06-28-15 That’s a big wall!

Scripture:  Joshua 6:1-5

That’s a big wall!  OR

Getting to the beginning of the next best thing!

High School graduation – Graduation is the completion of – Commencement is the beginning of what’s next.

A wedding – The completion of the single life – Commencement of marriage and family.

Moving to a new location – Commencement of a new house, new job, friends, church

A new job or great promotion – commencement of new skills and relationships

Coming into a large sum of money – getting rid of debt and having the ability to be more generous.

Winning the championship – commencing to the next level (amateur to pro perhaps)

Christianity – leaving the old world behind and commencing on the most unique journey possible.

How do you get to that new beginning?  Sometimes it is just there – you didn’t have to do anything. But most new beginnings are sought after and worked for.  Without new beginnings life would become boring and routine.  Why did God create seasons? Though I would love summer 12 months a year – it would be boring – we would never see the new beginnings of spring.  Why do we celebrate on New Year’s Eve? Because there is the hope of a new year being better than the last. New beginnings are exciting and offer hope!  Our Oikos’s – Our community – Our neighbors, Our friends, Our co-workers NEED are in desperate need of HOPE!  New beginnings provide that hope.  New beginnings allow us to leave the old behind and commence something new!

Spiritual Commencement

Why did Moses lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt? 1) to escape their captors 2) to enter the land God promised them 3) to commence on a new and better relationship with God!

Why did God send His son Jesus into the world only to suffer a horrific murder on a cross? 1) so you could escape your captor [SIN]. 2) so you could enter heaven/eternal promised land 3) to commence on a new and better relationship with God!

Everyone one has a relationship with God. You have a bad relationship or a good relationship. You believe in God through Jesus or you don’t.  That determines your relationship with God.

          How do you get to that new better relationship?  It is a journey and it begins with the first step.  The problem? It is both the smallest and largest step you will ever take.  Let’s consider the story of Joshua who picked up the work where Moses left off.  Joshua graduated wandering school and was ready to commence entering the promised land.  The people who had been born during the past 40 years and had heard the stories of slavery in Egypt and all the things God had done to get them to this place were also ready to commence on a new better relationship with God in the land they had heard so much about.

Joshua, who we see as the great hero who had vision to move forward must have had some reservations because 3 times (twice by God and once by the people) he is told to be strong and courageous. (Josh 1:6, 9, 18)  To get to a new beginning requires effort.

1)    Joshua sends out 2 spies (remember he was once sent out as a spy and was only 1 of the 2 out of 12 who came back to say the promised land is ours if we will take) The two spies crossed the Jordon River and walked plainly into the city to check it out and went to the most logical place – the house of a prostitute. Who else would know more about the men of the city than her? We will hear more about her story next week. Suffice it to say that she gave them the information they needed and even helped them escape when the military found out they were in the city.

2)    They moved the people to the Jordon across form Jericho and camped 3 days to prepare to enter the promised land.  Joshua 3:5  Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."

3)    Josh 3:6-8 Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people." So they took it up and went ahead of them. And the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.'"

Very important to note that God went before them. Yet, the priest were told to take the ark (the presence of God) and go stand in the river.  Josh 3:11-17  See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord-the Lord of all the earth — set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap." 14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

          Imagine the actual moment the priest are standing at the edge of the flood waters of the Jordon. Who put their toe in first and what was their reaction. If they had not taken that single simple small step, the entire people would not have entered the promised land.  It is the small challenging steps that are often the most important.

06-14-15 Choosing a gate to enter makes our Journey Unique!

Scripture:    Matthew7:13-14

          13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Taking a journey down a dirt road to a country estate and arriving at your destination seeing this glorious stone mansion in the distance but quite visible. There are two gates side by side.  One is a wide double gate with freshly mowed grass which makes a straight line to the estate. The other gate is half the size of a normal single gate and must be opened. Beyond it is a pathway that quickly disappears into the thicket. You have been instructed that going through either gate is permissible to pass through. The choice is up to you. Which one is your natural choice? 

