felt this. After all, he did take care of them thus far. But for even a split second fear had to have been present.
All we need to do when we are scared is pray for God to help us in what ever we fear. This is the point and the point I am making today. This is the best practice there is for getting rid of fear. As the choir sang today, we are sheltered in the arms of God. His arms are constantly around us to protect. Of course we are human and fear is a human emotion but we can overcome it just like we can overcome many other things.
There is a saying I like to use and you can apply this in many different situations, “With God, all things are possible”.
So remember mothers, your kids will grow up and move out and yes it will be scary but God is there to help you through it, all you have to do is ask. Together with God, we can tackle fear.
_________________
A Mother's Garden
A tired young mother knelt down by her bed
at the end of a stress-filled day.
"Dear God, I need help and direction from You,
to bring up my children Your way."
She took her dusty Bible down from the shelf
and wearily started to read,
but she drifted to sleep and started to dream
of a garden, ready for seed.
She heard a sweet voice speaking loud and clear:
"My grace is sufficient for you.
Just listen to the words I am speaking;
whatever I say to you - do.
The heart of each child is a garden, and
it needs to be tended with care.
I will give you all that you require
if you water your own heart with prayer.
Warm nurture and firm admonition
are both needed to balance the soil.
Come often to Me for instruction and strength
as in their hearts' garden you toil."
The next day, she started preparing the ground;
she planned it with tender care.
She wanted only the finest of plants
to grow in her garden there.
She quickly planted some seeds of kindness
next to her rows of sweet peace;
then gentleness and goodness side-by-side,
she planted down on her knees.
Slow-growing patience, self-control and joy
were all dropped in, one-by-one.
When she added true faithfulness and love,
she thought all her hard work was done.
Suddenly weeds appeared in the garden,
just when her seeds began to sprout,
so she carefully wielded the tool of faith
and dug the harmful weeds out.
Then she nurtured and watered the seedlings
with the thirst-quenching Word of God.
She staked her young plants with hand-woven cords
as they struggled to break through the sod.
Just as her Lord had promised that night,
she never was left all alone;
He showed her the way and He guided her hand
as each tiny seed was sown.
At last it was time for the harvest;
the mother had given her best. The hearts of her children were fruitful for God,
and she was eternally blessed!
~ Connie Faust ~
Jonathan would like to thank Larry Mullen, Corey Mullen, Teddy Marr and his dad, Arthur Thompson for helping with the service.
Gold, Common sense and Fur,
My husband and I had been happily (most of the time) married for five years but hadn't been blessed with a baby. I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with his word as my
guide.
God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son. The next year God blessed us with another son. The following year, he blessed us with yet another son. The year after that, we were blessed with a daughter.
My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty. We now had four children, and the oldest was only four years old. I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it. As a minister once told me, "If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella."
I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs. I was off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I didn't want to disappoint him.
I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks. I tried to be understanding when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs.
When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor rather than the mess. In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at
a time, I still thank God daily for my children. While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother - I didn't even come close - I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God. I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to "wash up" Jesus, too.
Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."
My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine.
My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, "We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes." But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes." My four-year-old "Mary" said, "That's not
'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."
A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing. I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus,
and it bounced down the aisle crying, "Mama-mama." Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived.
My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, "We are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur." The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation. "I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one," laughed the pastor, wiping tears from his eyes. "For the rest of my life, I'll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of gold, common sense and fur."
"My children are my pride and my joy and my greatest blessing," I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.
Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. Had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered
the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves
us.
________________________
Luke 2 :39-52
"39When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 43After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
49"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" 50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."
______________
The Message - Fear is something not to be taken lightly. When I think of fear I think of being afraid of something. Spiders for example I am terrified of. For you younger kids it might monster under the bed or in the closet. For the older ones it might fear going into a job interview. The dark was and sometimes still is scary for me. However, this is not the type of fear I am going to talk about today. We can read the bible over and over again and somehow every time seems different. It says is the bible multiple times to fear God. This again is a different kind of fear. The fear I am going to talk about is the fear a parent, particularly mothers have, for their child or children.
I have seen in the past two years the love a mother can have for their child. I have not had the luxury of having that experience yet but I am a witness to it. And with this love also comes fear. Whether it be babies first step, babies first tooth or even babies first fall, fear for that child is almost instant he/she is born and it continues through out the child’s life.
