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Have you ever been angry with someone? Of course you have, as have I. Have you ever had a “pretend” argument with them? You know the kind I am talking about, where you may be driving somewhere but this person is on your mind and you find yourself arguing with them in your imagination. I am sure in some ways it can be of psychological benefit to process the situation; however, it usually just adds to the pile of unresolved dirty laundry within the hallways of our mind. Unresolved anger leads to bitterness, which left untreated is profoundly destructive to our entire well-being.
From Genesis to Revelation, we have the picture of God asserting the incredible importance of human relationships. First and foremost, on humanity’s relationship with God, but it does not end there. It was not "good" for Adam to be alone, so God created Eve. Following the Fall, we see almost immediately the Adversary seeking to break down the bond of loving, healthy relationship. Adam not only blamed Eve, but also blamed God for giving Eve to him! Their children were stricken with jealousy, bitterness, and simmering rage that ended up in one son, Cain, murdering his brother, Abel. Throughout the Scriptures, we have special emphasis placed upon various human interactions: Spousal relationships; Parent/Child relationships; Friendships; Young people and their Elders; relationships with “outsiders”; and of course, the Body of Christ with itself. Some relationships are good, some are bad. Because we are fallen creatures, none are perfect, and all we require forgiveness and reconciliation at one time or another. Furthermore, beginning in the Garden and culminating in the Throne Room of Heaven, the Word of God portrays the story of a Creator who is actively seeking to restore His Creation back to Himself. He is intelligently, subtly, and sometimes dramatically, pursuing humanity one soul at a time and seeking to restore the perfection of a healthy relationship. First, between Himself and individual souls, and then within the Human Family itself. Therefore, isn’t it the logical path of the Gospel, that the Lord God should give to Christ, and by extension, His Body, this precious MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION… 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV - All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Have you ever been angry with someone? Of course you have, as have I. Have you ever had a “pretend” argument with them? You know the kind I am talking about, where you may be driving somewhere but this person is on your mind and you find yourself arguing with them in your imagination. I am sure in some ways it can be of psychological benefit to process the situation; however, it usually just adds to the pile of unresolved dirty laundry within the hallways of our mind. Unresolved anger leads to bitterness, which left untreated is profoundly destructive to our entire well-being.
From Genesis to Revelation, we have the picture of God asserting the incredible importance of human relationships. First and foremost, on humanity’s relationship with God, but it does not end there. It was not "good" for Adam to be alone, so God created Eve. Following the Fall, we see almost immediately the Adversary seeking to break down the bond of loving, healthy relationship. Adam not only blamed Eve, but also blamed God for giving Eve to him! Their children were stricken with jealousy, bitterness, and simmering rage that ended up in one son, Cain, murdering his brother, Abel. Throughout the Scriptures, we have special emphasis placed upon various human interactions: Spousal relationships; Parent/Child relationships; Friendships; Young people and their Elders; relationships with “outsiders”; and of course, the Body of Christ with itself. Some relationships are good, some are bad. Because we are fallen creatures, none are perfect, and all we require forgiveness and reconciliation at one time or another. Furthermore, beginning in the Garden and culminating in the Throne Room of Heaven, the Word of God portrays the story of a Creator who is actively seeking to restore His Creation back to Himself. He is intelligently, subtly, and sometimes dramatically, pursuing humanity one soul at a time and seeking to restore the perfection of a healthy relationship. First, between Himself and individual souls, and then within the Human Family itself. Therefore, isn’t it the logical path of the Gospel, that the Lord God should give to Christ, and by extension, His Body, this precious MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION… 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV - All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Since our Heavenly Father is “the God of peace” (Hebrews 13:20) and our Lord Jesus Christ is the “Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6); it stands to reason that as His Children we should be PEACEMAKERS.
