Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Live Like Easter People, People of Hope

Pastor Sherry’s message for April 19, 2020

Scripture lessons: 4/19/2020, Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16, 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20: 19-31

This week, in an on-line message meant to encourage us, our Methodist Bishop Ken Carter, quoted one of his early mentors, a fellow named Ken Callahan: “We are the people of the empty tomb, the risen Lord, the new life in Christ. We are the Easter people. We are the people of hope.” What does that mean to you and to me? To think of ourselves as “Easter People” and “People of hope?” On this first Sunday after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, these questions deserve our consideration. And, as usual, the Scripture passages appointed for today provide useful direction. Let’s check them out together.

         You may have noticed that after Easter Sunday, the usual Old Testament reading is often replaced by a lesson from the Acts of the Apostles.  This is because the book of Acts records the actions of the first Christian Church leaders.  Shortly after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven, the new faith became known as “The Way.”  The initial progress of “The Way”—its first 30 years–is recounted for us in Acts.  Acts 2: 14a, 22-32 records a portion of Peter‘s first sermon.  He is speaking to believing Jews only, Jews who have come from all over the Mediterranean world to Jerusalem, to celebrate Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus has left terra firma.  The Holy Spirit has suddenly come upon 120 Christ-followers and has empowered them for ministry.  At the Temple, they break forth into a jubilant and noisy celebration, speaking in many previously (to them) unknown languages, and those who hear them believe they may be drunk from carousing.  After all, it is only 9:00 in the morning!  But Peter launches into a Holy Spirit-inspired speech, boldly proclaiming Jesus’ identity as God’s Son, as demonstrated by His resurrection from the dead (vv.22-24): Men of Israel, listen to this:  Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.  This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.  But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.  Peter is explaining to the crowd exactly what had happened to Jesus. 

         He goes on to recite a portion of Psalm 16 (8-11), a Song of the Resurrection.  Again, inspired by the Holy Spirit, Peter interprets this psalm of David as pertaining to Jesus Christ.  We don’t know if King David even realized at the time he composed it that he was foretelling the resurrection of Jesus; but—from this side of the Cross—we can comprehend that the lines he penned refer not to himself, but to our Lord: (8) I have set the LORD [God, the Father] always before Me.  Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  (9) Therefore My heart is glad and My tongue rejoices; My body will also rest secure, (10) because You [Father] will not abandon Me [Jesus]  to the grave, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. (11) You have made known to Me the path of life; You will fill Me with joy in Your presence, and with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.  Clearly King David is not referring to himself, as his bones were buried on Mt. Zion years before and had not made a reappearance since.  Instead, Peter is referring to King David’s descendant, Jesus.  In other words, Peter is saying verse 8 describes Jesus’ earthly life; verses 9-10, His death and resurrection, and verse 11, His ascension.  Later on in (Acts 13:34-37), Paul quotes these same verses from Psalm 16, attesting to the fact that King David died and decayed in his grave, while Jesus was raised whole, neither deteriorated nor decomposed.

So, our first two lessons today reiterate the facts of the resurrection, both prophesied and fulfilled. Perhaps, then, our 1st lesson in what it is to be an Easter people, a People of Hope, is to tell others about Jesus’s death and resurrection (I recommend you first check with the Holy Spirit to determine if He is prompting you, as He best knows who out there is ready to listen and receive). The 2nd lesson, I believe could be derived from Peter’s life and example. When he walked with Jesus, Peter had been brash, impetuous, boastful, larger than life—all traits of someone who could have become a bully. Instead, having been chastened by Christ and realizing how he had failed his Lord, Peter assumes the mantle of leadership in “The Way” as a self-effacing, humble, obedient, but also confident servant of Jesus Christ. In the portion of his letter that we read today, 1 Peter 1:3-9, he celebrates our inheritance through Jesus and encourages us to hold up under our earthly sufferings [from Peterson’s modern paraphrase, “The Message”]:

What a God we have!  And how fortunate we are to have Him, the Father of our Master Jesus!  Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!  God is keeping a careful watch over us and the future.  The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.

I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime.  Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine.  When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold,  that God will have on display as evidence of His victory.

You never saw Him, yet you love Him.  You still don’t see Him, yet you trust Him—with laughter and singing.  Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation.

 Easter People, People of Hope, do trust in God’s love for us and we love Him in return.  We are people of faith who rely upon God’s care for us.  We don’t have to fear the Wuhan Corona Virus, economic collapse, or the isolation our “sheltering at home” and “social distancing” have created for us.  These things are transitory sufferings, or “every kind of aggravation.”  These earthly threats and annoyances do not carry the value that eternal truths do.  If we are to live as Easter People, People of Hope, we put our trust in God and in Jesus, not in newscasters or politicians or world events.  This is not to say we remain ignorant.  We want to stay informed, but we also want to be confident—like Peter—and calm.  As Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:7, For God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, of love, and of self-discipline.

Finally, our Gospel from John 20:19-31 provides us the example of Thomas. This is the Apostle Thomas who would not believe Jesus had been resurrected on the strength of the unanimous reports of his ten closest buddies.  He insisted he had to see for himself before he would believe that Jesus was alive.  So a week later, Jesus appears to all of them, Thomas included, and invites the skeptic to see for himself.  Notice, Jesus doesn’t condemn him for his doubts. Jesus patiently granted permission to Thomas to put his fingers in the scars on His hands and in His side, to see the nail holes in His feet.  The Bible doesn’t record whether or not Thomas actually felt Christ’s wounds.  Thomas seems to have gotten it as soon as he saw the risen Jesus.  That makes total sense to me.  What is even more amazing–and reassuring–to me, however, is that Jesus doesn’t expect Thomas, or us, to park our intellect at the church door.  Instead, He demonstrates in this encounter with Thomas that He is prepared to meet us where we are.  And, if our hearts are willing, and our spiritual eyes are open, He will reveal to us that He is alive and victorious!

Easter People, People of Hope in the Risen Christ, believe Jesus Christ is alive—even if we have not seen Him with our physical eyes.  We can experience Him through the pages of Scripture.  We can and do come to hear from Him in our prayer life.  We see evidence of His love and care for us in everything from locating a convenient parking place in a downpour, to realizing He has answered our specific prayer, to acknowledging He has shaped circumstances to protect us, to correct us, or to bless us.  Easter People, People of Hope, see Christ at work in events and happenings around us.  Recent research in Neuroscience tells us that our brain’s natural default process is to think negatively about most things.  As a result, and if we want to be happy or content, we must intentionally practice thinking positively to overcome this natural, but unhealthy, tendency. 