Dolores you can probably relate to this one, dropping your kids off to camp for the week. I can remember when I went to camp up Amherst way. I’m sure mom was terrified to let me go there by myself, at least I hope she was. Letting your children grow up can not be easy. Knowing they are going to move out one day and are going to be on their own, well a whole other kind of fear sets in.
We sometimes read in the news papers or see on TV of kids who have either been kidnapped or who run away from home. Not knowing where your child is has to be the ultimate fear. This is exactly what happened to Mary and Joseph in Luke 2:44-45. The thoughts that must have ran through their minds must have been worry which in turn is fear. Fear for his safety.
It’s one thing to go to the grocery store and forget your list or misplace an item like your glasses or wallet but how it must feel to go somewhere and forget your own child. How many here have ever gone home and forgot your child at church.
A situation such as this would make parents very distraught. This is probably exactly how Mary and Joseph felt. They knew of course they had left him in Jerusalem but he was only a boy and it was a big town. Imagine leaving your child in a city such as Halifax. It would be scary but for who. Is it more scary for child or parent? Jesus knew exactly where He was but His mother and father did not. Do you suppose it was a relief to them to find Him in a temple talking with the priests? It would certainly give me comfort but between the time they realized He was missing to the time when they found Him must have been pure torture.
When we are overcome by fear we tend to make the situation seem bigger than it really is. We tend to assume the worse about things and also assume it will never get any better. Well guess what folks, it can always be worse then it is. If we strongly believe in God and the Holy Spirit then we should know God will take care of us and the situation and I can almost be sure in assuming that May and Joseph felt this. After all, he did take care of them thus far. But for even a split second fear had to have been present.
All we need to do when we are scared is pray for God to help us in what ever we fear. This is the point and the point I am making today. This is the best practice there is for getting rid of fear. As the choir sang today, we are sheltered in the arms of God. His arms are constantly around us to protect. Of course we are human and fear is a human emotion but we can overcome it just like we can overcome many other things.
There is a saying I like to use and you can apply this in many different situations, “With God, all things are possible”.
So remember mothers, your kids will grow up and move out and yes it will be scary but God is there to help you through it, all you have to do is ask. Together with God, we can tackle fear.
_________________
A Mother's Garden
A tired young mother knelt down by her bed
at the end of a stress-filled day.
"Dear God, I need help and direction from You,
to bring up my children Your way."
She took her dusty Bible down from the shelf
and wearily started to read,
but she drifted to sleep and started to dream
of a garden, ready for seed.
She heard a sweet voice speaking loud and clear:
"My grace is sufficient for you.
Just listen to the words I am speaking;
whatever I say to you - do.
The heart of each child is a garden, and
it needs to be tended with care.
I will give you all that you require
if you water your own heart with prayer.
Warm nurture and firm admonition
are both needed to balance the soil.
Come often to Me for instruction and strength
as in their hearts' garden you toil."
The next day, she started preparing the ground;
she planned it with tender care.
She wanted only the finest of plants
to grow in her garden there.
She quickly planted some seeds of kindness
next to her rows of sweet peace;
then gentleness and goodness side-by-side,
she planted down on her knees.
Slow-growing patience, self-control and joy
were all dropped in, one-by-one.
When she added true faithfulness and love,
she thought all her hard work was done.
Suddenly weeds appeared in the garden,
just when her seeds began to sprout,
so she carefully wielded the tool of faith
and dug the harmful weeds out.
Then she nurtured and watered the seedlings
with the thirst-quenching Word of God.
She staked her young plants with hand-woven cords
as they struggled to break through the sod.
Just as her Lord had promised that night,
she never was left all alone;
He showed her the way and He guided her hand
as each tiny seed was sown.
At last it was time for the harvest;
the mother had given her best. The hearts of her children were fruitful for God,
and she was eternally blessed!
~ Connie Faust ~
Jonathan would like to thank Larry Mullen, Corey Mullen, Teddy Marr and his dad, Arthur Thompson for helping with the service.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Both Services from May 6, 2007
***Morning Communion Service***
“The Art of Being a Sinner”
Brian F. Reid
May 6, 2007
Romans 3:9-18
Today, I will try to bridge, our sins, with God’s love and Christ’s death.
Sinning takes skill, ability, talent, flair, aptitude; and everyone has the capability in them to sin – perfectly. Today, we will look at “The Art of Being a Sinner.”
It takes someone special, who can sin, cover it up, turn away from it, and act as if it never ever happened. But, sin changes us and affects so many others.
