Special thanks to my beautiful wife, Michelle, for preaching this message for me! You did great!
“Fearful…”
Brimfield Faith UMC / February 26, 2012
Exodus 20:18-21
THE VOICE
There has always been something taboo and intimidating about hearing God’s voice. There has always been a great deal of debate surround the voice of God. Every time there is a natural disaster a preacher gets on T.V. claiming that it was God condemning some outrageous sin. It happens with such frequency most of us have simply tuned it out. It seems harder and harder to know when and if God is speaking. If you only read the Old Testament, you might be inclined to listen to the preachers declaring the latest earthquake is a message from God. If you’ve watched Charlton Heston’s “The Ten Commandments” you know what I mean. The fire, the smoke, the booming thunder.
Exodus 19 and 20 describe the scene in graphic detail. It is the first seriously intimidating encounter with the voice of God. Moses is preparing the Israelites to hear the voice of God for the first time. Moses goes up Mount Sinai to converse with God. As God appears and begins to speak to Moses, he permits the people to hear his voice. The voice is dramatic and powerful sounding like thunder. It is a voice that the people are unfamiliar and fearful of. The Israelites in hearing God’s voice realized the power and authority of God. This left a significant impression upon them but it also created in them a great fear.
Thankful, natural disasters are not God’s preferred method of speaking to His people. In fact, the Scriptures are replete with various ways in which God speaks. Since the Ascension of Christ, God has continued to speak to the world. While the clutter of the world tries to drown out God’ voice we can still hear it if we will listen.
We have a heritage of hearing God’s voice. Our founder John Wesley heard the voice of God. When he experienced his heart being strangely warmed on Aldersgate Street, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Methodist movement in the early years was marked by tremendous physical expressions of God’s Spirit. The Protestant Reformation opened up the Scriptures and access to the presence of God to every believer. No longer was it simply the priests, monks and nuns that were permitted to hear the voice of God.
BARRIERS
Like the Israelites, we have barriers that prevent our spiritual senses being in tune to the voice of God. There is certainly a stigma attached to people who hear voices. People who hear voices are often labeled as crazy. In fact, some do indeed have serious illnesses. Other people who claim to hear voices are labeled as psychics. These people are often met with skepticism and doubt.
These are not the voices that we are talking about this morning. Instead, we are talking about the voice of God. The voice that speaks again and again throughout Scriptures. The voice that created the world. The voice that created each of us. The voice that has the final word over sin and death. This morning as we begin the journey of Lent we will begin by attempting to overcome two myths that can prevent us from hearing the voice of God.
Myth #1. God only speaks to special people.
The Israelites had been following God in a cloud of smoke and a pillar of fire through the desert. They had experienced God perform numerous miracles on their behalf. God was a real protector, provider and guide. The problem was that Moses was the main mediator of these miracles. Moses was the greatest prophet that ever lived and it was believed that God should only speak to him. As they heard the intimidating, booming voice fear entered their hearts. They feared they weren’t holy enough. They feared for their lives. They feared they wouldn’t be able to live up the expectations of God. Therefore, they relegated special people to listen to God’s voice and speak to the people. The prophets of the Old Testament serve in this manner. The average people never expected to hear from God.
In the New Testament, Jesus turns the table. As he teaches about the Holy Spirit in John 16, we learn that God will speak to the hearts of people who are filled the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit falls in Acts 2, people begin to see visions and dream dreams. Any Spirit-filled Christian was capable of hearing the voice of God. In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul exhorts the people to strive for the gift of prophecy. Paul understands that each believer can and should seek to hear the voice of God. While God certainly has special relationships in which he reveals greater secrets, every person can be free of fear and be guided by the Holy Spirit and the voice of God.
The reality is this. Each of you are special in God’s eyes. You are His children. You are his creation. You are his splendor. When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you can hear the voice of God. You can know the secrets of the universe. You can know the love of Christ. While you might not feel worthy, God says you are. You are special and God wants to speak directly to you.
Myth #2. God no longer speaks.
Some Christians for a variety of reasons, believe that God has stopped speaking directly to his people, whether it be out of fear or out of misguided theology. They believe that God only uses the Bible to speak to people. While the Holy Spirit certainly reveals truth and guides believers, God is not contained to the Scriptures.
The ancient Christian belief was that there were two unique revelations of God. The Holy Scriptures were one and the other was the natural world. Romans 1:20 says, “Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made.” The Bible teaches that God speaks to people in whatever manner to wishes to. God speaks through the Bible and through the natural world.
This revelation changes everything. God can speak to me while I’m driving in the car. While I am watching TV. While I’m reading a book. Having dinner. Catching up with an old friend. There is nothing and nowhere that God cannot speak to us. We cannot limit God’s voice to the Bible or to the Church. God is speaking and we must learn to tune our spiritual ears to hear his voice more clearly.
BLESSINGS
As the myths of God not speaking or only speaking to special people are dispelled, we can begin to learn to listen and hear the voice of God. Even if we believe that God can speak, many still chose not to listen. I would suggest that it is not only possible to hear God’s voice, but imperative that we learn to listen. God’s voice will guide us in times of trouble, and it has the capacity to bring great blessings.
In Exodus 19:5-6, God tells Moses that if he and the people will listen to God’s voice that they will be a treasured possession out of the peoples and they will be made into a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. There is no longer any reason to be afraid or to ignore God’s voice. It doesn’t have to be weird or crazy. It doesn’t need to be reserved for special people or spiritual fanatics. Everyday Christians can learn to learn the voice of God. When we will tune our ears to heaven, listen and follow, God will do amazing things in your life. Christianity will break out of your Sunday morning box and invade your entire life. All you have to do is listen.
Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent. Traditionally, Lent is a time of prayer and fasting as we journey towards the celebration of the Resurrection. Prayer and fasting are designed to tune your ear to heaven and to sharpen your spiritual senses. They prepare us to navigate the darkness of the world and move towards the light of Christ. It becomes imperative that we learn to hear the voice of God. Without His guidance, we will indeed wander in darkness without ever finding our way. I want to invite you on the journey of listening and following God towards the victory of Resurrection on Easter morning. It will not be a journey without difficulty, but it is one of the most important journeys of your life.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Crossing Over - Scout Sunday
“Crossing Over”
Brimfield Faith UMC / February 19, 2012
Joshua 3:14-17
BACKPACKING & WATER
My scouting career ended as a Webelos Scout with my Arrow of Light. I was all ready to cross over into Boy Scouts when we moved to a new town and I made the decision to focus on sports rather than Boy Scouts. There are times when I wish I had made the venture of Scouting rather than playing baseball and swimming.