Well, it depends.

Do you want to get there quickly?  You choose the wide gate.

Do you have plenty of time and it doesn’t matter when you get there? Choose the narrow gate.

Do you like things easy if you have a choice? The wide gate is for you.

Do you like a challenge? The narrow gate and winding path.

Do you like sameness and routine? The wide gate.

Do you like adventure and variety? The narrow gate.

Do you just want to get to your destination? The wide gate.

Do you love the journey along the way? The narrow gate is your best choice.

So you see, without stating why we have this choice, we have already divided the entire world in two. Some, for various reasons would choose the wide open apparently quicker and easier and known way to go.  Others would choose the narrow passage, slower more difficult unknown way to go.

Before choosing, let’s state why we even have a choice. We are humans created in the likeness and image of God. Not created as God, but with a likeness too. Anyone who knew my father, without ever seeing us together or knowing my last name – knew I was his child – because, physically, I was created in his image. When I was heavier I’d catch my image in a mirror and say, what are you doing here, I thought you died?  I am not my father, but was created in his image.

I am not God, but was created in his image – in my soul – that part of me that can house things eternal that other living creatures don’t have.  But I chose to have plastic surgery (SIN) and change my image. When I met Jesus and gave my life to him, God restored my image to look more like Him once again.

The only way to have that image restored is by going through the narrow gate.  The way to assure that image will NOT be restored is to journey through the wide gate.

For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, but small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life.

A man who was on his way to the airport to catch a plane. He came to an intersection where his wife had told him he needed to turn left to get to the airport. It was a narrow little road and he was on a board road that also would let I see some of nature’s beauty. He decided to take the more scenic route. There is a way that seems right to man the Bible says. The time was getting away and little voice kept saying turn around and take the narrow road. He reasoned "I feel like an idiot." Pride and stubbornness kept him going on the scenic road. He got to the airport and raced to the where he was to board the plane only to hear, "The gate has been shut. The doors are locked. The plane is leaving. You have been left behind." He was too late because he made the wrong choice. The plane would not be coming back for him.

Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25   There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

You have to make a choice.  Most people make no choice but to follow the crowd – the way most people are going – that too is a choice.  Neglect to decide is your choice.

          If you choose the narrow road, does it mean that everything else in life disappears? No.

Think of it this way; it’s wonderful to fall in love. But have you noticed how narrow we become? The young man who was the life of the party and was always around isn’t seen as often. All the girls he flirted with are still there and have an eye for him but he no longer notices them in the same way.  He has chosen one over all others. He now gives her his time, and attention, interest, and money.  The things given up for her love no longer seem so important – they are still there and they still exist, but to show her his love he has chosen to follow a unique narrow path for the two of them instead of the wide path that allowed for all of his friends and girlfriends to travel together. This is not a perfect analogy. But you get the idea – for love to know fulfillment a choice must be made and life has narrowed – it now has focus – meaning, importance that was not there before. You have chosen to live for the glory of someone other than yourself. The old WIDE way was easy but led to destruction. The new NARROW way is more difficult but leads to life.

John 10:1-10

"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."  Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Matthew 7:13-14

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Have you made the wrong choice till now? Are you ready to make the right choice? If you aren’t dead you can still make the right choice.  VIDEO – 2^nd chance

06-07-15 Caution: Speed Bumps Ahead

Scripture: Romans 8:35-39

 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul uses rhetorical language. He asks questions and wants the reader to answer each one – instead of saying “no one shall separate us.” Instead he says “who?” Satan, unbelieving family, drugs, illness, money…?

He employs a list of what was referred to as ‘virtues/vices, “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation…” 

Why does God not take away all of our afflictions? Even Paul dealt with this question.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

Interview Melissa about her faith and living with MS 

When we talk about speed bumps and look at any prayer list, we tend to think about physical bumps in our road. Some are temporary, some are long term and some are permanent.  Scripture speaks to how we are to view our bodies in relation to speed bumps.