Some say Sin is necessary, don’t worry about it, and it isn’t our fault that sin exists. Well!
Sin
Sin is moral evil, a transgression of/or a rebellion against God’s laws. It can be described as a perversion of the heart, or simply missing the mark (the mark of excellence – in God’s eyes).
Satan introduced evil into the world. It was the serpent, by means of Eve, who brought sin into the Garden of Eden (way back in Genesis 3), and it was through our inheritance from Adam, that sin still exists in the world. Evil is the absence of good, with Sin being a deliberate separation of ‘mankind’ from the laws of God (through evil).
Mankind was created with a Holy and godly nature, in fellowship with the Lord. But, by means of free will, distrust and unbelief, that, covenant, was broken by us. Sin is that lack of conformity to God’s moral covenant.
Sin is also defined as anything in ‘mankind,’ which does not express, or, is contrary to, the Holy Character of God, the Creator.
So, yes, we are sinful, because of the Great Fall in the Garden of Eden, by Adam and Eve. And, no, we are not responsible for sin being introduced into the world, but, we are responsible for its perpetuation and continuation; for we keep it going. It may not be our fault, that sin exists, but it is through our imperfections, that sin still exists.
Romans 5:12 tells us;
“When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”
Some people say that sin is necessary for God to express His love and mercy to us. They are simply saying that without sin, there would be no need for God’s mercy or grace. I don’t agree with that. I feel that (even) without sin, God would find a way to show His undying love to us. Sin is not a question of necessity or a need to be, it is all about a broken covenant of love.
“Is sin necessary?” wrong question.
“Is God’s mercy, grace and love necessary?”
Yes, God’s mercy, grace and love is necessary, because we sin.
Some people even say not to worry about sin, because; it is God’s job to forgive; God is so loving, he won’t judge us; sin isn’t so bad – it teaches us valuable lessons; and sin keeps us in touch with the culture around us.
Should we worry about our sins?
God cannot overlook sin. We, sinners will have to answer to God for our sins; no matter how many excuses we make.
We have heard, and maybe even used, some of these excuses for sin.
* No one will know.
* I’ve done more good, today, than bad.
* Just this once won’t matter.
* I’ve been hurting, and this will make me feel better.
* I deserve it.
* I’m not hurting anyone, but myself.
All are untrue! All are justifications for sinning. All are simple excuses to make ourselves feel better.
Some, can sin better and/or easier when alone; others need people to urge them on and to twist that arm
They say;
“Oh I wouldn’t have done that, if only someone was with me to tell me, no.”
“Oh I wouldn’t have done it, if they hadn’t talked me into it.”
This is how we justify our actions and make excuses for our sins. Sadly, they are nothing but lies, that we tell to ourselves (and others); and they have deadly consequences. “For the wages of sin, is death.”
There are Seven Deadly Sins, which all our actions and attitudes are based on.
1. Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the Grace of God (in our lives). It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.
2. Envy is the desire to have another’s traits, qualities, status, abilities, or situation. We all, at one time or another, been green with envy.
3. Gluttony is an excessive desire to consume more than that which one requires. This is not just food related.
4. Lust is a very strong craving for the pleasures of the body.
5. Anger is manifested in the individual, who rejects love, and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.
6. Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual.
7. Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work; nothing but laziness.
It is from these 7 vices, that we get into the most trouble. It is from these 7 vices, that we are drawn to sin. It is from these 7 vices, that we gain, our losses. And it is the lack of self-control, where sinning begins.
Sinning requires a good memory; for we must know and remember the lies we tell and stories that cover up our sins.
Sinning requires organization; for we must be able to arrange and control our actions into a systematic plan.
Sinning requires flexibility and adaptability to change and go with the flow, as our sinful-plans are interrupted; and we come up with a plan-B.
Sinning requires nerves of steel; as we sometimes will be confronted about our lies; and we will lie to cover other lies.
Sinning requires taking a chance; sometimes our sins involve other people and we simply must ask them to take part. Often, sin requires us to do things that are out of our ordinary set of behaviors.
Sinning requires a large ego, and a low self-esteem. Sometimes, we think so highly of ourselves that we can justify anything – that takes a very large ego. Other times, our self-worth is so low, that we will stoop and lower ourselves to almost anything; to the lowest depths possible. Sin creates in us, that down-ward spiral of self-disrespect and destruction.
