Peace

Peace

Intro.: Peace – illusive concept

1. Miss Congeniality “World Peace”

2. Peaceful Community – Rochester?

3. Brockport a bit better

4. Royal Gardens – but I have heard enough to know that there are times that do not seem very peaceful around here.

5. Synonyms – quiet, serene, calm

6. Scripture talks of peace. For example

Read: Galatians 5:22-23

Pray

Trans: Peace is a natural consequence of our living close to God. But what does the Bible mean by peace.

T.S. I want to look at two words that scriptures use to describe peace – and then look at how the scriptures use those two words to see what God means by peace.

1. The most used word for peace in the OT is shalom.

   1. I expect that shalom is not an unfamiliar word.

   2. We read it in books with Jewish characters, we see it movies or on TV shows. Shalom, peace.

   3. Almost used as we say “God bless you” as we get off the phone or leave the presence of another Christian.

   4. But, like the concept in English, the word in Hebrew has a far wider meaning. Let me suggest three ways shalom is used

   5. The word shalom is translated “well”. (Ill.) You will remember the story of Joseph found in Genesis 37 - 43– he was sold into slavery by his brothers to a traveling caravan. The caravan eventually made its way into Egypt where Joseph was again sold to Egyptians. But while in Egypt, he eventually crossed the path of his brothers. He asks how his father is doing, and they reply “he is well”, “he is shalom”.

(Ill.) One of my favorite hymns is “It Is Well.” It was written by a man who had just lost his wife and four daughters, when they were crossing returning to the family roots in England after the Great Chicago Fire. And yet, after this horrific loss, he is able to turn to God and write those might words:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Horatio Spafford understood SHALOM. God offers us Shalom in the midst of non peaceful world.

6. Shalom is translated as peace, as well, and it is translated as safe, safety, or safely. To see this, I turn to Psalm 55:18 – He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.

1. When we are safe, we are experiencing shalom

2. The easiest way to connect the two terms of peace (as we usually think of Shalom) and safety is to think in terms of governments. When our government is able to offer us safety, we are at peace with the countries around us.

3. When I am feeling safe and secure, I am beginning to feel a bit of God means by shalom

7. Let me give you one more way in which shalom is translated – complete or whole.

   1. There are days in which I feel like my life is going in too many directions. I have to be in two place at the same time, Sandra needs to be somewhere else; and then I get a call from my son who also needs some thing from me. My life becomes fractured. I am not experiencing Shalom.

   2. But shalom means that overly committed day come under control. Not my control, but God's control.

(Ill.) Over the last few years I have enjoyed watching the various jigsaw puzzles go together. The life that is incomplete, broken, and in pieces is much like that unfinished puzzle. Now, there are two ways to put that puzzle together. The first takes less work – I just keep shaking box until the pieces go together. The results are much like I would see in my own life if I tried to straighten it out. The other way of putting the puzzle together takes time, thought, and energy. And when that much attention is payed to the puzzle, it goes together. When we take our disjointed lives and turn them over to God, we have someone putting that fractured life back together – with more care and understanding than we can put into putting that puzzle back together. We are truly whole – we are shalom.

8. SHALOM – peace, wellness. Safety, and wholeness, that is what SHALOM.

9. SHALOM is the most common OT word for peace.

2. The most common NT word for peace is Eirene

   1. In the NT, Eirene is used in much the same way as it is used in the OT – but there are two unique ways in which it stands out.

   2. The NT tells us that we can have the “peace of God”. This parallels the OT usage.

      1. Philippians 4:7 says it this way, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

      2. Similarly, we find in Colossians 3:15 – And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

      3. The peace of God Is that quiet sense of God's presence you have when you know life could be topsy-turvy, but it is not. Why? Because God is there.

   3. But the NT uses eirene in another way. It it also speaks of “peace with God”.

   4. In our natural state there is something wrong with our relationship with God. That something is “sin”.

   5. That sin puts a distance between ourselves and God – a space that we cannot fill. A space that will last through eternity – unless something is done to fix it.

   6. I cannot fix it myself. I cannot be good enough, I cannot have enough faith, I cannot pray enough to remove that space that separates me from God.

   7. But amazingly, God did do something. He sent his Son to fill that gap. God sent His Son so that I could have peace with God.

   8. Paul put it this way, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. “

   9. Do you know that you have peace with God? Today is a good day to make sure that you have. If you have not done so, would you make peace with God Today?

Conclusion:

Pray

Worship - Where and Why

Worship – Let God Teach Us

Intro.: Our mission statement as we meet each Sunday is “to provide a place to worship when we cannot get to our home churches.

