The LORD's Day June 24, 2007

Better To Trust in the LORD

Psalm 118.1-9

Once again we see in the Psalms the benefits that come as a result of going through some times of testing. The Psalmist learned a valuable lesson during this time of anguish. He learned that it is better to trust in the LORD than to trust in man. He experienced the blessing of trusting in the LORD, making the LORD his refuge. It is better- so much better!

Driving to Lebanon, NH last Sat night... John- I’ll call you and you talk me in... no cell phone service... back to the 20th century- directions in my backpack in the trunk... pulled over into rest stop- I was safe. Got the directions out. Arrived at my destination.

1. Sometimes man cannot help us.

Had I trusted completely in my friend John’s ability to help via our cell phones I would have wandered around for quite a while, possibly missed the exit- and I-89 in NH is not Southern State Parkway on Long Island. There are miles and miles sometimes between exits. So my friend John was waiting by his phone, wanting to help but he could not.

The LORD is always with us. He has told us He would be and He is faithful to all His promises!

People can want to help but lack the ability to do so for a number of reasons. How many times have we said, “I wish there was something I could do”? We have desire but we lack the ability or we cannot think of things we can do. There are many situations where cannot do anything beyond praying for a person. I am not saying prayer is not all important. There are times that we want to add to our praying some further action and we cannot.

My friend Kim’s daughter, Kelly, my neighbor’s whose son is in Iraq, and the list goes on. Folks who are going through difficult times - we want to help but don’t know what to do. We pray because we know that the LORD can do what we cannot do.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
It is better to seek refuge, flee for protection, to put trust in God, confide or hope in God .
When we are fleeing for protection, the LORD is the one we run to. Psalm 57.1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

He is our hope. We will be disappointed if we trust in people or princes but Jesus never fails

2. Sometimes man does not want to help us.

There are so many charitable organizations today that you could literally give everything away to them. We can have what is being called today compassion fatigue. We should help those who cannot help themselves not those who will not.

We can encounter stingy people, who just do not want to part with any money or time or ability aid for those in need.

The LORD is full of compassion. He has pity on us. There are those who have no pity. Do not be like them! I John 3.17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

James speaks of this in his letter: James 2.15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

As believers we ought to do good to all people especially those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6.10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

There are people who can help and lack concern or compassion or are worried about their own needs and end up hoarding rather than giving.


The LORD cares about us- He loves us so much. How much better to trust in Him! He never lets us down. He is always willing to help us if we call upon Him. As a father pities his children so the LORD pities those who fear him. He has compassion on us. He knows we are dust.


3. Sometimes man is unaware of our needs.

Deeply personal things. There are some things we keep between the LORD and ourselves. We do have secrets with God and we never have to worry about Him ever telling. He is our Confidence We can and it is better to confide in Him.

It also brings greater peace. He understands us. He knows all the circumstances surrounding us. We do not have to go into all the details when going to the LORD. He knows them. He knows all things! It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. How wonderful it is to go to Jesus with our problems. Let Jesus solve your problem just go to Him in prayer!

Things we have not shared. Those with the gift of discernment or those who know us well may pick up on it but many times people do not. Most of the time if we do not talk about people do not know what our troubles are.


Things that are apparent to us but not to anyone else. God sees all He knows everything. He knows all about our trials. There is not a friend like him. He si the Wonderful Counselor!


4. Man’s wisdom seems right but ends in destruction. Proverbs 14.12

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

The LORD knows the beginning from the end He knows the future.

It sounds as if the Psalmist may have gotten bad advice from men during his difficult time. People may mean well and they may even get upset when we don’t follow their advice but I cannot tell you the mess my life would have been today if I listened to the counsel of men For me this started at a relatively young age. I was about 18, the LORD had been speaking to my heart about serving Him and suddenly people were telling me what I should do and where I should go. I am so glad I trusted in the LORD for my life’s direction. He led me on a good path- not always an easy one but on a very good one.

In some difficult times in my life people came to me and tell me things. I even had one person tell me once that they had been praying about my future and that if I would sit down with them they would tell me what I should do. Another person wrote me a letter and told me that God had told them what I should do and they were working on it. If I had listen to these “well meaning people I doubt that my life’s verse would have been what it is today, “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.” Psalm 16.6 That is my life today all because of Jesus. Praise His dear Name.

Man does not have the perspective the LORD has- it isn’t worth comparing Man lacks understanding and doesn’t understand the LORD’s ways or thoughts. Perhaps the Psalmist is writing his conclusions after he had heard the counsel of men and then went to the LORD for his directions. The counsel of man may seem right. It ends in destruction.

It is so much better to trust in God’s Wisdom. He shows us the right way, the good path, the road that leads to life. It is better to hope and to seek refuge, flee for protection from Jesus than to put our trust in the word of man. God’s Word is what we need

Finally,

5. Man has limited resources.

If we trust in man then we are going to come up short. We are limited in our resources. If we trust in God and don’t lean on our own understanding we will experience the flow of resources from heaven that are spectacular He will load us with benefits- every day

Our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills My God shall supply all your needs according to His Glorious riches in Christ Jesus! He has unlimited resources. He has things and ways of working you have never thought about. He is able to do anything. He can bring about miracles of provision.

My grandmother told me of George Muller’s Orphanage in Bristol, how they ran out of food one day and they called for a prayer meeting and as they were praying the bread man came and knocked on the door of the main house. He said, “I just left to deliver my bread. The axle on my cart broke and I will not be able to deliver this bread. Could you use it?”

Then LORD is able to make you abound. 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

God has unlimited resources for His people. He is the Creator and He is the Qwner. The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it. When we reach the end of our hoarded resources, our Father’s full giving is only begun!

It is better to trust in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

We need to be reminded about this each time we face a challenge to our faith in our lives. We need to be reminded of it each day.

Trust in the LORD- He will Take Care of You!

------------------------------
The LORD’s Day
June 24, 2007
We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Better to Trust in the LORD Psalm 118.1-9

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


This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 119.1-56
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study 7:30pm 1312 Pine Acres Blvd.
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)
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 on his third tour of Iraq- He will be there until October. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter in need of healing. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Pray for Eloise Brooks in Sunrise Manor undergoing rehab. She is coming along well. She is in room 214. Remember Jean Louis as both he and Eloise are on dialysis. Pastor’s neighbor, John Mehler, beginning dialysis as well. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, doing better. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito possibly beginning chemotherapy soon. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s (who is recovering from a heart attack) daughter, Kelly, due to begin chemotherapy soon. Please remember this whole family in prayer.

If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see John or Terri Garry.


Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
Better to Trust in the LORD
Psalm 118.1-9




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


Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God

The LORD's Day June 10, 2007

The LORD is Our Soul’s Restorer

I Kings 19.1-18

I love this passage. You may remember when we have looked at it before.

