But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today,
so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:13 NIV

Return to 2002 Worship Notes INDEX


82nd Sunday, May 12, 2002:  "I will see mom again"  Ez 37
Scripture readings:
Proverbs 12; Jeremiah 31; Mark 13

Music: Celebration Hymnal
214 He Has Made Me Glad
793  For the Beauty of the Earth
348  My Savior’s Love
349 O How He Loves You and Me
366  I Live
358  Because He Lives

Children’s Lesson::
   “Family Togetherness  ”
At the rapture, God will collect all His family together like putting a puzzle together--Are you going to be a missing piece?

TEACHING:   I will see mom again:  Ezekiel 37

Because Jesus lives, Ezekiel and I will see our moms again–and so can you.

THERE IS A RESURRECTION FOR US
Rev 20:4-6
... This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection.

• Some had been beheaded.
• Some had the opportunity to NOT worship beast or take the mark which strongly suggests there had to be the opportunity to do it.

IF THIS IS THE FIRST RESURRECTION, THERE HAVE BEEN NONE BEFORE IT–YET CHRIST WAS THE FIRST FRUIT

1 Cor 15:20-26 ...23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. ...

THE GATHERING
Matt 24:30-31 [Mark 13:27]
"At that time the sign** of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds*, from one end of the heavens to the other.
[*Is this the same “four winds” as Ezekiel prophesied–37:9?]
[**Is this a sign like the wisemen followed to find Jesus–Matt 2:2?]

IN A MOMENT, WE WILL BE CHANGED–WE WILL BE RAPTURED
1 Cor 15:50-54 ... but we will all be changed- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. ...

1 Thess 4:15-17... 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

MOM–THE BEST MOTHERING IS GETTING A CHILD READY FOR THE RAPTURE.

Ezek 37:1-14
...'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them;

JEWISH ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS – RESURRECTION!
Rom 11:15  For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

Heb 8:10-12 [Jeremiah 31]
...I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.

THE BEST MOTHER’S DAY GIFT IS BEING READY FOR THE RAPTURE.


81st Sunday, May 5, 2002:  "Christian" Cannibals Ez 34
Scripture readings:
Proverbs 5; 2 Peter 2; Matt 23

Music: Celebration Hymnal
103 All Hail King Jesus
104 O Worship the King
105 We Will Glorify
106 Worthy, You are Worthy
107 Lord I Lift You Name High
430 There Shall Be Showers

Children’s Lesson: "The Good Shepherd "

TEACHING:  "Christian" Cannibals: Ezekiel 34
Christians are supposed to love church–and if you don’t, something is wrong–but is it you or the leadership?

Ezekiel 34:31 You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, ARE PEOPLE, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD.'

RECOGNIZING FALSE SHEPHERDS
Ezek 34:1-6


FALSE SHEPHERD PREDATORS
Ezek 34:10-31


GOD WILL ACT


I WILL JUDGE BETWEEN RAMS AND GOATS–FAT AND LEAN.
It is not just the leadership that can be bad--look what some of the sheep do:


DAVID WILL BE THE SHEPHERD
I will place over them one shepherd--that one shepherd is Jesus
I will make a covenant of peace
I will rid the land of wild beasts (wolves)
I will bless them
I will send down showers in season
The trees of the field will yield their fruit
The ground will yield its crops;
The people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the LORD,
-- break the bars of their yoke
– rescue them from those who enslaved
-- no longer be plundered
-- nor will wild animals devour them.
-- they will live in safety, and
-- no one will make them afraid.
-- I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops,
-- No longer be victims of famine
-- Nor bear the scorn of the nations.

80th Sunday, April 28, 2002:  Took Me by the Hair...
Scripture readings:
Proverbs 28; Isaiah 6; Revelation 4

Music: Celebration Hymnal
55  Bless His Holy Name  18
214  He Has Made Me Glad  19
530  I Will Call Upon the Lord   20
522 I’m So Glad, Jesus Lifted Me
571 Trust and Obey
581 ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
618 In His Presence

Children’s Lesson:  “Whirly-gig”

TEACHING:    “Took Me By The Hair of My Head”  – Ezekiel 8:2

ONCE YOU HAVE SEEN HIS THRONE, YOUR TRAVEL PLANS WILL CHANGE

Ezek 1  I saw visions of God...
• flashing lightning...
• surrounded by brilliant light...
• glowing metal...
• four living creatures...
This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

I FELL FACEDOWN
Ezekiel was a priest:
• He knew about the temple
• He knew about the sacrifices
• He knew about the incense
• He knew about the shekinah glory on the ark

THE SPIRITUAL TRAVEL AGENT
Traveling in spiritual realms may be a little different than expected.
-- Philip  Acts 8:39  Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away...
-- Elijah  2 Kings 2:16  Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has picked him up ...
– John Rev 4:2;  Rev 21:10
– Paul 2 Cor 12:2-4
– Richard, “A Place Called Heaven”

PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL TRAVEL
-- STAND UP
Ezek 2:1-2  He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you."  As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

-- AND HE TOOK ME AWAY
Ezek 3:12-15 ...The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me.

-- AND HE PUT ME AWAY
Ezek 3:24 Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: "Go, shut yourself inside your house.

-- AND HE TOOK ME TO THE SIN
Ezek 8:2-3  He stretched out what looked like a hand and TOOK ME BY THE HAIR OF MY HEAD. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood.

-- AND I SAW MISCHIEF
Ezek 11:1  Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the LORD that faces east. There at the entrance to the gate were twenty-five men, and I saw among them Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people.

-- AND I TOLD
Ezek 11:24-25  The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God.   Then the vision I had seen went up from me, AND I TOLD THE EXILES everything the LORD had shown me.


