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Message On August 24, 2008
 | Pastor Rosemary and Husband Joe Dehut, 'Partners in Ministry'
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Like a Rock Romans 12:1-8 Matthew 16:13-20 We live in confusing times. Unless you’re text messaging, it’s hard to understand the high school and college generation. New words and phrases are being coined every day. Many people do not understand what others are trying to tell them. Take for example the case of the deacon and the pastor from the local church who were standing by the side of the road, pounding a sign into the ground. The sign read, “The End is Near! Turn Yourself Around Now—Before It’s Too Late.” While they were pounding the sign in, a driver sped past them. As he was passing them, the driver leaned out his car window and shouted, angrily, “Leave us alone, you religious nuts!” Minutes later from around the curve the deacon and the pastor heard the screeching of tires and then a big splash! The pastor turned to the deacon and asked, ‘Do you think the sign should just say, ‘Bridge Out?” We live in confusing times, not always able to communicate with one another, not always able to get our ideas across. Humans have always had trouble communicating with one another. Even reporters sometimes cannot find the words to communicate what they’ve seen or heard. Famed radio and television newscaster Edward R. Murrow was rarely at a loss for words. After visiting a liberated German concentration camp in the aftermath of Word War II, however he could only say this to his listeners: “I pray you believe what I have said about this camp. I have reported what I saw and heard, but only part of it. For most of it I have no words… In bringing testimony about the horrors of the German death camps to Americans who could scarcely believe such things were possible, Murrow could only appeal to his towering journalistic reputation. “Trust me,” he was saying, “when I tell you how bad it is.” There are times in this confusing world we live in that we have to trust the testimony of others. This scripture in Matthew this morning is the testimony of Simon Peter, and the revelation which he has come to, that Jesus is the “….Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” The other disciples are still confused and they are afraid of speaking out loud what they are beginning to believe in their hearts. We can’t blame them for being afraid, especially considering where this conversation between Jesus and the disciples was taking place. Matthew tells us this is taking place in the region of Caesarea Philippi. Caesarea Philippi was located about 20 miles north of The Sea of Galilee, in the territory ruled by Philip. The influence of Greek and Roma culture was everywhere, and pagan temples and idols abounded. When Philip became ruler, he rebuilt and renamed the city after the emperor Caesar and himself. He was a Roman and in this city Rome was the ruling force and its rulers were the ones to be worshiped and obeyed. It was not wise and may have been dangerous to talk about someone being the Messiah, Son of the Living God. Notice what the disciples answered first when Jesus asked them, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Matt.16:13b “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Matt 16:14. The disciples really didn’t have to take a stand at this point, did they” You can’t be burned at the stake or crucified for what someone else thinks or says. “Some say,” the disciples tell Jesus, not having to take a stand for what they are beginning to believe. We need to take a stand Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matt.16:16 Peter took a stand. Why? Perhaps it was his impetuous nature. Remember it was Peter who said to Jesus, “Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water.” Matt. 14:28 It will be Peter who will say to Jesus during the Last Supper, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.” Matt. 26:33 and it will be Peter who will spring forward to cut off the guard’s ear in the Garden of Gethsemane; and yet it will be Peter who when confronted with his knowledge of Jesus will deny him three times. And then Peter, impetuous Peter, will become the rock upon which Jesus the Son of the Living God will build his church. I think Peter is a person who lives what is going on in his heart. He speaks with his heart. He acts with his heart. At times he is confident; at times he is afraid. At all times he is human and genuine with his emotions, and in this instance his heart was touched by God who revealed to him the truth of His Son. Jesus, in this passage, is excited to hear these words from Simon Peter. ‘Jesus says, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.’” Matt.16:17-18 The Greek translation for Peter is Petros coming from the word petra, meaning rock. Jesus says that Peter is the foundation stone on which he will build a new - Christian community. Notice that it is Jesus who builds the church—Peter is simply the foundation. Jesus will continue to work through Peter and the other disciples to build his church. The Greek manuscript word used in this passage is ekklesia, translated “church,” literally means those who are “called out.” Peter and other early Christians are called out by the Son of the Living God to build the church of God and his Kingdom here on earth. -----You and I are being ‘called out’ to continue the building of Christ’s church. Jesus tells Peter, “all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” The Christian church, the church of Jesus Christ the Messiah is still here; and still loving, forgiving, and holding accountable those who will join the family of Christ. We, you and I, are a part of that church built upon the rock of Peter and the early Christians, by the power of Jesus Christ. Are we taking our stand upon the rock of the church of Jesus Christ? Do the people around us know where we stand? Are we teaching the children and youth where we stand and where they need to stand as well? The Apostle Paul’s letter to Titus, who was a Greek convert and now a leader in the early church, Titus 1:16 tells us this. “Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live.” I am very close to a young couple who claim to be Christians and have been talking divorce. They have one small child. When the young woman began to speak to me about the latest fight, I asked her. ‘When do you and your husband fight the most? She replied, ‘When we are drinking alcohol.’ Then I asked if they had been to church recently. ‘No, she replied. They had been too busy.” I encouraged her to make the choice to not drink alcohol and ask her husband to do the same. I also encouraged her to attend church with her husband and their child. I don’t think these two choices will solve all their problems, but, evidence shows that alcohol destroys relationships and choosing to walk together with Jesus Christ in a Christian community builds relationships. When marriages are built upon the Rock instead of upon the bottle, they are more likely to last. The choices we make along life’s journey do make a difference. There are no inconsequential choices. I’m sure there are people here whose children have made all the right choices in life. But many of us here have children and grandchildren who have made choices that weren’t the best for them. And we’ve had to watch the ones we love suffer the consequences of those choices. However, I believe what the Bible says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 There is hope for everyone. We need to take a stand so that those who are watching us will know where the rock is when they decide to reach for it. As those who have taken on the name of Christ, our examples matter. The Apostle Paul knows this and it is on the faith of Peter and the presence of Jesus Christ that he continues to build the Christian Church. This passage from Romans 12 begins a section in this letter which instructs this new ekklesia/church in the example they must set. Our life, needs to be an example of the stand we take: what we believe. What we believe is that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of God. What we believe is that Jesus and his church will never be conquered by Satan. Christ will prevail. What we believe is that if we make the right choices, take a stand for Christ, that our lives, though not without trials, tribulations, and sins; will be right with God. Our lives should reflect what we believe. Our faith should be lived out every day. Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” We make a connection with God through our willingness to present ourselves fully to God—our thoughts, our actions, our desires, our whole personhood. It is only through committing ourselves to Christ; speaking out loud with our lives - what we believe, that we can be a force in building up the kingdom of God here on earth. The world tells us that anything goes. The world tells us that it is “I” that counts. This is a lie. It is not “I” that counts. It is God and His Will. His Will is that we love him first and then our neighbor. It is because we have come so far from His Will for His Creation that there are so many desperately hurting people in this world. We need to get back to building our lives upon the rock of the love of Jesus Christ. We need to stop being afraid of what others will say when we stand up for what we believe, and we need to live our lives that way. We need to make sure that the lost and hurting people know they are welcome to cling to the rock upon which we stand. Each person within this Body of Christ, the Christian Church, has gifts and talents which can be used not only to help our individual churches grow, but also as ekklesia/the church/the ones called out; to reach out to others in building God’s kingdom. Paul names some of these gifts in today’s passage: prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, compassion, and leadership. These are but a few of the God given gifts and talents which can be and should be used to build God’s kingdom here on earth. Each one of you has a God given gift which should be used for His glory and to further His kingdom. Do you know what that gift is? I encourage you to spend time in prayer asking God how you as an individual can be used within the Body of Christ to build up his church. Our children are going back to school or college in the coming weeks. The elections for our country’s leaders is about to take place. Do our children know where we stand? Do our neighbors know where we stand? Do we know? You and I are not inconsequential in this life. What we do and what we say affects those around us whether they are our neighbors, friends, family, coworkers, classmates or strangers. Are we afraid as the disciples were to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God? Or do we stand up and witness to our faith as Peter did? Is the stand we take daily in our decisions and in our actions the stand upon the rock of Christ and his kingdom? Are we using our lives to bring others to Christ? Jesus said to Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” You and I have been given the keys to the kingdom of heaven. The keys to heaven are: to take a stand for Jesus Christ: to live our lives as followers, and to use our lives to bring others into his kingdom. The foundation the rock is what we believe and it is up to each of us to build upon that foundation to bring honor and glory to the one who laid that foundation, Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. Rev. Rosemary DeHut August 24, 2008
Message on August 17, 2008
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All that I am By Guinevere Whiteman It is impossible to talk of the Salvation Army and Salvation Army history without talking about the founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth. One of his most famous quotes is this simple statement. “God should have all there was of William Booth”. William Booth’s call was to the poorest and most degraded of people: those who would never enter a respectable church. William himself was poor, being apprenticed to a pawnbroker at the age of 13, when the family plunged into poverty as a mortgage was called in. He began as a traveling evangelist for the Methodists. During this time, his wife, Catherine, also began to preach. Later, the Booths began a new ministry, known as the Christian Mission, later called the Hallelujah Army, and finally the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army has churches and outposts in over 100 countries and the gospel is preached in 999 languages. When asked the secret of his success, William Booth said: “I will tell you the secret. God has had all there was of me. There have been men with greater brains than I, men with greater opportunities. But from the day I got the poor of London on my heart and caught a vision of all Jesus Christ could do with them, on that day I made up my mind that God would have all of William Booth there was, and if there is anything of power in the Salvation Army today, it is because God has had all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life.” Here is John Wesley’s statement of giving all to Christ. “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.” Nothing is held back from God’s service. He lived this commitment. He traveled almost constantly, generally on horseback, preaching two or three times a day. He is believed to have traveled in the course of his itinerant ministry more than 250,000 miles, and to have preached more than 40,000 times. The number of works he wrote, translated, or edited, exceeds 200. The list includes sermons, commentaries, hymns, a Christian library of fifty volumes, and other religious literature-grammars, dictionaries, and other text-books, as well as political tracts. His charities were limited only by his means. He died poor. The church has many examples of dedicated Christians. Famous men like William Booth and John Wesley, and not so famous men and women like our parents, and dedicated Christians you know in your congregation. The modern church has their own examples of those who have given their all for the sake of the Kingdom. Take Bill Himes. He is a well known modern-day composer in the Salvation Army. He has written arrangements for large advanced brass bands, arrangements for small and beginner brass bands, and many choruses and songs. He is a talented Euphonium player, conductor and incredibly intelligent, and yet, a down to earth ordinary kind of guy. This is the story, as best I remember him telling it, of one of his songs. Every year, he directs a special music