September 8 - Fr. Phil on "The Primacy of the Word"

FR. PHIL EBERHART

SEPT 8, 2019

THE PRIMACY OF THE WORD

This morning our scriptures have shown us a key to the safe passage through this world and into the life that is eternal with the Father of Lights!  WOW,  somehow I missed that!  HA,... that's why I'm here!

God said to Moses on his last day and Joshua on his first day:   Choose you this day, whom you will serve!

Every chance I get it seems I'm always saying something about Willingness, Availability and Obedience.  Here we go again!

Choose You This Day!

What part of our make up do we call our "chooser?"   Our will, right?

Every morning God's mercies are new and we are put the question again:   Are you willing?

When we say, Yes, Lord (vs. No, Lord, the opposite --- the oxymoron) we enter into a new daily adventure with God!  We probably need to stop right after that conversation and get quiet and listen.  Just practice listening - be quiet, until you can hear His whisper.  

Elijah was in the cave and he thought God would come to him in the storm, the lightning, the wind,... but no.

God came to him in the silence - The sound of silence - Be Still and KNOW that I am God.

That's where we start.

Ever been in a one-sided conversation?  Where you have to listen to someone talk - on and on and on and on?

Did you know that there's a 12-step program for preachers?   It's called  On And On Anon!

No comments!  Please.

God often has to be in a one-sided conversation with us - we do all the talking - prayers that go on and on and on!

Rarely do we stop talking and listen.

People say to me, how do I hear God?   

I just look at them and say, "Shut up!"

It's really the very first requirement for hearing God.  You cannot train yourself to hear His Voice while your're talking!

And talking isn't the only noise we have in our life, right? Do you ever stop and listen to all the noise around us?  We are probably the most distracted people in the world, here in the good ol' US of A!!

Which leads me to the next point:

Ps 1 -  Blessed is the person who makes their delight the law of the Lord , and on his law they meditate day and night.

We in the United States have the most Bibles available on the planet,  and are less engaged with it than nearly anywhere on the planet.  Not because it's restricted but because it's so taken for granted.  

Friends,  if you're going to hear God speaking you must... let me say it again... you MUST,  be in his Word!  It's our first AVAILABILITY!  

Availability to God is first availability to His Word.  Oh and that's not the verse if the day!  Nor the Promise Button!  We're a "sound bite" culture in search of a Good who wants us to marinate in His Word! 

Hold up your hand...

Little finger to thumb in order...

Hear

Read

Mark

Learn

Inwardly Digest

God spoke to Joshua about this at the very beginning of his assignment as the replacement for Moses: 

Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:6‭-‬8 ESV

God knows the value of His Word in our lives. We sing about it...

More to be desired are they than gold,  yea than much fine gold;  sweeter also than the honey in the honeycomb. 

What Psalm is that?   Ps 19.  

Someone read it aloud from verse 7 to 10.

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb."

Psalms 19:7‭-‬10 ESV

Friends, willingness and availability mean nothing if we're not available to the Word!  But if we're available to God and God's Word,  eventually we're going to run up against something that takes us out of our comfort zone!  Some word, some direction,  some issue where our natural desire runs in an opposite direction from God's "BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING EARTH." B.I.B.L E.

When that happens we have to choose again... choose to OBEY GOD.

Jesus was pretty big on this one thing. 

He said it this way at the close of his sermon on the mount: 

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'  And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' 

 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."

Matthew 7:21‭-‬27 

Any questions? 

Willingness

Availability

Obedience

All are indispensable ingredients in the life of faith we are called to by God.  Jesus died to give us access to this grace in which we stand and the Holy Spirit is the One "called alongside to help", to coach us and cheer us on in our 'long Obedience in the same direction.' "

The Word is our fuel, our food,  our "daily bread" - the air we're breathing! 

Without it we're desperate.  Starving children. 

One last story. 

A widow and her children in the old country,  were given one way tickets to the new world on a large passenger ship. After booking passage the widow scrimped and saved to get a few morsels of bread,  crackers.  Some cheese and dried meats.  She wrapped them in the folds of her clothing in her luggage.   Each day on the three month long journey she would take a few morsels out for herself and her children.  But as they would go and sit on deck, they saw heaping trays of food carried by the porters every day.  As the trip went on her meager fare ran out and one day she stopped a waiter to ask for some of the food,  explaining that she had run out of her own provisions.

She and her children were immediately taken to the captain's quarters,  where she learned that the tickets that she had been given were full fare tickets,  first class tickets.  

The captain escorted her to the dining room and showed her the chairs that were prepared for her and her children at the captain's table!  The table filled with delicious foods!  And he said to her simply,  "All this comes with your ticket!"

We are starving my dear friends, while surrounded by the richest of fare!  So let us avail ourselves ... make ourselves available to all that God has given us 

And let us then make ourselves willingly available and obedient to God's directions and leading in our day to day!

And let us pray...

Lord Jesus,  let us be a people who know You and who are known by You.

Let us commit our will and our way to You as Lord.  The Captain of our ship!

Grant us to come sit at your table, to feast on Your Word and to be empowered and equipped for all you call us to do in your Kingdom.  And strengthen us to be obedient to listen and do all you ask of us,  for the fame of your Name and for the sake of your Kingdom.   Amen. 

August 11 - A COUNTRY SUNDAY ... SIMPLE, NOT EASY!

AUGUST 11, 2019

FR. PHIL EBERHART

COUNTRY GOSPEL SUNDAY

SIMPLE, NOT EASY!

Well, you can probably tell that I enjoy this country, cowboy stuff a lot.  Takes me back to my roots in Eastern Colorado and life on the farm - in touch with the land and the crops - and the people of simple faith.

That's what I want to talk about a bit this morning.

Our scriptures this morning couldn't have been chosen better for this theme!  Amazing how that works, every time it seems.

"Abraham BELIEVED GOD, and it was credited to him as RIGHTEOUSNESS"

18  Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear
him,*
    on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19  that he may deliver their soul from death*
    and keep them alive in famine.
20  Our soul waits for the LORD;*
    he is our help and our shield.
21  For our heart is glad in him,*
    because we trust in his holy name.

"FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...  you must believe that He IS and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him!"

and finally,

Put your treasure in places that don't rust and wear out - for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also!

A theme of the music that we hear in the Gospel music genre is faith, the hope of heaven, the joy of living, and the blessings of the Lord and life in His sight.  

I just want to talk this morning about having a simple faith in God,  the faith my father and mother have, that my grandmother had and passed on to me.

Abraham was a Bedouin, a migrant shepherd and herder.  The words that passed between him and God are direct - he shows his doubt clearly in his conversations, --- he's a real person in the face of God and the destiny that God lays out in front of him.

It wasn't something that was easy for Abraham to do.

He had a lot of evidence to the contrary:  He was old as was Sarah - yet God said he was to "Father Nations."  God said he had a destiny that was not limited by his age, or station in life, but only by his faith!

Faith is kind of a difficult thing for us to lay hold on sometimes.  Abraham, it says, simply "believed God".

There is a lot packed into those two words!

He took what God said, in spite of the evidence that his eyes could see, grey hair and wrinkles, needing to walk with a staff, a wife who laughed at the very idea!

Faith is the substance, the writer of Hebrews tells us.

The SUBSTANCE of what is hoped for.  We believe something so strongly that it's like we already have it. We're sure of it.  We know that we know that we know!

Faith is the EVIDENCE of things unseen!  It's like the shadow of a tree in the evening sun, seen from around the corner of a building as you come to the corner.  You know it's there but you can't yet see it.

Faith is a record like our blue sheets over on the wall. Like the stone out on our berm - the Ebenezer stone - "Thus far, the Lord has been our help!"  And if "thus far" - how much farther!

Paul tells us, "He who began a good work in you, will bring it to completion!"

I've wanted to write a book for some time called "Out of the Blue" - Stories of the Faithfulness of God in the Every day Coincidences.