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. 2 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.  Ken Medema, Nick Vujicic. 

Maureen Pratt said, “When placed alongside health challenges, faith becomes a sturdy support for us when we are most alone. Praying during that long test in the hospital, reading scripture while waiting in the doctor’s office, listening to an uplifting song just after a terrible diagnosis – these and other things are an outpouring from our personal faith and also things we share with our fellow brothers and sisters of faith.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Again reminding us that what happens now is temporary.

Ecclesiastes 3:11-14

        He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil — this is the gift of God.

Dorothy Hirai – “Not that bad” – living in light of eternity.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Trouble (what troubles do you have?) Hardship (what hardships do you have?) persecution (what persecutions do you have?) famine (what is a famine in your life – what do you have to go without?) nakedness (what nakedness do you have?) danger (what danger do you have?) sword (what sword is raised against you?)? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Can you confidently say verse 38 & 9 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

05-31-15 A late night bread run

Scripture:  Luke 11:5-13

One of the largest organizations in America is the Quitters Club. The reason you’ve never heard of the Quitters Club is because they never meet–the members quit coming. There are no dues–the members quit paying them.

The Quitters Club is comprised of people who faced a tough job, a tough marriage, a tough sickness, or a tough failure–and they quit. You’ve heard the saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” But the Members of this club say, “When the going gets tough, the quitters get going...away.” When God seems to be asleep, when the church is struggling to reach new people, when spiritual vitality seems difficult to find, we stop praying!

Luke 11:1-4

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.   3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.

The Lord’s Prayer is really not the Lord’s Prayer – it is the disciple’s prayer. One disciple said, John the Baptist taught his disciples to pray, please teach us how to pray. Obviously prayer is not something known – it is something learned.  Mostly learned from on the job training – but also learned in the classroom.  In fact Matthew places this prayer right in the middle of Jesus’ teaching through the Sermon on the Mount – a collection of teachings. Luke places it here as the conclusion of teaching about how we relate to God. 

First word “Our” not I, Me, Mine – but US! We are to pray in unity as God’s children.

It continues, “Father” – not daddy; there is authority and respect but also the ability to draw near to a loving caring father.  Eph 2:17-18  He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

In England, who has access to the Queen? In the US who has access to the President? We have access daily into the presence of and conversation with GOD!

Close as a father yet separate as one who is holy (hallowed be your name) Though God has made himself approachable – he is set apart as one different form us –not one to be manipulated or made in our image. 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

Our first request: Your kingdom come. All that is eternal and heavenly come here so that we know where we are headed.  We can then live life in light of eternity and today’s problem shrink by comparison.

Request 2: Give us each day our daily bread. From Make eternity and your kingdom present now to take care of our simple daily most basic needs.  Recognize that nothing is provided that God hasn’t made possible – He is our provider.

Request 3: From the daily physical need to the daily spiritual need Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.  We need to know forgiveness and practice forgiveness. Our relationship with God matters as does our relationships with one another. Hold no grudge, forgive and move on.

Request 4 and the final one. AND lead us not into temptation.  How odd – we have to ask God not to do this?  No, it is a recognition that we know our sinful frailties. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.  For us to stay holy in the presence of God’s kingdom and the king himself – our heavenly father, it would be best if we don’t even have temptation to contend with.

Before continuing with the rest of the text, we need some cultural understanding of Israel 2000+ years ago when this was written. Most people lived in a one room house. No 24 hour convenient stores – people baked enough bread for their family for that day.  Hospitality was held in high regard, caring for the stranger and friend alike. Most travel happened during daylight hours as lighting was nonexistent so a visitor coming late at night would be very unexpected.