1. One Bible Dictionary defines “worship” as “The praise, adoration and reverence of God, both in public and private. It is a celebration of the worthiness of God, by which honour is given to his name.”

2. The Psalms are one place where we can begin to learn about worship.

3. I want to look at two verses of one Psalms that will help us to better understand this thing called worship.

Read: Psalm 150:1-2

Pray

Trans: This sermon has its roots in my devotions.

1. When traveled to Nashville last month, Sandra purchased a gift – a journal. I like to journal – both on my computer and in writing.

2. This journal had verses at the bottom of each page – that is what I decided to do. Meditate on each verse in the book – one per day.

3. One of the first ones included this verse – and here is what I learned as I studied it.

T.S. The Psalmist answers two questions about worship.

1. First, the Psalmist addresses the question of where should we worship God.

   1. As we read these first two verse, it become evident that we are to praise God.

   2. It may seem obvious, but we it is easy in the midst of our lives to forget. We clean, we visit – either on the phone or in person, we travel – to the store, or to the doctors, or to family. You see we get busy – and we forget.

   3. So before anything else, the Psalmist says PRAISE the Lord. The word that is used here is YH – an abbreviation of Yahweh – God's very personal name.

(Ill.) God's name was so personal, that the Israelites would not even pronounce it as they read scripture. Instead they would use substitute the name Adonai – meaning “the God who rules”. They took the consonants of God's name YHWH, and inserted the vowels from Adonai – giving the name Jehovah, a name which was never use in Hebrew. One translation, actually uses Jehovah in this text, “Praise Jehovah”. Another word in our English Bibles that has a similar derivation is “Hallelujah” - and one translation uses that word for the first phrase of verse 1 – “Hallelujah, Praise God in His Sanctuary.

4. The focus of verses 1 and 2, in fact of the whole Psalm, is praising God.

5. But verse 1 has a specific focus – it focuses on where will we be worshiping God:

Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty heavens.

6. Simple enough – but let me suggest four ways we might apply this verse – each view of the verse explores a different part of it.

   1. Verse one will teach us that we are to worship God both in church and out of church.

      1. Of course we are to worship God in church – that is why we come here or attend our home churches – the sanctuary.

      2. But we are also reminded that it does not take a sanctuary to have a place of worship.

(Appl.) Where are some of the places you might find to worship – as you pull up to Walmart, when you make out your shopping list, before sitting down to dinner. It doesn't take a sanctuary to have a place of worship – it only takes the presence of God.

2. Verse one also will remind us that we need can worship when God is close and when he seems far away.

   1. Of course the first is easy – after getting a compliment, feeling very satisfied after a good meal, you know those times – when God seems like He has in some way touched you in some special way.

   2. But then comes those days, whatever we do, God seems distant. It seems like He doesn't care, it may even seem that he is not there. When God seems far away, the Psalmist still calls us to worship.

3. Verse one has more to say – it calls us to worship God as he sits on throne in heaven. That is how I usually picture Him – I am sitting in prayer or in worship at His feet – God sitting on the Throne of Grace.

   1. When we are called to worship in “His might heavens” the Psalmist is using the same word that Moses used in Genesis 1 as he described God's creation: And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

(Ill.) We understand how storms are created. We map solar systems and transplant hearts. We measure the depths of the oceans and send signals to distant planets. We … have studied the system that define our world and are learning how it works.

And, for some, the loss of mystery has led to the loss of majesty. The more we know, the less we believe. Strange, don’t you think? Knowledge of the workings shouldn’t negate wonder. Knowledge should stir wonder. Who has more reason to worship than the astronomer who has seen the stars? …

Ironically, the more we know, the less we worship. We are more impressed with our discovery of the light switch than with the one who invented electricity.… Rather than worship the Creator, we worship the creation. Creation should bring us to the creator, creation should lead us to worship.¹

4. Finally, when the Psalmist writes, “Praise God in His sanctury; Praise Him in His might heavens”, he is affirming that we can worship Him where we might expect Him to be, but we can also worship Him wherever we are.

   1. Wherever you may be, this week, the next, or whenever, God calls us to worship.

   2. Take time to worship him this week.

2. The Psalmist also addresses the question of why we should worship God.

Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!

1. First, we are called to worship because of what God has done – his mighty deeds.

2. Whether it be for us, for our family, for others, for out nation – God had done great things.

(Ill.) In just a few minutes we will end our worship by singing:

          To God be the glory, great things he hath done! So loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the lifegate that all may go in.

          It reminds us that God has done great things – and we can worship Him.

