WHOSE (DEAL) IS IT, ANYWAY?
When we present our tithes and offerings after the peace we say word's that end with
All things come of thee, O Lord, and of Thine own have we given Thee!
One of Val's favorite sayings to me is "Whose deal is this, anyway? " With the prayer above in mind, I simply want to ask, "Whose is it, anyway?"
We're starting today a 4 or 5 week conversation on "The Joy of Giving Up."
"How giving to God... renews hearts, changes minds, and empowers ministry."
This is a pilot program for the churches in the ACNA. You can get the book on Amazon.
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https://www.amazon.com/dp/0990509060/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_I0XODbED1HY68
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Written by Dave Roseberry, the founding pastor of Christ Church, Plano Tx. The largest Episcopal/Anglican church in the US!
We also have resources for families with children and for adults in the back.
3 weeks of activities with kids and 5 weeks of weekday devotionals for individuals and couples.
Our pledge in-gathering will be the first two Sundays in November. So fasten your seat belts and make sure your seats and tray tables are in the upright and locked position... we're going to be asking a lot of everyone right now.
The building process is moving quickly and we're now about to dip into our final pockets of savings in order to pay our workers and our general contractor to finish before the serious cold hits.
It's crunch time, friends.
It's time again for serious prayers thanking God for His favor and faithful supply, just what we've been pursuing God for, and seen answered for the past two years! We're not done yet and neither is God! In fact I think He's just getting started with us!
Faithful Generosity
Last week's sermon showed us that faith means faithfulness!
Keep on keeping on!
When Peter was out on the water, it was when he stopped ...
that he began to sink!
So today I'm urging you to faith! To faithful keeping on.
We're not going to stop or to even pause!
And my question this morning is just a reminder of what we already know... it's all God's!
The final verses of Romans 11 tell us...
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
35. “Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
36. For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
From Him...
Through Him...
And To Him !!
Turn in your bulletin to the prayer of commendation at the offertory...
Let's say it together...
"YOURS, O LORD, IS THE GREATNESS, AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY, AND THE VICTORY AND THE MAJESTY; FOR EVERYTHING IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH IS YOURS;
YOURS IS THE KINGDOM, O LORD, AND YOU ARE EXALTED AS HEAD ABOVE ALL!
ALL THINGS COME OF YOU, O LORD...
AND OF THINE OWN HAVE WE GIVEN THEE! "
All things means what?
ALL THINGS!
In Him, we live and move and have our being!
And now turn to Romans 12. It's response time! As we make the good confession of the Lordship and the majesty of Jesus Christ over everything, us included, there is a reasonable response!
Rom 12:1-2
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
(Read from Phillips Translation)
With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.
Next week we're going to say more about the "acceptable sacrifice!" But note what Paul says... that this kind of sacrifice is our "reasonable" response. An act of intelligent worship!
There is no pressure, no arm twisting, no guilt involved! Just a clear view of God's merciful everyday favor and goodness towards us. Eyes wide open!
The early church devoted itself. We've been studying this in Acts, chapters 2 - 5 for nearly a decade now!
To "Devote" is a verb, not unlike faith. It's a formal commitment, a consecration, an act of making holy by a vow!
They devoted themselves!
Friends, the point of all of this is to instill in us a heart of generosity!
Abraham was given a charge... you are being blessed, to be a blessing!
It's not about you, it's about all the others, silly.
And in my study I ran across a hidden Gem! In Acts 2:46 it says...
46. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
The word for GENEROUS here is the only time in the whole NT it is used...
And it literally means
NO STUBBING YOUR TOE... NO STUMBLING!
Friends, generosity is the key to never stumbling... to have a secure and steadfast walk with God... generosity is the key.
It comes from our understanding of Whose it all is! Of WHOSE we all are!
It comes from our humble response to a full and unobstructed view of God's mercies, new every morning!
¹Our living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, who is the Author and the Finisher of our faithfulness!
Faith is the movement and generosity is the smooth surface that gives us the ability to walk without stumbling... with out sinking... step after step after step.
Let's pray.
Lord, we GIVE UP. With our eyes wide open to your every day mercies, we GIVE UP our praises to You.
Lord, we GIVE UP. With our hands extended to You first and then to others, clothe us with your Generous Holy Spirit.
Lord, we GIVE UP. Make us a people filled to the brim and overflowing with generosity, never stumbling or faltering as we follow in your footsteps, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
(Put your hand over your heart and repeat after me)
WE DEVOTE OURSELVES ANEW THIS DAY...
WE GIVE UP OURSELVES TO YOU ...
AND TO YOUR WORK IN OUR LIVES...
WE GIVE UP, LORD!
WE GIVE UP!
In Jesus name and for the sake of His Kingdom.
And everyone said...
Amen and amen.
Sermons from Father Phil Eberhart Resurrection Anglican Fellowship Greenwood Village, Colorado, USA
About Me
- Fr. Phil+
- Pastor at Resurrection Anglican Fellowship in Greenwood Village, CO
Monday, November 4, 2019
Aug 25 - A Sure Foundation
Some of us have bought a house here, right? When you buy a house you get an inspection. One of our great friends is a structural engineer, some here know him. He comes and looks at anything I'm going to buy... house.... church... whatever!
In the letter to the Hebrews [11:10], there is a descriptive line about the city of God, that's Zion. It's described as a "city with Foundations, whose architect and builder is God. " It was that which drew Abraham out away from familiar territory to a new "promised" land.
Our prophetic passage this morning from Isaiah speaks of this same place...
"Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
17 And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line;
Paul talks about this reality in our study in Ephesians 2:19-22...
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Friends, we are the ones that are being talked about here. We are the Body... We are the Building! Being fitted together and formed to the likeness of the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus, whose "line is justice and plumbline is righteousness."
I know, some of you are thinking - he's really got building on the brain! But this is a great theme throughout scripture and it's dynamically highlighted in this morning's readings.
