Monday, May 30, 2011

Isaiah 45:3

"I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel." Isaiah 45:3

"I have never been in this place before. It is new ground for me and I find I am way out of my comfort zone. I am scared to death to trust Him at this level. I had to confess to the Lord I have not been able to accept or believe His love for me in this area." Those were the words I expressed to a friend when I was in a difficult place in my life. It was that day when I confessed those words that God led me to this passage of scripture.

What we perceive as dark periods in our lives are designed to be treasures from God. They are actually riches stored in secret places. We cannot see those times in this light because of the often accompanying pain or fear that prevents us from accepting these times as treasures. They have a particular purpose from God's viewpoint; "so that you may know that I am the Lord who summons you by name."

You see, unless we are cast into times in which we are completely at the mercy of God for breakthroughs in our lives we will never experience the faithfulness of God in those areas. We will never know how personal He is or that He can be trusted to meet the deepest needs in our lives. God wants each of us to know that we are "summoned by name." Every hair of our head is numbered. Every activity we are involved in He knows. His love for you and me knows no bounds, and He will take every opportunity to demonstrate this to you and me.

Has God brought you into a place of darkness? Trust Him today to allow Him to reveal that hidden treasure that can be found in this darkness. Let Him summon you by name. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; I Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21

Some children are especially blessed, they are blessed by good and loving parents - by parents whose love is like that of God - by parents who, by the power of their love are spiritually present with their kids at all times - parents who, even when physically absent, leave notes in lunch boxes, signs of love on fridges and blessings upon pillows so that their children may know that they are loved deeply.

I know that when I was a child I really appreciated these things.

But I also know that as a child I was occasionally grounded, restricted, and cut off from the fullness of the blessings my parents sought to pour out upon me.

My parents still loved me when I was grounded, they still loved me deeply, but things did not go quite as well for me as they did when I was not grounded.

And this kind of experience continues on into adult life - into all our relationship of love. We find that when our love is well expressed in consideration and in respect, in holy humility and in divine giving, that blessings flow abundantly, and we know fully the love we are supposed to know, we know the secret of the universe as it were; God is as completely revealed to us as he can be this side of heaven.

But when we hold back, when we do not do all that love asks us to do, something goes missing inside us - we begin to ache and pain, even though the love of our lover is still all around us, still calling out to us, still seeking for us the very best.

What I am saying my friends is simply this - there are spiritual laws at work in the universe - laws that God works with and which by his mercy operate at all times.

Christ speaks of one of these laws or principles in today's Gospel reading, a reading which is part of that which is often called his last will and testament because it is the final teaching he gives to his disciples before he is crucified.

As part of that testament he speaks of his final and ultimate gift to all who are a part of God's family - of his family - the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus tells the disciples the night of his betrayal that if they love him, they will keep his commandments.

And he promises them his Spirit unconditionally - a Spirit that will advocate for them, and comfort them, and lead them, and watch over them. He promises them that the Spirit of God will live in them.

Jesus also tells his disciples that not everyone will receive the spirit.

He tells them that those in the world, those who love only themselves, those who sneer at holy things and scorn the law of God cannot receive the Spirit, because they do not know the Spirit, because they do not desire it.

Jesus assures his disciples on the night of his betrayal that they will see him again - that because he lives and will continue to live so will they - and that they will know that he is in the Father and that they are in him and he is in them.

Then he goes on to remind them of what he had said before

"They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."

A promise and a reminder.

The promise of his eternal and holy presence urging and supporting and comforting us no matter what.

And the reminder that we will see and feel the full glory of that gift when we are in the right space - that space which is the righteous space, the loving space, God calls us to.

Jesus gives us the gift of his eternal love and reminds us of how love works: of how while there is unconditional affection and care there is as well the hope that the love will be returned - so that we will know the fullness of the love we are receiving.

Jesus reminds us that love needs to be returned - not just directly, in expressions of devotedness, but also indirectly, in actions whereby we pass on the love to others.

Jesus makes us promises and he gives to us reminders, reminders that there are consequences to what we do, wonderful consequences and sometimes not so wonderful consequences.

Reading past verse 21 of today's gospel reading we find the question asked of Jesus

"Lord how is it that you will reveal yourself to us - and not to the world."

Jesus answers

"Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."

As adults we know that is what always happens when there is a deep and intimate relationship of love - people move in together, they live together and enjoy themselves together and work together and do many things together - and all of a sudden - because of this relationship there are both inlaws and outlaws to deal with.

Consider the inlaws all the people around you who seek to do God's will. Consider the outlaws all those who couldn't care less about God or you.

Jesus, as our lover, asks us to keep his commandments and to love all of them, both the inlaws and outlaws, as if they were he; he tells us that this is what the life he offers and shares with us is all about, he tells us that when we obey him we will truly see him and know him.

The truth about life is revealed to us by the Spirit of truth that Jesus sends to us from the Father - and that truth is love - love expressed and shown to others in the way God shows love to us, - a love expressed and shown according to the word sent to us by God from the beginning and incarnated in Christ Jesus our brother and our Lord.

You can't go wrong by following Christ. You can only go right.

The apostle Peter suggests to us in verse 15 of today's epistle reading that the secret of the spiritual life - of the life that gives life - of the life that is worth the living - is found in sanctifying in our hearts Jesus as Lord.

This means pretty much the same as what Jesus meant when he said to the disciples "if you love me you will keep my commandments."

To sanctify something means to make that thing holy
- to make it special
- to make it different
- to make it wonderful
- to dedicate it to the divine purpose
- to dedicate it to the divine One
- to allow the Spirit to transform it from one degree of glory to another.

Sanctify, in your hearts, Christ as Lord.

Don't just say I believe in and love Christ - show that love.

Take the time each day to know him, to treat him as a friend, to talk to him and to make him special to yourselves. Treat his wishes as your deepest desire, his every suggestion and hint as your life giving law and your greatest yearning.

To "Sanctify Christ in your heart as Lord" means...
- it means to really hold on to him and to hold his word in your awareness,
- it means to really listen and then to really do.

It is all so simple a child can get it and do it, and so wonderful and so rich that it gifts all the years of our lives with awe and with power.

All these things the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit have told us so that we might have the fullness of God's blessings - that we may know the true glory of love and the eternal joy and strength that life in Him brings.

God is with us - Christ is in us - the Spirit is all around us.

Look and see - love and abide in him - be true and obey him as your Lord - and life will blossom all around you like flowers in the spring and God will be revealed in his fullness to you and to the world around you

Praise be to God, now and forevermore - Amen

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Acts 14:9-10

"He [the cripple] listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. Acts 14:9-10

I am struck at how close Paul walked with the Lord. Consider what a discerning spirit it must require to be able to look at someone and judge the level of their faith. I believe that sort of discernment is not a natural thing, but the result of walking close enough to God to know His mind on a matter almost instantly. How then do we achieve for ourselves this marvelous closeness to God? How can we be sensitive to the smallest prompting's of the Holy Spirit? God made a promise back in Proverbs as to how He WILL direct our paths. There are three things we must do, and then God promises that we will have His mind in what we do.

The passage in Proverbs 3 goes like this: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." So, in order to be sensitive to the mind of God and to walk in His straight paths we must do three things:

1) Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Trust is more than belief. To believe in something, you must simply acknowledge it's existence. We must rely on God with our whole heart.

2) Lean not on your own understanding. We need to acknowledge that we don't have a good perspective on the situation, so our understanding is not complete. Little children do this quite well. When they are lost in a crowd and they can't see above people's knees, they have no way of knowing the direction to go. But Daddy is tall, and he can see over the crowd of people to where they need to go, so all a child has to do is hold Daddy's hand and not worry about anything else. So it should be with us. God can see where we're going, and we can't. We need to realize that and give up trying to find our own way.

3) In all your ways acknowledge Him. This means more than simply giving God a friendly nod. It means that wherever you are, whatever you're doing, invite God to be a part of it. Live life in the knowledge that He is really there right beside you, as real as if He were standing there in the flesh. If you can't invite God to come along, you probably shouldn't be there.

Then, if we do those three things, Proverbs 3 promises us that God will direct our paths. That's how we can be sensitive to going God's way. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.

Friday, May 27, 2011

1 Sam 23:17

"And he said to him, "Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that" 1 Sam 23:17

Jonathan knew the truth. He would never be king. It didn't make any difference what his father wanted, he was not king material and he knew it. He was satisfied with the role that God seemed to have made for him - second in command.

We need to be just like Jonathan in this respect. It makes no difference what we want to be, or what our parents want us to be, or what our spouse thinks we should be. What is important is that we be content with what God wants us to be. If He wants us to lead thousands, we will and be happy about it. If he wants us to lead a solitary life and write books, fine make it so, we will be content doing it.

Our problem is that we often look to the glamorous things to do. We want the good life. We want the high profile tasks. We want. . . . Then, when we get it, we are not satisfied. Something is missing. It just isn't enough. Why? Because we are not what we were created to be. We will never be satisfied until we fulfill that role.

Could this explain why so many people change jobs frequently? Could this explain the arguments and fights that take place in Church board meetings? Is it possible that this is why there is so much in-fighting and back-biting in the Fellowship of God? Indeed, it could be. We need to spend our time doing what God wants. He will lead us in paths that will satisfy us. As a matter of fact, if you are not fulfilled in your present position, perhaps you are in the wrong one. Are you there because you want to be there, or because God put you there?