camp for teenagers who are advanced musicians from the 11 central states. In August of 1992, he was at camp. In the morning, he made sure camp was started, music classes being taught, everything going as it should be. Then he left for the hospital, where he sat by his wife’s bed. You see, she was in the terminal stages of breast cancer. Then around suppertime, he would head back out to camp, host the evening program and prepare for the next day’s activities. The camp lasted 10 days, and Bill always preached himself on the last Sunday. It was considered a “decision” Sunday, when the teenagers were encouraged to accept Christ, if they had not already done so. That Saturday night, as he prepared his sermon for the next morning, he considered his situation, and wrote this chorus as an affirmation of his commitment to Jesus Christ. All that I am, All I can be All that I have, All that is me Accept and use Lord As you would choose Lord Right now, today. Take every passion, every skill, Take all my dreams and bend them to your will. My all I give, Lord, for you I’ll live, Lord Come what may. Come what may, if my wife dies tomorrow, still Lord, You have all that I am. He wrote out the chorus, copied it and it was sung during the altar call the next morning. At the end of the service, Bill asked for the chorus sheets to be collected, to be used another time. But there were none left. Every teenager in that room, had taken those words with them. “All that I am” “Come what may”. Glendora and I have enjoyed playing our tambourines, and preparing for the service this morning. But there is more to what we do and are, than slamming around those tambourines. There is more to the Salvation Army, than the red kettle at Christmas time. Those things are instead, evidence of who we are in Jesus, and our commitment to the cause of Christ. When you give all that you are to the Lord, miraculous things happen. Your life changes, and the lives around you change. Bill was in his forties when his wife passed away, leaving him with 2 young children to raise. His faith and commitment during that time of grief, was an example to all of us. Consider this morning, your walk with Christ. Have you given Him everything? He gave his all for us. Give it back, and bask in the blessings you will receive. I’ve asked Glendora and Joe to sing “All that I am”. The words are (on the screen, in your bulletin). When you are comfortable singing the chorus, feel free to join in. Guinevere Whiteman August 17, 2008
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Message On August 10, 2008
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Call, Believe, Preach Romans 10: 5-15 Matthew 14: 22-33 Gas prices are up. Gas prices are down. If the price of a barrel of oil goes up the gas prices are raised. If the price of a barrel of oil goes down, gas prices are lowered a bit. They are never lowered in proportion to what they’ve been raised, but that’s the nature of the greedy beast. Sufficient to say, we who drive gasoline powered engines are at the mercy of those who produce what we need to start them. Maybe, however, there is hope. There is a story going around, maybe you’ve heard it. A nun who works for the local home health care agency was out making her rounds when she ran out of gas. As luck would have it there was a station just down the street. She walked to the station to borrow a can with enough gas to start the car and drive to the station for a fill-up. The attendant regretfully told her that the only can he owned had just been loaned out, but if she would care to wait he was sure it would be back shortly. Since the nun was on the way to see a patient she decided not to wait and walked back to her car. After looking through her car for something to carry to the station to fill with gas, she spotted a bedpan she was taking to the patient. Being a woman and always resourceful, she carried it to the station and filled the bedpan with gasoline. As she was pouring the gas into the gas tank of her car two men walked by. One was heard to exclaim, “If that car starts, I’ll be in the front pew Sunday morning.” Sometimes seeing is believing and sometimes what we believe we see is not what we see at all! Peter, in today’s Gospel scripture from Matthew, couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Someone walking on the water, and not calm water at that! Different translations use different words to describe the waves, the boat was: “buffeted by the waves, beaten by the waves, they were fighting heavy waves.” Buffeted by, beaten by or fighting the waves, if you’ve ever been out in a boat on a stormy lake, you can relate to all of those words which describe this very frightening situation. It is dark, the waves are raging around them and they look up and see this figure walking toward them. Now not only are they fighting to keep the boat from sinking, but they see what they perceive is a ghost on the water and they are terrified. One translation reads, “They screamed in terror.” v. 26b. Remember this is the first century. There were no wind surf boards, or wave runners, or other apparatuses which would make one appear to be walking on the water. If a person was on top of the water, he or she was in a boat or on a raft. This person coming towards the disciples was walking upright upon the stormy sea! Jesus calls to them And then Jesus, being Jesus, calls out to them in their time of distress. “buffeted by the waves” ----“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” NIV “beaten by the waves” -----“Take heart, it is I: have no fear” “they were fighting heavy waves”-----“It’s all right, I am here! Don’t be afraid" NIV study The disciples hear him and they begin to believe that they will survive. But Peter, being Peter, wants proof. “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” v. 28 Jesus calls to him, responding with just one word, “Come.” v. 29a Peter steps out of the boat and begins to walk towards Jesus. When he takes his eyes off Jesus, however, he begins to sink into the stormy sea, he calls out in fear and Jesus reaches out his hand and as their hands connect Peter is rescued and the two of them get into the boat, the wind ceases, the sea becomes calm. Do you see what has happened here? The disciples, you and I call out in fear. Ever call out to God in fear? Jesus replies, “It’s all right, I am here. Don’t be afraid.” We then begin to believe it will be okay and we step out of our comfort zone. We pick ourselves up after our heart has been broken by a painful relationship. We go into treatment for the addiction. We begin our radiation or chemo treatments. We step out of the house again after the funeral. Then we take our eyes off Jesus and the fear comes back. ‘No more relationships for me. I’ll put up this huge wall around my heart.’ ‘I don’t need this addiction treatment, I can quit on my own. I’ll just have one drink to calm my nerves.’ ‘I’m afraid of the cancer, but I’m afraid of the chemo therapy too.’ ‘I just can’t be around people right now; I know my friends mean well, but I think I’ll just stay home by myself.’ Believe Jesus then asked Peter and he asks us, “Why did you doubt me?” v.31b. This story of Jesus reaching out his hand and grabbing a hold of our hand is told over and over again in many ways. There are many here today who can testify to the times they felt the loving hand of Jesus in their lives. The hand of God rescuing, calming, saving. This is a wonderful story of faith in Jesus being the Son of God, with all of God’s power manifest within him. The disciples believe, saying in verse 33, “Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.” Today’s lesson, the account of Jesus’ walking on the Sea of Galilee, is one of the best-known passages in the New Testament. In today’s reading Jesus has just finished miraculously feeding the 5,000 men plus their families with the five loaves of bread and the two fish. Immediately preceding this time he had put his own grieving over John the Baptist’ death aside to have compassion on this crowd of hurting people, to heal them and teach them. And now he sends his disciples across the lake in a boat while he again attempts to spend some solitary time in prayer. It is after this time in prayer, gaining strength and guidance from his Heavenly Father, that Jesus rejoins his chosen Twelve. If you continue on reading in Matthew 14 you will read that the boat landed safely at Gennesaret and in verse 36, “The sick begged him to let them touch even the fringe of his robe, and all who touched it were healed.” The incredible power of God manifest in Jesus Christ: miracles of healing, provision, performing feats almost beyond belief; recorded in God’s Word so that the world would know and come to believe in God’s unfailing love. And still some do not believe! How can that be?! Preach The disciples would take all that they experienced with Jesus: the teachings, the miracles, the incredible presence of Jesus resurrected, and they would preach to the world. The resurrected Christ would say to them. “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone everywhere.” Mark 16:15. The disciples would do just that. “And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.” Mark 16:20 God had called out to the disciples in the person of Jesus Christ. They had come to believe. These 12 people began to preach to all the world with their words and their lives. As the story of Jesus’ miracles and resurrection began to change lives, one of the most changed was the Apostle Paul. Paul, had been called Saul when he was the Jewish Pharisee who persecuted the followers of Jesus. But when Jesus called out to him as he traveled on the road to Damascus, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” Acts 9:4b, this righteous Jewish Pharisee became blind until his eyes were opened to the presence of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Paul believed and he began to preach the salvation of Jesus. Up until the time of Jesus the people believed that to be right with God they had to obey all the rules. As the Jewish leaders made more and more rules to live by, the people knew that they could never obey all the laws and regulations, they could never be right with their God. BUT Paul now preaches what he has experienced. “Salvation comes from trusting Christ—For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” Romans 10:8a, 9. Salvation is not a complicated process: a mysterious process yes, but not complicated. There are testimonies, after testimonies of lives which have been changed, not by obeying all of the man made rules, but by focusing our eyes and our lives on Jesus and then confessing with our mouths and believing in our hearts that Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, is the Son of God. His name is Jeff and he is a local pastor, just as I am. Local Pastors are preachers who didn’t go to seminary right out of college. They are people who have worked in secular jobs for some time and then felt God calling them into ministry. We then enter the Course of Study, completing our seminary requirements by completing a certain number of classes in a designated number of years. Jeff is a local pastor. Jeff is on fire for Jesus Christ! He loves to talk about scripture. He goes to Africa every year where he is involved with building a school in Rowanda. His eyes are bright with the light of Christ and he walks and talks the love of Jesus and witnesses to all who will listen as to how Jesus Christ saved his life. Jeff is preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. It wasn’t always that way. Jeff grew up on a pig farm in Indiana in a very strict home. His father was just plain mean and Jeff rebelled. Cigarettes, alcohol, a little dabbling in drugs, and barely avoiding time in jail with his pranks became a way of life for Jeff. Jeff had the gift of gab and got into marketing. He did well in that field, could sell anything to anybody. He had fun and he made money; upwards of $250,000 a year. He traveled all over and had a pretty good life, by the world’s standards. Big house, fancy cars, party animal, that was Jeff. Jeff filled his life, but his heart was empty. His doctor told him he’d have to quit his three packs a day smoking habit. He went to a hypnotist and after undergoing hypnosis, he did quit smoking. He felt better physically, but he was still drinking heavily and his language was filthy. Jeff began to see that although he had everything that the world could offer, his life was void of any real meaning. Jesus was calling Jeff and God had plans for him. Then one day while on a marketing flight to California he sat next to a young man who purled out a well worn Bible and began to read to himself. Jeff, who had introduced himself to his seat partner earlier, began to ask questions. The young man testified how the Bible and the presence of Jesus Christ had changed his life. He began to gently preach to Jeff about the saving grace of Jesus. Jeff’s heart began to soften and on that plane that day, thousands of feet above the earth, flying though the heavens, Jeff had a conversion experience. This man, who thought he had it all, now did have it all! Jeff began to confess with his mouth and believe in his heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that through his sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection from the dead, Jeff, and all who believe, receive new life. Jesus called out to Jeff and then reached out his hand and rescued him. Jeff believed. Jeff now preaches the Good News of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is calling out to each of us: to believe in Him as the resurrected Son of God, the giver of eternal life. We can’t earn salvation by obeying the laws. We can only earn it by faith in Jesus Christ. Have you given your heart and your life to Jesus? Not just lived by obeying all the rules, but given control of your life to the Savior? If you have not, I invite you to be rescued this morning by saying simply, ‘I know I sin. I cannot rescue myself. Forgive me, Lord Jesus. I do believe in you as the Son of the Living God. I want to be saved.’ If you have given your heart and your life to Jesus, than I implore you to go into the world and preach. There are many who are floundering in the stormy seas of life. The story of Jesus Christ is a story of God calling us, reaching out to us. The story of Jesus Christ is a story of believing, faith that he is who he says he is. The story of Jesus Christ is a story of preaching to all who will listen, that they too may be saved. Do you hear the call? Believe, and then preach with your words and your life.