There is a severe juxtaposition between us who are in the Kingdom and those who are in the world in these readings.
Stuff is coming that's going to shake things up. It's all in here (the Bible).
Our lesson from Hebrews is one very sobering and most incredibly hopeful passage. Did you listen to it? You need to. It was given to this church almost 20 years ago as we prepared to go on this journey of faith. This Abraham journey. Leaving a familiar place with a familiar building and familiar faces. Hard stuff but we did it. For what?
Like Abraham we're being obedient to God, obeying a call to stand in a culture that Isaiah says, "has made a covenant with death and hell!"
But God!
Over and over and over and over for the past 18 years and especially the past 2 years we've seen the "But God!" moments. Over and over things were poised to fall apart... But God!
But God!
What have you come to this morning? A worship service, a place to belong, a place to serve God and others? To sweet music, to hugs and handshakes, smiles and kisses of peace?
But wait... there's more. So much more!
Listen to parts of the Hebrews passage again, afresh...
22 By contrast, we have already come [present tense] near to God in a totally different realm, the Zion-realm, for we have entered the city of the Living God, which is the New Jerusalem in heaven! We have joined the festal gathering of myriads of angels in their joyous celebration!
23 And as members of the church of the Firstborn all our names have been legally registered as citizens of heaven!
And we have come before God who judges all, and who lives among the spirits of the righteous who have been made perfect in his eyes!
24 And we have come to Jesus who established a new covenant with his blood sprinkled upon the mercy seat; blood that continues to speak from heaven, “forgiveness,” a better message than Abel’s blood that cries from the earth, “justice.”
So whaaaaaaat is going on here? Much, much, much more than meets the eye! We are here meeting with God, in the throne room! Invited in to take our place, not as guests but as sons and daughters, as family, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, forgiven because of faith in His work on the cross and the presentation of His blood on the mercy seat of the ark- altar in heaven, of which this altar is a reflection and extension! Here, what is unseen is most real!
But now what? As Francis Schaeffer put it, "How shall we now live? "
The writer of Hebrews goes on...
25 Make very sure that you never refuse to listen to God when he speaks!
28 Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakeable kingdom we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights his heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe. 29 For our God is a holy, devouring fire!
Friends, we are... we have received a Kingdom that is unshakeable! And what does that King require of us?
I just want to wrap it up with two quick verses...
Micah 6:8.
He hath shown thee, oh man, what is good. And what doeth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God!"
And the second is like unto it...
John 4...
23–24 From here on, worshiping the Father will not be a matter of the right place but with the right heart. For God is a Spirit, and he longs to have sincere worshipers who worship and adore him in the realm of the Spirit and in truth.”
Let's stand and as our closing prayer sing again the first verse and chorus of our gospel song, Seek Ye First, from Matt 6:33.
Seek Ye First #478
By Karen Lafferty
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things
shall be added unto you
Allelu, Alleluia !
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia,
Allelu, Alleluia !
END.
In the letter to the Hebrews [11:10], there is a descriptive line about the city of God, that's Zion. It's described as a "city with Foundations, whose architect and builder is God. " It was that which drew Abraham out away from familiar territory to a new "promised" land.
Our prophetic passage this morning from Isaiah speaks of this same place...
"Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
17 And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line;
Paul talks about this reality in our study in Ephesians 2:19-22...
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Friends, we are the ones that are being talked about here. We are the Body... We are the Building! Being fitted together and formed to the likeness of the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus, whose "line is justice and plumbline is righteousness."
I know, some of you are thinking - he's really got building on the brain! But this is a great theme throughout scripture and it's dynamically highlighted in this morning's readings.
There is a severe juxtaposition between us who are in the Kingdom and those who are in the world in these readings.
Stuff is coming that's going to shake things up. It's all in here (the Bible).
Our lesson from Hebrews is one very sobering and most incredibly hopeful passage. Did you listen to it? You need to. It was given to this church almost 20 years ago as we prepared to go on this journey of faith. This Abraham journey. Leaving a familiar place with a familiar building and familiar faces. Hard stuff but we did it. For what?
Like Abraham we're being obedient to God, obeying a call to stand in a culture that Isaiah says, "has made a covenant with death and hell!"
But God!
Over and over and over and over for the past 18 years and especially the past 2 years we've seen the "But God!" moments. Over and over things were poised to fall apart... But God!
But God!
What have you come to this morning? A worship service, a place to belong, a place to serve God and others? To sweet music, to hugs and handshakes, smiles and kisses of peace?
But wait... there's more. So much more!
Listen to parts of the Hebrews passage again, afresh...
22 By contrast, we have already come [present tense] near to God in a totally different realm, the Zion-realm, for we have entered the city of the Living God, which is the New Jerusalem in heaven! We have joined the festal gathering of myriads of angels in their joyous celebration!
23 And as members of the church of the Firstborn all our names have been legally registered as citizens of heaven!
And we have come before God who judges all, and who lives among the spirits of the righteous who have been made perfect in his eyes!
24 And we have come to Jesus who established a new covenant with his blood sprinkled upon the mercy seat; blood that continues to speak from heaven, “forgiveness,” a better message than Abel’s blood that cries from the earth, “justice.”
So whaaaaaaat is going on here? Much, much, much more than meets the eye! We are here meeting with God, in the throne room! Invited in to take our place, not as guests but as sons and daughters, as family, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, forgiven because of faith in His work on the cross and the presentation of His blood on the mercy seat of the ark- altar in heaven, of which this altar is a reflection and extension! Here, what is unseen is most real!
But now what? As Francis Schaeffer put it, "How shall we now live? "
The writer of Hebrews goes on...
25 Make very sure that you never refuse to listen to God when he speaks!
28 Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakeable kingdom we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights his heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe. 29 For our God is a holy, devouring fire!
Friends, we are... we have received a Kingdom that is unshakeable! And what does that King require of us?