This passage reflects a need we often have- that of having our own souls renewed. We are human. We get tired. We can get overwhelmed. We can lose our perspective and fall into depression and discouragement. We can get to a point where we feel worthless and that there is no use going on.James 5.17 Elijah was a man just like us.

Elijah had been doing God’s Work and God’s Will. He accomplished great things. He was very zealous for the Lord. He got to a place where he was exhausted. One of the lessons I learned many years ago is that we can be in God’s will and doing God’s work (having Him work through us) and get to a point of being depleted emotionally. I think it is at the point where we feel that things are going to work out and that there will be little or no opposition- usually after a movement of God’s Spirit or a time of cleansing. When opposition comes when we are tired and worn out hearts melt. Elijah’s did. His heart melted and his courage gave way and he was running for his life (I’m getting ahead of myself here).

Let’s go back to where this whole thing started: The contest on Carmel. (v.1) Then Queen Jezebel made a threat. Elijah just took on all the prophets of Baal. Now a queen is making threatening statements (she knew where he was!) and he was afraid (v.3). He acted on that fear and ran for his life. The psychologists call this the fight or flight syndrome (Psalm 11 is the answer for Elijah’s flight choice.). You are committed to something then opposition or difficulties come and the person sees running as the only viable choice There are many people like this. They look at moving as a way to a new life.

What are you doing here Elijah?- v.9

1. What are YOU doing here ELIJAH?

There are group of Christians who have been so influenced by the health and wealth teaching that they do not believe a believer should ever get depressed. They go so far to say that if he is depressed he must have sinned or worse yet that he is not a believer at all. God help us
Believers do get depressed and sometimes like Elijah did to the point of as Paul the apostle 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us
Having said that God did ask Elijah this question, and the emphasis may have been on Elijah himself. He called him by name. Elijah’s name means My God is Jehovah.

God was asking him based on the nature of his name. You, who are called by My Name- what are you doing here? I am the LORD God Almighty and you are one of mine.

Now I don’t think it was a question of harsh rebuke. In fact it may have not even been a rebuke at all. God was getting Elijah to confess his problem. He knew that was the beginning of the pathway of healing and restoration. If you look at Elijah’s response it was in line with this thought. He issued his complaint to the LORD.

There is a difference between issuing a complaint and having a complaining spirit. I do not like to be around people who complain continually. It is interesting that many of the people who have this attitude are the very ones who have so much. But that is a whole other Bible Study

We are called sons and daughters of God- children of God. We are addressed by Jesus as His little flock. When we get to a place or similar places like Elijah was in, I believe the LORD asks us similar questions. “What are you doing here, daughter or son?” We have a Father in Heaven Who cares for us and we need to remember that when we fall into despair.

I like the fact that God used his name. He wanted Elijah’s attention and it was personal. Again I don’t believe it was the same way we use our children’s names or grandchildren’s. When I used to hear my mom say, Lawrence Albert Mancini, Jr. I knew I was in hot water. I knew that a spanking might follow and I usually knew why too I don’t think it was like that with God and Elijah. I think the LORD many times when we are in this state comes to us with compassion because He knows we are dust. He made us. He knows our limits.


2. WHAT are you DOING here, Elijah? v.10

The answer: Hiding for my life, recovering from exhaustion, wanting to die (not fully or he would not have run )

Elijah had come to the end of his strength. He was wiped out emotionally and afraid.

Elijah is known as the prophet of deeds. We know about what he did than what he said and there is no book that he penned. Unlike Jeremiah or Isaiah who wrote, Elijah is a man of activity. But the activity in his life has come to a halt. He has stopped and the Lord is asking about this.

The journey to this place took 41 days. (vs.3-9) It certainly was not a pleasure trip. I remember doing my uncle’s funeral 18 years ago and driving all night to get there, then having to speak to his church and my family- not a pleasure trip.
I didn’t have anyone chasing me like poor Elijah.

The LORD told him, “The journey has been too much for you.” (v.7) We can get there. It is easy to get overwhelmed these days with all that comes at us. Life is not as simple as it once was. We deal with issues today we didn’t have to concern ourselves with not too many years ago. Maybe today the journey has been too much for you. I love God’s prescription. Have some nourishment (And some sleep )

Elijah was moving again.


3. What are you doing HERE, Elijah?

When God asked about “here” He was referring to the cave or den or hole Elijah was in. When we captured Saddam Hussein in Iraq he was hiding in a hole and said to our soldiers, “I am the president of Iraq.” Not a place for a president to be Elijah was in a similar spot- certainly not a place for a prophet of God to be

Emotional fatigue is worse than being physically tired. Elijah was not just physically tired he was emotionally spent.

God told Elijah to get up and to stand by the mountain for the LORD Himself was about to pass by. When we get to the end of ourselves we need a fresh meeting with God We need to have Him reveal Himself to us. Many times it means reading His Word. It is living and active and will go right to the heart of the issue. Take it with you outside among God’s creation.

Sometimes we too can be in places we don’t belong. If you are depressed you will have a hard time getting out of bed. It may be that your thinking is off. Negative thinking can make us feel bad. Taking things too seriously to the point of never laughing can be bad for us and others. A friend of mine sent me one of those paper weights that have words engraved in them. The one he sent me simply said, LAUGH ” I got the message and it is a Biblical one too

What are you a man or woman of God doing in a place of no faith or hope? Elijah went from a mountain top of Carmel to a cave in Horeb. Carmel means Garden Land. It is a mountain on the Mediterranean coast of northern Israel. Horeb means Desert. Elijah went from a Garden Land to a Desert. We can too. We can go from a place of fruitfulness to a place where we produce little fruit. We don’t always do that on purpose. Some times life itself does it to us It can happen as we work hard and long and don’t take time to eat right or sleep enough and it can even happen to people as they serve the LORD.

He stopped at Beersheba, a city at the south edge of Israel. The name Beersheba means well of sevenfold oath. Abraham and Abimelech made an oath there and Abraham sealed it by giving him 7 little lambs. He had dug a well there and he had planted a grove there. Elijah left his servant there. Now he is all alone and he is leaving a place of food and water that came from the father of the faithful.

In Horeb, God showed Elijah some powerful displays of nature: Wind, Earthquakes and fire. But God was not in them. He asked Elijah again what he was doing there and it was in a still small voice or a gentle whisper. God was not mad at Elijah. He understood his dilemma. I love His solution

* He got him out of the cave God can do that and only He can Elijah listened to the LORD. Anyone else telling him to come out he might have thought it was a trap

* He told him to go back the way he came. (v.15)

A number of year ago my daughter Theresa and I were in a car accident. We were nearly hit head on. It was not our fault. Some person ran a red light. When we got back to Long Island my aunt was here. She is a retired nurse and a pretty sharp gal. She said to Theresa, “Let’s go get some ice cream. Since I don’t know my way around Bay Shore you drive.” She told me she did that so Theresa would get behind the wheel right away. She was a new driver and if she didn’t she may never drive again. Elijah was told to go back the way he came. The way back...