This week, let us try to focus on seeing God’s hand at work around us.  Let’s look for evidence of His action in our lives with our “spiritual eyes”—eyes informed by His Holy Spirit rather than our own rods, cone, retinas, and optic nerves.  Let us not allow the news or world events to drive us into fear or panic.  Instead, let us place our faith in the God who loves us and who is alive and on the throne.  Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

*Addendum: Friends of mine (Dr. Sarah and Rev. Jon Hall) have just written and perform a song touching on today’s readings. If you like, you can go to the following YouTube link to listen to “If There Ever was Hope.” The singer and commentator, Sarah, attended seminary with me. She has a Ph.D. in Old Testament and met her husband, Jon, a Brit, while completing her studies in England. Jon is one of the two founding pastors of Incarnation Anglican Church near the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee, Florida. He is the one accompanying his wife on piano. May this wonderful music (and art) bless you!

©2020 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Alleluia, the Lord is risen!

Pastor Sherry’s Easter Message

Scriptures: Acts 10:34-43; Ps 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10

         There is an old story that given our increasingly post-Christian culture–in which so many do not even know about Jesus—seems remarkably timely and all too accurate for some:  A man was walking down a street when he noticed in a store window a beautiful painting of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  He stood there gazing at the picture for the longest time, and then realized that a little boy was standing beside him.  He patted the child on the head and said, “Son, what does that mean?”  The little boy said, “Doncha know?  That there man is Jesus, an’ the woman that’s crying is His mother, an’ them others is Roman soldiers.  They killed Him.”  The man nodded, smiled, and then started walking away.  In a few moments he heard someone running, turned and saw that it was the little boy.  He dashed right up to the man, out of breath, and said, “Mister, Mister, I forgot to tell you that He didn’t stay dead.”  Or, as a 3 year old once told me, “Jesus busted off the Cross!” 

That is the great good news of Easter, isn’t it?  Today we celebrate that wonderful, that astonishing, and unique fact of the Gospels, that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  In my Good Friday meditation, I wrote that Jesus is the only leader of a major world religion who died to save His people.  All other world religions report the death of their leaders, but Jesus Christ came back to life and lives to this day!  Only Christianity attests to a resurrection!  Only Christianity confirms that Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God is Himself living…(Acts 7:55), …standing at the right hand of God [The Father, in Heaven].  As Paul testifies in 1 Corinthians 15:3-7àFor what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day [which we celebrate as Easter Sunday], and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.  After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers [not counting the sisters] at the same time…Then He appeared to James [His previously unbelieving, half-brother], then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me [Paul]….  Scholars tell us there is actually more evidence of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection than there is of the existence of Julius Caesar.  We can trust that our God lives!

Our Acts (10:34-43) lesson today reiterates this theme:  After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into Heaven, Peter—at the urging of the Holy Spirit–has journeyed to the home of the Roman Centurion Cornelius, a man who believed in the Jewish God but was eager to learn more about Jesus.  Peter delivers the Gospel message to Cornelius and his household, saying, We [Jesus’ disciples] are witnesses of everything He did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.  They [the Jewish religious leadership] killed Him by hanging Him on a tree, but God raised Him from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen.  He was not seen by all the people but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.  He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.  All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believed in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.  The same Peter who denied being a Christ-follower three times during one of Jesus’ trials, is now boldly and confidently telling a powerful and influential Gentile about Christ.  Jesus’ resurrection is no myth!  Please note that if you search through all of the book of Acts, you will find that every sermon recounted mentions the resurrection of Jesus.  You see, the resurrection is the very heart of the Gospel.  We worship a God so powerful that He can bring the physically dead—as well as the spiritually dead–back to life!  Wow!

Psalm 118 is a “Song of Salvation,” praising God for saving His people.  Written centuries before Jesus’ birth, death, and miraculous return to life, it refers to His resurrection in verses 17-18àI [Jesus] will not die but live, and I will proclaim what the Lord has done.  The Lord has chastened Me severely, but He has not given Me over to death.  The remainder of the psalm expresses the believer’s gratitude and praise to God for His goodness, His love, and His divine rescue.

The Gospel account of post-resurrection events reiterates the resurrection event from Matthew’s perspective (Jesus’ Kingship and His fulfillment of all Old Testament prophesy of the Messiah).  Prior to the women’s arrival, there has been (v.2) …a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow.  The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men [they fainted].  The resurrection had occurred earlier that morning.  The angel did not have to let Jesus out.  He had already miraculously left the tomb.  The angel simply demonstrated the empty tomb for the benefit of these first witnesses, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Joses.  The angel testifies to Jesus’ resurrection—(v.5)àDo not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here.  He has risen, just as He said—inviting them to see the now vacant tomb, and directing them to go tell the other disciples that Jesus has risen and that they are to meet Him in Galilee.  Come, see, go, meet.  It is a simple message, a directive from Christ Himself, delivered by a heavenly messenger.  And the women obediently do as the angel directs.

The women’s faith in the resurrection is based on the evidence of their eyes and ears.  They relay what they believe to Jesus’ disciples and a group of them do set out, in faith, to rendezvous with Him in Galilee.  This is, I believe, a message for us as well.  Our faith is developed by what we perceive—through sight, by reading the Bible, God’s word, and through hearing the testimony of others’ knowledge of and encounters with Christ.  Then we are to go and share our personal experiences with others, helping them to come to a saving faith in Jesus as well.  We meet Jesus in our Scripture readings and in prayer.  We see evidence of Him all around us, if we look with our spiritual eyes and listen with our spiritual ears.  He is alive and desires a persona relationship with each of us.

Finally, in our Colossians lesson (3:1-4), Paul exhorts us to Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  In other words, and in view of Jesus’ resurrection, we are to make Christ preeminent in our lives.  He is the Creator, so He truly is supreme over all of creation.  He is our Redeemer, eminently qualified to rescue us.  He gave Himself up to death to save us from the stranglehold of sin and death over us, so we owe Him not only our gratitude, but also our obedience.  You see, the most important thing in our lives right now is not the Wuhan Corona Virus, nor is it our being isolated or quarantined at home, nor is it the looming threat of economic collapse.  These are all earthly concerns.  Our God is sovereign over all earthly concerns, over all worldly events, over all history.  If we can believe that He could come back from the grave, we can trust that He’s got this!  We don’t have to worry.  Our God rules and reigns! 