I just want to wrap it up with two quick verses...
Micah 6:8.
He hath shown thee, oh man, what is good. And what doeth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God!"
And the second is like unto it...
John 4...
23–24 From here on, worshiping the Father will not be a matter of the right place but with the right heart. For God is a Spirit, and he longs to have sincere worshipers who worship and adore him in the realm of the Spirit and in truth.”
Let's stand and as our closing prayer sing again the first verse and chorus of our gospel song, Seek Ye First, from Matt 6:33.
Seek Ye First #478
By Karen Lafferty
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things
shall be added unto you
Allelu, Alleluia !
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia,
Allelu, Alleluia !
END.
Prayer IS the Battle - July 28, 2019
July 28, 2019
Fr. Phil Eberhart
Having just come back last night from a time of prayer and spiritual warfare in Ft Collins, where the church was on the offensive, I'm absolutely undone by our readings this morning.
How much clearer can the Lord be?
I think it was A.W.Tozer who said, "Prayer isn't preparation for the battle, IT IS the battle."
I was at a meeting last week at Colorado Christian University where Lee Strobel author of The Case for Christ, said something that shook me up...
The reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah was that he couldn't find 10 righteous people. "For the sake of 10,
I will not destroy the city!" Think of it.
Abraham was the archetypal intercessor here. He embodied our task in prayer for the city, as we stand and look over this city and pray and read scripture, whaaaaaaat arrrrre we doing? We're entering into the work of Abraham... even into the work of Jesus himself!
Look with me at two quick verses:
Isaiah 53:12 ESV — Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
And
Hebrews 7:25 ESV — Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Both of these passages speak of Jesus as our Intercessor. Our go-between, representing us to God and God to us.
Friends, our particular calling... and I believe the big C church's calling is to this ministry of prayer and intercession. We are called to enter into the work that Abraham did for the city and the work that Jesus continually does for us all.
So how do we do this? Do we have to join the Intercessors? Do we need to pray for hours each day? I think we suffer under a burden of false expectation. The accuser loves to remind us that we're not 'all that! ' If we fall short in prayer, he's quick to tell us it's too hard, give up, It's an undue burden!
Although prayer certainly is a WORK, a Labor that we enter into with Jesus, I believe that this is a particular place where the manifestation of "my yoke is easy and my burden is light" can be true. We enter into this work yoked with Jesus in His work of intercession!
It is no respecter of title, position, age, education or ability...
Everyone can do it.
You can do it at a moment's notice.
You can do it anywhere you are.
You can do it touching someone or around the world from them!
It is not bound by time or space! It is powerful because of Who we're praying to, not because of who is praying! He is the same yesterday, today and forever! We enter into that reality when we enter into prayer.
It puts us in touch with the very personality, the character, the power and the attributes of the all powerful Lord of the Angel armies!
Listen to Paul's prayers for the church we're going to be studying in the coming weeks on Wed nights.
Eph 11
17 I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation[u] to know him through your deepening intimacy with him.
18 I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination,[v]flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling[w]—that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones!
19 I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you!
And again in Eph 3...16...
And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power.
17 Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.
18–19 Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude[f] of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!
What if we prayed those prayers for each other and for the church in this way?
And you can do it wirelessly! Prayer is the first form of wireless communication! It is instant on! No boot-up time! No log on required, he knows who you are instantly! No credentials. Just be his child!
Maybe that's why we're invited into this "work" unceasingly!??
Paul invites us again in Ephesians 6...
Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.
Again to Timothy, Paul instructs...
2 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
Friends, I believe that God has given us a special place and a special calling and prayer assignment... here.
So let's pray...
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the efectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Fr. Phil Eberhart
Having just come back last night from a time of prayer and spiritual warfare in Ft Collins, where the church was on the offensive, I'm absolutely undone by our readings this morning.
How much clearer can the Lord be?
I think it was A.W.Tozer who said, "Prayer isn't preparation for the battle, IT IS the battle."
I was at a meeting last week at Colorado Christian University where Lee Strobel author of The Case for Christ, said something that shook me up...
The reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah was that he couldn't find 10 righteous people. "For the sake of 10,
I will not destroy the city!" Think of it.
Abraham was the archetypal intercessor here. He embodied our task in prayer for the city, as we stand and look over this city and pray and read scripture, whaaaaaaat arrrrre we doing? We're entering into the work of Abraham... even into the work of Jesus himself!
Look with me at two quick verses:
Isaiah 53:12 ESV — Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
And
Hebrews 7:25 ESV — Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Both of these passages speak of Jesus as our Intercessor. Our go-between, representing us to God and God to us.
Friends, our particular calling... and I believe the big C church's calling is to this ministry of prayer and intercession. We are called to enter into the work that Abraham did for the city and the work that Jesus continually does for us all.
So how do we do this? Do we have to join the Intercessors? Do we need to pray for hours each day? I think we suffer under a burden of false expectation. The accuser loves to remind us that we're not 'all that! ' If we fall short in prayer, he's quick to tell us it's too hard, give up, It's an undue burden!
Although prayer certainly is a WORK, a Labor that we enter into with Jesus, I believe that this is a particular place where the manifestation of "my yoke is easy and my burden is light" can be true. We enter into this work yoked with Jesus in His work of intercession!
It is no respecter of title, position, age, education or ability...
Everyone can do it.
You can do it at a moment's notice.
You can do it anywhere you are.
You can do it touching someone or around the world from them!
It is not bound by time or space! It is powerful because of Who we're praying to, not because of who is praying! He is the same yesterday, today and forever! We enter into that reality when we enter into prayer.
It puts us in touch with the very personality, the character, the power and the attributes of the all powerful Lord of the Angel armies!
Listen to Paul's prayers for the church we're going to be studying in the coming weeks on Wed nights.
