Biblically Centered ( God's Word the Solid Foundation)

BIBLICALLY-CENTERED

 (God’s Word the Solid Foundation)

Introduction: James E. White quotes an old phrase, “Which hills are you prepared to die on? Meaning, which stands are you going to take no matter what the cost?  For what are you ready to die? Your answer will determine your core values.” What is a core value? It is a principle that guides an organization's internal conduct as well as its relationship with the external world.

            Every organization or company in the corporate world operates by a set of core values. Churches should be no different. Three years ago, while I was searching for a ministry opportunity, I looked at various Church's websites to know their beliefs and core values.

            When I looked at Hope Church's beliefs, and core values, I said to my self this is the church I would like to pastor, so I applied, and the rest is history. Before my arrival here, a team of people may have prayerfully identified six core values that would guide their internal conduct and help them in their relationship with the outside world.

            These are our hills that we should be willing to die on. For the next six weeks, we will look at our Core Values and what they mean to us as a church. The first Core Value: “We are a Biblically- Centered Church.” In preparation for this series, I asked a group of people in our church to help me. Some gave me brilliant ideas, and I will be using some of them.

            Throughout this sermon series on Core Values, we will be asking, questions like why this Core Value is essential for us? How are we practically implementing this value in our personal lives and the life of Hope Church? I title this message: God’s Word the Solid Foundation.

            Biblically-Centered: “The Word of God is our ultimate authority. Mature followers of Jesus Christ must know how to read, interpret, and teach Scripture. The time one is in the Scriptures directly impacts their relationship with God and the ability to obey His commands.”

            What do we mean by being biblically-centered? Which means we take God’s word as our ultimate authority. We are building our lives on God’s word, which is our solid foundation. If you have followed my sermons, you may have noticed; they are Biblically sound. We encourage the members of Hope Church to become lifelong learners of God’s word.

            In a time where the gospel is being watered down, and strange theologies are cropping up to confuse believers, it so crucial that we remain Biblically-Centered. I want to share a few reasons why we are to build our lives on the solid foundation of God’s Word. And talk about what would that look like practically in our day to day lives. So, Let’s get started.

I LIVING BY GOD’S WORD MAKES US SPIRITUALLY MATURE

            For a new believer in Christ, God’s word is like pure milk that provides all that they need to grow strong in their faith and become spiritually mature. I Peter 2:2, “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment.” Like newborn babies crave for milk for their nourishment, every new believer and the seasoned believer must desire spiritual milk, daily. That makes you strong.

            What made Peter stress on this essential truth? He heard the teachings of Christ, where once he said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Jesus, through His word, becomes our Daily Bread.

            As a young believer, I read and reread the Bible cover to cover several times. Even after so many times of reading, God’s word never fails to amuse me. It is like a Gold mine. The more you learn from God’s word and apply it in your daily life, the more you will grow spiritually.

            How has been your Bible reading off late? Is it part of your Spiritual discipline? Have you read through the entire Bible from cover to cover even once? There is no condemnation in Christ. You can pick up the Bible today and start reading it, and you can complete it in one year.

II.  GOD’S WORD KEEPS US BALANCED

            In Matthew 24:24, Jesus warned his disciples to be careful about false prophets and messiahs, saying, “For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.” Their intent is to deceive people, including, if possible, even God’s chosen well-seasoned saints. Be aware of false prophets.

            As per the predictions, there are so many false prophets these days going around and deceiving believers with their well-crafted sermons, and through performing miracles. As the Bible says, they are like wolves in sheep's clothing. How do we discern them so that we can stay away from them? How can we know whether they are telling the truth or a bunch of lies?

            To discern truth from error and remain spiritually balanced, we need to know the whole counsel of God from the entire word of God. The in-depth knowledge of God’s word can help us avoid all extremes. For example, there are some Christians who say; you should not take any medicines when you get sick, but only pray and trust God for healing. That is extreme!

            Yes, I believe God can perform miracles even today, but at the same time, He could use the wisdom He has given to the scientists and the doctors to cure our diseases.  There are several scriptures speak of using medical treatments such as applying bandages ( Is 1:6),  Good Samaritan’s use of oil and wine to soothe the wounds (Luke 10:34), Paul advising Timothy to take some wine for his sick stomach ( I Timothy 5:23), and Jesus was accompanied by a doctor named Luke, (Colossians 4:14). There is nothing wrong with going to doctors and use medicine.