Perhaps my favorite Easter hymn—especially if played on a big, booming pipe organ—is “He is Risen.”  Written in the 1880’s, the lyrics are a bit outdated, but even so they summarize the theology of the resurrection so beautifully:

He is risen, He is risen!  Tell it out with joyful voice:

He has burst His three day’s prison; let the whole wide earth rejoice;

Death is conquered, we are free,

Christ has won the victory!

Come, ye sad and fearful hearted, with glad smile and radiant brow!

Death’s long shadows have departed;

Jesus’ woes are over now,

And the passion that He bore-–sin and pain can vex no more.

Come with high and holy hymning, hail our Lord’s triumphant day;

Not one darksome cloud is diming yonder glorious morning ray,

Breaking o‘re the purple east,

 Symbol of our Easter feast.

He is risen, He is risen!  He hath opened heaven’s gate;

We are free from sin’s dark prison, risen to a holier state;

And a brighter Easter beam

On our longing eyes shall stream.

         As we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, and the reality of our divine rescue, let us resolve this week—and always—to love Jesus above everything and to reach out to other people in Christ-like love.  Easter blessings and the love of the Messiah to you all!

©2020 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Good Friday Meditation

Pastor Sherry’s Good Friday Meditation

Scriptures: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; John 18:1-40.

         This past weekend, I provided some psychological (as a licensed psychologist) and spiritual (as an ordained pastor) training at a nearby Christian, residential treatment center for those suffering from mental health issues or addictions.  In response to something I said, one young man wanted to know what makes me think Christianity is superior to any other of the great world religions.  The treatment center is avowedly Christian, so I was surprised that he appeared to believe that Jesus is just like any other religious figure, one among equals; I also realized he was less interested in discovering an answer and more committed to being provocative.  I thought a minute and replied, “It is the only world religion in which the God chose to die for His people.”  That answer seemed to have caused him to think.  I hope it also opened a way for him to draw closer to our Lord.

         On Good Friday, we commemorate the day our God died.  We say, “Christ died for us,” and that is true.  Over 2000 years ago, on a hill just outside the city of Jerusalem, Jesus Christ—God in the form of a man–died on a cross.  As Revelation 13:8 tells us, He was…the Lamb slain from the creation of the earth.  This was not a “Plan B,” devised by the Trinity when it became evident that people could not, on their own, sustain an intimate relationship with a holy God.  It had always been God’s plan that His Son would die as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all of us.  At the Cross of Christ, we see our God at His most loving and at His best.  We also see human beings at our worst. 

         Our Scripture passages appointed for today are all appropriately solemn.  The Apostle John’s “Passion Narrative”  (please read it now) takes us through Jesus’ arrest; His trials before the former high priest, Annas, the current high priest, Caiaphas, and the Roman overlord, Pontius Pilate; then finally to His actual crucifixion.  What is stunning in John’s account is how calm Jesus appears to be.  We know He had been so stressed earlier that, as He prayed, He sweated blood.  Now that His time had come, however, as a huge detail of men arrives to capture Him, He seems to be firmly in control.  Twice He tells them who He is, almost prompting them to proceed.  Though the lynch mob was armed, Jesus would not allow them to become violent toward His disciples.  He even chastised Peter for cutting off Malchus’ ear and heals the damage.  One would think this might alert them that Jesus is who He says He is, but they are so bent on destroying Him that they ignore that evidence.  Instead, they tie Him up and haul Him off to see Annas.

         Now Annas had displeased the Romans, so, though legally out of power, he nevertheless still operated as the chief religious broker of Jerusalem.  Biblical scholars say he was both brilliant and evil.  Many credit him with the final plan to eliminate Jesus.  He has his troops wait until the cover of night, when all those who loved Jesus would be home sleeping.  Annas interrogates Him and an official of some sort strikes Jesus for what he interprets as insubordination.  Jesus challenges them honestly (verse 23)àIf I said something wrong, testify as to what is wrong.  But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike Me?ImHim  The most just and honest person in the crowd calmly but firmly reminds them that they—and this kangaroo court–are out of line.  By Jewish law, no court trial could begin or be held at night.  Additionally, no one could legally strike a person on trial without a verdict.  Finally, Jewish Law prohibited sentencing a man on the day he was brought to trial.  Annas then sends Jesus to Caiaphas, the Roman’s choice for “high priest” and Annas’ son-in-law (an early example of nepotism).

         John reminds us in 11:50, that Caiaphas had previously said to the Sanhedrin—when they were plotting how to eradicate Jesus—You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.  The puppet high priest did not realize then that he had spoken prophetically.  Nevertheless, Jesus knew that by this point, He had totally recommitted to laying His life down for the sins of Israel and for us.  Caiaphas and Annas find Jesus guilty of blasphemy because He honestly admitted He is the Son of God.  They would have liked to have stoned Him, but the Romans forbade any other nation to invoke capital punishment but them.  So Jesus is next sent to Pilate.

         Pilate tries every which way to free Jesus:  He knows the Jewish religious establishment is just jealous of Him.  He has Jesus scourged (39 lashings with a whip), hoping this will satisfy their blood-lust.  He offers to set Him free, but hands Him over to be crucified when the Jews threaten to report to Caesar that Pilate has let a man go who claimed to be the king of the Jews.  And so, trading the sinless Son of God for a murderous insurrectionist, the Jewish leadership has their way and Jesus is crucified.  Ironically, the sign on His cross identifies Him as King of the Jews in three languages:  Hebrew, the language of religion; Greek, the language of culture and education; and Latin, the language of law and order.  The Jews want it reworded, but ironically Pilate will not bend. 

         Notice that John does not tell us much about the crucifixion.  The soldiers gamble over who will get His clothes, and John relates three statements Jesus makes as He is dying:  (1) He asks John to care for His Mother, Mary; (2) He says He is thirsty; and (3) He asserts, It is finished (meaning the work of salvation He was set to do is complete).  Lastly we learn that Jesus’ body was removed and buried just before the Sabbath began at sundown.