Sinning requires a good knowledge of the rules; for we need to know the rule, in order to break it correctly. We resort to lies, half-truths and total communication shutdown.
Often, we will say things like;
“You didn’t say that.
You didn’t say I couldn’t.
I thought it would be OK.
I thought I was doing right.
Where is that written in the Bible?
Did God really say, You must not eat from any tree in the garden?”
Thus is the Art of Sinning.
It takes someone special, who can sin, cover it up, turn away from it, and act as if it never ever happened.
Sinning takes skill, ability, talent, flair, aptitude; and everyone has the capability in them to sin – perfectly.
Romans 3:23; “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Bridge to Court
It can be said, that one final sin, put Christ upon the cross. It can be said, that one final sin, cost Jesus His life. It can be said, that one final sin, was the instrument, the apparatus, the mechanism, the catalyst that which an angry God (then) demanded to be appeased.
Was that one, final, sin, yours?
***Image with me, this dream.***
After living, what I felt was a "decent" life; my time on earth, came to the end. I was transported to another time and place.
The first thing I remember, is sitting on a bench, in the waiting room, of what I thought to be a Courthouse. The doors opened, and I was instructed to come in, and have a seat by the defense table.
As I looked around, I saw the "prosecutor." He was a villainous looking man, who snarled, as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person, I have ever seen. I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney; a kind and gentle looking man, whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, that I felt I knew Him.
Just then, the corner door flew open, and there appeared the Judge, in full, flowing, robes. He commanded an awesome presence, as He moved across the room; I couldn't take my eyes off of Him. As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, "Let us begin."
The prosecutor rose and said, "My name is Satan, and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell." He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stolen, and in the past, when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible Perversions, that were once in my life, and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank.
I was so embarrassed, that I couldn't look at anyone, not even my own Attorney; as the Devil told of sins, that, even I, had completely forgotten about.
As upset, as I was, at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset, at My Attorney, who sat there silently, not offering any form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life as well - couldn't that at least equal out, part of the harm I'd done?
Satan finished with a fury and said, "This man belongs in hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged, and there is not a person who can prove otherwise.” How true.
When it was His turn, My Attorney, first asked if He might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this, over the strong objection of Satan, and the Judge beckoned Him to come forward.
As my Counselor got up, and started walking, I was then able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty. I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus, representing me; my Lord and my Savior.
He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, "Hi, Dad," and then He turned to address the court. "Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished."
Then, Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross, so that this person might have eternal life, and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so he is Mine.”
My Lord continued , "His name is written in the Book of Life, and no one can snatch him from Me. Satan still does not understand yet. This man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy."
As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, "There is nothing else that needs to be done. I have done it all."
The Judge lifted His mighty hand, and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from His lips. "This man is free. The penalty for him, has already been paid in full. Case dismissed."
As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give up, I will win the next one."
I asked Jesus, as He gave me my instructions of where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?”
Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to Me, and asked Me to represent them, has received the very same verdict, as you." ~Paid In Full~ (x2)
Communion is a thankful remembrance of what Christ did on the cross for the sins you have committed. Communion is a reminder that your debt, has been paid; Paid In Full.
***Communion Overview***
The Call to the Lord’s Supper
You, who truly and earnestly repent of your sins, who have love and concern for your neighbors, who intend to lead a life worthy of Christ – draw near with reverence, with faith and with thanksgiving, and take the Supper of the Lord to your comfort.
Come to this sacred table, not because you must, but because you can. Come to testify, not that you are righteous, but that you sincerely love your Lord, and desire to be His true disciples. Come to seek a Presence and pray for a Spirit.
And now that the Supper of the Lord is spread before you, lift your minds and hearts above all selfish fears and cares. Let this Bread and Cup, be to you, the witness and signs of the grace of our Lord, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit.
Before the throne of the Heavenly Father, and the Cross of the Redeemer, we now pray for strength, to know, and do, the Holy Will of God. May our confessions of sins be genuine, as we re-dedicate our lives to Christian obedience and service.
“To the children of faith, God has said, I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist: return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
Let Us Pray;
Dear Lord,
Please forgive us of our sins and set us free from them;
We confess to the sin of pride, the sin of envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, laziness and, We confess to the sin of not trusting you.
But, we thank you for your love, mercy and grace. Forgive us of our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Amen.
The Institution of the Bread
“The Lord Jesus, on the night when He was betrayed, took a loaf of bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said; This is my body, that is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Let us also give thanks for the Bread, Let us pray.