One of those times came my sophomore year of college. A couple of buddies of mine decided that we should go camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. This seemed like a great idea. Get away from the hubbub of the stress of the dorms, school and classes. What a better place than out in the woods. I borrowed my brother’s camping supplies and was ready to go. (He was an Eagle Scout.) Our crew hopped in the car and headed south for our week long adventure. Thankfully, we had one Eagle Scout to lead the way, maps, and good trail to follow… or so we thought.
After misjudging drive travel time, we arrived about an hour before sunset. Dusk has started to set in but we decided to start out anyways. After an intense uphill and poorly cleared trek, we need to set up camp. Dusk had quickly set in and we finally found a site that would work. After an evening of rainfall, we awoke fairly dry and ready to continue our journey. The second night was much better. We found a stream high in the mountains that provided much needed water. (Of course, we purified it.) It was some of the best water that I had ever tasted.
WATER
Many of you know that water is essential when hiking. You want to travel as light as possible and carrying extra water can be terribly heavy. When finding water you want to find a fairly quick moving stream to ensure fairly safe drinking water. General babbling mountain streams are easy to find and a much welcome sight. While babbling brooks are welcomed, rushing rivers are another thing. When there is a bridge there is no problem. Without a bridge, a shallow section of water or a fall tree, crossing a rushing river is impossible without a boat.
There are many stories involving water and rivers in the Bible. Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt across the Red Sea, through the desert wilderness, and toward the Promise Land. At one point, water is so scarce that Moses upon God’s command strikes a rock and water comes pouring forth. There are other instances where water appears to be a problem. Every time water becomes a challenge, God turns the challenge into an opportunity.
The most important body in the Bible is the Jordan River. While the Jordan doesn’t get as much press as say the Red Sea, it carries significant importance. The Jordan River was the large river that served as a marker to the Promise Land. Before the Israelites crossed into the Promise Land, it was the barrier that prevented them from entering in the land. When they came to occupy the land, it became an important barrier for them. During the harvest and rainy season the river stood about ten feet deep and had strong and potential dangerous currents.
STEPPING IN
In the passage read early, the Israelites finally are prepared to cross the Jordan River. The arraigned time was when the river was at its highest and its most dangerous time. It required great risk for Joshua to lead the people across the river. During the crossing of the Red Sea, Moses got to raise his staff to part the waters. The priests carrying the tabernacle, the dwelling place of God, stepped into the Jordan River. They took a significant risk. They could have easily been swept away in the strong currents, lost the tabernacle and their own lives. Instead, as they place their feet in the water, the waters stop flowing. The grounds dried up and the Israelites cross over the Jordan River. This was a momentous occasion. It was the fulfillment of prophecies and promises. It required the Israelites to make sacrifices. It required them to take risks. To step out in faith. To learn to trust in the Lord.
Like the Israelites, we need to trust God and take risks. God never intended the Israelites to take forty years to enter the Promise Land. They simply were unable to wait and to trust in the Lord. They hung onto their past and clung to that which was comfortable. How often do we do the same thing? Instead, we hang on to our past. We cling to comforts. We ignore God’s calling on our lives. We dismiss it as crazy. It is easier to stay in our cocoons of safety instead of stepping out and trust in God.
MEMORIAL STONES
After the Israelites crossed the river they were instructed to go back into the river and told to take 12 stones to create a monument that reminded the people what God had done that day. We need to create reminders of our victories. It is easy to forget that we have the skills and abilities to overcome the obstacles and challenges in our lives.
Scouting does a great job of creating memorials. Merit badges and ranks promotions reinforce and remind the Scouts they have acquired certain skills and abilities. The Eagle Scout is the ultimate marker in your Scouting journey. It is the final memorial in your journey of Scouting.
Everyone has markers in their lives. Whether it is a thing, a picture, a memento, there is something that reminds you of the obstacles you have overcome in your life and how those challenges have helped to shape you and your faith. Without crossing into nostalgia, we need those markers to remind us who we have become, the skills and tools that we possess to overcome future challenges.
CHALLENGES
The initial step into the waters is always the first step on a much greater journey. Once the Israelites crossed the Jordan there was no turning back. God was calling them forth into the greater challenges. They had to defeat entire cities like Jericho. They were not trained warriors. They were outnumbered. The initial step into the water paled in comparison to that which was before them. The challenges that were ahead of them are what kept them from crossing the Jordan years earlier.
They had learned an important lesson. In every challenge there is an opportunity for God to act. There is an opportunity for us to grow in our faith. There is an opportunity to discover ourselves, our gifts, our graces, and our talents. Challenges are not to be feared but to be welcomed. The memorial created in the Jordan reminded them God was there and faithful. It reminded them to resist the urge to flee back to comfort and safety. The memorials in our lives remind us to not avoid conflict. Don’t run from it. Conflict is the greatest opportunity in life to grow. When we learn to listen to God and to wise counselors, we can successfully maneuver conflicts.
As Scouts, you have been given the tools to resolve conflict and problem solve more than you ever know. There is always the chance to grow. A chance to find a resolution. A chance to discover your true identity. The award of Eagle is a remind of these truths. The Eagle project requires you to have a mentor and to involve other scouts in the project. This is not by accident but a reminder that you need others to help you through life.
THE RIGHT TRAIL
While the first night of our hiking trip was challenging, the next two days were magnificent. The second night we slept on flat ground at the top of the mountain. It was glorious and well worth the hike. Ironically, the final day of the trip was the easiest part of the trail. It was wide, mostly downhill and enjoyable. As we reached the bottom, we realized that we had started on the wrong section of the trail. If we had started on the right section of the trail we would have had an easy beginning and a much more pleasant hiking trip.