         All four Gospel writers were all rather circumspect about Jesus’ six hours on the Cross.  They each highlight His dignity, but they did not want us to focus on His agony.  J. Vernon McGee says the Father deliberately made darkness come over the land from noon until 3:00pm so that curious observers could not witness Jesus’ intense suffering.  He was of course suffering from extreme physical torment, but also because He had taken on all the sins of the world (spiritual torture)—past, present, and future—as well as experiencing, for the first time, being totally separated from His Father (emotional and cognitive anguish).

         To get a sense of what the crucifixion was like, we have to turn to the Isaiah (52:13-53:12) and Psalm (22) lessons.  The Isaiah lesson appointed for today (please read it now) is the 4th Suffering Servant Song.  It is a Messianic prophesy, written about 700 years before the events actually transpired, but fulfilled perfectly by Jesus.  It is a prediction of how Messiah would be treated prior to and during His execution.  Isaiah tells us that Jesus will be raised high, lifted up (on the Cross), but also highly exalted (when it is all over).  No one who viewed Him carrying His Cross would think this could ever be so.  He will, in fact, startle the whole world—render them speechless—because it will be through the loss of all things that He gains all things.

         To begin with, He looked ordinary, not model or movie star handsome. Isaiah foretold that He would be (v.3)à…despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering…. He was beaten beyond recognition; pierced, crushed, oppressed, afflicted; executed in the worst possible way, like a common criminal, hanged between two true felons; and he died childless, cut off—a condition the Jews would have regarded as evidence of a tragic, futile existence.  People will think He got what He deserved, but He didn’t: (vv.4-5)àSurely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.  Verse 9 tells us He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.  The Father will richly reward Him (v.11)àAfter the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life [resurrection], and be satisfied…Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong.   In other words, God intends to reward Him as though He were a king sharing in the spoils of a great military victory.  His rewards derive from having gone willingly to death and from having interceded with His body for our sins.

         Psalm 22 (please read it now) reveals to us Christ’s thoughts from the Cross.  He feels forsaken by His Father—even though the Father had been present with Him as He was arrested, subjected to His ludicrous trials, beaten, and nailed to the Cross.  But the Father turned His back on Him when He became sin for us, from noon until 3:00pm.  He admits to feeling like a worm.  This was a specific type of worm, called a “Coccus,” which emitted a substance used to make red dye—symbolic of Jesus’ blood poured out for us.  From the Cross, He feels surrounded by His enemies:  The soldiers are the many bulls…the strong bulls of Bashon; His tormentors from the foot of the Cross (Scribes, Pharisees, the hostile Jewish mob) resemble (v.13)àroaring lions tearing their prey; and (v.16)àdogs have surrounded Me; a band of evil men has encircled Me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.  Nevertheless, He trusts in the love of His Father.

         Biblical scholars tell us Jesus fulfilled 28 prophesies of the Messiah from the Cross.  We can recognize them from our Psalm and Isaiah readings.  The sinless Son of God laid down His life for us, paying the penalty for our sins, clothing us in His righteousness, and reconciling us to God the Father.  These sacred writings prove to us that Jesus—and only Jesus–was and is the Messiah, the Son of God. 

         Psalm 30:5 says, Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.  The only way to the joy of Easter is through the agony of Good Friday.  In God’s economy, suffering often appears to precede satisfaction, trial comes before triumph, clouds before sunshine, rain before flowers.  Today, let’s remember that salvation is free for humankind, but it cost God and Jesus everything!  Let us remember our Lord today with gratitude and abiding love!  Thanks be to God who gives us the victory—over sin and our death penalty–through our Lord, Jesus Christ!  AMEN!    

©2020 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Good Friday Call to Prayer

Pastor Sherry’s Message for April 10, 2020

The LORD tells us in 2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Based on these words, and given our present Covid-19 Crisis, we can safely assume we must (I) Humble ourselves, (II) Seek the Lord in prayer, (III) Confess our sins; (IV) Ask God’s forgiveness for our sins; and (V) Pray to Him to protect us and heal us from this terrible, deadly virus.  Apparently the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA), the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), and the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA)—an estimated 550,000 faithful persons–have all agreed to pray and fast on Good Friday with these intentions.

If you would be willing to enter into a holy fast—a fast for holy purposes—simply remember that it is a spiritual discipline that has us deny ourselves of some or all food and drink.  Please do what you can.  If you cannot skip a meal, try fasting social media or TV or the news.  Biblical fasting took place when a loved one died (2 Samuel 1:11-12), to prepare for special times of renewing one’s relationship with God (Numbers 29:7), to express sincere repentance for one’s sins and the sins of others (Ezra 10:6), and when the people of God desired to cry out for God’s special help in extraordinary circumstances—like the Covid-19 virus–(2 Chronicles 20:3) Throughout history, God’s people have sought His help in times of trouble through prayer and fasting.

If you would like to join in with these Christ-followers from other denominations in this time of prayer, please feel free to use the following prayers and/or add your own as you feel led:

(I-II) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his [her] own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).

Let us pray:  Almighty God, we beseech You graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and given into the hands of sinners and to suffer death upon the Cross; Who now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

(III-IV) Please take a few minutes to consider your sins.  Remember what the apostle John wrote in 1 John 1:8-10àIf we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives

You might make a list of your sins to convey to God at this time, using this modern wording of an ancient prayer: 

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker and judge of us all:  We acknowledge and lament our many sins and offenses, which we have committed by thought, word, and deed against Your divine majesty, provoking most justly your righteous anger against us.  We are deeply sorry for these our transgressions; the burden of them is more than we can bear.  Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; for your Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may evermore serve and please You in newness of life to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen!

Since we know our God forgives all confessed sin—and places them…as far as the east is from the west… (Psalm 103:12), we can accept this in faith.  In thanksgiving and gratitude, and as an act of submission to God’s will, let us also pray the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be Your Name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our sins as we forgiven those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil—especially from the COVID-19 virus. Amen.

(V) These following are only suggested topics for your prayers:  Again, pray as the Holy Spirit leads you:

(1) Pray that God, in His power and mercy, would end the Coronavirus Pandemic.

(2) Pray that all our government leaders will be protected from the virus and that they will have the patience, wisdom, civility, and compassion to deal with the many problems facing our country in this perilous time.

(3) Pray for the safety of all members of the medical community and pray that they will be able to care for the sick with wisdom, kindness, and stamina.

(4) Pray that the sick will be healed and restored and that the elderly, and others with preexisting vulnerabilities, will be protected.

(5) Pray that the medical community will have the medical supplies, drugs, testing kits, protective equipment, ventilators, hospital and ICU beds to take care of the sick.