This is why, like a broken record, I keep harping on the three steps of our life as missionaries to the world around us:   Willingness, Availability and Obedience.  It's pretty simple, not very easy.

Faith is the substance - its the evidence.

But faith alone is not enough.  Abraham believed but there is another ingredient.

He believed... GOD!

What is your faith IN?

We all have faith, we use it every day - when we drive, when we fly, when we get in an elevator, when we go to Walmart.  When we sit down on a chair!  Faith is everywhere man!

What is your faith in?  or rather Whom?  Abraham believed GOD.  Abraham was called a "friend of God."

This is faith that is born of and fostered in relationship!  Abraham spoke with the Lord, and the Lord spoke with him.

Why is it that we put so much emphasis on Prayer here?  Don't you wonder?  It's our vehicle of access.  One of my favorite words in the NT.  We have access to God, Paul tells us in Rom 5.

[Rom 5:1-2 ESV] 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

ACCESS TO GOD!  PEACE WITH GOD!

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!!!

Have you read the last chapters of the book of Job recently?  Let me refresh your memory - God confronts Job and gives him what we call an "attitude adjustment" with some simple questions... right?

[Job 38:4, 8, 12, 19, 22 ESV] 

4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. ... 

8 "Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, ... 

12 "Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, ... 

19 "Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, ... 

22 "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,

I think it was Malcolm Muggeridge who said that "the chief difficulty we have in prayer, is comprehending WHO it is we are praying to."

Abraham believed... GOD!

And God credited that belief (which was followed by action:   Sarah got pregnant - need I say more?) 

as RIGHTEOUSNESS.

I just wanted to encourage you to lay hold of FAITH this morning.  We have all kinds of EVIDENCE around us -  all kinds of SUBSTANCE that is already being seen.  GOD is doing it, friends - and we are part of it. Not just a little part, but a CITY SET ON A HILL, WHOSE LIGHT WILL NOT BE HIDDEN.

This is the Faith we talk about and the GOD that we point to in our telling the story - all the coincidences, kind of amazing, its all OUT OF THE BLUE!

Let's pray...

from our beginning collect this morning, all together again...

ALL: Almighty God, give us the increase of faith,
hope, and love; and, so that we may obtain what
you have promised, make us love what you
command; through Jesus Christ our Lord who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Fr. Phil in Loveland: "Figuring out what "as" is

May 19, 2019

St Peter's, Loveland CO

Fr.  Phil Eberhart 

Figuring out what "as" is!

Jn 13:34-35

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you,  that you love each other in that way.  If you love each other that way everyone will know that you are my disciples!"

Good morning and greetings from REZ in Greenwood Village CO.   Today we're playing musical priests!   Fr Michael from Cheyenne is attending his daughter's college graduation in Grand Junction so Fr. Edward is preaching for him.   I heard of the arrangement a couple weeks back and asked for the opportunity to supply here.   I'm afraid we'll have to still do another pulpit exchange sometime because our folks at Rez are needing a Fr Ed sermon fix pretty badly!   So we'll plan another time after all the summer trips and Provincial falderal! 

Happily,  this morning's gospel is one of those nutshell gospel readings that takes a lifetime to really do. 

I've called this sermon,  "Figuring out what "as" is."

Jesus said this is a new commandment. 

But we all know the old one... "Love God with all your heart,  soul,  mind and strength... and your neighbor as yourself. "  in fact we call it The GREAT Commandment!

Here, once again,  Jesus ups the ante!

He takes an Old Testament law and brings it into our lives with even more potency and vigor.   It's no longer adequate to just love your neighbor in any ol' way,  but now AS I have loved you. 

So now we need to figure out was AS is, what it means to love AS Jesus loves.  Seems like a pretty tall order! 

There's a prayer that we at Rez memorized some years back from the prayerbook... 

