Sunday, June 28, 2009

The Names of God - Pt 1 - Exodus 3:13-15

Title: The Names of God – Part 1
Date: June 28, 2009
Text: Exodus 3:13-15

- Introduction
- How many of us know what our name means?
- It may tell something about us or our ancestors, or how our parents thought about us, or what they expected of us
- I knew someone called Jim Smith – one of his ancestors was a smith who worked in a smithy, back in England
- One of my ancestors around 1800, was known as “old John”. He was married to someone called “Joanie Come To Bed”. I guess Joanie used to stay up late!!!
- When we name our children we think about what the name means
- It has an impact on how they see themselves and it also expresses our hopes for their success in life.
- God also has a name. In fact, he has many names, each describing a facet of His character
- Today we are going to examine 6 of these names, in the Old Testament, and see what they tell us about God.
- The Jewish Encyclopedia says “Like other Hebrew proper names, the name of God is more than a mere distinguishing title. It represents the Hebrew conception of the divine nature or character and of the relation of God to His people. It represents the Deity as He is known to His worshipers, and stands for all those attributes which He bears in relation to them and which are revealed to them through His activity on their behalf. A new manifestation of His interest or care may give rise to a new name. So, also, an old name may acquire new content and significance through new and varied experience of these sacred relations.

1. Jehovah (6823 x)
- LORD in our English Bibles (all capitals).
- Yahweh is the covenant name of God.
- From the verb "to be", havah, similar to chavah (to live), "The Self-Existent One," "I AM WHO I AM" or 'I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE" as revealed to Moses at the burning bush,
- Ex.3:13-15.
- Third century BC the Jews decided they would no longer pronounce God’s name – based on Ex 20:7 (not take name of Lord in vain), and Lev 24:11 (Jewish Encyclopedia)
- The name of God, too sacred to be uttered, abbreviated ( . . . . ) or written "YHWH" without vowel points. Known as the Tetragrammaton.
- Gen 2:4
- Deut. 6:4, 5 known to Jews as the Sh'ma uses both Jehovah and Elohim to indicate one God with a plurality of persons.
- IMPLICATION
- God exists, as opposed to all the other gods we have in our lives
- Not only that, but as the only God who lives, he is the only one who gives life
- This name sets God apart from all other Gods
- John 1:1-5 – Jesus has life and provides hope for mankind
- This is why Jesus says, I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)– there is no other way to life

2. Elohim (2507 x)
- The word Elohim is a plural word
- It describes God as being Transcendent, Mighty and Strong. (Jewish Encylopedia)
- It describes a God who is a God, a divine ruler and a judge (Strongs-136)
- See Gen. 1:1.
- IMPLICATION
- God is a God who is bigger than we are
- We don’t want a God who is a weakling, who is impotent to affect us
- We need a God who can bring change into the important areas of our lives
- We need a God who can and will fight our battles

3. Adonai (434 x)
- Lord in our English Bibles (Capitol letter 'L ', lower case, 'ord')
- (Adonai is plural, the sing. is "adon").
- "Master'' or "Lord" always plural when referring to God, when sing. the reference is to a human lord.
- First use of Adonai, Gen. 15:2 – used as term of reverence in the place of Jahweh
- Heavy use – 101 times in Psalms and Isaiah. 214 times by Ezek
- IMPLICATION
- Surrendering to God as our Lord and Master
- John 20:24-28 - Thomas

4. El-Shaddai (48 x – 31 x in Job)
- God Almighty or "God All Sufficient."
- First used in Gen. 17:1, 2. – Almighty, most powerful – I can perform what I have promised
- Used to have a bank as I was growing up, “get with the strength, bank Commonwealth”
- Gen 49:24-25
- IMPLICATION
- God is the most powerful being in the universe
- He is almighty, able to perform what he has promised
- He uses that incredible power to bless us
- He is like a gentle giant, taking care of us with great sensitivity

Summary
- God is Yahweh – the existing One
- God is Elohim – a God who is bigger than we are, able to change things
- God is Adonai – a God who is our Lord and Master – someone to whom we surrender
- God is El-Shaddai – the Almighty – the most powerful being in the universe

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Fathers' Day - 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