(6) Pray for those who are grieving for lost friends and family.

(7) Pray for the poor and all those who have been hurt by the economic downturn: employees—especially those in the service industry–the self-employed, small business owners, big businesses, churches, and charities.

(8) Pray that all those who have lost jobs will be able to return to work soon.

(9) Pray to restore the economy.

(10) Pray that in these difficult times hurting people will not turn to drug abuse, alcohol abuse, other addictions, and/or domestic abuse.

(11) Pray for those confined by quarantine those who are sheltered in place, and those practicing social distancing that they might not despair in loneliness and isolation.

(12) Pray for our education system at every level that has broken down under the threat of this disease. Pray for the millions of children who are trying to keep up with their schooling at home. Pray for wisdom, understanding, and the self-discipline to actually pursue their studies.

(13) Pray for the health and protection of all those who work in jobs that still serve the public every day and have greater exposure to the virus.

(14) Pray for a vaccine to end this virus and that this plague might not return among us.

(15) Pray that n this time of great national distress our people will show patience, kindness, grace, and love to all, and not turn to panic, greed, hoarding, and mischief. Pray that those cast down will be raised up.

(16) Pray for single mothers, widows, orphans, aliens, and outcasts in their distress.

(17) Pray for the peace and safety of the Church universal around the world.

(18) Pray for people everywhere according to their needs and for all the special needs that you know about.

(19) Pray that our countrymen and women will realize the brevity and uncertainty of life and would turn to Christ in repentance and faith.

(20) Pray that the people of God will love what He commands and desire what He promises.

(21) Pray that God will be pleased with our prayers and answer themin His infinite grace and mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

©2020 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Palm Sunday, 2020

Pastor Sherry’s Message for April 5, 2020

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalms 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14—27:66

         Some of us are old enough to remember a book that came out in 1984 called Future Shock.  In it the author, Alvin Toffler, cited a dizzying array of changes that had already occurred in the world back then, and proclaimed—accurately so—that the rate of change in the 20th century was increasing exponentially.  He predicted that people would become overwhelmed by the rate of change and would have difficulty orienting ourselves, let alone feeling secure, in what amounts to a cultural whirlwind or earthquake.  As I tune into the daily news reports on the Covid-19 virus, I am reminded of Toffler’s premise.  One day the experts tell us one thing; the next day, given new information, the previous perception has changed and been replaced by something new.  We can expect that our understandings of this pandemic will continue to modify as doctors and scientists gather more data and refine their predictive models.  Meanwhile, we are left coping with the usual anxiety surrounding life as we know it, to which has now been added the stress of a serious health risk and the threat of potential death.  How will we manage to maintain our footing, our balance, our sanity in these uncertain times? 

         As always, our God has some very useful, practical, and encouraging reminders for us in the Scriptures appointed for today.  I recommend you read the passage as I attempt both to explain it and to share its relevance as a counter to our mounting anxiety:

         Our Old Testament lesson is from the prophet Isaiah.  Chapter 50 (verses 4-9a) contains the 3rd of 4 passages known as the “Suffering Servant Songs.”  Between 750-700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet was describing—very accurately—what Jesus would experience and how He would behave as He faced and endured the Cross.  Prior to His crucifixion, the Jews believed these passages may have described the predicted Messiah, but most did not agree that they referred to Christ.  It is only from this side of the Cross that we realize they do refer to and were precisely fulfilled by Jesus.  The point of this 3rd Servant Song is that Jesus came to earth determined to save us; that is, that He came into the world to pay the penalty for and to redeem us from our sins.  To prepare Himself, He studied God’s Word, the Old Testament writings.  During the 30 years before His public ministry, He steeped Himself in Scripture (vv.4-5).  We would say He was a “student of the Word.”  Verse 6 tells us that His trial by the Sanhedrin (the Jewish religious ruling body) led to significant suffering at the hands of His own chosen people.  They beat Him, mocked Him, spit upon His precious face, and even pulled out the hair of His beard—all prior to appearing before Pilate.  What sustained Him?  What allowed Him to endure all this?  He knew His purpose and He trusted in the Father to help Him:  (vv.7-9) Because the Sovereign LORD [the Father] helps Me, I will not be disgraced.  Therefore have I set My face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame…He who vindicates Me is near…it is the Sovereign LORD who helps me.  Jesus is reassuring Himself, though the prophet’s words, of the Father’s presence and the Father’s love.  This is what defines Him, not the attitudes, the condemnation, nor the despicable treatment of the religious authorities of His day. 

Such a lesson for us, isn’t it?  Do you see the trustworthiness of the Lord?  Thank God Jesus Christ is the once and for all sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 7:6-27)!  He paid the price for us!  His atoning death set us free from the penalty we deserved.  And Jesus did it believing in Scripture and trusting in His Father’s love.  May we cling to the promises of the Old and New Testaments, and may we hold onto our faith in our God—despite accelerating rates of change and worldwide pandemics!  May we exhibit faith like that of Jesus!

Psalm 31 was written by King David.  It describes how he felt during his tough times, both prior to and after ascending the throne of Israel.  But it also very aptly describes what Jesus probably suffered on the way to His crucifixion at Golgatha, and even as He hung suspended from the Cross:  (V.9) Be merciful to Me, O LORD, for I am in distress… (v.10) My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; My strength fails….(v.11) Because of My enemies, I am the utter contempt of My neighbors…(v.12) …I have become like broken pottery.  He is experiencing despair and grief.  But He does not succumb to it.  In verse 14, he reminds Himself, But I trust in You, O LORD.  I say, “You are my God.”  And He reaffirms for Himself, (v.15) My times are in Your hands.  These truths hold true for you and me as well.  I think it is safe to say that we hate to suffer.  However, suffering seems, like death, taxes, and change, inevitable in this life.  During times of suffering, we want to remember–like King David and like Jesus–that God’s got this!  God was not surprised by the virulence of this pandemic.  God knows that many of us are experiencing “cabin fever” while “sheltering in place.”  He knows we are worried about our health and about the economy, and are perhaps even stress-eating. Yikes!   We can trust in Him to sustain us through the most difficult times because He is only a prayer away (meaning He is present to us), He loves us, and He sent His only, beloved Son to die to save us.