Rev. Rosemary DeHut August 10, 2008 vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Message On August 3, 2008
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Hold On, Be Blessed Genesis 32:22-31 Matthew 14:13-21 Jennifer Velez was a kid from the wrong side of the tracks. Her mother had been a foster child and was a victim of domestic violence. Her mom later married, but when Jennifer was only 2, her parents divorced. Jennifer, her mother and her older sister had to go on public assistance for a couple of years until her mother remarried. Even then, things weren’t a lot better financially. Her step-dad was a laborer who didn’t make much money. Making ends meet was a constant struggle, and some of the places they lived were far from ideal. She remembers a neighbor lady in one place whose eye was frequently blackened from domestic abuse. And when, while doing her paper route, Jennifer was occasionally invited into a house that was a single family dwelling, she’d assumed the people there must be rich since they didn’t have to share their house with other families. Jennifer Velez faced many challenges in her life. She’s not unlike many in our world. In fact her story is mild compared to many we could share. Everyone in this place this morning has faced challenges. Maybe they have not been exactly what Jennifer faced. Maybe in fact they have been much worse. But each of us has faced, will face or are facing challenges which sometimes makes us feel as if we are just holding on by a thread to make it though one more day, sometimes just one more hour. Hold on when those challenges come; Hold on to God. If you do, you will be blessed. The Bible is God instruction book for life and we need to know God’s Word in order to live the life God created us for. If you do not have your own Bible to hold in your hands and to read God’s promises, please ask me. I love to give them away. It is in God’s Word that we meet people who have faced challenges and have claimed victory through God’s power. This morning I’d like to start out by taking a little look at Jacob, father of the twelve tribes of Israel. If you don’t know Jacob’s story, I would encourage you to pick up your bible some rainy afternoon, and read about Jacob, son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham. His story is found in Genesis 25-50. Jacob, although very human with the very human inclination to sin, was used in a mighty way by God. Jacob faced challenges right from the beginning. We first meet Jacob as he and his twin brother Esau are being born. Esau is the first born, but Jacob arrives just minutes after grabbing onto his brother’s heal. His birth name Jacob means “he grasps the heel,” (figuratively, ‘he deceives’). Jacob would continue to grab at his brother; first tricking him out of his birthright as the first born son: he traded his older brother a bowl of stew for that. And secondly tricking Esau out of his father’s blessing by disguising himself as Esau when his Father Isaac was old and blind. Jacob actually receives the blessing he had no right to. He then he runs for his life. Jacob travels 400 miles to the land of Haran to live with his uncle Laban. It is there that he marries and settles down. Jacob lives there for 20 years and then he hears God telling him to go back to the land of his birth. When Jacob lived in his father’s land, from birth until the time he ran to Haran, he was a manipulator and a deceiver. When Jacob lived in Haran he became the victim of a manipulator and deceiver, his Uncle Laban. Jacob lived both sides of the story and in doing so he learned some valuable lessons about God’s mercy and God’s grace. Jacob also learned how, even though he made many mistakes, God could use his life in a mighty way. We pick up Jacob’s story in today’s scripture from Genesis as he and his family and all of his possessions are approaching Jacob’s home land in Canaan, in which his brother Esau lives with his family. Jacob is afraid of meeting his brother Esau. After all twenty years ago he tricked and deceived his brother and now he would be at his brother’s mercy. What would he find? Jacob sends presents for Esau ahead of him, hoping to gain Esau’s favor. He then divides his family and possessions in half so that if Esau destroys part of them, he’ll still have some left. Jacob then spends the night by himself on the bank of the Jabbok River. There, Jacob finds himself hanging on for dear life as he wrestles with a supernatural being. ‘This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until dawn. When the man saw that he couldn’t win the match, he struck Jacob’s hip and knocked it out of joint at the socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is dawn.” But Jacob panted, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.”Genesis 32:28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “It is now Israel, because you have struggled with both God and man and have won.’ At seminary last week we discussed this passage. Some of the men there had been in wrestling in school and they said to wrestle for a few minutes took great strength and perseverance. They couldn’t imagine how Jacob could wrestle all night and win. What drove Jacob to not give up? Jacob wanted, and needed God’s blessing and he would not let go, he just held on until God blessed him. How many of us have held on through the night crying out for God’s blessing? Some of us have sat at the bedside of a loved one suffering right along with them. Some of us have waited through the night for a teenager who has not called. There are some of us who have lain awake at night wondering what the outcome of the doctor’s test will be. Some of us have spent the night walking the floor wondering if there would be enough money to pay the bills. There are some of us who have cried all night for a relationship that seems beyond repair, and some of us have spent lonely nights, after all the busyness of a loved ones funeral is over, wondering how to face the day alone. I could go on, but I think you get the picture. There are enormous challenges in this life. We’ve all had them. But if we hold on to our faith and what God can do in our life, we will be blessed by God. Sometimes it is not as we pictured or even hoped it to be; but God is faithful and he never leaves us or abandons us. One of the Psalms we hold most dear is the 23rd. Verse 4 tells us, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” And verse 6, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Through all the dark valleys in Jacob’s life God was with him and it is through Jacob, from this moment in scripture on called Israel, that the twelve tribes of Israel would come. It is from this lineage that God would bring forth our Savior who is Jesus Christ the Lord. It is in God’s Word that we find the hope to overcome life’s challenges through the Good News of God’s Son, Jesus Christ I wonder, do you think that Jesus ever struggled through a night of despair? Do you think that Jesus, whom we believe was both fully human and fully divine ever struggled with his humanity? We can always turn to the night before his crucifixion in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus cried out, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” This was certainly a human moment of despair for Jesus. But, you and I, being who we are, cannot really identify with this kind of pleading or what Jesus experienced on the cross. Now let’s take a look for a moment at our passage from Matthew 14 this morning. This is something we can identify with. “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.”