"Lord Jesus Christ,  You stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of Your saving embrace;  So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love may bring those who do not know You to the knowledge and love of you,  for the honor of your Name.   Amen"

Seems to capture the essence of this new commandment!   Jesus outstretched arms,  a symbol of God's unfailing,  everlasting love.   That there is a "saving embrace" for each and every one of us... and for all who will receive such an embrace! 

If you love each other in the same way I love you... the whole world will know... they'll sit up and take notice!  Love is God's program of evangelism!  It's plan A and there is no plan B!

The Apostle John is renowned for his insistence that we love one another!  Outside of the writings of John there are only three other references that use that phrase in the New Testament.   John uses those exact words 9 times!  Do you think there may be a point coming here? 

Our gospel this morning is the New Command and Jesus says it twice more just in the discourse of that last night! 

And John picks it up in his letters and reiterates it 6 more times!   Kind of like a broken record, huh?   Why,  because we need to hear it that often in order to get it! 

It's said that the Apostle in his old age would sit in the midst of the churches and say,  "Little Children,  Love one Another! "  when asked why that was what he said so often he replied,  "Because if you DO it, it's enough!"

If you do it,  it's enough! 

I want to wrap up with two observations...

First,  in the midst of Jesus agony on the cross there is a moment where he released the unfailing love of the Father over us who crucified Him.  Any one know when that was? 

"Father,  forgive them,  for they know not what they do. "

In those words Jesus pronounced the Love of God over all of us,  over all who had gone before and over all who will come after us!   Henri Nouwen was once heard to comment that "Forgiveness is the name of love among those of us who love poorly!"

Jesus loved profoundly and lived that love out to the death.   He said,  "Greater love hath no man than this,  to lay down his life for his friends."  We laid to rest this week in Denver a young man who exemplified this kind of self-sacrificing love for friends... a young man named Kenrick.  The only son of his parents laid down his life to save the lives of his friends.   

Lord,  let us live such lives!   Because if we do,  all around us will know by experience the love of God the Father! 

We don't have to die physically,  but we have to die to self!

I got to preach my daughter's wedding a couple weeks ago.  From 1 Cor 13, verses we're all familiar with bear well on this subject.   The love of Jesus was a perfect love.  I challenged the bride and groom to use those verses like a recipe for life. I challenge us today to live a life of love in this way,  in the Jesus Way...

Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else . Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.

1 Corinthians 13:4‭-‬7 TPT

I told Aly and Jenny to consider the words we just heard as their recipe for a long and happy married life.  There's a good mix of real character, of long-suffering generosity... of never-flagging  hope...   and some gracious bull-headed-ness will make something that is both sweet to the taste and good for you and for the world around you. 

The same is true of each of us,  in our homes,  our relationships,  our business acquaintances,  our day to day contacts in the course of every day life! 

Make sure you have all the ingredients!

 > Patience with each other...

 > Kindness in your voice and

> Gentleness in your manner...

> No jealousy or puffed-up pride or self- aggrandizement.  Never "me first!"

 > Trash the shame and disrespect we so often use as weapons. 

 > Put your spouse first,  ... always. Period.

>  No irritability or taking offense now,  you're giving up those rights! 

> No delight when someone else "gets what's coming to them"

> instead,  celebrate honesty... be someone else's safe place... believe the best not the worst...

 > if the other falls,  pick them up... falling is a part of life, but failure need not be. 

This is what the AS is!   Love never fails because love never quits! 

Let's pray...

"Lord Jesus Christ,  You stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of Your saving embrace;  So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love may bring those who do not know You to the knowledge and love of you,  for the honor of your Name.   Amen"

Mother's Day - The Legacy of a MOM

Mother's Day

May 12, 2019

Fr. Phil Eberhart

Acts 13:14b-16, 26-39

Ps 100

Rev 7:9-17

Jn 10:22-30

The Legacy of a Mom

I think most know that my own mom is in assisted-living out in Burlington and many of you pray for her, Darlene, and I so appreciate that!   This morning I want to share a bit of my own testimony about her and my Grandmother, Hazel Donner.

