The LORD's Day November 25, 2007

Wonderful Counselor

Isaiah 9.1-7

On Thanksgiving Day I did something I haven’t done in quite a while. I sat and watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on tv. There was a reason. My granddaughter wanted to do that. We were having what she calls “Poppa Time”. So we sat through the whole thing right up until the finale. You know what that is- Santa Claus on his sled, kicking off the Christmas Shopping Season (which has been going on for weeks already). It used to be at 9:30am- when I was a kid that is the time Roosevelt Field would open the day after Thanksgiving. Yesterday some department stores stayed opened. Thursday night outlet malls across the nation opened at midnight. Stores opened at 6am on Friday in regular malls and the Christmas rush is on.

This is not too different from when Jesus was born in Bethlehem and Mary gave birth to him among the animals because the Inn was filled. When He came Jerusalem and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and those merchandising (making personal profit) from what was to be a spiritual celebration, He was angry because people were being shut out from worship- the poor and the Gentiles.

Among the 21st century global economy, where the world makes money off of what is the celebration of the Savior’s birth, the Counselor of Wonder speaks.

What is Jesus counseling us to do today?

1. He tells us to always forgive.

He did it. Never heard him speak of the injustice of his trial afterwards. That was not the big issue- dying to provide salvation was.

When we do it we are free. Someone (no one in our church) got me really mad recently. I had opportunity for revenge. I began to think this will teach them a lesson I’ll let them know they can’t pull that stuff with me. I’ll fix it so they won’t forget how insensitive they have been. Then I spent some time with the LORD. He began to show me how foolish this was. He let me know that I could end something or I could start something that I would soon have trouble putting out. I chose to end it. I am so glad I did. It really was His Spirit in me working and me yielding to Him. Praise God

Always forgive. Forgive 70 times 7. (Matthew 18.22)

This is wonderful counsel from the Wonderful Counselor A good counselor is a good listener. The Counselor of Wonder gives transforming words- words of life.


2. Jesus tells us to rejoice always.

When we are being persecuted. Matthew 5.11-12 We don’t rejoice for the pain but that we are being counted as a follower of Jesus’ and for what the pain will produce. Pain for the believer means gain. We enjoy the pleasant places. We endure the painful ones but we know if we keep our heart tender and our ears open God will do some things in us and through us that could be gained no other way.

When we get too excited over the works He is doing through us. This has its down side in many ways. We get too caught up with the gifts rather than the Giver. Give a gift- we enjoy appreciation and on going relationship. The Prodigal Son took and then took off. When we get too excited over the gifts we tend to place the most important things at the bottom of our reasons to praise the LORD. When we get too excited over the things God is doing through us when there is a silent time or a sifting time we become despondent. Luke 10.20 Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

When we are down and out. It is not a sin to get down. It is not a sin to get depressed. It does not mean that you have sinned if you are. Sometimes it is difficult to rejoice. We may not feel happy but rejoicing (being well, thriving) is more than that. In the word is the root :joy- gladness. We can be glad without being happy. I am glad that Jesus saved me. I am not happy about some of the news I read in the paper.

It gets us ready for that day of rejoicing When we all get to heaven Let’s sing it now Hymn #252

What is Jesus counseling us to do today?
3. Jesus tells us to never lose hope.

I have overcome the world. John 16.33 have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world. This world can depress us if we let it. But if we let it then we are not resting in Jesus’s words about it. He has overcome it Don’t let it overwhelm you!

I will be with you always. Matthew 28.20
As we serve Jesus and make disciples of all nations. This is a promise for His followers. It is not that we take Him where we go it is that He takes us where He wants us to go and as we follow He is with us both leading and walking beside us.

I am coming soon Revelation 22.12
Three times in this final chapter of the Bible Jesus says this. These are His parting words- I’ll be back and it will be soon. Written to each generation since and including the first century believers.



What is Jesus counseling us to do today?
4. Jesus tells us to be aware of certain things.

Sleeping when His Return is near. Mark 13.37
This is being off guard. We need to be scanning the horizon. We need to be looking for Jesus to come again. He is coming soon. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' This will resolve a lot of things in out lives which create problems.

Greed. Luke 12.15
This desire for things and more money can eat a person alive. Jesus warned a bunch of guys about this who had left everything to follow him. The other night I ran into two hermits. It was the night before Thanksgiving. They are close to Jesus’ disciples when it come to owning anything. Yet it was to these disciples that He directed this warning about greed. If they needed to watch out for it so do we

False prophets Matthew 7.15
They are all over the place today. We are producing out one after another in the American Church.

That no one deceives you Matt 24.4
Let’s be on our guard against the cults. Let’s be a Berean.