Our biggest downfall. The lack of a trained guide. How often in life do we not only take the path less taken but the path with greater difficulty? We are invited to trust in God and allow Jesus to be our ultimate guide. In John 14 Jesus reminds us, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes through me except the father.” Instead of wandering aimlessly and getting lost, we invite Christ, the guide, into our lives and hearts.
So as we conclude this morning, I would invite you to invite Jesus to be your guide. And find a church home, surround yourself with wise people who know the way of Jesus and can help guide your own journey of faith. It is okay to be hesitant to step into the waters of faith, to cross the river and face the challenges that lie ahead. When you cry out for help in your time of need, God will not leave you or forsake you. Surrounding you are people who will help you, guide you and support you. Those people can only help you so much. Your ultimate help starts when you chose to follow Jesus Christ. He is our leader. He is our guide. He is the way.
Let’s pray.
Brimfield Faith UMC / February 19, 2012
Joshua 3:14-17
BACKPACKING & WATER
My scouting career ended as a Webelos Scout with my Arrow of Light. I was all ready to cross over into Boy Scouts when we moved to a new town and I made the decision to focus on sports rather than Boy Scouts. There are times when I wish I had made the venture of Scouting rather than playing baseball and swimming.
One of those times came my sophomore year of college. A couple of buddies of mine decided that we should go camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. This seemed like a great idea. Get away from the hubbub of the stress of the dorms, school and classes. What a better place than out in the woods. I borrowed my brother’s camping supplies and was ready to go. (He was an Eagle Scout.) Our crew hopped in the car and headed south for our week long adventure. Thankfully, we had one Eagle Scout to lead the way, maps, and good trail to follow… or so we thought.
After misjudging drive travel time, we arrived about an hour before sunset. Dusk has started to set in but we decided to start out anyways. After an intense uphill and poorly cleared trek, we need to set up camp. Dusk had quickly set in and we finally found a site that would work. After an evening of rainfall, we awoke fairly dry and ready to continue our journey. The second night was much better. We found a stream high in the mountains that provided much needed water. (Of course, we purified it.) It was some of the best water that I had ever tasted.
WATER
Many of you know that water is essential when hiking. You want to travel as light as possible and carrying extra water can be terribly heavy. When finding water you want to find a fairly quick moving stream to ensure fairly safe drinking water. General babbling mountain streams are easy to find and a much welcome sight. While babbling brooks are welcomed, rushing rivers are another thing. When there is a bridge there is no problem. Without a bridge, a shallow section of water or a fall tree, crossing a rushing river is impossible without a boat.
There are many stories involving water and rivers in the Bible. Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt across the Red Sea, through the desert wilderness, and toward the Promise Land. At one point, water is so scarce that Moses upon God’s command strikes a rock and water comes pouring forth. There are other instances where water appears to be a problem. Every time water becomes a challenge, God turns the challenge into an opportunity.
The most important body in the Bible is the Jordan River. While the Jordan doesn’t get as much press as say the Red Sea, it carries significant importance. The Jordan River was the large river that served as a marker to the Promise Land. Before the Israelites crossed into the Promise Land, it was the barrier that prevented them from entering in the land. When they came to occupy the land, it became an important barrier for them. During the harvest and rainy season the river stood about ten feet deep and had strong and potential dangerous currents.
STEPPING IN
In the passage read early, the Israelites finally are prepared to cross the Jordan River. The arraigned time was when the river was at its highest and its most dangerous time. It required great risk for Joshua to lead the people across the river. During the crossing of the Red Sea, Moses got to raise his staff to part the waters. The priests carrying the tabernacle, the dwelling place of God, stepped into the Jordan River. They took a significant risk. They could have easily been swept away in the strong currents, lost the tabernacle and their own lives. Instead, as they place their feet in the water, the waters stop flowing. The grounds dried up and the Israelites cross over the Jordan River. This was a momentous occasion. It was the fulfillment of prophecies and promises. It required the Israelites to make sacrifices. It required them to take risks. To step out in faith. To learn to trust in the Lord.
Like the Israelites, we need to trust God and take risks. God never intended the Israelites to take forty years to enter the Promise Land. They simply were unable to wait and to trust in the Lord. They hung onto their past and clung to that which was comfortable. How often do we do the same thing? Instead, we hang on to our past. We cling to comforts. We ignore God’s calling on our lives. We dismiss it as crazy. It is easier to stay in our cocoons of safety instead of stepping out and trust in God.
MEMORIAL STONES
After the Israelites crossed the river they were instructed to go back into the river and told to take 12 stones to create a monument that reminded the people what God had done that day. We need to create reminders of our victories. It is easy to forget that we have the skills and abilities to overcome the obstacles and challenges in our lives.
Scouting does a great job of creating memorials. Merit badges and ranks promotions reinforce and remind the Scouts they have acquired certain skills and abilities. The Eagle Scout is the ultimate marker in your Scouting journey. It is the final memorial in your journey of Scouting.
Everyone has markers in their lives. Whether it is a thing, a picture, a memento, there is something that reminds you of the obstacles you have overcome in your life and how those challenges have helped to shape you and your faith. Without crossing into nostalgia, we need those markers to remind us who we have become, the skills and tools that we possess to overcome future challenges.
CHALLENGES
The initial step into the waters is always the first step on a much greater journey. Once the Israelites crossed the Jordan there was no turning back. God was calling them forth into the greater challenges. They had to defeat entire cities like Jericho. They were not trained warriors. They were outnumbered. The initial step into the water paled in comparison to that which was before them. The challenges that were ahead of them are what kept them from crossing the Jordan years earlier.
They had learned an important lesson. In every challenge there is an opportunity for God to act. There is an opportunity for us to grow in our faith. There is an opportunity to discover ourselves, our gifts, our graces, and our talents. Challenges are not to be feared but to be welcomed. The memorial created in the Jordan reminded them God was there and faithful. It reminded them to resist the urge to flee back to comfort and safety. The memorials in our lives remind us to not avoid conflict. Don’t run from it. Conflict is the greatest opportunity in life to grow. When we learn to listen to God and to wise counselors, we can successfully maneuver conflicts.