Luke 11:5-13

 Then, following a basic lesson in prayer, Jesus said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

7 "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

Thought process: I am so glad to see my friend from out of town.  Oh my goodness, he plans to stay with me and I am not prepared. Oh wow, he is very hungry and my cupboard is bare. It will take way to long to make anything. I know my next door neighbor’s wife usually makes more than they need with so many kids. If I go over, I am likely to wake the whole household.  But he won’t mind – who am I kidding, I wouldn’t want someone to wake me for food for a friend. But I can’t send my friend and his wife and kids (3 loaves of bread) to bed with empty stomachs, they will be up all night with a crying baby and whining toddlers.  I have no choice – for the greater good I will wake my neighbor.

The Greek word is really translated by two words together meaning “boldness” and “shamelessness” – he had no choice had to ask his neighbor for the resources he could not provide for others in need.  We have no choice – we have to ask God for the Holy Spirit to provide the resources to help our friends that we cannot provide on our own. Not whimper in a corner but storm the gates of heaven shamelessly and boldly for the sake of others.  In that sense – the rest of the text rings so true:

9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

“From Roman history comes the story of a Roman emperor in his chariot as a part of a parade, Cheering people lined the streets while the legionnaires were stationed to keep the people at a safe distance. The emperor’s family sat on a platform to watch him go by in all the pride of his position. As the emperor came near the place where his family was stationed, a young boy jumped from the platform, burrowed through the crowd, and tried to dodge a legionnaire so he could run to the emperor’s chariot. The soldier stopped him and said, “You cannot go near him.” The boy laughed, then said; “He may be your emperor but he is my father.” Then he ran into his father’s open arms.”   Hebrews 4:16    Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Forget your health needs, your financial needs, your relationship needs, any of your needs for a moment – who should you be shamelessly boldly prayering for – most particularly for their salvation or spiritual growth. You don’t have the means to help them because you yourself are weak in spiritual things, but the Holy spirit in you and help – can provide the living bread they need – PRAY PRAY PRAY!

This is not about arrogance or shouting at God – rather knowing what God wants and being completely confident that you come to him unashamed asking for his help for others.  He will give it! Church growth expert, George Barna found that prayer was the foundational ministry of rapidly growing churches in America. He wrote: “The call to prayer [in these churches] was the battle cry of the congregation: it rallied the troops. These people understood the power of prayer. They actively and consistently included prayer in their services, in their events, their meetings and their personal ministries.”

05-24-15 Uneeque Decision

Scripture:   2 Peter 3:8-13

              But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
             10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
              11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

Vs 8-9 – Good News – the Lord is PATIENT with you. You have all the time in the world – 1000 years are only like a day to the Lord. Take your time – sin now – live your life, you are young, go ahead and wait till you are older to make a decision for Jesus, once you have had you fun. Isn’t that great, you can wait till near the end of your life to become a Christian. Like the workers in the vineyard – (Tell parable) or even better the thief on the cross. SO live the way you want – don’t worry about serving God now, you can do that when you get to heaven.

By the way, a day is also like 1000 years. Vs 10 Do you know that thieves case your house and your movements before they come to rob you – they look at your fb page to see when you say 2 more days till our weeks’ vacation in the Bahamas. If you knew you were going to be robbed, you would not post that on fb or forget to set your light timers in the house. Jesus Christ will come back like a thief in the night – when you least expect him.  The bible tells us to be ready – like the 5 out of 10 unmarried women who were looking for a husband (tell story of 10 virgins)

Vs 11-13 – serving Christ is not something awful to avoid, rather a joy to experience throughout your entire life.  Most people who accept Christ late in life have one regret – not doing it earlier. The best time to make a decision for Christ is at what age? 15 of course – because that is when I did. NO the best time, according to the bible is when? NOW!   2 Corinthians 6:2  I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

          2 Peter 3:8 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. “
DO NOT FORGET THIS ONE THING. We humans forget more than one thing. We forget many things. But Peter is saying, “Don’t forget the Lord and don’t forget that the Lord’s view of time is different than ours. He is not limited by time as we are. Don’t forget that God is faithful. He will do what He says He will do.”

We human beings are forgetful about many things. We do forget God at times. We do forget what His Word says. We do forget what we heard in church last Sunday.