Mostly, God will use you where your talents and enjoyments lie. He will never make a cook out of someone who hates to be in the kitchen. Likewise, he will never make a mechanic out of someone who likes to cook.

He has given you the talents and abilities you have for His purpose. Use them for Him and you will find contentment. Amen and Amen.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

2 Kings 6:15

"And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 2 Kings 6:15

Sometimes things really get spicy when we do what God wants us to do. Take Elisha. He had been feeding the King of Israel information that would protect them from attacks by the king of Syria. Obviously the heathen king was not thrilled with the arrangement. At first he thought there was a traitor in the inner circle - that's how good the information was! When it was pointed out that Elisha, the prophet was the culprit, an army was dispatched to take care of ONE MAN! Do you think the Syrian king was a bit leery of crossing Elisha and his God?

Sometimes we get all excited about doing something for Jesus and it seems like everyone from non-believing family, to good Christian friends, to solid church leaders, try to talk us out of it. I know of a woman who was told that age 53 was too old to begin the life of a missionary. Now at 83 she has made a mighty big impact on Dominica's orphaned children problem! If God tells you to do something, nothing should stop you - NOTHING!

Elisha's servant looked out the window of their cottage the next morning and saw the mighty army. I can hear it now. "My Lord, Elisha, we are in big trouble now! Look what has been sent our way. We are surrounded. We cannot escape. Maybe we should give ourselves up and hope for the best. Perhaps they will spare our lives if you will just promise to keep your prophesies to yourself."

"Friend," Elisha says calmly, "don't worry." Looking to heaven he prays, "Lord, open his eyes to see what You and I see." "Holy God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob! Look at that! I see a whole army of angels. The cavalry has indeed arrived! We are SAVED, Elisha. WE ARE SAVED!" Friend," Elisha speaks with great patience, "you should never doubt God when He sends you on a mission. He will provide all your needs - even a security force if needed."

What was true for Elisha is still true today. God always provides for His willing servants. I recall stories of provided funds, airline tickets, and support for missionaries. I know about food, medicine, and canceled debts when things just look like they can't get any darker. I am acquainted with a missionary to Columbia who's compound was surrounded with angels during one of the many revolutions there. He never saw them - but the invading soldiers did! They related the story to this missionary after the conflict. Remember, we are never alone. God's army is bigger than Satan's army. God is always by our sides. He knows what we need even before we ever ask or think. And best of all, HE WILL SEE TO IT THAT WE ARE SUPPLIED FOR THE TASK, if we will only trust and obey. There really is "no other way!" Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

James 4:7

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7

The word "submit" (hupotagete) means to put yourself under God, under His care and power and strength; to yield to God, to His will, command, instructions, laws, behavior, and Word; to surrender yourself to God for Him to strengthen you so that you can do exactly what He says.

What this means is to focus your mind upon God and His Word immediately when temptation strikes. Turn away from the temptation, push it out of your mind and begin to think about God and go over and over His Word in your mind. Just begin to resist the devil by focusing your mind upon God and His Word. Persevere in following God's command and in resisting the devil.

When you do, the most wonderful thing will happen. The devil will flee and the temptation will be gone. We may have to struggle. The images of the temptation may attack and attack us, but if we will attack back by rolling God's Word over and over in our minds, the temptation will flee. Amen and Amen.

James 4:7

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7

The word "submit" (hupotagete) means to put yourself under God, under His care and power and strength; to yield to God, to His will, command, instructions, laws, behavior, and Word; to surrender yourself to God for Him to strengthen you so that you can do exactly what He says.

What this means is to focus your mind upon God and His Word immediately when temptation strikes. Turn away from the temptation, push it out of your mind and begin to think about God and go over and over His Word in your mind. Just begin to resist the devil by focusing your mind upon God and His Word. Persevere in following God's command and in resisting the devil.

When you do, the most wonderful thing will happen. The devil will flee and the temptation will be gone. We may have to struggle. The images of the temptation may attack and attack us, but if we will attack back by rolling God's Word over and over in our minds, the temptation will flee. Amen and Amen.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Acts 3:2-3

"And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms." Acts 3:2-3

What do you want when you go to church? Why are you really there? What is it you are seeking? Are you present only so that you can tell others that you go to church? Are you there so that you can play a role that you think gives you some kind of status in your community? Are you there just to keep peace in your family and to avoid the nagging and pleading of your wife or your husband or your father or your mother or your children?

Jesus once asked a group of people concerning John the Baptist, "Who did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaking with the wind? A man, clothed in soft garments? A prophet?" It is an important question for us to ask ourselves: Who are we going to church to see and hear?

If we are going to church just to hear the choir sing or a preacher speak, we are making the same mistake that the lame man made when he was carried to the Beautiful Gate that day. He was looking for the wrong thing. He was seeking alms. He wasn't expecting healing. We also need to ask ourselves some serious questions about the way we regard the people we meet on a day-to-day basis: How are we looking at other people? What do we expect from our encounters with them? So often we approach people the same way this lame man did. We are looking for what they are going to do for us. We are looking for what we can get from them. We aren't looking for what it is that God wants to do in us or through us. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

I Peter 2:1-10 and John 14:1-14

"Gracious God - bless now the words of my lips and the meditations of our hearts. Breath your Spirit into us and grant that we may hear and in hearing be led in the wayyou want us to go. Amen.

Peter begins the second chapter of his first letter to God's chosen people with an exhortation:

He writes: "Rid yourselves then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy, or jealousy, or insulting language. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up in your salvation."

In the last verse of today's gospel reading Jesus says: "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

What do you crave? What do you yearn for? What blessing do you ask God for?

A couple of items for you to ponder as you think about that question.

A few years ago in the United States, a well-known televangelist sent green prayer cloths to thousands of his viewers. According to him, God told him that the prayer cloth would be a point of contact, between him and the audience, for releasing God's blessing - with one very important condition. His viewers needed to send lots of money with the prayer cloth, or as he put it, "Sow your very best seed."

To those who returned the green cloth with some money, the televangelist promised great prosperity: "Send me your green prayer cloth as my point of contact with you!" he pleaded. "When I touch your cloth, it will be like touching you! When you touch this cloth, it will be like taking my hand and touching me. I want the anointing that God has put upon my life for miracles of finances and prosperity to come directly from my hand to yours... You can reign in life like a king!" According to this televangelist, within months of sending in her prayer cloth, one woman received $286,000 in treasury bonds and $65,000 in cash. Also, as a bonus, her husband was delivered from alcoholism.

That's interesting. Get rich and have your family problems solved in a moment by just sending in a green prayer cloth. It seems like a good deal.

The second item of interest is something that I heard from a friend who lives in Las Vagas:

The Rev. Patrick Leary is the rector of the Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer in Las Vegas, Nevada. He says visitors to the cathedral there often make the same request.

Can you guess what it is??

"Reverend, will you pray for me to win?"

I heard that in response Rev. Leary pointed around at the beautiful church and said to the person making such a request, "If it was that easy, do you think we will still have a debt on this place? I believe in the power of prayer, but even prayer has its limits."

"Even prayer has its limits." Do you believe that??

If you do - what do you do then with these words of Jesus: "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it"?

Think of the possibilities - a new car, a new home, a cure for baldness. All we have to do is ask.

"If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."

Dr. Leslie Weatherhead, a well know preacher many years ago, said that once, when he was a high school student, had a very difficult examination. But he had discovered that verse, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do..."

He believed that verse meant that all he had to do was ask and he would pass the exam. He told God he was believing God's promise, and he wanted a good grade. The next day young Weatherhead took the examination, but when the grades were in, he had failed. He was disillusioned. He rebelled and almost lost his faith. He came to the conclusion that the promises of the Bible were not good - all because God had not granted his wish for a good grade.

The next year he repeated that course. He worked hard, and he passed. This time he decided that he did not need God, that he could get along by himself.

I think that this is a conclusion that many of us reach - we need something, we want something, we and we pray for it - and - when we don't see the results that we want, we come close to losing our faith. At the very least - we conclude as did Dr. Weatherhead that we can, or we must, get along by ourselves.

Fortunately, Leslie Weatherhead changed his opinion over the years. Fortunate because his life touched hundreds of thousands of people, bringing to them the blessings of God in a way that the televangelist I mentioned earlier has not.

After some years had passed, Dr Weatherhead came to understand that his own powers and abilities were in reality the power that God had given to him. He began to realize that God had already given him the power to pass the examination, but he had not used that power during the first round.

God never gives us more power than we need. As Dr. Charles L. Allen has said, "Until we are willing to use what God has already given us, there is no need to ask for any more."

"If you ask Me anything in My name," said Jesus, "I will do it." Quite a claim. But let's examine it a little closer.

Notice first of all that Jesus is talking to his disciples.

"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?", Jesus asks his disciples. "The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me....I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son...."

Jesus is giving his disciples words of encouragement." You have seen the blind recover their sight," he is saying. "You have seen the lame made whole. Hey, You're going to do greater works than that!"

Jesus was talking to the church. He was not talking about new houses or new cars or passing examinations. He was talking about the work of the Kingdom. He was saying that when his disciples decide to get into action doing the work God has called them to do, and when they enlist God's help, nothing is impossible! And that's true. Nothing is impossible for the church of Jesus Christ as long as all that the church is doing is pleasing to God!

What do you crave, what do you desire the most?

Do you thirst for pure spiritual milk?
Do you yearn to do the works that Jesus did?
Do you desire that the church, that the people of God, that you yourself, might make a great witness to the world and bring glory to God's name?