Eph 11
17 I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation[u] to know him through your deepening intimacy with him.
18 I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination,[v]flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling[w]—that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones!
19 I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you!
And again in Eph 3...16...
And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power.
17 Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.
18–19 Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude[f] of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!
What if we prayed those prayers for each other and for the church in this way?
And you can do it wirelessly! Prayer is the first form of wireless communication! It is instant on! No boot-up time! No log on required, he knows who you are instantly! No credentials. Just be his child!
Maybe that's why we're invited into this "work" unceasingly!??
Paul invites us again in Ephesians 6...
Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.
Again to Timothy, Paul instructs...
2 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
Friends, I believe that God has given us a special place and a special calling and prayer assignment... here.
So let's pray...
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the efectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Sermon July 14 - Long Obedience, Same Direction!
No, the word is very near to you; it is in mouth and in your heart for you to observe.
Have you ever wanted to get the winning formula for life? The winning cake recipe? The map to the treasure... that's hidden in a field?
I feel this morning like we've been running a race, like it says in Hebrews 12, and last Friday afternoon we hit the tape and the video went to a slow motion, frame-by-frame view. The tape is stretching but we're going to actually break it ...
We're going to actually BREAK THROUGH ...
this coming Friday when the second lot closes.
We stand, friends, at a threshold. The transition from one place to the next... a next room in the house... a peak on the trail... a mile marker on the journey of "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction."
No one here will ever claim the all this has happened in the least measure because of our own power... because of our own wisdom... or because of our own abilities nor ambitions.
This has been God's deal from beginning to end. No one will claim otherwise! It's not too our credit but to His glory that all this has happened. The three blue pages are completely inadequate to convey the story... it's awesomeness... it's sheer magnificence. When I think of all God has done here in the last two years I am almost literally, dumb-struck!
But I probably won't be speechless for long. As we cross this threshold we're entering a new place. And my concern is what now? What next? What is God calling us to be and do...
NOW?
The rest of this summer is going to be dedicated to this question ... from the Bible study on Ephesians, beginning this Wed evening, to the class beginning next Sunday; from the coffee hour to the pub over at Darcy's, our conversations are going to be about what we can see of the way forward into a new reality.
I already have some inklings... some... I call them "Kingdom Bread crumbs! "
Next week Mtr Barb is going to reprise for us the results of our Discerning Rez Sunday retreat (two years ago next Sunday! ). We're going to look again at all we said then and bring it forward - we're going to hit the "refresh" button beginning next Sunday.
Our Adult Koinonia study beginning next Sunday morning (0845) is also a repeat. So many were so impacted by the video series called "Godspeed," while we were in an earlier transition at "Prepare the Way." We want to come and hear again the message of God's call, the testimony of His ways and means, and recapture the vision of all we are called to be and to do.
I urge you to pray this week as we're crossing this 'finish' line ...
in SLOW MO...
Pray for God's continued favor and supply...
Pray for His hand in the final closing on Friday...
Pray for protection and God's gracious presence to go with us always...
Pray,,, pray,,, pray.
We still need it, perhaps now more than ever!
Bow with me...
Go before us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and fnally, through your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the efectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Have you ever wanted to get the winning formula for life? The winning cake recipe? The map to the treasure... that's hidden in a field?
I feel this morning like we've been running a race, like it says in Hebrews 12, and last Friday afternoon we hit the tape and the video went to a slow motion, frame-by-frame view. The tape is stretching but we're going to actually break it ...
We're going to actually BREAK THROUGH ...
this coming Friday when the second lot closes.
We stand, friends, at a threshold. The transition from one place to the next... a next room in the house... a peak on the trail... a mile marker on the journey of "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction."
No one here will ever claim the all this has happened in the least measure because of our own power... because of our own wisdom... or because of our own abilities nor ambitions.
This has been God's deal from beginning to end. No one will claim otherwise! It's not too our credit but to His glory that all this has happened. The three blue pages are completely inadequate to convey the story... it's awesomeness... it's sheer magnificence. When I think of all God has done here in the last two years I am almost literally, dumb-struck!
But I probably won't be speechless for long. As we cross this threshold we're entering a new place. And my concern is what now? What next? What is God calling us to be and do...
NOW?
The rest of this summer is going to be dedicated to this question ... from the Bible study on Ephesians, beginning this Wed evening, to the class beginning next Sunday; from the coffee hour to the pub over at Darcy's, our conversations are going to be about what we can see of the way forward into a new reality.
I already have some inklings... some... I call them "Kingdom Bread crumbs! "
Next week Mtr Barb is going to reprise for us the results of our Discerning Rez Sunday retreat (two years ago next Sunday! ). We're going to look again at all we said then and bring it forward - we're going to hit the "refresh" button beginning next Sunday.
Our Adult Koinonia study beginning next Sunday morning (0845) is also a repeat. So many were so impacted by the video series called "Godspeed," while we were in an earlier transition at "Prepare the Way." We want to come and hear again the message of God's call, the testimony of His ways and means, and recapture the vision of all we are called to be and to do.
I urge you to pray this week as we're crossing this 'finish' line ...
in SLOW MO...
Pray for God's continued favor and supply...
Pray for His hand in the final closing on Friday...
Pray for protection and God's gracious presence to go with us always...
Pray,,, pray,,, pray.
We still need it, perhaps now more than ever!
Bow with me...
Go before us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and fnally, through your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the efectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lent 1 - Whosoever!
Lent 1
March 10, 2019
Fr Phil Eberhart
Deut 26:(1-4),5-11
Ps 91 or 91:9-16
Rom 10:4-13
Lk 4:1-13
Whosoever !!
Good morning! Welcome back so soon. Many were here for a grand occasion last night for the double ordination and confirmations we had here. What a beautiful night! What a short night!
I think i got about 4 hours sleep. Speaking of temptation! Almost rolled over and went back to sleep. Then i remembered... oh yes... you're preaching this morning!