Matthew 5:9 NIV78 - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Jesus said that the world would know we are the adopted sons of God not by our prayer life, our mission programs, the size of our congregations, or our scholarly ability to understand His Word, but by living our lives as His peacemakers. 1 Peter 3:8-9 NIV - Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 2 Timothy 2:24 NLT - The Lord’s servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people. Therefore, isn’t it the logical path of the Gospel, that the Lord God should give to Christ, and by extension, His Body, the precious MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION… 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV - All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. There is a difference between being peaceful and being a peacemaker. Peacemakers do not sit on their hands; on the contrary, they are often in the middle of the conflict, seeking to reconcile others, and sometimes being victims of collateral damage. Peacemakers are often risk takers, willing to enter the fray with an expanded heart. For The Gospel is a Gospel of PEACE… Romans 10:15 NKJV - And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” The RISEN Jesus, the Eternal Voice who spoke the Universe into existence, and sustains it by His Mighty Word is the same Jesus who is even right now preparing Heaven for you and I…
John 14:1-2 NKJV - “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” This RISEN JESUS can bring PEACE to every moment of your day. No matter what may come your way, YOUR LIFE IS IN HIS HAND! 1 Peter 5:7 AMP - Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Isaiah 9:6 NKJV - For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. As we then live and walk in PEACE, because we are under the authority of the PRINCE OF PEACE, the naturally supernatural outflow of Grace will be (and must be) Peace. It is who we are supposed to be! Unfortunately, we are now living in an Age in which a false spirit of Division and Violence has been unleashed. We must walk in the Ministry of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and become the PEACEMAKERS of our Age who Minister in the OPPOSITE spirit of our times. Matthew 5:9 NIV - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. One of the most important blessings and steps along the Christian Journey is that of a PEACEMAKER. We are called to bring the King’s Peace to the world. This is much more than NO WAR or HOSTILITIES. The King’s PEACE IS THE ELIMINATION OF THE CONDITIONS THAT MAKE WAR POSSIBLE. PEACE is more than a state of CALM TRANQUILITY, for that can be induced for a brief period of time by false assertions, medications, or even lies. NO, the King’s PEACE is a STATE OF TRANQUILITY born out of GOD’S RIGHTEOUS ORDER and WHOLENESS being manifested in our lives and that of our families, society, and the nations. As we begin the Year of Our Lord 2017, I want to remind you of the Progression the Lord has been sharing with us through His Word and by His Spirit.
In 2014, our theme was…
In 2015…
Last year, 2016…
Now, as we begin 2017, and will continue last year’s theme of ministering with The Lord Jesus Christ, I invite you to consider our vital need for the “Breath of Heaven” to breathe upon all of our ministry endeavors…
As we have stated on many occasions, following Christ does not require a suspension of rational thought or reasoned consideration. In fact, I believe that the same God who gave us the ability to utilize reason and logic expects us to use these abilities for His glory and the enrichment of the ministry. With that said, however, please remember that just as our Faith began with a miracle, so it continues by the supernatural outflow of the Almighty God. Ultimately, He must do His work and it is a supernatural endeavor that we must not only recognize, but also embrace. 1 Corinthians 2:2-5 NIV - For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. Therefore,
Romans 1:16 NKJV - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. We have no love without His Love. We have no Anointing without His Anointing. We have no Ministry without His Ministry. Therefore, everything must be done His Way, for His Glory, to fulfill His Purposes in the Earth. “Not to us, not to us…but to Him be all glory, power, and praise!” Our Lord Jesus Himself said… John 20:21 NLT - “…As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” This weekend, I am in Southern California for the Dedication Ceremony of my grandson, Greyson. J I apologize that I will not be with you today, but I am very grateful for the prayerful support of the Cathedral Congregation in all of our ministry endeavors. Dr. Rebecca Skaggs will be bringing a powerful message from the Word of God this morning.