            However, we should not forget the fact that God is our primary healer, not the doctors. When we are sick, we can always ask God to heal us, but he does not promise that He will answer the way we still want. But one thing we can be assured of is that the Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.” Ps 145:13. God’s word keeps us balanced.

III. GOD’S WORD THE SOLID FOUNDATION

            In our passage, we read a familiar story that we have heard since we were in Sunday school. Jesus told of two people who were set out to build houses. One built a house that stood through seasons, storms, and floods, whereas the other person’s home came crashing down.        What was the difference? It was the foundation. The first one built his house on a solid rock foundation, where is the other one on a shallow, shaky foundation of sand. Jesus referred to the first one as a wise man and the second one as foolish. What made the first one wise and the other foolish? Listen to Jesus’ analysis.  “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, but anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish.”

            What teachings was Jesus referring to here? When we read the context, we will notice that he was referring to His teachings on the mountainside, also known as the sermon on the mount. Jesus taught His disciples and the crowd about, being the Salt and Light. The Law.

            Anger & Adultery. Divorce & Vows. Revenge & Loving our enemies and giving to the needy. Prayer & Fasting. Money & Possessions. How not to judge others. Effective Prayer. The Golden rule & the Narrow Gate. False prophets & True Disciples.  In closing these teachings, he talked about building our life on the solid foundation of His Word.

            I encourage you to read about these teachings when you go home. It is not enough to know them intellectually, but more importantly, we follow them. How do we become Bible-centered Christians?  I suggest the following. At Hope Church, we encourage personal, and independent reading of scriptures to know the truth for ourselves first hand, like the Bereans in the book of Acts 17:11. We offer Sunday morning Bible times wherein groups of people explore the teachings of the Bible. Our Mid-Week Connect groups are where we focus on specific Biblical topics. Above all, we want everyone to go out and do the Word.

IV WHAT DOES BIBLICALLY-CENTERED PRACTICALLY MEAN?

            When we are living biblically-centered lives, we are not merely listeners of God’s word, but we are the doers of God’s word. In other words, we are living by God’s principles. Biblically-Centered Christians do things differently than the rest of the world because they are guided and motivated by a higher set of values and standards. For example, in this world, for many, it is no big deal to lie, steal, or commit adultery. But if you know the truth about them from the Bible, and have determined to live godly, then you will stay away from them. 

             We are being Biblically-Centered, practically means that we will speak and stand up for the truth even when it hurts.  We will love our neighbors and strangers as Christ has loved us and accepted us. We will pray for our enemies and forgive those who hurt us. We will love and respect our spouses and raise our children in fear of the Lord. We will use our resources wisely. 

            I understand it is not always easy to live that way; we may fall away from the truth and do things that are not pleasing to God. The word of God tells us that even when we are faithless, He will remain faithful.  We learn from the scriptures that, “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.” Proverbs 24:16. According to I John 1:9, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

            Dear friends at Hope Church, being Biblically-Centered, is one of our values, and we are not ashamed of it. I see many of you are already living biblically-centered lives. For those who are not and struggling to stay afloat in this world, my encouragement is that you will build your life on the Solid Foundation of God’s word. In closing, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” Eph 2:13-14. Amen!

EMBRACING AGING

EMBRACING AGING

Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

Introduction: I attend a Barnabas pastor’s support group. Part of our reason for the meeting is to share what’s going on in our lives and pray for one another. One by one, the pastors began to share about their bodily aches and pains and how they have to take care of their unwell spouses.

            As I listened to them, I thought to myself, oh boy, getting old must be tough. It was my turn to share, I said, my health is good, and I am physically feeling fit. One of them said, “You are only 54; wait until you reach our age.” I said, “I better keep up my exercises so that I will continue to remain fit.” I am in a peculiar stage as a 54-year-old. I am neither young nor old.

            That conversation made me think. Admittedly, I spent half of my life, and how am I preparing myself for hopefully the other half both physically, emotionally, and spiritually? How do I embrace aging graciously?  What does the bible say about aging? What are the benefits of aging? Can we still be significant for God in our old age? Are you afraid of aging?

            These are some of the questions many in our time are afraid to entertain? But the fact of the matter is whether we like it or not like King David said, “Once I was young now, I am Old.” The sooner we come to terms with this reality of life, the better we would be prepared to face our aging process. “Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened.”

- Jennifer Yane. If you live your life as though you are a perpetual image contestant, your age is eventually going to horrify you.

