A Better Way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqMflpl35yE

August 23, 2015

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

Summer Sermon Series:

“Revive Us Again O Lord!”

Adapted from “Revival” by Adam Hamilton

Theme: A longing for holiness…

1 Peter 1:13-16 MSG Bible

Ezekiel 37:1-10 AMP Bible

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/holiness

“A Better Way”

Prayer for God’s Word to be heard through me…

Ezekiel 37:1-10

37 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.

2 And He caused me to pass round about among them, and behold, there were very many [human bones] in the open valley or plain, and behold, they were very dry.

3 And He said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, You know!

4 Again He said to me, Prophesy to these bones and say to them, O you dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.

5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath and spirit to enter you, and you shall live;

6 And I will lay sinews upon you and bring up flesh upon you and cover you with skin, and I will put breath and spirit in you, and you [dry bones] shall live; and you shall know, understand, and realize that I am the Lord [the Sovereign Ruler, Who calls forth loyalty and obedient service].

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a [thundering] noise and behold, a shaking and trembling and a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.

8 And I looked and behold, there were sinews upon [the bones] and flesh came upon them and skin covered them over, but there was no breath or spirit in them.

9 Then said He to me, Prophesy to the breath and spirit, son of man, and say to the breath and spirit, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath and spirit, and breathe upon these slain that they may live.

10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath and spirit came into [the bones], and they lived and stood up upon their feet, an exceedingly great host.

Have you ever been to or seen pictures of the desert? All of the pictures I have ever seen, it looks like a dead, sandy place. Not anywhere I would really want to live. Now I know there are places that don’t look that bad but my vision of it seems a little too rough and rugged to me. But I think that the most amazing thing about the desert is that when the rains come, it is transformed into something of beauty. What seemed dead comes alive in vibrant color. How beautiful it must be to actually be there when that happens…an awakening of something most may think is barren.

Like the desert scene and the scripture from Ezekiel that I read, our Spirit’s may feel as if they are a dry desert place. All things around us may seem dead to us. But as God breath’s His breath of life His Ruach upon us, we come alive and live again…the word Ruach means breath, wind, Spirit…of God. This is what we need as we are revived…given mouth to mouth by God. I have heard it said that it’s like having an elephant on your chest…you can’t breathe. And like those bones…we need the sinews and ligaments reattached…we need flesh and skin attached. Then we can receive the breath of God that brings us alive again. It can be a process not just a quick regeneration…

As I shared last week, this summer…we are embarking on a faith journey together. We are going to be intentional with our faith and our God. We are going to ask God to revive us again with that passion for Him and His word. We are going back to a time when people met in fields and sheep barns. We are going to look at what made a difference in their lives…why their era was different than ours and what is the same. We are going to take a walk with John Wesley and see how he lived out his faith.  My prayer is that we will be challenged and changed…that our Spirit’s will be filled and energized so that when we leave our church each Sunday and go out into the world as light bearers of the King. As we become those light bearers I pray that we bring revival to our community and beyond…to the ends of the earth. But as I stated last week…it all begins here…within ourselves…being intentional with our faith…with our Spirit…with our God. We want a revival within our souls…

So…Revival…

·         a reawakening of faith or renewal of commitment to religion

·        an evangelistic meeting or service intended to effect such a reawakening in those present.

Last week we talked about being intentional…wanting to awaken what may have fallen asleep within us… As we Long for Holiness we need to be intentional with what we do in order to achieve our deepest longing.

Longing for holiness is not a onetime thing…it is a way of life. We have heard the expression “holier than thou” about those who think they have achieved it in their life time. This is called a journey for a reason. When we stop longing for holiness or think we have achieved it, we need a long conversation with God…we need to look into His word and through that encounter with the Divine, God will either lift us up or correct us whichever is needed.

So longing for holiness…what does this mean?

Holiness is the state or quality of being holy. We want to be holy…as the 1 Peter from this morning states:

As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

We want to live a life pleasing to God for he has called us to be holy as He is Holy. This is something that cannot be completed…even attempted…without God. We are to live a life set apart from the world, not as the world. As we reach for this type of faith, it is not only about intellect and knowing God’s word but it also a heart matter. Studying His word as well as reading devotionals works both the mind and heart muscles. Reflecting on God’s word feeds both as well.

So how can we have this type of revival…how can we work both our minds and Spirits? Well one way is to do everything to the Glory of God. Brother Lawrence did everything in life for the glory of God. Even when he was washing dishes he did it for the glory of God. We can turn all the events of our daily life into holy ground as we think of ways…think of how we can do it to the glory of God. Sometimes it just takes a new way of view our daily lives as one set on the mission of doing it for the glory of God.

We can change the “feeling” of what we do by agreeing with “for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.” We can recite these words as we think about our daily lives and if it is bringing God glory or not. This is what I want you to try for the next week. Recite the Lord’s Prayer and when you get to this part think about if you are living your life in this way? If not…think of ways that you can.

Breath Prayers is another good way to refocus our minds. Some use scripture or a hymn to breath in and out their prayer. One piece of scripture is Psalm 115:1…breath in “Not us, O Lord, not us” then breath out “…but to you your Name give glory.” We refocus from us to You O Lord.

Revival is not easy…it requires change and intentionality. But if we but just turn our hearts back to our First Love, He is faith to return back to us. But again it’s all about choice. God will not “make us” come back to Him but woo’s us back through His Spirit within us. When we are intentional about our everyday life we become more aware of the divine within us as well as around us. We can again have that “joy of our salvation”. Maybe…just maybe…as we reach out to God with all we are and all we have we will be changed and renewed. But as I have always said…it begins with you and with me. As we begin that journey back we too shall cry out…”Revive us again O Lord”. This we pray in the strong and precious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ…

Amen…

It Began With A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpgwvX6bmyc

August 16, 2015
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

Revive Us Again O Lord!

All scripture is from the NIV Bible

Revelation 2:1-2, 4-5

Galatians 5:22-23

“It Began With A…”

Prayer for God’s Word to be heard through me…

Revelation 2:1-2,4-5

To the Church in Ephesus

2 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

revival (rɪˈvaɪvəl )

noun

·        the act or an instance of reviving or the state of being revived

·        an instance of returning to life or consciousness; restoration of vigour or vitality

·        a renewed use, acceptance of, or interest in (past customs, styles, etc)   ⇒ a revival of learning, the Gothic revival

·        a new production of a play that has not been recently performed

·        a reawakening of faith or renewal of commitment to religion

·        an evangelistic meeting or service intended to effect such a reawakening in those present

Have you ever started to do something and then it just sort of looses its joy and so you just stop doing it? I know for myself, there have been many times that I have heard about or seen a new way to exercise and I am so excited in the beginning. Then sometimes, after a short time, it begins to just become such a chore that I just stop doing it. Or it just isn’t what I expected it to be so I think to myself, well what’s the use and stop trying. Sometimes we just get so excited about something and for some reason we just stop having that joy about it…the excitement is gone. What happens to that joy we once had?

It can be the same with our faith. We are so excited and on fire for God and then something happens to that joy…sometimes it just kind of sneaks up on us, so to speak. We stop doing our daily devotions and prayer…I am just too busy this morning…I’ll do it tomorrow, I need the extra sleep, God will understand…I’ll get back to it tomorrow…  Then we may stop reading our bible…I don’t need to read my bible anymore...I get it, why should I keep reading my bible…there are so many other things I would rather read… We may then stop going to church and before you know it…there is something missing in your life…that joy that you once knew…that excitement you had for God is gone…you are still doing good for all around you but the joy has gone and now your just going through the motions. What happened?

This is not a new spiritual deadness. It has been happening for a long time. From the scripture that I read from Acts this morning we hear about one such church. The church in Ephesus had this same issue that some of us have today. They were doing a lot of good but they were just going thorough he motions. They had lost their first love. They had lost their passion for God and the work that they were doing in His name. They were like what Jesus called the Pharisees…”White Washed Tombs”. They looked good on the outside but they were dead on the inside. They were seen as all holy from others perspective but inside they had lost that vitality and zeal for God.

John Wesley saw the same thing in the churches. He led a Christian revival in his time. Christians were experiencing a severer crisis because they were a religious minority…what do we face today that make us a religious minority? What day to day stresses effect our faith? Are we just going through the motions and not truly expressing the fruit of the spirit…love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Are we having an outward appearance of vitality but inside dead…sort of a burn out? Is there no fruit of the Spirit or a decreased amount …we do all the right things…say all the right things for God but there is no Sprit…passion…purpose…in what we do? Are we just going through the motions to just check another thing off the list that we do for God?

John Wesley saw that there needed to be more to Christianity…a Christian life than what he knew…he wanted something more. This is where the Methodist revival began…the seed was planted. He knew there had to be more. His mother, Suzanna Wesley, showed him a different way. She held family devotions for her family, she was intentional about forming her children’s faith, and it continued when they were adults. Are we intentional about and with our own faith? Are we caring about the children and their faith…the next generation?

This summer…we are embarking on a faith journey together. We are going to be intentional with our faith and our God. We are going to ask God to revive us again with that passion for Him and His word. As we look around the world we see that there is something is missing…something that has been forgotten. We are going back to a time when people met in fields and sheep barns. We are going to look at what made a difference in their lives…why their era was different than ours and what is the same. We are going to take a walk with John Wesley and see how he lived out his faith.  My prayer is that we will be challenged and changed…that our Spirit’s will be filled and energized so that when we leave our church each Sunday and go out into the world as light bearers of the King. As we become those light bearers I pray that we bring revival to our community and beyond…to the ends of the earth. But it all begins here…within ourselves…being intentional with our faith…with our Spirit…with our God. It begins here…within you and within me…recapturing that joy of our salvation…that joy that keeps us clinging to the cross of our Risen Savior Jesus Christ. Are you willing to open your heart to a reawakening of your faith and commitment to God? Are you ready for a restoration project…one of your inner most being? Will you join me on this journey…really join me on the journey back to our first love…our God…our Creator…the lover of our souls as we pray “Revive us again, O Lord”?

Amen…

Joyful...Joyful...

August 2, 2015

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

The Joy of the God!

All scripture is from the NIV Bible

Psalm 51:12; 98:4; 27:6

Isaiah 35:10

John 15:5-11

Jude 24-25

http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/PERSONAL/k/280/Fruit-of-Spirit-Joy.htm

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joy

“Joyful, Joyful…”

Prayer for God’s Word to be heard through me…

Psalm 98:4New International Version (NIV)

4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,

    burst into jubilant song with music;

I’ve got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart…down in my heart…down in my heart…

I’ve got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart…down in my heart to stay.

And I’m so happy, so very happy I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart

And I’m so happy, so very happy I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart

(Every body!)

Joy noun \ˈjȯi\

: a feeling of great happiness

: a source or cause of great happiness : something or someone that gives joy to someone

: success in doing, finding, or getting something

Full Definition of JOY

1       a :  the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires :  delight

b :  the expression or exhibition of such emotion :  gaiety

2       :  a state of happiness or felicity :  bliss

3       :  a source or cause of delight

I have this coffee cup that I like to start my mornings with. It says “Today is a Good Day”…but the other part of the saying is “to have a good day.” I choose to have a good day no matter what else is happening. It doesn’t always work out like that but at least I try… I want my days to be filled with joy. But I must make that choice to have a day filled with joy…regardless of what may be going on it my life. Joy is a choice we each can choose. We can choose anger and resentment or forgiveness and joy. Joy truly is a choice…as well as an action we take when we choose it…

We are continuing our journey of the many facets of salvation. We have been talking about the word salvation and what it really means.  For not just Christians but for humanity.

Salvation:

1.   the act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, destruction, etc.

2.   the state of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.

3.   a source, cause, or means of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.

4.   Theology. deliverance from the power and penalty of sin; redemption.

We have talked about the grace that we receive from God within salvation. The grace freely given to us even though we don’t deserve it but it is through the blood of Jesus that we receive this incredible gift. We know that we are chosen by God and are adopted by Him through the blood that was poured down a wooden cross on a hill for you and for me. We have rejoiced in the fact that we are delivered from sin and death through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. How awesome it is that we receive love and mercy, joy and hope… hope that is not defined by our circumstances but is defined by our great and loving God…through the blood of Jesus Christ.

This wonderful gift of salvation should fill us with joy but sometimes…well…that joy just isn’t there. We have so many things that go on in our lives that we just can’t muster up even the slightest bit of joy. How could we feel joy in the world in which we live? There is not much to be joyful about with all this crime and addiction going on in the world around us. Where is the joy in that?