ILLUSTRATION:    Did you hear about the three old men who were talking one afternoon about how forgetful they were getting? The first one said, "Sometimes I get undressed to get into the shower, and suddenly I can’t remember if I’m getting in or getting out."
        The second one said, "Well, sometimes I’ll find myself on the stairs, and I don’t remember if I’m going up or coming down."
        The third old man said, "Well, so far I haven’t had any of that kind of trouble. I guess I’ll just knock on wood and hope that what is happening to you guys doesn’t happen to me." So he knocked on the arm of his wooden rocking chair, and asked, "I wonder who that is?"

       Forgetfulness. We all experience it. Even when we forget God – he NEVER forgets us.  Remember those who served our country – it is right to do so – remember that whatever age you are – God loves you and wants you to give your life to him for His glory and for the eternal salvation of your soul – don’t walk away like Jerry did.  Come to Jesus TODAY.

Change the letters around slightly: Uneeque Decision and you will have U need Decision and U need it today!

05-17-15 Are you afraid to ride the Millennium Force?

Scripture: Matthew 16:15-23
VIDEO OF Millenium Force:  https://youtu.be/jbXPhOFRxTc

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       Adam and Eve – had it perfect in communion with God THEN they ate the fruit and kicked out of the garden YET they still had a relationship with God after that. Gen 4:25-26 Adam lay with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, "God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”

Noah builds an ark and saves humanity from complete destruction from a world-wide flood THEN he drank too much wine and gets naked which leads to problems YET God repopulates the earth through his 3 sons with a promise (Gen 9:15-16) Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.

Abraham and Sarah at 100 year’s old are going to have the son of promise THEN Abraham was told to go sacrifice his son Isaac on an altar – YET God stopped him and blessed him through Isaac.  (Gen 22:15-17)  The Lord called to Abraham and said, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.

Jacob had 12 sons – last 2 by his favorite wife THEN his favorite son is pronounced dead while actually being sold into slavery in Egypt – YET God not only reveals his son Joseph alive but uses him to save his entire family and the entire Hebrew people. (Gen 47:11-12) So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, and also provided his father and his brothers with food, according to the number of their children.

David becomes King – a man after God’s own heart, he sang for the King and when the entire Israelite army was to scared he killed a large giant with a sling shot, a sling and the power of God THEN  he has an affair with one of his soldier’s wife, then he has that same soldier murdered in battle to cover his sin – YET God blesses David as the greatest king Israel has ever known. Near the end of his life we read (2 Sam 24:25) David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

Nehemiah returns to Israel to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem THEN Sanballat and Tobiah attack the workers while they try to rebuild YET God is with them as they place bricks with one hand and hold their weapons in the other until the city is fortified again. (Neh 6:15-16) So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

Naomi has a husband and two sons and they go to a foreign land during famine where her sons marry, albeit, outside their faith THEN her husband and sons die YET God blesses her through her daughter in law Ruth who said (Ruth 1:16) Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. And through Ruth’s genealogy, Jesus the messiah was born.

Elijah was one of the few prophets of Israel that had not yet been killed and wanted a meeting with King Ahab to show him the power of God - 450 prophets of Baal and the 450 prophets of Asherah – water and fire – a mighty slaughter of all the prophets of Baal THEN Ahab sent Jezebell to go after Elijah who sat under a tree afraid for his life and wanted to die. YET God wasn’t done with him (1 Kings 19:15-17)  The Lord said to him, "Go back and anoint Hazael king over Aram.  Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel.”

Job had a great life – wife, kids, land, animals – life was good THEN Satan said to God I want to see if this Job really loves you and God gave Satan permission to do whatever he wanted with Job except taking his life.  Job lost everything – children, property, friends and his health –

(Job 3:1-26)  Then Job broke the silence. He spoke up and cursed his fate:

   Obliterate the day I was born. Blank out the night I was conceived!

   Let it be a black hole in space. May God above forget it ever happened. Erase it from the books!