Dr. Robert Schuller, that legendary advocate of Possibility Thinking, says that there are two words that have killed more God-inspired dreams and hopes than anything else he can think of.

The two words are "Be realistic!"

If we Christians, Dr. Schuller says, were "realistic" then nothing would be accomplished. He cites the example of Tom Dempsey - a young man who was born with half a right foot and deformed right arm but a ton of faith.

Dempsey wanted to be a football player - in spite of his considerable handicaps. And he did play American football. He became a kicker for his high school team. But that wasn't enough. He wanted to play college ball. And again, he became the kicker on his college team. But when he graduated from college, his dream became even wilder and more fantastic. He wanted to be a professional football player!

A professional football player with half a foot and a deformed right arm. Impossible! No coach would accept him. They all shook their heads. All except one, and it is ironic and more than coincidental that Dempsey became a kicker for the professional football team, The New Orleans SAINTS!

The rest, as they say, is history. In 1972, Dempsey kicked the longest field goal ever at the time - 63 yards! All because he was not realistic! All because, Dr. Schuller tells us, Tom Dempsey had faith in Jesus Christ who gave him the strength to do what he dreamed.

Amazing things are accomplished in this world by people who believe and will not give up. Our text for the day says that you and I are capable of amazing things when we set out to serve Jesus Christ. Jesus was speaking to his church when he said, "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." Nothing is impossible for the church of Jesus Christ.

But there is something else just as important... Jesus adds a qualifier: "And whatever you ask in My name," Jesus promises, "that will I do, that the Father may be glorified..."

Christ will do anything we ask if it glorifies the Father. Here is where we generally stumble. Not everything we do in the church is done to the glory of God.

Isaac Asimov, familiar to many as a noted scientist and author, once told a hilarious story about a Rabbi Feldman who was having trouble with his congregation.

It seemed they could agree upon nothing. The president of the congregation said, "Rabbi, this cannot be allowed to continue. Come, there must be a conference, and we must settle all areas of dispute once and for all." The rabbi agreed.

At the appointed time, therefore, the rabbi, the president, and ten elders met in the conference room of the synagogue, sitting about a magnificent mahogany table. One by one the issues were dealt with and on each issue, it became more and more apparent that the rabbi was a lonely voice in the wilderness. The president of the synagogue said, "Come, Rabbi, enough of this. Let us vote and allow the majority to rule." He passed out the slips of paper and each man made his mark. The slips were collected and the president said, "You may examine them, Rabbi. It is eleven to one against you. We have the majority."

Whereupon the rabbi rose to his feet in offended majesty. "So," he said, "you now think because of the vote that you are right and I am wrong. Well, that is not so. I stand here" - and he raised his arms impressively - "and call upon the Holy One of Israel to give us a sign that I am right and you are wrong."

And as he said this, there came a frightful crack of thunder and a brilliant flash of lightning that struck the mahogany table and cracked it in two. The room was filled with smoke and fumes, and the president and the elders were hurled to the floor. Through the carnage, the rabbi remained erect and untouched, his eyes flashing and a grim smile on his face. Slowly, the president lifted himself above what was left of the table. His hair was singed, his glasses were hanging from one ear, his clothing was in disarray.

Finally he said, "All right, eleven to two. But we still have the majority."

We all know that not everything that is done in the church is done to the glory of God.

But wouldn't it be great if we had a dream for this church that was big enough that we would have to depend on God to accomplish it? And wouldn't it be great if we searched our hearts and souls with prayer so that our dream would match God's dream? Wouldn't it be great if we yearned for the pure spiritual milk that will helps us to grow in our salvation - and which affects the whole around us?

George Barna, a church-growth specialist, asked a group of pastors how they believed Christ would rate their church if He were to return today. Fifty-three percent of those pastors said Christ would rate their church as having little or no positive impact on souls or society.

How sad. How very sad. Wouldn't it be great if we could see concrete evidence that our community is a better community and our town is a better town because this church is here?

Christ tells us we can see such evidence - if we dream great dreams and if those dreams are to God's glory and not our own.

What do we crave? What do we yearn for? What do we desire?

All prayer is answered my friends. Even the prayers that we ask strictly for ourselves and for our families.

Sometimes the answer is no - I have plans - trust me in this. Sometimes it is - no, not yet, the time is not right yet.

Other times it is yes - I thought you'd never ask. And still other times it is yes - and just wait to see what else I have in store for you.

What God does for the faithful - what God allows to happen to them - how God answers their prayer - always works for the good. That is true for each of us as individual believers as it is doubly true for us as the church - for us as the people who gather in God's name to worship and work together the works he calls us to work.

If we dream a dream for this church and if it is truly God's dream, then great things will happen and each of us can be part of it.

What is your dream? What do you desire the most? Is it pure spiritual milk that you may grow in your salvation and continue to know that God is good? Is it to do the works of God - even greater works than Christ did - that God's name may be glorified?

I started this message with the first words from today's reading from the First Letter of Peter. I would like to conclude with the last words from that reading - where Peter writes:

"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 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 have a purpose - and we have the tools that we need to accomplish that purpose, so much so that we can do even greater things than did Christ - should we desire to.

"You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." Why not put Christ to the test?

Blessed be God, day by day. Amen

Gal 6:2-3

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself" Gal 6:2-3

After his eventful day of murder and mayhem, Cain asked God if he was his brothers keeper. Some centuries later a popular musical hit of the 60's stated "He's not heavy. He's my brother." There is a lot of history in between those two events. The most significant moment in time between them was the life and death of Jesus Christ. It is he who brought about the change from "no" to "yes" (from the human standpoint) to the brother's keeper question. For He taught that we should bear one another's burdens. He said we should love our neighbors. When asked who our neighbor was, He replied "whoever is in need."

By bearing each other's burdens, we fulfill the "law of Christ." What law is that? Try this one on for size. "Love your neighbor as yourself." Or, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Can you imagine what our world would be like if we would only "bear one another's burden?" Who would sell drugs on that dark corner? Who would rape the first girl he saw? Who would commit murder? Who would rob or steal? Would you dare lie to a brother who's burden you were carrying? Would you cheat on your wife or husband? Of course not! You are to bear their burden, not make them heavier. Just in case you think you might be above this command, Paul tells us the man who thinks he is something when in actuality he is just a little, frail human like the rest of us, is deceived - not by Satan, but by his own thoughts. This means that none of us are so high and mighty that we can forget about our brother or sister in their need.

Truthfully, the person who has the most should be willing to help the most. Don't get me wrong. I do not advocate socialism in any way. What I do suggest is that we willingly share out of our bounty with those who are in want. This type of generosity cannot be legislated through taxes. Nor can it be commanded by "generosity police." It only comes through the firm belief hat Jesus is our Lord and Savior and that He alone gives us the love we need to be generous. Granted, there are those who have an innate goodness without Jesus, but they are the exception, not the rule. And even then, they are most likely to have a Christian background. Let's take the opportunity this week to develop a bit of generosity. Instead of looking down on the poor, let us help to lift them up. Instead of shunning the "ugly," let's find the "beauty" in them. Instead of hoarding our meager stuff, let's give it away! I can guarantee that there is no way you will ever out give God. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Ezek 3:27

"But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD." He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house" Ezek 3:27

Ezekiel had been having a wonderful conversation with God when the Lord told him to go to the plains to finish the discussion. When Ezekiel arrived there, he saw the glory of God as he had done earlier. Then God spoke - and Ezekiel's life would never be the same. Ezekiel was to return home (did he ever ask "why didn't you just tell me this when I was home?"). There he would be bound in iron. His mouth would be sealed shut. He would not utter a word - until the Lord entered his humble home, unsealed his lips and gave him words to speak! Then the process was reversed and Ezekiel would be silent again.

What a life! Many men would wish the Lord would so move upon their wives! (Carmel is not included in that statement) To top it all off, when he did speak, Ezekiel was told that the people would most likely not listen to what he said! Talk about waste of time.

But Ezekiel did as he was told, and God moved to save a nation. "So, Pastor Edwin, what does this say to us?" you ask. Several things are notable.

1) Ezekiel did whatever God told him to do - no matter how insane it sounded. We must learn to do the same. God wants nothing from us but our obedience. And that obedience must be learned. We must first learn to recognized God's voice. Then we must be able to discern what He is saying. Next, we must learn to trust Him. Only then can we offer complete obedience to the Father.

2) Ezekiel knew the power of the words he spoke did not come from within himself. He recognized the presence of God - from the fantastic vision of the wheel within a wheel, to the quiet presence of God in his home. It's one thing for us to know God in a Church service when His Spirit is pulsating with the music. It is quite another to know Him as he visits us in our prayer closets.

3) Ezekiel knew the victory that only God can give. And we can do the same when we learn to obey without question, without doubt, without hesitation. Hallelujah Amen and Amen.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Has Israel been rejected by GOD?

There is a doctrine today called "Replacement Theology" that states that the nation of Israel is no longer God's chosen people; that Israel has been replaced by the Christian Church. If this is true, how do you explain the miraculous re-birth of the nation of Israel after some 1,900 years—and it's survival against overwhelming odds?

As God's Word promised the nation of Israel: "I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine" (Amos 9:14 NLT). Israel has been back in their land as a nation since 1948 — the land promised to them by God.