. Why was Jesus going off by himself? This verse describes Jesus’ reaction when he has just been told that his friend and cousin John the Baptist has been beheaded by Herod. verse 13 I think Jesus’ heart is breaking and he’s holding on to who he is at this point. He goes off by himself to wrestle with what he has heard and to pray for strength from His Father. We don’t know how long Jesus retreated to a solitary place, but the next thing we read in this passage is “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick”.Matthew 14:14 It is an irony that Jesus, who probably longed for some compassion himself after learning of John’s death, is the one who provides compassion for these people. Jesus not only has compassion on the crowd, but as the evening approaches and people are getting hungry he takes a meager five loaves of bread and two fish and after giving thanks to God and blessing the meal he feeds 5,000 men plus their families. There is no end to what God can do if we but hold on in our challenging circumstances and allow His blessings to work through us. Remember Jennifer Velez? Jennifer hung in there, she held on to her faith and she drew herself out of her poverty and her childhood circumstances. She eventually went to college, working multiple jobs and taking loans to pay her way. She pulled herself up from her impoverished background but she didn’t run away from it. She held on in her struggle. She now works for New Jersey’s Human Services commission. She remembers where she came from, a poor school girl living in a trailer park immersed in poverty. She has her own family now and is in a good marriage, but she continues to work for the next generation of children whose families are living below the poverty line. Her life and her work bless her as she draws upon her faith and uses what she has gone through to bless others. Are you someone who feels that at this moment you are just holding on for dear life? If so, please hear these words. Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God has compassion for you. Turn to him, call out to him and hold on to your faith. You will experience victory in Jesus. And if you have a testimony about how Christ has walked with you and brought you comfort and peace and strength during one of these times; please share it with others. Hold on when those challenges come; Hold on to God. If you do, you will be blessed. Pastor Rosemary DeHut August 3, 2008 .
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Got Weeds? Get Jesus! Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43 by Ronald Singer PARABLE OF THE WEEDS Jesus not only told the parable to his disciples he also explained it to them. None of the parables were ever explained to anyone other than the disciples and he told them in scripture not to tell anyone about the things he taught them while he was still with them. NOW THE BAD NEWS Satan is alive and well and living in White Pine, he is also living in Ontonagon, and yes even in Silver City. Actually Satan is alive and well throughout the entire county, state and country; as well as the entire world. Pastor Rosemary in her message a couple of weeks ago also stated that Satan was alive and well. That’s good enough for me. While researching today’s message, certain facts about Satan I did not know, or forgot, came up. Satan is referred to in scripture by 22 names and 22 different titles, which will give us some insight into his character. First he is a formidable enemy. Some of these names in the Bible by which he is called are: The devil, Beelzebub, destroyer, the Dragon, the old serpent, prince of this world, the god of this world to name but a few. His power in this world is great. First Peter 5:9 says that He is a “roaring lion”. He tempted our Lord in the Wilderness in Matthew 4: 1-11, He is also the constant enemy not only of God; but also of Christ, the kingdom and all followers of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 2:11 tells us, we as Christians are warned against his devices; and in James 4:7 are called upon to resist him. Paul tells us in Ephesians chapter six, that we should put on the full armor of God so that we may be able to stand against the wiles and schemes of the devil. Before his death Jesus’ request of God the father was, My prayer is not that you take them out of the world; but that you protect them from the evil one. He is also known as the tempter in Matthew 4:3, the tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. In Revelation 12:10 he is the accuser; for the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. In the third chapter of Genesis verse three here he is known as the deceiver when he tells Eve, surely you will not die if you eat of the tree. Again in Revelation he is called the deceiver. The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan WHO LEADS THE WORLD ASTRAY!!! In the parable Jesus tells us that the weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the evil one. The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. Also, the Son of Man will send the harvesters, who are the angels, to separate the weeds from the wheat. Angels Bear with me now; cause this just keeps getting better. Now the good news from the beginning!!! In the beginning there was God, that’s it. Before man, the world or anything else God created the Angels, and yes that also refers to Satan, before he was called Satan. Lucifer was the most beautiful, the most powerful and wisest. The name Lucifer means the shining one. As he was superior to all the other angels he was second to no one but God himself. In Isaiah 14:13-14 it talks about his fall from heaven because he wanted to ascend to the top of the clouds and make himself like the most high. He just could not stand to have almost everything and be number two. So God expelled Lucifer and his angels from his holy presence as they were attempting to replace God. Scripture tells us that after they were expelled a place of fire was created for them and all who follow him. It was called HELL. And the devil which deceived them was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever – Revelation 20:10. Satan still has great power, BUT NOT AS GREAT AS THE POWER OF GOD, as he is the great judge and no one can win against him. Angels therefore are not all the same. Some surround the throne of God in heaven. Others help