            To age, without desperation in today’s society is mastery. One day we wake up, and it is as if we have aged overnight. In the passage, we read wise king Solomon advises the young and the old about the facts of life and the process of aging and the chief end of human beings. To explain the mystery of life, he uses different images. I title this message: Embracing Aging!

            Let me lay down some parameters as we approach our passage in Ecclesiastes twelfth chapter. The title Ecclesiastes comes from the Greek and Latin translations of Solomon’s book, which means, “Preacher.” As suggested in Chapter 1:1, the author of this book was king Solomon, the son of David. It is the fourth book of poetry in the Bible after Job, Psalms, and Proverbs.  Because of its poetic nature, the imagery, the metaphors presented in this book can not be taken literally. However, the essence of their meaning can be applied to real-life situations.

            The word Vanity means meaningless; it occurs about 35 times in the book, giving way to what truly matters in life. The main thrust of Ecclesiastes is that all of life is meaningless, useless, hollow, futile, vain if it is not rightly related to God. Only when our lives are based on God and His word, they are worthwhile.  With that background, let’s study our passage.

I. REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR (Ecc 11: 9-10, 12-1)

            11: 9-10, “Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So, refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.”

            12:1, “Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” The verses in chapter eleven give a lot of scope to young people to enjoy life and do whatever they want to do, also a warning that they would be brought before God to give an account of all they did in life.

            Chapter twelve begins with an alternative to the frivolous lifestyle of the youth.  It urges young people not to be carried away in their excitement and forget the One who made them. Instead, resolve to serve Him with their youthful energy before they enter into an unpleasant old age.

            The Bible has a lot of examples of those who did not throw away their youthful years and energy but used them in the service of their God. One of them was a prophet named Jeremiah, who received a mission from God at a very young age, and this is what he has to say about serving God while you are young. Lam 3:27, “And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline.” Who are you serving today? Is it God, the devil, yourself, or the world? Are you picking up the yoke of God or burdened by the expectations of this world? 

II EMBRACING AGING  (Vs. 2-7)

            Aging is a natural process. There is no getting around it. However, so many of us kick and scream against aging. Is it because we live in an age-defying culture? Much research is being done, and products produced to help people prevent, defy, and possibly reverse aging. When you go through all that trouble, to stay forever young, people don’t recognize you anymore. So why bother! Why worry and fret. Why can’t we be authentic and graciously embrace aging?

            King Solomon uses several metaphors such as a dilapidated house, nature, and a funeral procession to help us embrace the process of aging and our inescapable eventual death. Again, we don’t take these metaphors literally but look at the emphasis and the meaning they convey.

            Vs. 2, “Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky.” This verse talks about the two stages of human life — the bright sunshine stage of the youth, and the twilight zone of aging.

            Vs 3-5, In the Message we have a contemporary explanation on what happens to our bodies as we age. “In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world. You can’t come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird-song. Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past.

            Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white,

Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you’re well on your way to eternal rest,

While your friends make plans for your funeral.” In verses, 6-7, we find another round of warning for young people to remember their creator while they are young and various symbols indicate that finally, death has overtaken us.

            “Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then, the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” Whether we like it or not, these are the facts of life one has to face.

            Remember, life however lovely it may be, is soon over. The body is put back in the same ground it came from. The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it. Those of us who perhaps are on the later stage of the journey may be wondering is that all there is for me or more? Does my life still count? Can I be useful to God, to the church, and to the society even when I am old? The answer to these questions is a resounding Yes! Beside getting senior citizens discounts, old age can be more satisfying for those who love God and continue to serve Him till the end of their lives. God could use the older people to mentor and disciple the young people.  

III. FLOURISHING IN OLD AGE

            The basis for this two-part sermon was David’s prayer in his old age, where he remembered God’s faithfulness to those who feared God and sought to do the right thing. Psalm 37:23-26, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing.”

            Developmental psychologist Bernice Neugarten made a distinction between young-old age and old-old age.  As long as we can do most of what we want to do, we are young old age. When our health fundamentally changes the way we live we have entered old-old age.  However the experience of some may be that you are somewhere in between those categories with various kinds of health problems, such as failing eyesight or arthritis.

            When you see you are aging, don’t fret. You still have a lot to offer for God’s Kingdom in this world. As C.S Lewis says, “You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream.” Our strength in Hope Church is that we have a number of people who are at the verge of retiring and some have already retired for quite some time. God is not yet finished with you. He is about to do a new thing in your life, pay attention to the doors of opportunities He is going to open up for you. He may ask you to do something you may have never done before.