* God gave him things to do.

This wasn’t busy work. People tell me after the loss of a loved one, “I have got to keep busy. Sometimes that is avoidance of grief. God had things with great purpose and meaning for the prophet There were going to be some changes. New kings were coming into power and a new prophet was on the horizon. Elijah was to anoint all of them. God was at work and He was using Elijah again

And He added this P.S. at the end in verse 18. Just to set the record straight Elijah- things were not as bad as you thought- I still have 7,000 who have not bowed to Baal. Things are not as bad you think. God has always had His people He is moving today. He is doing a work across the world. He is on His Throne

How we can lose perspective and not see all that God has provided for us when we are going through a crisis, the like of what Elijah was going through. We can get tot he point he got to. Maybe you are there this morning. Maybe you are on the way from Beersheba, about to leave the well of water and the groves and shade and head out into the desert of trying to live life by your own understanding. It is always dangerous to do that and it is especially dangerous when you are out of sorts like Elijah was!

The LORD is the Restorer of souls. He made us. He knows everything. He will bring you back to where He wants you to be.

Let Him do that today!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The LORD’s Day
June 10, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
The LORD is the Restorer I Kings 19
*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

V
This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 113-115
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study 7:30pm 1312 Pine Acres Blvd.
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)
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 on his third tour of Iraq. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd) One of Billy’s friends (also from the Island) was killed three weeks ago in the fighting in Iraq. Please remember that family in prayer. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter continuing to recover from surgery Pray for her as they deals with a complication that arose from the surgery. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Pray for Eloise Brooks in Sunrise Manor undergoing rehab. She is coming along well. She is in room 214. Remember Jean Louis as both he and Eloise are on dialysis. Pastor’s neighbor, John Mehler, in Southside Hospital and beginning dialysis as well. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, fibromyalgia. kidney stones and liver inflamation. Edie’s Sister, Grace, recovering from internal bleeding, now home. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Good Shepherd Nursery School (students, families and our staff) as graduation takes place this Friday evening. Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s (who is recovering from a heart attack) daughter, Kelly, 30 years old, has breast cancer. Initial reports were not encouraging. She has an appointment tomorrow to discuss treatment. Please remember this whole family in prayer.
A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503
If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see John or Terri Garry.


Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
The LORD is the Restorer

I Kings 19

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


Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God

The LORD's Day June 3, 2007

Good News For Tough Times

Psalm 108

4 For great is Your love, higher than the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

I love these lofty thoughts in God’s Word. They speak of things that are beyond us. Like Isaiah 55.8-9 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

God’s love, His faithfulness, His thoughts and His ways are all beyond our finding out. One of the paradoxes of our faith is that we know Jesus intimately and yet we won’t know fully until we see Him face to face. How I long for that day

Let’s talk about His love and His faithfulness. We often associate these qualities of God with good times in our lives. We associate them with good times with others as well. We think of love and faithfulness in the context of peace. Yet this Psalm and two others where this phrase is repeated is in the context of some pretty tough times in the Psalmist’s life

It is in the tough times of life that we find out who loves us and the extent of that love. The fires of trials and difficulties have a way of proving not only our faith but the faithfulness of our friends. The difficulties we encounter show us these things.

Verse four is repeated two times in the Psalms. David is the writer of the other two as well- Psalm 32 and Psalm 57.

David found that in the very trying times in His life as He looked up and probably recalled the times of taking care of his father Jesse’s sheep out in the hills of Bethlehem, God’s love and faithfulness were with Him. Not only were they with him, they were limitless. Higher than the heavens and reaching to the sky. Looking up to heaven, God’s throne, David realized that is how great the love of God is. That is the measure of His faithfulness.

Put a person to the test and you’ll see how much they love and how faithful they are. Let us go through tests and we’ll see how much God loves us and how faithful He is to us

We sing “No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you...” Let’s look at the three times David cited the goodness of God in His faithfulness and love. Each was unique and can be applied to situations we find ourselves in today in 2007, 3,000 years after David first penned them as the Holy Spirit inspired him.



1. The first time this phrase is used is when David was considering the sinfulness of the wicked. Psalm 36.1-5

We hear bad news frequently. We hear daily news from Iraq and the loss of life there. Two young Long Islander died this week there among others. We have all sorts of things to protect ourselves from wicked deeds of people. House Alarms, Car Alarms, Theft Insurance all are available today because there are wicked people who want stuff we have without paying for it as we did. My daughter works for Nationwide Insurance and recently talked to me about identity theft. I am now insured in case someone rips off my identity. Then there is the terror plot they just uncovered over the weekend to blow up Kennedy Airport. The sinfulness of the wicked is around us.

We see some incredible things going on. We don’t live in a bubble or on a mountain. Jesus prayed that we would not be taken out of the world but that we would be kept from the world. Like a boat in the water but not water in the boat, we navigate our lives through some pretty uncertain times. We see wicked people doing wicked things.

David noticed as we do too:
* There is no fear of God with these people. They act as if God does not exist and there are no consequences for their actions.

*The wicked man flatters himself in his own eyes. Wicked people often have an exalted opinion of themselves. We see people like this and it troubles us.

* When he speaks he lies. There are many who are habitual liars. They seldom tell the truth. They deceive others by their words. Sometimes it seems they believe their own lies.

*Even when this type of individual is going to sleep he is plotting evil. He is on a course of evil. He doesn’t reject anything that is wrong.

When we encounter bad news and when we have to deal with wicked people, we should take note from what David did. He praised the LORD for His love and faithfulness to him.

We will never rid the world of wickedness and we can become weary in doing good if we make that our goal. That is God’s job and He will put an end to trouble and wickedness one day. Our call is to keep our eyes on Jesus and trust in Him with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding.

We are to be witnesses to people who do not know Jesus and pray for them to come to know Him. The way we keep going is that we fix our eyes on Him. When we deal with wicked people remember God’s love and faithfulness. The wicked will be cut off but the love of God and the faithfulness of God is eternal, higher than the heavens, reaching to the sky The good news for us is that in the face of bad news God loves us and will be faithful to us. He will take care of you and me.

2. The second time David uses this sentence was when he was being hunted down by Saul. Psalm 57

David describes this time as a disaster. It was when you look at it. The history of David and Saul was turbulent. Saul first encounters David as a shepherd boy, bringing food to his brothers serving in Saul’s army.

David killed Goliath and was brought into the palace with Saul. Saul’s spiritual life was going down and David played his harp to soothe Saul’s troubled mind and soul. David had been anointed to follow Saul as king one day and such jealousy breaks out that Saul tried to kill David by throwing spears at him on a number of occasions.

How do you handle a person’s jealousy of you? You do what David did, duck out of the way of those spears, never pick them up and throw them back and if needs be get as far away from that person as you can. David had to do that.

By the time we get to Psalm 57 David is hiding out in caves from Saul gone mad. He is sleeping in them like a wild animal because Saul is hunting David down as a wild animal. This shows us the horror of jealousy. It really tears a person down. It is sad- very sad. David even refers to Saul and his men as lions and ravenous beasts. He says he is in the midst of them.

He said that they were treating him as something to catch. He said that they had spread a net for him and that they dug a pit for him.

It is not easy to be the object of jealousy. Many times we do not realize it. In many ways we are better off that way When we do realize it what do we do?

Among other things we keep our eyes on the LORD’s love towards us and His faithfulness. Right in the middle of being hunted down like some animal God’s love and faithfulness were shown to David. He was caught. He was alive- God provided for him. He was protected, It takes a man or woman after God’s own heart to feel that and express that. It takes a mature person to see it.

In the most difficult circumstances there are things we can praise God for. In the most trying of times we can find God’s love with us and that He is being faithful to us. The very witness of nature that Psalm 19 speaks of points this out. The sunrise, the courses of the stars, the seasons all point to God whose faithfulness is higher than the heavens, reaching to the sky. Nature speaks of God’s faithfulness- He keeps the planets on course and He takes care of the birds and sees they are fed- how much more for us!

Not only with being the object of jealousy but anytime (anger, gossip, hatred) we face a person who opposes us our focus should not be on them but rather on the great love and faithfulness of God which comes to us each day and stays with us through each night.


3. The third instance that David uses this sentence is in the scripture we read this morning which was a time of great national spiritual need.
Psalm 108

God had been with the army of Israel. He had enabled them to conquer the land He gave them with overwhelming forces opposing them. The neighboring countries knew that the LORD was with them and they had come to a place of surrender to the forces. On occasion there would be a problem as with Goliath and the Philistines. God took care of the whole Philistines Army working through a young shepherd. He did amazing things through His people. Gideon was another example as was Elisha and Arameans. He filled the nation with heavenly protection.

In Psalm 109, something has gone wrong. This once undefeatable army was suffering defeat. God was no longer going out with them. David prays for the LORD to help them. He did not boast in Israel’s military might. He knew where the victory had come from. It came from the LORD (v.13)

David had discovered the help of man is worthless. This is a wonderful discovery and saves us so much pain and frustration. But the way there, the journey to that summit of truth in life’s experiences is a difficult one. To find yourself in need and expecting someone you trusted in to help is a horrible thing to go through. Yet when you go through it the LORD sort of burns it into your memory the truth David is sharing in this verse. It is a difficult to attain to but a delight once you get there. I remember hiking in the White Mountains in New Hampshire with my daughter years ago. In the National Forest there are two mountains called Twin Mountains. It is a bit of a hike to get to the top but once you are there it is wonderful. So ti si with this truth about the help of man.

Once again we are encouraged as we think about this repetitive statement of David’s, For great is Your love, higher than the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. (v.4) Jesus never fails. So when the nation is struggling spiritually and the blessing of the LORD is lifted from it, individuals can still experience His love and faithfulness. Jeremiah did as did Habakkuk. They received the promises of God in a terrible time nationally. Those promises are for us today.

Whether we are considering the sinfulness of the wicked, or we are dealing with the jealousy of someone near us or the national situation is troubling us and even affecting us or any other trouble that comes to God’s people we can rest in this wonderful truth, God’s faithfulness and God’s love reaches to the heavens

His faithfulness comes to us each day and he has lavished His love on us. So we do not lose heart. We keep our eyes fixed upon Him.

We trust in the LORD, not in man. Our hope is in Jesus’ blood and righteousness He will bring us through every storm and every trouble we encounter.

That is good news for today!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The LORD’s Day
June 3, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Receiving the LORD’s Supper
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Good News for Tough Times Psalm 108

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

V
This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 110-112
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study 7:30pm 1312 Pine Acres Blvd.
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)
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 on his third tour of Iraq. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd) One of Billy’s friends (also from the Island) was killed three weeks ago in the fighting in Iraq. Please remember that family in prayer. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter continuing to recover from surgery Pray for her as they deals with a complication that arose from the surgery. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Pray for their son Michael’s friend Andy whose wife died suddenly last week. Pray for Eloise Brooks in Sunrise Manor undergoing rehab. She is coming along well. She is in room 214. Remember Jean Louis as both he and Eloise are on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, fibromyalgia. kidney stones and liver inflamation. Edie’s Sister, Grace, recovering from internal bleeding, now home. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Good Shepherd Nursery School (students, families and our staff) as several events will be taking place this month.
************************************
A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503
If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see John or Terri Garry.
*******************************
Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
Good News for Tough Times

Psalm 108

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


Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God

The LORD's Day May 27, 2007 Pentecost Sunday

The Elements of Our Faith

Psalm 104.1-15

Water, wine, oil, and bread are included in the things that are given to us by the LORD from the earth He created. These could be some random things mentioned by the LORD through this Psalmist. They may not have any more significance than the physical realm of which they are a part. Many view the Bible like that. But similar to people who see flowers and don’t take time to notice the intricacies of the each bloom, they pass over things that are treasures revealed only to those who take time and meditate upon what God is saying.

This Psalm is celebrating God and His Creation. It is exulting Him as the One Who sustains what He has made. It is a wonderful and amazing world that God has made. The whole earth is full of His Glory

In His communication with us He has taken many things He has created to illustrate His power and love towards us. The sparrow is watched over carefully by our Heavenly Father. Not one falls without Him noticing it. We see sparrows and we think of His love.

In the sacraments of the church we have been given certain things by the LORD to illustrate to us His love and his power and work. Four are mentioned here in the verses we just read.

1. Water, the life giving liquid. vs.10-14

You can only go three days without water before you will begin to die of thirst. It is precious

Water is used in baptism. John the Baptist baptized with water for repentance. It symbolized a change in the heart of man.

Paul speaks of it in his letter to the Romans as being symbolic of Jesus’s death and resurrection in our own life. He writes, “ 1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6.1-4)

Jesus spoke of salvation as the water of life. The Spirit and the bride say, Come And let him who hears say, Come Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22.17)

He spoke of the water He gives to the woman at the well. Those who drink of it will never get thirsty again.

Water quenches thirst. In the physical realm we need 8 glasses a day. There is nothing like a cold glass of water. In the spiritual realm the water of life takes away the thirst of life. We have a spring of living water welling up within us when we believe on Jesus. He spoke about this in John 7 If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as[c] the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. Today is Pentecost Sunday. On this Day 1,975 years the Holy Spirit was outpoured on the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem and the church was born. About 3,000 men from every nation on earth were there, believed and were baptized that day. People have been getting their spiritual thirst quenched ever since that time. Oh that God would give us another Pentecost

Water refreshes. In his sermon on the day the lame man was healed Peter proclaimed, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3.19 Times of refreshing come as we walk with the LORD in the light of His Word. As we get into God’s Word and allow His Spirit to work in us, times of refreshing come. As people come to the LORD times of refreshing come. As people break sinful habits and pour that energy and time and money into the kingdom, times of refreshing come. How we need that water of life today in our nation!

Water cleanses. In his letter to the Ephesians5, Paul writes that men are to love their wives as Christ love the church. He tells us that Christ died to make her (the church) holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

As we get into God’s Word, it cleanses us. We see where we need to grow and what needs to be cleansed within us.

The second element we see in this Psalm is wine.


2. Wine, the drink of joy. v.15

Wine gladdens the heart of man. It is a drink of celebration.

Of course we know it was used by Jesus in the Passover the night He was betrayed. He told us that this is the Blood of the New Covenant shed for many. Wine speaks of the fact that our sins are washed away by Jesus’s blood and that the joy of the Holy Spirit comes into the heart of the forgiven.

There is nothing like being truly forgiven. We need to recapture that joy in the church today. Jesus Christ has forgiven my sins and I am free Hallelujah What a joy to not have the burden of my sins pressing upon me but to be free from it!

Wine comes from grapes. It is made by crushing them. The winepress was located in the vineyard. Hold that thought as we look at the other two things mentioned here in this Psalm as life giving substances for man.

3. Oil, the special fluid.

Oil was obtained from Olives. Olive presses were located in the groves of olive trees. Gethsemane (Matthew 26.36) means “an oil press”. The Garden of Gethsemane was located at the base of the Mount of Olives. The olives were harvested then crushed. There was a little rock trench (hewn out) It would run down that trench and was collected into vessels right in the garden.

Oil, we are told here in the 15th verse of this Psalm, makes the face of man shine. Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and his face was like that of an angel. Moses spent time with God and the people of Israel told him to cover his face with a napkin- a veil. James Hudson Taylor, the missionary to China, stayed with a family in Australia and the lady of the house said to her husband, “Look at how his face shines ” The presence of the Holy Spirit brings a glow to the countenance of God’s people. What is in your heart will come out on your face. In the Old and New Testament oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Oil was used for anointing God’s men for service.
Prophets, Priests and Kings were anointed. Samuel anointed David. Aaron and his sons were anointed and Psalm 133 speaks of it as a beautiful thing.

Oil is to be used when praying for the sick person to be healed.
James 5 gives the instructions. It was a symbol of the work and gift of the Holy Spirit. The anointing with oil helps keep the focus as this as a gift of God. So many problems arise when these instructions are not followed.

Oil reduces friction.
Your car will not go very far without oil in the engine. In relationships in the church we need the presence of the Holy Spirit. He keeps us cool. He reduces the friction that can arise in differences of opinions. We need Him to fill us and flow among us.

4. Bread, the solid food.

We have been talking about liquids. Now we come to a solid. Bread was made from wheat and barley in the time of the Bible. The wheat was brought int from the harvest, placed on the threshing floor and the ox would tread upon it crushing the good out of what was to be discarded- the chaff which the wind blew away.

Crushing experiences- the wine, olive oil and the wheat were all products of crushing. You know where I am going with this. We look at crushing experiences as the end of something, Gods looks at them as a process and a beginning. Crushing experiences bring good out of people. Painful times produce people of character. They sift out the true believers. They show us what is in our hearts. Job was tested and he and others found out what was in his heart.
People who want to be close to Jesus will experience pain. But oh the fruit that comes out of these times. There is something about the LORD that you cannot experience until you have suffered. Dietrich Bonhoffer wrote that when Jesus calls a man He bids him come and die. He did die but like Abel and that great cloud of witnesses, being dead he still speaks. There is great joy and wonderful fellowship to be found in sharing in the sufferings of Jesus.

Jesus said that He was the Bread of Heaven. He said He was the Bread that came down from heaven and gives life to the world. He was born in Bethlehem, which means the House of Bread. He taught us to pray for daily bread.

This element- the unleavened bread- bread in its purest form-is used by Jesus to have us remember His sufferings that He went through in His Body. We take it and eat it and remember that He said it is His body broken for us. Isaiah 53.5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

The wine comes from grapes which are grown on a vine, the oil from the olive trees and the bread from wheat which is a plant. The water comes down from above and waters the earth so all these can grow.

As we have seen there is spiritual application here. I don’t think these things were randomly picked out by God. There is rich meaning here. He has written His Word into His creation. Romans 1.20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

For us who know Jesus this Psalm has physical blessings for us- things that God has given for our physical and emotionally well being. These verses also have deep significance spiritually. They are full of benefits for us. My grandmother loved that verse “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation..” Psalm 68.19

If you are in need of cleansing it is provided for you. Thirsty or hungry Jesus is the answer. In need of healing? He is our healer. In need of forgiveness- the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. He is the great I AM. If you are in need of strength come to Him the Bread of Heaven today. Stop trusting in other things- they will let you down

Let’s worship and serve Him with all our hearts

_____________________________________________

The LORD’s Day
May 27, 2007
Pentecost Sunday- Memorial Day Weekend

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Elements of Our Faith Psalm 104.1-15
*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.
Prayer this evening at 6pm in the backyard of the parsonage

V
This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 107-109
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study 7:30pm 1312 Pine Acres Blvd.
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 will be served
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 on his third tour of Iraq. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd) One of Billy’s friends (also from the Island) was killed three weeks ago in the fighting in Iraq. Please remember that family in prayer. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter continuing to recover from surgery Pray for her as they dela with a complication that arose from the surgery. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Pray for their son Michael’s friend Andy whose wife died suddenly this week. Pray for Eloise Brooks in Sunrise Manor undergoing rehab. She is coming along well. She is in room 214. Remember Jean Louis as both he and Eloise are on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, fibromyalgia. kidney stones and liver inflamation. Edie’s Sister, Grace, recovering from internal bleeding, now home. Edie had an eye examination on Thursday. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Lisa Siler, a staff member of John’s, is expecting a baby and had three year old named Lauren with scarlet fever. She is home and doing well. Praise the LORD
************************************
A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503
If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see John or Terri Garry.


Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
Elements of Our Faith

Psalm 104.1-15

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


Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God

The LORD's Day May 20, 2007

An Important Exhortation

Hebrews 13.1-3

Let brotherly love continue.

The things man think are important and vital to the church often is not what God says in His Word.