There is a verse in Paul's letter to Timothy, his son in the faith, that reads like this:

[2Ti 1:4-7 NLT] 4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again. 5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Faith follows family lines!  In scripture elsewhere, we read that the effects of sin move down the family line to the 3rd and even to the 4th generation, but the effects of righteousness flood the family line down to the 1000th generation!

This morning I want to talk about a grandmother's and a mother's legacy.  

A few weeks ago on Easter I was talking with our 8 AM Easter service visitors after the service and called myself an Angli-Bapti-Costal!  Well the Baptist root in there is from my own Grandmother, Hazel.  You share the faith that first filled your grandmother, Hazel and your mother, Darlene.

My grandma was a relentless prayer and gift-giver!  Every time it was possible to give a gift of any kind, as a child - graduation from 1st grade! - my "gram" as we called her, would see to it that I received a book or some kind of bible book mark or something that would move me toward a faith of my own.

She listened to a radio broadcast out of Nebraska called "Back to the Bible."  And they were a small ministry that used their influence and the technology of the day to propagate the message that the Scriptures are to be central to our lives, not peripheral.  The Bible is more than an ornament for the coffee table in the living room or the bookshelf in the library.  Even laying on your desk at work - unopened - it has little power.  But opened, it is one of the most formidable forces in the Universe!

Perhaps the greatest legacy I got from GRAM was her love for the Bible as God's Word.  She didn't sit me down a read it to me, but I was constantly reminded of her faith, by these little gifts she gave me.  And one in particular made a big difference.  Back to the Bible published a series of adventure books - teen adventures like the Hardy Boys or the Nancy Drew Mystery series - called the Danny Orlis series.  I still have a stack of those in my library, because as I finished one of them, I knelt by my bedside as a 10 year old and "gave my heart to Jesus", just like what I saw in the book.

After that the gifts changed, as I told my Gram what I had done, and was soon confirmed in the church in Kanorado, Kansas.  I was now given Bible Study tools and correspondence Bible courses to  study - to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest - we've heard that somewhere, right?  I also still have those certificates of completion I received in the mail, back from Back to the Bible Broadcast!  I was a Bible Study Achiever!  And my Gram's prize pupil.

Ladies, I cannot emphasize too much, the power that you have through faith and love and relentless prayer, to influence the young lives around you, whether your own children or others' children.  Christian comedian, Mike Warnke, once said, "If you have a little grey haired grandmother praying for you ... just give up now!"  God has a special place in His heart for little old grey haired ladies!  I'm tellin' ya.  And even those who are "secret" grey haired ladies!!

The legacy of a mom!  A mom who loves Jesus and His Word!  The power is almost inestimable!  The power to influence a 1000 generations!  How can we wrap our minds around that?

Paul goes on to charge Timothy with one of my favorite verses in all of scripture:

6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 

Where do we think these things come from?  Power, Love, Self-discipline?  They come through the family line, through the family system - they are modeled for children in the lives of their parents and grandparents!  They come through a home that is the incubator of love.  Last weekend I spoke to my daughter's wedding from 1 Cor 13 about marriage and family being God's "TEST KITCHEN."  And the recipe is given in 1 Cor 13:

Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else . Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.

1 Corinthians 13:4‭-‬7 TPT

Consider the words we just heard as your recipe for a long and happy married life.  There's a good mix of real character, of long-suffering generosity... of never-flagging  hope...   and some gracious bull-headed-ness will make something that is both sweet to the taste and good for you and for the world around you. 

Make sure you have all the ingredients!

 

 > Patience with each other...

 > Kindness in your voice and

> Gentleness in your manner...

> No jealousy or puffed-up pride or self- aggrandizement.  Never "me first!"

 > Trash the shame and disrespect we so often use as weapons. 

 > Put your spouse first,  ... always. Period.

>  No irritability or taking offense now,  you're giving up those rights! 

> No delight when someone else "gets what's coming to them"

> instead,  celebrate honesty... be someone else's safe place... believe the best not the worst...

 > if the other falls,  pick them up... falling is a part of life, but failure need not be. 