            God has invested in many of you for a number of years. He has seen your faithful service to Him through thick and thin of this congregation. He is pleased to know that you have not given up on your faith in following God when somany of your contemporaries have turned away.     God is going to use all those years of experience to make you a blessing not only here in Hope Church, in our community and around the world. Regardless what stage of life you may be in here is the promise of God for you when you know him and live according to His will.

            Old age is a blessing from God. You will still flourish in your old age. Psalm 92: 12-14 “But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon, for they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age, they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.” God is saying to you, “I will be your God throughout your lifetime until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” Isaiah 46:4 Amen!

Teens and Their Pressures

TEENS & THEIR PRESSURES!

Introduction: Today’s teens and adolescents live under tremendous pressures such as we never faced when we were teenagers.  These pressures broadly come from four different areas, and they are from peers to conform, parents to perform, social media, to belong, and Churches to transform. What I will be sharing today would support teens and adolescents to navigate through their high-pressured years and help parents who earnestly want their children to succeed.

            The prompting (not the pressure) for this message comes from a conversation I had with Wilma, where she read to me from one of my life directional verses that are part of the prayer of King David in Psalm 37:25 “Once I was young, and now I am Old.” King David may have been well advanced in age when he prayed this prayer. It was a prayer of remembering God’s faithfulness and provision that accompanied him since his teen years to his old age.

            What we can learn from it is, that people who are old today were once teenagers, and the teenagers of today will not remain teenagers forever, one day they too become old. Regardless of whether you are a teenager or an older person, we all go through different kinds of pressures.             How do we cope with stresses and live the most purposeful and fulfilling life? It would do a whole lot of good to us if we can heed the advice of an older mentor to his young mentee who was living in difficult and turbulent times. In the passage, we read the Apostle Paul was warning his young disciple how to avoid the pressures that he might face in the end times. I title this message, “Teens & Their Pressures.”

            How do we define the word “pressure”?  According to one definition, “It is the use of persuasion, influence, or intimidation to make someone to do something.” The pressure is a good thing because it gets the job done. But what we are concerned about here is the kind of undue pressure that comes from peers, parents, and social media which is affecting our teens.

I PEER PRESSURE (To Conform)

            Growing up, we all faced peer pressure to an extent — some more than the others. We recognize that Peers play a significant role in the social and emotional development of children and adolescents. They can be positive and supportive or can be harmful and destructive. As a young person, it is easy to give in to peer pressure because you want to fit in. You want to be liked and may worry that you may be left out or made fun of if you don't go along. 

            It is like the kid in a Christmas Movie who was pressured to stick out his tongue on a frozen pole. On a cold winter day sticking your tongue against a frozen pole probably is not a good idea. Peer pressure can be more sinister than that; as it often leads to addictions and vices in teens. Some bad ones might encourage you to skip classes, steal, cheat, use drugs, e-cigarettes, or alcohol, share inappropriate material online, or become involved in other risky behaviors.

            The Apostle Paul might have had “peer pressure” in his mind when he warned Timothy saying, “For people will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.” Here is what King Solomon said to his son.

            “My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!... My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.” Proverbs 1:10-15.

            If only you listen to this advice and run away from those who entice you to sin, you save yourself, your loved ones and others from a lot of heartaches. How can you practically cope with this mounting peer pressure at school? Here are a few tips that might help you steer clear from trouble makers and temptations that come your way. Stay away from peers who pressure you to do things that seem wrong or dangerous. Learn how to say "no," without being apologetic and practice avoiding or getting out of situations which feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

            Spend time with other youth who resist peer pressure. It helps to have at least one friend who is also willing to say "no." If you have problems with peer pressure, talk to your parents, teacher, or youth leader at the church. 

II PARENTAL PRESSURE (To Perform)

            Parents have been entrusted with a tremendous responsibility to direct their children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will remain on the right track. (Prov 22:6). A Yiddish proverb says, “God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers.” One union minister in India described “a mother’s lap as the best platform for learning values of life and enjoying the warmth of her love and affection.”[2]

            It is so true, teaching our children the values of life begins way before on the lap of a mother, not so much in a classroom. In Jewish households, it is the responsibility of both the parents to instruct their children in the ways of God. At an early age, we tried to the best of our ability to instill Godly values in our three daughters. We led them to Christ, and each of them expressed the desire to be baptized when they were thirteen.