Sermon: Fathers Day
Date: June 21, 2009
Text: 1 Thes 2:7-12
Introduction
- The third Sunday in June is generally observed as Father’s Day, throughout the United States
- It was a woman in Spokane WA, Sonora Louise Smart Dodd, who is most frequently credited with originating the idea for a Father's Day observance, in 1909 - http://www.historictrinity.org/fathersdayorigin.html
- Her mother had died when she was very young, and her dad, a civil war veteran named William Smart, had had to raise herself and five sons
- Recognizing the difficulties he had faced, and as an expression of appreciation for his devotion, Mrs Dodd urged the Spokane Ministers Association to sponsor the first Father’s Day Celebration, to honor all fathers
- This first celebration was held in Spokane on the third Sunday of June - the month of her father's birth - in 1910, with local ministers calling the attention of their congregations to the appreciation fathers deserved.
- William Jennings Bryan, complimented Mrs. Dodd on the inspiration for Father's Day , and remarked," too much emphasis cannot be placed upon the relation between parent and child."
- The observance of Father's Day did not spread rapidly - not, for instance, as rapidly as Mother's Day, which was started just before this time
- Several others also came up with the idea, independently, but Mrs. Dodd is credited with beginning the celebration.
- President Woodrow Wilson officially approved the idea of Father's Day in 1916.
- Then in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson issued a Proclamation that Father's Day be observed on the third Sunday in June.
- On Father's Day in 1970 Mrs. Dodd, still living in Spokane, stressed the fact the one very important, timely, practical value attached to Father's Day was to provide an occasion for children to express appreciation of their fathers and for fathers to acknowledge their responsibilities to their children.
- Many of us have had dads who did not live up to their responsibilities
- Many of us ourselves have not been the parents we should have been.
- But we can break the cycle, by being good role models in the future, and raising up our children to be responsible dads when they grow up
- Today we are going to look at some of the roles dad’s play in the family
- 1 Thes 2:7-12 “As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
8We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
- 9Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
- 11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,
- 12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
ABLE TO EXPRESS GENUINE LOVE
- 1 Thes 2:7-12 “As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
- The first attribute a father exhibits, is that of love
- This is important – it does not come naturally to most men
- We need to learn to show love
- In the Bible, women are rarely told to love their husbands because that tends to come naturally for them
- That can be stunted and crippled of course, by the experiences men have put them through
- But it the natural order of things, women are naturally loving.
- Men, on the other hand do not have this natural ability
- So Paul tells us in Eph 5:25 – husbands love your wives
- He describes this love as the love which will give up everything for the other person, including his life
- This does not come naturally, and it is something we have to learn
- This applies not only to our relationship with our wife, but also with our children
- How many of us are fathers?
- When our baby came home, we had to learn to cradle the baby in our arms, so the head is supported
- We had to learn to protect the soft spot on the top of the baby’s head, because it was vulnerable
- We had to learn how to deal with our baby when it cried, and when it needed its diaper changed
- For our wife, however, it seemed a more natural thing
- Our wives don’t seem to have the same learning curve in this area
- We have to learn to be affectionate dads
- But then one day, our baby is grown up
- Our grownup child still needs the same affection
- We don’t change diapers any more, but our kids still need hugs and kisses and affection
- In my case I never had a child of my own
- I have had to learn to be a dad to my step children
- I know I still have a lot of learning to do
- But I love them, and I tell them and they know it and love me back
-
- LIVING A TRANSPARENT LIFE
- The second train Paul talks about is transparency
- 1 Thes 2:8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
- He speaks of sharing the gospel and his own life as well
- It is one thing to speak the gospel, it is another to live it
- Paul is saying he was a role model for these people in Thessalonica
- If you are a Christian, your children should know it by the way you live
- It will affect the way you speak, the things you watch, the activities you engage in, and the values you hold dear
- It means that when it is appropriate, you will tell your kids about mistakes you have made in the way in which you brought them up, in the e3xample you have set, and the ways in which you have let them down
- This will promote healing in your relationship
-
- CARING FOR OUR FAMILY
- 1 Thes 2:8 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
- Part of being a dad is that we take care of those for whom we have taken responsibility
- This means that we get a job, build a stable home, and provide for our family
- In our lives, thing have often gone wrong
- We no longer have that relationship that we used to have
- But we still have a responsibility to our children, to ensure they are cared for and able to grow to maturity
- So it is important that we take care of these responsibilities
- We should pay our child support, to the utmost of our ability
- Some of us probably owe enormous sums
- But our role as dad, is also that of a provider
- After we divorce, we still have a responsibility to our children
- Financially, but also in our communication with them, our encouragement, and backing them up, and the example we set
-
- CONCLUSION
- A dad has many responsibilities
- But it is awesome to be a dad and have children whom we see grow up under our very eyes
- It is incredible that we have the chance to mold a new life as it grows up, to become a mature and responsible adult
- We may have messed up in the past, but we can make amends and change the course of the future, starting today
- We may need forgiveness, both from our child and from God
- But God’s forgiveness is available to us, so that we can move beyond the wreckage of the past
- The cycle can stop with us

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Rahab - a Woman of Faith - Joshua 2:1-24