I want to talk about a word this morning.
It's a word that comes up in our epistle reading. The letter from Paul to the Roman church. Chapter 10 is in the middle of a section about Paul's heart's desire!
The word is WHOSOEVER. It's a great King James word. Others translate it who ever or whom ever.
Whosoever occurs 163 times in the OT and NT. What I discovered is that the word mostly means "all." And as we all know "all means all!"
So in Romans Paul is quoting the prophets when he says " whosoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved."
It's interesting that this is in the middle of his letter to the gentile church in Rome! He returns for a moment to remind both his gentile readers and the eventual Jewish readers that the Jews are included in his whosoever!
In fact he goes so far as to say that the salvation of the Gentiles is tied to the salvation of the Jews and vice versa
"A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved."
Whosoever is a very inclusive word! We hear a lot today about inclusion ! Everyone wants to be a part of something big. And we have the biggest deal going!
God so loved the world ... that whosoever could come, Jews, Gentiles, slave, free, Male, female, ...
black, white, brown, yellow, red, green or blue!
There's no more need for discussion! It's time to simply GO ... do it. Go in any way you can, at all times, to every place. Go tell the story, your story, His story! And how they come together!
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
11For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
And Paul goes on to commission each of us...
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Let me repeat myself...
It's time to simply GO ... do it. Go in any way you can, at all times, to every place. Go tell the story, your story, His story! And how they come together!
People are dying to hear! The WHOSOEVERs of this world are empty and restless, "looking for love in all the wrong places." And ours is the ultimate message of God's love, for all the world, all the who - so - evers that we run into every day - and never say a word to.
Bishop Bill talked last night about the power of the gospel coming through relationships. Through connections.
Do you know that is our written mission.
Www.rezanglican.org
"Connecting people to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom!"
Let's just go and do it.
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,
March 10, 2019
Fr Phil Eberhart
Deut 26:(1-4),5-11
Ps 91 or 91:9-16
Rom 10:4-13
Lk 4:1-13
Whosoever !!
Good morning! Welcome back so soon. Many were here for a grand occasion last night for the double ordination and confirmations we had here. What a beautiful night! What a short night!
I think i got about 4 hours sleep. Speaking of temptation! Almost rolled over and went back to sleep. Then i remembered... oh yes... you're preaching this morning!
I want to talk about a word this morning.
It's a word that comes up in our epistle reading. The letter from Paul to the Roman church. Chapter 10 is in the middle of a section about Paul's heart's desire!
The word is WHOSOEVER. It's a great King James word. Others translate it who ever or whom ever.
Whosoever occurs 163 times in the OT and NT. What I discovered is that the word mostly means "all." And as we all know "all means all!"
So in Romans Paul is quoting the prophets when he says " whosoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved."
It's interesting that this is in the middle of his letter to the gentile church in Rome! He returns for a moment to remind both his gentile readers and the eventual Jewish readers that the Jews are included in his whosoever!
In fact he goes so far as to say that the salvation of the Gentiles is tied to the salvation of the Jews and vice versa
"A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved."
Whosoever is a very inclusive word! We hear a lot today about inclusion ! Everyone wants to be a part of something big. And we have the biggest deal going!
God so loved the world ... that whosoever could come, Jews, Gentiles, slave, free, Male, female, ...
black, white, brown, yellow, red, green or blue!
There's no more need for discussion! It's time to simply GO ... do it. Go in any way you can, at all times, to every place. Go tell the story, your story, His story! And how they come together!
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
11For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
And Paul goes on to commission each of us...
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Let me repeat myself...
It's time to simply GO ... do it. Go in any way you can, at all times, to every place. Go tell the story, your story, His story! And how they come together!
People are dying to hear! The WHOSOEVERs of this world are empty and restless, "looking for love in all the wrong places." And ours is the ultimate message of God's love, for all the world, all the who - so - evers that we run into every day - and never say a word to.
Bishop Bill talked last night about the power of the gospel coming through relationships. Through connections.
Do you know that is our written mission.
Www.rezanglican.org
"Connecting people to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom!"
Let's just go and do it.
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,
Sept 23 - Quick - Slow - Slow
September 23, 2018
Fr. Phil Eberhart
James 3
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
I've entitled this "Quick, Slow, Slow 2"
Our epistle reading this morning takes up where I left off two weeks ago...
If you recall:
So here's the checklist: (before you open your mouth to speak!)
[ ] Purity... check your motive for saying anything at all! Why do I need to speak?
[ ] Peace... is Peace from Christ going to be conveyed in what I say?
[ ] Consideration... Who's first here? Is it about me, or about the person who is hearing?
[ ] Humility ... If I am teachable, I am coming humbly, willing to hear correction to my thinking and speaking.
[ ] LOVE... over and over and over and over again, we cannot emphasize this enough!
[ ] Without Prejudice ...
[ ] Without hypocrisy ... probably the two chief accusations made by people against Christians who open their mouths!!
So if we check the checklist before we open our mouths, perhaps we will see...
A BEAUTIFUL HARVEST OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!! Just a final word from James...
Good seeds of wisdom’s fruit will be planted with peaceful acts by those who cherish making peace. (TPT)
I wanted to start with the checklist this morning by way of a reminder of our QUICK- SLOW- SLOW dance steps and the further outcome of this kind of life style!
But James doesn't stop there... he goes from preaching to meddling!
As we move into chapter 4 we find him digging a little deeper into our motives... as Heb 4:12 says: into "the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
Let's re-read the first few verses of chap 4 from the Passion Translation :
What is the cause of your conflicts and quarrels with each other? Doesn’t the battle begin inside of you as you fight to have your own way and fulfill your own desires? You jealously want what others have so you begin to see yourself as better than others. You scheme with envy and harm others to selfishly obtain what you crave—that’s why you quarrel and fight. And all the time you don’t obtain what you want because you won’t ask God for it! And if you ask, you won’t receive it for you’re asking with corrupt motives, seeking only to fulfill your own selfish desires. You have become spiritual adulterers who are having an affair, an unholy relationship with the world. Don’t you know that flirting with the world’s values places you at odds with God? Whoever chooses to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy!