St. Paul’s epistle to the Philippians (2:5-11) contains what the early Christian Church called “the Philippian Hymn.”  It was probably a statement that newly baptized Christians had to memorize as it succinctly summarizes exactly what Jesus did for us, and how the Father regarded His saving work on our behalf.  Paul wants us to be as humble and as obedient to the Father as Jesus was.  He also desires that we appreciate the depths of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf:  He gave up His heavenly prerogatives as King of the Universe, the One who spoke creation into existence, to be born in a stable, to a poor, young, homeless couple, in a ragtag and oppressed 2/3rds world nation.  Instead of demanding respect and a wide following as a great and exalted leader, He humbly behaved as a servant to all.  He obeyed His Father in everything, even up to and including His manner of death—totally righteous and holy, He died like a tortured, despised criminal.  No wonder the Father has honored Him above all things, declaring that His name commands total obedience, from every being, in every sphere!  Wow!  This reminds me of the lyrics of a Chris Tomlin song from sometime back a while ago:

Amazing love, O what sacrifice,

The Son of God given for me…

My debt He paid and my death He died,

That I might live…that I might live.

How amazing is God’s love for us!

         Finally, we have Matthew’s version of “the Passion of the Christ” (26:14-27:66), or what we know as the story of Jesus’ trials, crucifixion, and death.  It’s a long passage, but well worth reading and meditating upon during Holy Week.  It reminds us of the price our Lord paid for us, emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually.  He was “all in,” whereas Judas, Peter, the rest of the Apostles, the Jewish religious leadership, the mob, even Pilate all betrayed and abandoned Him.  Simon of Cyrene helped Him carry His cross (voluntarily or coerced, it’s unclear), the hardened, Roman centurian on execution detail (a Gentile) attested to His true identity, and a few devoted women (plus John, according to his Gospel) remained with Him until He gave up His spirit.  Notice that the Father registered His own grief with earthquakes, 3 hours of darkness, and splitting the heavy temple curtain (made of woven goat hair) from top to bottom.  Additionally He commemorated the completion of Jesus’ work by opening tombs, and offering a preview of the Big Easter Event by resurrecting (v.52) …many holy people.  The dead Christ was placed in His tomb, the stone sealed, and a detail set by Pilate to guard the grave.  What a journey from the noisy, Hosanna celebration of Palm Sunday to the quiet grief and despair of Good Friday!

         As Paul Harvey would have said, we know the rest of the story.  We know it doesn’t end there, with death having the last word.  Praise God!  When Jesus cried out from the Cross, (John 19:30) It is finished! (tetelestai), He meant that He had accomplished the work of redemption the Father had given Him to do.  All that is left is a kind of “mopping up detail” that we are living out today.  Jesus has demonstrated the truth of His name, God Saves.  Our God has done all the work of salvation for us.  The battle is over.  The victory has been won for us by Christ.  Again, thanks be to God who gives us the victory over sin and death, through our Lord, Jesus Christ.  All we have to do is say “yes” to Jesus.  All we have to do is allow Him to sit on the throne of our lives.  As we surrender to Him—just as He surrendered to His Father–He will bless us, guard us, protect us, and even resurrect us. 

         Yes, the world is changing at a hypersonic rate.  Many things we used to depend upon are uprooted or overturned or no longer reliable or even available.  In these anxiety-riddled and unstable times, Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3).  We can trust in our God, despite any threats to the contrary.  This Holy Week, let us stand firm our faith that Jesus has the power to help us, to sustain us, and to keep us sane, safe, and secure.  AMEN! 

©2020 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Faith: The Antidote to Fear

Pastor Sherry’s Message for March 29, 2020

Scripture Readings: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:5-11; John 11:1-45

         Wow!  The fears that are being expressed across our nation, during the current threat of the Chinese Coronavirus, are just about overwhelming, aren’t they?  If you watch the news for any length of time—or check into social media–you will find your heartbeat accelerating, your sense of dread rising, and your desire to begin to hoard supplies snowballing. Along with this is a growing tendency of many to lose hope.  I spoke this week with a relative who lives in Seattle.  This person does not appear open to believing in God, but trusts in science and in the government to keep her safe.  She feels that neither has done so; thus, as a result, she is very angry and very frightened.  But for those of us who trust in God’s love and His power (rather than exclusively in science or in the efforts of humankind), we realize that our God is the God of all hope—and, as a result, we do not need to lose heart or hope, even in these perilous times.

         Our Scripture lessons appointed for today all stress this truth:  We can believe that our God can do something about every situation about which we feel powerless.  Take a look at the Ezekiel passage.  (You may want to read it now.)  The prophet Ezekiel is foretelling the restoration of the nation of Israel.  At the time of his writing, the Israelites had been taken captive by the Babylonians and had been exiled away from the Promised Land.  God is saying through His mouthpiece that He intends to revive them spiritually and to bring them home.  In a sense, they are dry, desiccated bones lying about in a disconnected disarray.  But God has the prophet speak life into them, and miraculously they reassemble in stages, from scattered fragments, to cadavers (reunited bodies, but without life), to a restored and living army or assembly.  Notice, it is God who gives them life.  He works through commands He gives to the prophet to relay, but the work of reviving life is His.  Our God has the power over life.  Should we really worry about a virus taking us out?  No!  And even if it does, we have eternal life and will simply cross over into an existence so much better than what we experience now.

         As Paul relates in his letter to the Romans (chapter 5, verse 6), The mind of sinful man [and woman] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.  In other words,we are unable—without divine assistance—to overcome sin in our lives.  Or, as Peterson writes in his modern paraphrase, Those who think they can do it on their own [overcome sin by their own efforts] end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life.  Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God!  Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open into a spacious, free life.   Again, God can do in our lives—when we trust Him—immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us….(Ephesians 3:29).  So, we want to be smart.  We want to follow the recommendations that have come down to us from our President and our Governor about how to minimize our risk of infection now.  But, we do not want to lose heart!  We do not want to panic!  Those of us who know and love Jesus have… the peace of God which transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).  This peace is not centered on what is going around in the world or in our country, but upon our relationship with the Rock, who is Christ Jesus.  He is our peace and He longs to give us His peace.