            After doing twenty-three years of active parenting, now we step back and take the roles of an intercessor, encourager, and supporter of our girls. Our continued hope and prayer are that they will remain on the right track and live God-honoring lives.

            We are living as the Apostle Paul mentioned in challenging times. What I mean with that is that in our time, many people fall away from the faith, including Christian parents. This is the era of Soccer, Helicopter, and Tiger Moms, where certain mothers apply all kinds of pressure on their children to perform well in the school and get nothing less than A+ grades.

            On the other hand, some mothers out of desperation, to get their children into prestigious colleges won’t back off from cheating by bribing someone thousands of dollars to alter their children’s SAT scores. These types of parents do more harm to their children than good.

            Parental pressure on children gets intensified, among Asian households, I can tell this by experience. Of course, we want to encourage and stimulate our children to do well and reach their maximum potential.  We want nothing less than the best for our children.

            However, it is critically important that our children know that they are loved and valued for who they are, not for how well they perform! Parents, instead of applying pressure hug your children and tell them you love them, even if they miserably fail in an exam. Believe in them, seek to understand where they are coming from. 

            I used to be too preachy with my daughters I had to learn to listen to them and hear what they were saying. Unlike my father I learned to appreciate them for who they are more than how well they have performed in school. Remember how God affirmed his love for His Son soon after his baptism? “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” That was way before Jesus even began his ministry.

            There is also advice for how you as children relate to your parents. “Obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

            No matter how unreasonable and unloving your parents might be, you are commanded to obey and honor them. In the same note, there is advice for the fathers. “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Instead, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:1-4).  

            When children learn to obey and honor their parents, and fathers do not provoke their children to anger, children will better cope with the pressures that come at them.  To sum it up: open communication between parents and children is critical.  When there is love, acceptance, and understanding, teens would feel safe to open up and process some of the pressures they face. The next BIG pressure on the teens comes from Social Media and T.V

III SOCIAL MEDIA (To belong)

            Social Media and TV play a significant role in shaping the minds of our children. It should come as no surprise that the pressure to be available 24/7 on social media is a very real challenge for today's teenagers. “A report by Common Sense Media found that 75 percent of American teenagers have social media profiles.

            Teens can’t stay away from their cell-phone not even for 30 minutes. Teen girls, in particular, come under tremendous pressure to catch up with what their other girlfriends are doing. What are the effects of social media on teenagers? Anxiety, sleep-deprivation, envy, and depression. Some parents mistakenly think it is showing love to provide their teens with cellphones, video games, and never monitor their viewing habits. As Christians, we need a healthy dose of critical thinking and discipline when it comes to our use of these media.

             Teenage years is not all about pressures but also about potential. There is so much potential, and God-given creativity is locked up within you. There are endless opportunities to make a difference in this world. How can you unleash all the potential that is in you? By staying away from people, and the things that would mislead you. I want to close with another fatherly advice from King Solomon. “Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do.” Ecc 11:9. Amen!

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[1] https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Peer-Pressure-104.aspx

[2] https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/mothers-lap-is-a-childs-primary-school/article4304224.ece

Jesus is Our Shield from All Storms

Jesus is Our Shield from All Storms! (MARK 6:45-56)

Introduction: For the past week, we have been following the path and the devastating effects of Hurricane Dorian over the Bahamas, Florida, and the Carolinas. The human loss that happened is far more significant and invaluable than the property loss.  While we can blame any and everyone for these disasters which seem to be occurring at a rapid speed these days, no one can predict and let alone prevent them from happening. Who do we turn to during storms?

            I am touched by observing human kindness, love, and hope during such heart-wrenching tragedies. Let’s us pray for God’s comfort for those who are grieving the loss of their loved ones.  Pray that help would reach those who are in desperate need of help. Pray that the Churches and individual believers would step out and show God’s love and Christian hospitality. Above all, let’s pray that people would turn to God and put their faith in Him. Amen!

            In our passage today, we will see how a group of fishermen caught up in an unexpected storm on the sea of Galilee and how did they respond when finally help came on their way. How can we navigate the sudden and unforeseen storms of life that occur from time to time?

            Let’s observe what was going on in the life of Jesus and the lives of his twelve close disciples who were also known as the Apostles. In Chapter Six, we read about some personal storms that Jesus had to deal with. For some time, Jesus had been traveling in the region of Galilee, healing people, casting out demons, and teaching them about the good news.