James (Jacob) 4:1-4 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849jas4.1-4.TPT
What is the cause?
We're told to always look inside first! The problem is the heart- Jeremiah says it is : deceitfullly wicked! And James has already told us in the previous chapter about the danger of the tongue! Thus our dance steps... Quick to listen... Slow to speak, and Slow to anger!
Proverbs tells us that it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks!
So the problem is here... inside of us!
The heart - the mind and the tongue are our most important battlegrounds when it comes to faith and our living lives that are worthy as Paul urges us - lives that are faithful to the gospel and to the Name of Jesus.
The selection this morning from the apocrypha reads like the morning paper!
Let us lie in wait for the righteous man,
because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God,
and calls himself a child of the Lord.
He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange.
Several times this past week I've heard commentaries on the politics of our day likening them to the days just before the Civil War (interesting name don't you think for the most uncivil thing we've ever seen in our history! ).
We live in days where civility has died. Discourse across lines has died a horrible death. And like Rome under Nero, Christians are seen to be to blame.
We are and have been for decades in a "War of the World-views!" Biblical vs. Secular Humanist.
This morning I received a communique from a Christian organization in Washington DC urging me to PRAY - VOTE - STAND. On the subject I will just go on record to say that I believe that a biblically - informed vote is the most powerful form of citizenship that we can exercise today... Along with committed prayer and the internal fortitude to stand up for our beliefs in the marketplace and the halls of government.
We're in an epic conflict, that is not new!
It's as old as the world is... almost.
The conflict begins in the human heart. And it is finally won in the human heart. Turn back to James with me for just a moment more.
What is the antidote? The antidote to pride and avarice, selfish ambition, James calls it.
The antidote is humility! Jesus gave the disciples a healthy dose of humility when he turned on his heel and asked "What are you guys arguing about? " Jesus knew perfectly well the hearts of these ordinary men and what they were discussing!
Who's on first! No not the radio skit.
Who has the first place in the coming restored kingdom that Jesus will bring? That was their main concern. Each vying and competing with the others for Jesus' attention. Some even went so far as to ask him straight out : can we sit at your right and left?
They were being childish, when Jesus wanted them to be childlike. And so comes the object lesson. A child on his lap. Simply enjoy him! Be in his presence! Draw near to him and he will draw near to you! Humble your self.
James puts it this way...
Does the Scripture mean nothing to you that says, “The Spirit that God breathed into our hearts is a jealous Lover who intensely desires to have more and more of us”? But he continues to pour out more and more grace upon us. For it says, God resists you when you are proud but continually pours out grace when you are humble.” So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him and he will turn and run away from you. Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting.
James (Jacob) 4:5-8 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/jas.4.5-8.TPT
Jesus said it best...
He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
Jesus' way is the way of the dance...
QUICK SLOW SLOW
QUICK SLOW SLOW
QUICK SLOW SLOW
Have you ever picked up a son or daughter and danced with them in your arms. That's what Jesus wants to do with us! I still have a picture of one of those moments with Kiri on my fridge!
And just a few weeks ago I did a last dance with her at her wedding. To the song My Girl!
The Lord God of the universe desires you as a dance partner! He wants to pick you up and hold you close and swing you around in the dance of life...
QUICK SLOW SLOW
QUICK SLOW SLOW
QUICK SLOW SLOW
LET'S PRAY...
Our dearest Father and our God.
Take our hands... we reach up to you now.
Pull us up on your lap, Papa! Take us in your arms and dance with us. Give us humble, receiving hearts; give us willing and available minds and help us to walk, to dance, finally, in your steps.
Have mercy on us Lord. Have mercy. Draw near to us as we draw near to you. Pour out your Grace as we come humbly to your throne this morning. Give us all of yourself as we humbly give you all of ourselves.
For the sake of Jesus Name and your kingdom's fame.
Amen and amen.
Fr. Phil Eberhart
James 3
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
I've entitled this "Quick, Slow, Slow 2"
Our epistle reading this morning takes up where I left off two weeks ago...
If you recall:
So here's the checklist: (before you open your mouth to speak!)
[ ] Purity... check your motive for saying anything at all! Why do I need to speak?
[ ] Peace... is Peace from Christ going to be conveyed in what I say?
[ ] Consideration... Who's first here? Is it about me, or about the person who is hearing?
[ ] Humility ... If I am teachable, I am coming humbly, willing to hear correction to my thinking and speaking.
[ ] LOVE... over and over and over and over again, we cannot emphasize this enough!
[ ] Without Prejudice ...
[ ] Without hypocrisy ... probably the two chief accusations made by people against Christians who open their mouths!!
So if we check the checklist before we open our mouths, perhaps we will see...
A BEAUTIFUL HARVEST OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!! Just a final word from James...
Good seeds of wisdom’s fruit will be planted with peaceful acts by those who cherish making peace. (TPT)
I wanted to start with the checklist this morning by way of a reminder of our QUICK- SLOW- SLOW dance steps and the further outcome of this kind of life style!
But James doesn't stop there... he goes from preaching to meddling!
As we move into chapter 4 we find him digging a little deeper into our motives... as Heb 4:12 says: into "the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
Let's re-read the first few verses of chap 4 from the Passion Translation :
What is the cause of your conflicts and quarrels with each other? Doesn’t the battle begin inside of you as you fight to have your own way and fulfill your own desires? You jealously want what others have so you begin to see yourself as better than others. You scheme with envy and harm others to selfishly obtain what you crave—that’s why you quarrel and fight. And all the time you don’t obtain what you want because you won’t ask God for it! And if you ask, you won’t receive it for you’re asking with corrupt motives, seeking only to fulfill your own selfish desires. You have become spiritual adulterers who are having an affair, an unholy relationship with the world. Don’t you know that flirting with the world’s values places you at odds with God? Whoever chooses to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy!