As Scouts, you have been given the tools to resolve conflict and problem solve more than you ever know. There is always the chance to grow. A chance to find a resolution. A chance to discover your true identity. The award of Eagle is a remind of these truths. The Eagle project requires you to have a mentor and to involve other scouts in the project. This is not by accident but a reminder that you need others to help you through life.
THE RIGHT TRAIL
While the first night of our hiking trip was challenging, the next two days were magnificent. The second night we slept on flat ground at the top of the mountain. It was glorious and well worth the hike. Ironically, the final day of the trip was the easiest part of the trail. It was wide, mostly downhill and enjoyable. As we reached the bottom, we realized that we had started on the wrong section of the trail. If we had started on the right section of the trail we would have had an easy beginning and a much more pleasant hiking trip.
Our biggest downfall. The lack of a trained guide. How often in life do we not only take the path less taken but the path with greater difficulty? We are invited to trust in God and allow Jesus to be our ultimate guide. In John 14 Jesus reminds us, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes through me except the father.” Instead of wandering aimlessly and getting lost, we invite Christ, the guide, into our lives and hearts.
So as we conclude this morning, I would invite you to invite Jesus to be your guide. And find a church home, surround yourself with wise people who know the way of Jesus and can help guide your own journey of faith. It is okay to be hesitant to step into the waters of faith, to cross the river and face the challenges that lie ahead. When you cry out for help in your time of need, God will not leave you or forsake you. Surrounding you are people who will help you, guide you and support you. Those people can only help you so much. Your ultimate help starts when you chose to follow Jesus Christ. He is our leader. He is our guide. He is the way.
Let’s pray.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Living as a Prophet
“Living as a Prophet”
Brimfield Faith UMC / February 12, 2012
2 Kings 2:9-15
LEGACIES
My paternal grandmother passed away at the age of 87 on Wednesday this week. She was one of those people in my life. I don’t recall many spiritual conversations with her throughout my life. But she was one of those people who exuded the joy of the Lord and prayed. She was a devote Methodist and I have a feeling my calling to ministry and the United Methodist Church. A few years back, she gave me this small little book from my Great-Great-Great Grandpa Lewis. It is The Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church from 1847. I didn’t know if for a longtime but Methodism is in my blood. Her body had been failing her for the last couple of years.
She got to meet her only living great-grandson, Caleb this past October. It was a joyous occasion for everyone and one that I will cherish. While her death came as no surprise, her absence on this earth will still be felt. I imagine her rejoicing in heaven with the saints of God. [I also picture her meeting her other great-grandson Jude.] I know that she is [they are] looking down and praying for me, my family and my ministry. I find comfort in that as a true blessing from God.
Everyone has a person in their lives that were formational to their development and to their faith. Whether it was a grandparent, parent, pastor, or someone else, they were integral in us arriving in our current place of faith. We primarily receive blessings from the Lord through people in our lives.
ELISHA
In 2 Kings, we see the model of mentor and disciple. Elijah has been a great prophet who repeatedly stood against the corrupt rulers of his day. He faces off with the prophets of Baal and runs from Jezebel for his life. He does incredible miracles. He predicts droughts and calls the rain forth. He raises a boy from the dead. Elijah is the first prophet to perform such amazing miracles since the time of Moses. Instead of focusing directly on the life of Elijah I want to talk about the passing of the prophetic mantle from Elijah to his disciple Elisha. In 1 Kings 19:19, Elijah upon the prompting of the Lord threw his mantle (his special coat) over the shoulders of Elisha. Immediately, Elisha leaves his work in the field and follows Elijah as his disciple. A close relationship develops and sets up Elisha to receive the blessings and anointing of God.
In 2 Kings 2, we get to see the passing of the mantle and the anointing of a great prophet. As Elijah prepares to be taken up to heaven, he asks Elijah, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” Both of them know the difficulty of this request but they proceed forward with a plan to have the double share passed on to Elisha. As the two are walking, Elisha is the only one to witness the chariot of fire whisk Elijah into heaven. This is the sign that Elisha has received the double portion. He proceeds to go and do even greater miracles than Elijah did.
BLESSINGS
To receive any blessing you need to ask. Elijah first asks what Elisha wants and then Elisha states exactly for what he wants. This reflects words of Jesus in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” Very little is ever received without asking or positioning yourselves to receive a blessing. I believe in taking the initiative and asking boldly are biblical principles that leads to blessings.
Over the past year, I have learned to take people up on their offers to help. I don’t pretend to be self-sufficient in the ways I used to be. If you are looking to obtain blessings begin by asking and then position yourself to receive the blessing. Elisha provides a model for what blessings from God to ask for. Therefore, I want to suggest three specific things to ask for that will position you to receive blessings from the Lord.
#1. Ask for the blessing of the Presence of God.
We cannot live into the blessings and favor of God unless we are intimately acquainted with the Presence of God, the Holy Spirit. Elisha knew this to be true. When Elijah throws his mantle on Elisha, Elisha first asks if he can go and give his parents a kiss goodbye. Elijah is kind of miffed by the suggestion. Instead, Elisha takes the yoke of wood, creates a fire, slaughters the oxen he is using to plow the field and offers them as a burnt offering to the Lord. Elisha realizes he has an opportunity to be around the greatest prophet in hundreds of years and he doesn’t want to miss the opportunity. Can you imagine his parents reaction when they find a pile of ashes, the plow and oxen are missing and their son gone? It must have been devastating but Elisha understood the blessings that he was about to receive.
Every blessing begins with a relationship with the Lord. If we want heavenly blessings, position yourself around people that are familiar with the presence of God. The people we spend time with have a great influence on us than we might ever realize. So if you are asking for a mentor, find someone who lives a godly life and lives a life that you desire to emulate. I try to associate myself around these types of people. I have intentional sought out pastors that I respect, that have been effective in their ministries and that live holy lives. This is the type of person that I want to be. Find these people in your own life, stick close by them, and learn from them.
The priestly blessing from Moses captures the importance of the presence of God. “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).
#2. Ask for the blessing of the Power of God.