Paul wrote in the New Testament, "I ask then, 'Did God reject his people [Israel]? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham ... God did not reject his people.... [for] God's gifts and his call are irrevocable'" (Romans 11:1-2; 29 NIV).

While the nation of Israel rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah, God has not done away with his chosen people. As God's Word also says, "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of Gentiles [non-Jews] has come in. And so all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:25-26, NIV).

A Warning: God also promised the nation of Israel: "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse..." (Genesis 12:3, NIV).

Let the U.S. and all nations awake as this is a warning to all who oppose God's chosen people, the Israelites — including some of America's leaders and citizens.

What About the Arab—Israeli Conflict?

1. Nationhood and Jerusalem: Israel became a nation in 1312 BC, two thousand (2,000) years before the rise of Islam.

2. Arab refugees in Israel began identifying themselves as part of a Palestinian people in 1967, two decades after the establishment of the modern State of Israel.

3. Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 BC, the Jews have had dominion over the land for one thousand (1,000) years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years.

4. The only Arab dominion since the conquest in 635 lasted no more than 22 years.

5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital. Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even when the Jordanians occupied Jerusalem, they never sought to make it their capital, and Arab leaders did not come to visit.

6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in Tanach, the Jewish Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem is not mentioned even once in the Koran.

7. King David founded the city of Jerusalem. Mohammed never even came to Jerusalem.

8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem. Muslims pray with their backs toward Jerusalem.

9. Arab and Jewish Refugees: in 1948 the Arab refugees were encouraged to leave Israel by Arab leaders promising to purge the land of Jews. Sixty-eight percent left (many in fear of retaliation by their own brethren, the Arabs), without ever seeing an Israeli soldier. The ones who stayed were afforded the same peace, civility, and citizenship rights as everyone else.

10. The Jewish refugees were forced to flee from Arab lands due to Arab brutality, persecution and pogroms.

11. The number of Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948 is estimated to be around 630,000. The number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands is estimated to be the same.

12. Arab refugees were INTENTIONALLY not absorbed or integrated into the Arab lands to which they fled, despite the vast Arab territory. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees since World War II, theirs is the only refugee group in the world that has never been absorbed or integrated into their own people's lands. Jewish refugees were completely absorbed into Israel, a country no larger than the state of New Jersey of the United States.

13. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: the Arabs are represented by eight separate nations, not including the Palestinians. There is only one Jewish nation. The Arab nations initiated all five wars and lost. Israel defended itself each time and won.

14. The PLO's Charter still calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. Israel has given the Palestinians most of the West Bank land, autonomy under the Palestinian Authority, and has supplied them.

15. Under Jordanian rule, Jewish holy sites were desecrated and the Jews were denied access to places of worship. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian sites have been preserved and made accessible to people of all faiths.

16. The UN Record on Israel and the Arabs: Of the 175 Security Council resolutions passed before 1990, 97 were directed against Israel.

17. Of the 690 General Assembly resolutions voted on before 1990, 429 were directed against Israel.

18. The UN was silent while 58 Jerusalem synagogues were destroyed by the Jordanians.

19. The UN was silent while the Jordanians systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives.

20. The UN was silent while the Jordanians enforced an apartheid-like policy of preventing Jews from visiting the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.1

Footnote: Reported having been written by a Christian professor. Submitted by Al Rowley.

Amos 5:5-6

"But do not seek Bethel, Nor enter Gilgal, Nor pass over to Beersheba; For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, And Bethel shall come to nothing. Seek the LORD and live, Lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And devour it, With no one to quench it in Bethel" Amos 5:5-6

So you've set out on the high road of the King. Things are rosy. The sun is shining. The view is breathtaking. The air is cool and clear. Life is good. That's the way it is the day after you receive Jesus as you Savior - or you rededicate yourself to serving Him with all your life - or revival has come to your heart. Life is good and you never want to go back to your old ways. Then, something happens. A storm cloud appears on the horizon. An old memory is stirred. A whiff of scent turns on the video of your past. A taste, a longing, a problem, whatever it is - it turns your mind back to the old ways.

Now you stand at a crossroads. Do you go back to the old ways, use the old methods to solve problems, do the old things that brought temporary relief. Or, do you draw closer to the God who redeemed you and set you free?

Israel is at the same crossroad in this Amos passage, so Amos tells them like it is. "Draw nearer to God," he says, "so that you may continue living." Then he adds, "If you don't, destruction like you have never seen will be your portion." That is about as plain as it can get. Sometimes we need to have a line drawn in the sand in order to help us make up our minds. God is asking "Are you with Me or are you against Me? There is no middle ground. No straddling the fence. No safety zone. No gray area. Only black and white. You either go my way or you go your way. Take your pick." Sounds tough. It is tough. I am struggling with it. I suspect you are struggling with it - and that is good. If we weren't struggling, we would have a 50/50 chance of being spiritually dead - or near perfection! I don't fit either classification. Do you? Amen and Amen.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

John 7:17

"If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God" John 7:17

In times of great desperation I memorized Proverbs 3: 5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." That passage gave me hope and strength to hang on.

It's funny how God works, he makes it so easy and we make it so hard. If I want intellectual enlightenment or gain scientific understanding, I search the books on a specific subject and allowing intellectual curiosity as my guide, I can do wonderful things. But if God worked the same method in our lives in order for us to gain an understanding of Him, we would all be seeking a degree in biblical studies, but God does not require that. Only those who could read and have access to books would be able to understand His ways.

Dear brothers and sisters the golden rule for spiritual understanding is not the intellect; it is obedience. You can gain wonderful knowledge from the scriptures, but until you are willing to obey what God is saying to you, you will miss out on the understanding. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Jeremiah 23:22

"But if they (The Prophets) had stood in My counsel, And had caused My people to hear My words, Then they would have turned them from their evil way And from the evil of their doings" Jeremiah 23:22

Every true prophet of God in the Old Testament was an evangelist. His ministry drew people back to God and His Word. The call to righteousness was the standard which separated the genuine prophet from the imitation, as the prophet Jeremiah wrote. If you come across someone who claims to be a prophet, but who is not involved in calling people to a righteous walk with God, you may be dealing with a counterfeit.

In the New Testament, the gift of prophecy has one primary purpose: to reveal unrighteousness and bring conviction. Paul wrote that, as a result of prophecy, "The secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you" 1 Corinthians 14:25

The Lord revealed through Jeremiah another criterion for distinguishing a true prophet from a false prophet: "I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, 'I had a dream, I had a dream!' . . . The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?" (23:25, 28). God is warning His people against prophets who value their dreams above His Word.

God is not saying that dreams are unimportant. Indeed, He often spoke to people in the Bible through dreams before the full revelation of Scripture was complete. But in comparison to the nutritious grain of His Word, dreams are mere straw. If you feed straw to cattle, they'll die. They will sleep on it, but they won't eat it because it has no nutrients. Similarly, dreams may be of some value, but they are never to be equated with God's Word as the basis for our faith or our walk. Amen and Amen.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Psalm 109:21

"But You, O GOD the Lord, Deal with me for Your name's sake; Because Your mercy is good, deliver me" Psalm 109:21

There are two ways for the Lord to deal with His children. They can ask. Or He can move sovereigntly.

If God has to move on His own to correct His children, it means that we are blatantly rebellious. We fail to see that we have done anything that needs correction. Or we know we have done wrong but choose not to do anything about it.

Saul was that type of person. He was bull headed. He was determined to go his own way. He knew what God wanted of him. He understood the instructions the prophet gave him. Still, he disobeyed - and he did it consistently. God attempted to correct Saul many times, usually by sending Samuel. Every time, Saul would refuse the Word of the Lord and continue in his own paths. In the end, God had no choice but to remove Saul.

That is hard. I suspect that some of us could give our own testimonies about how God has had to deal with us in a harsh manner.

On the other hand, when we freely say to the Father, "I have sinned. Please help me." Something totally different happens. David was that type of man. No, he wasn't perfect. He sinned a lot. He sinned big time. But when God called him to account for his actions, David responded with a soft heart. "I was wrong," was a frequent theme of David's life. But it went a little further. Not only did he say the words, but he followed up with "Lord help me." When he did that, God could apply a more gentle method of discipline. Why? Because David was prepared to change.

This is a much easier form of discipline to handle. And the key is our attitude. It is much easier to throw ourselves upon God's mercy than to insist that God inflict us with His judgment. Praise God, Amen and Amen.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Acts 2:41-47; I Peter 2:19-25 and John 10:1-10

Bless thou, the words of my lips and the meditations of our hearts that they be of profit to us and acceptable to thee, oh our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen

Today I want to talk to you about devotion - devotion to the teachings of the apostles, to the fellowship of the church, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

The first thing I want to tell you is this - that without devotion to these things our life as individuals - and our life as a church - cannot succeed.

It can't succeed because without devotion to those things God has given us, we end up adrift - we end up separated from our Lord - the shepherd of our souls, and swept away by the false teachings of our world. We loose the strength and the hope that we are supposed to have, and our joy, our health, and our strength, quickly dissipates. We become a people who are lifeless and unattractive and, unless we change our ways, unless, by the grace of God, we are once again found - we stumble and fall.

The father of all lies tries to tell us - that devotion, - that the dedication of ones time and energy to the teachings of the apostles, - and to the fellowship of the church, - and to the breaking of bread and to prayer, is not really all that important.

He tries to tell us that we can get by with an occasional prayer, and that it will not hurt all that much if we don't read and learn about the bible, and that a person doesn't really have to attend church or to take part in weekly communion, or to get involved in Christian groups to be a follower of Jesus the Christ.