79th Sunday, April 21, 2002:  9 to 5 Propheting
Scripture readings:
Proverbs 28;  Matthew 3;  1 Cor 14

Music: Celebration Hymnal
209  This is the Day
207 We Have Come to Join in Worship
214  I will Enter His Gates
213  We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise
195  Bless the Name of Jesus
194  We Worship and Adore You
186  Lord, Be Glorified

Children’s Lesson
“Prophets Use Toy Blocks, TOO”

TEACHING:    9 to 5 Propheting—Ezekiel as a mentor

The Apostle Paul indicated that everyone should seek the Gift of Prophecy.
1 Cor 14:39  Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

TWO TYPES OF PROPHET?
Gift of prophecy (1 Cor 12:10)
   Holy Spirit gives Gift “to each one”
Office of prophet  (Eph 4:11; 1 Cor 12:28-31)
  Jesus gave “some to BE...”

Both prophesy with WORDS & ACTIONS.  If a prophet just has words, I question the prophecy.

GIFT OF PROPHECY
What differentiates the prophetic gift from the other vocal gifts (tongues, interpretation, wisdom, knowledge) is the action—something is done in the physical realm.

Heaping condemnation on a person or telling a person what the Lord “tells you” they should do is not necessarily prophecy–it may be presumption.  A prophet IS in the same way a fire IS.  There is an action that surrounds him or her.  There is something in the physical that because it was done on earth, something is done in heaven.

A prophet is not a fortune teller–but because of a prophet’s words and actions, a potential future might be seen–an example of what will or might be is witnessed–unless something else changes.

God reveals his plans to the prophets–not the pastors, teachers, evangelists, apostles, elders, priests, or bishops. [Amos 3:7]

Denying, despising, quieting the prophets results in the church not knowing what God’s plans are.  The prophet reveals God through physical acts.

CAN PEOPLE HAVE MULTIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES?
Ezekiel was a priest
Paul, Peter, and John were apostles

SO--YOU WANT TO BE A PROPHET?
--- you will have a strong urge to speak [2:7]
— God will give you the words that you will consume and have to speak out [3:1-2]
— you will be resolute [3:8-9]
— you will be taken places in bitterness [3:14]
— you will be angry in your spirit [3:14]
— the strong hand of the Lord will be on you [3:14]
— you will be accountable for blood if you do not warn or speak out [3:17-19]
--- your motion will be restricted [3:25]
— you will not be able to speak unless God tells you to [3:27]

SO–YOU WANT TO LIVE LIKE A PROPHET? [4]
— you will build models and play war games
— God will tell you how to sleep
— and He will make you do it
— God will tell you what to eat and how much
— God will tell you how to prepare your food and it may be disgusting
— your actions are a sign of what will happen
— your words explain your actions

Ezekiel shaved his head and beard [5]
— a third of his hair was burnt
— a third was struck by a sword
— some strands were tucked in his garment
— a few were thrown into the fire
THIS ACTION WAS A SIGN OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ISRAEL–and it did.

TO KNOW THE PLAN OF GOD, THE CHURCH NEEDS ACTIVE PROPHETS.


78th Sunday, April 14, 2002:  Looking for the River

Scripture readings:
Proverbs 14; Rev 22; John 4

Music: Celebration Hymnal
729 Victory Song (through Our God)
732 The Battle Belongs to the Lord
171 Come into His Presence
372 Our God Reigns
373 To Him Who Sits on the Throne
635 In the Garden
548 As the Deer
       There is a River

TEACHING:    Looking for that River:   Ezekiel 47

Some people keep track of the motion of planets against the stars and where seasons are in relationship to stars.  Genesis 1:14 states that the lights in the skies are to be signs for us.   The flower children will remember we are “in the Age of Pisces” [the fish–Christianity] and are now entering the “Age of Aquarius” [the pouring out of water–the Holy Spirit]–and will start singing the song.

WATER COVERED THE EARTH
Gen 1:1-2 ... and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
...and Holy Spirit hovered there;
...and Jesus “hovered” on the Sea of Galilee.

RIVER FLOWED FROM EDEN
Gen 2:10-14   A river watering the garden flowed from Eden...
...and the Lord walked there.

RIVER FROM THE THRONE OF GOD
Rev 22:1-2   Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb  down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
...and we will walk and live there.
RIVER FLOWS FROM MAN
John 4:14 ... Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
...the spring is in you

WE ARE A TEMPLE
1 Cor 6:18-20 ...Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? ...
...and Holy Spirit is in us: with power
...and Jesus is in us: with living water
...and that spring of eternal life is in us

WATER FLOWS FROM THE TEMPLE
Ezekiel 47:1-12
The temple Ezekiel describes is not Solomon’s or Zerubabel’s temple (Herod’s expansion)–the description is different.  Some say it is the temple that will be built yet in the future. Others allegorize everything.   Interesting key difference is the rivers flowing from the threshold towards the east and south from the altar.
  –ankle deep: start at the temple
    –knee deep
      –waist deep
         –too deep to swim across
When the water enters the sea,  the salt waters become fresh.

IS THIS EVANGELISM or REVIVAL?

“Where the river flows, everything will live.”


77th Sunday, April 7, 2002:  Looking for Armageddon
Scripture readings:
Proverbs 7; Matt 24; Zech 12

Music: Celebration Hymnal
214 I Will Enter His Gates [5]
330 Are You Washed in the Blood?
537 He Who Began a Good Work in You [2]
649 When I Look Into Your Holiness [3]
118 His Name Is Wonderful [4]
654 Change My Heart O God [7]
507 Something Beautiful [9]
5 Sing Praises To Your Name [15]
599 Jesus Is Lord of All

TEACHING: Looking for Armageddon

Ezekiel 38-39; Zech 12-14; Revelation 16,19

Ezekiel 38-39 Magog destroyed

There is an event that will come into history called Armageddon.-- considered to be the last and greatest war.

Just because violence is growing in the Mideast does not mean the infamous battle is imminent. BUT MAYBE....

RECOGNIZE IT

Rev 16:12-16; Rev 19:20

– Kings are gathered by "frogs"

– Kings are convinced by miracles

– Kings know they are going to fight God

– Kings know they are going to fight Jesus: King of Kings, Lord of Lords

This is not an accidental war that escalates out of control because of politics. It is deliberate and we should recognize it.

ANOTHER VALLEY OF DECISION

Joel 3  I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat....