         Our psalm (130) encourages us to bring our fears to the One who can do something about them.  In verses 1-2, he says, Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; O Lord, hear my voice.  Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.  As you read or recite this, don’t you get the sense that the writer knows that our Lord hears his cry?  It is true that He knows and hears our pleas for safety and health in this current crisis.  We can convey those to Him with faith.  Like us, the Psalmist recognizes he is a sinner who has been forgiven through God’s grace.  He trusts that God hears, attends, and will answer and protect him.  In verses 5-6, he describes waiting on the Lord’s answer, not in an anxious, worried way, but with hopeful expectation.  I believe we can similarly await effective treatments for this dangerous virus, and may already have found several.  We can pray for a hedge of God’s protection around our healthcare workers as they contend with ameliorating symptoms and attempting to save lives.  Like Israel, we are to put our hope in the Lord (v.7),…for with the LORD is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption….

         Finally, our Gospel lesson gives us an example of a person (one of three mentioned in the New Testament: Jairus’ 12 year old daughter, the son of the widow of Nain, and now Lazarus, Jesus’ friend) who had died and was raised from the dead by Jesus.  A number of Christian scholars point out that these folks were not truly “resurrected” because when that happens the body is actually transformed or transfigured into something immortal in preparation for entering into eternity.  These three—and there may have been more not cited in the Gospels—were brought back to life, in this world, in their normal, everyday, mortal bodies.  And, sadly for them, they faced death again, at a later time, because those bodies came with expiration dates.  In verse 4, Jesus tells His disciples regarding Lazarus’ demise, This sickness will not end in death.  No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.  In other words, the Father meant for Jesus to demonstrate to the large group of Jerusalem Jews grieving with Mary and Martha that Jesus had the same power over life and death that the Father has.  What this strongly suggests to us is that nothing—not even the Chinese Coronavirus—comes into our lives without God’s permission; and, if God permits it, it is somehow going to be for His glory.  I believe God is already at work, inspiring talented doctors and scientists to develop treatment protocols and medications to control and defeat Covid-19.  Further I believe that when this is said and done, we will be able to look back and see God’s hand at work in ways we might not have anticipated.  Already, commentators are projecting that the pandemic will permanently alter the way we deliver college education; bring back “supply chains” of important resources to America from abroad; and draw families into closer, face-to-face communication.   With so many manufacturing concerns voluntarily retooling from their usual products to those required by hospitals and clinics now, there may be a resurgence of American patriotism and a renewed sense of togetherness despite our differences.  No one wants anyone to die, but I do believe there will be God-ordained benefits to be derived from this that will serve the greater good.

Jesus tells Martha (verses 25-26), I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die…. If we have Jesus, we have life! The great author, Fyodor Dostoevsky, learned this firsthand and it permanently changed his life. As an educated young man from a wealthy family, he flirted with communist and revolutionary thought in czarist Russia. Czar Nicholas 1st learned of his leanings and had him arrested, tried, and sentenced to death by a firing squad. Dostoevsky was blind-folded, dressed in burial clothes, bound, and led into a public square where he was tied to a post. The young writer next heard the rifles being cocked. The order was given, “Ready, aim,” but just at that moment—when the command “fire” was expected–a message arrived from the czar to commute the death penalty to 4 years of hard labor. Dostoevsky later wrote that he never totally recovered from this experience. On the train to prison in Siberia, an unnamed Christian gave him a copy of the New Testament, which he devoured. He then turned his life over to Christ. Despite witnessing great evil among some of his cellmates, he developed the belief that humans are only capable of loving if they believe they are loved. His greatest works are all novels which treat the issues of sin and repentance, grace, and forgiveness. In other words, coming so close to death radically altered his sense of what is important in life. How would you change your thinking or your life style if you knew you only had a moment or days to live? Dostoevsky has left us a record of how he changed. Wouldn’t you love to know how Lazarus was impacted by a second chance at life?

         Our God intends for us to live each day as persons who do not fear death or viruses.  We are to live as persons who know that God’s love is more important and more powerful that anything this world can throw at us.  Our faith in God is our antidote to fear.  Can we try to live this week and beyond—despite news reports and what others may say or write—as if we truly believe this?  Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Copyright Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams 2020

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Fear Not!

Pastor Sherry’s Message 

Scripture Readings: Sam.16:1-13; Ps 23; John 9:1-41

One of my heroes of the faith is a man named Charles Simeon (1758-1836).  He was an Englishman who was about 18 at the time of our Revolutionary War.  An Evangelical, Bible-believing, Anglican pastor and college professor, he had graduated from Eton & from Cambridge University.  Having had an encounter with Christ through his own Scripture readings on Easter Sunday, Charles had converted to Christianity at age 19.  He was definitely a unique person as there were apparently no other Christians at the University for the next 3 years.

Two years after graduating from Cambridge, in 1782, he was appointed by his Bishop to be the lead pastor at Holy Trinity Church–the most prominent church in Cambridge at the time.  Though typically Bishops then appointed clergy rather than their being “called” by individual congregations, Charles was a young man (24) for such an important position. As it turned out, many parishioners there didn’t want him because he believed in Jesus and he preached the Scriptures.  It was the era of the Enlightenment, when many intellectuals in England—and in this university city–had abandoned their faith in God in favor of trusting only in science.  They preferred an associate pastor, a Mr. Hammond, a guy who preached more to their liking.  So unable to get the Bishop to agree with their choice, they began a campaign to run Simeon off. For 12 years,

  1. They locked their pew doors so that anyone who came to services had to

stand in the aisles.

  1. They refused to let Simeon preach the Sunday afternoon service for 10

years.

  1. They slandered
  2. In addition, Cambridge students
  3. Derided his belief in the truth claims of the Bible;
  4. Ostracized the students he did convert;
  5. Disrupted services inside & created noisy demonstrations in thestreets to keep worshippers away;
  6. And threw tomatoes at Simeon as he entered the church yard.
  7. Cambridge University named him Dean for 9 years, even though his peers snubbed/avoided him because he was a follower of Jesus Christ.

What is truly astonishing to me about him is that he remained in that parish for 54 years (ages 24-77)!  He did not appear to be afraid of what they might do to him to drive him off; instead he simply out-persisted his antagonists!  Over the years he was there, he turned many hearts to Jesus through his patient endurance & faithful Gospel preaching (his sermons have been preserved in 21 volumes).  Though they had begun his tenure by hating and reviling him, by the time he died, the entire parish & University turned out for his funeral.  He had become beloved by town, gown, and parish.  He had served as a model of humility and perseverance. What sustained him through the first 12 years of energetic resistance? He never married, so it wasn’t a reassuring, supportive spouse.  So Who or What helped him to patiently persist all those lonely years?  The same Jesus, and the same Holy Spirit, who sustain, protect, and encourage each of us.