            He leaves that region taking his twelve disciples with him and enters his home town.  One would expect a warm welcome for the son of the soil whose fame had been spreading beyond the region, but instead, a cold reception awaited Jesus and his disciples. On one Sabbath as he began to teach in a Synagogue, it is noted that “many were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.” It was a storm of rejection that he had to endure over and over in his ministry.

            After that humiliating experience, Jesus heard the shocking news of his beloved cousin John’s brutal execution in prison. It was another storm of personal loss and grief. On top of that, he had to deal with the constant pressure of people and the perpetual unbelief of his disciples, who even after performing and seeing many miracles remained hard-hearted.

            How did Jesus cope during the storms of his life? He often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. After teaching a crowd of over 5,000 and feeding them by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus once again recognized his need for solitude. Our story starts here.

            Vs. 45-46, “Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.” Pay attention to what Jesus is doing here.

            The disciples were excited, and the crowds wanted more miracles, but Jesus needed to be alone with his father, so he went up into the hills by himself to pray. If Jesus, the Son of God needed to pull away from all the external pressures and the urgencies of life and find time to pray to God, how much more we mere humans need to find time to be alone with God in prayer?  

            Jesus insisted that the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him across the lake to Bethsaida. A town on the west side of the Sea of Galilee and south of Capernaum. The implication is that Jesus was going to rejoin the disciples at some point later. 

I. CAN ANYTHING GO WRONG WHEN DOING GOD’S WILL?

            Vs. 47-48, “Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land.” Let’s look at the proximity between the disciples and Jesus.  Here the disciples were sailing in the boat as per the will of Jesus.

            Usually, in traveling across the northern end of the lake they would have been one or two miles of the shore, but on that occasion, the wind had carried the boat several miles south, closer to the center of the lake. Jesus remained on the mountainside, praying.  Between 3:00 A.M and 6:00 A.M, there was a gale (John 6) hurricane-like strong winds swept down upon the boat.

            The disciples were entirely in the will of Jesus and doing what he had insisted them to do. Nevertheless, they faced a storm that nearly drowned them. Aren’t things supposed to go in favor of those who are doing God’s will, we wonder? But that is not always the case. The scriptures give us plenty of examples of those who have suffered much and have lost their lives for doing the will of God.

            Therefore, let’s not assume that when something goes wrong, we are out of God’s will. There are times even more so when doing the will of God; we may face opposition. Though the disciples in our story were in the center of God’s will, yet had to face the brunt of the strong winds and the waves. Where was Jesus when they needed him? Did he not care about them?

II GOD SEES YOU!

            Vs. 48, “He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them,” Jesus did not have any binoculars as we do, then how could he see that they were in deep trouble? That was in line with God’s nature of Omni-Presence.         Everything is visible to God, and nothing escapes His eyesight. Consider these scriptures: 

2 Chron 16:9, “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” As God watches the whole earth, what does he see? 

            God sees the nations or peoples. The prophet Isaiah explains how God views them. Isaiah 40: 15 “No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand.” We are not to take this verse literally but to get the essence of this verse; we need to use our imagination. Some times our child-like imagination of who God is and His power can strengthen our faith.  

            Let’s say there are 196 countries in the world, and if they are like a drop in a bucket in God’s eyes, what would be the size of our Great United States of America?  It would be 1/196^th size of a drop. If that is how tiny the USA is, what would be the size of Sharon or the place where you live? It would be invisible, then how about you and me and all that we brag about?

            We are like the morning fog, and we are here for a little while, then gone quickly. However, God knows our names, and when we open up our hearts, he will indwell in us. I don’t understand how this tiny heart of mine could contain the uncontainable one? That is the mystery that that may never be explained — coming back to our passage.

            Jesus saw the struggles of His disciples and came to rescue them but intended to pass them, perhaps waiting to hear them cry out for help. Vs. 49-50, “but when they saw him walking on water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him.” A Jewish superstition was held that the appearance of spirits during the night brought disaster.  The disciple’s terror was prompted by what they may have thought was a ghost.

III. JESUS IS OUR SHIELD FROM ALL STORMS

            Vs. 50-52, “But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were amazed, for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.” Jesus’ calming words caused the winds to cease, and the fearful hearts to ease.