Zech 14: 3 the LORD will go out and fight
 

DON’T GO–THE NATIONS DON’T HAVE TO GO: Zeph 2:1

DAMNED FOR SIN and JUDGED FOR PRACTICE

What the nations did to Israel is why they are gathered for judgment–prior to the White Throne Judgment.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE CHURCH prior to judgment?

Is there an event coming in your life that maybe you should call Armageddon–YOUR PERSONAL battle for Lordship of self.

Satan wants you--

To fight against Jesus.

If Satan can’t have your soul,

he will take your relationship with the church and leave you fighting God.

WHAT IS YOUR VALLEY OF DECISION?

– Are demons drawing you away?

– Are devils convincing you God is not relevant to your daily life? Look how well you are doing on your own. You don’t need God. What has God done for you?

– Are you rationalizing the basic rules of God? God is first? Loving your neighbor–all of them, even church people–is second?

– Has Satan convinced you that the commandments of God don’t apply to you today? "I live under grace."?

WITH WHOM DO YOU RIDE?

Ezek 3:20-21 "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself."


76th Sunday, March 31, 2002, Easter Sunday
Scripture readings:
Proverbs 31; Isaiah 53; Matthew 28

Music: Celebration Hymnal
362 Celebrate Jesus
367 Christ the Lord is Risen Today
368 He Lives
146 I Worship You, Almighty God
Shout To The Lord
358 Because He Lives

TEACHING: Easter Sunday – It’s About the Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15

Rom 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

NOT UNIQUE; JUST NOT DONE
The concept of resurrection is not unique to Christianity, but Christianity is the only religion to have a permanent example with witnesses.
1 Cor 15:3-8 --- over 500 witnesses

NOT NEW; JUST NOT PERMANENT
1 Kings 17:19-21, Elijah
2 Kings 4:32-35, Elisha
2 Kings 13:21, Elisha’s bones
Jesus: boy, Lazarus

BUT COMING – PERMANENT
Job 19:25-27
Isaiah  26:19-21
Daniel 12:13
Hosea 13:14
“He shall be bathed in light,” Is 53:11

FIRST FRUIT–PERMANENT
1 Cor 15:20  But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ... For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits;  then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

FIRST RESURRECTION – PERMANENT
Rev 20:4-6 ...This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. ...
- Titus 1:2 ...a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,
- Phil 3:20-21 ...will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
- 1 Thess 4:13-18 ... and the dead in Christ will rise first...

IMPERISHABLE – A DIFFERENT GLORY
- 1 John 3:2-3 ...we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ...
- 1 Cor 15:42 ...The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; ...
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

SECOND RESURRECTION
- John 5:28-29  "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out-those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.
- Rev 20:11-14 .. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. ... The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books...
 


75th Sunday, March 24, 2002, Palm Sunday
Scripture readings:
Proverbs 24;  Mark 11;  Psalm 118

Music: Celebration Hymnal
296 Hosanna
761 Therefore the Redeemed
764 The Trees of the Field
43   All Hail the Power of Jesus Name
195 Bless the Name of Jesus
105 We Will Glorify
815 Doxology

Dedication: Kiri Elizabeth Goble, 2/13/2002

TEACHING: Palm Sunday–The King is Coming
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19

THE KING CAME ONCE
- People were healed
- People were miraculously fed
- Apostles were made
- Children worshiped Him
Luke 19:40  "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

BUT, All rejected Him
This brought salvation to the Gentiles.  Rom 11:11-12 ...But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, ...

This brought the Holy Spirit
– He will baptize you with fire
– Wait until power comes
This brought the Church age
– Upon this rock I will build
This brought the Holy Bible
– Apostolic writings
This brought blessings to the nations
– Paul went to the Gentiles

UNTIL–there is an until for Jews
Rom 11:11-12 ...But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!

Rom 11:15  For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

THE KING IS COMING AGAIN
- His sign will be in the sky
Matt 24:30-31  "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

- The nations will fight against Him
Rev 19:19; Rev 17:14;
Zech 14:3-4; Joel 2-3
- He will set up a kingdom on earth
Rev 20:6
- We will rule with Him
2 Tim 2:12a;  Rev 20:6b
reign a thousand years.

THEN THE JUDGMENT
Rev 20:11-15
...If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.


74th Sunday, March 17, 2002, St. Patrick's Day
Scripture readings:
Proverbs 17; Hebrews 12; Acts 4

Music: Celebration Hymnal
575 Leaning on the Everlasting
401 The Church’s One Foundation
402 Cornerstone
387 Holy Spirit, Thou Art Welcome
389 Spirit of the Living God
391 Sweet, Sweet Spirit

TEACHING: “Praying like Patrick the Pentecostal”
St. Patrick, 387-489 [?], was about as Pentecostal as you can get–and he knew how to pray--WITH POWER.

HISTORY
- father was Roman family of high rank
- parents were Christian, Patrick was not
- at 16, taken into slavery by Irish marauders
- his master was a Druid high priest

CONVERSION
While enslaved:
- his love of God grew,
- his fear of God increased,
- his faith grew,
- AND he prayed.

PRAYER [1 Thess 5:17]
“In a single day I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night nearly the same so that whilst in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn, I was roused to prayer and felt no hurt from it, whether there was snow or ice or rain...because the Spirit was then fervent within me.”

VISIONS, DREAMS, AND ANGELIC VISITATIONS [Acts 2:17]
- Dreams and an angel told him to flee;
Admonished by an angel he after six years fled from his cruel master and bent  his steps towards the west.  [Acts 18:9]
And there one night I heard in my sleep a voice saying to me: `It is well that you fast, soon you will go to your own country.' And again, after a short while, I heard a voice saying to me: `See, your ship is ready.' And it was not near, but at a distance of perhaps two hundred miles, and I had never been there, nor did I know a living soul there; and then I took to flight, and I left the man with whom I had stayed for six years. And I went in the strength of God who directed my way to my good, and I feared nothing until I came to that ship.