3. The Psalmist also calls us to worship God for who He is: Praise Him According to His excellent greatness.

4. A few weeks ago we discussed God's omniscience, omnipotence, and His omnipresence. This is not all of God's character, but it is part of it. At the very least, we can worship Him for these very reasons – and add more as we get to know Him better.

Conclusion: The bottom line – we are called to worship God – and the question we have to answer is – are we doing so, am I doing so, are you doing so?

Pray

1Lucado, M., & Gibbs, T. A. (2000). Grace for the moment : Inspirational thoughts for each day of the year (338). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.

Meeting God

Intro.: When I meet someone new, I want to know something about them.

1. It really goes both ways – I want to learn about them, and they will want to learn about me.
2. It's part of the conversational process.
3. That process starts for Moses in Exodus 3:7-12

Read: Exodus 3:7-12

Pray

Trans: Moses would have been startled when God spoke, but as he listened to God he learned a great deal about God

T.S. In Exodus 3:7-12 we will see three characteristics of God described as God began to instruct Moses in the task Moses had ahead of him.

1. God is omniscient – He is all-knowing

   1. “Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,” Exodus 3:7

   2. I don't know if Moses knew that God was looking, that God was watching.

   3. Not just him (after all he found Moses in Midian), but Israel (250 miles away) as well.

(Ill.) While the Americans were blockading Cuba, several captains endeavored to elude their vigilance by night, trusting that the darkness would conceal them as they passed between the American warships. But in almost every case the dazzling rays of a searchlight frustrated the attempt, and the fugitives’ vessel was captured by the Americans. The brilliant searchlight sweeping the broad ocean and revealing even the smallest craft on its surface is but a faint example of the Eternal Light from which no sinner can hide his sin.¹

4. God knew what was going on – whether it was 3500 years ago in a desert in the Middle East, or around an island in the Gulf of Mexico, or atop a hill on the outskirts of a village in upstate New York, God knew, God knows what is going on.

(Appl.) It is easy for us to forget that God knows all things. But at Christmas we have no problem singing --

He sees you when you're sleeping He knows when you're awake He knows if you've been bad or good²

The song may be about Santa Clause – but Santa Clause is a fun, though fictional, part of Christmas. On the other hand, the words do apply to an omniscient God.

The God we serve knows both our flaws and out needs. We cannot hide our pains – whatever their source – from Him. God is omniscient, God does know all things.

2. God is omnipotent – he is all-powerful

   1. There was a time that I felt omnipotent – all powerful.

   2. I could do anything, I could fix anything, I could - well you get the picture.

   3. But the truth is I am not – and, in spite of how I felt, I never was.

   4. However, the same cannot be said of God – He is, He was, He always will be omnipotent

"and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:8-11

(Ill.) A. W. Tozer understood what it meant for God to be omnipotent: “The Lord God omnipotent can do anything as easily as anything else. All His acts are done without effort. He expends no energy that must be replenished.”³

5. What no man could do, God could accomplish. What no man can do, God can accomplish.

6. The only limits that God has are the very limits he has put on himself. The limits that allow us to be free. The limits that allow us to choose – good or bad.

(Appl.) The same freedom that allows us to choose to do good also allows us to choose to do bad. God has given up some of His power, so that we have the freedom to exercise some of our own power.

3. God is omnipresent – He is always present

1. God is omniscient, God is omnipotent. He is also omnipresent – He is always present.

(Ill.) I've told you before about our trip back to California a number of years ago. We had gone for my father's funeral – but had a couple of extra days on our hands before stopping to also visit Sandra's mother. We made a trip up California's coast to Eureka. We toured the Red Woods, we took a day trip up and down the coast, and we went to church. It was amazing experience. The pastor had no idea who we were – but God did.

Here, 2000 miles away from our home at the time, we were singing the same music, reading the same Bible, hearing the voice of the same God, that we had heard just a week before at home. God knew what we needed at then, God knew where we were hurting – and he met us there. God was there.

2. God is here this morning.

3. God is in your apartment – late at night when you feel very alone.

4. God is there – when you need him most.

Conclusion: I don't know your future.

1. Whatever you face – God knows about it

2. Whatever you face – God is in control

3. Whatever you face – God is there

4. Whatever you face – turn it over to God.

Pray

1AMG Bible Illustrations. 2000. Bible Illustrations Series. Chattanooga: AMG Publishers.

2http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/lonestar/santaclausiscomintotown.html

3Morgan, R. J. (2004). Nelson’s annual preacher’s sourcebook (2004 Edition). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Holy Ground

Holy Ground

Intro.: Sandra and I have done a bit of camping over the last 37 years.