We are at the beginning of 2017, a brand new year; a year that has never existed before. This new year will contain about 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, and 31,536,000 seconds. Think about that, over thirty-one million individual moments. Moments of laughter and moments filled with tears; moments of unexpected blessings and moments of unanticipated trials. There will be days of birth and days of death, yet each day will be filled with the Moments of Life. We really have no idea what looms just over the horizon. None of us are intelligent or Divine enough to predict with any certainty what the next moment will bring, much less thirty-one million moments from now when we prepare for another turning of the calendar. As Christians, therefore, our hope and stability must never rest solely in the things we know or do not know. Rather, our strength rests in The One we know. I am not sure of every thing, and I understand some things, but I am certain of only a few things: the importance of family, the necessity of friends, and the great mercy and yes, mystery of the God who loves us. Herein lies my hope, the same Jesus who walked the Earth, cleansed the lepers, open the blind eyes and deaf ears, caused the lame to walk, and the dead to rise…THIS SAME JESUS OF EVERY YESTERDAY, IS THE SAME IN EVERY MOMENT OF TODAY! The same Jesus who walked into the isolated Disciples, cowering in fear, and facing an uncertain tomorrow, can walk into your life today and speak, “PEACE!” All our yesterdays and every today, are in His Hands; every moment, known and unknown, understood and perplexing, joy and sorrow, despair and hope…EVERY moment is in His Hand. But not only our yesterdays and today…but BECAUSE HE LIVES, ALL OF OUR TOMORROWS ARE SAFELY RESIDING WITHIN HIS BOSOM, HELD NEAR HIS HEART, AND SUSTAINED BY HIS MIGHTY POWER! Hebrews 13:8 AMP - Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). Happy New Year! Isaiah 6:1 NIV - In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
Happy New Year, my dear friends. As we approach this coming year with all of the uncertainties and challenges it will hold, may I ask you a rather simple, albeit metaphorical, question: What do you See? In other words, What is your Perspective? DO YOU SEE A DEAD KING OR A LIVING GOD?! “In the year that King Uzziah died” - King Uzziah of Judah had a long and distinguished reign, beginning when he was only 16 years of age, and for the most part, he ruled as a good king for 52 years (2 Kings 15:3; 2 Chronicles 28:5). Uzziah was a strong monarch and military leader, an energetic builder and planner (2 Chronicles 26:8), whose life ended tragically (2 Chronicles 26:16) because he presumptuously entered the Temple of the Lord and burned incense on the altar. Because of his sin, he was stricken with leprosy and lived in isolation until his death. So to say, “in the year King Uzziah died” is to say a lot. It is to say, "In the year a great, powerful, and wise king died.” It is to say, “In the year that all I knew changed. In the year my world changed.” But it is also to say, "In the year a great, powerful, and wise king who had a tragic end died." Isaiah had great reason to be discouraged and disillusioned at the death of King Uzziah, because a great king had passed away, and because his life ended tragically. Where was the LORD in all this? Isaiah is saying, “It was in this year, when everything changed, when my security was removed, when all I had known was taken away, it was then that I SAW THE LORD, AND HE WAS SEATED UPON A THRONE!” Oh, Precious Ones, Atheists say there is No Throne. Humanists say that Man is the governing authority; but the Word of God declares that THERE IS A THRONE AND THE LORD GOD IS SEATED UPON IT! He is Sovereign, High and Lifted Up, and His Glory Fills Creation. On this New Year’s Sunday morning, what do you see?
If this is the case, then Beloved, may I encourage you to lift Your Eyes a little Higher, to SEE a little further, and to LOOK a little closer. FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS HIGH AND LIFTED UP and is clothed in glory! UZZIAH MAY BE GONE, BUT THE LORD IS SEATED UPON THE THRONE!! Psalm 121:1-2 NIV - I lift up my eyes to the mountains--where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Happy New Year! Matthew 1:21 NIV – “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.”
Salvation has a name and that name is Jesus. Through that name, our sins are forgiven and we are granted access to the very Throne of God. We are made whole, complete, and perfected in Christ. Through the name of Jesus, we have been transformed and our identity is now in Christ Alone! Thus, Christmas is one of the most sacred of all Christian Holy Days. It is during this precious and unique season that we commemorate that the Promise of the Father, the Hope of Humanity, the Creator of the Universe, the King of the Ages; set foot on the stage of Human history. The MIGHTY HAND OF GOD that holds entire galaxies in place, and orders the universe…became Human and brought salvation near to each one of us. Now, today, at this moment, Salvation can be touched because Jesus can be touched! The mighty, merciful, glorious, and…Saving message of Christmas is that God Came Near! He did not just come near to Joseph and Mary; not just near to the Magi and shepherds; not just near to the Twelve Apostles; not just to Kings and Governors, priests and scribes. Oh Beloved, God came near to all of us! Isaiah 9:6 NKJV - “For unto us a child is born, Unto us a son is given.”
Revelation 3:12 NIV - Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. Merry Christmas! God The Father gave Salvation a name and that name is Jesus. But not only did the Father announce the name, He commanded that Joseph would identify with the baby that Mary bore.