James (Jacob) 4:1-4 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849jas4.1-4.TPT
What is the cause?
We're told to always look inside first! The problem is the heart- Jeremiah says it is : deceitfullly wicked! And James has already told us in the previous chapter about the danger of the tongue! Thus our dance steps... Quick to listen... Slow to speak, and Slow to anger!
Proverbs tells us that it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks!
So the problem is here... inside of us!
The heart - the mind and the tongue are our most important battlegrounds when it comes to faith and our living lives that are worthy as Paul urges us - lives that are faithful to the gospel and to the Name of Jesus.
The selection this morning from the apocrypha reads like the morning paper!
Let us lie in wait for the righteous man,
because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God,
and calls himself a child of the Lord.
He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange.
Several times this past week I've heard commentaries on the politics of our day likening them to the days just before the Civil War (interesting name don't you think for the most uncivil thing we've ever seen in our history! ).
We live in days where civility has died. Discourse across lines has died a horrible death. And like Rome under Nero, Christians are seen to be to blame.
We are and have been for decades in a "War of the World-views!" Biblical vs. Secular Humanist.
This morning I received a communique from a Christian organization in Washington DC urging me to PRAY - VOTE - STAND. On the subject I will just go on record to say that I believe that a biblically - informed vote is the most powerful form of citizenship that we can exercise today... Along with committed prayer and the internal fortitude to stand up for our beliefs in the marketplace and the halls of government.
We're in an epic conflict, that is not new!
It's as old as the world is... almost.
The conflict begins in the human heart. And it is finally won in the human heart. Turn back to James with me for just a moment more.
What is the antidote? The antidote to pride and avarice, selfish ambition, James calls it.
The antidote is humility! Jesus gave the disciples a healthy dose of humility when he turned on his heel and asked "What are you guys arguing about? " Jesus knew perfectly well the hearts of these ordinary men and what they were discussing!
Who's on first! No not the radio skit.
Who has the first place in the coming restored kingdom that Jesus will bring? That was their main concern. Each vying and competing with the others for Jesus' attention. Some even went so far as to ask him straight out : can we sit at your right and left?
They were being childish, when Jesus wanted them to be childlike. And so comes the object lesson. A child on his lap. Simply enjoy him! Be in his presence! Draw near to him and he will draw near to you! Humble your self.
James puts it this way...
Does the Scripture mean nothing to you that says, “The Spirit that God breathed into our hearts is a jealous Lover who intensely desires to have more and more of us”? But he continues to pour out more and more grace upon us. For it says, God resists you when you are proud but continually pours out grace when you are humble.” So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him and he will turn and run away from you. Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting.
James (Jacob) 4:5-8 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/jas.4.5-8.TPT
Jesus said it best...
He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
Jesus' way is the way of the dance...
QUICK SLOW SLOW
QUICK SLOW SLOW
QUICK SLOW SLOW
Have you ever picked up a son or daughter and danced with them in your arms. That's what Jesus wants to do with us! I still have a picture of one of those moments with Kiri on my fridge!
And just a few weeks ago I did a last dance with her at her wedding. To the song My Girl!
The Lord God of the universe desires you as a dance partner! He wants to pick you up and hold you close and swing you around in the dance of life...
QUICK SLOW SLOW
QUICK SLOW SLOW
QUICK SLOW SLOW
LET'S PRAY...
Our dearest Father and our God.
Take our hands... we reach up to you now.
Pull us up on your lap, Papa! Take us in your arms and dance with us. Give us humble, receiving hearts; give us willing and available minds and help us to walk, to dance, finally, in your steps.
Have mercy on us Lord. Have mercy. Draw near to us as we draw near to you. Pour out your Grace as we come humbly to your throne this morning. Give us all of yourself as we humbly give you all of ourselves.
For the sake of Jesus Name and your kingdom's fame.
Amen and amen.
September 22 - INCOMPARABLE RICHES
Sermon - Incomparable Riches!
Sept 22, 2019
Fr Phil Eberhart
RezAnglican.org
We're in a time here at Rez when we're hearing about the needs, especially for our finances as we run and finish the race to complete our building project, or as we encounter various needs in our community through the discretionary funds.
These needs are real and pressing! You see parking lot going in out front of the church this morning. We're making room for what we believe God is doing in and through us here at Rez.
All of this giving is towards an end! And the end isn't the church's land and building being finished...
It isn't putting stone on the outside of the church...
It isn't finishing our parking lot and moving our driveway up the street...
It isn't putting in new lawn and trees on the berm...
All those things are going to happen, and they all cost money, but they're not the end... they're not even the point!
They all point to a single goal... Are we ready to recieve all that God has on His heart for Rez and our neighbors?
Sure we're going to continue talking about monetary needs as we continue to build -- as we finish our race. But the question on my mind and heart is why?
Why are we doing all this? What is God up to with Rez?
I want to point to some signs I can see from here.
1. The sign of FAVOR Favor is God's grace made visible in a relationship. It's one of the constant prayers of Rez for the past two years in this project. And God has been faithful to give us favor! It comes in many ways, as varied as the "multi-faceted, many colored grace of God, " Peter, in his first letter writes to the church these words...
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1pe.4.7-11.ESV
"Good stewards of God's varied grace " We're stewards of God's grace... His favor... His light shining in the dark! Jesus said it this way... "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.5.14-16.ESV
We are all stewards of the light... we reflect what we're looking at! God's set us here on this Holy hill for a purpose. The very ground that we're moving is Holy! Consecrated to the Lord and His purposes,... Including the home sites that will be delivered to the new owners in the next week or two! As we closed two months ago, one owner did to me, "I think we have something in common! " "What's that? " I asked. "Neither of us believe in coincidence! "
We live in view of a Sovereign God! There are no coincidences... none... not one. And so we know... Know...know... know That God has favor towards us. He has a plan and is always at work on it. ALWAYS.