The blessing power of God is spiritual power. Elijah was the most powerful prophet and was able to amazing miracles because he was in touch with the power of God. Elisha recognizes that spiritual power is key to living in the blessings of God. In order to receive Elijah’s power he needed to have a relationship with Elijah. He wasn’t just a fan of Elijah, or he could not have received the double share that he asked for. In fact, there are other people around when Elijah is swept up by the chariot and they insist upon search the woods for Elijah. Elisha’s relationship allows him to receive the power God.
Spiritual power does not exist for the lone ranger. Elijah had a support system around him in Elisha and others. The same could be said for Elisha. Spiritual power is realized in the context of godly relationships. Godly relationships strengthen you for the journey and difficulties of life. We learn from Scripture that d “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven… if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:18-20). To receive and keep the blessings of God we need both the power and protection of God. That comes through the filling the Holy Spirit and through the support of others other Spirit-filled people around us.
#3. Ask for the blessing of the Provision of God.
After the mantle has been passed to Elisha, his first miracle is one of provision. In 2 Kings 4, he multiplies the oil of a widow and her son in order to provide for their material needs. Blessings often come in the form of material wealth and provision. It is okay to pray for blessings both material and spiritual. Sometimes we shy away from praying for the material because we feel selfish or worldly. While there are certainly limits, I believe that God wants to bless us financially. With financial blessing, we can learn generosity, experience love and live out of abundance.
The provision of God also comes in the form of spiritual wisdom. When Solomon becomes the King of Israel, the Lord gives him one request, one blessing. Solomon asks for wisdom. God says he has chosen well. And the kingdom of Israel prospers because of his decision.
Spiritual wisdom unlocks the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven and the Kingdom of God. George Washington Carver, born a slave in 1864, followed the model of Solomon. He believed that science could unlock the secrets of the universe. He considered his laboratory “God’s little workshop.” First he asked God to reveal to him the secrets of the universe. God replied that those were too great, but he said that he would unlock the secrets of the peanut. Carver learned the secrets of the peanuts and discovered over 300 uses of the peanut. God longs to pour our material and spiritual provision to those who are bold enough to ask.
BLESS YOURSELF & GIVE THEM AWAY
As I touched on at the beginning, mentors and mature Christians are positioned well to pass on the blessings of God because they are living in those blessings. If we are positioned properly we can receive a double share from the Lord through those close to us. Mature Christians should be to make it possible for others to stand on the shoulders of those who will follow them. The goal of a mentor is to train the disciple to exceed their success.
Once you have begun to discover and receive the blessings of God, it is time to give them away. In order to give them away, you must know who to speak them over yourself. Once you have mastered that, you are positioned to mentor others and impart to them the blessings of God. Ultimately, God wants us to be like both Elisha and Elijah. We should strive to stand on the shoulders of our mentors and then create the opportunity for others to stand on our shoulders. That is the goal of receiving and giving the blessings of God.
To conclude, there are words and Scriptures of blessing on the backside of your sermon outline. I want you take a few minutes and write a blessing over yourself. Speak to the presence, the power, the protection and the provision of God. Speak to the vision you have of your life. Speak the words of the Lord. Then when you get home, take time this week to write a blessing for someone else. Send it in a card, an email, a Facebook post, or simply speak it. The blessings of the Lord unlock our destiny and our potential. It’s time to open the door.
Brimfield Faith UMC / February 12, 2012
2 Kings 2:9-15
LEGACIES
My paternal grandmother passed away at the age of 87 on Wednesday this week. She was one of those people in my life. I don’t recall many spiritual conversations with her throughout my life. But she was one of those people who exuded the joy of the Lord and prayed. She was a devote Methodist and I have a feeling my calling to ministry and the United Methodist Church. A few years back, she gave me this small little book from my Great-Great-Great Grandpa Lewis. It is The Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church from 1847. I didn’t know if for a longtime but Methodism is in my blood. Her body had been failing her for the last couple of years.
She got to meet her only living great-grandson, Caleb this past October. It was a joyous occasion for everyone and one that I will cherish. While her death came as no surprise, her absence on this earth will still be felt. I imagine her rejoicing in heaven with the saints of God. [I also picture her meeting her other great-grandson Jude.] I know that she is [they are] looking down and praying for me, my family and my ministry. I find comfort in that as a true blessing from God.
Everyone has a person in their lives that were formational to their development and to their faith. Whether it was a grandparent, parent, pastor, or someone else, they were integral in us arriving in our current place of faith. We primarily receive blessings from the Lord through people in our lives.
ELISHA
In 2 Kings, we see the model of mentor and disciple. Elijah has been a great prophet who repeatedly stood against the corrupt rulers of his day. He faces off with the prophets of Baal and runs from Jezebel for his life. He does incredible miracles. He predicts droughts and calls the rain forth. He raises a boy from the dead. Elijah is the first prophet to perform such amazing miracles since the time of Moses. Instead of focusing directly on the life of Elijah I want to talk about the passing of the prophetic mantle from Elijah to his disciple Elisha. In 1 Kings 19:19, Elijah upon the prompting of the Lord threw his mantle (his special coat) over the shoulders of Elisha. Immediately, Elisha leaves his work in the field and follows Elijah as his disciple. A close relationship develops and sets up Elisha to receive the blessings and anointing of God.
In 2 Kings 2, we get to see the passing of the mantle and the anointing of a great prophet. As Elijah prepares to be taken up to heaven, he asks Elijah, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” Both of them know the difficulty of this request but they proceed forward with a plan to have the double share passed on to Elisha. As the two are walking, Elisha is the only one to witness the chariot of fire whisk Elijah into heaven. This is the sign that Elisha has received the double portion. He proceeds to go and do even greater miracles than Elijah did.
BLESSINGS
To receive any blessing you need to ask. Elijah first asks what Elisha wants and then Elisha states exactly for what he wants. This reflects words of Jesus in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” Very little is ever received without asking or positioning yourselves to receive a blessing. I believe in taking the initiative and asking boldly are biblical principles that leads to blessings.
Over the past year, I have learned to take people up on their offers to help. I don’t pretend to be self-sufficient in the ways I used to be. If you are looking to obtain blessings begin by asking and then position yourself to receive the blessing. Elisha provides a model for what blessings from God to ask for. Therefore, I want to suggest three specific things to ask for that will position you to receive blessings from the Lord.