This is a lie - and anyone who tells you otherwise is speaking to you with the voice of Satan.

The secret of every growing church, and the basis of every healthy spiritual life, is an overriding commitment to hearing the word of God and applying it to one's life.

It is a dedication to the health and prosperity - both spiritual and physical, of one's fellow believers, and the desire to invoke the presence of God within that community, and within one's own private prayer life.

I am sure many of you have seen the bumper sticker that says - the family that prays together, stays together -

We are the family of God - and unless we pray - together, - unless we study and seek the will of God in the word of God - together, - and unless we share good times and bad times - together, we will suffer the fate that comes upon those who stay apart, we will be alone; and ultimately we will loose our sense of direction; our sense of purpose; our faith.

And that is happening and has happened in churches throughout many parts of the world, especially in Europe and North America.

It is happening in those places where individual happiness is prized more than righteousness; where pursuing material success is held to be more important than spending time in community worship; where golf on Sunday or watching Football or taking the children to a ball game is deemed more important than building one's relationship with God; where watching the television or going shopping for the weekend is deemed to be more important than sharing with one's brothers and sisters the joys and the concerns that we have, and praying together and sharing together those things which have helped us in God's word.

I assume, that despite our parent's advice, that all of us have played with fire.

We have sat before a fire place or a camp fire, and watched the coals glowing red and hot. And all of us know - that if we take a single coal out of the centre of the fire and place it to one side - it soon turns dull grey, its bright heat becomes first lukewarm and then cold - while the rest of the fire continues to burn.

So it is with us.

Separate a person from the Christian community, take them away from the place in which the word is proclaimed, bread is broken, and prayers uttered, and soon the light of their faith grows dull, and the warmth within their souls begins to diminish.

Let no one lie to you!

You can't be a Christian, at least you can't be an effective Christian, a fully alive Christian, one who, as Jesus says in today's reading - has life and that abundantly, if you do not listen to the voice of the shepherd who calls you by name, or if you flee from the sheepfold that he would lead you to for your own safety.

How can you expect do what is right, how can you expect to experience the blessings of God, how can you hope to minister to one another the love of Christ and feel that love return to you 30, or 60 or 100 fold, if you do not turn to Christ and listen to his voice? If you do not enter the sheepfold with your brothers and sisters? If you do not pray together and work together and love each other with the love of Christ?

You can't! And the evidence of that is all around us. It is in the people we meet day by day who claim to believe in and love God - and yet have none of the signs of the abundant life that Christ promises to all who hear his voice and enter his sheepfold.

Devotion, Dedication, Commitment - this is the secret of success in all endeavours, and in all endeavours that devotion, that dedication, that commitment is focussed on specific things.

To experience life - and that abundantly - as Christ says we can, our focus must be on the teachings of the apostles, which are the teachings of our Lord, on the fellowship of the believers, on the breaking of bread - the invoking of Christ's presence in community, and on prayer.

The early church had this focus - and the results were tremendous.

As Luke tells us in today's reading:

"all who believed were together and had all things in common, they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread from house to house, and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God, and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day God added to their number those who were being saved."

Day by day, God added to their number.

From that first community - came the entire church - a church that survived the stoning of Stephen, the persecution of Paul, and the destruction of Jerusalem itself.

The early church survived and prospered, because the people within it committed themselves to one another and to the Lord who brought them together,

The early church grew and spread like a fire in dry grass because those who believed sought God' presence, and prayed for his will to be done in their midst, not just one day a week, but each and every day.

I wonder how many of us even pray each and every day, let alone seek out the fellowship of fellow believers and pray with them and eat with them on a regular and consistent basis?

I wonder how many of us read the scriptures each day? Or even think about what it is God has said in the past to us? Let alone seek to hear what it is he may be trying to say to us now - in the midst of our busy routines?

I am sure everyone here is familiar with the expression - "cool as a cucumber".

The expression "cool as a cucumber: refers to someone who is able to remain calm and collected in the heat of life's battles. The expression actually has its basis in scientific fact. A cucumber lying in the sun on a hot day is cooler on the inside than the outside. In fact the centre can be as much as ten degrees cooler that the outside. Even without a thermometer, the temperature can be easily detected by the touch.

But the difference in temperature between the inside and the outside can only exist as long as the cucumber is attached to the vine. Once the cucumber is severed, it loses its ability to "keep its cool."

Like the cucumber, we can only keep our cool in the midst of difficult circumstances, we can only thrive in the midst of an insane world, as long as we remain attached to the vine.

Our vine is the fellowship of fellow believers and its head - Jesus Christ. The sap which runs through it is the word of God and the power unleashed in listening to it and in breaking bread together and in praying together.

In the vine we have life.

Jesus said: "I am the vine, you are the branches. They who abide in me and I in them, bear much fruit, but apart from me you can do nothing."

Jesus also said - I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.

God has prepared a fold for us, He has made ready a safe haven for us, and appointed a faithful shepherd over us.

To enjoy that haven, we need to listen to voice of our shepherd, and together, in the company of our fellow believers, follow him.

When we follow him - he will lead us by the still waters, and to the green pastures, and he will keep us safe as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, his rod and his staff will comfort us.

And the opposite is also true.

When we fail to follow him, when we fail to listen to his voice and join ourselves with the rest of the flock the waters will not be stilled, we will experience terror in the valley of the shadow of death, and our cups will not overflow in the presence of our enemies.

We need, and all those who claim to believe in God need, to truly commit ourselves to our Lord and his teachings, and to one another as brothers and sisters in Him if we are to be as alive as was the church in Jerusalem after the day of Pentecost.

As we do this, as we pray and break bread together Christ our Lord will do the rest. He will make sure our souls are restored, He will set a table before us in the presence of our enemies and ensure that we dwell in the house of God forever,

He will do this, for he is the bread of life; and the good shepherd; the way and the door; the resurrection and the life, the one in whom God was pleased to fully dwell within, the one in whom God is even now fully revealed for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

Praise be unto our God, and to our Lord Jesus Christ - now and forevermore AMEN

Saturday, May 14, 2011

James 4:15

"Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that" James 4:15

The Apostle Paul was traveling from his last mission trip to Jerusalem. Two times he received prophecy that he would be bound in chains in Jerusalem. Two times people encouraged him to not go to Jerusalem. He went anyway. When He reached that holy city, he went to the holiest place of all - the Temple - where he fulfilled a vow he had previously made. Then he was arrested, bound in chains and cast into prison. Why? Why did Paul not listen to the prophets? Why did he not stop somewhere else until the prophets said it was OK to proceed. Why didn't he return to Galatia, or Corinth, or . . . anywhere but Jerusalem?

Paul had learned a lesson. The Lord told Him to go to Jerusalem - and so he would. The Lord told him he would go to Rome -- and so he did . . . from Jerusalem . . . in chains . . . with Rome picking up the travel expenses! But the prophets? Wasn't their word valid? Yes, they were right. Paul was bound in chains. But why didn't Paul stay away? Because God told him to go. You see, Paul's lesson was that he was in the hands of God. Whatever God wanted, Paul wanted. Whatever God said, Paul did. If God said, "Go to Jerusalem." To Jerusalem he went. If God said, "You will be bound in chains." That didn't bother Paul. It had happened before. It would probably happen again.

James says that we should not say "I will do this and that." (my own paraphrase.) Instead he says, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that." Note the difference . . . it's found in four little, single syllable words, "if the Lord wills . . ." If the Lord wills, I will become a chief executive officer. If the Lord wills, I will be a teacher. If the Lord wills, I will be healed. If the Lord wills, I will marry. If the Lord wills, I will . . . be bound in chains and cast into prison.

That was Paul's attitude. It should be ours. I fear that we think entirely too much of ourselves and our ability. How often to we presume to tell God how to run our lives - or the lives of others? What if His will is different? Is it any wonder that some of our prayers go unanswered? How can God answer our prayer if it is in direct opposition to His will? Why do we ever think that we know more than the God of the Universe - the God of Creation? When God speaks, we need to respond with the words of Jean Luke Piccard Captain of the USS Enterprise, "Make it so," Lord. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Psalm 119:105

"Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path" Psalm 119:105

The ancients knew about walking in the dark. That is why they developed foot lamps. These were small lamps that were tied onto the feet. They did not cast much light, but they did shed enough for the night walker to see where he was putting his next foot. I can almost imagine seeing little bits of light rising and falling with each foot fall on trails across the hills leading to a village - perhaps Bethlehem - in the middle of a dark night. It could be a bit humorous if you picture it just right.

This is the picture David had as he wrote today's verse - and one of my all time favorites. On a spiritual level, David says that the Word of the Lord is a lamp to his feet. It is that little bit of light that makes faith possible. Paul says that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The truths of the Bible are that bit of flame that fires up the faith.

As a believer, can you imagine life without faith? Perhaps you can if you remember your life before Jesus. Remember the darkness and the hopelessness? Then someone opened the Word of God to you and it was as though someone switched on a light. All of a sudden, you could see, not just the sin, but the solution to that sin. You could see Jesus. Perhaps even now you are groping in the dark. You seem to have lost your faith. The light has grown dim and you don't know where you are or how you got there. May I make a suggestion?