God is love. He wants His church to reflect that and demonstrate that and be known by that. Churches are known by many things today- their music, their programs, their size their buildings, their mass media outlets, the personality of their pastor. When was the last time you heard someone say of their church, when they were talking to you about it, “The people love one another deeply,” or “The love of Jesus Christ is spread all over the congregation.”?

Jesus said that this would be the way that all men would know we are His disciples.
This is the proof that you are filled with God’s Spirit. It is proof that you are a follower of Jesus Christ.

The writer to the Hebrews was commending this group of believers that there was love among them. He is exhorting them to let it continue. The LORD would have had him make this exhortation unless there was a possibility of it not continuing.


1. How Does Love Leak Out?

Pride
Love cannot exist where there is no humility. If you want to keep love in a relationship you have to be willing to say a number of things. I was wrong (intentional or not). I am sorry (truly- kids when they are forced to say it). Please forgive me. (From the heart too with sorrow) A relationship based upon love cannot continue without these elements and they all stem from humility.

If you think you are better than someone else it is not possible to truly love them. Philippians 2.3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Not bearing with each other
We are different and we have differences of opinions and preferences. If we let these get in the way it can destroy love. We must allow for each other’s differences.

Allowing little foxes to do in the vines. Things nibble at us.

Getting too busy. I used to call this guy up and when he would answer the phone I would ask him how he was. He would answer, “Busy.” I don’t call him anymore. If you are too busy to love and to demonstrate that love then your schedule is overloaded and there needs to be some adjustments.

Not spending time with each other.
There is an old saying: “Distance makes the heart grow fonder.” Someone added this truth: “And it also makes the heart to wander.” We need to be with the ones we love.



2. That Little Word ‘Let’ is a Big Issue.
It involves yielding to God’s Spirit. It is allowing the LORD to do His will in our lives, in our relationships. His will is for us to be holy and for love to flourish in the church, His Body.

It means remaining or abiding in love. John 15

It means to endure. I Corinthians 13.7 Love endures all things (or perseveres).

We are given choices each day whether or not we are going to love. In the church it is vital that we keep love within it because that is the true basis of any fellowship with the LORD and with each other. We have to yield to the Spirit or we will have head on crashes or side swipe one another. Illus- Driving today. You will have daily accidents if you don’t yield- if you say that I have a right to be in this spot.

3. The Essence of Brotherly Love

Philadelphia

love of brothers or sisters, brotherly love

In the NT the love which Christians cherish for each other as brothers.

This love is based on Family, the family of God. God our Father sets the tone for this. He forgives, He loves. He loved so much that He gave His One and Only Son that whoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Believing we are adopted into the family of God. We become children not born of natural descent or a father’s will but born of God, born again, born from above.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. I John 4.7

A friend of God and God’s people.

A Companion. We walk with each other to heaven. It is not a solo trip. We need one another.




One of the bridegroom's friends who on his behalf asked the hand of the bride and rendered him various services in closing the marriage and celebrating the nuptials.
We are to tell people about the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ), ask them to come to Him and nurture them in the faith.

4. Let it continue

Actually this is the same word as let- if we translated this directly it would be “Continue Brotherly love Continue.”

God repeats things. The Bible is repetitive. We have thick skulls sometimes- most of the time. I cannot believe how long at times it takes me to get some simple truth.

Brotherly love is simple. You either have it or you don’t. Either you are continuing in it by yielding to the Spirit or you are needing to return to your first love this morning.

Detecting whether there is love or not is so easy a child can pick up on it.

Our granddaughter was over the other day and she was getting hugs and kisses from her Grandma. While this was going on Emma looked at me with a big smile and said, “She sure loves this kid, doesn’t she? ”

Gospel Annie and Dr. Airhart: We could sure use a lot more of the love of Jesus on this bus.

We can want things done our way (We know that is the “best” way- that is a joke).
We have a way that something is done we like or prefer. Yielding to the Spirit is allowing love to overrule our preferences!

Continue brotherly love continue.

When this happens (and I believe it is happening here) the church is strengthened. When we yield to the Holy Spirit He is not grieved but is able to accomplish His work. Part of that work is bring us into complete love, to have the Spirit produce the whole realm of His fruit in you and I.

Continue brotherly love continue!

His will in you and I, His likeness shining forth in me and you. This is such an important exhortation. We cannot afford the leakage of love. This is the thing Jesus looks for in His church. This is the reflection of His Image in us.

Let brotherly love continue
---------------------------------------------------------------------

The LORD’s Day
May 20, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
An Important Exhortation Hebrews 13.1
*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 104-106
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study 7:30pm 1312 Pine Acres Blvd.
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 will be served
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 on his third tour of Iraq. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd) One of Billy’s friends (also from the Island) was killed two weeks ago in the fighting in Iraq. Please remember that family in prayer. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter continuing to recover from surgery. Please pray for Monica’s (Katrina’s granddaughter) mother-in-law, Rosemary, with breast cancer doing well. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Praise God for their son Michael’s recovery from surgery. Pray for Eloise Brooks in Sunrise Manor undergoing rehab. She wanted to be remembered to everyone again. Remember Jean Louis as both he and Eloise are on dialysis. Christopher (Uncle of Good Shepherd Grad) with leukemia. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, fibromyalgia. kidney stones and liver inflamation. Edie’s Sister, Grace, recovering from internal bleeding. She needed 5 pints of blood this week. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Lisa Siler, a staff member of John’s, is expecting a baby and had three year old named Lauren with scarlet fever. She is home and doing well. Praise the LORD
************************************
A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503
If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see John or Terri Garry.

Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
An Important Exhoirtation
Hebrews 13.1






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



Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God

The LORD's Day, May 13, 2007 Happy Mother's Day!

The LORD Restores

Psalm 102.12-22

Jerusalem was in ruins. The once beautiful city became a smoldering ash heap. The temple was destroyed and the city once flowing with inhabitants lay desolate.

Jeremiah the prophet wrote Lamentations. In Lamentations 1
1 How deserted lies the city,
once so full of people
How like a widow is she,
who once was great among the nations
She who was queen among the provinces
has now become a slave.

6 All the splendor has departed
from the Daughter of Zion.
Her princes are like deer
that find no pasture;
in weakness they have fled
before the pursuer.

The people of Jerusalem had been through quite an ordeal. Similar to the people of Greensburg, Kansas this past week, their city was destroyed. Jerusalem was destroyed by an invading army. This judgement was years in the making: Solomon was warned by his father David: I Chronicles 28.5 Of all my sons—and the LORD has given me many—he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 6 He said to me: 'Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.'

8 So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.

9 And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 10 Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work. Solomon did complete the work on the temple but he did not listen to the words of David about his personal life. Generations later Jerusalem and this temple he built was destroyed. Guarding our hearts and lives is a work we will have to do until the end.

