CHARACTER QUALITY # 46 Wonder

Below are scripture notes for a message on wonder.  We should all be in wonder at how awesome our God is, how life giving the Holy Spirit is, and how present and forgiving Jesus is.  After reading through these scriptures, tell of a time or a way in which your thoughts about God put you in a state of wonder.  What is there about God that causes you to wonder?

Mark 9:1-15

And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."  After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.  Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

          Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"  Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.   As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant.

          And they asked him, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"  Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?  But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him."

          When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

MOSES / JESUS

CALLED OUT OF EGYPT

Exodus 4:21-23

21 The Lord said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.'"

Matthew 2:14-15

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

40 YEARS vs 40 DAYS

Acts 7:35-36

"This is the same Moses whom they had rejected with the words, 'Who made you ruler and judge?' He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He led them out of Egypt and did wonders and miraculous signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the desert.

Matthew 4:1-4

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."  4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

MANNA vs BREAD

John 6:29-36

Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."  30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"  32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."  34 "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."  35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

Isaiah 29:13-14

 13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.  14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

1 Kings 17:9-10

"Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food."

1 Kings 17:13-14

Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.'"

1 Kings 17:17-18

Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"

1 Kings 17:22-23

The Lord heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!"

Col 1:15-20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff

CHARACTER QUALITY # 45 Calm

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

There’s a little book with the title Keep Calm and Carry On (Andrews McMeel Publishing). The title is based on a poster produced by the British government in 1939, during the dark days of World War II. More than two million copies were printed to be used in the event that Germany invaded the island nation as an encouragement to keep that famous British stiff upper lip in place if the worst-case scenario came to fruition.

During the Babylonian Exile God promised the return of people to Israel.  Many descriptions of that rescue were described – the following Psalm is one of those:

Psalm 107:23-30

Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters.  They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep.  For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves.  They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away.  They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end.  Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.  He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.  They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

Where are you in the midst of the storm?  Are you calm?  Better question – Where is Jesus in the midst of your storm?  Does it seem he is sleeping and not helping?  Take note: if he is resting a moment, it is because the storm does not scare him.  Why? He has the power to stop the storm if it gets too bad.  Get his attention – and watch what happens.

Matt 8:23-27

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"  He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.  The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

Keep Calm and Carry On

          Can you describe a time when you were in Exile, in a storm, in a difficult situation, in a circumstance that others would not have been calm, but you experienced calm because you knew Jesus was seeing you through it?

From the Heart,

Pastor Jeff Cooper

CHARACTER QUALITY # 44 Zeal

GOD’S ZEAL

2 Kings 19:31  For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7   For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

JEREMIAH’S ZEAL

Pashhur Ben Immer was the chief officer of the temple at the close of the monarchy and was the immediate subordinate of the high priest in charge of the police force.  He made a mistake by having Jeremiah, the Lord’s prophet beaten and put in stocks.  He thought it would silence Jeremiah but had the opposite effect.

Jeremiah 20:         7   O Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed.  I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.  8 Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long.  9 But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

It is as dangerous to refuse to go when called, as it is to run without a call.  Jeremiah had a zeal that could not be contained.

OUR ZEAL

Romans 12:9-12

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Our zeal produces service for the Lord, by serving others.

READY FOR EITHER

If I get to live, I can live to serve the Lord by doing good deeds, tell more people about Him, be salt and light for His Kingdom, and so to live is Christ – for in Him we live and move and have our being, (Acts 17:28).  Yet to die is gain, I can have my eternal rest in the presence of my King.  So to live I can serve Jesus and honor Jesus with the life that He gives.  To die means I am with Jesus in His physical presence forever.  There’s no losing here.  How do we sacrifice?     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.

So our motto should be “ready for either.”  Philippians 1:21

     Do you have a zeal for Jesus?  Is there a fire in your bones that has to get out?  Are you willing to take up the plow or lie down on the altar of sacrifice?  Are you ready for either?


From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper

CHARACTER QUALITY # 43 Good Deeds

1 Timothy 6:17-19

 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Heb 10:19-25

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town – a 1936 movie - In the middle of the Great Depression, Longfellow Deeds (Gary Cooper), co-owner of a tallow works, part-time greeting card poet and tuba-playing inhabitant of the little Mandrake Falls, Vermont, inherits the enormous fortune of 20 million dollars from his late uncle, Martin Semple.  Deeds realizes what he can do with his troublesome fortune: he decides to provide fully equipped 10 acre farms free to thousands of homeless families if they will work the land for several years.  (Adam Sandler starred in a remake called Mr. Deeds in 2002 without the same noble ending which is a commentary on contemporary society.)

          Mr. Deeds received a gift that he did not know what to do with.  He finally figured out that it could be used to bless others.  As Christians, we all need to become Mr. and Mrs. Deeds.  We have been given gifts by God to use for good deeds for the benefit of others.  Our church can make the 2012 version of the movie and call it “Church Deeds goes to town,” starring: THE CONGREGATION.

We should let our Good Deeds be seen:

Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

          We don’t do good deeds to be seen – we let our light shine and our good deeds are seen because that is what we do when others are looking or not.  When our light is shining – others can see the good deeds we do and be drawn to the one on who’s behalf we are doing them – Jesus! 

1 Peter 2:12

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Matthew 9:1-8     Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"  Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . ." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home."  And the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

Jesus proved the GOOD NEWS by his GOOD DEEDS!

Here are some possibilities to let our light shine through our new ADOPT-A-SCHOOL program:

Thanksgiving – supply baskets for teachers       /       Birthday recognition       /       Parent/Teacher Conferences meals       /       Encouragement Cards       /       Tutoring/Reading/performance to classes       /       Provide for special needs

Sept 1 provide a light meal for teachers and staff

Sept 4  [LABOR DAY SUNDAY – 9:30 only Service Sunday] Painting the older playground equipment at Lincoln Elementary School.  Sanding Team, Washing Team, Guard Rail Team / Teeter Totter Team / Chin up bar team / parallel Bars Team / Monkey Bars Team / Jungle Gym Team / Activity Center Team / Feed the Teams Team

God Showing Through

          The preacher’s sermon on God stimulated some questions in the mind of a child, and she raised the questions to her mother on the way home from church. “The pastor said God is bigger than we are. Is that true?” “Yes,” the mother responded, “He is.” The child continues, “And the pastor also said God lives inside of us. Is that true, too, Mommy?” “Yes,” the mother again responded.  “Well, then,” concluded the little girl, “if God is bigger than us, and if He lives inside of us, then shouldn’t some of Him show through?”

How is God showing through in your life?  What good deeds have you done because he lives in you?  What good deeds will you do in the near future?

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper