Sermon nuggets Thurs April 24
Theme- Miraculous Manna
Verses- 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
God’s Purpose
Yesterday we talked about the temporariness of our life compared to the eternal life promised by Jesus, the true bread from heaven. The purpose of the miraculous manna in the desert was to give life to the dying. The purpose of the coming of Jesus Christ is that man may rise again from the dead and give eternal life to those under the curse of spiritual death. Jesus moves from the revelations of His power which changed water to wine, healed the sick, multiplied bread and fish, and walked on water. He kept addressing this coming miracle of raising people from the dead. He will not be affected by the bodily death. “He who eats this living bread will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven, if a man eats of this bread he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
The message that Jesus is telling is that just as bread will feed your bodies and keep you going, so I am the provision of God for the purpose of eternal life that will keep you going forever. God’s purpose of bread is life, that the Israelites might daily trust God and that we daily might trust God not just for things of this world but much more importantly for things of the world to come.
There is so much that the Jew understands from his culture that we do not understand in their symbols. The Passover Seder meal that celebrates the escape from enslavement of Egyptians is likened to the Passover lamb of Jesus who died that we can be free from enslavement of Satan, but there is a practice with unleavened bread in Jewish homes today when they remember the Passover. They have three matzos which is three thin unleavened pieces of bread as part of their ceremony. They leave the top one, take the second one and break it and place it in linen and hide or cover it for awhile and then they will have some of the children find it and the family eats it. It is striped and has holes in it, made only of flour and water.
Jews for Jesus explain the symbol. It is not understood by many Jews who have rejected Jesus but three pieces of bread point to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The middle matzos is broken pointing to Jesus death on the cross for us, whose body was broken without sin. The flour and water reminds them of the two natures of Jesus-God and man. Leaven is symbolic of sin and this bread is without sin. The ceremony has the broken matzos covered with a linen (death and burial). It is striped and has holes in it, thinking of the lashing and piercing of our Lord. And this bread is eaten following their meal.
We will be celebrating the service of Communion this Sunday. Our ritual, though done in different ways than the Seder meal ritual, takes bread and wine and points to the suffering savior. We take the bread and eat it as commanded by our Lord in remembrance of Him. The broken bread symbolizes his brokenness on the cross. The wine symbolizes the blood shed as the grapes are crushed to produce drink. We remind ourselves as He said, we will eat anew with Him in the Kingdom. It points to the death, burial resurrection of Jesus and the life He gives us all who take of Him. We do this with others pointing to the larger family of God.
We take the food and eat it pointing to the food that the world needs. Not simply bread of flour and water, but of spirit and truth.
Pastor Dale
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
God's Offer John 6:43-51
Sermon nuggets Weds. April 23
Theme- Miraculous Manna
Verses- 43 "Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. 44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
GOD’S OFFER 43-51
Life on this earth is dedicated to keep our bodies alive. The basic pursuit of food, clothing, and shelter takes much work. We add to that other conveniences that help pursue those basics, such as tools, machines, fuel, cars, furniture, various styles of clothing, and things to cook and store food in. After our family receives these, there is the pursuit of pleasures. We love to have fun, recreation, and enjoy hobbies and games. More money is used for books, education, games, sports, restaurants, amusements, social gatherings, art, music, films, and the list is never ending.
When I’m taking a nice warm shower I think of how wealthy I am in experiencing what most of the world had never experienced. Even Solomon with all his wealth never could jump into a shower. Through the invention of cars and airplanes travel is faster and far reaching taking us all over the world and back again in a reasonable period of time. TV, Computers and phones are increasingly taking the communication and information systems and uniting us as a world, family and friends. To be able to press a couple of buttons and have heat and cool air and food cooked in seconds and frozen for months and sometimes years and still be fresh and edible is something our generation experiences as normal.
When I think of the pioneers that built this church and the work the farmers went through sawing by hand the logs and dragged them many distances to dig out by horse and hand the project to build a church building – and months it took for labor. What they wouldn’t give for a bulldozer and chain saws, and tractors and bulk tanks and coolers, and combines, and bailers – man we have it easy compared to those of 75 years ago. Only 75 years ago compared to the 1,000s of years man has lived and toiled mostly for bread, to eat, be sheltered, and at rare leisure times to have fellowship and social contacts.
God has been good for his provisions for us, but why? Bread was the bodies fuel to keep on living because life is sacred. Bread is life. The purpose of the manna in the desert was for life, yet this life always comes to an end. All those provisions for which we are thankful are so temporary. Bread of the desert lasted one day, but they had to trust God everyday.
Jesus has food that will not perish, and life that goes beyond out existence. These things that capture our attention are only a shadow of what is yet to come. He want us to look beyond this temporary life and see what He has to provide of greater life, and what is needed to make that happen.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Miraculous Manna
Verses- 43 "Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. 44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
GOD’S OFFER 43-51
Life on this earth is dedicated to keep our bodies alive. The basic pursuit of food, clothing, and shelter takes much work. We add to that other conveniences that help pursue those basics, such as tools, machines, fuel, cars, furniture, various styles of clothing, and things to cook and store food in. After our family receives these, there is the pursuit of pleasures. We love to have fun, recreation, and enjoy hobbies and games. More money is used for books, education, games, sports, restaurants, amusements, social gatherings, art, music, films, and the list is never ending.
When I’m taking a nice warm shower I think of how wealthy I am in experiencing what most of the world had never experienced. Even Solomon with all his wealth never could jump into a shower. Through the invention of cars and airplanes travel is faster and far reaching taking us all over the world and back again in a reasonable period of time. TV, Computers and phones are increasingly taking the communication and information systems and uniting us as a world, family and friends. To be able to press a couple of buttons and have heat and cool air and food cooked in seconds and frozen for months and sometimes years and still be fresh and edible is something our generation experiences as normal.
When I think of the pioneers that built this church and the work the farmers went through sawing by hand the logs and dragged them many distances to dig out by horse and hand the project to build a church building – and months it took for labor. What they wouldn’t give for a bulldozer and chain saws, and tractors and bulk tanks and coolers, and combines, and bailers – man we have it easy compared to those of 75 years ago. Only 75 years ago compared to the 1,000s of years man has lived and toiled mostly for bread, to eat, be sheltered, and at rare leisure times to have fellowship and social contacts.
God has been good for his provisions for us, but why? Bread was the bodies fuel to keep on living because life is sacred. Bread is life. The purpose of the manna in the desert was for life, yet this life always comes to an end. All those provisions for which we are thankful are so temporary. Bread of the desert lasted one day, but they had to trust God everyday.
Jesus has food that will not perish, and life that goes beyond out existence. These things that capture our attention are only a shadow of what is yet to come. He want us to look beyond this temporary life and see what He has to provide of greater life, and what is needed to make that happen.
Pastor Dale
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
God's Provision John 6:32-42
Sermon nuggets Tues April 22, 2008
Theme- Miraculous Manna
Verses-32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
34 "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
41 At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."
42 They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"
GOD’S PROVISION
The Jews were proud to be the select people of God and experienced the miracle when Moses led them through the wilderness and provided manna for them to eat. Jesus corrected them on the source of the bread. It wasn’t Moses that gave them bread, or manna, but God. Moses prayed and God told them that the next morning in the desert they would go out and find flakes that would be collected and eaten as manna from heaven. They called this sometimes a bread from angels. Could this be the first mention of angel food cakes? They did collect it every day, but the Sabbath when they were to collect the previous day enough for two days, for the Lord would not send bread on the Sabbath. Every day they were to have enough for that day so they were not to store it and keep it, and those that did try to keep too much found it moldy and wormy.
“So give us today our daily bread” is part of the “Lord’s prayer”, recognizing daily that God provides just as he did in the desert. Bread satisfied their hunger and gave them the sustenance they needed.
Some of the quotes from the rabbinical writings were like these “As was the first redeemer so was the final redeemer; as the first redeemer caused the manna to fall from heaven, even so shall the second redeemer cause the manna to fall.” “Ye shall not find the manna in this age, but ye shall find it in the age that is to come.” “For whom has the manna been prepared? For the righteous in the age that is coming. Everyone who believes is worthy and eateth of it.”
God is the provider of the bread from heaven, and Jesus is giving them a teaching they cannot understand that he is the miraculous manna of the New Testament. In fact as God is the first provider so he is the second provider of that which would meet their spiritual need. Jesus was sent from heaven in the Virgin Mary, God’s only son and vs. 35-40 recognizes the fact that he is the provision that will save them. It is only possible through Jesus who gives life. It is a heavenly provision of much greater importance and the Manna was yet another type or picture of Jesus Christ the promised one from heaven.
Vs. 41-42 troubled them for they understood too well what Jesus was saying – that He was a heavenly being. He was God, but they grumbled and said, he is not from heaven for we know him. He is the son of Joseph and of Mary.
Hearts don’t change much. Just as they were looking for physical bread, so today we want God to provide us with things of this world, more than with Himself. Health and wealth, name it and claim it all points to provisions that are temporary. WE praise God it is His grace that desires to meet our physical needs in order that we see our spiritual hunger is satisfied in Him.
I think if God allows us to face unsteady economic times it will be a faith stretcher. But our confidence is the provision today of the true Manna from heaven. His dear son Lord Jesus Christ.
Jeremy Camp sings an old Negro spiritual that is summarized, “In the morning when I rise, Give me Jesus. You can have all this world, Give me Jesus. And when I am alone, give me Jesus. And when I come to die, give me Jesus. You can have all this world, but give me Jesus.” When the slaves had nothing of this world, they had everything in the Manna from Heaven that could not be taken away.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Miraculous Manna
Verses-32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
34 "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
41 At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."
42 They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"
GOD’S PROVISION
The Jews were proud to be the select people of God and experienced the miracle when Moses led them through the wilderness and provided manna for them to eat. Jesus corrected them on the source of the bread. It wasn’t Moses that gave them bread, or manna, but God. Moses prayed and God told them that the next morning in the desert they would go out and find flakes that would be collected and eaten as manna from heaven. They called this sometimes a bread from angels. Could this be the first mention of angel food cakes? They did collect it every day, but the Sabbath when they were to collect the previous day enough for two days, for the Lord would not send bread on the Sabbath. Every day they were to have enough for that day so they were not to store it and keep it, and those that did try to keep too much found it moldy and wormy.
“So give us today our daily bread” is part of the “Lord’s prayer”, recognizing daily that God provides just as he did in the desert. Bread satisfied their hunger and gave them the sustenance they needed.
Some of the quotes from the rabbinical writings were like these “As was the first redeemer so was the final redeemer; as the first redeemer caused the manna to fall from heaven, even so shall the second redeemer cause the manna to fall.” “Ye shall not find the manna in this age, but ye shall find it in the age that is to come.” “For whom has the manna been prepared? For the righteous in the age that is coming. Everyone who believes is worthy and eateth of it.”
God is the provider of the bread from heaven, and Jesus is giving them a teaching they cannot understand that he is the miraculous manna of the New Testament. In fact as God is the first provider so he is the second provider of that which would meet their spiritual need. Jesus was sent from heaven in the Virgin Mary, God’s only son and vs. 35-40 recognizes the fact that he is the provision that will save them. It is only possible through Jesus who gives life. It is a heavenly provision of much greater importance and the Manna was yet another type or picture of Jesus Christ the promised one from heaven.
Vs. 41-42 troubled them for they understood too well what Jesus was saying – that He was a heavenly being. He was God, but they grumbled and said, he is not from heaven for we know him. He is the son of Joseph and of Mary.
Hearts don’t change much. Just as they were looking for physical bread, so today we want God to provide us with things of this world, more than with Himself. Health and wealth, name it and claim it all points to provisions that are temporary. WE praise God it is His grace that desires to meet our physical needs in order that we see our spiritual hunger is satisfied in Him.
I think if God allows us to face unsteady economic times it will be a faith stretcher. But our confidence is the provision today of the true Manna from heaven. His dear son Lord Jesus Christ.
Jeremy Camp sings an old Negro spiritual that is summarized, “In the morning when I rise, Give me Jesus. You can have all this world, Give me Jesus. And when I am alone, give me Jesus. And when I come to die, give me Jesus. You can have all this world, but give me Jesus.” When the slaves had nothing of this world, they had everything in the Manna from Heaven that could not be taken away.
Pastor Dale
Monday, April 21, 2008
Miraculous Manna John 5:25-35
Sermon nugget Mon April 21
Theme Miraculous Manna
Verses John 6:25-31
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"
26 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?
31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
34 "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
The story is told of by one of my seminary classmates, Karl Smith, that he and his brother were walking down the street of Lebanon. Dr. Bob Smith, their father, was teaching at a university there during his Sabbatical. Suddenly a man jumped from his taxi and began to bawl them out. He was incensed and began chasing them. They ran not knowing what caused this uproar. Their father questioned them closely to see what might have triggered it. When conveying the story to a Lebanese friend it was discovered a piece of bread fell on the ground from a vendor and they kicked it aside off the path.
“Ah, you do not understand Eastern culture. It is good that you had run for you could have easily been physically beaten for such an act. Bread is a symbol of life, it is sacred. Even if it has fallen to the ground, we look upon it with respect and gently move it aside for it is the staff of life, essential for sustenance. For a person to sit together with an enemy and break bread together is like passing the peace pipe among Indians of your country. What would be the reaction among the early Indians to kick a peace pipe if found on the ground? It would mean that you disrespected them and did not want peace. It is the symbol of reconciliation, of trust and responsibility among people.”
Indeed bread is life, and it is the subsistence of every culture in the world. When man first could pound grain into flour and mix it with some liquid and cook, fry or bake it on hot stones, there was food. Every nation and country has breads that are common to their area and known to their nationality, which they bake and provide with pride.
The Jews were blessed with special bread given to them by Moses in the wilderness called Manna from heaven. It was part of their tradition that when the true Messiah will come he will make available this miraculous manna once again for his nation, bread from heaven. When the crowd just experienced the miracle of their lives with the feeding of the 5,000 Jesus said those who come to him will never be hungry, and those who believe in Him will never thirst.
The lesson from Moses giving Manna from heaven was a miracle in the desert. The gift of the Son of God is even a greater miracle. Jesus compares Himself to this bread. It is free to all who receives.
Pastor Dale
Theme Miraculous Manna
Verses John 6:25-31
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"
26 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?
31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
34 "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
The story is told of by one of my seminary classmates, Karl Smith, that he and his brother were walking down the street of Lebanon. Dr. Bob Smith, their father, was teaching at a university there during his Sabbatical. Suddenly a man jumped from his taxi and began to bawl them out. He was incensed and began chasing them. They ran not knowing what caused this uproar. Their father questioned them closely to see what might have triggered it. When conveying the story to a Lebanese friend it was discovered a piece of bread fell on the ground from a vendor and they kicked it aside off the path.
“Ah, you do not understand Eastern culture. It is good that you had run for you could have easily been physically beaten for such an act. Bread is a symbol of life, it is sacred. Even if it has fallen to the ground, we look upon it with respect and gently move it aside for it is the staff of life, essential for sustenance. For a person to sit together with an enemy and break bread together is like passing the peace pipe among Indians of your country. What would be the reaction among the early Indians to kick a peace pipe if found on the ground? It would mean that you disrespected them and did not want peace. It is the symbol of reconciliation, of trust and responsibility among people.”
Indeed bread is life, and it is the subsistence of every culture in the world. When man first could pound grain into flour and mix it with some liquid and cook, fry or bake it on hot stones, there was food. Every nation and country has breads that are common to their area and known to their nationality, which they bake and provide with pride.
The Jews were blessed with special bread given to them by Moses in the wilderness called Manna from heaven. It was part of their tradition that when the true Messiah will come he will make available this miraculous manna once again for his nation, bread from heaven. When the crowd just experienced the miracle of their lives with the feeding of the 5,000 Jesus said those who come to him will never be hungry, and those who believe in Him will never thirst.
The lesson from Moses giving Manna from heaven was a miracle in the desert. The gift of the Son of God is even a greater miracle. Jesus compares Himself to this bread. It is free to all who receives.
Pastor Dale
Friday, April 18, 2008
The Lord Acts John 6:21-25
Sermon Nuggets Fri April 18
Theme Walk on Water
Verses- John 6:21-25 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.
23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
Matt 14:28-35 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him. (NIV)
THE LORD ACTS IN OUR DISTRESS
The storm calmed after Jesus reached out to save Peter in his distress. Walking with Jesus can cause distressing moments when we look at our circumstances instead of Him. But He still acts in reaching out to Peter, calming the storm, and joining the others in the boat. John tells us they were safe and everything was OK.
Jesus’ all knowing power reminds me and you He has not forgotten us. Even when it does not seem as if He is doing anything about it, my faith is made strong to wait. He knows what’s going on. Don’t worry. We are His own.
It is another wonderful thought to realize His presence, His closeness, His being there, but in it all He is acting out His perfect will. Romans 8:28 is still true even though it is often misquoted. All things do work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes. The disciples were called according to His purposes. They were obedient and saw a marvelous demonstration of the power of Jesus and times in their lives later after Jesus’ ascension they needed to remind themselves of that on going care in the midst of distress.
The disciples were afraid of losing their lives on a boat, but Jesus saved them. Yet all of them, except John, lost their lives in persecutions for their faith. Did Jesus leave them and not see them? Many were healed in Jesus ministry. He acted and His glory was seen, but we also read of many who later prayed for healing and did not receive it and we know that all who were healed eventually, sooner or later, got sick and died if some other accident didn’t occur first. God did not mean for us to live forever on this earth.
When people accept the fact that God is at work acting in our situation to glorify the father, success is guaranteed.
Operation Mobilization reflected on God’s intervention after their mercy ship sunk. Since it was launched in 1971 more than 7 million people walked up its gangways, 1 million participated in training, 30 million pieces of literature. Then one day in South America during a storm it stank. What happened? Where was Jesus? Did He know?
The director responded a few months after it was sunk. 1. There was unity in prayer - People from all over rallied as intercessors for those involved. 2. Encouragement - Urbana director wrote “We want to help during these days of warfare for the kingdom. Praise the Lord as he has already won the victory otherwise we couldn’t stand the attacks could we? You must have some plans on the drawing board that are going and a great deal to the world of the Lord, or you wouldn’t be the target for such heavy attacks. 3. Refocus of Direction - Ship is a tool, people are the ministry. It helps sort our priorities and revise our ministry plans before the Lord. 4. Worldwide response – Japanese Christians sent check 10,000 Brazil 25,000 Venezuelans 15,000 Barbados, poorest country, Panama tons of clothing Four children brought a jar of their savings -$11.87
Was the sinking of the Logos a tragedy? God forbid. Like every great crises of life, it was an opportunity for God’s people to “stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.”
In His time Jesus acts. We remain faithful because He is faithful.
Pastor Dale
Theme Walk on Water
Verses- John 6:21-25 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.
23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
Matt 14:28-35 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him. (NIV)
THE LORD ACTS IN OUR DISTRESS
The storm calmed after Jesus reached out to save Peter in his distress. Walking with Jesus can cause distressing moments when we look at our circumstances instead of Him. But He still acts in reaching out to Peter, calming the storm, and joining the others in the boat. John tells us they were safe and everything was OK.
Jesus’ all knowing power reminds me and you He has not forgotten us. Even when it does not seem as if He is doing anything about it, my faith is made strong to wait. He knows what’s going on. Don’t worry. We are His own.
It is another wonderful thought to realize His presence, His closeness, His being there, but in it all He is acting out His perfect will. Romans 8:28 is still true even though it is often misquoted. All things do work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes. The disciples were called according to His purposes. They were obedient and saw a marvelous demonstration of the power of Jesus and times in their lives later after Jesus’ ascension they needed to remind themselves of that on going care in the midst of distress.
The disciples were afraid of losing their lives on a boat, but Jesus saved them. Yet all of them, except John, lost their lives in persecutions for their faith. Did Jesus leave them and not see them? Many were healed in Jesus ministry. He acted and His glory was seen, but we also read of many who later prayed for healing and did not receive it and we know that all who were healed eventually, sooner or later, got sick and died if some other accident didn’t occur first. God did not mean for us to live forever on this earth.
When people accept the fact that God is at work acting in our situation to glorify the father, success is guaranteed.
Operation Mobilization reflected on God’s intervention after their mercy ship sunk. Since it was launched in 1971 more than 7 million people walked up its gangways, 1 million participated in training, 30 million pieces of literature. Then one day in South America during a storm it stank. What happened? Where was Jesus? Did He know?
The director responded a few months after it was sunk. 1. There was unity in prayer - People from all over rallied as intercessors for those involved. 2. Encouragement - Urbana director wrote “We want to help during these days of warfare for the kingdom. Praise the Lord as he has already won the victory otherwise we couldn’t stand the attacks could we? You must have some plans on the drawing board that are going and a great deal to the world of the Lord, or you wouldn’t be the target for such heavy attacks. 3. Refocus of Direction - Ship is a tool, people are the ministry. It helps sort our priorities and revise our ministry plans before the Lord. 4. Worldwide response – Japanese Christians sent check 10,000 Brazil 25,000 Venezuelans 15,000 Barbados, poorest country, Panama tons of clothing Four children brought a jar of their savings -$11.87
Was the sinking of the Logos a tragedy? God forbid. Like every great crises of life, it was an opportunity for God’s people to “stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.”
In His time Jesus acts. We remain faithful because He is faithful.
Pastor Dale
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Lord Speaks in our Distress John 6:19,20
Sermon nuggets Thurs April 17, 2008
Verses John 6:19-20 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." (NIV)
Matt 14:28-31 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
THE LORD SPEAKS IN OUR DISTRESS
The words of Jesus were take courage. “It is I, don’t be afraid.” Jesus word brought faith. “Courage is not the absence of fear,” someone has said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” Being a Christian neither guarantees fortitude nor frees us of all anxious feelings but it does give us a message from God’s word, which is one of the most effective ways in which He speaks today.
People fear perhaps most often the unknown and it is easy to see that when they imagined a ghost that was the unknown in a dark and anxious moment. Isn’t it easy to see how our imagination gets away from us when we are scared? I am not so sure that watching all kinds of violence and murders on TV and movies doesn’t increase our fears and make us more paranoid than we ought to be.
One of the most comforting places to go in distress is to the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit use the words to speak to the needs of our hearts.
Henri Nouwen talks about the power of communion with Christ; perhaps we call it quiet time or personal devotions. Call it what you want, but whether it is pleading prayer, or quiet reflections on what Jesus tells us, listen to Him speak. The steady man in the faith is one who is able to be obedient to God and hear His voice. Jesus had just previously renewed his heart in communion with His Father. Now these words of comfort are for Peter.
Seeing the Lord come is comforting for He always sees us. Hearing his voice by His Spirit and through His word adds to steadying the unsettled waters of our spirit, to confidence that nothing will happen to us, as His child, outside of His ultimate will.
Looking at Matthew’s account of this story we see Peter also walking on the water at the bidding of Jesus. There is comfort in the knowledge the Lord is with us in our distress, but Peter exercizes great love and faith in his prayer. He asks that he too might come to Jesus by means of walking on the water. The words of Jesus were meant in answer to the prayer of Peter. "Come"
Jesus speaks to Him to draw upon the Lord's power to do the unthinkable. It was not all disciples that got out of the boat. Indeed, Jesus did not call them all out. It was an experience for Peter's faith. Yet all marveled. All worshiped.
The growing faith of the disciples happened as they spent more time with Him, understood His heart, realized His power, and experienced His love. I often think how much more life has meaning when it is grounded in our centering in Him. He desires we have ears to hear and eyes to see. He is waiting to meet with us, learn from Him, and draw from His presence.
Pastor Dale
Verses John 6:19-20 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." (NIV)
Matt 14:28-31 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
THE LORD SPEAKS IN OUR DISTRESS
The words of Jesus were take courage. “It is I, don’t be afraid.” Jesus word brought faith. “Courage is not the absence of fear,” someone has said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” Being a Christian neither guarantees fortitude nor frees us of all anxious feelings but it does give us a message from God’s word, which is one of the most effective ways in which He speaks today.
People fear perhaps most often the unknown and it is easy to see that when they imagined a ghost that was the unknown in a dark and anxious moment. Isn’t it easy to see how our imagination gets away from us when we are scared? I am not so sure that watching all kinds of violence and murders on TV and movies doesn’t increase our fears and make us more paranoid than we ought to be.
One of the most comforting places to go in distress is to the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit use the words to speak to the needs of our hearts.
Henri Nouwen talks about the power of communion with Christ; perhaps we call it quiet time or personal devotions. Call it what you want, but whether it is pleading prayer, or quiet reflections on what Jesus tells us, listen to Him speak. The steady man in the faith is one who is able to be obedient to God and hear His voice. Jesus had just previously renewed his heart in communion with His Father. Now these words of comfort are for Peter.
Seeing the Lord come is comforting for He always sees us. Hearing his voice by His Spirit and through His word adds to steadying the unsettled waters of our spirit, to confidence that nothing will happen to us, as His child, outside of His ultimate will.
Looking at Matthew’s account of this story we see Peter also walking on the water at the bidding of Jesus. There is comfort in the knowledge the Lord is with us in our distress, but Peter exercizes great love and faith in his prayer. He asks that he too might come to Jesus by means of walking on the water. The words of Jesus were meant in answer to the prayer of Peter. "Come"
Jesus speaks to Him to draw upon the Lord's power to do the unthinkable. It was not all disciples that got out of the boat. Indeed, Jesus did not call them all out. It was an experience for Peter's faith. Yet all marveled. All worshiped.
The growing faith of the disciples happened as they spent more time with Him, understood His heart, realized His power, and experienced His love. I often think how much more life has meaning when it is grounded in our centering in Him. He desires we have ears to hear and eyes to see. He is waiting to meet with us, learn from Him, and draw from His presence.
Pastor Dale
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The Lord Comes to us. John 6:18-20
Sermon nuggets Weds April 16, 2008
Theme Walk on Water
Verses-John 6:18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.
19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified.
20 But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid."
THE LORD COMES IN OUR DISTRESS
The disciples needed to learn not only to trust Jesus when He is in the boat, but to be aware that He is with them always. He comes to them, howbeit, in this unusual fashion by walking on the water. They were scared, thinking it was a ghost.
Someone mentioned that every miracle Jesus performed He did so to help others in their need and never for His own needs. He did not change stones into bread that he might eat, but did multiply fish and bread so others could eat. He did not take himself from the cross and overcome the guards at his own pain and discomfort of the cross, but he did raise the sick, cause the blind to see and the lame to walk. He did not jump off the temple pinnacle that others might follow him and receive the worship which he rightly deserves, but instead He does walk supernaturally on the water to bring comfort and peace to his beloved disciples. He does always use the miraculous, but his love and presence is there never the less.
His presence is here to calm the winds and the waves, to change the situation, and to bring comfort in loneliness and fear. They were no longer alone. They were reminded again that even as they should have remembered, Jesus was in control.
Notice they were not spared from the storm. The storm was no problem for Jesus as it is with us. I like the one contemporary song that gives us that idea. "Sometimes He calms the storm. Sometimes Other times He calms His child."
What a joy we have in the latter days when we have the presence of God with us and even within us. The Holy Spirit is dwelling within us all the time. You cannot ever be outside of His presence if you have received Christ into your life.
There are special times when the Lord makes us aware of His closeness and His presence in a special and unique manner. Often, even in crises situations, a person will tell of an experience that confirms this in unusual ways. More than once I have had the occasion to be called on to one who was sick or terminal or called to the home of the family of someone who had just died. I have often heard the comment made, “Pastor, I don’t know what people do without Jesus Christ.” I don’t either. Hebrews 13:6 Lo, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, henceforth we can confidently say the Lord is my helper, I will not fear for what can man do to me?
Whatever your are going through the Lord sees and is there, sometimes even in ways we can't imagine. What comforting words those were to those in the boat-"It is I; don't be afraid." Those same words are for you.
Pastor Dale
Theme Walk on Water
Verses-John 6:18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.
19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified.
20 But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid."
THE LORD COMES IN OUR DISTRESS
The disciples needed to learn not only to trust Jesus when He is in the boat, but to be aware that He is with them always. He comes to them, howbeit, in this unusual fashion by walking on the water. They were scared, thinking it was a ghost.
Someone mentioned that every miracle Jesus performed He did so to help others in their need and never for His own needs. He did not change stones into bread that he might eat, but did multiply fish and bread so others could eat. He did not take himself from the cross and overcome the guards at his own pain and discomfort of the cross, but he did raise the sick, cause the blind to see and the lame to walk. He did not jump off the temple pinnacle that others might follow him and receive the worship which he rightly deserves, but instead He does walk supernaturally on the water to bring comfort and peace to his beloved disciples. He does always use the miraculous, but his love and presence is there never the less.
His presence is here to calm the winds and the waves, to change the situation, and to bring comfort in loneliness and fear. They were no longer alone. They were reminded again that even as they should have remembered, Jesus was in control.
Notice they were not spared from the storm. The storm was no problem for Jesus as it is with us. I like the one contemporary song that gives us that idea. "Sometimes He calms the storm. Sometimes Other times He calms His child."
What a joy we have in the latter days when we have the presence of God with us and even within us. The Holy Spirit is dwelling within us all the time. You cannot ever be outside of His presence if you have received Christ into your life.
There are special times when the Lord makes us aware of His closeness and His presence in a special and unique manner. Often, even in crises situations, a person will tell of an experience that confirms this in unusual ways. More than once I have had the occasion to be called on to one who was sick or terminal or called to the home of the family of someone who had just died. I have often heard the comment made, “Pastor, I don’t know what people do without Jesus Christ.” I don’t either. Hebrews 13:6 Lo, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, henceforth we can confidently say the Lord is my helper, I will not fear for what can man do to me?
Whatever your are going through the Lord sees and is there, sometimes even in ways we can't imagine. What comforting words those were to those in the boat-"It is I; don't be afraid." Those same words are for you.
Pastor Dale
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