And the day that I arrived the ship was set afloat, and I said that I was able to pay for my passage with them. But the captain was not pleased, and with indignation he answered harshly: `It is of no use for you to ask us to go along with us.' And when I heard this, I left them in order to return to the hut where I was staying. And as I went, I began to pray; and before I had ended my prayer, I heard one of them shouting behind me, `Come, hurry, we shall take you on in good faith; make friends with us in whatever way you like.'

- “Come and walk among us” to return.  He was favoured with visions of the children from  Focluth, by the Western sea, who cried to him: "O holy youth, come back to  Erin, and walk once more amongst us."  [Acts 16:9]

And there I saw in the night the vision of a man, whose name was Victoricus, coming as it were from Ireland, with countless letters. And he gave me one of them, and I read the opening words of the letter, which were, `The voice of the Irish'; and as I read the beginning of the letter I thought that at the same moment I heard their voice---they were those beside the Wood of Voclut, which is near the Western Sea---and thus did they cry out as with one mouth: `We ask thee, boy, come and walk among us once more.'
And I was quite broken in heart, and could read no further, and so I woke up. Thanks be to God, after many years the Lord gave to them according to their cry.

PRAY IN THE SPIRIT!
[Romans 8:26; 1 Cor 14:15; Eph 6:18]
-  “words which I heard but could not understand”
- “who it could be that prayed in me.”
And another night---whether within me, or beside me, I know not, God knoweth---they called me most unmistakably with words which I heard but could not understand, except that at the end of the prayer He spoke thus: `He that has laid down His life for thee, it is He that speaketh in thee'; and so I awoke full of joy.

And again I saw Him praying in me, and I was as it were within my body, and I heard Him above me, that is, over the inward man, and there He prayed mightily with groanings. And all the time I was astonished, and wondered, and thought with myself who it could be that prayed in me. But at the end of the prayer He spoke, saying that He was the Spirit; and so I woke up, and remembered the Apostle saying: The Spirit helpeth the infirmities of our prayer. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit Himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings, which cannot be expressed in words; and again: The Lord our advocate asketh for us.

Filled with the Spirit of God
Enough of this. I must not, however, hide God's gift which He bestowed upon me in the land of my captivity; because then I earnestly sought Him, and there I found Him, and He saved me from all evil because---so I believe---of His Spirit that dwelleth in me. Again, boldly said. But God knows it, had this been said to me by a man, I had perhaps remained silent for the love of Christ.

SIGNS, WONDERS, and MIRACLES
[2 Cor 12:12, Acts 4:30]
- “Tell me, Christian:...we are hungry...”
And after three days we reached land, and for twenty-eight days we travelled through deserted country. And they lacked food, and hunger overcame them; and the next day the captain said to me: `Tell me, Christian: you say that your God is great and all-powerful; why, then, do you not pray for us? As you can see, we are suffering from hunger; it is unlikely indeed that we shall ever see a human being again.'

I said to them full of confidence: `Be truly converted with all your heart to the Lord my God, because nothing is impossible for Him, that this day He may send you food on your way until you be satisfied; for He has abundance everywhere.' And, with the help of God, so it came to pass: suddenly a herd of pigs appeared on the road before our eyes, and they killed many of them; and there they stopped for two nights and fully recovered their strength, and their hounds received their fill for many of them had grown weak and were half-dead along the way. And from that day they had plenty of food. They also found wild honey, and offered some of it to me, and one of them said: `This we offer in sacrifice.' Thanks be to God, I tasted none of it.

- Calming of the tempests at sea.

- Dichu drew his sword to kill Patrick, but his arm became rigid as a statute, until.
He had  not proceeded far when a chieftain, named Dichu, appeared on the scene to  prevent his further advance. He drew his sword to smite the saint, but his arm  became rigid as a statue and continued so until he declared himself obedient to  Patrick. Overcome by the saint's meekness and miracles, Dichu asked for  instruction and made a gift of a large sabhall (barn), in which the sacred  mysteries were offered up. This was the first sanctuary dedicated by St. Patrick  in Erin.

- Arch-Druid Lochru was lifted high in the air (levitating) but when Patrick knelt in pray, the Druid fell and was dashed to pieces upon a rock.
Again by demoniac power the Arch-Druid  Lochru, like Simon Magus of old, was lifted up high in the air, but when Patrick  knelt in prayer the druid from his flight was dashed to pieces upon a rock. Thus  was the final blow given to paganism in the presence of all the assembled  chieftains. It was, indeed, a momentous day for the Irish race.

- Raised the king of Dublin’s two children from the dead.
As Patrick came near to Dublin, at that time a small village, he prophesied, "That village which is now very small shall hereafter become very eminent. It shall be enlarged in riches and dignity." Neither shall it cease to grow until it has become the principal seat of all the kingdom."

When the people of Dublin heard of the great signs and miracles that were done through Patrick, and when they saw that he was coming to that village, they went out to meet him.

At this time, Alphinus was the king over Dublin. He and all the citizens were in great sorrow, for the death of the king’s two children. The king’s only son, called Eochadh, had died a natural death, in his bedroom. The king's daughter, and a sister to the young prince, had just been drowned, in the adjoining river, now known as the Liffey.

She had ventured into the deep part, for the purpose of bathing. Her name was Dublinia, and from her Dublin is thought to have derived its name.  The young lady's body was drawn out of the waters after some considerable search, and laid by her brother's corpse, in order that their funeral rites might be solemnized together.

According to the superstition of the pagans, the tombs were prepared. In the meantime, news was spread over all the city, that "St. Patrick, the potent reviver of many dead persons", (What a reputation !!) had been seen in the town. For He, who burst asunder the gates of death and of hell, smoothed the path for his servant.

The king and the people, who before had said to the Lord, "depart from us, we will not knowledge any of thy ways," were so cast down, saddened with grief, that all of their rebellion and all their barbarous rudeness, and all the pride of their idolatry, were utterly subdued.