Matthew 1:21 NIV – “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus...” “She” and “You” – Not only is God identifying with this baby, but He is requiring that Joseph do so, as well…emotionally and legally. SHE will give birth, but YOU are to give him the name. Just as Zechariah had to name John the Baptist, so too, Joseph had to identify Jesus as his child, and forever be identified WITH Jesus. The naming of a child is both Formational and Transformational. Formationally, it states to whom the child belongs. By naming a child, the Father was acknowledging the baby as his, committing himself to the child's protection and provision. Transformationally, when a father adopted a child, he was giving his own name to the child and identifying the name by which the child would be identified. We do not “name” ourselves, someone else does that. In so doing, we are identified as belonging to them and given the very first framework for self-identification. Our name, therefore, also serves to identify us to others. It is one of the first things we communicate to total strangers: “Hi, my name is…” The identity of Jesus, his introduction, his self-identity, the manner in which he makes himself known to a world that had been estranged from Him was, in essence, “Hi, my name is Salvation!” Matthew 1:21 NIV – “…Give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” God the Son was FORMED as the Son of God in the womb of Mary by the “power of the Most High (Luke 1:35).” Later during His earthly ministry, this same Son of God was TRANSFIGURED (in a very real way TRANSFORMED) before his disciples and at that very moment, the Father then speaks… Luke 9:35 NIV – A voice came from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” Therefore, our Heavenly Father claims the Christ as His own, identifies His Person, and states for all time and eternity, the Mission of Jesus: He will save! As Christians, Christ has claimed us as His own. He has given to us a new identity in Him; and defined the mission of our Lives: proclaiming the Good News of Salvation to everyone, because Salvation has a Name. Romans 10:13 NIV - For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” One of the beauties of the Gospel accounts is that they give us some “back-story” surrounding the birth of our Savior. Luke, for instance, tells us about Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist; as well as the powerful revelation that Mary received from the Angel Gabriel. Matthew, on the other hand, allows us to gain insight into the encounter that Joseph had with an Angelic visitor in a dream; and the very important message that God had for him.
Matthew 1:21 NIV – “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” We are in the midst of the Christmas Holiday season. This entire season, both its blessing and controversy, is based upon the name that is in the middle of the Celebration: The Christ. Further, the name of JESUS…This name…THE NAME…was so important that the Angel of the Lord made sure that Joseph got it right. God sent His Messenger to assure that this baby boy, Mary’s son, was given THE NAME…JESUS! As Dr. Jack Hayford points out, throughout the Scriptures, a name is very important… “In the Bible a name is much more than an identifier, as it tends to be in our culture. Personal names (and even place names) were formed from words that had their own meaning...The people of the Bible…believed there was a vital connection between the name and the person it identified, for a name somehow represented the nature of the person. This means that the naming of a baby was very important in the Bible. In choosing a name, the parents could reflect the circumstances of the child’s birth, their own feelings, their gratitude to God, their hopes and prayers for the child, and their commitment of the child to God.” --Dr. Jack Hayford For example, the name “Isaac” reflected the “laughter” at the birth of a son to an elderly couple (Genesis 21:6). Esau was named “hairy” because of his appearance (Genesis 25:25-26). Jacob was named “supplanter” because he grasped his twin brother’s heel at birth (Genesis 25:25-26). Moses received his name because he was “drawn out” of the water (Exodus 2:10). Both Isaiah and Hosea were instructed to give their children particular names because of the circumstances surrounding the nation at the time their children were born, and the manner in which God would deal with Israel. Therefore, when the Messiah was finally given, His Heavenly Father also was reflecting on all that this child meant to all of Creation. In giving this name to this Child…THE NAME to THE CHILD… God was making a Christmas declaration that not only would travel through the corridors of time, but transcend it, because He gave Salvation a Name. Romans 10:13 NIV - For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” My Dear Friends and Precious Family of God, please allow me to be among the first to wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! I love this wonderful greeting. When we say, “Merry Christmas,” we are announcing “Good News,” a joyous, happy, wonderful, and cheerful celebration is taking place: Christ is Born! Salvation Has Arrived! God has intended Good Will for all people, in all places, at all times. It is a glorious Celebration of our wonderful Savior!