(prayer)
(the Bread is served)
“Let us eat this Bread in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice for us.”
The Institution of the Cup
“In the same way, He took the cup also, after supper, saying, This Cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death, until He comes again.”
Let us also give thanks for the Cup, Let us pray.
(prayer)
(the Cup is served)
“Jesus said, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for the many, for the forgiveness of sins. Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.”
(silence)
Commissioning Hymn
The Benediction
Sin is slavery and bondage, to pain and suffering; and no one ever wants to live a life of pain and suffering. But, sin is a part of our everyday life.
All we can do is try our very best to not sin and seek God’s guidance; that’s all. Some days will be better than others, and tomorrow is always new day; with a fresh start.
For, God keeps no records of wrongs, and grants to us, each and every day, a brand new start; free from the repercussions of the sins we have committed yesterday. Free to begin again; reborn; renewed and pure as snow.
Blessing upon you all – have a wonderful week. Amen & Amen.
***Evening Service - Committment***
First, I want to thank these fine people for sharing their musical gifts with us tonight. Let’s thank them again (applause).
I want to thank them for their commitment. I also want to thank all of you, for being here, and for your commitment.
Those who have shared their talents with us tonight, are committed to glorifying God through music. You, who came to hear that music, are also committed to praising the Lord. I watched as some of you smiled and nodded, keep time with your feet and raised your hands. All these actions, and all this music, really does glorify and praise His Holy Name.
A Commitment is something that takes up our time or energy, an obligation; devotion or dedication, to a cause, person or relationship; a planned arrangement or activity that cannot be avoided – that’s true Commitment is also a covenant.
I am also committed, as I lead the evening, share prayers with you, and bringing a short message.
And together, we show God our commitment to Him; by what we do.
Leviticus 26:9
“The Lord said, I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.”
For God made a covenant with our ancestors, long ago. He made a promise and He has not changed His mind, wavered from His promise, or reneged on His word.
In Exodus 19:5-6
God promised this;
“Now if you obey me fully, and keep my covenant, then, out of all the nations (of the world), you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me, a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation…”
God choose our ancestors, not because they were special, and not because they were such a great nation; He chose them, because He loved them, and wanted to lavish, on them, His blessings. But, what must we do, in exchange for this love, given to our ancestors – and now handed down to us?
He wants us to love Him back, to obey His laws; and we are to be His people, and He our God.
Genesis 17:7
“I will establish my covenant, as an everlasting covenant, between me and you, and your descendants after you, for the generations to come, to be your God, and the God of your descendants after you.”
God simply wants our Commitment.
Some say, that as Christians, we have an obligation to be committed to Christ.
Well, I say; through a personal sense of commitment to God, we show that we are Christians. I say that God’s commitment of love, creates in us, a renewed sense of well-being and produces a love, that we then, share with others. I say, that the commitment of our Holy and Heavenly Father is from everlasting to everlasting, for those who keep His covenant.
Our God has committed, to never stop doing good, for we, His children; but what does it mean to be committed to Him.
Commitment to Christ, is not something you do, but something you feel; right here within the heart – because that’s where our faith develops. Faith is believing in something that we can’t see or touch; and sometimes (often) understand. Commitment to Christ means commitment to the faith we develop; and the development of our faith, requires commitment. One is dependant upon the other.
(Poem)
***My Commitment as a Christian***
(Written by a young African pastor and tacked on the wall of his house.)
"I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me - my banner will be clear!"
___________________________________________
The author of this poem, has a strong and a true commitment to God, to Christ our Savior, and to the Holy Spirit which dwells within him.
You, like him, can develop your own personal, statement of commitment. You, like him, can take comfort in the fact that Christ is your Savior. You, like him, can stand up, speak out and praise and glorify God, in all that you do and say. You can show your commitment, to God, by showing your commitment, to others.
Let us pray;
Dear Lord,
We thank you for the life you have given us to live. We thank you for the many blessings of that life. And, we thank you for your continued love, mercy and grace. We commit ourselves to you now, to praise, honor and glorify You; in all that we do.
Be with us, as we depart this place, watch over us daily, and guide us always. Amen
“The Art of Being a Sinner”
Brian F. Reid
May 6, 2007
Romans 3:9-18
Today, I will try to bridge, our sins, with God’s love and Christ’s death.