The king, hearing of St. Patrick's arrival, greatly rejoiced, and caused him to come in, where his two children lay dead. He then promised, with all those present, if God restored his children to life, that he and all the citizens would become Christians. Seeing such a gain of souls, in the sight of the king, his nobles, and all the common people, Patrick raised from death to life those princely children, whose bodily resurrection co-operated much towards the spiritual resurrection of their father, with the rest of his people. The king and all his subjects, being astonished at this great miracle, turned away from the worship of idols, and they were baptized in the well (spring).

From that day the King and all the people worshiped God and gave liberally to Patrick, so that he was able to give to the poor in that place and other places and have enough to build churches.

- Idols crumbled into dust.
On his way thither, passing through Granard he learned  that at Magh-Slecht, not far distant, a vast concourse was engaged in offering  worship to the chief idol Crom-Cruach. It was a huge pillar-stone, covered with  slabs of gold and silver, with a circle of twelve minor idols around it. He  proceeded thither, and whith his crosier smote the chief idol that crumbled to  dust; the others fell to the ground. At Killala he found the whole people of the  territory assembled. At his preaching, the king and his six sons, with 12,000 of  the people, became docile to the Faith.

- CLOUD OF DARKNESS DEFIED
The druids and magicians put forth all their strength and employed all their incantations to maintain their sway over the Irish race, but  the prayer and faith of Patrick achieved a glorious triumph. The druids by their  incantations overspread the hill and surrounding plain with a cloud of worse then  Egyptian darkness. Patrick defied them to remove that cloud, and when all their efforts were made in vain, at his prayer the sun sent forth its rays and the  brightest sunshine lit up the scene.

- Lighted a fire that the Druids and kings could not put out, nor could they kill him.
It was on 26 March, Easter Sunday, in 433, that the  eventful assembly was to meet at Tara, and the decree went forth that from the  preceeding day the fires throughout the kingdom should be extinguished until the  signal blaze was kindled at the royal mansion. The chiefs and Brehons came in full numbers and the druids too would muster all their strength to bid defiance to  the herald of good tidings and to secure the hold of their superstition on the  Celtic race, for their demoniac oracles had announced that the messenger of  Christ had come to Erin. St. Patrick arrived at the hill of Slane, at the opposite  extremity of the valley from Tara, on Easter Eve, in that year the feast of the  Annunciation, and on the summit of the hill kindled the Paschal fire. The druids  at once raised their voice. "O King", (they said) "live for ever; this fire, which has  been lighted in defiance of the royal edict, will blaze for ever in this land unless it  be this very night extinguished." By order of the king and the agency of the  druids, repeated attempts were made to extinguish the blessed fire and to punish  with death the intruder who had disobeyed the royal command. But the fire was  not extinguished and Patrick shielded by the Divine power came unscathed from  their snares and assaults.
 

REPUTATION  [Acts 5:15; Acts 5:13]
PATRICK--resuscitator of the dead --miracle worker

Rather than face his former slave, Milchu, Druid high priest,  burned his treasures, his house and himself.
Continuing his journey towards Slemish,  the saint was struck with horror on seeing at a distance the fort of his old master  Milchu enveloped in flames. The fame of Patrick's marvelous power of miracles  preceeded him. Milchu, in a fit of frenzy, gathered his treasures into his mansion  and setting it on fire, cast himself into the flames. An ancient record adds: "His  pride could not endure the thought of being vanquished by his former slave".

INTERCESSION
Patrick went up the mountain to fast and pray --intercede-- for 40 days. He continued until an angel told:
“As many people would be gathered into heaven as would cover the land and sea as far as his vision could reach.”
“Many souls would be saved”
“Whoever recited his hymn would attain the heavenly reward.” [Rom 10:9]
“Barbarian hordes would never obtain sway in his church.” [Matt 16:18]
“Seven years before Judgment Day, the sea would spread over Ireland to save its people from temptations and terrors of  the Antichrist;”
“Patrick would judge the whole Irish race on the last day.”  [1 Cor 6:2]

St. Patrick, in obedience to his guardian  angel, made this mountain his hallowed place of retreat. In imitation of the great  Jewish legislator on Sinai, he spent forty days on its summit in fasting and  prayer, and other penetential exercises. His only shelter from the fury of the  elements, the wind and rain, the hail and snow, was a cave, or recess, in the  solid rock; and the flagstone on which he rested his weary limbs at night is still  pointed out. The whole purpose ofhis prayer was to obtain special blessings and  mercy for the Irish race, whom he evangelized. The demons that made Ireland  their battlefield mustered all their strength to tempt the saint and disturb him in  his solitude, and turn him away, if possible, from his pious purpose. They  gathered around the hill in the form of vast flocks of hideous birds of prey. So  dense were their ranks that they seemed to cover the whole mountain, like a  cloud, and they so filled the air that Patrick could see neither sky nor earth nor  ocean. St. Patrick besought God to scatter the demons, but for a time it would  seem as if his prayers and tears were in vain. At length he rang his  sweet-sounding bell, symbol of his preaching of the Divine truths. Its sound was  heard all over the valleys and hills of Erin, everywhere bringing peace and joy.  The flocks of demons began to scatter, He flung his bell among them; they took  to precipitate flight, and cast themselves into the ocean. So complete was the  saint's victory over them that, as the ancient narrative adds, "for seven years no  evil thing was to be found in Ireland."

The saint, however, would not, as yet,  descend from the mountain. He had vanquished the demons, but he would now  wrestle with God Himself, like Jacob of old, to secure the spiritual interests of his  people. The angel had announced to him that, to reward his fidelity in prayer and  penance, as many of his people would be gathered into heaven as would cover  the land and sea as far as his vision could reach. Far more ample, however, were  the aspirations of the saint, and he resolved to persevere in fasting and prayer  until the fullest measure of his petition was granted. Again and again the angel  came to comfort him, announcing new concessions; but all these would  notsuffice. He would not relinquish his post on the mountain, or relax his  penance, until all were granted. At length the message came that his prayers  were heard:
• many souls would be free from the pains of purgatory through his  intercession;
• whoever in the spirit of penance would recite his hymn before death would  attain the heavenly reward;
• barbarian hordes would never obtain sway in his Church;
• seven years before the Judgement Day, the sea would spread over Ireland  to save its people from the temptations and terrors of the Antichrist;
• and greatest blessing of all, Patrick himself should be deputed to judge the  whole Irish race on the last day.