#1. Ask for the blessing of the Presence of God.
We cannot live into the blessings and favor of God unless we are intimately acquainted with the Presence of God, the Holy Spirit. Elisha knew this to be true. When Elijah throws his mantle on Elisha, Elisha first asks if he can go and give his parents a kiss goodbye. Elijah is kind of miffed by the suggestion. Instead, Elisha takes the yoke of wood, creates a fire, slaughters the oxen he is using to plow the field and offers them as a burnt offering to the Lord. Elisha realizes he has an opportunity to be around the greatest prophet in hundreds of years and he doesn’t want to miss the opportunity. Can you imagine his parents reaction when they find a pile of ashes, the plow and oxen are missing and their son gone? It must have been devastating but Elisha understood the blessings that he was about to receive.
Every blessing begins with a relationship with the Lord. If we want heavenly blessings, position yourself around people that are familiar with the presence of God. The people we spend time with have a great influence on us than we might ever realize. So if you are asking for a mentor, find someone who lives a godly life and lives a life that you desire to emulate. I try to associate myself around these types of people. I have intentional sought out pastors that I respect, that have been effective in their ministries and that live holy lives. This is the type of person that I want to be. Find these people in your own life, stick close by them, and learn from them.
The priestly blessing from Moses captures the importance of the presence of God. “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).
#2. Ask for the blessing of the Power of God.
The blessing power of God is spiritual power. Elijah was the most powerful prophet and was able to amazing miracles because he was in touch with the power of God. Elisha recognizes that spiritual power is key to living in the blessings of God. In order to receive Elijah’s power he needed to have a relationship with Elijah. He wasn’t just a fan of Elijah, or he could not have received the double share that he asked for. In fact, there are other people around when Elijah is swept up by the chariot and they insist upon search the woods for Elijah. Elisha’s relationship allows him to receive the power God.
Spiritual power does not exist for the lone ranger. Elijah had a support system around him in Elisha and others. The same could be said for Elisha. Spiritual power is realized in the context of godly relationships. Godly relationships strengthen you for the journey and difficulties of life. We learn from Scripture that d “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven… if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:18-20). To receive and keep the blessings of God we need both the power and protection of God. That comes through the filling the Holy Spirit and through the support of others other Spirit-filled people around us.
#3. Ask for the blessing of the Provision of God.
After the mantle has been passed to Elisha, his first miracle is one of provision. In 2 Kings 4, he multiplies the oil of a widow and her son in order to provide for their material needs. Blessings often come in the form of material wealth and provision. It is okay to pray for blessings both material and spiritual. Sometimes we shy away from praying for the material because we feel selfish or worldly. While there are certainly limits, I believe that God wants to bless us financially. With financial blessing, we can learn generosity, experience love and live out of abundance.
The provision of God also comes in the form of spiritual wisdom. When Solomon becomes the King of Israel, the Lord gives him one request, one blessing. Solomon asks for wisdom. God says he has chosen well. And the kingdom of Israel prospers because of his decision.
Spiritual wisdom unlocks the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven and the Kingdom of God. George Washington Carver, born a slave in 1864, followed the model of Solomon. He believed that science could unlock the secrets of the universe. He considered his laboratory “God’s little workshop.” First he asked God to reveal to him the secrets of the universe. God replied that those were too great, but he said that he would unlock the secrets of the peanut. Carver learned the secrets of the peanuts and discovered over 300 uses of the peanut. God longs to pour our material and spiritual provision to those who are bold enough to ask.
BLESS YOURSELF & GIVE THEM AWAY
As I touched on at the beginning, mentors and mature Christians are positioned well to pass on the blessings of God because they are living in those blessings. If we are positioned properly we can receive a double share from the Lord through those close to us. Mature Christians should be to make it possible for others to stand on the shoulders of those who will follow them. The goal of a mentor is to train the disciple to exceed their success.
Once you have begun to discover and receive the blessings of God, it is time to give them away. In order to give them away, you must know who to speak them over yourself. Once you have mastered that, you are positioned to mentor others and impart to them the blessings of God. Ultimately, God wants us to be like both Elisha and Elijah. We should strive to stand on the shoulders of our mentors and then create the opportunity for others to stand on our shoulders. That is the goal of receiving and giving the blessings of God.
To conclude, there are words and Scriptures of blessing on the backside of your sermon outline. I want you take a few minutes and write a blessing over yourself. Speak to the presence, the power, the protection and the provision of God. Speak to the vision you have of your life. Speak the words of the Lord. Then when you get home, take time this week to write a blessing for someone else. Send it in a card, an email, a Facebook post, or simply speak it. The blessings of the Lord unlock our destiny and our potential. It’s time to open the door.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Prophetic Words of Life
“Prophetic Words of Life”
Brimfield Faith UMC / February 5, 2012
Ezekiel 37:1-14
MLK
February is Black History Month or African-American History Month. It is a month in which we acknowledge and promote the history of African Americans through history. I think it continues to be important that we remember the important roles of African-Americans throughout our history. As recent as the 1960’s, there were laws enforcing segregation and racism. Slavery and racism is one of the greatest sins of the United States of America. It is one that we must continually strive to move past and overcome. Galatians 3:28, Paul reminds us, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
In modern history, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has been one of the greatest figures in the civil rights movement. Dr. King energized a people and a movement with his speeches and leadership. He paved the way for a world where equal means equal. Where you can sit anywhere you want. Where you can eat any where you want, walk anywhere you want. He paved the way for an African American man to be President of the United States. He undermined the status quo and helped us to shape a new radical alternative. Dr. King brought this country closer to reflecting heaven on earth. He did this not just as a man, but as a prophet from the Lord.
Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech is one of the most powerful in American history. It enabled people to picture a future that previously seemed unattainable. It energized. It amazed. It mobilized. It inspired. It moved. This is what prophets do.
EZEKIEL
This is what the Prophet Ezekiel does in the Old Testament. In Ezekiel, we find the nation of Israel in a desperate place. Jerusalem, the city of God, has been destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. They have been exiled and have been completely demoralized. They are not simply a nation that has been demoralized or unfaithful to the Lord. They have been stripped of an identity. They have been crushed. They are dead. Ezekiel was a prophet when Israel had been destroyed by the Babylonians. He spoke to them both before and after the destruction and exile. His role was to speak hope and life into this broken people. Not exactly an enviable role to play.