Church…you can have the joy of the Lord if you choose to…we can have over abounding joy as we ponder the fact that we have a great God who has control over all…even when we don’t see it. Let’s see what scripture tells us about joy:

John 15:5-11New International Version (NIV)

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

We have the joy of knowing we are dearly loved by God that is seen as we remain in Jesus and trusting His word.

Psalm 27:6New International Version (NIV)

6 Then my head will be exalted

    above the enemies who surround me;

at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;

    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

We have joy in knowing that if God is for us…who can be against us. As we give our day…as we give our battles…as we give our lives to God, He will be faithful to keep us safe…even when we can’t see Him working…

Isaiah 35:10New International Version (NIV)

10     and those the Lord has rescued will return.

They will enter Zion with singing;

    everlasting joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,

    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

As we trust in God, we can have joy in knowing…this too shall pass…and that God will bring us in from exile…from that desert place we may be walking a pilgrimage through.

I was reading “The Work of God” (Bible Tools.org) and what it said about joy was pretty interesting…

“Joy that is a fruit of God's Spirit has its roots in the realization of God's purpose and its outworking that transforms us into His image. Biblical joy begins when God calls, and we hear the gospel, understand and believe it.

Biblical joy is bound up in our relationship with God and our understanding of what is happening to our minds. We walk to the beat of a different drummer than this world because we understand God's overall purpose. We know we have been forgiven and have a place in His purpose because we now have His Spirit. No more life-changing experience can ever happen to a human than when God calls and understanding dawns. It forever alters our perspective on life itself and on the things we formerly trusted to give us satisfaction.”

(And I love this part)

“Therefore…our joys must arise from yielding to fulfill God's great creative purpose and seeing it accomplished. This is why we were born! Because of this, we can look forward to hearing Him say:

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. (Matthew 25:21)”

Joy is a choice…joy is about trusting in God and His goodness…true…real joy has nothing to do with our circumstances and everything to do with our relationship with God.

Joy…it is a choice. When we are feeling “joyless” are we going to go with that feeling or are we going to cry out to God as in Psalm 51:12:

Psalm 51:12New International Version (NIV)

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation

    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Restore my…restore our joy…the joy we once had…the joy that overcomes all obstacles…the joy that is only found in God through our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. How will you respond when you are feeling all is lost and there just is no more joy in your life? Will you agree with Jude when he penned?

Jude 24-25New International Version (NIV)

Doxology

24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!

Will you sing:

I’ve got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart…down in my heart to stay.

And I’m so happy, so very happy I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart

And I’m so happy, so very happy I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart

Amen…

Hope...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCpIH6kQa3g

July 26, 2015
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
What do we hope in?
All scripture is from the NIV Bible
Psalm 9:18; Psalm 16:9; Psalm 31:24
Psalm 33:18; Psalm 33:22; Psalm 38:15
Psalm 39:7; Psalm 43:5
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hope

“Hope…”

Prayer for God’s Word to be heard through me…

Hope…have you ever hoped for something in your life? We hope that things will work out for the best in our lives. We have hopes and dreams for our lives and for the lives of the next generation. We hope that we will get that new job. We hope that we will be comfortable in our lives and be able to do whatever we want…whenever we want. We hope for…fill in the blank. Hope is something that keeps us going even when things don’t look so good. And when our hopes and dreams do manifest themselves we can be devastated. We have hope for our marriage and it winds up ending right before our eyes. We have hope for our children only to find that they are addicted and are going down a road of destruction. We have hope for our future and we get that call from the doctor’s office…

Hope - noun
: the feeling of wanting something to happen and thinking that it could happen : a feeling that something good will happen or be true

: the chance that something good will happen

: someone or something that may be able to provide help : someone or something that gives you a reason for hoping




Verb-
archaic :  trust, reliance

a :  desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment <came in hopes of seeing you>; also :  expectation of fulfillment or success <no hope of a cure>
b :  someone or something on which hopes are centered <our only hope for victory>
c :  something hoped for

It is interesting that hope is both a noun…a thing…and a verb…a feeling. But in both definitions there is one thing that it involves…trust. Maybe it’s not so much that we hope but maybe it’s what we put our hope and trust in…

Over the past few weeks, I have truly been pondering on the word salvation and what it really means.  For not just Christians but for humanity.
Salvation:
1. the act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, destruction, etc.
2. the state of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.
3. a source, cause, or means of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.
4. Theology. deliverance from the power and penalty of sin; redemption.