So that brings us to this Psalm. It was written at the end of the time of judgement when the LORD was getting ready to restore Jerusalem. It was 70 years that the nation was in Babylon. It was a difficult time for the people who remained in the vicinity of Jerusalem.

When the LORD brought the people back it was an experience that was difficult to express. The Psalmist in Psalm 126.1 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations , The LORD has done great things for them.

God brought the people back and reestablished the nation. It is a thrilling story. It is told about in Nehemiah, Ezra, the prophets and in the Psalms.

In this portion of the Psalm we read this morning we see the LORD at work in restoring the nation. As we just read they were like men who dreamed. It didn’t like it was happening. They were carried away in wonderful thoughts. They were seeing God’s Hand upon them. It was glorious.

God is the Creator and He is the “Recreator”. He makes things new. In Revelation 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new Then He said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.

Even on earth He does this work, in our age, in our time. As He did with Jerusalem so He can with lives today. That doesn’t change the past, those returning still had to face the consequences of the sins that had been committed in generations before. But they were brought back into their country, they were in their homeland, and they had the privilege of joining in the work with God of seeing the temple restored.

The LORD loves to write final chapters. He loves to put commas where men put periods. He loves to restore souls and families and nations. That is His work.

Now it isn’t all rosy and sweet as we move toward restoration. I wrote in my journal my life’s verse this week, Psalm 16.6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.” And they have. I have been blessed beyond measure in so many ways. My fellowship with the LORD and others- visiting Eloise this week and before...wonderful Yet Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer I have overcome the world ” But we will have trouble. And there is sometimes difficulty in our very work and worship from enemies.

Daniel had them. He prayed and was arrested and thrown into the lion’s den. Yet God delivered him. But he still went through the experience of brushing with death and facing had the LORD not intervened and shut the mouths of the loins We will not be free from trouble until we are home with the LORD. But while we walk this pilgrim pathway there are some awesome things we get to see the LORD do and one of His marvelous works is restoring, rebuilding, working wonders among us.
One of the illustrations of this work of God came to Jeremiah. The LORD directed him to go down to the Potter’s house.
In Jeremiah 18. 1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : 2 Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message. 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6 O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? declares the LORD. Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

God can remake lives. He does it today.

Psalm 102.12-22

1. He is in Control -v.12

God has always been on His Throne, is now and always will be Things may seem like they have spun out of control but they are under His control. Men think too highly of themselves when they think otherwise.

It may have appeared and probably did to the inhabitants of Jerusalem when it was destroyed in 586 B.C. that God was not in control. Jeremiah and Psalm 102 sets this type of false thinking straight. God is in control. It is futile and foolish to be angry with God. Things may be falling apart around us. God reigns. Events may happen that look like this is not true but He is on His Throne in the heavens and He will be there forever. Wait for Him because...


2. Restoration Comes in His Appointed Time. v.13
It is not for you to know the dates or times the Father has set but when it comes you will know

Jerusalem was rebuilt when God decided and its rebuilding lined up with Jesus coming into the temple on Palm Sunday- dates the Father had set by His own authority. We make dates and appointments but they are nothing compared to God’s. In His Time He makes all things beautiful. He set the order of the seasons. He sets things in order in restorations. Benefits of spiritual destitution... One million dollar lotto winner this week... widow’s mite... No record of Jesus ever having money.

Wait for the LORD. Be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD

3. He will Come and Rebuild Things During Our Lifetime. v.16
He rebuilds lives.
He is the Potter. We are the clay. He can remake and reshape things.
He rebuilds homes and families.
Some things will never be back the way they were. Reality does not repeat. But He restores the human heart and He repays us for the years the locust have eaten. (Joel 2.25)
He rebuilds cities and nations. (Gulf Coast- Mission Team from Long Island Nazarene Churches this summer). Much of the relief work has been by the church.

He restores broken hearts. Hallelujah
Some things cannot be put back to the way they were. Time has brought great change and we cannot go back. But God can heal the broken hearted. He does that today. He restores my soul

4. Complete and Full Restoration is Heaven v.21-22
That is when He will make everything new

There are certain things that will not be fully restored until they get to heaven and that includes you and me We contend with the world, the flesh and the devil. The world a nd its desires are passing away. One day we will leave this body and be given a new body like Jesus’s glorified body and the tempter, the dragon, the serpent, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire.

Emma’s words yesterday.

It won’t be long. It could easily happen any time. The war on terror has all the markings of the final war as well as originating in the place where the final war will be fought

What is the LORD saying to you in the broken places of your life these days? Look to Him for restoration and rebuilding. He is the LORD

The LORD’s Day
May 13, 2007
Mother’s Day

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
The LORD Restores Psalm 102.12-22
*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

V
This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 104-106
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study & Thursday Bible Study will not be held this week.
Pastor will be at District Assembly in New Jersey.
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
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 on his third tour of Iraq. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd) One of Billy’s friends (also from the Island) was killed this week in the fighting in Iraq. Please remember that family in prayer. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter continuing to recover from surgery. Please pray for Monica’s (Katrina’s granddaughter) mother-in-law, Rosemary, with breast cancer doing well. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Prasie God for their son Michael’s recovery from surgery. Pray for Eloise Brooks in Sunrise Manor undergoing rehab. She wanted to be remembered to everyone. Remember Jean Louis as both he and Eloise are on dialysis. Christopher (Uncle of Good Shepherd Grad) with leukemia. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, fibromyalgia. kidney stones and liver inflamation. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Lisa Siler, a staff member of John’s, is expecting a baby and had three year old named Lauren with scarlet fever. She is home and doing well. Praise the LORD
************************************
A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503
If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see John or Terri Garry.



Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
The LORD Restores
Psalm 102.12-22




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


Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God

The LORD's Day, May 6, 2007

Jesus is Seeking Lost Souls

John 3-4, Mark 5

God is no respecter of people. He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. He loves the world. He loved it so much He sent His One and Only Son to die for us.

This morning we are going to look at three people who had an encounter with Jesus Christ. One was a respected religious leader, another was a woman with a bad reputation and who had been married 5 times and was living with a man who was not her husband and the other was a man who was as close to insanity and self destruction of any that we read about in God’s Word.

Whether a person is successful and accomplished in this life, or whether they are people who have severely broken God’s law of marriage or whether they are people whom society has banished, they all have one common need. They all need the saving power of Jesus Christ. They are multitudes of people like them all around us today. Jesus has left us with the supreme privilege of telling them about Him. He wants us to join Him is this desire I Timothy 2.3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 Who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

We are to be prepared. I Peter 3.15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

We become prepared by reading God’s Word and hiding it in our hearts. The Word of God is living and active and sharing it cuts to the heart of a person. Tell people when they inquire why you have hope that is because of Jesus Christ.