   May the day of my birth be buried in deep darkness, shrouded by the fog, swallowed by the night.  And the night of my conception — the devil take it! Rip the date off the calendar, delete it from the almanac.

   Oh, turn that night into pure nothingness — no sounds of pleasure from that night, ever!

   May those who are good at cursing curse that day. Unleash the sea beast, Leviathan, on it.

   May its morning stars turn to black cinders, waiting for a daylight that never comes, never once seeing the first light of dawn.

   And why? Because it released me from my mother's womb into a life with so much trouble.

   Why didn't I die at birth, my first breath out of the womb my last?

   Why were there arms to rock me, and breasts for me to drink from?

   I could be resting in peace right now, asleep forever, feeling no pain, In the company of kings and statesmen in their royal ruins, or with princes resplendent in their gold and silver tombs.

   Why wasn't I stillborn and buried with all the babies who never saw light, where the wicked no longer trouble anyone and bone-weary people get a long-deserved rest?

   Prisoners sleep undisturbed, never again to wake up to the bark of the guards.

   The small and the great are equals in that place, and slaves are free from their masters.

   "Why does God bother giving light to the miserable, why bother keeping bitter people alive, those who want in the worst way to die, and can't, who can't imagine anything better than death, who count the day of their death and burial the happiest day of their life?

   What's the point of life when it doesn't make sense, when God blocks all the roads to meaning?

   "Instead of bread I get groans for my supper, then leave the table and vomit my anguish.

   The worst of my fears has come true, what I've dreaded most has happened.

   My repose is shattered, my peace destroyed. No rest for me, ever — death has invaded life."

YET (Job 42:10-17)  The Lord made Job prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. After this, Job lived a 140 years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so he died, old and full of years.

Two from the NEW TESTAMENT

Peter was the number 1 disciple – “The Rock” Jesus called him.

(Mt 16) Jesus asked who do you say that I am? Peter answered “You are the Christ the son of the living God” – Jesus said, blessed are you Simon bar Jonah for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”  THEN literally minutes later Peter said the wrong (that he would not let Jesus suffer and die) and Jesus said to Peter – “get behind me Satan. You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Mt 17:1-9) YET a week later he took Peter on a ride to the top of another hill where God showed him Moses and Elijah with Jesus THEN Peter tried all he could to hang on to them and keep them there because surely with those two guys the roller coaster ride will stop and all will be well so God made the prophets disappear. YET God had Jesus remain with Peter and confirmed that HE was truly the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Another time Jesus invited Peter to join him walking on the water (something no human had done before or since) and Peter was doing it THEN he put his hands in the air and the top Thrill Dragster dropped over 400’ at 120 miles per hour and splashed down in the water and Peter was about to drown YET Jesus reached down and lifted him up and put him back in the boat.

Peter was among the privileged three to see things no others saw and provide Jesus encouragement that no others could. Jesus asked Peter to stay awake and pray with him because he was about to suffer and die. THEN Peter fell asleep YET Jesus asked him again. THEN Peter fell asleep YET Jesus asked him again. THEN Peter fell asleep YET Jesus did not hold it against him.

Finally, Peter told Jesus that he would go to the death for him and Jesus told Peter he would deny him 3 times before the rooster crowed in the morning. Peter was one of two disciples to stand watching the trial of Jesus from a distance THEN Peter was asked if he knew Jesus and Peter denied knowing Jesus THEN Peter was asked if he knew Jesus and Peter denied knowing Jesus THEN Peter was asked if he knew Jesus and Peter denied knowing Jesus THEN the rooster crowed. YET after Jesus was raised from the dead he prepared breakfast for the disciples on a beach and asked Peter 3 times “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” and 3 times Peter said “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” And each time Jesus replied, “then do ministry in my name and come, follow me!” And Peter knew he was forgiven for his previous denial.