There are so many facets to salvation. There is the grace that we receive from God within salvation. The grace freely given to us even though we don’t deserve it but it is through the blood of Jesus that we receive this incredible gift. We are chosen by God and are adopted by Him through the blood that was poured down a wooden cross on a hill for you and for me. We are delivered from sin and death through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. There is love and mercy, joy and there is HOPE…Not just your everyday hope that you feel but hope that is not defined by our circumstances but is defined by our great and loving God…through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Now I want you to listen to some of the hope found in the Psalms. These proclamations will give us hope too if we but believe and rejoice in what and who our God really is:
 Psalm 9:18New International Version (NIV)
18 But God will never forget the needy;
    the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
 Psalm 31:24New International Version (NIV)
24 Be strong and take heart,
    all you who hope in the Lord.
 Psalm 33:18New International Version (NIV)
18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
 Psalm 33:22New International Version (NIV)
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.
(Are you feeling it yet?)
 Psalm 39:7New International Version (NIV)
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
    My hope is in you.
 Psalm 43:5New International Version (NIV)
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.
 Psalm 16:9New International Version (NIV)
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest secure,
(Because of hope…)
 Psalm 38:15New International Version (NIV)
15 Lord, I wait for you;
    you will answer, Lord my God.
(Because of the trust that God is a God of Hope…)

Hope…it is both a noun and a verb. When we put our hope in our circumstances, we are using the verb form and more times than not…we will be disappointed somehow. When we put our hope in God, we are using the noun form…trusting all of our hopes and dreams to God. But we are humans and we will at times put our hope in the things we see. And when our hopes are dashed to the ground, we have a God of all hopes who meet us where we are and whisper His hope into our hearts. Are you feeling hopelessness and despair? Is your life not turning out they way you hoped it would? Come to the God of all hope and allow Him to heal your broken heart and put a new song of hope within you…the hope that is found within the cross of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.

Amen…

“Grace…It’s Not Just A Girls Name…”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_nkalyo3jk

July 19, 2015
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
We are saved by Grace alone.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grace
https://answers.yahoo.com/question
(All Scripture Is From the NIV Bible)
Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9
John 1:14-17
Hebrews 4:16
1 Peter 4:10


Prayer for God’s word to be heard through me or in spite of me…
Grace:
:a way of moving that is smooth and attractive and that is not stiff or awkward
: a controlled, polite, and pleasant way of behaving
a :  approval, favor <stayed in his good graces>
b archaic :  mercy, pardon
c :  a special favor :  privilege
d :  disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency
e :  a temporary exemption :  reprieve
:  a short prayer at a meal asking a blessing or giving thanks

What is this grace we keep hearing about...“But by the grace of God go there I…” “Grace…It’s not Just a girl’s name…” Why is this grace so important to us?

A couple of weeks ago…I talked about salvation and one of the blessings…the gifts of salvation is grace…
Grace: Ephesians 2:4-5New International Version (NIV)
“4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
And even more verse 8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

 But…how do we define this grace…this wondrous gift given to us from God….?
“Definition: Grace is God's unmerited favor. It is kindness from God we don't deserve. There is nothing we have done, nor can ever do to earn this favor. It is a gift from God. Grace is divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration (rebirth) or sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine favor.”

Wow…God has really done that for us. Just think about it for a moment…We are given this grace because of God’s great love for His creation called humanity. It can’t be bought, borrowed or stolen by anyone. So many things are uncertain in the world in which we live but this is one thing that stands firm…it is a rock on which we can stand when the world’s chaos swirls around us.
I heard this acronym for Grace…God’s Grace:
God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense…
God paid for our salvation with the cost of His own Son so that we may obtain this grace from Him… This is affirmed in John 1 which states:
John 1:14-17New International Version (NIV)
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
It is by God through Jesus that we receive this marvelous grace of God.

