Thanksgiving Begins in the Mind

The service opened with Pastor Brad Shannon telling us the that today’s message is a continuation of the kingdom theme, and this week will be the introductory part for next week’s message on Jesus’ Magnificent Kingdom Courage.

This week the pastor received a call from Chuck Colson’s Angel Tree Ministry asking if we would “adopt” a 12 year old girl from Saginaw for Christmas this year because her father is in prison. Because of Colson’s incarceration due to his Watergate involvements, he discovered the grace of God and has a lifelong ministry to prison inmates. One facet is this effort to bring a measure of Christian charity to the children of inmates who cannot be there at this meaningful time. New Life Covenant will bring a little bit of Christmas to a girl named Ashley.

For the children’s challenge, Pastor Brad donned a bright orange hunting cap and used the example of camping to engage the kids, to illustrate God’s provision. And to remember those less fortunate than us who have been so blessed by His goodness.

Today’s Scripture readings:
Psalm 100 and John 6:25-35, which includes that well known passage where Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”

There is no reason to ever lose hope when we are followers of Jesus. The kingdom of God is at hand, has broken through. That ‘in-breaking of God’s kingdom continues to this day and God wants to keep breaking into the world… through us.

Wherever this occurs there will be resistance, because God’s kingdom is a threat to earthly kingdoms.

Jesus was not a docile, inoffensive guru who went around saying, “Be nice.” If this is all that his life was about, it would not have ended on a cross. People get crucified when kingdoms are threatened.

Jesus’ life exemplified a magnificent defiance as demonstrated by his encounters with the powers of his day.

Pastor Brad detailed some of the leaders in Israel from that period of history beginning with Herod the Great whose life overlapped the birth of Christ Jesus, the man responsible for the slaughter of the innocents as recorded in Matthew 2:16. It is recorded that Herod had ten wives and 43 children. Despite his power, he lived a paranoid existence because of his cruelty and was always suspicious. As a result, he had his favorite wife, Mariamne, executed as well his mother and oldest son, among countless others. Thus it was said of him, “Better to be Herod’s pig than his son.” The historian Josephus notes that Herod was so cruel to those he didn't kill that the living considered the dead to be fortunate.

Because he knew that there would be no mourning for him when he died, Herod gathered the principle leaders of Judaism to Jerusalem in order to have them executed upon his death. In this manner he intended to have the nation of Israel mourn when he died.

Ultimately, Herod’s three sons – Archilaeus, Herod Antipas and Philip -- went to Rome to seek power and in return received regions where they each ruled. Like father like sons. Archilaeus maintained a cruel rule in Judea, Herod Antipas was given to rule over Galilee, and Philip procured power over Caesaria Philippi.

In one terrible event, Archilaeus purportedly executed 3000 Jews in an effort to maintain power. Fifty Jewish leaders went to Rome to make an appeal to Caesar: do not make this man king. But Archilaeus indeed became ruler and executed the fifty.

Against this backdrop we see the New Testament stories in a more vivid light. The Lord’s parables, as exemplified in the parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11ff) show that He was not afraid to confront the authorities.

Earlier in this gospel account, Luke lays out the powers of this world at inauguration of John the Baptist’s ministry: Pontius Pilate governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee,
brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas. To whom and where did the word of God reveal itself? Not to the powerful and famous but to a hermit in the wilderness. The Word of God came to John the Baptist. (Luke 3:1-2)

So it is that we see the Law of Inversion in action. “The last shall be first and the first shall be last.”

When John the Baptist rebuked Herod the tetrarch for his heinous behavior, Herod had John placed in prison. Jesus at this time did not fear the powers. He set about to return to Galilee.

Where is your Galilee? Where is it hardest for you to manifest the Kingdom? In your job? In your family? In your neighborhood?

What is it you need to do to bring the Kingdom into your Galilee? Maybe you need to bear witness. Or confront. Or perhaps simply become humble.

There’s Just Something About That Name

“I’m delighted that you are here to worship with us this 24th week after Pentecost,” Pastor Brad Shannon said in his opening remarks. “When God opens a door, nothing can shut that door.”

Other special features of today’s service included Scripture readings from Haggai 1:15b-2:9 and II Thessalonians 2: 1-5 & 13-17 and a prayer of dedication for the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. This day also we honored Lillian Peterson on her 88th birthday which we celebrated after the service.

The sermon today used as its springboard the letter to the church of Philadelphia found in Revelation 3:7-13.

There is something about names. Some names are funny. Some people, like Sean Coombs (aka Puff Daddy, P Diddy etc.) change their names from time to time. Some, like Sting, Bono and Oprah, are known for just “a name.” And a lot of cities are known by their names, like Tinseltown, The Big Apple, and Motor City.

The city of Philadelphia in Biblical times, the city to which this letter was written, had undergone very challenging times. It was a city with an ever changing identity, with both cultural and literal earthquakes, and for the Christians there it was a city with unrelenting persecution. To the Christians in this city Jesus said, “I will write on them a new name.” And the Lord promised that their future would be to live in a city that will not be shaken.

The passage begins, “These are the words of him who is holy and true who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” This reference to keys hearkens back to Isaiah 22:22 which states, “I will place the key of the house of David around his neck. What he opens no one will shut. What he shuts no one will open.”

Jesus says, “I hold the keys to the Kingdom of God. No one can shut what I open or open what I shut.”

Jesus is saying “Trust me. When I open a door, walk through it. I will be there on the other side.”

Finding God’s will is not a puzzle that you have to figure out. Rather, it is a matter of following the Lord’s voice. Jesus has the whole picture in view and we can trust Him.

Pastor Brad shared the illustration of a family that decided to not give each other Christmas presents one year, but to help a needy family. Their decision resulted in countless others being blessed and their efforts being rewarded far in excess of anything they had imagined.

Walk through a door and watch God show up. There are open doors all around us.

To the church in Philadelphia Jesus said, “I know your deeds.” Of the seven letters to the seven churches, this was the only letter with no rebuke.

“8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.´ vss 8-10

Jesus says “I am going to use you in a powerful way.” Like Philadelphia, we are a small church. God has called us to love and serve Him here. We have a small church, but a big God. It is the Enemy who whisper in ears, “You are small. What can you do?”

There was a small church in Mississippe after Hurricane Katrina that was used of God to feed more than 6,000 people a day, gaining national recognition for their efficiency and faithfulness. You do not have to be big to be effective.

It’s true that when you have open doors you can also have annoying flies. But God will take care of these, too. No matter what we go through, Jesus promises to be with us. Stay filled with hope and joy. And stand firm...

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Those who are victorious I will make pillars in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.

A new name! Can you imagine what they felt?

13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.