            By speaking the assuring words, “Don’t be afraid, take courage I am here! Jesus proved to the disciples that he had the power over nature, indeed, but the disciples did not understand. Had they realized the feeding of the over 5,000, they would not have been amazed at Jesus’ walking on water or his calming the waves. They were no different than Jesus’ opponents. Let’s sail forward with the disciples and see what is happening on the other side of the lake.

            A vast crowd got wind of Jesus’ arrival. As soon as they got out of the boat, they recognized Jesus. They ran throughout the region, bringing their sick wherever Jesus and his disciples went. They placed their sick in the market place and begged Jesus to let them touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

            What a turnaround? At the beginning of the chapter on his hometown side of the lake, most of the people rejected Jesus, to an extent, he chose not to do any miracles due to their unbelief. In the middle of the lake his disciples in spite of seeing all the wonders have hardened their hearts. On the Gennesaret side of the lake Jesus received a rousing welcome by the sick and the needy who only begged him to let them touch his cloak.

            Where do you belong? Are you like the Pharisees and the people of Jesus’ home town out of skepticism and pride refusing to believe in Jesus? Just like the disciples, even after seeing many miracles, are you hardening your heart? Are you like the desperate crowds who received their healing by faith touching Jesus’ cloak? Let me share some applications of this story.

            You may be already a follower of Christ; if not, you can be one by accepting Jesus as your savior. In your lives’ journey, you may be facing some fierce storms that are threatening to drown your lifeboat. You are doing all that you can to keep it sailing. Jesus is watching your struggle, and he is walking right to the center of your storm with words of assurance.

            Jesus would not only walk to your situation but wants to sail along with you to safety. By faith, no matter how difficult your circumstance may be, when you reach out to him and touch His garment as the crowds did, you will be healed. Remember, next time when you face another fierce storm, you have a friend, and his name is Jesus. When you call upon his name, he will come and save you and calm your storms: Don’t be afraid! Take courage! Jesus is Our Shield from All Storms. Amen!

           

           

CAN THE DRY BONES LIVE AGAIN

CAN THE DRY BONES LIVE AGAIN? (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

Introduction: A recent web article in the Philadelphia Enquirer reads, “There's evidence that confirms what most of us can feel in our bones. Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control said that suicides spiked 25 percent upwards from 1999 through 2016. With 45,000 fatalities in 2015, suicide is one of only three significant causes of death that is rising in the United States. The feeling of hopelessness is at the center of each suicide attempt.

            Another is drug overdoses, which rose by more than 21 percent in just one year, 2016 — hardly a surprise to Philadelphia neighborhoods like Kensington that have been overrun by encampments of those laid low by addiction. Coupled with the steady toll of alcohol-related fatalities, sociologists have come up with a grim new term for all this: Deaths of despair.”[1] 

            It was July 31,593 B.C there was despair and gloom among the Judean exiles. A 30-year old young prophet Ezekiel was one among the 10,000 Jews that were exiled to Babylon. The reason for their exile was that they forsook God and worshipped gods of other nations. 

            In those days, hope had become a rare commodity. Ezekiel and the remnant of Jewish people must have felt as desolate and useless as the piles of dry bones that he had seen in a startling vision. For His namesake, God was going to bring back the exiles into their homeland. 

I. A VALLEY OF DRY BONES (1-3) 

            “The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” Let’s pay attention to the conversation between God and His prophet.

            The prophet Ezekiel saw himself being carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley of dry bones. After leading him through the valley, the Lord asks the prophet a difficult question, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again? Ezekiel said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know the answer to that.” Then the Lord told him to prophesy over the dead bones. 

            Vs. 4-6, “Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” What can we learn from these verses? 

            The dry bones represent the exiled people of Judah who were desperately longing to return to their homeland. Their situation looked barren and lifeless like dead, dry bones. Similarly, in our lives journey, we may find ourselves passing through a dry patch. Wherever we turn, we see barrenness and hopelessness. I am talking about spiritual emptiness. 

            We love to be in control of things. We seek solutions to life’s complex problems. But like the prophet Ezekiel, not always we know the answers, to certain tough questions, so it is OK to say, Lord, I don’t know why and how, but all I know is that you have all the answers.

            At times, God might ask us to take on tough assignments that are beyond us. For Ezekiel, it was to prophesy over the dry bones to come alive, and for me, it is leading Hope Church to a place of fruitfulness and impact in a highly pragmatic and pluralistic community such as Sharon. 

            For you it maybe something else. Whatever it may be, when we are willing to step out by faith in obedience to the Lord’s command and do what he would ask us to do, we will see a miracle unfolding right in front of our eyes. In the end, we will know that Jesus is Lord.  