**************

       Saul who persecutes Christians not even getting out of the starting gate for the ride – then talk about a Millennium Force – he becomes Christ's greatest champion. He starts churched from Antioch to Rome and begins winning the Gentile world to Christ!  THEN along the way he has a Christian Roller Coaster ride like none other.

2 Corinthians 11:24-28

24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

YET listen to how he responds:

Philippians 4:11-13

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

      Is your life – specifically your Christian Life a roller coaster ride?  Then be of good cheer - You are in good company – (Like Paul have you learned to be content or is the grass always greener on the other side?  Slides Cow – grass is greener / Horse - 1Green 2 Greener / Greener Grass – Manure / Grass Content) sometimes we succeed sometimes we fail but Christ always is ready to have us get up - forgiven - and get back at it.  You may fall fast and far because of your sin or because of uncontrollable external forces – YET God is always ready to take you up the next hill for a thrill of a lifetime with a promise that he will be right in the front car with you; hands in the air screaming for fear laughing for the fun of it all and always making sure you are protected by his love until the ride pulls into the station where eternity begins a ride unlike anything we have known here.

Whether you are a Christian (a Christ follower) or not – you are living a roller coaster ride – the only question to answer is, who do you want in the seat with you? If you don’t choose Jesus you have chosen Satan – those are the only two choices we have Matthew 12:30a “Whoever is not with me is against me.”  Joshua 24:15 “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

05-10-15 My Mother was a Model

Scripture:   2 Timothy 1:1-7

          I was a model – of tuxedos.  My great Aunt Frannie was a model. Well she was in a traveling dance company similar to the Ziegfeld follies.  My daughter was a model – well she went to Barbazon modeling school. My mother was a model – well, my dad’s assistant for his magic act.  Mothers should be the very best of models – a model for their children – a model of how they should be and who they should be in this life.

What one thing did your mother model for you – not just teach you but she modeled it as something you could emulate in your life?

 

VIDEO: My mother the model    (https://youtu.be/9pcHS8iWwe4)

2 Timothy 1:1-7

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Verse 6     The gift of God which Timothy had received was the Holy Spirit; which gave him a particular power to preach and defend the truth. That gift is represented here, by fire, which must be stirred up and have fresh fuel added or it will go out. The Greek is anazopureo (an-ad-zo-poor-eh'-o); Literally to rekindle.  (My winter leaf fire kept burning when stirred) 

Apparently Lois, Timothy's grandmother, was the first one in the family won to Christ; then His mother, Eunice, was converted. Timothy's father was a Greek (Acts 16:1), so Eunice had not practiced the orthodox Jewish faith. However, Timothy's mother and grandmother had seen to it that he was taught the Scriptures (2 Tim 3:15); and this was great preparation for the hearing of the Gospel. Eventually Timothy believed what had been taught – Christian Faith and further what had been modeled – Christian living – service!

Imparting the scriptures to our children prepares them to receive Christ.  My own daughter tells me that when she put her faith in Christ – she did it because she had never heard that she could. I would like to say that was a failure of the Sunday School classes she had but I better take that blame myself for not having made it clear to my own child how one becomes a Christian.  BUT WAIT – It is not only possible that we had done that, but she was just not ready until that particular time – and she might not have been ready at that particular time if she had not already been taught the scriptures by her parents and some great Sunday school teachers that taught her if she was the only one in her class like there were 15 in her class.  One is as important as many because the many are simply a bunch of ones added together. 

In the biblical worldview, the mission of parents is to raise children to follow God. To that end, God designed the family as the primary unit by which children are cared for, loved, trained, and empowered.

HERE IS THE PROBLEM – as a society we have abdicated the role of educating our children to a challenging education system at best and some have only done a slightly better job in abdicating the spiritual education of their children to the church which has good says and bad.

As most Christian mothers can attest, it is difficult to balance the natural instinct to protect one's child from harm with the necessity to equip the child for life as an adult. Mothers are reminded to love their children - to feel affection for them, to approve of, like, and to have a kind attitude toward them. At the same time, a mother is to train her children to live godly lives (Psalm 78:5-6     He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.    Also, to model how they, personally, can contribute to God's kingdom work (Proverbs 22:6  Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.  Train = chanak (khaw-nak'); a primitive root; properly, to narrow (train up---by modeling).