Therefore, please do not let anyone take from you the great privilege of saying, “MERRY CHRISTMAS!” Say it in every store you frequent. Share this good news with every friend you have, and if they tell you that they are not Christians or that they do not celebrate Christmas; tell them that it's okay, you are simply sharing the joy of your celebration! Christmas is YOUR Holiday. J I have a friend who is very dear to me, and is a Theist at best, and is quite agnostic in practice. When he is struggling with a problem or an issue, I try to help him in whatever way I can, and likewise he tries to help me. Now, I never hide from him the fact that I am praying for him. In truth, because he is my friend and he knows that I love him, he recognizes that one of the most precious things I can give him, is to take the time to pray for him. It is my way of utilizing all of my resources to assist my friend. Likewise Beloved, there are those in this world who just want to fight us for being Christians or do away with Christ from the public square altogether. We certainly must not through our silence allow this to take place. Our faith is a living faith, it is not a historical relic and our churches are not museums. So, celebrate the BIRTH of the RISEN Christ, for not only is this a Living Hope, we are rejoicing over a Living God! I suspect that if you share our celebration with authentic love, there are far more who will appreciate your celebration than there are those who resent it. To that end, we have a lot of celebrating going on… · WORKERS CHRISTMAS DINNER is tonight at 6:30 PM.
This week our nation paused to celebrate the Holiday of Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, like many traditions we tend to forget the reason we have this holiday. Beginning with the Pilgrims, who in 1621 set apart a day for thanksgiving at Plymouth immediately after their first harvest; and continuing through George Washington and other U.S. presidents, a day for giving thanks was observed throughout the colonies and the young nation. It was not until 1863, however, that at the height of the Civil War, a national holiday of Thanksgiving was finally formalized by President Abraham Lincoln. In the midst of the most grim and bloodiest war in American history, Lincoln issued this proclamation: “to set apart and observe…a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
The value of Thanksgiving is not just to be grateful for the good things, but also to find Grace in ALL Things. The Apostle Paul said to the Thessalonian Believers: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV - Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. REAL THANKSGIVING is not simply a day on the calendar or a courteous way of interacting socially. (Although it would not hurt our culture to return to some simple niceties, like “Please” and “Thank you”). But the Apostle Paul was not goading the Thessalonians like a parent to a small child, “Now be sure to thank the nice God who has given you life and blessing.” J Rather, he was sharing with the Believers one of the essential Keys and distinctive marks of the Christian Faith: GRATITUDE… THANKFULNESS… THANKSGIVING. In many ways, gratefulness is a barometer of one’s soul. The more prideful we are over our good fortune or alternately, the more bitter over our misfortune, the less we will be able to express thanksgiving with any measure of authenticity. Unfortunately, instead of an “Age of Enlightenment,” we are now living in an “Age of Entitlement.” The result of which is an ever-increasing level of cynicism, hard-heartedness, and ungratefulness. The “THANKFULNESS” on the part of the Children of God is a recognition of the GRACE of God within our lives. This is evident not just when things go well, but especially when they do not. UNGRATEFULNESS has become the great SIN of our TIME! We feel that we are entitled to grace, thus, we are no longer grateful for it, however, GRACE IS NOT GRACE IF WE ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE IT. My friends, GOD DOES NOT OWE US ANYTHING, yet He chooses to give us His Love, Mercy, and Blessing. Romans 11:35 NCV - No one has ever given God anything that he must pay back. Lincoln offered the declaration of personal and national thanksgiving during times of great personal and national loss: his son had died and the horrors of a bloody war had encircled his every waking moment. Nevertheless, he recognized that God was not to be blamed for calamity, but rather that it was the Lord’s Mercy that brought bounty even in the midst of anguish. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMP - In every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God… In 2 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul speaks about his pleading with the Lord concerning a “thorn in his flesh.” The Lord’s response was one of sufficient grace for His servant.