In Ezekiel 37, we experience how Ezekiel, empowered by the Lord, is able to inspire the nation of Israel. Ezekiel is swept away by the Spirit of the Lord and set in a valley full of dry bones. He proceeds to have an intense vision from the Lord. The Lord asks Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel responds, “O Lord God, you know.” With that response, the prophetic vision takes shape. It proceeds with Ezekiel prophesying to the bones. As he speaks, there is a rattling of the bones and they begin to come together. Then the sinews, the flesh and finally the skin. The valley is no longer dry bones but a valley full of bodies. The bodies are only lacking the breathe of God that brings life. Ezekiel prophesies to the newly formed bodies. The Spirit of God came for the four corners to bring this vast multitude to life.
Through this vision, the people of Israel have a visible and powerful image of how the Lord can restore them. They are the dry bones in the valley. They are lifeless and without hope. The word of Ezekiel demonstrates to the people there is indeed hope and life can be restored. And indeed he brought his word to fruition.
LIFE-GIVING WORDS
In this story, we experience the power of spoken word. Words spoken have the power to bring life or to bring death. Words, when peppered with the voice of Heaven, have the ability to restore faith, to restore hope, and to restore life. Ezekiel demonstrates the results from prophesying. Prophecy can be thought of as speaking life-giving words from the Lord. We can learn some important things about life-giving words and how to speak them from the Prophet. If we can activate these into our lives, we can bring hope and life to the world.
#1. Life-giving words evoke amazement
Ezekiel’s vision draws upon all of the senses. First, there is the spoken word. Then sounds overwhelm the ears as the bones rattle. Then the eyes are amazed by the flying of bones. The scene is compelling and fully engaging. When the story was told to people sitting around the campfire, no doubt there was an intensity, an excitement, a power in telling it. The vision shows them that they can again experience the fullness of life. The Lord uses this powerful and creative imagery to increase energy and evoke amazement in the people. Ezekiel’s vision would have been like watching a movie for the ancient Israelites. In the mind’s eye, the story begins to release creativity and imagination.
They are most effective when they are creative. The voice of heaven is most powerful when it overflows beyond the spoken word into other artistic mediums. The arts are a powerful way in which creative words bring amazement. Have you ever watched a movie and you got excited to do something as you watched it? Movies, songs, books, and other art forms have the ability to inspire and evoke the possibility of hope. They create an alternative reality, a picture of a better future. Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe is a powerful example of a prophetic book that changed a nation
The creativity of a life-giving word opens us up to world full of amazement. God wants our life-giving words to evoke amazement. Amazement awakes the senses. It transforms a dull and boring world into a world full of possibility. When the world has lost its wonderment, we lose energy, we lose hope. It is easy to give up when the world around us seems impossible. When a creativity word evokes amazement, it mobiles us. We find ourselves filled with an energy that we didn’t realize was there.
#2. Life-Giving words create energy.
Ezekiel’s prophesy brings dry bones together and reassembles dead bodies and then fills them with the breathe of God. They transform from a mass of bodies into a vast multitude of living, energized people. The vision shows the people of Israel that they will have the energy to be brought back together by the Lord. With the Holy Spirit, they will not grow faint or weary but will be strengthened and energized by the Lord to continue on.
We see that life-giving words bring energy to people. They are like 50 degree weather in February. This past week Caleb and Sienna were literally running laps around the house. There was pep in their step. There is something about beautiful, warm and sunny weather that energizes people. By the same token, gloomy, cold and icky weather can bring a person’s spirits down. Words can affect people in the same way. A negative word can bring people down, but a positive word
Hearing the voice of heaven brings energy to your spirit. We often have an internal voice that brings us down, that is critical, that is negative. I have always had sympathy for people who speak negatively and criticize others because I know if they speak those things outwardly the internal voice is even more negative. We need to release the negative voices and begin to listen to those positive, life-giving voices in our life. We need to accept compliments as compliments. We need to receive encouragements as encouragements. Don’t be the person who responds to the compliment, “You look nice today,” with “Oh, so I didn’t look good yesterday?” Don’t be that person!
The Lord wants to speak life into you and over you. He has a purpose and a plan for your life. You cannot and will not accomplish it if you are down, depressed and drained of energy. If you cannot and will not believe the voice of heaven, you will never be energized to do God’s work and to be made into His image. When you hear and speak words of life, can change your family, your workplace, your community and even beyond.
AN INVITATION
The prophet’s words of life must be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is the power of the Holy Spirit to releases creativity. It is the power of the Holy Spirit the evokes amazement. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that creates energy. The Holy Spirit is released when we speak words of life into our environment. They enable lives to be rebuilt and pulled back together.
We are left with a choice, an invitation from the Lord. Ezekiel vision begins with a question from the Lord. The question is an invitation to partner with the Lord. Ezekiel makes the choice to accept the invitation and brings hope to Israel. Likewise, Dr. King accepted the Lord’s invitation and mobilized a nation to work towards equality. God invites each of us to partner in his work.
You have a choice as to whether we will partner with God. You have a choice to step out in faith and speak life-giving words to ourselves, our neighbors, and our community. You can choose whether we will receive the Holy Spirit. You can choose whether we will listen to the voice of heaven. You can choose whether we will be amazed and energized. You have a choice.
Let’s pray.
Brimfield Faith UMC / February 5, 2012
Ezekiel 37:1-14
MLK
February is Black History Month or African-American History Month. It is a month in which we acknowledge and promote the history of African Americans through history. I think it continues to be important that we remember the important roles of African-Americans throughout our history. As recent as the 1960’s, there were laws enforcing segregation and racism. Slavery and racism is one of the greatest sins of the United States of America. It is one that we must continually strive to move past and overcome. Galatians 3:28, Paul reminds us, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
In modern history, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has been one of the greatest figures in the civil rights movement. Dr. King energized a people and a movement with his speeches and leadership. He paved the way for a world where equal means equal. Where you can sit anywhere you want. Where you can eat any where you want, walk anywhere you want. He paved the way for an African American man to be President of the United States. He undermined the status quo and helped us to shape a new radical alternative. Dr. King brought this country closer to reflecting heaven on earth. He did this not just as a man, but as a prophet from the Lord.
Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech is one of the most powerful in American history. It enabled people to picture a future that previously seemed unattainable. It energized. It amazed. It mobilized. It inspired. It moved. This is what prophets do.
EZEKIEL
This is what the Prophet Ezekiel does in the Old Testament. In Ezekiel, we find the nation of Israel in a desperate place. Jerusalem, the city of God, has been destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. They have been exiled and have been completely demoralized. They are not simply a nation that has been demoralized or unfaithful to the Lord. They have been stripped of an identity. They have been crushed. They are dead. Ezekiel was a prophet when Israel had been destroyed by the Babylonians. He spoke to them both before and after the destruction and exile. His role was to speak hope and life into this broken people. Not exactly an enviable role to play.
In Ezekiel 37, we experience how Ezekiel, empowered by the Lord, is able to inspire the nation of Israel. Ezekiel is swept away by the Spirit of the Lord and set in a valley full of dry bones. He proceeds to have an intense vision from the Lord. The Lord asks Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel responds, “O Lord God, you know.” With that response, the prophetic vision takes shape. It proceeds with Ezekiel prophesying to the bones. As he speaks, there is a rattling of the bones and they begin to come together. Then the sinews, the flesh and finally the skin. The valley is no longer dry bones but a valley full of bodies. The bodies are only lacking the breathe of God that brings life. Ezekiel prophesies to the newly formed bodies. The Spirit of God came for the four corners to bring this vast multitude to life.
Through this vision, the people of Israel have a visible and powerful image of how the Lord can restore them. They are the dry bones in the valley. They are lifeless and without hope. The word of Ezekiel demonstrates to the people there is indeed hope and life can be restored. And indeed he brought his word to fruition.
LIFE-GIVING WORDS
In this story, we experience the power of spoken word. Words spoken have the power to bring life or to bring death. Words, when peppered with the voice of Heaven, have the ability to restore faith, to restore hope, and to restore life. Ezekiel demonstrates the results from prophesying. Prophecy can be thought of as speaking life-giving words from the Lord. We can learn some important things about life-giving words and how to speak them from the Prophet. If we can activate these into our lives, we can bring hope and life to the world.
#1. Life-giving words evoke amazement
Ezekiel’s vision draws upon all of the senses. First, there is the spoken word. Then sounds overwhelm the ears as the bones rattle. Then the eyes are amazed by the flying of bones. The scene is compelling and fully engaging. When the story was told to people sitting around the campfire, no doubt there was an intensity, an excitement, a power in telling it. The vision shows them that they can again experience the fullness of life. The Lord uses this powerful and creative imagery to increase energy and evoke amazement in the people. Ezekiel’s vision would have been like watching a movie for the ancient Israelites. In the mind’s eye, the story begins to release creativity and imagination.
They are most effective when they are creative. The voice of heaven is most powerful when it overflows beyond the spoken word into other artistic mediums. The arts are a powerful way in which creative words bring amazement. Have you ever watched a movie and you got excited to do something as you watched it? Movies, songs, books, and other art forms have the ability to inspire and evoke the possibility of hope. They create an alternative reality, a picture of a better future. Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe is a powerful example of a prophetic book that changed a nation
The creativity of a life-giving word opens us up to world full of amazement. God wants our life-giving words to evoke amazement. Amazement awakes the senses. It transforms a dull and boring world into a world full of possibility. When the world has lost its wonderment, we lose energy, we lose hope. It is easy to give up when the world around us seems impossible. When a creativity word evokes amazement, it mobiles us. We find ourselves filled with an energy that we didn’t realize was there.
#2. Life-Giving words create energy.
Ezekiel’s prophesy brings dry bones together and reassembles dead bodies and then fills them with the breathe of God. They transform from a mass of bodies into a vast multitude of living, energized people. The vision shows the people of Israel that they will have the energy to be brought back together by the Lord. With the Holy Spirit, they will not grow faint or weary but will be strengthened and energized by the Lord to continue on.
We see that life-giving words bring energy to people. They are like 50 degree weather in February. This past week Caleb and Sienna were literally running laps around the house. There was pep in their step. There is something about beautiful, warm and sunny weather that energizes people. By the same token, gloomy, cold and icky weather can bring a person’s spirits down. Words can affect people in the same way. A negative word can bring people down, but a positive word
Hearing the voice of heaven brings energy to your spirit. We often have an internal voice that brings us down, that is critical, that is negative. I have always had sympathy for people who speak negatively and criticize others because I know if they speak those things outwardly the internal voice is even more negative. We need to release the negative voices and begin to listen to those positive, life-giving voices in our life. We need to accept compliments as compliments. We need to receive encouragements as encouragements. Don’t be the person who responds to the compliment, “You look nice today,” with “Oh, so I didn’t look good yesterday?” Don’t be that person!
The Lord wants to speak life into you and over you. He has a purpose and a plan for your life. You cannot and will not accomplish it if you are down, depressed and drained of energy. If you cannot and will not believe the voice of heaven, you will never be energized to do God’s work and to be made into His image. When you hear and speak words of life, can change your family, your workplace, your community and even beyond.
AN INVITATION
The prophet’s words of life must be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is the power of the Holy Spirit to releases creativity. It is the power of the Holy Spirit the evokes amazement. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that creates energy. The Holy Spirit is released when we speak words of life into our environment. They enable lives to be rebuilt and pulled back together.
We are left with a choice, an invitation from the Lord. Ezekiel vision begins with a question from the Lord. The question is an invitation to partner with the Lord. Ezekiel makes the choice to accept the invitation and brings hope to Israel. Likewise, Dr. King accepted the Lord’s invitation and mobilized a nation to work towards equality. God invites each of us to partner in his work.
You have a choice as to whether we will partner with God. You have a choice to step out in faith and speak life-giving words to ourselves, our neighbors, and our community. You can choose whether we will receive the Holy Spirit. You can choose whether we will listen to the voice of heaven. You can choose whether we will be amazed and energized. You have a choice.
Let’s pray.
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