I love the examples Jesus gave us and they are recorded here for us to read and learn. Notice that in every one of these encounters the subject is Jesus Christ Himself. I get concerned in this day of the Christian Celebrity that people are focusing on a personality other than Jesus Christ. He is the only One that is worthy to be called Wonderful. No one else should have that title. His name should be mentioned often. His name is above all others. He is the LORD God Almighty.

Let’s look at how Jesus shared His love with people.

1. Nicodemus, the man who came to Jesus at night. John 3

Nicodemus was a secret disciple. He started out that way. I think many are like that We keep our faith hidden from others for a vast array of reasons. Nicodemus kept his secret for fear of the Jews- his own brothers. Perhaps he was afraid he would lose his standing or even his position. It is interesting that he began this way. Coming to Jesus at night.


There are many things about the Old City of Jerusalem today which are very similar to Jesus’ time- one them is that the city sleeps at sundown. You can move around at night and very few people if any will see you. In the daylight hours Jerusalem is a beehive of activity but at night, shops close, people go to their homes and the streets are empty. Only a few gate remain open. This meeting could have taken place in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus often went there with His disciples.

Nicodemus came seeking and Jesus said (John 6:37) All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. God is patient with those in the struggle that Nicodemus and Jospeh of Armithea were in but there comes a time when secret disciples must come out of the woodwork and stand up and be public about their faith.

Is this where you are at this morning? The power of the Holy Spirit makes you a witness for Jesus. Let Jesus baptize you with the Holy Spirit and give you a holy boldness. Perhaps you need a fresh infilling of His Spirit. This is God’s work, it is a gift of God.

The conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus forms a great deal of our understanding of what it means to experience the New Birth. Being born again is first mentioned here.

As we look at the conversation with the woman at the well and this one with Nicodemus, we see that both lack spiritual understanding. Their lack was in great part centered around Who Jesus really was. Nicodemus had Him down as a teacher (sent from God) and the woman a the well in Samaria had Jesus down as prophet. He is the Master Teacher and He fulfilled the office of the prophet. As the woman said He was the prophet that (Moses told about) that was to come into the world. But He is the Son of God He came to bring us into God’s family.

We can learn a lesson here from Nicodemus’s encounter with Jesus. He needed to be born again. He had considered who Jesus was but had not come to faith in Him yet. Many people today are one hit wonders. They are like the multitudes in Jesus’ time. They brush up against things that are spiritual and they hold onto that experience but they never believe on Him to forgive their sins. They never follow. They never embrace the gospel. They need the Savior but they think He is just a good teacher or a prophet. They miss the time of God’s coming to them.

Now Nicodemus did go on to faith and following Jesus. But it was not until after Jesus died that he came forward.

There are very religious people around today. Their need, like Nicodemus, is for faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. When you encounter them, do what Jesus did. Tell them they must be born again.


Let’s head over to Samaria...

2. The Woman from Samaria Who Came to Jesus in the Day John 4

Probably for the same reasons as Nicodemus coming at night- she didn’t want to be seen. Day time in the West Bank between 11 and 3 the sun is hot and it is dangerous to travel back. I found this out my last time in Israel not very far from where this exchange took place between Jesus and the woman at the well.

I love this verse in the KJV 4 And he must needs go through Samaria. Necessary lying in the nature of the case, necessary in what is required to attain some end.

The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. They avoided Samaria. Jesus was breaking down the prejudicial nature of the disciples against the Samaritan’s and against women. He was also on his way to appointment He had to go there.

This appointment with Jesus the woman had no idea was coming She didn’t know that this afternoon her life was going to be completely changed So often when God works in us we are just going about our routines. He uses every day life to meet with His people. He doesn’t always tell us He is going to show up. So was the case with this lady.

This woman’s life was totally changed by Jesus Christ that day. He took away her shame, sin and sorrow. He revealed Himself to her. A while later a revival broke out in Samaria (Acts 8.4-8) We are to be like those early followers- witnesses of Jesus Christ.

As the Spirit directs us and we follow we will be witnesses.

The woman at the well and the Nicodemus had individual meetings with Jesus that transformed them. They show us it doesn’t matter how religious a person is they need Christ and it doesn’t matter how wicked a person is they are nor beyond His Grace



3. The Demoniac Whom Jesus Came To Mark 5

Some people can’t make appointments to see Jesus. They are beyond the ability to move themselves. The demoniac was like this. The man who was lowered to Jesus through the roof was like that. His friends had to help them. The demoniac had no friends. He had a lot of silent enemies.

People were afraid of him. They tried to bind him. No one could. He would break the chains.

Back in the late 60's after Israel took control of the Golan Heights, they put in a highway around the Sea of Galilee. As they worked this area with the machinery, something happened that occurs there frequently when digging goes on- they discovered or should I say uncovered history.
It turned out that years after healing of the demoniac took place, a church was built by the shore and up on the cliff a chapel was erected. For hundreds and hundreds of year it lay buried in the ground, now it has been rebuilt in commemoration of the miracle.

We understand this man was absolutely helpless. There are some like that today. So Jesus went to him, cast the demons out and sent him home.

Frustration - Fulton J. Sheen

1. What Sin Had Done To Him
It divided him.
It defiled him.

2. What Society had Done to Him.
It bound him.
It banished him.

3. What the Savior did for Him
He cleaned him up.
He sent him home.

There are people around and we may know some of them who are like this man
divided, being defiled, bound, banished. They need Jesus. He can do what no other can do


Nicodemus, the woman at the well, this man among the tombs all had one single need. They needed Christ Jesus.

In our lives these days we come in contact with people like this all the time. May the LORD open our eyes so we can see the harvest field next door, across the street and around the block.

Remember Jesus’ Words to the disciples that day with the woman at the well.

Don’t say 4 months and then the harvest Look to the fields they are ripe for harvest now

-------------------------------
The LORD’s Day
May 3, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Receiving the LORD’s Supper
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Jesus in Seeking Lost Souls
John 3-4, Mark 5

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

V
This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 101-103
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study - 7:30pm 1312 Pine Acres Blvd.
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)
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 on his third tour of Iraq. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter continuing to recover from surgery, still having pain. Please pray for Monica’s (Katrina’s granddaughter) mother-in-law, Rosemary, with breast cancer doing well. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Their son Michael is recovering from surgery from last week . Pray for Eloise Brooks in Southside undergoing rehab. Remember Jean Louis as both he and Eloise are on dialysis. Christopher (Uncle of Good Shepherd Grad) with leukemia. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, fibromyalgia. kidney stones and liver inflamation. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Also Lisa Siler, a staff member of John’s, is expecting a baby and has three year old named Lauren with scarlet fever.
************************************
A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503
If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see John or Terri Garry.

Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
Jesus in Seeking Lost Souls

John 3-4, Mark 5

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


Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God