Your own personal trainer‏

By the power of the Spirit we put to death the misdeeds of the body. The Spirit sets us free from the misdeeds we cannot get rid of on our own. This is a lifelong process we entered into, in partnership with the Spirit, when we first believed. 

Romans 8

² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. ³ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law--indeed it cannot, ⁸ and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

 People pray to take away temptations and sins of the flesh. Sometimes we want a magical instant cure. We would like to stop over-eating or lying or worrying or nagging…in one session. God has another plan in mind: he will send his Spirit to be our personal trainer. That means that he will watch us and make corrections and show us better ways to perform our life tasks. But not in one session. He will walk with us for the rest of our lives. He will be our cheerleader when we conquer one obstacle and lift us up when we fall down.  We will walk in the power of the Spirit, not in our own power. And God will be really pleased by that!

Remember to bring a can of soup and a dollar for “Souper Sunday” this Sunday.

You shall be my witnesses‏

From the Spirit we receive power to be God's witnesses. It is the Spirit who draws people to the Gospel and equips us with the power to fulfill God's purposes.

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

Some people are discouraged from sharing the faith in which they live for today and hope for tomorrow because it doesn't compare with something that came from a "professional evangelistic program." But the Holy Spirit has made a home in you so the power of God might reside in you. You are the "right" person for sharing what only you can share. you can tell what God has done for you. So we pray "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Let heaven come down and empower your witness.

We pray for a young man named Jim for a melanoma, for a man who needs help from AA, and for a "Power Surge" for our congregation as a result of our retreat this weekend. Amen.

The will of God‏

The counselor teaches us and reminds us of what we need to know and remember. He is our comforter, our advisor, our encourager, and our strength. He guides us in the way we should go.

(Ps. 143.10), “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

We pray for the guidance of the Spirit of God to learn and follow your Holy Will.

Amen.

Since the Holy Spirit is in your life (1)

If the Holy Spirit dwells within you a number of things should be true.

1.    The Holy Spirit helps us to speak when we are in precarious situations and need to bear witness. (Mark 13:11, Luke 12:12.)

Mark 13:11  When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

You dented the fender of the new car and have to come home and confess that it was your fault…You have to ask the boss for a raise and you know that finances are tight…your neighbor is having a problem with drinking and you want to say something…his wife just died and he is blaming God…what do you say? You are tempted to make up a little speech to explain yourself and the ways of God but the Spirit says,”Wait! Let me do the talking. I can explain things that you don’t understand."

So instead of preparing a defense, you pray, "Lord, help me to have the right words to speak to my brother in a way that helps him." Then continue to pray for the one who needs your help and support. You may thank the Holy Spirit for showing evidence of his work in your life. 

Amen.

When Jesus speaks, people listen!‏

Mark 1:21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. ²² They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

A crowd of citizens gathered at the dedication of a military cemetery near Gettysburg, PA. A decisive battle was fought around that town and thousands of soldiers had died in the conflict. Because these soldiers had given their all for their country it was a sacred moment to remember and honor their sacrifice. One of the most honored orators of the day, Edward Everett, spoke for over an hour . When he finished, President Lincoln unfolded his notes and in just a few minutes said the words that still ring in the ears of children and their parents.

The difference between the speeches was that one allowed the listener to ponder for a while and then forget the message while the other went to the heart. When Jesus spoke to the crowds he was more than a great speaker. He certainly informed those who listen but he did something more: he spoke to the hearts of the listeners.

Each of us is motivated to live and act as Christians because of what we believe and moves us to act as Christians. Paul wrote Timothy,

“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and good conscience and a sincere faith.”

When we hear what moves us to think about what is good and worthy also moves us to live and to act. Paul wrote,

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

When we speak about growing in our Christian faith we mean more than memorizing passages of scripture. God wants something more than scolars of the Word, God desires followers of the Word.

Who can command us to follow his Word? It is Jesus, who speaks as one with authority. I pray that we might all come under the authority of God’s Word so that we understand God’s will and do it. Amen.

When he speaks, you listen.

Deut 18:15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. 16 This is what you requested of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: "If I hear the voice of the LORD my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die." 17 Then the LORD replied to me: "They are right in what they have said. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command.

What is the vital link that sustains you in a world that may be indifferent to your needs and possibly hostile? A god is what assures you it is all right to make a move or risk making a mistake. Someone who will keep you from falling or being abandoned or left alone. Luther said, “A god is the one you turn to in every time of need.” Moses had an ongoing dialogue with God. He was personal, “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” He was appeased by obedience to his will. Those who ignored or defied his commands were destroyed. The whole nation could have been abandoned in the wilderness for worshipping a golden calf.

The advantage of Israel was that they could hear the Word of God. They trusted Moses to speak that word accurately. They were confident that he neither lied nor deceived them. Since obedience to that word was crucial to their survival , to hear from Moses was to hear from God.

So when Moses was dead what would happen to Israel? Joshua received special training from Moses but would he have the same “Pipeline to heaven?” God reassures his people with the promise of the prophet who is “like Moses.” After Joshua there were judges who ruled and made decisions. Then there were the kings, especially David and Solomon who were considered the “sons of God.” They turned to the Prophets to find out what God wanted them to do.