1. I think that one of the best times at camp is sitting around the campfire and eating marshmallows or making smores.

2. The fire can bring heat and light.

3. But the one thing I never wanted to see was a fire burning with nobody caring for it.

4. And that is what Moses found one day as he was caring for his Father-in-Law's sheep, as well as his own.

Read: Acts 7:30-34

Pray

Trans: Moses lived almost 1500 years before this section of scripture was written.

1. We are in the midst of a young man's testimony – Stephen is describing his faith in Christ.

2. In a few minutes, after he is finished, Stephen will become the first martyr of the Christian church when he is stoned to death of giving a clear statement of his faith in Christ.

3. Though there will be more to say about Moses' call to ministry, this passage does a good job of summarizing the parts I am interested in discussing this week.

T.S. In Acts 7:30-34 we see four key events that Moses had to face and focus on as God called him into being His servant.

1. A Burning Tree

   1. I expect it was a strange sight. A burning bush would be strange enough – sitting there by itself aflame. No one around to set it on fire – no evidence of a storm with lightening that could have started it. Yeah, a burning bush out there in the middle of the desert would be a startling sight.

   2. But something else was strange – the bush was burning, but it wasn't being burnt up. Stephen doesn't tell us this in his sermon, but Moses makes it clear that this burning bush remained intact as he saw it that day.

   3. God used that burning bush to get Moses' attention that day so long ago -

   4. Moses first reaction was “amazement”. The greek word used here actually has many meaning – amazement, wonder, marvel, astonishment.

(Ill.) I doubt that we would be astonished. If the bush had been burning in that way in our day, do you know what we would do? In 2011, we would probably call the fire department. Then we would pass a resolution to build a fence around the area containing that miraculous desert bush.

         A. W. Tozer suggests that we would advertise a great Bible conference. We would spend tens of thousands of dollars promoting an international “retreat.” We would eat up all the ham and sweet potatoes in the area while we talked and gossiped.ⁱ

(Appl.) Would we be willing to let God talk to us? Would you mind God redirecting your steps? How does God catch your attention? It might be a rainbow, a song on the radio, or the kind word of a friend. But when God does get our attention, are you willing to pay attention.

2. A Holy Place

   1. That burning bush was an amazing sight. But Moses would be shocked about what else is to be revealed.

   2. As Moses approached this amazing sight the most remarkable thing happened. He heard a voice.

   3. If he was not amazed by the burning bush, the voice coming out of that bush must have been even more remarkable, “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.”

   4. Stephen says Moses trembled at that sound.

   5. Moses knew two things at that point. First, he knew his own heart – it, like everybody else's, was corrupt. And he knew that he was standing before a holy God. His reaction – he could no longer look at that burning bush, he could no longer look at the source of that voice.

   6. But God did not stop. He went on, “Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

(Ill.) M. Colley wrote a short poem to put this in perspective for us:

It may be on a kitchen floor,

Or in a busy shopping store,

Or teaching, nursing, day by day

Till limb and brain almost give way;

Yet if, just there, by Jesus thou art found,

The place thou standest on is Holy Ground.ⁱⁱ

(Ill.) In January, 1995, according to Gary Thomas in an article, J. Robert Ashcroft had fewer than forty-eight hours to live, but he was holding on to life, hoping to see his son, John Ashcroft, sworn into the U.S. Senate the following day. As family and friends gathered in Washington for a small reception, J. Robert Ashcroft asked his son to play the piano while everyone sang, “We Are Standing on Holy Ground.”

After the song, the frail old man spoke some powerful words: “John, I want you to know that even Washington can be holy ground. Wherever you hear the voice of God, that ground is sanctified. It’s a place where God can call you to the highest and best.”

(Appl.) Let me ask you one question, “Where has God pulled you aside, where is your holy place?” The next time you walk into your apartment, ask Him, ask God, where is your Holy place? Is it right there? Or maybe when you come to the lobby, that will be your holy place? Or maybe it is as you take a walk around the gardens? For those of you that still attend church, maybe it is your sanctuary where you worship. Wherever it is – acknowledge God's presence. Be amazed that he has met you right there – whenever or wherever it may be. Let God speak to you on Holy Ground this week.

3. A Divine Call

   1. God was not finished with Moses, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.”

   2. Moses had been away from Egypt for 40 years – now God was sending him back. He was ready to serve – God had prepared Moses for the last phase of his life.

   3. There are some amazing calls of young men and women in the scripture. Moses was early, but we could also mention Joseph, which was even earlier, Samuel, David, Isaiah, the apostles Matthew, John, Peter, and, of course, there was Paul. Each of these is a remarkable story in its own right and could have their own sermon or two. But today we look at Moses.