Open the Word. Anywhere. Just open it. Begin to read wherever you find your finger. Let God speak to you. If you persist, He will turn on the light again. Not only that, He will show you where you are and where you should be and how to get there. God has not for one moment abandoned you. He is there with you - He always has been. There is no place that you can set your feet that God will not follow you. He loves you so much that He will follow you to the gates of Hell in one last attempt to bring you back home to Himself. You don't see Him? He's there. If you pick up His Word, He will speak to you. Ever been in a dark room and someone struck a match? Quite bright wasn't it? That's how a single verse can be for you today. It will shed enough light for you to see where the light switch is. When you make your way to the Father, He will illuminate your entire being with floods of wonderful, bright, purifying light. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Rom 1:17

"For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith" Rom 1:17

Every once in a while the children in any neighborhood would get into a name calling contest. Eventually, someone would issue a really bad epithet. Not having a stronger reply, the recipient would reply, "It takes one to know one!" Usually the argument would continue for a while longer to be ended when someone stomped off vowing never to play with the other "ever again!"

It seems that we would often double a comment to add emphasis. Paul does the same thing in today's verse. "The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith." Similar to "it takes one to know one" only better. God can take a little bit of faith and increase it. Not only CAN He do it, He LONGS to do it. That is His greatest desire! "But where does that first bit of faith come from?"

Paul tells us in Ephesians that God gives us the first bit of faith - its His gift to us. (For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. [Eph 2:8 KJV]) You see, God does not want any of us to miss out on His glorious grace. He also is not willing for any of us to say we "earned" our way into Heaven. That's impossible. It just can't be done. When it comes to our salvation - our redemption - our adoption into God's family, we are totally dependent upon the Father to do it. Oh, we may try. But have any of us ever succeeded? No. We have all failed.

So, when all is said and done, we really do live by faith - not by our senses. And that faith is so unobtainable that we can only receive it by God planting it in our hearts. The next time you are tempted to say "I feel that . . .," STOP and think about what Pastor Edwin been saying and remember. We are a faith people. We know God well enough that we can recognize His voice as He speaks to our spirits. And, hearing God's voice, we act believing that God will direct our paths. Amen and Amen.

2 Pet 3:10

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up" 2 Pet 3:10

What did you do today? Was it important? How important? No matter what your answer, I have one other question. Did it have eternal significance? All that we do will be tested by the fire Peter talks about. The houses we built, the lessons we learned, the cars we bought, the jobs we performed - all of it. I can guarantee you that any of them that are on the earth in the day of the cataclysm that Peter talks about will be lost.

What then can be saved? The things that are stored up in heaven - those and those alone will be saved. Those alone will be found worthy of keeping. Those alone will have sufficient value to last an eternity. What are they? The lives changed because we sent a missionary some needed funds - or more importantly - prayer at just the right time. The soul that will not be lost because you smiled and befriended a stranger - with the ultimate end that they came to the Lord. The child saved from the abortionist's table. The time spent in service of the King - even though it may have been cleaning toilets in a nursing home. These and many more are the treasures laid up in heaven.

As you proceed through tomorrow doing the things you do, ask yourself one question. What am I doing that has eternal value - what treasure am I laying up in heaven today? Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Luke 9:13

"But He said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people." Luke 9:13

"You give them something to eat!" What was Jesus thinking? He was the one with the power. He was the one who claimed to have been there at creation. How could 12 men possibly do anything with this crowd?

"You give them something to eat!" What did He mean? Give them something to eat? What? A quick search revealed five small loaves of bread - personal size - more like biscuits really. Oh, there were the fish. Two little dried fish. A feast for a little boy. An insult to a multitude like this.

"You give them something to eat!" Something? Oh, we'll give them something. Let's send them all home. Sure, some of them may faint from hunger, but that's their fault. Coming into the wilderness with no food! How ridiculous! I don't suppose they have any water either. Let them drink from the lake. We have nothing to give. What we do have is a little boy's lunch. At least his mother was thinking! Go ahead, Jesus. Send them away. "You give them something to eat!" Do you think you can do any better, Jesus? Go ahead. Give it a try. What's that? Tell them to sit down in small groups. OK. You're the boss. You say you want the bread? Are you going to eat it in front of them? How tacky! Get some baskets? Yeah, sure. Oh there they are. Yes, we have 12 of them. So what?

"You give them something to eat!" Oh. Sure, we must pray before this meal! Let's all bow our heads and enjoy our crumb! . . . . . . . . . . .
.
Wow! John, did you see that? He broke a chunk off that loaf and . . . . and . . . . and it's still whole! And the chunk is a whole loaf too! Amazing! What's that? Oh, pass the baskets around to all the crowd? Sure.

"You give them something to eat!" Hey! Can you do that with the fish, too? You can? WOW!!!!! Look at that would you! He can. I told you he could, James. Thomas, why did you ever doubt? I knew He could do it! Yeah, I really did. Don't you remember me telling you He could? You don't? Well I did. . . . . . sorta. . . . . . .well in my mind I did. . . . . . . . OK! It surprised me too!

"You give them something to eat!" What do you have in your hand? Give it to Jesus. He can take it - no matter how small or how insignificant or how humble - and make it feed your multitudes. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Isaiah 25:5

"You will reduce the noise of aliens, As heat in a dry place; As heat in the shadow of a cloud, The song of the terrible ones will be diminished." Isaiah 25:5

An interesting thing about God being in control - He not only takes care of the good guys, he takes care of the bad ones as well. I don't know anything that will take the fight out of a man faster than a hot, hot, hot dry day. It's just impossible to continue a fight past noon. Why do you think the people of Latin countries takes a siesta after the noon meal? It's just too hot to work.

It would be good of us to consider the fate of our enemies. It would also be wise of us to show compassion to them rather than smug contempt. If something really bad comes our way - like a big bite out of a rotten apple - we say "I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy!" Yet, we in all seriousness tend to wish God's wrath upon those who oppose us. Do you really want God to destroy a person simply because he chooses to contend with us? - Or God? Do you think God wants to destroy them?

2 Peter 2:3 tells us that God is not willing that any man, woman or child should perish. There are NO exceptions to "any." He doesn't say "my friends" or "those who agree with our political position" or "those who have the same physical characteristics that I do." No, God is patient with them just as He is patient with us,no matter how wicked or evil the person might be. We need to follow His example. After all, He does encourage us to "bless our enemies, bless and curse not." (Rom. 12:14) Amen and Amen.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Acts 2:14a,36-41 and Luke 24:13-35

Bless thou O Lord, the words of my lips and the meditations of our hearts that they be of profit to us and acceptable to thee, oh our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen

The tradition to which we belong, the Protestant tradition begun by Martin Luther believes most strongly that we meet God - that we meet Christ - in the word of scripture - in study - and in prayer.

The scripture reading that I read today speaks about these things.

It is the story of how two men, on Easter Sunday, set out on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus - a distance of about seven miles - were met by a stranger going along the same road - and began to speak to him about all that had occurred in the Holy City during the previous week.

This man - this stranger - responded to their grief, their dejection - their shock and horror - regarding what had happened - how Jesus, a good man, a prophet, a man powerful before God and all the people - had been crucified and buried - and how his body had disappeared from the tomb - by taking them on a journey through the law and the prophets.

In that journey he showed them how the scriptures foretold all that Jesus did, and all that he suffered, even how he would die - and what purpose it served.

The scriptures are an amazing thing -

Moses and David
Isaiah and Malachi
Jeremiah and Ruth

all speak of God's anointed one - of God's suffering servant - they speak too of God's purpose and plan for the world, how the world began - and how it will end.

The scriptures are a way to come to know God, to come to know Christ, and it was through them, one night many years ago now - as I was reading the gospel of Luke that I first invited him to be my Lord and my Saviour.

I met Christ through the scriptures. I came to know him by what they said about him, and wanted for myself, the forgiveness and the joy of which he spoke, the strength and the hope which he offered, the wholeness and the salvation for which he came, - and for which he died and rose again.

The stranger who walked with the two men on the road to Emmaus spoke of these things.

He taught them about the mind of God, and the purpose of God, and how Jesus fit in with it all.

In the record of that encounter we are told that their hearts burned within them as this stranger talked to them about these things, as he "opened the Scriptures to them"

Our tradition teaches us that the reading of scripture, and the study of scripture, and the proclamation of the message of the scriptures is the primary way in which we meet God, the primary way in which we meet Christ.

Prayer is equally important however.

While we get to know Christ, while we meet him, through the Word of God, we commune with him, we conduct our relationship with him through prayer.

I can't number the times that prayer to the God who I have met through the scriptures has warmed my heart, calmed my fears, and given me a basic assurance about the future. In prayer I felt God's Spirit touch me - in prayer I have heard him tell me what I should do - and what I should not do - in prayer I felt his forgiveness and experienced a joy that words cannot express.

There are hundreds of prayers in the Bible.

For every mood, for every need, for every feeling that we experience we can find a matching mood, a matching need, a matching feeling described in the Holy Book.

In the Psalms - and in the prophet Isaiah, and in many other places I have found my prayers to God echoed by those who have gone before me - indeed often I have found the words that I want to pray there...

Lord - you are my rock and my refuge, be swift to help me. You have assigned me my portion and my cup, you have made my lot secure and so I praise you. Because you are a mighty hand I will not be shaken, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil..

Lord, lead me not into temptation but deliver me from the time evil.
Forgive me - have mercy upon me - for I have done what is wrong in your sight, my sin is ever before - have compassion according the abundance of your steadfast love.