and protect us. Still others, like Gabriel and Michael are standing in the presence of God and are sent forth on special missions to be God’s special messengers. Angels are spirits rather than physical beings, they don’t have to be visible – Colossians 1:16. They can, however; take on the human form usually that of a man, when the need arises. Angels are not perfect spirits. As free-willed creatures, they can and may fall under temptation. Which is where we hear of fallen angels. We do not know how they fell only that they have fallen and left their first estate, Matthew 25:41, Revelation 12:7-9 and they are reserved for judgment in 2 Peter 2:4. Angels also will never die because they are not flesh and blood but spirits. They do however; possess superhuman intelligence and power. Scripture tells us they are called holy, elect, and the redeemed in glory are like the angels. They also are not to be worshipped; Colossians 2:18 and Revelation 19:10. None of us here will ever become angels when we are called home to be with Jesus. This is because they are not glorified humans. Hebrews 12:22-23 tells us when we get to the heavenly Jerusalem, we will be met by myriads of angels and the spirit of righteous men made perfect—two separate groups. How many angels did God create? The Bible does not give us any definite figures, but the number seems to be very great. Daniel 7:10 tells us, ten thousand times ten thousand. In Matthew 26:53 Jesus said, “Do you think I cannot call on my father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels.” JESUS THE SAVIOR And now for the great news you have all waited for. Jesus Christ is alive and well. Yep, you probably guessed it. He is in White Pine, Ontonagon, Silver City and throughout the rest of our nation and the entire world. Jesus also is known by many names in the Bible: Savior, Son of Man, Son Of God, Lord, brother, friend, King of Kings, Prince of Princes are just a few. When God the Father looked down on the earth and saw the truly bad job the people throughout time were doing, the were not obeying him but doing as they pleased, he then decided the only way for the people to be saved was to send his son Jesus to rescue us from ourselves. Jesus spent only a short time on earth and an even shorter time in his ministry. He was sent by God the Father to be all the things to all people. The greatest man of all time, was also the Savior of the world. Jesus Christ died on the cross for all who would choose him to be their savior from sin and death. He alone took all our sins upon himself and died for us. After he was crucified and resurrected he ascended to heaven where he sits on the right hand of God the Father and will be there to judge all on the last day. Now at the end time he will send out his angels to gather the harvest. First they will separate the weeds, sons of Satan, from the wheat, the sons of God. The weeds will go down to the fire and the wheat will go up to the heavens to live with God, Jesus and all the other saints who have gone before us. You don’t need to have any bags packed, as none is required. The only thing needed will be to repent your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Jesus, himself said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can comes to the Father except by me – John 14:6 In John 8:32 we find – You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free. What will heaven be like? One thing is certain. When we all get to heaven we will be the image of our savior. PERFECT. Jesus said, “In my Fathers house are many rooms and I go there to prepare them for you. Revelation 21:12 & 21 tells us the street was paved with gold, like transparent glass. Martin Luther once said, “If I am not allowed to laugh in Heaven, then I don’t want to go.” A boy stood on a windy hillside, flying a kite. He continued to release the string as the kite went higher and higher until it was out of site. One of his friends walked up and asked how he knew the kite was still on the other end? His reply, “I know its there as I can feel it tugging on the line.” Like the kite, we can’t see heaven, but we feel it tugging on our souls. That’s what heaven will be like. From a message by Pastor Rosemary about two friends who played baseball, one who went home first called out to the other in a dream that there is a baseball diamond in heaven. And Miss Jane: This ones for you, just couldn’t leave well enough alone without a song. A country singer had a hit a few years ago, here are a few of the lines in it, If heaven ain’t a lot like Dixie, I don’t want to go, if they don’t have a Grand Old Opry like the do down in Tennessee, you can send me to Hell or New York City it’ll be about the same to me. I suspect if they have a baseball diamond they will also have a Grand Old Opry. But, not quite like the opry in Nashville; as the one in Heaven will play nothing but Christian Music, with Pastor Rosemary, Joe and Gwenivere playing and singing praise music to the Lord. I would like to leave you with this thought that my wife showed me from a book that belonging to our friend Jeni Varecha. A man whispered. “God, speak to me,” and a Meadowlark sang. But the man did not hear. The man YELLED, “God, speak to me!” And thunder rolled across the sky. But the man did not listen. The man looked around and said, “God, let me see you.” And a star shone brightly. But the man did not notice. And the man SHOUTED. “God, show me a miracle!” And a life was born. But the man did not know. So the man cried out in despair, “Touch me God, and let me know you are here!” Whereupon God reached down and touched the man. But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on. Ronald Singer July 27,2008
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What Do You Need Him To Be For You Today? by Annastasia Van Kleek +Oh give thanks to the Lord call upon His name Sing Praises unto Him and talk of His wondrous works. Glory in His name let your heart rejoice seek ye the Lord with all your strength seek ye His face and remember His marvelous deeds Psalm 105:1-5 You know, the title of this message is: What Do You Need Him To Be For You Today? In our lives, every day we all have different circumstances and situations that need our attention. We all have our own problems and cares that occupy your minds and thoughts but what if we cast our cares on the ones who's got the whole world in his hands. The one who tells us to cast our care on Him for He cares for us. The Lord our God actually has many names the reason for that is because we don't know His name precisely-The early Hebrews did not pronounce the name of God. So across the centuries the actual pronunciation of His name has been lost. So in translation, it has been translated into what is the closest actual meaning of what His written word is saying about Him in that moment. It is said in Jewish thought, a name is not merely an arbitrary designation or random combination of sounds and syllables. The name conveys the