Title: Rahab - a woman of faith
Date: June 6, 2009
Text: Joshua 2:1-24

Introduction

· There once was a rather rough, uncultured man who for some reason fell in love with a beautiful vase in a shop window.
· Eventually he bought the vase and put it on the mantelpiece in his room.
· There it became a kind of judgment on its surroundings.
· He had to clean up the room to make it worthy of the vase.
· The curtains looked dingy beside it. The old chair with the stuffing coming out of the seat would not do. The wallpaper and the paint needed redoing.
· Gradually the whole room was transformed.
· When Jesus comes into your life, gradually your whole life is transformed.
· Today we are going to look at the testimony of the life of someone who lived 3,500 years ago, and see the change that happened in her life
· It was around 1425 B.C.
· The Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, the country that had been their dream for 40 years
· Joshua became the new leader after Moses died, and he sent out spies to report on the town of Jericho, the first challenge that the Israelites would face
· These two spies mingled with the travelers and traders entering the city through the gates, and tried to find somewhere to stay the night
· Someone said, why don’t you try Rahab’s place?
· So they stayed the night
· Who was this Rahab they stayed with?

Rahab – a sinful woman of the world

· Josh 2:1 – Rahab was a prostitute
· The Hebrew word used here is Zahnah
· It comes from a root word meaning “highly-fed and wanton” and it means “to commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot”
· Some commentaries try to make it sound better by saying the word may mean inn-keeper, but the fact of the matter is that it literally means prostitute
· Rahab was a prostititute in a totally immoral city
· The implication is that she was doing pretty well and that her nature was that of someone who liked playing around
· Rahab was no worse and no better than each of us was before we accepted Jesus
· Eph 2:1-3
· Rahab was just fitting in with her surroundings
· People around her were messing up, so she followed suit
· Don’t we do the same?
· Most of us started using around age 13, when we get into high school
· What was the reason? Usually I hear you say, it was the friends I used to hang with
· I think the root word meaning wanton is interesting
· It tells me that this may have been a part of her character, not just a way to make a living
· She may have grown up in an abusive environment, and then started acting out her anger by throwing all moral standards to the winds
· She probably had a low opinion of herself, but knew no other way to live

Rahab – a repentant convert

· Joh 2:8-11
· Rahab had heard stories about the Israelites leaving Egypt
· All her life she had heard about the things God was doing with the Israelites
· Traders would come from Egypt, and as they sat around the campfire, they would tell stories of how a nation had been brought to its knees by a God no one knew about
· Six million Israelites leaving Egypt was a major occurrence – it would be today as well
· Midianites and Amalekites and Edomites would come as travelers and tell about how the Israelite army had whooped them and all but wiped them out
· Rahab heard all these stories
· She was not stupid, she knew the time was coming when they would be on the doorstep at Jericho
· But more than that, she also recognized that their must be a God behind all this who was way bigger than impotent idols she was used to worshipping
· So when the Israelite spies turned up, she chose to side with the God of Israel
· This was huge! Jericho was a major city and she was risking her life to side with these spies
· This took a huge step of faith for her. She was trusting a God she had not yet experienced, but she took that step of faith anyway
· When we come into this program, we learn about how we can know that there is a real God.
· We examine proofs that there has to have been a beginning, and if there was a beginning there has to have been a beginner, one who started it all, a Creator who is bigger than his creation.
· Recognizing this is a head thing, not a heart commitment
· It is when we take that step of faith, and say, ok, I am now going to commit my life to this God that my head says exists, but whom I have never seen - that is when it becomes a heart commitment
· Rahab took that step of faith
· That faith was expressed in her protection of the two spies
· We express that faith by praying to God and asking for forgiveness of our sins, and asking Jesus into our lives

Rahab – a transformed woman of faith

· Rahab was not yet a perfect Christian
· She lied to protect the spies and engaged in deception to get them out of town
· She had, however, turned to trusting God, rather than her old religion or lack thereof
· As a result of this she is mentioned in the list of heroes of faith in Hebrews 11
· Heb 11:31
· After Jericho fell, Rahab joined up with the Israelites, and adopted their God as her own
· She learned about the ten commandments, she learned about how to worship and what it meant to have God as her Savior
· Later on, she became the mother in law of Ruth, and the great-great-grandmother of King David. Through him, she became part of the physical ancestry of Jesus our Savior
· The Israelites had experienced God as a Savior when they were protected by the blood of a lamb on their doorposts
· Rahab had experienced God as a Savior when she let down the scarlet rope out of her window
· We experience Jesus as our Savior when we accept the blood of Jesus as payment for our sins