The Yeast of the Pharisees. Spiritual Pride is insidious. Mark 8.15
This is a deadly sin Jesus is speaking about. It kills the person’s soul and the souls of many others. Yeast puts air in bread- it puffs it up. Lay a slice of Wonder Bread next to a piece of matzah.

It is believing that you are better than others. It is believing that your way of thinking is right. It is exalting yourself over Jesus Who humbled Himself. If you harbor this sin in your heart the LORD will resist you. We have nothing to be spiritually proud about Jesus is warning us as His followers to beware of it in our own lives Pride can manifest in unbelief as well. My intellect can replace my faith and I no longer believe that nothing is too difficult for the LORD. I can fall into this despondent outlook of not can God, but will God?

Maintain childlike faith.


What is Jesus counseling us to do today?
5. Jesus tells us to seek first His Kingdom. Matthew 6.33

In living. Our citizenship is in heaven. Our ultimate allegiance is to the LORD and His kingdom. Since God has set up the authority of government, being a believer and following Jesus makes Christians the best citizens. Since God has established the family being a believer and following Jesus makes us the best husbands and wives and dads and moms and grandparents and brothers and sisters and children we can be.

In Giving
First fruits Give of the firstfruits of your increase. Proverbs 3.9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

Tithe Give the LORD 10% of your income. You will be blessed. You will store up treasure in heaven where there is no decay or loss. Malachi 3.10 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Cheerfully- God loves a cheerful giver. A person who gives to the LORD from the heart does so with hilarity.
In Getting

We have been satisfied inside so we don’t need any of the world’s stimulants to prop us up. We are learning how distinguish between want and need so we can be freer to serve Him.

We have this promise: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1.17)

Isaiah received the Word of the LORD.
He wrote about Who Jesus would be.
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace is He.

The years have past since it was first foretold
Of the wisdom He would posses.
He spoke the word to all of us
To bring sweet peace and rest.

Live by these words that Jesus spoke
And your life will be so full
You will find joy and gladness in your heart
As you do the Master’s will.

Counselor of Wonder,
Help us today to do what You say
We want to hear those words, “Well done.”
On that awesome judgment day.

Then into Your Presence We will go
With You forever we will be
And with all who have served You thru the years
The reunion of God’s Family.
______________________________
The LORD’s Day
November 25 , 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Wonderful Counselor
Isaiah 9.1-7

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for bagels and coffee downstairs if you are visiting today.
Prayer Meeting -6pm This Evening at the Parsonage

This Week
Bible Reading Proverbs 9
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study- 7:30pm at the Parsonage 1312 Pine Acres
Thursday Bible Study- 10:30am at the church
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children) The LORD’s Supper
Spanish Service- 4pm

In Your Prayers For All of God’s People

Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son finished his third tour of Iraq- His parents thank us for praying for him. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Stateside now being redeployed in April... Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan, Ken Brown and Tom Hindelang, Billy Knapp Jr. safe during their times in Iraq. Katharina’s Family in the death of her daughter... Remember Robert, her husband and her sons, Norman, Raymond &Jonathan anf their families. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Thank God for answers to prayer for her as well as Lucy, their daughter... God is she is recovering. Pray for Eloise Brooks’ Family in their loss and sorrow... Remember Jean Louis on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, recovering from surgery on her back and uindergoing Physical Therapy. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito remains in serious condition. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s daughter, Kelly recovering from a mastectomy. Please remember this whole family in prayer..she has completed chemo therapy for now and has begun radiation. She is under the care of an oncologist. Leah May’s cousin, Joan, respiratory problems now home... Lucy Mancini under Orthopedic Specialist’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident. Pastor’s Dad, Larry Mancini, Sr. In an intermediary care facility, undergoing physical, occupational and speech therapy. There is a blog for him: www.papa2all.blogspot.com . Stephen Huges, brother of a Good Shepherd Nursery School Mom, their parents home in Hewlett was destroyed in a fire.. Please remember Dr. And Mrs. Mucci in your prayers as well as Judy’s daughter Tatum. Alice Gordon’s family in the loss of her brother, Everette, Please remember his wife Monica and the whole family...Alice will return home this evening from the funeral. Anka’s family in their time of loss and grief. Joey Reda (Charlie and Diane Davison’s Grandson) experiencing some heart arrhythmia. Prudy’s Mom, Rose Ragusa, has begun chemo and radiation treatment this last week. Pastor’s friend, Rudy Migliore, received a very good report from the doctors .Romans 12.15 Jack Simon, a friend of Pastor’s, undergoing treatment for a lung problem...Pray for those children who will receive Christmas shoe boxes this December. Remember those who lost family and friends in the cyclone in Bangladesh... Leah May in Southside Hospital with several issues. Please pray for healing. She is in 6 Towers and would love a visit.

Notes on Our Time in God’s Word This Morning...

Wonderful Counselor

Isaiah 9.1-7

Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436