Mom's... we celebrate you this day.

Ladies - if you're a mom or not you have incredible power.  The power of Faith, of Love,  the power of Influence on your children, your grandchildren, other people's children!  Our children here at REZ.  

I still remember my Sunday School teacher from those days in my early childhood.  Mrs. Taylor!!

Never forget the power that you have.

Just look at this...

MOM   and upside down ...   WOW!    MOM... WOW... MOM... WOW!

Let's have all the ladies stand, young, older, mom or not...

Let's pray...

Father, we pray you will bless our ladies here at REZ.  Each one has incredible power wrapped up in a small package!

We pray that you unleash Your Power in each one and through them to all of us, and to everyone around them.  Let them be like the rock thrown into the pond that sees the ripple effect that touches every shore.  Help them to be encouraged this day and refreshed in the many many tasks that they take into their hands.  Grant grace and power to each one, now, in the Name of Jesus we pray.  Amen

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, You set the solitary in families: We commend to your continual care the homes in which  your   people dwell. Put far from them, we beseech you,  every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection those who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh. Turn the hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the children to the parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we may evermore be kindly affectioned one to another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God our Father, you see our children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

and finally,

You have told us, that "no greater love hath anyone than this, to lay down his life for his friends."  We commend to you a young hero, Kendrick, who did just that this past week, in giving his life to save his friends at the STEM School here in Highlands Ranch.  Father, protect us from this violence and growing hatred we see in our culture.  Change hearts and minds to see that You O Lord, are the answer and that in following You there is great reward.  We pray for the families effected by this week's shooting and pray that you will save us from these kinds of activities.  Give us wisdom and peace as we move from this tragedy to a true peace that is rooted in Your ways, Lord Jesus.  In your holy Name we pray,   Amen.                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Easter 2019 - Fr Phil

Easter 2019

April 21, 2019
Fr. Philip Eberhart

How many of you have seen the movie RISEN? 

I want to do a showing here in the next few weeks. 

It is the story of a roman centurion who is placed in charge of finding the body of Jesus after the crucifixion.  His quest takes him further and further away from the many gods of the Roman pantheon and toward the God of the Hebrews, and to His perfect image and Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Two scenes in the movie are really amazing: 

the first is his interview with one of the soldiers who was present at the tomb, now pardoned and drunk in the back of a bar.  But in relating what happened at the tomb that morning, he suddenly becomes lucid, staring off into an experience that he cannot fathom.  "The stone flew away from the tomb like a leaf!"  "I was looking at a light - like the sun - shining from the tomb"  "...so bright I could not look at it."

the second scene, is when the centurion, bursts in on the hidden disciples and Jesus is there with them.  He recognizes Jesus from the cross and is stopped in his tracks. He drops his sword and edges over to the side of the room and slides down the wall to sit on the floor, a few feet from the Savior, who is showing his wounds to Thomas (and the centurion, by the way.)

One of my favorite verses in the NT is a verse that I used as a text on the day I preached my father's funeral:  It was the verse I was preparing for a sermon during the week he was in the hospital, unresponsive to either I or mom.  It is from First Peter 1:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Friends,  

the event we commemorate and celebrate today is more than just something that happened, a long time ago and far far away!  It more than the stuff of movies, though it certainly is that!

It is the stuff of life change!

If we fully grasp the significance of this day, the "weight of glory" that it holds for us who believe and indeed, for all persons;  

If we take ahold of its meaning for us and for others;

If we take the time to ponder the questions it poses to us, especially in our modern world:

         Who is this Jesus?

         What is the meaning of this death?
                  

         What happened to the body?
                 

         If Jesus rose from the dead,

             ...  then what?

When we simply conclude, as the centurion did, that ITS ALL TRUE,
THEN it changes everything!

It changes our whole life!  

It changes our past, our future. 

It changes our brokenness & our success!  

It changes our loneliness, our relationships, our friendships, our companions.  

It changes our eating, our drinking...  

      the bread and the wine.

It changes everything... if it's true. 

 But is it?