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV78 –Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…” Beloved, deep down beneath all of our religious, political, ethnic, and socio-economic distinctions (and yes, divisions), there is our humanity. We are all human; we are all vulnerable; we are all mortal, and in some ways, we are all broken. We need a Redeemer, we need a Friend in the Highest of Places, we need the wonderful SUFFICIENCY OF THE GRACE OF ALMIGHTY GOD! When in the midst of difficulty and even suffering, we long for the Day of Grace; and yet we really do not know when it will be. We do not know when this day may be that day. We do not know for sure, if it is a Sunday Morning Service, a Tuesday evening prayer meeting, the aisle of a grocery store, or behind the wheel of our car on our way to work. We do not know when is the Day of Grace. We do not know when the Touch of Heaven may come near. We do not know when the Beautiful One may touch our face and speak His Word into our Lives. But we do know that HE IS PROVIDENTIAL and HE IS SUFFICIENT! We do know… Psalm 139:16 NIV - Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Even in the midst of his anguish, Job declared… Job 10:12 AMP - You have granted me life and favor, and Your providence has preserved my spirit. Or consider Joseph. When he was in a pit having been betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, or fleeing from the advances of Potiphar’s wife, or rotting away in Pharaoh’s prison. He may not have fully understood the sufficiency of God’s Providence. But when he was elevated to the highest place in Pharaoh’s palace, and the very men who started his painful journey stood before him, He understood, and realized the Day of Grace. Genesis 50:20 NET - As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day. So too, we must trust that The Day of Grace is coming even in seasons of anguish, pain, and grief…there is SUFFICIENCY IN THE PROVIDENCE OF THE SOVEREIGN LORD OF THE HEAVENS… Romans 8:28 VOICE - We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. Revelation 21:5 AMP - “Write, for these words are faithful and true [they are accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy].”
My dear friends, as the season is changing and we turn our attention to the sacred holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even the New Year, I want to remind you of the power that is resident within the Word of God. The Word of the Lord is Powerful, Incorruptible, Trustworthy, Authentic, and True. There is no battle too difficult, no task too daunting, no wound too piercing, no loss too profound, nothing is beyond the capacity of the Word of God speak life into. Write it down! Trust it; because the One who speaks it is Faithful and True! Our Lord Jesus said… Matthew 24:35 VOICE - My words are always true and always here with you. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. This why the Psalmist would declare… Psalm 119:89 NKJV - Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. The Lord proclaimed… Isaiah 46:9-10 NIV - Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ Beloved, only God can make these kind of statements. There is no other Being…not an angel, not a King, not a Businessman, not a Pastor, absolutely NO ONE can make these type of statements and have them to be true. So please be reminded this morning that the Promises and Faithfulness of God have not been left behind. His Word is Active, His Spirit is powerful, His Grace is sufficient, and His Mercy is everlasting! Hallelujah! I know that some have faced terrible tragedy and loss. The passing of loved ones, the battling of illnesses, the struggle of finances, and the hidden anguish we sometimes face within our own hearts. All of life’s difficulties and trials can take a toll upon us; and at some point along our journey, all of us face these seasons. Others of you are terribly concerned about the upcoming election, and certainly not without reason. We have much for which to pray; but I want to encourage you today to take the time to pause and remember that… Proverbs 21:1 NLT - The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases. The Word of God is Faithful and True, the Lord God is The Sovereign of the Universe and… Hebrews 13:8 NIV - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. I am grateful that you have chosen to take time out of your holiday weekend to worship the Lord with us. I humbly ask each of us to prayerfully consider that in the United States, Memorial Day should be far more than the “unofficial beginning of summer.” It should have more meaning to us than simply a day off of work, a three-day weekend, or a time to enjoy friends and barbecue some steaks.