Sinning takes skill, ability, talent, flair, aptitude; and everyone has the capability in them to sin – perfectly. Today, we will look at “The Art of Being a Sinner.”
It takes someone special, who can sin, cover it up, turn away from it, and act as if it never ever happened. But, sin changes us and affects so many others.
Some say Sin is necessary, don’t worry about it, and it isn’t our fault that sin exists. Well!
Sin
Sin is moral evil, a transgression of/or a rebellion against God’s laws. It can be described as a perversion of the heart, or simply missing the mark (the mark of excellence – in God’s eyes).
Satan introduced evil into the world. It was the serpent, by means of Eve, who brought sin into the Garden of Eden (way back in Genesis 3), and it was through our inheritance from Adam, that sin still exists in the world. Evil is the absence of good, with Sin being a deliberate separation of ‘mankind’ from the laws of God (through evil).
Mankind was created with a Holy and godly nature, in fellowship with the Lord. But, by means of free will, distrust and unbelief, that, covenant, was broken by us. Sin is that lack of conformity to God’s moral covenant.
Sin is also defined as anything in ‘mankind,’ which does not express, or, is contrary to, the Holy Character of God, the Creator.
So, yes, we are sinful, because of the Great Fall in the Garden of Eden, by Adam and Eve. And, no, we are not responsible for sin being introduced into the world, but, we are responsible for its perpetuation and continuation; for we keep it going. It may not be our fault, that sin exists, but it is through our imperfections, that sin still exists.
Romans 5:12 tells us;
“When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”
Some people say that sin is necessary for God to express His love and mercy to us. They are simply saying that without sin, there would be no need for God’s mercy or grace. I don’t agree with that. I feel that (even) without sin, God would find a way to show His undying love to us. Sin is not a question of necessity or a need to be, it is all about a broken covenant of love.
“Is sin necessary?” wrong question.
“Is God’s mercy, grace and love necessary?”
Yes, God’s mercy, grace and love is necessary, because we sin.
Some people even say not to worry about sin, because; it is God’s job to forgive; God is so loving, he won’t judge us; sin isn’t so bad – it teaches us valuable lessons; and sin keeps us in touch with the culture around us.
Should we worry about our sins?
God cannot overlook sin. We, sinners will have to answer to God for our sins; no matter how many excuses we make.
We have heard, and maybe even used, some of these excuses for sin.
* No one will know.
* I’ve done more good, today, than bad.
* Just this once won’t matter.
* I’ve been hurting, and this will make me feel better.
* I deserve it.
* I’m not hurting anyone, but myself.
All are untrue! All are justifications for sinning. All are simple excuses to make ourselves feel better.
Some, can sin better and/or easier when alone; others need people to urge them on and to twist that arm
They say;
“Oh I wouldn’t have done that, if only someone was with me to tell me, no.”
“Oh I wouldn’t have done it, if they hadn’t talked me into it.”
This is how we justify our actions and make excuses for our sins. Sadly, they are nothing but lies, that we tell to ourselves (and others); and they have deadly consequences. “For the wages of sin, is death.”
There are Seven Deadly Sins, which all our actions and attitudes are based on.
1. Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the Grace of God (in our lives). It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.
2. Envy is the desire to have another’s traits, qualities, status, abilities, or situation. We all, at one time or another, been green with envy.
3. Gluttony is an excessive desire to consume more than that which one requires. This is not just food related.
4. Lust is a very strong craving for the pleasures of the body.
5. Anger is manifested in the individual, who rejects love, and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.
6. Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual.
7. Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work; nothing but laziness.
It is from these 7 vices, that we get into the most trouble. It is from these 7 vices, that we are drawn to sin. It is from these 7 vices, that we gain, our losses. And it is the lack of self-control, where sinning begins.
Sinning requires a good memory; for we must know and remember the lies we tell and stories that cover up our sins.
Sinning requires organization; for we must be able to arrange and control our actions into a systematic plan.
Sinning requires flexibility and adaptability to change and go with the flow, as our sinful-plans are interrupted; and we come up with a plan-B.
Sinning requires nerves of steel; as we sometimes will be confronted about our lies; and we will lie to cover other lies.
Sinning requires taking a chance; sometimes our sins involve other people and we simply must ask them to take part. Often, sin requires us to do things that are out of our ordinary set of behaviors.