Have you come to the conclusion of your quest?  I presume if you are here this morning that you are at least on the quest!  The quest to find the answer to those questions for you.  To find the thing that changes everything about our existence on planet earth.  That explains it all and gives it meaning and purpose.

Peter calls it A LIVING HOPE!  

Alive indeed! Because the Lord is RISEN INDEED! 

Can you imagine the scene in the Upper Room that first night after that morning.  The news had come from the women, from Mary, who had been told to go tell "the disciples AND PETER."  Isn't it interesting that Peter was singled out by the Risen Jesus for the news.  Why?  Not because Jesus didn't consider him a disciple anymore, but because Peter himself probably didn't.  He was in the room, but can you imagine the shame - no leadership here anymore!  Just shame.  Along with the whole crew who abandoned their Lord in His time of need.

And suddenly Jesus is standing there.  Peter hears the corporate gasp of the other disciples and slowly turns to meet the Risen One, face to face. All the color - all the life flows from his body and he falls to his knees, his face buried in the robe of Jesus for shame.

Jesus reaches down and lifts him up with nail scarred hands. He lifts his shamed face to look into the face of His savior.  And he says,...

What do you hear Jesus say to you?

We are all Peter!  We have all betrayed and abandoned him at times in our lives, from day to day.

What do YOU hear Jesus say?
"I told you so!"  

 "You're sure a sorry disciple!"  

 "So... Wha'd ya learn?"
NO!  None of the above.  

What were Jesus' first words to all the disciples?

"PEACE BE WITH YOU!"

Is there anyone here who would sign up for "Peace"?  "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you. Not like the world gives, give I unto you."

Now imagine with me again, the moment of reunion.  

Jesus appears that evening to all the disciples.  Peter turns around and sees Jesus there - falls to his knees, his eyes sad with guilt, his fisherman's frame shaking with tears - 

And Jesus - comes over and puts his hand down on Peter's head - and then lifts him up by the shoulders, from kneeling to standing face to face.

 

Peter's eyes are still downcast.  And Jesus says it - "Peter."

 

He lifts his face and their eyes meet, just like three nights ago in the courtyard, right after his denial; but this time, Peter recognizes that familiar lilt in Jesus' voice, and realizes that He - Peter himself, the denier, the coward before the accusation of a teenage girl slave - Peter has been forgiven, and this is all really happening!

Pinch yourself - go ahead, do it!

It's all real.

Jesus wants that reality to sink in here this morning!  Because what happened to Peter and to James and John and all the others will happen to you and to me and to all the whole church.  WE GET HIS PEACE AND JOY FOLLOWS! 

Almost 60 times in the New Testament alone the word JOY is used.  Just when I look up at you I want you to say the Word JOY -  insert it in some of the more familiar examples:

[Luk 1:44 NASB] Elizabeth said: 44 "For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.

[Luk 2:10 NASB] 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

[Luk 10:17 NASB] 17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."

[Luk 15:10 NASB] 10 "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

[Luk 24:41, 52 NASB] 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" ... 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

[Jhn 15:11 NASB] 11 "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

[Jhn 16:20 NASB] 20 "Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.

[Act 13:52 NASB] 52 And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

[Rom 14:17 NASB] 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

[Gal 5:22 NASB] 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

[1Th 1:6 NASB] 6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

[Heb 12:2 NASB] 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

And as we heard esrlier, from Peter's own pen:

[1Pe 1:8 NASB] 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

And from John, the beloved disciple:

[1Jo 1:4 NASB] 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

[2Jo 1:12 NASB] 12 Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.

And finally in the JUDE DOXOLOGY:  (GET YOUR BELLS 

AND KEYS READY AGAIN)  [we're going to do something here that is unusual in church...   Imagine your team just won the World Series or the Super Bowl!  That is the scale we're talking about here!  Get ready -

I want your outside voice!]

[Jde 1:24 NASB] 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.

AND WE ALL SAY.  AMEN!

AMEN. Alleluia!