A step of faith

· God saving Rahab though, was after she had taken this step of faith
· The head knowledge of hearing about the miracles God had done, had been translated into action, by her taking a stand against Jericho and for God
· In the same way, we can agree that yes, I can see that there has to be a God
· That head knowledge needs to be translated into the step of faith when we turn our back on our old way, and ask Jesus into our life

Thursday, June 4, 2009

God's Solution for Fear

Title: God’s solution for fear
Date: June 4, 2009
Text: 2 Timothy 1:7-9
Introduction:
- Everyone knows what it is like to be afraid. We all have things that we are afraid of
- Storms, spiders, snakes
- There are hidden fears that motivate us too
- Fear of failure causes many people to never start, or try anything that is not completely safe.
- Fear of rejection makes us afraid to do anything that could draw criticism or give someone a chance to laugh at us
- There are two kinds of fear :
- Fear that is good - Keeps us from driving 100 mph, or other foolish things that you can think of... and
- Fear that is harmful - This is the "spirit of fear" mentioned here
- This fear paralyzes us, keeps us from doing things we could or should do.
- Perhaps there is a fear that you need to overcome today.
Satan's Purpose For Our Fear
- Satan is a master at using our fears.
- He can keep us from being an effective Christian, or happy person by using our own fears ...
- He uses the "spirit of fear" to make our lives miserable. Worry and fear can make our life miserable!
There was a lady who died in 1916 named Hetty Green. She was called America's greatest miser. When she died in 1916, she left an estate valued at $100 million. But she was so miserly that she ate cold oatmeal in order to save the expense of heating the water. When her son had a severe leg injury, she took so long trying to find a free clinic to treat him that his leg had to be amputated because of advanced infection. I am sure she was worried about losing her wealth, so she didn't even enjoy her life!
- We can be so afraid of losing our wealth or job that we never enjoy or really experience life
- I know some people who are so afraid that something is going to happen to their marriage, that they never get close, or have the intimacy they could have ...
- We all know people who are "worry warts" and they are miserable!
- He also makes us ineffective
- Many times we do not share our faith with someone because of fear.
- What will they think of me? What if I turn them off? What if I mess up?
- They probably won't listen to me anyway!
- These are the common fears satan uses to make us ineffective witnesses!
- Sometimes we don't get involved in service because of fear-
- I could never teach or lead a Bible Study
- I could never encourage a brother
- I could never be a pastor, missionary ...
- Fear can keep us from serving God
- Satan's method for using fear:
o He uses our past sins
o He uses the possibilities of the future
o He uses the potential of failure
o He uses the certainty of criticism
- Satan is a master at using our fears to stop us, to bind us, and to rob us!
God's Gifts for Overcoming Our Fears
- 2 Tim 1:7-9
- God has not given us the "spirit of fear", But He has given us three things that will help us overcome fear:

A - The gift of Power
- Through Christ Jesus, I can do anything God wants me to do!!!
- (Phil 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
- That means anything God wants me to do, I can do it...
- God gives me
- 1. Power to be saved - (John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
- 2. Power to be a witness for Him - (Acts 1:8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
- 3. Power to be Joyful - (Rom 15:13) Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
- 4. Power to make you a strong believer - (Rom 16:25) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, ...
- 5. Power to endure trials – (2 Cor 12:9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
- If you are trusting in, drawing from , relying on, believing in the one who has the power, He will give you the power you need!
- God is a powerful God
- Don't be afraid! use his power!!!
B. The Gift of Love
- At first glance, It does not seem that Love could be effective in conquering fear
- (1 John 4:18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
- Here is how this works:
- 1. Love for God
- The more we love God, the less fear we will have.
- It is a matter of trust. When we realize that God will take care of us, it relieves our fear.
- (Rom 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
- Love of God relieves our fears!
- 2. Love for Others
- The more we love others the less fear we will have.
- Love causes us to overcome our fear for the good of others .
- Rescue workers - Ambulance drivers ...
- Love causes us to tell others about Jesus.
- To serve in church
- To help others in need...
C. The Gift of a Sound Mind
- Most of the time our harmful fears are the result of wrong thinking.
- But something happens when we are saved and begin to trust God.
- Our mind is renewed! –
- (Rom 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
- 1. In my way of thinking, I may be afraid I won't make it financially –
- but IF I trust in God and put him first, I will be assured He will take care of me!
- (Luke 12:28) If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
- 2. I may be afraid of dying...
- That fear is calmed by knowing –
- (2 Cor 5:8) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
- We could go on and apply this to every other fear we may have.
- When we think Biblically, we have a "sound mind".
Conclusion

- Conquering fear is not a matter of self determination, or will power
- It is a matter of dependence on the God whom we can trust and love. In Christ you can conquer your fear.

[Adapted from sermon by Rev. Otis Nixdorf
Pastor, East Side Baptist Church, Independence, MO]