   4. It was at Sinai that David was first called. It would be a few weeks later that Moses would again come to Mt Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments for God.

   5. We will have more to say about God's demand of Moses – in fact Moses will have some things to say about it.

   6. But for now, let ask one more question: What is God asking of you? To what are you called? Are you willing to obey?

Conclusion:

Pray

iTozer, A. W., & Eggert, R. (1998). Vol. 1: The Tozer Topical Reader (236). Camp Hill, PA.: WingSpread.

iiMorgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson's complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) (796). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Moses Makes A Stop (Part 2)

- Moses Makes A Stop -

Intro.: Have you ever known a famous person?

1. Have you every been privileged to know or even to meet someone famous?
2. I suppose there are two ways to understand a famous person

1. We could focus on what they did
2. Or we could focus on who they were – what made them tick

3. Last week we began to look at what made Moses tick.
4. I want to continue those thoughts today.

Read: Exodus 2:15b-22

Pray

1. Let's begin by remember ing that Moses was afraid

1. There seems to be an unwritten rule that the really strong person is not afraid. No one who wants to appear strong will want to talk about being afraid.
2. But then we have Moses – here is a strong man. A man brought up in Pharaoh's home, probably had the best education possible, but at the end of the day scripture says “Moses was afraid.”
3. Fear is something we will be living with – but it is not an uncommon feeling.
4. Before I move on, we also need to remember the words John wrote, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
5. Solomon once wrote, “The fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom.”

(Ill.) I don't know a great deal about Thomas Cramner – a vocal pastor who was a leader in the English reformation. But I do think he knew something about the Fear of God – listen to his what he wrote in the early 1500s, “...every man that cometh to the reading of this holy book ought to bring with him first and foremost this fear of Almighty God, and then next a firm and stable purpose to reform his own self according to what is written therein.”

6. Fear is a common feeling, but it does not need to paralyze us.

2. Moses seems like a fixer

1. Moses is afraid – so he runs. He runs to Midian. The actual location of Midian is not known, but most scholars think of it as shown on this map..
2. But when he gets there, he begins acting just like he did in Egypt:

1. He began by trying to protect a Hebrew man who was being beaten by an Egyptian – killing and hiding the Egyptian.
2. The next day he sees two Hebrews fighting and steps in – and it is in this context that he discovers that his murder was not really a secret.
3. Now he steps in when he sees a group of shepherds bothering a group of young women who had come to get water for their own sheep. Moses drives the shepherds away and then waters the flock that the young women had brought to the watering hole.

3. You see, running from a problem does not change the problem. Moses is the same person who left Egypt.

(Appl.) There is a principle here that is also true for our lives – running from our problems, hiding from our problems, kidding ourselves about our problems – does not solve the problems. Our problems are really only solved when we have a change in heart. Our problems are really only solved when we get to the point of saying “Here God – you can have them.” Not always easy, you see …

4. It would take another 40 years for God to finish the reshaping of Moses' life before he would be ready to lead the people of Israel.

3. Moses appreciated

1. Though Moses behaved very similarly to how he behaved in Egypt, the results were certainly different.
2. The seven women were daughters of a priest – and they got home early. Dad (his name here is called Reuel here, later we will be told his more familiar name of Jethro, but not yet) is curious – why?
3. They tell him of this man who drove the shepherds away and helped them. His response was, “Why did you leave him out there?” They eventually brought him home for lunch.
4. And he eventually married one of those women – Zipporah. Her name meant “little bird” - we don't know much about her, but it was the woman that would see Moses through his tough times.

(Ill.) Love stories are kind of special – it isn't hard for Sandra to get me to a date movie. Let me let you into a little secret – I met Sandra, or rather Sandra met me about 40 years ago at a meeting on our college campus. She will tell you she was sitting on a sofa and in walked this guy who she did not know – but, as she tells it, she had this thought go through her head, “He would be neat to be married to.” She would eventually become the Social Chairman, he would become the President of that organization. When I first proposed to Sandra, it was a mistake – it slipped out. Oh we had talked about it, but it was not planned. I had not bought a ring, Three and a half years after we first met, she was – married to him, that is.

5. Moses was 40 years old when he met Zipporah. He would live in Midian for another 40 years before returning to Egypt. And 40 more years before he would complete the task that God was going to give him. God would be patient as He took Moses from this broken individual, full of flaws, angry, wanting to solve everyone's problems , to one that God could use to lead His people from slavery to the promised land.

(Appl.) God would be patient with Moses – but he is also patient with us as he transforms us. Let me ask a question – a hard question – are you willing, are you willing today, tomorrow, to allow God to transform you?

Conclusion

Pray