Sinning requires a large ego, and a low self-esteem. Sometimes, we think so highly of ourselves that we can justify anything – that takes a very large ego. Other times, our self-worth is so low, that we will stoop and lower ourselves to almost anything; to the lowest depths possible. Sin creates in us, that down-ward spiral of self-disrespect and destruction.
Sinning requires a good knowledge of the rules; for we need to know the rule, in order to break it correctly. We resort to lies, half-truths and total communication shutdown.
Often, we will say things like;
“You didn’t say that.
You didn’t say I couldn’t.
I thought it would be OK.
I thought I was doing right.
Where is that written in the Bible?
Did God really say, You must not eat from any tree in the garden?”
Thus is the Art of Sinning.
It takes someone special, who can sin, cover it up, turn away from it, and act as if it never ever happened.
Sinning takes skill, ability, talent, flair, aptitude; and everyone has the capability in them to sin – perfectly.
Romans 3:23; “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Bridge to Court
It can be said, that one final sin, put Christ upon the cross. It can be said, that one final sin, cost Jesus His life. It can be said, that one final sin, was the instrument, the apparatus, the mechanism, the catalyst that which an angry God (then) demanded to be appeased.
Was that one, final, sin, yours?
***Image with me, this dream.***
After living, what I felt was a "decent" life; my time on earth, came to the end. I was transported to another time and place.
The first thing I remember, is sitting on a bench, in the waiting room, of what I thought to be a Courthouse. The doors opened, and I was instructed to come in, and have a seat by the defense table.
As I looked around, I saw the "prosecutor." He was a villainous looking man, who snarled, as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person, I have ever seen. I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney; a kind and gentle looking man, whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, that I felt I knew Him.
Just then, the corner door flew open, and there appeared the Judge, in full, flowing, robes. He commanded an awesome presence, as He moved across the room; I couldn't take my eyes off of Him. As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, "Let us begin."
The prosecutor rose and said, "My name is Satan, and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell." He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stolen, and in the past, when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible Perversions, that were once in my life, and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank.
I was so embarrassed, that I couldn't look at anyone, not even my own Attorney; as the Devil told of sins, that, even I, had completely forgotten about.
As upset, as I was, at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset, at My Attorney, who sat there silently, not offering any form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life as well - couldn't that at least equal out, part of the harm I'd done?
Satan finished with a fury and said, "This man belongs in hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged, and there is not a person who can prove otherwise.” How true.
When it was His turn, My Attorney, first asked if He might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this, over the strong objection of Satan, and the Judge beckoned Him to come forward.
As my Counselor got up, and started walking, I was then able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty. I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus, representing me; my Lord and my Savior.
He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, "Hi, Dad," and then He turned to address the court. "Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished."
Then, Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross, so that this person might have eternal life, and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so he is Mine.”
My Lord continued , "His name is written in the Book of Life, and no one can snatch him from Me. Satan still does not understand yet. This man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy."
As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, "There is nothing else that needs to be done. I have done it all."
The Judge lifted His mighty hand, and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from His lips. "This man is free. The penalty for him, has already been paid in full. Case dismissed."
As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give up, I will win the next one."
I asked Jesus, as He gave me my instructions of where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?”
Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to Me, and asked Me to represent them, has received the very same verdict, as you." ~Paid In Full~ (x2)
Communion is a thankful remembrance of what Christ did on the cross for the sins you have committed. Communion is a reminder that your debt, has been paid; Paid In Full.
***Communion Overview***
The Call to the Lord’s Supper
You, who truly and earnestly repent of your sins, who have love and concern for your neighbors, who intend to lead a life worthy of Christ – draw near with reverence, with faith and with thanksgiving, and take the Supper of the Lord to your comfort.
Come to this sacred table, not because you must, but because you can. Come to testify, not that you are righteous, but that you sincerely love your Lord, and desire to be His true disciples. Come to seek a Presence and pray for a Spirit.
And now that the Supper of the Lord is spread before you, lift your minds and hearts above all selfish fears and cares. Let this Bread and Cup, be to you, the witness and signs of the grace of our Lord, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit.
Before the throne of the Heavenly Father, and the Cross of the Redeemer, we now pray for strength, to know, and do, the Holy Will of God. May our confessions of sins be genuine, as we re-dedicate our lives to Christian obedience and service.
“To the children of faith, God has said, I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist: return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
Let Us Pray;
Dear Lord,
Please forgive us of our sins and set us free from them;
We confess to the sin of pride, the sin of envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, laziness and, We confess to the sin of not trusting you.