ALLELUIA!  THE LORD IS RISEN!!!

      THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED.   ALLELUIA !!!!!!!!!!

(SUSTAINED STANDING OVATION FOR JESUS!)

(CHEERS AND WHISTLES)

Hallelujah!  The Lord is Risen!
The Lord is Risen indeed!  Hallelujah!

Let us pray: 
Lord Jesus Christ, on this day you have overcome death and the grave.  You have come back to life and brought us with you from the dead!  We who were dead in our sins, worship you.  We who doubted, believe.  We who walked with you without knowing Who you were, have our eyes opened. We hear you say, Peace be with you.  

We receive your Peace - the peace that comes in Your Presence.  

We walk in the fullness of JOY!  Joy that You have given us!

Help us to come fully to believe in You, Lord Jesus.  To have a Living Hope. to be Inheritors of the imperishable.  Make us truly yours, Lord Jesus.  Help us to see in your death, the grace for our whole life.  Restore us to fully walk with you in our day to day, listening to your voice, hearing your words, filled with love for you and for others, and obeying you in every way, because we love you, Risen Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. 
In your Name and for the sake of Your Kingdom, we pray.
Amen.

PALM SUNDAY - FR. PHIL - THE HOME STRETCH

Palm Sunday

April 14, 2019

Fr. Phil Eberhart

The Home Stretch

This morning is Palm or Passion Sunday.  We've just heard our own voices cry, "Crucify Him!"  We've traveled a week in an hour - from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem with the waving of Palm branches and "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!:   Hosanna to the Son of David!"  to  "Crucify Him!"  

On Palm Sunday of 1996 I entered the pulpit of this church for the first time as Priest-in-charge.  This is 23 years on now and a lot of water under the bridge.  Amidst the comments about my taking this charge, was one by Bishop Bill Frey, who simply said to me, "Watch out for triumphal entrys!"

Friends, God has used these 23 years in many people's lives, to touch, to heal, to deepen, to send, to activate and reactivate people for the Kingdom of God.

I can't preach long this morning because of all that we've got going on.  So much of the whole Holy Week message is simply contained in the actions we partake in, the processional, the reading, the foot washing and communion on Thursday, the observance of the Crucifixion on Friday, the stories of God's People on Saturday and the Resurrection on Sunday next.  I've entitled the sermon  "THE HOME STRETCH."  

For Jesus this last week of His life here on earth was a Home stretch!  We think of the horses in a horse race when we hear that term, and the supreme effort it takes to do the last bit of the race to the finish line.  The distance from Hosanna, Lord! to "It is Finished" was the Home Stretch for Jesus Christ.   I would encourage you to read through the synoptic Gospels, Mark, then Matthew & Luke as they share the story of this last week, and then go to John, later in the week and reread the last almost half of John, from Chapter 12 to 21.  Just like Jesus, my friends, the more that we put into the Home Stretch this week, the more we will get out of it, next Sunday.  As we move through the darkness of the three days, walking with Jesus from the Upper Room to the Garden of Prayer, to the trial and condemnation, to the crucifixion - taking it all in - and then sitting in the dark Friday and Saturday, like the disciples did in the Upper Room.

We ask the same questions now as they did then... what do all these things mean?   How shall we now live our lives?

The power of the resurrection on Sunday is magnified for us as we take part in the journey of Holy Week - as we read and meditate on these accounts, what Jesus said and did.

So, like on Ash Wednesday, I invited you to "the observance of a Holy Lent"  now I invite you to the observance of this Holy WEEK.   7 pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening as we get ready for the greatest moment of our faith - the Resurrection of Jesus!  Consider it all, brothers and sisters.  Consider it all.

Let's pray...

Lord, Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the Cross, that everyone might come into the reach of your saving embrace.  Let us so enter on the observance of and meditation on your Holy acts, that we might be clothed upon by Your Spirit, and thus reach out our hands in love to those we know and those we meet, to bring those who do know know You, Lord Jesus, to the knowledge and love of you, for the Honor of Your Name.

Amen.