The Shield of St. Patrick
Paraphrased by Cecil Frances Alexander

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, the One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever by power of faith Christ's incarnation,
his baptism in the Jordan river, his death on the cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spiced tomb, his riding up the heavenly way,
his coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to harken to my need,
the wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward,
the Word of God to give me speech, his heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me;
Christ to comfort and restore me;
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name, the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three,
of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
praise to the God of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord!
 

St. Patrick pronounced a Blessing on the Munster People.
It seemed like a good blessing for us.

A blessing on the IRCC people – Men, youths, and women; / A blessing on the land / That yields them fruit.

A blessing on every treasure / That shall be produced on their plains, / Without any one being in want of help, / God's blessing be on IRCC.

A blessing on their peaks, / On their bare flagstones,
A blessing on their glens, / A blessing on their ridges.

Like the sand of the sea under ships, / Be the number in their hearths; / On slopes, on plains, / On mountains, on hills, a blessing.


73rd Sunday, March 10, 2002, Snow Day

72nd Sunday, March 3, 2002, Gregory P. Chase

Scripture readings:
Proverbs 3; Psalm 29; Hebrews 3

Music: Celebration Hymnal
55 Bless His Holy Name
214 He Has Made Me Glad
530 I Will Call Upon the Lord
542 My Life Is In You, Lord
 62 Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty
107 Lord, I Lift Your Name on

TEACHING:   Back To The Basics Of God:   Having A Kingdom Mentality
Gregory P. Chase

We live in a complex society that gets more complicated by the day.

What should we be doing ??????

Rom 12:2  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Gal 6:7-9  Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.   Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

1 Pet 5:6-8  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:   Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.    Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

STEP ONE: BASIC SALVATION
God has always had a basic system and a simple lifestyle plan.
John 3:3  In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (SAVED)
John 3:16-17  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (JESUS)

Rom 10:9-10   That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him (JESUS) from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

STEP TWO: EDUCATE YOURSELF
You can’t expect to get good at something without learning all about it.  Like: A Job, Instrument, Sports, Sewing, Life,  Etc.

2 Tim 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

James 1:5   If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

STEP THREE: LOVE
Where is your love?  Get it out of your head and into your heart.
Matt 22:37-39   Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

STEP FOUR: ACTION
Put your life where your mouth is.
Mark 16:15-18  He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name (JESUS) they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;  they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."


71st Sunday, February 24, 2002

Scripture readings:
Proverbs 24; Hebrews 4; Romans 6

Music: Celebration Hymnal

214 He Has Made Me Glad
672 What A Mighty God We
530 I Will Call Upon the Lord
542 My Life Is In You, Lord
434   Revive Us Again
705   It Is Well With My Soul
343   Amazing Grace

TEACHING: “ROMANS: Grace by one man”

Acts 17:24-28 ... From one man he made every nation of men...'We are his offspring.'

ONE MAN BROUGHT SIN
In the beginning, God made ONE man.  From that ONE man, all men and women have come.  Adam is that ONE man.
- one species, one kind
- one race–the human race (speciation comes from isolation)

Some scientists have estimated there are 1080 atoms in the universe.  Other scientists estimate the possible combinations of different people from Adam and Eve’ gene structure  is estimated to be over 102000.

- one language (Babel and sin brought many)
- one social structure (sin isolated)
- one family  (sin broke up the family)
- one human being apparently unique in creation: body, soul, and spirit.  A triune being.
- one death–the soul of man died and they knew it because they discovered they were now naked.

We were in his genes when he sinned.  Just as your eye color comes from your parents, our sinfulness comes from our parent Adam–one man.

IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IN ADAM, YOU ALSO DO NOT BELIEVE IN SIN–AND THEN WHAT IS DEATH IN YOUR EYES?

Because of one disobedient act, death reigned from Adam to Moses even without the Law to explain sin.

With the Law, sin upon sin was increased–so that grace may abound.

ONE MAN BROUGHT GRACE
- a second Adam
- conceived by Holy Spirit in Virgin Mary
- father is God
- one act of continual obedience
- without sin
- totally righteous
- one church (Jew and Gentile)

Romans 5:12-21 ... But the gift is not like the trespass...

THERE IS A MATHEMATICAL FORMULA FOR GRACE:
(Your sins) / (Jesus sin) = GRACE

If you sinned a different sin every second of your 100 years on earth and plugged it into this formula:

3,155,760,000 sins
--------------------------  =  INFINITE GRACE
   0 sins  of Jesus

Your calculator will give you an error because the number is SO LARGE.

IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS, YOU ALSO DO NOT BELIEVE IN GRACE–AND THEN WHAT IS ETERNAL LIFE IN YOUR EYES?

Sin reigns in death; Grace reigns in life.


70th Sunday, February 17, 2002

Scripture readings:
Proverbs 17; Isaiah 28; Philippians 3

Music: Celebration Hymnal

214  He Has Made Me Glad
502  In My Heart There Rings
503  Since Jesus Came Into My Heart
510  Heaven Came Down
402  Cornerstone
505  He Touched Me
507  Something Beautiful

TEACHING: “ROMANS: Justified by faith”

THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH
Romans 1:17  For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Romans 3:28  For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

Romans 4:13 ...not through law...

BUT PERFORMANCE IS WHAT WE ARE TAUGHT:
  Performance in school
  Performance in sports
  Performance in work
  Performance in marriage
  Performance in religion
  Performance in worship
Religious services and Christians should have a point system like at the Olympics.

A NONE PERFORMANCE FAITH IS A STUMBLING BLOCK–TO THE RELIGIOUS.

Romans 9:30-33  What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;  but Israel, who pursued a law of righteous-ness, has not attained it.  Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone."  As it is written:
"See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Luke 20:17-18  Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written:
"'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone'?
Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."

SEAL OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Romans 4:11  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

OUR SEAL IS THE HOLY SPIRIT
2 Cor 1:21-22,  Eph 1:13-14
...deposit guaranteeing our inheritance ...

FATHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Romans 4:16  Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring-not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

OUR CONFESSION
Rom 10:8-10  That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.


69th Sunday, February 10, 2002

Scripture readings:
Proverbs 10; Psalm 32; John 15

Music: Celebration Hymnal

672 What A Mighty God We Serve
530 I Will Call Upon the Lord
542 My Life Is In You, Lord
431 Shine, Jesus Shine
214 He Has Made Me Glad
308 There Is a Redeemer
170 Give Thanks

TEACHING: “There is no excuse or HOW TO BACKSLIDE”

devolution of religion

From the beginning, God had revealed himself to man–Man walked with God in the garden.   [Genesis 2]

Understood from what has been made.
 [1:20]

John 1:3  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

THEY HAD KNOWN
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, [1:21]

THEY CHOSE THE LIE
Exchanged the truth of God for a lie:
  - worshiped created things
  - served created things [1:25]

THEY LOST THE KNOWLEDGE
Losing the knowledge of God
...they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, [1:28]

THEY LOST THE LAW
They know the decrees of God but applaud the violation [1:32]

Look at the unnatural distortion that is symptomatic of rejection of God.

IT IS ONE THING TO HAVE NEVER KNOWN TRUTH–AND ANOTHER TO HAVE KNOWN TRUTH AND REJECTED IT.

devolution of Christianity

From the beginning, the church had power by being baptized by the Holy Spirit–a baptism of Fire.

Acts 1:7-8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Acts 2:4  ALL of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

But the church assigned the miraculous to a different age–it was not worthwhile to them.  The power of God was lost.  Only now with new Pentecostalism are we seeing some of the power that the church is supposed to have.  But what has been lost?

devolution of yourself

Heb 6:4-6   It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

YOU HAVE KNOWN GOD

YOU CHOOSE THE CREATED
 yourself and your stuff

YOU DECIDE GOD IS NOT WORTH IT

YOU HONOR GODLESSNESS

YOU ARE LAODICIAN [Rev. 3:14-22]
   Christ is not in you–but He can be.
 


68th Sunday, February 3, 2002,

Scripture readings:
Proverbs 3; Philippians 3; Hebrews 6

Music: Celebration Hymnal

55 Bless His Holy Name
362 Celebrate Jesus
62 Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty
107 Lord, I Lift Your Name on High
542 My Life Is In You, Lord
308 There is a Redeemer
170 Give Thanks

TEACHING: Elihu: Religion out of angry youth

Elihu must have been seventeen

Job 36:4 Be assured that my words are not false; one perfect in knowledge is with you.

Elihu declared himself to have the same perfect knowledge of God!

Job 37:16 ...wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?

ANGRY YOUTH CAN DO THAT TO YOU–he didn’t get his way so he picked up signs and started protesting.

SYMPTOMS OF IMMATURITY

Has to speak:

Job 32:18 For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me;

Has no mercy:

Problems in life are to turn man away from wrong doing. [33:17]

People get what they deserve. [33:11]

Has no mediator:

IF there is a mediator–there is only one in a thousand. [33:23]

Has no need for judgment:

There is no "additional" judgment needed. [34:23]

Has no impact on God:

Your wickedness or righteousness has no impact on God. [35:6-7]

God does not hear wicked men. [35:13]

Has no direct line to God:

Almighty is beyond our reach. [37:23]

GOD’S ANSWER ABOUT ELIHU–and even JOB:

Job 38:2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?"

TRAINING FOR IMMATURITY

Heb 6:1-2 ...leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity...

Go beyond REPENTANCE:

Repentance is needed for sins that lead to death–not works–not performance.

Go beyond FAITH:

There is a God who cares about us.

Go beyond BAPTISM:

Water baptism is the sign of dying with Christ and being resurrected with Him.

Go beyond ANOINTING:

Laying on of hands does heal &give power & anointing from God.

Go beyond RESURRECTION:

There is a bodily resurrection.

Go beyond JUDGMENT:

There is a judgment–not in this life.

After all of this, JOB WAS RIGHT.

JOB’s ANSWER

Job 42:1-6 "...Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. ... My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."


67th Sunday, January 27, 2002
Scripture readings:
Proverbs 27; 2 Cor. 9; Hosea 10

Music: Celebration Hymnal
362   Celebrate Jesus
–       Ancient Of Days
10     Majesty
107    Lord, I Lift Your Name on High
9       Glorify Thy Name
31      I Exalt Thee

TEACHING: Zophar: Religion by Man’s Reasoning
MY UNDERSTANDING INSPIRES ME TO REPLY–The spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

Job’s immediate response to Zophar provides a hint of what Zophar is:

INTELLECTUAL ELITIST

Job 12:1-3 Doubtless you are the people, and wisdom will die with you! But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things?

WILLFULLY DEAF MOCKER

Job 21:1-3 Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me. Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.

20:1-3 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

"My troubled thoughts prompt

me to answer because

I am greatly disturbed.

I hear a rebuke that dishonors me,

and my understanding inspires

me to reply.

I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of MY UNDERSTANDING causeth me to answer. Job 20:3 [KJV]

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; Prov 3:5

When Jesus was tempted by Satan, Jesus answered Satan consistently:

"It is written..." [Matt 4, Luke 4]

HOWEVER, Zophar "knows better," he has his own superior understanding

-- True wisdom has two sides [11:6]

-- God has even forgotten some of your sin. [11:6]

-- God is out of your reach [11:7-8]

– He has taken you to court and has obviously found you sinful [11:10-11]

-- You have to remove your sin and then you will pull yourself out of this trouble [11:13-19]

Surely you know... [Job 20]

The joy of the godless lasts but a moment [20:5] ... he will perish forever, [20:7] ... Like a dream he flies away... [20:8] ... Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue, though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth, yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him. [20:12-14]

Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God." [20:29]

Conclusion:  YOU make your own HELL ON EARTH

BUT---IT IS WRITTEN:

...man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.... [Heb 9:27]