So…now that we have been given grace…what are we to do with it?  Do we even have to do anything with it…I mean is this something that we get to hold on to for dear life…to kind of hoard as our own? The Best Answer I think there is to this question is this:
With this grace we need to… “To have grace is to have compassion towards others without judging them and without showing partiality. Grace causes us to reach beyond self to touch the life of a person in need. When someone has grace they are willing to forgive without waiting to be asked and pray for those who deliberately try to hurt or hinder them. Grace is heart thing, not a mind thing.”
Grace can be shown…be given…even if we don’t want to …grace is an action word not a feeling. Grace is something that is shared with others. Hmmmm…It seems that most of the gifts we are given have nothing to do with the heart, with feelings, and everything to do with relationship and showing what we have been shown by God…

Hebrews tells us in chapter 4 verse 16:
Hebrews 4:16New International Version (NIV)
16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
We can approach God in prayer with the confidence of a child because of the grace shown us through Jesus.
And 1 Peter 4:10 tells us:
“1 Peter 4:10New International Version (NIV)
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Grace is something we are given to share…to gift others as we too are gifted with that same grace from God.

Grace…it’s not just a girl’s name. It is something to be shared with others as we too have been gifted it through our Risen Lord Jesus. Grace has nothing to do with the mind…if we think about it…contemplate over it…we may feel no one deserves our grace…but it is a heart thing…we give grace out of the joy we have because we are given grace… Maybe…just maybe…if we put aside our feelings and put grace before us…we may become that grace giver that we are called to be. Grace…it’s not just a girl’s name but a way we should live our lives…graciously that is. What do you think?
Amen…

I Have Chosen You...

July 12, 2015
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
We are chosen and equipped by God
to do His work in the world.
All Scripture Is From the NIV Bible
Acts 6:1-7
2 Thessalonians 2:13
John 15:15-16
1 Peter 2:9-10
2 Timothy 3:14-17
Exodus 3-4
Acts 22:14-16

“I Have Chosen You…”

Prayer for God’s word to be heard through me or in spite of me…

You are so certain of what they want to do in life…what they feel called to do. You strive and strive but you just don’t quite get to where you think that you are called. Then you decide that maybe…just maybe…you should give it to God and see what happens. Well what may happen is you are called to a place…to a job…to a neighborhood that you feel is just a little…ok a lot…out of your comfort zone. The next thing you realize is that you would rather be doing nothing else but what you are doing now…you would rather be where you are than any other place in the world. You have been chosen to be who you are or where you are…

Last week I talked about what we receive with salvation. And we realized that with salvation we are chosen by God as it states in 2 Thess. 2:13…
“2 Thess. 2:13 But we always must thank God for you, brothers and sisters who are loved by God. This is because he chose you from the beginning to be the first crop of the harvest. This brought salvation, through your dedication to God by the Spirit and through your belief in the truth.” But what are we chosen for? What is the plan that God has for us as we are chosen by Him?

Well there are several scriptures that tell us the answer. But let’s start with the scripture that tells us about what Jesus said to His first disciples as well all who came after…
John 15:15-16New International Version (NIV)
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. Jesus tells we are chosen to do good works of God. We are given power to our prayers because whatever we ask in Jesus’ name we will be given. As long as it is in the will of God that is… We no longer are strangers to God as we were before we accepted Christ as our Savior.

1 Peter 2:9-10New International Version (NIV)
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. We are chosen by God and are called to declare His praises to a world full of darkness and chaos… The church grew and still grows as Jesus Disciples share the Good News of “Choseness” with those around us. For all that God has done and is doing…for all the answered prayers…how can we not want to sing His praises to the assembly…?

Acts 6:1-7New International Version (NIV)
The Choosing of the Seven
6 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. We are called…we are chosen…to do both…spread God’s word and take care of those who are less fortunate…to be their voice of justice when they have no voice…

OK Pastor Ruth…how are we equipped to do these things for God…these good works? Well 2Timothy 3 tells us exactly what we need…where we get our training…
2 Timothy 3:14-17New International Version (NIV)
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. We are equipped by and for the spread of God’s Word. It is within that same word we share that we find our training. We are equipped to equip others to do the same we are chosen and called to do…

But Pastor Ruth…I don’t think God can use me. I am too old…I am to ill…I am to scared…I don’t like to speak in public…I don’t…(Fill in the blank)… Well…God uses even the unusable by our standards. As a matter of fact…that is what He does best…maybe it’s because these are the ones that would give Him the glory instead of the ones who feel they are already there…
Exodus 3-4 Moses called…Chosen…Lead the Israelites out of bondage…
Now God called and used Moses…a murderer…a person with a speech impediment…a Hebrew slave by birth…fought with God about being called… was arrogant…had a temper on him…disobeyed God…
Acts 22:14-16New International Version (NIV)
14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’ Even Paul was called… who hunted down and killed many Christians…I think I have gotten my message across…God uses all who will allow themselves to be used.