In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson signed an official proclamation regarding Memorial Day, and in 1971, Congress officially set-aside the last Monday of May as an official Federal Holiday. This holiday, however, is anchored in much more somber circumstances. Though there is some historic uncertainty as to the very first municipality to commemorate what was known as DECORATION DAY, there is no debate that this holiday finds its roots as a Civil War Commemoration of those who had died in battle. So many of our nations wars today are fought in far-off places out of sight, and unfortunately, out of mind for many. The Civil War was not. It was up close and personal: in cities, hamlets, and fields. More soldiers died in the Civil War than during all the subsequent American wars combined. Because of the practice of grouping many of the fighting units by State and Region, in some circumstances towns and neighborhoods lost all of their young men in battle. It was in this backdrop that when the flowers of springtime were in bloom that citizens would “Decorate” the graves of the fallen soldiers. A somber and yet, hopeful, reminder that even out of the terrible horrors and devastation of war, hope and life can still blossom forth and rise from the ashes of destruction. You may never agree with the decision of those in Political Leadership. I know that I rarely do, but the fact is that our young men and women are in places known and unknown by the order of those in Power. They serve because they love their country. They are maimed and wounded, and in some cases they lose their lives even before its springtime blossoms. As the Church, we must pray for our Leaders (whether you voted for a particular president or party or not), we MUST PRAY! Pray that their decisions are Wise, Just, and Godly. We must also pray for those who fight our battles, standing watch on the proverbial Wall of Freedom, so that we can have the right to worship and the freedom to live our lives as God sees fit. Finally, we must pray for those left behind. Young Men and Women have been killed in places whose names they cannot pronounce. They leave behind wives and husbands, children and parents, and loved ones. They leave a void that cannot be filled. On this Memorial Day, let them not be forgotten. Let us say a prayer, send a note, and make a phone call. Let us say, “thank you”; AND LET US REMEMBER! This morning we will be honoring our graduates. In less than two weeks, Thursday, June 2, PACE will celebrate and honor students who are going from Kindergarten to First Grade at 11:00 AM; from Middle School to High School at 2:00 PM; and from High School to College, and then on to Life at 5:00 PM! Please join us if you are able to do so. The Graduation Season reminds that our Life is often characterized as a journey. Theologian Alister McGrath states,
“The image of [a] journey reminds us that we are going somewhere…[and] traveling does more than lead us to the goal of our journeying. A journey is itself a process that enables us to grow and develop as we press on to our goal.” ~Alister McGrath The Bible speaks of our life and our Christian experience as a journey, even more accurately as a “WALK”: The Walk of Faith. In 2 Corinthians 5, the Apostle Paul is speaking about the frailty of our Earthly Dwelling and the Fullness of our Heavenly Hope; and our ultimate accountability to God. In the midst of these very precious passages is a simple, yet powerful small verse of Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7. 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV - For we walk by faith, not by sight. This is more than a Biblical colloquialism. It is a powerful statement of Biblical TRUTH. In the natural, one only has to stumble around in the middle of the night to realize that walking by sight is not only advantageous, but it is quite necessary to the sparing of one’s toes from surprisingly vigorous pain. J Nevertheless, the Apostle says… 2 Corinthians 5:7 VOICE - The path we walk is charted by faith, not by what we see with our eyes. This imagery is powerful because it instills within us a counterintuitive truth: that in order to move forward, we must utilize senses and skills that are beyond the scope of our natural capacity. We must engage the Supernatural God who is already dwelling not just at the next step, the next turn, or over the next hill…but He already knows the journey’s end and dwells with us at its culmination. This gives all of us, but especially our graduates, an understanding that we are traveling both “FROM…and TO.” We are leaving some things, some places, and even some people; and moving forward toward somewhere new, and in this process, we ourselves are changing, learning, growing, and advancing. This weekend, I am preaching on behalf of the Church of God in the state of Alaska. I apologize that I will not be with you, but I am very grateful for the prayerful support of the Cathedral Congregation in all of our ministry endeavors. Dr. Rebecca Skaggs will be bringing a beautiful message from the Word of God this morning.