It may have looked rather foolish for the prophet to stand before the heaps of dry bones and bring forth a prophetic message to them. But let’s see what happened when he stepped out in faith.

II. DEAD BONES CAME BACK TO LIFE AGAIN: (7-10)

            Vs. 7-8, “So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.”

            What a miracle of accuracy?  Just like in a Hollywood slow-motion movie, each bone sought its partner and attached themselves and formed complete human skeletons. Then the muscles, flesh, and skin covered those frames. The valley of dry bones turned into a valley of dead bodies. Now the Lord tells Ezekiel to give a prophetic command to the winds.

            The prophet commanded, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again. And breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army. What a sight to see?

III GOD EXPLAINED THE VISION:

            Vs. 11. Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.” God heard those complaints and grumblings of the exiles who were talking and behaving as though they were dead, all hope is gone, and their nation is finished. Is this kind of talk familiar to us?

            When we look at the staggering numbers of suicide, gun-related, and opioid overdose deaths in our country, one might think and say this is it, our nation is doomed. When we receive deadly diagnostic news or are faced with a chronic debilitating sickness, we might hear ourselves saying, it is hopeless, and nothing can help me. It is normal to feel and talk that way. Back to our passage, in spite of their negative confessions, God was determined to do something beautiful for the exiles. He was going to restore their hope by bringing them back to their homeland.

IV. HOPE RESTORED (12-13)

            Vs. 12-13, “Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord.”

            The prophet now was given another impossible task, that was to prophesy not over the dead bodies but the living. To prophesy over the dry bones is one thing, and to prophesy over people who were acting like dry bones was another thing. In this case, if the prophecy didn’t come through the people could have thrown stones at the prophet.

            Though the people of Judah rejected God and worshipped other gods, God had not forgotten the covenant he made with their ancestors, so He called them, “my people.” God was going to turn their grave like situation around and bring them back to their homeland. When that happens, they will know He is the LORD. God promised through Ezekiel to give them His Spirit.        

V. THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE. Vs. 14

            Vs. 14, “I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’ Here we see a life-giving promise of God to the life-less remnant of the exiles. God promised them a life where once was death, a homecoming to a depressed nation. 

            Though these promises were speaking of the Judean exiles imminent return to their homeland, its implication is for all God’s people of all generations. Let me recapture Ezekiel’s vision. The young prophet Ezekiel saw the hard bone-like reality of the people of Judah in exile. God gave him several tough prophetic assignments to perform. When Ezekiel stepped into a realm of impossibilities by faith, he saw the miracle-working power of God. A vast army was raised, literally from the heaps of dry bones as he saw life coming through God’s Spirit. 

            In the same line of prophecies, the prophet Joel prophesied, “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike.” We are living in the end times. God is bringing life through His Holy Spirit to all those who believe in His Son Jesus Christ.

            How are we to apply Ezekiel’s ancient vision of dry bones and the ageless promise of God’s Holy Spirit to our lives today? God showed the dry bones to Ezekiel and asked him can these dry bones live again? What are the dry bones you are facing, and can they live again? 

            As you are listening to this message, maybe you feel dry, defeated, emotionally scattered. You may be facing a grave like situation for which there is no way out unless God intervenes. Perhaps you sit alone, feeling hopeless and depressed. But do not despair! 

            If the God of Ezekiel is your God, and if He could restore the hopes of an entire nation of Judah, then be assured that even the dry bones before you can live again. But how? Like the prophet Ezekiel, we need to boldly step out in faith and speak to those dry situations in our lives.           Jesus while he was on the earth, often encouraged people to step out in faith, for example, He told the blind mand to go and wash himself in the pool of Siloam (John 9:6). He told Zacchaeus the tax collector to come down of his tree. (Luke 19). He said to the ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priests (Luke 17). I can give you more, but you get the point.

            When they all stepped out in faith with boldness, they received their miracles.  Jesus is still the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is calling us by the power of His Holy Spirit to step out in faith and speak to our dry bones to live again, and they will obey His voice. Whatever is impossible for you, is possible for God. If only we dare to believe in Him, and take bold steps of faith we will yet again see the Glory of God in our days. Amen!

           

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[1] https://www.inquirer.com/philly/columnists/will_bunch/deaths-of-despair-rising-suicide-opioids-kate-spade-anthony-bourdain-20180614.html