nature and essence of the person, the place or the thing being named. It represents the history and reputation of the being named. Through out his word the Lord says to call on His name or seek His face. His name conveys His nature, His essence, His reputation - Who and what He is. Wow, think about that, isn't that a wonderful thought.... You know in II SAMUEL King David spake unto the Lord the words to a song which said: "I will call unto the Lord who is worthy to be praised." Over and over, the Lord tells us to call on Him and seek his face. That when we call upon Him and seek Him with all our heart we will find Him He even tells us to seek Him where He may be found. When I think about it, I can see, that when we His people, call on Him He was faithful to help us, to answer us, to direct Us, to love us and to guide us. He is JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH our EVER PRESENT GOD, the one that's always with us. What do you need him to be today? Maybe you need: EL - The Almighty God! The One who is Mighty and strong. As in Genesis 28:3 When Isaac spoke a blessing over his son Jacob when he says God Almighty bless thee and make thee fruitful. Or maybe your looking for: ELOHIM - Our creator, the God over all the universe, God over all life and all nations, the One who preserves us. The Supreme God. As in Genesis 1:27 When it says - In the image of God created He him, male and female created He them. Or maybe you need: EL SHADDAI - The All sufficient God, the One that is all bountiful, the one who is more than enough, the One that takes care of us and preserves us. Just like He preserved and took care of the children of Israel and brought them out of Egypt into the promise land. Or maybe you looking for ADONIA today, ADONAI (ADD-DUH-NIGH) - The owner of our lives, the one who gives us gifts and equips Us for His purpose. Just like He did for Daniel: In Daniel 1:17 it says that Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams, that he inquired of God, and in a vision in the night, God gave him the interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar dream, That saved Daniel and his 3 friends from perishing with the rest of the wise men of Babylon, as the King decreed. So again, I ask you, What do you need Him to be today? Maybe you need help paying your bills today, or maybe you're having a hard time making ends meet, maybe you need groceries or clothing, well, Seek: JEHOVAH-JIREH - Our provider the one who makes provisions for us in every area of our lives. You know it does say in Philippians 4:19 " My God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." It's been personalized with MY-My God - JEHOVAH-JIREH - MY PROVIDER... You know, it also says in Matthew chapter 6 "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things shall be added unto you." So, what do you need him to be today, what are you seeking? Are you feeling sick today, call upon JEHOVAH-RAPHA The Great Physician, Our Healer, the One who can cure us, and take all disease from Us. The One that can heal us in spirit, soul, and body. It says in Exodus 15:26 "I am the God that healeth thee, " and in Psalms 107:20 That God sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from their own destruction! How wonderful is it to know that God, JEHOVAH-RAPHA will even heal us and deliver us, even, of the things we bring upon ourselves. I don't know about you but I know I've brought things upon myself in the past - I call those things - life lessons So I ask you again, What is it that you need him to be for you today? Maybe your life is chaotic and stressful. You have a lot of responsibility and all you do is run, run, run. Do you need some Peace? Then call on Jehovah-Shalom - Our Peace. It says in Isaiah 26:3 "that He will keep us in perfect peace who's mind is set confidently on Him." It also says in Psalm 29:11,“that He will strengthen us and give us Peace“. I remember the 1st time Jim and I came here for a service and at the end we sang the song Shalom to you. That helped me so much because at that time I was just starting to study the names of God and I needed a revelation and that song gave me peace and quieted my mind enough for me to get understanding of exactly what JEHOVAH-SHALOM means, - it is His nature, - His reputation it is - just that, Its the Peace and quiet that comes even during chaos. Oh Thank you Lord, Another of God's name is - JEHOVAH-MEKADDISHKHEM - Our sanctifier, the one who purifies us, separates us. His son is our High Priest. The Lord say Come to Him and He will change us - Not change so we can come to Him. He's also JEHOVAH-NISSI - Our Banner, and when I think about that, I get the mental picture in my head of a battlefield and what happens when an army captures a hill or we overcome an obstacle which has been a problem? Well, The army raises their flag or banner. And in the same way we can raise up Our Banner - JEHOVAH-NISSI, and show off, Our God, the one who fights for us because it says in II Chronicles chapter 20, that "the battle is not ours but Gods and that He will fight for us!" Hallelujah - He is JEHOVAH-NISSI OUR BANNER, the one who deliver and saves us. What about calling on JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU - Our righteousness the one who makes it right, the One who renders justice and acquits, the one who declares innocence. You Know, the Lord God weigh's and measures and always does what is right. So if you've been accused of something you haven't done, God is Our vindicator-He is the Great God JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU. You know, God also has another name, it's JEHOVAH-RO'I... - Our Good Shepherd the One who guides us and leads us. I figure many of us are familiar with the 23rd Psalm and how it begins The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul. " Each time we call on the name of God He is faithful. Each time we seek Him, we will find Him. Do you need a friend? As I mentioned in the beginning call upon JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH the ever present one, the one who will never leave you nor forsake you. It says in his word in Proverbs 18:24: "That there is one who sticks closer than a brother. You know you are the apple of God's eye." It says it in Deuteronomy chapter 32 and in Psalm Chapter 17. God has many names, you might say His reputation preceeds Him. So, What do you need Him to be for you today? Over 15 years ago during the worst time in my life, when I was at my lowest point. Have any of you been there? At your lowest point and you weren't even aware that you were there. Well I have, and all I had to give me comfort and direction and calm my worries and fears, was the Lord. It was at that time that the Lord gave me psalms 105:1-5 He gave me it in song. I'd like to sing it for you today and share it with you the way the Lord Gave it to me so long ago. (SING PSALM 105:1-5) Annie Van Kleek July 20, 2008
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