2. Following from God's favor is God's Supply! Anyone here have a sense of how much of this we get to take credit for? Yet, God has done it THROUGH US! THROUGH each of us... all! No matter how large or small your contribution ALL together its been made possible! One gift here, another there, finding savings in unexpected ways, creatively financing parts and for the grace of interest on loans that has been forgiven! Can you see the Favor of God? Can you see the Supply of God?
A couple months ago Val had a word at end of a service... You know that I have plans for you here at Rez. I know that many of you are weary... I AM NOT !! And once again we are reminded that God is not tired ... God never gets tired.
Psalm 121 says it this way... I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord , who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalms 121:1-4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.121.1-4.ESV
HINEY, LO YANUM V' LO YISHON , SHOIMEI YISRAEL !! BEHOLD! NO SLUMBER AND NO SLEEP (FOR) THE WATCHER OF ISRAEL !!
Friends, this is what we are stewards of here on this hill... the very watch care of the Father, the God of the Universe, over His people Israel!
Some of us attended WE LOVE COLORADO last Fri night and on Sat. Others I found at Red Rocks on Monday night at Worship on the Rocks. Both events lead me to hope ... to believe...that God has something 'up His sleeve! '
God is preparing for a move of His Spirit that will make the 3000 on Pentecost look like what it was... just the beginning! And I for one believe that Denver and Colorado, and I pray, Greenwood Village is going to be "ground zero! "
We are stewards of the Favour of God ! We're co-workers with Him of the message of His HESED - His UNFAILING LOVE towards His people! We are stewards of the riches of God. Spiritual and physical... all he provides... All things come of You O Lord and of thine own have we given thee!
God's favor and His supply are ours. It is now our turn to give! And it's all of us together. Large and small, visible and invisible - every gift counts here, for the glory of the kingdom of God and the Fame of the Name of Jesus!
Amen
Sept 22, 2019
Fr Phil Eberhart
RezAnglican.org
We're in a time here at Rez when we're hearing about the needs, especially for our finances as we run and finish the race to complete our building project, or as we encounter various needs in our community through the discretionary funds.
These needs are real and pressing! You see parking lot going in out front of the church this morning. We're making room for what we believe God is doing in and through us here at Rez.
All of this giving is towards an end! And the end isn't the church's land and building being finished...
It isn't putting stone on the outside of the church...
It isn't finishing our parking lot and moving our driveway up the street...
It isn't putting in new lawn and trees on the berm...
All those things are going to happen, and they all cost money, but they're not the end... they're not even the point!
They all point to a single goal... Are we ready to recieve all that God has on His heart for Rez and our neighbors?
Sure we're going to continue talking about monetary needs as we continue to build -- as we finish our race. But the question on my mind and heart is why?
Why are we doing all this? What is God up to with Rez?
I want to point to some signs I can see from here.
1. The sign of FAVOR Favor is God's grace made visible in a relationship. It's one of the constant prayers of Rez for the past two years in this project. And God has been faithful to give us favor! It comes in many ways, as varied as the "multi-faceted, many colored grace of God, " Peter, in his first letter writes to the church these words...
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1pe.4.7-11.ESV
"Good stewards of God's varied grace " We're stewards of God's grace... His favor... His light shining in the dark! Jesus said it this way... "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.5.14-16.ESV
We are all stewards of the light... we reflect what we're looking at! God's set us here on this Holy hill for a purpose. The very ground that we're moving is Holy! Consecrated to the Lord and His purposes,... Including the home sites that will be delivered to the new owners in the next week or two! As we closed two months ago, one owner did to me, "I think we have something in common! " "What's that? " I asked. "Neither of us believe in coincidence! "
We live in view of a Sovereign God! There are no coincidences... none... not one. And so we know... Know...know... know That God has favor towards us. He has a plan and is always at work on it. ALWAYS.
2. Following from God's favor is God's Supply! Anyone here have a sense of how much of this we get to take credit for? Yet, God has done it THROUGH US! THROUGH each of us... all! No matter how large or small your contribution ALL together its been made possible! One gift here, another there, finding savings in unexpected ways, creatively financing parts and for the grace of interest on loans that has been forgiven! Can you see the Favor of God? Can you see the Supply of God?
A couple months ago Val had a word at end of a service... You know that I have plans for you here at Rez. I know that many of you are weary... I AM NOT !! And once again we are reminded that God is not tired ... God never gets tired.
Psalm 121 says it this way... I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord , who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalms 121:1-4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.121.1-4.ESV
HINEY, LO YANUM V' LO YISHON , SHOIMEI YISRAEL !! BEHOLD! NO SLUMBER AND NO SLEEP (FOR) THE WATCHER OF ISRAEL !!
Friends, this is what we are stewards of here on this hill... the very watch care of the Father, the God of the Universe, over His people Israel!
Some of us attended WE LOVE COLORADO last Fri night and on Sat. Others I found at Red Rocks on Monday night at Worship on the Rocks. Both events lead me to hope ... to believe...that God has something 'up His sleeve! '
God is preparing for a move of His Spirit that will make the 3000 on Pentecost look like what it was... just the beginning! And I for one believe that Denver and Colorado, and I pray, Greenwood Village is going to be "ground zero! "
We are stewards of the Favour of God ! We're co-workers with Him of the message of His HESED - His UNFAILING LOVE towards His people! We are stewards of the riches of God. Spiritual and physical... all he provides... All things come of You O Lord and of thine own have we given thee!
God's favor and His supply are ours. It is now our turn to give! And it's all of us together. Large and small, visible and invisible - every gift counts here, for the glory of the kingdom of God and the Fame of the Name of Jesus!
Amen
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