Sheep in pasture

Sheep in pasture
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Sunday, May 11, 2014

“Hello My Name is…El Hannora”

May 11, 2014
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series on “The Names of God”
Sermon 18 of series-
“The Sacred Names of God: El Hannora”
Nehemiah 1:5 English Standard Version
Isaiah 35:1-2 The Message Bible
Deuteronomy 7:21 English Standard Version
John 4:7-15 The Message (MSG)
Spangler, Ann: Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide



Let us pray… (Pray for God to illuminate His word and that we would have the open eyes, hearts and minds to conceive and receive it)

As I go into Sherman, I always love driving by the overlook and see Mt Katahdin. It is so beautiful and I love to watch the season change on the mountain. When we first came to Patten, the mountain was still covered in snow and now I look forward to it changing back to its green self. It was awesome when we had the “Son”rise service there this year. To have the sun coming up and see it begin to illuminate the mountain was breathe taking. It is a moment that is etched in my mind. How Awesome it was as God began to paint that beautiful morning in shades of pink and blue…the sun shining off Mt. Katahdin…how awesome is our God to create such splendor and beauty…

We are continuing our journey of learning about and praying in the Sacred Names of God. There have been many names we have learned and prayed in but I think that today’s name sums up…at least for me…who God is. God is El Hannora…the Awesome God. Now we use the word awesome when we describe a person, a place or some possession we might have. I think that maybe that word should be used only when we talk about our God and King. It means to have an inspiring awe; expressing or marked by awe. The word Awe means reverential fear. Now only God is that…nothing or no one in our lives should be placed on His level.

In the scriptures I read this morning we hear about that Awesome God we have. Our Awesome God keeps His covenant and stead fast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments.  It is our Awesome and Majestic God that all of nature…all creation sings joyously to. Our Awesome God fights on our behalf and nothing can beat Him…nothing or no one is greater than He. But that is not the end of the story…it is not the end of His awesomeness. Our God is so awesome that we are even healed in His name through the power and awesomeness of the Cross…through Jesus our Risen Lord.

Now the words healing and salvation means to be made whole. To be well physically means that each and every organ is doing its part and is in working order and the result is health. To be saved is to be whole, to be one with and in God. When God and man are one, peace results as well as well being and health. There is a piece of Scripture found in John that talks about this wholeness. It is found in chapter 4 verses 7-17. Let me read this for you from the Message Bible. In this text we hear about two forms of healing-physical healing of the body and the spiritual healing of everyone who calls on the name of Christ…Read scripture…

John 4:8-12 The Message (MSG)
7-8 A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, “Would you give me a drink of water?” (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)
9 The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (Jews in those days wouldn’t be caught dead talking to Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”
11-12 The woman said, “Sir, you don’t even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this ‘living water’? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob, who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passed it down to us?”
13-14 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”
15 The woman said, “Sir, give me this water so I won’t ever get thirsty, won’t ever have to come back to this well again!”

This is an interesting story from the bible. This woman really didn’t know who it was she was talking to. I love this scripture because it shows that Jesus came for everyone…not just a select few. He offered her living water…within in this water there is healing and wholeness. You see, the name of Jesus has power. Within that name there is power to:
1.     Heal your body – we hear of the fresh, living water. It is within this water that our bodies are healed. Jesus came to heal those who were in need. Jesus is that Living Water. We hear stories of how this Living Water went around healing those who were diseased. We hear of Jesus having compassion for those who were outcast because of their diseases and healed them.
2.     Heal your soul – we heard about the healing of the soul. Jesus offered Living Water that would be an artesian spring full of life and wholeness….fresh and rejuvenating water that is clean a pure…water that will give endless life. And this woman as well as we today need…want…that life giving water only found in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes…we have a God named El Hannora…Awesome God. Not only did He create the world in which we live but He provides water and sunshine. He offers humanity Living Water and baths us in a shower of Sonshine. How Awesome is that…? Our God shows His love…His Awesomeness in a wooden cross where He showed His awesome power in the death and resurrection of His Son, Lord Jesus Christ. He shows His awesomeness in the fact that even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He shows His awesome power in the fact that He offers forgiveness and salvation to ALL of humanity…not just a select few.

As we give God the rightful position in our lives…the position of authority…we will experience His and see Him as the Great God…we will see and experience Him as the Mighty God who goes to battle for us. As a matter of fact He is already our champion because of the work He did…the battle He fought for us through Jesus Christ, His Son. When we encounter Him in these ways, how can we not see Him with a Holy Awe? Our God is the Awesome God…El Hannora. How can we not want to share that with others? How can we keep the cries of our souls silent? How can we not sing along with nature’s song? This is the same God who rolled up His sleeves and created humankind. This is the same God who set His people free through the waters of the Red Sea. This is the same God who saved humanity through one family in a boat. This is the same God who created a nation through an old man and a barren woman. This is the same God who saved 3 men in a fiery furnace. This is the same God who shut the mouths of lions so that He might save one of His own. This is the same God who loved the world so much that He sent His only Son and whoever believes in Him and calls upon His name SHALL BE SAVED! El Hannora is great and Awesome…what more do we need in our lives? How awesome it is to be able to share it with our neighbors and friends. We have a great and Awesome God…who are you going to share that message with today?

Let us pray… (Pray to El Hannora)

AMEN!




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