Father, I will praise you in the morning, and in the watches of the night. I will exalt you, my God and my King, You are gracious and merciful slow to anger and rich in love. I thank you.

Prayer is so precious - in it - the God we meet, the Christ we meet - becomes ever more real to us, his presence ever more immediate.

Scripture, study, and prayer are ways in which we meet God and get to know him better, ways in which we meet Christ and come ever closer to him.

Without them we have very little, Without them we cannot expect to know God, to encounter God, to commune with God.

But the story of the two disciples who walked on the road to Emmaus that first Easter Day tells us something more about how to get to know Christ - something more about how we might recognize him - how we might encounter him.

It speaks to us of how Christ walks with us on our journey - and how, in the breaking of bread he comes to be known to us.

In the Middle East at the time of Jesus, and even to this day, to eat a meal with someone - to have a person into your house and to sit at table with them, is the greatest compliment - the greatest kindness that one can show.

It is an act of profound intimacy - an act of trust - of honour - of friendship.

It was in that act - and specifically in the breaking of bread and in the prayer of thanks given over that bread that the two men, - whose minds were clouded by anxiety and grief as they walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus had their eyes opened, that they recognized that the stranger who was with them, - the stranger who they had invited into their home was the risen Christ, and having recognized Christ, they are filled with joy and excitement and return to Jerusalem to give witness to the disciples, and to bring them the assurance that they needed.

The Church has long taught us that we come to know God, that we come to recognize God in the literal act of breaking bread and giving thanks.

That we recognize God, and that we commune with God, that we fellowship with God, in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

I believe that is true - but I also believe that more is meant here in the story of the Road to Emmaus

I believe that this story is telling us that we too come to recognize Christ, that we commune with Christ whenever we gather together, whenever we meet with and share with another person our joy and our grief and offer prayer over the bread we break together or the cup that we lift up and share with each other

Jesus said - that where two or three gather in his name there he would be.

When we gather in moments of intimacy. When we share the greatest gifts that we can share with one another: our homes - our tables - our bread and wine - our inner sanctums - Christ comes among us.

I have had great moments in reading scripture. I have had great moments in prayer, moments in which I have been very much aware of the presence of God, very much aware of his plan and his purpose for me, very much aware of the closeness that he has to me - the love he has for me.

But I have had some of my most profound moments of contact, most profound moments of recognition in the breaking of bread with strangers and with brothers and sisters in the faith; in sharing my innermost hopes and fears, my griefs and my joys with men and women who were willing to walk with me for a time and talk with me for a time and to share with me the few things that I could offer them.

we get to meet Christ, we get to know him better, we recognize him - and experience his healing presence, his challenging presence, his assuring presence in those brothers and sisters who are around us - whether they be strangers - or they be friends - as we share what is important with them, as we honour them with our hospitality, our trust, our hearts.

The bible - and the church - calls this meeting - this sharing - this hospitality - this trust which we extend to friends and to strangers alike - communion.

If you would meet God - if you would encounter Christ and recognize him in that encounter, read the scriptures and study them, listen to them being proclaimed where the saints gather - at Church, and in Bible classes, and pray over them with others - and at home alone by your bedside

And reach out to others. Open your homes and your hearts to others as did the men who travelled the road to Emmaus.

By doing so you may well be entertaining angels unaware.
By doing so you may well encounter the Risen Christ,

Where two or three are gathered in his name -- he is there.

Blessed be His Name day by day. Amen.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Psalm 69:30

"I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving" Psalm 69:30

Pastor Edwin's irrefutable law number 121: If you blow air into a balloon, it will get bigger. That seems logical - and true. No one ever inflates a balloon just to make it smaller. Of course some balloon sadists inflate them just to see them burst, but that's beside the point.

Just like a balloon, something happens in the spiritual when we praise God with thanksgiving - He gets bigger! No, not physically - and how can the God of the universe get any bigger anyway? After all, He did create everything. But God does get magnified - in our hearts. You see, God doesn't need to get bigger for His benefit. But we need Him to be enlarged in us.

When we first become a believer, our God seems very large - we ask, He provides. It makes no difference whether it is a store front parking spot or a new house or lost souls. He seems to be able to pull them all out of the box. But sooner or later, we become more experienced in our faith and realize that God is too busy for all of our little requests. In essence, He becomes smaller to us. It may be because He finally said "no" to a request or two. Or it may be because we quit asking. Whatever the reason, we put God in a box - a very small box of our own making.

But we are never satisfied with a small God. We always remember the past with fondness. We frequently long for it to happen, but it never does. Why? Because we keep God in His box. He doesn't want to be there. We don't want Him there. But we never open the lid.

Eventually, we learn that praise and thanksgiving are good things to do. We begin to earnestly thank God for His goodness. Then, lo and behold, something happens. The door to the God box we made is opened a crack and God oozes out (not that God is gooey). That seems fine to us. We begin to see prayers answered. The more we see answers, the more we rejoice with thanksgiving. The more we rejoice with thanksgiving, the more God does for us and with us. He gets magnified in our eyes - in our lives - in the lives of those around us. Soon we find that God is bigger than any box we could build. We discover that He can do far more than the self-centered requests of our spiritual childhood.

We find that He is the almighty one. There is nothing too great for Him. He is the all powerful. Nothing can stand in His way. He is the King of kings. All powers have to - no absolutely must - bow before Him. See how God is magnified through our praise and thanksgiving? Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

James 1:2-3

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" James 1:2-3

Today this world is desperately attempting to redefine anything that would convict it of sin. Sin has become a very "relative" term. The world is attempting to say, "What is sin to you may or may not be sin to me. Everything is relative. " Whether you realize it or not, this philosophy is being taught in all of our schools. All students today, understand this principal. Simply said, There are NO absolutes." Implied meaning, "There is NO God." Scripture tells us to, "Stay away from those that call good evil and evil good." That is a difficult task, especially when our children are required to attend schools and receive an education by the state.

Even the churches today will accept sinful behavior in favor of Political Correctness. Oh we cannot take a stand on that issue or lifestyle, such as homosexuality, we might be called too "Radically-Right." We must adapt and fit in and be socially acceptable.

Martin Luther once said, "If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God expect precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady in all the battle front besides is but flight and disgrace if you flinch at this point."

Five hundred years later, Martin Luther King Jr. said, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Where do you stand?? Amen and Amen.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Psalm 96:1-3

"Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples" Psalm 96:1-3

How do you know a person is happy - really happy? Music! They will be humming, singing, dancing, whistling. Music is the language of happiness. God wants us to be happy in Him. He wants us to sing to Him. Before you shout "I can't sing!", note that singing in some areas of the Psalms includes "make a joyful noise." Now that is something all of us can do!

Did you know that singing can be an evangelistic tool? Yes, haven't you ever had anyone respond to your "joyful noises" with "why are you so happy?" Respond with (and you can sing if you want):

"I'm so happy and here's the reason why, Jesus took my burdens all away! Now I'm singing as the days go by, Jesus took my burdens all away.

Once my soul was burdened by a load of sin, Jesus took my sin and gave me wonderful peace within! Now I'm singing as the days go by. Jesus took my burdens all away!"

That's a pretty good testimony, if you ask me. Guaranteed to bring a smile - and a few more questions - or a few "I knew he was crazy" stares, but the answer is true and the seeds are planted. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Ruth 4:14

"Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel" Ruth 4:14

Naomi had had a rough life. Her husband lead her from their home into a foreign country because of severe drought. Her two sons married heathen women. Her husband died in that strange place. Then her sons followed their father into the grave. Naomi was a sad, bitter woman (by her own admission. "Don't call me Naomi, call me Marah - for I am bitter.") There was nothing left for her to do but return home.

Calling her two daughters-in-law, she set them free from their family obligations. They did not have to follow her. They did not have to care for her. She was going back to the only place she knew that offered any comfort. Perhaps she could persuade one of her distant relatives to take her in.

Of course we know that Ruth followed her, found Boaz, married him and all lived happily ever after. (No, this is not a fairy tale. It's really true.) We also know that Ruth and Boaz are in the direct linage of David and ultimately Jesus, the Messiah.

Now to you and me. God took care of Naomi's need. And He will take care of ours. Not only will he meet our needs, His greatest desire is to bless us. God didn't have to provide Naomi with a grandchild. She could have lived in her old home and gleaned in the fields until she died an early death. Ruth could have found some scoundrel of a man in the fields of a villainous man, married him and been beaten and abused. Or she could have met a poor man with an acre farm and lived a happy, but poverty ridden life.

But God had other plans. He wanted to bless Naomi and Ruth. He gave them the best. And He wants to give you the best. He really does. But as Naomi had to be obedient to the call of God to return to Israel, so must we be willing to obey the call of God upon our lives. We must be ready to give up some of the busy work that we take upon ourselves. We need to be obedient when He tells us to move in a certain direction. And when we do, His blessings follow. Not because of our obedience, but because our obedience draws us nearer to Him. Amen and Amen.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Psalm 115:11

"You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield" Psalm 115:11

Some time ago I read an article about some mission organization directing their workers to refrain from using certain terminology. They were asked to refer to a group of meetings as something other than a "campaign." unfortunately my memory fails me on other details of the article, but the effect was to remove all militaristic terms from the Christian vernacular in Midwestern and third world nations.