But, we thank you for your love, mercy and grace. Forgive us of our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Amen.
The Institution of the Bread
“The Lord Jesus, on the night when He was betrayed, took a loaf of bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said; This is my body, that is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Let us also give thanks for the Bread, Let us pray.
(prayer)
(the Bread is served)
“Let us eat this Bread in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice for us.”
The Institution of the Cup
“In the same way, He took the cup also, after supper, saying, This Cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death, until He comes again.”
Let us also give thanks for the Cup, Let us pray.
(prayer)
(the Cup is served)
“Jesus said, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for the many, for the forgiveness of sins. Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.”
(silence)
Commissioning Hymn
The Benediction
Sin is slavery and bondage, to pain and suffering; and no one ever wants to live a life of pain and suffering. But, sin is a part of our everyday life.
All we can do is try our very best to not sin and seek God’s guidance; that’s all. Some days will be better than others, and tomorrow is always new day; with a fresh start.
For, God keeps no records of wrongs, and grants to us, each and every day, a brand new start; free from the repercussions of the sins we have committed yesterday. Free to begin again; reborn; renewed and pure as snow.
Blessing upon you all – have a wonderful week. Amen & Amen.
***Evening Service - Committment***
First, I want to thank these fine people for sharing their musical gifts with us tonight. Let’s thank them again (applause).
I want to thank them for their commitment. I also want to thank all of you, for being here, and for your commitment.
Those who have shared their talents with us tonight, are committed to glorifying God through music. You, who came to hear that music, are also committed to praising the Lord. I watched as some of you smiled and nodded, keep time with your feet and raised your hands. All these actions, and all this music, really does glorify and praise His Holy Name.
A Commitment is something that takes up our time or energy, an obligation; devotion or dedication, to a cause, person or relationship; a planned arrangement or activity that cannot be avoided – that’s true Commitment is also a covenant.
I am also committed, as I lead the evening, share prayers with you, and bringing a short message.
And together, we show God our commitment to Him; by what we do.
Leviticus 26:9
“The Lord said, I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.”
For God made a covenant with our ancestors, long ago. He made a promise and He has not changed His mind, wavered from His promise, or reneged on His word.
In Exodus 19:5-6
God promised this;
“Now if you obey me fully, and keep my covenant, then, out of all the nations (of the world), you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me, a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation…”
God choose our ancestors, not because they were special, and not because they were such a great nation; He chose them, because He loved them, and wanted to lavish, on them, His blessings. But, what must we do, in exchange for this love, given to our ancestors – and now handed down to us?
He wants us to love Him back, to obey His laws; and we are to be His people, and He our God.
Genesis 17:7
“I will establish my covenant, as an everlasting covenant, between me and you, and your descendants after you, for the generations to come, to be your God, and the God of your descendants after you.”
God simply wants our Commitment.
Some say, that as Christians, we have an obligation to be committed to Christ.
Well, I say; through a personal sense of commitment to God, we show that we are Christians. I say that God’s commitment of love, creates in us, a renewed sense of well-being and produces a love, that we then, share with others. I say, that the commitment of our Holy and Heavenly Father is from everlasting to everlasting, for those who keep His covenant.
Our God has committed, to never stop doing good, for we, His children; but what does it mean to be committed to Him.
Commitment to Christ, is not something you do, but something you feel; right here within the heart – because that’s where our faith develops. Faith is believing in something that we can’t see or touch; and sometimes (often) understand. Commitment to Christ means commitment to the faith we develop; and the development of our faith, requires commitment. One is dependant upon the other.
(Poem)
***My Commitment as a Christian***
(Written by a young African pastor and tacked on the wall of his house.)
"I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me - my banner will be clear!"
___________________________________________
The author of this poem, has a strong and a true commitment to God, to Christ our Savior, and to the Holy Spirit which dwells within him.
You, like him, can develop your own personal, statement of commitment. You, like him, can take comfort in the fact that Christ is your Savior. You, like him, can stand up, speak out and praise and glorify God, in all that you do and say. You can show your commitment, to God, by showing your commitment, to others.
Let us pray;
Dear Lord,
We thank you for the life you have given us to live. We thank you for the many blessings of that life. And, we thank you for your continued love, mercy and grace. We commit ourselves to you now, to praise, honor and glorify You; in all that we do.
Be with us, as we depart this place, watch over us daily, and guide us always. Amen
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