Beyond teaching to modeling

What is the most important thing a mother should teach her children? That they are loved by her unconditionally?  That God loves them through the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and second coming of Jesus Christ?  Obviously number two is of greatest importance but much of that is taught in the context of the first.  However, any mother can love their child without sharing Jesus with them – when they are gone, so is that love.  For those mothers who have, through their love taught their children that God loves them through Jesus; that is a love that lasts for eternity.

          Let me suggest that there is something equally important.  That mother’s teach their children how to love God in Christ.  It is not enough to present a one sided story of God’s love for us, but must be accompanied with a real and practical guide – by example of how we love God.  The pleasure a child feels toward his or her mother is not as much when they know they are loved as when they know they are loving toward their mother. (How I used to clean the basement – great joy)  Likewise, your child’s greatest joy comes not from knowing they are loved by God but by living a life that shows God their love for Him. 

The church would experience the next great awakening if this generation of young mothers would rise up and teach their children (sons and daughters) how to love God daily.  Let me show you what can happen in one or two generations.  (Who here is part of the American Baptist Women’s mission Society?) By 1836, 150 home missionaries were at work in 14 states, two territories and two provinces. Women wanted to help with the work of answering God’s call, but The American Baptist Home Mission Society refused to appoint single women as missionaries. In response, the Women's Baptist Home Mission Society (WBHMS), based in Chicago, was founded in 1877, and Joanna P. Moore became its first fully commissioned missionary. Another women’s society, the Woman’s American Baptist Home Mission Society (WABHMS) was also founded in 1877 in Boston “to extend the kingdom of God among the women and children of America.”  Over the next century, missionaries expanded American Baptist ministry by: Founding 27 institutions of higher education for Freed People after the Civil War; Sending an envoy to Washington to work for treaties favorable to Native Americans; Opening a Baptist Missionary Training School in Chicago; Appointing missionaries to serve in Michigan, New York, Puerto Rico, Alaska and Arizona; Ministering among Japanese Americans in internment camps during World War II; and Leading the way in work with Church World Service to offer new homes to more than 100,000 refugees since World War II.

The work and names changed over the years, then in 1972, the societies began carrying out mission as National Ministries, which if you were here last week, helped found this church and with international ministries support mission work around the world – which could not have been accomplished without women often leading the way.

In just two generations the ABW has grown to a handful of what it used to be? Conversely, if young women will take a stand and model Christian living and service, in two generations we can raise up a mighty army for Jesus. It won’t look like ABW of the past – it will look like new ministries we never imagined but can be even greater than the work done in the past.  Unless soccer practice, dance classes, BBQ’s and leisure are more important. Don’t hear me wrong – there is nothing wrong with any of those – in fact I described our children’s upbringing – but only if they are secondary to modeling Christian living in every aspect of life is first and foremost. 

This is not to say raising a child right will work every time and you will have perfect God fearing children – but the bible allows for this: Deut 21:18-21  If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. They shall say to the elders, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard." Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.

 

        A mother’s goal is to raise her children to be sent out –not to be held onto. Eve was the mother of all living. Sarah was the mother of a nation.  Elizabeth was the mother of John the Baptist – a herald announcing the coming of Christ.  Mary sent her son into His calling by forcing his first miracle.  She could have tried to hold on and suffered less personal pain, but her job was to raise her son to become who God sent him to be. Sarah had to allow the possibility of her son being sacrificed and Elizabeth had to let her son live in the wilderness eating locust and wild honey so he could be obedient to God. And Samuel’s mother? Dedicated him to the Lord form birth because she recognized she was merely the steward of her child on God’s behalf.  When Jesus came to the end of his life here – he gave his mother another son for whom she could be a model – his name is John.