On the outside this looks to be a simple enough and maybe even reasonable request. Instead of an evangelistic campaign, it is possible to hold a "crusade." Oops! That one is not allowed either. Well let's see. We could call it a series of evangelistic meetings. On the other hand, "evangelistic" might be taken wrong by some. We certainly don't want to offend non-believers by letting them think that we want to change them. So "evangelistic" is out. "Crusade" is out. "Campaign" is out.

Come to think about it, this dictate rather "gutted out" the whole drift of the great commission. It even takes a lot of the Old Testament out of play too. Look at today's verse. God is our "shield." That is a military term. Today we might refer to Him as our "armored personnel carrier" or our "bullet proof vest." Of course this is all defensive - and that is not too offensive to those who wish to keep Christians on the defense! The problem is that a shield was used to get a man into position to go on the offense. It's purpose was to make him impregnable to the blows of an enemy while getting him close enough to strike a knockout punch himself.

So God is our shield? I like that. He is our protection, our help. He is also getting us into the battle! And that is offensive to many people who are antagonistic toward our Lord.

I say, if the shoe fits, wear it. Christians are supposed to be offensive. We are to "BOLDLY go into all the world." That's aggressive. We are to "PREACH the Gospel." That is striking the enemy with decisive blows with the "SWORD of the Spirit." Then we are to "make disciples." That means we take captives. We DEFEAT the enemy, take their people captive, and - horror of horrors - TRAIN them to be slaves of Jesus Christ!

So, I guess I am on a "CAMPAIGN" to get people to "CRUSADE" for righteousness in order that we might "WIN the war" that God has set us to "FIGHT." If that OFFENDS the rest of the world, so be it. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Acts 2:14a,22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31

O Lord, we pray, speak in this place, in the calming of our minds and in the longing of our hearts, by the words of my lips and in the thoughts that we form. Speak, O Lord, for your servants listen. Amen.

How different this day seems to be from Last Sunday. One week ago we sparkled and smiled - we sang and we soared as we took part in the Great Festival of our Faith - Easter Sunday and our Celebration of the Resurrection.

But today - today seems to be just another Sunday.

Gone too are the secular aspects of Easter

- the chocolate bunnies have been consumed

- the gaily coloured eggs which were hidden have been found and eaten

- the jelly beans have been mashed into the carpet and removed, and our children were just as much trouble to rouse from bed today as they ever have been on those days which are not special.

Gone too is the contrast between the sombre sanctuary on Good Friday with the black drapes and low lighting and the beautifully arrayed communion table of Easter Day. Gone is the aroma of lilies - and our choir, which swells so much for Easter - well it seems to be entirely on holiday.

Indeed, I suspect that most of us feel as though we are right back where we were before Easter - fighting familiar frustrations and bearing well known burdens, as if Easter had never occurred.

That is precisely why we need to grasp the message of this the Second Sunday of Easter, the message concerning how the Risen Christ gave new life to the disciples, how he gave them the Holy Spirit and energized them and gave them confidence, how he made them into people who were filled with both peace and power.

I think it is important for us to understand just what the disciples were like after the first Easter Sunday.

The vast majority of Churches around the world today, and every Sunday following Easter every year, read the same text, the same scripture, the same story, that we heard this morning: the story of how Jesus appeared to his disciples in the Upper Room.

We all know that the first generation Christians did not hesitate to preach the good news of Christ's resurrection. They knew what they had seen, and they knew God had sent them to tell others what he had done in Christ - and they did so - with verve, and conviction, and courage - so much so that they converted thousands of people to the new faith.

But it was not always that way.

At first the disciples were scared, they were afraid, and insofar as they met together, they met behind closed doors - behind doors that were locked, so the scriptures tell us, because they feared the authorities; because they were afraid that what had happened to Jesus might happen to them.

They knew already that Jesus was risen - the women had told them about the empty tomb, and about encountering Jesus in the garden, and they had, over the previous years, witnessed many great miracles performed by Jesus.

Peter had himself managed to walk on water with the help of Jesus, - and everyone of the 12 faithful followers had brought healing to the sick in his name, - each one had commanded demons to come forth from the possessed, - and many more had eaten of the bread that seemed to never end, the bread and the fish brought to Jesus by a small boy to help feed a crowd of thousands.

The disciples had witnessed much and taken part in much and been commanded by Jesus to do much.

But after Good Friday - and indeed even after Easter Sunday they were powerless people.

They could not make themselves do what the Lord had commanded.

Their frail faith could not be made formidable simply by declaring, "We have seen the Lord". They could not be made strong by another requirement from the Redeemer. They could not be made dedicated through demands.

Certainly Jesus knew that. So he did something else.

When he appeared to them he not only blessed them, saying "Peace be with you". He not only told them "As the Father has sent me, so I send you". He breathed on them - he said "Receive the Holy Spirit". And by his presence - by his command - by the breath of live in him, he gave the breath of life to them.

As one commentator puts it - he gave power to the powerless

You and I often share the feeling of hopelessness of those persons who huddled in the upper room till the Spirit came to them.

We, too, are often shattered by the strain of battle, the strain of living, the strain of trying to make sense of out things, the strain of trying to do what is right -but of not being sure of just how to do it, where to do it, and when to do it.

Like the first disciples before the Spirit came we are often fearful, and in our fear we cling together, spiritually hiding ourselves away behind closed doors, behind locked doors as it were, so that what little energy, what few resources, what slender hope we have left might be kept safe.

We regard the church as important - and its mission as important - but we have no energy - no life - we feel worn down.

We are fearful because the whole matter of God, and of heaven, and of resurrection and re-birth just seems a little too much to believe in in a world of multi-culturalism, mass communication, and myth debunking science.

We are fearful because of our declining numbers, our empty Sunday School class rooms, and our drained bank accounts.

We are fearful because we know that the world scorns us - and because we realize that as we are get older each day, the world itself is getting ever more hostile, ever more unfriendly.

And in fear - we come to believe that no program, no promise, no plan, no powerful preaching, no perky youth ministry, no parking lot, no persistence, can possibly save us..

And we are right in this belief.

When all is sad and done we are no different than the first disciples. We have absolutely nothing going for us that the world does not have going for it - perhaps in fact less - except, that is, for one thing - The Risen Christ and the Spirit he gives us.

And that is the point of today's story from the gospel of John.

In the final analysis, it is a story of how the risen Christ pushed open the bolted door of a church with absolutely nothing, of how the risen Christ enters the fearful chambers of every church, of every believer, and fills the place with his own life.

What we are asked to recognize - what I want you to realize, is that every church is this way!

No matter what a church says about itself in the Saturday newspaper or Sunday bulletin, if it is left to its own devices, if it draws only upon its own resources, it is nothing.

Apart from the Risen Christ the church is an empty place. Apart from the Spirit that Jesus breaths upon us we are hollow vessels - with nothing to offer - nothing of significance to share, no different in the end than any social agency or service club.

Indeed the ceaseless and frenetic activity of many congregations with programs ranging from "Mother's Morning Out" to "Fitness for Faith" is often the lonely attempt of a group of scared and hopeless people, to fill in the void where God, "the most missed of all missing persons" should be.

The answer my friends is not in better programs, plans, promises, or projects (though all of these have their purpose and their place in the church) it is in the person of Christ Jesus - and in the gift he brings us even when we are hiding behind locked doors out of fear.

The fundamental reality of our faith lies not in what we believe, - it rests not in our acceptance of dogma and creed - or even in thinking that resurrection happened and that miracles can still occur.

The reality of faith - the significance of our faith lies not in these things, nor in our belief, but in who we believe in.

The power that transformed the first disciples from fearful people into men and women who were unafraid to speak to crowds of thousands, - unafraid to testify before the very authorities who crucified their Lord, - willing to travel vast distances and endure stoning, imprisonment, and poverty - and able to convince men, women and children that something important hinged on their acceptance of their message concerning the person of Jesus Christ, was not the power that is unleashed by their being reflective - by their writing down their dreams in a journal - or even by their praying a lot, it was the power granted by the one in whom we believe - the power that he gave to them in their locked room when he breathed the Holy Spirit upon them - and then again poured out that Spirit upon all believers on the day of Pentecost.

For thousands of years, my friends, there have been many men and women and children who have huddled together out of fear. - They have seen their hopes and their dreams in this world turn to ashes. - They have believed in God and in bitterness and in grief gazed upon what seems to be his death. - They have locked the doors to their hearts, afraid of experiencing one more pain, one more disappointment. - They have all but given up hope.

And for two thousand years their have been men and women and children in this situation who have experienced what the first disciples experienced.

As they have assembled to worship, as they have sought the face of God, as they have striven to understand what it is that God is about, they have experienced Christ suddenly standing among them, they have heard his word - peace be with you, and felt his breath touch them and fill them, and they have gone out and - with nothing else but this experience, this encounter in the deep and silent place within their hearts, transformed their homes, their communities, and indeed their world.

All of us - if we have an ounce of conscience long for something more than what we see now around us - within the church and within the world.

The renewals that have happened and which most surely will happen again, happen not because of us and our inner strength and purpose, they happen because of God - and his love; they happen because Jesus is alive, because he has been able to burst out of the sealed tomb and to enter into locked rooms and fill hearts that need him.

The good feelings of Easter Sunday may be seven days in the past, the afflictions of daily life may have returned full force, but the reality of Easter - the Risen Christ - is still with us.

He has not forsaken us.

Trust him. Give thanks to him - knowing that as he has risen to new life so he is here to bring new life to us all.

He is here - and he will bring that life - even though there be locked doors in his way.

Blessed be God, day by day. Amen.