We are chosen to do God’s work. Even if we feel we are incapable of doing His work…He has the final say. He calls us…chooses us…uses us right where we are at. We are given our instructions through His word and are equipped not only with that but we are also given His Holy Spirit and the Armor of His making. What more would we need? Let us go forth in the strength of the Spirit following in the steps of our Risen Lord Jesus into our calling that we are chosen to do. It really isn’t that hard when we remember we are not doing this on our own but with the strength of God, the Guidance of the Spirit and the presence of our Lord Jesus who said to His first disciple as well as to us…I will be with you until the end of days. What do you think?
Amen…

https://youtu.be/uzccIu8AfmM

Just Say Jesus

July 5, 2015
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
“Wesleyan Core Term”
What is Salvation?
John3:16 King James
Ephesians 2:4-5Common English Bible (CEB)
Romans 5:8Common English Bible (CEB)
Titus 3:5Common English Bible (CEB)
Acts 4:12Common English Bible (CEB)
1 Corinthians 1:18Common English Bible (CEB)
Mathew 1:21 Common English Bible
Hebrews 2:14-15 14Common English Bible
Romans 5:9Common English Bible
2 Thess. 2:13Common English Bible


“Just Say Jesus…”

Prayer for God’s word to be heard through me or in spite of me…

Salvation:
1. the act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, destruction, etc.
2. the state of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.
3. a source, cause, or means of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.
4. Theology. deliverance from the power and penalty of sin; redemption.

Last week I talked about John Wesley and what he thought about faith. To John Wesley, faith was one of the most important theological concepts. Faith involved trust and confidence and that faith was the evidence of God’s love. He believed that as you grew in faith and assurance of God’s love it would show more and more until a person is completely filled with love in return.
The other part of the equation is salvation. It wasn’t just about going to heaven and being happy. John believed that it is “God’s justification for us through Jesus Christ and God’s sanctification in us through the Holy Spirit. God redeems us from the consequence of sin and, through the Holy Spirit, renews the image of God in us.” (Now this is the good part) “Salvation cannot be limited to a distant paradise on the other side of death but includes a present, tangible, reality of peace and joy in relationship with God now.” Our salvation affords us a present tangible reality of peace with God now…
The Bible tells us that there are several sources of salvation:
1. Grace: Ephesians 2:4-5Common English Bible (CEB)
4-5 However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God’s grace!
2. Love: Romans 5:8Common English Bible (CEB)
8 But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
3. Mercy: Titus 3:5Common English Bible (CEB)
5 he saved us because of his mercy, not because of righteous things we had done. He did it through the washing of new birth and the renewing by the Holy Spirit,
4. Christ Alone: Acts 4:12Common English Bible (CEB)
12 Salvation can be found in no one else. Throughout the whole world, no other name has been given among humans through which we must be saved.”
5. The Cross: 1 Corinthians 1:18Common English Bible (CEB)
18 The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are being destroyed. But it is the power of God for those of us who are being saved.

Through salvation we receive the deliverance from/of:
1. Sin: Mathew 1:21She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
2. Satan’s power: Hebrews 2:14-15 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he also shared the same things in the same way. He did this to destroy the one who holds the power over death—the devil—by dying. 15 He set free those who were held in slavery their entire lives by their fear of death.
3. Wrath: Romans 5:9 So, now that we have been made righteous by his blood, we can be even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through him.
And there are blessings that we receive through Salvation:
1. Chosen to: 2 Thess. 2:13 But we always must thank God for you, brothers and sisters who are loved by God. This is because he chose you from the beginning to be the first crop of the harvest. This brought salvation, through your dedication to God by the Spirit and through your belief in the truth.

The world is I need of a Savior. Not just your everyday type of savior but one that can save them even from themselves. The world looks at itself thinking it will be able to save itself. But we know, as Christ followers, that there is no other Savior than our Risen Lord, Jesus, and it is only by and in His name we are saved. This is the heart of the Bible…this is the Good News of the Gospel of Grace…we need a Savior and “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Now that’s what a call Saving Grace… Salvation…you can live with it…and you don’t want to live without it…

Amen…

https://www.youtube.com/embed/YLjlLA5bia0