Judgment is not brought to you by the circumstances of life. Rather, after death, you are brought to judgment if without a Redeemer, you are thrown into eternal fire. [Rev 20]


66th Sunday, January 20, 2002

Scripture readings:  Proverbs 20; Romans 1; Matthew 23

Music: Celebration Hymnal
140  Great is the Lord
431  Shine Jesus Shine
537 He Who Began a Good Work
649  When I Look Into Your...
118  His Name Is Wonderful
654 Change My Heart O God
507 Something Beautiful

TEACHING: Bildad: Religion by tradition of men

Job 8:8 "Ask the former generations and find out what their fathers learned,

1. When disaster strikes, it is obviously judgment of God: your children sinned. [8:4]

2. If you are pure and upright, God will restore your position. [8:5-6]

3. Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider's web. [8:13-14]

4. Surely God does not reject a blameless man or strengthen the hands of evildoers. [8:20]

In Job 18, Bildad lists off the symptoms of an evil man. Because Job has all these symptoms, he therefore must be, from Bildad’s perspective, an evil man.

White-washed tomb syndrome. [Matt 23:27]
It is not the external appearances or performances that makes one righteous.

Mark 7:17-23 Jesus explains...

After Job’s persistence, Bildad asks, "How then can a man be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure?" [25:4]

JOB KNEW HE HAD A REDEEMER.

The difference between an evil man and a righteous man is knowing the Redeemer. Outward appearances from a human perspective don’t matter.

Accepted a Redeemer vs. Have heard the message, but...?
Thief on the cross vs. Judas
Ted Bundy vs. Larry Flint
Jane Fonda vs. Ted Turner
George W. Bush vs. Bill Clinton

You know yourself whether you are righteous or evil because you know whether you have a Redeemer or are going it on your own.

NEITHER SUFFERING NOR LACK OF SUFFERING INDICATES RIGHTEOUSNESS

Paul suffered

2 Cor 11:21-29

Paul was righteous–yet he said.

Rom 7:14-20
...what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

SALVATION COMES FROM THE REDEEMER: Jesus Christ our Lord

Romans 3:23 ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
 
 


65th Sunday, January 13, 2002
Scripture readings:  Proverbs 13; Hebrews 12; Psalm 94
Music: Celebration Hymnal

55 Bless His Holy Name
214 He Has Made Me Glad
530 I Will Call Upon the Lord
542 My Life Is In You, Lord
62 Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty
107 Lord I Lift Your Name on High

ANNOUNCEMENT
January 27, 2002, after morning worship, Iron Range Christian Center will have its second annual business meeting.

TEACHING: Eliphaz: Religion inspired by demons

Heb 12:4-6; Prov 3:11; Rev 3:19
These sound like Eliphaz in Job 5:17, but God told Eliphaz, "I am angry with you...because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has."

HOW DOES GOD REBUKE US?
Deut 4:36 From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire.

Isa 30:19-21 ...your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Jer 32:33 ...they would not listen or respond to discipline.

Rev 3:19-20 ...If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, ...

Deut 8:5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you. [Dads–learn from this]

HOW DO FATHERS DISCIPLINE?
1 Kings 19:11-13 ...a gentle whisper.

God’s discipline is not cancer, sores, dead children, disasters, or murderers flying planes into buildings. It is His voice knocking at your heart’s door.

GOD REBUKES WITH HIS VOICE
FIRST–the gentle Word of God.
SECOND–the Word of God describing the judgment impending.
THIRD–the Word of God in judgment.

The judgment of God is a promise which He will keep. [Matthew 5:18]

ELIPHAZ’S WRONG DOCTRINE


WHERE DID ELIPHAZ GET ALL THIS?
Job 4:12-16 "A word was secretly brought to me, my ears caught a whisper of it. Amid disquieting dreams in the night, when deep sleep falls on men, fear and trembling seized me and made all my bones shake. A spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body stood on end. It stopped, but I could not tell what it was. A form stood before my eyes, and I heard a hushed voice..."

TWO soft VOICES
One is God’s–one is not
One restores–one lies
One speaks clearly–one uses innuendo
One should be feared–one scares
One is a redeemer–one brings guilt
One has judgment–one just condemns

WHICH VOICE DO YOU HEAR?


64th Sunday, January 6, 2002
Scripture readings:  Proverbs 6; Isaiah 40; Amos 4
Music: Celebration Hymnal
171 Come into His Presence
438 Jesus Saves!
527 I Know Whom I Have Believed
195 Bless the Name of Jesus
173 I’m Forever Grateful
186 Lord, Be Glorified
194 We Worship and Adore You

TEACHING: Job: a "perfect" man

"Have you considered Job?"

Job feared the Lord and shunned evil.
Job 28:28 And he said to man,
'The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.'"

1. JOB FEARED GOD
Job 23:13-16 "But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases. He carries out his decree against me, and many such plans he still has in store. That is why I am terrified before him; when I think of all this, I fear him. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

–this is wisdom--

2. JOB SHUNNED EVIL (Job 31)
Even when the hedge of God was protecting him. Why?
Job 31:4 Does he not see my ways and count every step?

Job 31:23 For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.

What things? Job had a list.
- lust–looking at women
- falsehood/deceit
- heart enticed by another woman
- denied justice to my servants
- denied desires of the poor– widows–fatherless (food, clothing)
- used influence wrongly
- trust in gold
- honored sun or moon–even secretly
- rejoiced in enemies misfortune
- kept food from anyone - inhospitable
- concealed sin

--this is understanding--

3. JOB WATCHED HIS MOUTH
Job 1:22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing
Job 2:10 ... Job did not sin in what he said.
Job 6:10 ... I had not denied the words of the Holy One.
Job 23:11-12 My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
Job 27:2-4 ...my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit.

4. JOB KNEW HIS ADVOCATE
Job 16:19 Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.

Job 13:14-16 Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands?
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; ...
Job 7:21 Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins?

5. JOB REPENTED
Job 42:6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes."

The doctrine of retribution is denied.
John 9:2-4 "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

Return to 2002 Worship Notes INDEX