But there was only one who truly fulfilled the promise of teaching the will of God without interpretation. That is our Lord Jesus Christ who still makes us right with God. Listen carefully and you will find the path that leads to life. Amen. 

Prayer for Bible teachers and preachers and all those who teach the Word of the Lord.

it's time to turn‏

Mark 1:  ¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

When do we know that it is time to repent? When we have reached the point where it makes no sense to try to go back to “the way things were” and it is a fatal mistake to stay where you are. Repentance calls us to move away from where we are to where God wants us to be.

Think of Harry Truman of Mt. St. Helen’s, WA. He had run a fish camp at the base of the mountain for fifty years. One day he was told that the volcano would erupt soon. He had to get out of his home fast! But Harry wouldn’t move. He had been safe and comfortable in that place for many years. Why should it change now? That day over a thousand feet of the mountain was blown off by the volcano. Harry died because he wouldn’t change.

What does our congregation believe about this time? Should we change and risk losing what we have or stay the same and allow the process of decay to finish us? Jesus says we should believe the good news. We are to trust that he has a mission for us to accomplish and that he will allow us to work with the Lord to call back a sinful people to repent and join in the Kingdom of God.  

Heed the Call

 ¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

 ¹⁶ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him.

 ¹⁹ When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰ Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus said, “The time has come.” It was time for action. How would the one who created oceans and mountains unleash his Kingdom on earth? The one who caused a great civilization to rise and fall how would he establish his authority in remote Galilee? The answer is one person at a time.

Jesus called people like you and me to start the process of change. It is still the same. He calls us to follow him by giving up on the old life and trusting him for the new life of the Holy Spirit. As that hymn states:

Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea; day by day his clear voice sounding, saying ,”Christian, follow me.”

Now it’s time to heed the call.

"I have a dream" speech‏

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

I have a dream today. (Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr)

I have added the title (Rev.) to Dr. King’s name because I want us to look at this section of his speech as if he was the pastor who delivered this sermon at your church yesterday. Through his study of scripture, especially the promise of the prophets that the Savior would come to emancipate God’s people from captivity and oppression, Rev. King was convinced of the rightness of this cause. It was not his personal crusade, nor even of a race and culture but it was God’s cause. As Mary sang of the redeemer of Israel, that he would “put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of low degree.”

Our congregation is a fellowship of believers who have given their complete trust to God and his provision for our life and welfare. So we should always stand for what is right and just even when it is costly. We can sense a brotherhood with people who struggle for rights and freedom because it is our cause, too.

On this sacred day, let us devote ourselves to prayer and study of God’s Word so that we may live as he has called us to live. Amen.

More glory than you can see‏

^{John 1:49} Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” ⁵⁰ Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” ⁵¹ And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you ,you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Jesus recognized Nathaniel in a crowd. That’s a good thing to know about our Lord. “He knows every hair on your head. But Nathaniel will see much more. With Jesus, water becomes wine. The crippled man is raised up. The deaf hear and the blind will see. Even a dead man is raised to life again. In all these outward signs of Jesus inward power you get a glimpse of what our God and Father has always been. He is our loving heavenly Father. James, Peter and John saw a glowing revelation of that inward glory when he was transfigured on the mountain. He was preparing them for that final act of glory when he was crucified, he died, and was raised again to eternal life.

How have you grown in your understanding and appreciation of Jesus and what he might do in your life? He desires to show you more of that love that has drawn his followers for hundreds of years. Don’t be satisfied with what you saw under the fig tree.


A course in discipleship will be offered in Oviedo on Jan. 27-28. There you will learn to better know Jesus through Bible study, prayer, worship and service.

Jesus promised fullness of joy. You can have that. He said “I will make all things new.” Your life can be renewed. Consider joining us for this retreat.
Amen.

You are a part of me

1 Corinthians 6: ¹² “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. ¹³ You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴ By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. ¹⁵ Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! ¹⁶ Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”^[b] 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.^[c]

 ¹⁸ Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. ¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

A soldier on the line doesn’t know where he fits into the battle. The mother who nurtures her child or cares for her home and budgets the money does not understand how she erects the framework for a civilization that her offspring will enjoy. Paul claims that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. They are made to serve God, not the whims of my intoxication with private inclinations. How do we see the bigger picture in the direction of my life and the purpose of my actions? It is in the body of Christ. My legs carry the message of salvation. My mouth speaks the words. My arms embrace the stranger. My love is the love of Christ. The Holy Spirit invites you into the strategy room of God as he unfolds the redemption of humanity from sin and death. Are you interested?

What can get me up and out this morning?

⁹ At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Imagine you had slept out under the stars last night. The first reddish bands are streaking across the horizon but you clinch the border of your sleeping bag tighter to keep in the warmth. The dew is heavy but another vapor rises to arouse your sense of smell. It is unmistakable: bacon frying in a skillet and coffee boiling in the pot. If guilt or your watch could not get you out of those blankets, the anticipation of breakfast will!

In a like manner, the Holy Spirit arouses faith in a believer. Without the Spirit, the name of Jesus is just a name. But with the grace of the Spirit we see our friend and Savior come to us in heavenly glory. May the aroma of the Spirit draw you to worship this morning.

Amen.