We recognize that this is the initiative of the Holy Spirit within the Life of the Church is for the Love of Christ that is FOR us and has been given TO us, must overflow THROUGH us. In so doing, the New Testament describes an attitude and lifestyle that is contradictory to our fallen Human nature and foreign to many people. Yet, as Children of God and Ministers of His Grace, this is the way of life that Lord expects of us. He is calling us to love with an authenticity that can only come from Jesus Himself. The Apostle Paul told the Church at Rome… Romans 12:9 NIV - Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Some have suggested that the word, “sincere” comes from two Latin words, “sin” and “cera” meaning, “WITHOUT WAX.” Referring to the practice of some unscrupulous sculptors and pottery makers who would cover flaws in their work by filling in the errors with wax. Thus, something was “sincere” if it could stand to the heat of the sun and maintain the integrity of the vessel or work of art. The chain of history leaves this explanation a little suspect, however, the word sincere does mean exactly that: something that is not masked, hidden, or hypocritical. In other words, like the Love of God Himself, our love for one another (and the LOST) must be without “angles,” ulterior motives, or hidden agendas. OUR LOVE MUST BE SINCERE, AUTHENTIC, GENUINE, STRAIGHTFORWARD, and HONEST. God is not calling us to APPEAR Loving, but to GENUINELY LOVE PEOPLE, and not just when they are “lovable.” Rather, we are to sincerely love them as Jesus loved us. Romans 5:8 AMP - God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. A Promise without the ability to achieve it, is simply a fantasy. God does not engage in “wishful thinking.” Our Lord Jesus has said…
John 11:25-26 NLT - I am the resurrection and the source of all life; those who believe in Me will live even in death. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never truly die. Do you believe this? Then he demonstrated the Commitment of His Divine Power to overcoming Death by raising his friend Lazarus, who had been dead and buried for four days… John 11:39, 41, 43-44 NIV78 - “Take away the stone,” he said... 41 So they took away the stone… 43 Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out… What a moment that must have been!! A moment of mercy and triumph, of Grace and Healing, of Hope and Deliverance, of Rescue and Recovery, of Restoration and Resurrection! But Beloved, may I remind you of something this morning? Lazarus is not here with us today. J He actually tasted death twice. His family had to have two funerals for him. Somehow, I suspect that the second funeral felt a little different than the first. J Do you think maybe there was a little more HOPE the second time they laid him in the ground? Lazarus did not rise by his own power. Lazarus is not the first-fruits of our hope and life. Lazarus is just like us, a friend of Jesus who succumbs to the brokenness of a fallen world and ultimately goes into the grave… utterly dependent upon the Power of the Resurrection and the Life that is JESUS HIMSELF! The miracle of Lazarus is a wonderful grace, it encourages our Faith and emboldens our hope. However, our Hope does not lie with a dead man in the tomb, our Hope rests in the LIVING CHRIST WHO HAS BROKEN THE POWER OF DEATH, BECAUSE HE IS HIMSELF LIFE AND RESURRECTION. Our Hope does not rest on the man wrapped in burial cloths, but ON THE ONE CALLING LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS AND LIFE OUT OF DEATH…OUR HOPE IS BUILT ON CHRIST AND CHRIST ALONE! It is the RESURRECTION OF JESUS that exerted the great power of Life over Death and Light over Darkness. It is JESUS CHRIST who demonstrated His Authority and Ability to Rule over ALL THINGS and EVERY ONE. This is our Hope, as the old Lutheran Hymn says… “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.” --Edward Mote 1 Peter 1:3 NIV84 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… From the time Adam and Eve rebelled in the Garden of Eden, God had PROMISED a Redeemer (Gen. 3:15). Jacob prophesied that the Ruler would come from the Tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10). The Prophet Isaiah declared that the “Virgin would be with Child…and Unto Us a Son Would be born…He shall be called: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6).” Jesus Himself gives a Promise that can only be born out of Divine Confidence…
John 11:25-26 NLT - Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this?” “I am”…Christ is present NOW, not limited just to the future. It is the identity of Jesus that spans the gap between the “already” and the “not yet.” Do not assume that the promise is only for a future hope, as important as that is. No, Jesus said, “I am,” this is a current promise for your every day. This is the HOPE OF TOMORROW but it is also the LIFE and PROMISE OF TODAY! He has saved you, and is saving you. He has found you and He will deliver you in that Day. Ephesians 2:4-6 NIV - But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. UNTIL THEN, The LORD God Declares… Hebrews 13:5 NIV - "…Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Oh Beloved, Jesus is declaring that Death yields to Life, in the same manner that Darkness to Light. I am the Resurrection of the dying, and the Life of the living. Jesus is the Life-Giver because He IS Life itself. This claim and this promise are mind-boggling. He says it is faith in him that brings one back to life. Jesus claims that He alone is the ground of eschatological hope. But then He goes even further: "I am the life." In essence declaring that death cannot destroy the Believer because the Child of God is in union with him who is THE LIFE. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 KJV2000 - …Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is THE PROMISE SPOKEN WITH DIVINE CONFIDENCE. |
AuthorDr. Tobey Montgomery CategoriesArchives
May 2020
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