Right now, we are in voluntary quarantine due to the Chinese Corona Virus.  Let’s examine what the Scripture lessons appointed for today have to tell us about facing such threats without fear.

  • In our Old Testament lesson, Samuel anoints David King of Israel in about 1025BC. Now Israel had a king already, King Saul; but because he did not have a healthy respect for or a reverence for God, God had rejected him as the leader of His people.  So God sends the prophet Samuel to anoint someone else to take Saul’s place.  Afraid of Saul’s anger and vengeance, Samuel journeys to Bethlehem under a religious pretext.  Notice, the prophet doesn’t know God’s choice; he has to have Jesse parade 7 of his eight handsome sons before him (David was the baby of 10 kids, including 2 daughters).  The 7 older sons are tall and handsome, but God rejects them all.  The Lord tells His prophet, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.  It’s only when David is sent for, that God says, “Yes, this is my choice.”

Why is David God’s choice as King?  We tend to judge people by their looks, how much money they have, and/or their influence or status.  But God is mainly concerned with heart attitudes.  It’s due to David’s heart (his character) that God chooses him.  Later, he proves he is…

a.) courageous by killing Goliath, the giant, with just a slingshot;

b.) humble by assisting/serving the very man he is to replace;

c.) not vengeful because he refrains from killing Saul, even when Saul is

determined to kill him;

  • and commited to God, even though it takes another 15 years before

he actually begins his reign as king.

Please be aware that the prophet Samuel was very worried about going to Bethlehem.  Like us, facing this Chinese Coronavirus pandemic, he had the backing, the fortification, the defense of God’s presence with him.  We do not need to be afraid!  We do not need to panic, even if the culture around us seems to be freaking out.  We know Jesus, so we can know (and feel) peace.

  • In the 23rd Psalm, we learn that King David trusted God to lead, guide, & provide for him. Verse 4 relates to the issue of fear:  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You [God] are with me.  David had experienced God’s protection over and over again, and so have we.  I wonder if,  when we get to heaven, we will learn of the many threats against us–brought about by the Evil One–from which God will have rescued us?  To God be the glory, great things He has done!

 

Additionally, like Charles Simeon 2800 years later, King David spent 15 years in the school of hard knocks.  If you look at the lives of many Biblical Greats, we see the same pattern:

  • Abraham & Sarah anxiously wait 25 yrs. for the birth of Isaac;
  • Moses shepherds 40 yrs. before leading God’s people out of Egypt, then wanders about with them for another 40;
  • Joseph endures 7 yrs. as a slave & another 7 in prison before God raises him to second in command after Pharaoh.

The question is:  Why does God allow this sort of thing to happen to those who put their trust in Him?  We were given the answer in last week’s Epistle reading from Peterson’s The Message:  (Ro 5:3-5):  We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with  troubles [suffering], because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us [patient endurance], & how patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue [character], keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.  In alert expectancy [hope] such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged.  Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives thru the Holy Spirit!  In other words, God allows us to undergo suffering [like the Chinese CoronaVirus and its attendant quarantine] because our patient endurance of it molds and shapes our character.  Unless we get really angry with God, it makes us more dependent on Him.  We become acquainted with the Holy Spirit and we learn to listen to His voice for guidance.  As a result, our faith deepens.  Charles Simeon admitted he had a terrible temper and a sharp tongue prior to his 12 year struggle with the resistance at Holy Trinity Church.

 

3.)Our Gospel lesson relates the story of the man born blind.  What might his testimony have to tell us about facing fear?  For one thing, he’s cheeky, gutsy, and grateful.  Prior to meeting Jesus, he is an adult who has had to beg for his living.  Imagine never, ever having seen colors or dimensions; or not being able to observe the behavior of people or their facial expressions.  What about missing out on perceiving your mother or your father’s faces?  He encounters Christ and receives sight, for the first time ever. Wow!  What joy!  Though he might now have some concerns about how to make a living, on the whole, this is something to be thrilled about!

However, look at the response of the others around him:  Some of his neighbors doubt his identity and his healing.  The Pharisees grill him.  Like police with a suspect under a naked light bulb, they demand to know, “Who healed you?”  “Why was the One who healed you working on the Sabbath?”  In other words, they are trying to discern, “Is Jesus a good guy or a sinner?”  They don’t believe the man’s own account, so they call his parents.  Now, these parents are shrewd.  They know the attitude of Pharisees toward Jesus, and they’ve heard that the Pharisees are throwing Christ-followers out of the synagogue,.  So they refuse to commit themselves and send the issue back to their son:  “Hey, don’t ask us!  He’s a grown up!  Ask him!”  The Pharisees call the man back again, and want him to renounce Christ.  He won’t do it! [Good for him!]  Essentially he says, “This is my story and I’m sticking to it…I’m sticking with Him too!  And then they do excommunicate him.

This man is very brave in the face of economic and social ruin.  Excommunication from the synagogue in those days meant you were a pariah.  You could not talk with practicing Jews; you would not be invited to their homes; you had no way to make a living nor to worship God.  Yet this guy braves it all.  His reward?  He gets to see and he gets to see Jesus!

Truthfully, how much do we have to fear from the Virus?   In Whom do we trust?

When we consider the examples of Charles Simeon, from history, & of King David and the man born blind from our Scriptures, we are encouraged to Take heart!  The spiritual temptation, when we go through hard times, is to cringe,  to withdraw, and to lose faith in God’s power or desire to act on our behalf.  These individuals each urge us to keep our faith and keep our heads!  We want to trust in our God and in His loving protection of us.  We want to remember that our God uses hard times—like what we are going through now–to improve & refine us:

  • He knocks off our prickly edges, and hammers out our imperfections;
  • He molds and shapes us into the image of Jesus;
  • He softens our hearts and helps us to love as He does.

So, as Moses writes (Deuteronlmy 1:29), let us remember, Do not be terrified, do not be afraid [of the virus].  The Lord will fight for you!  Let’s remember to keep the faith and not surrender to fear.  Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Copyright 3/22/20201 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Faith Not Fear

In compliance with CDC recommendations, Wellborn United Methodist Church is suspending all services, at least until April, 2020. Yet worship will continue. Pastor Sherry will post weekly messages and asks for daily prayers for an end to the Coronavirus pandemic, for healing of those stricken with the illness, and for strength for all medical professionals and caregivers affected by Coronavirus.