Sermon Isaiah 44:6-8 The First and Last

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Beaver Dam and Pitts Creek Churches

Sermon Isaiah 44:6-8 The First and Last

July 20, 2014

Let me begin this morning by telling you a story. Madhu is a young man who grew up in a family that worshiped Hindu idols. His father practiced idol worship by pouring milk, rice and water on idols made from stone and wood and metal. His entire family did this. And his father wanted Madhu to worship these idols as well.

But Madhu refused. He consider pouring milk and rice on an idol wasteful. The food could be given to the hungry poor instead. And he noticed that even though his father worshiped these idols he continued to be short-tempered and used foul language. The idols made of stone and wood and metal did not transform the worshiper into a better person. And so for these reasons Madhu rejected the religion of his family.

Madhu then met some Christians who agreed with him about the futility of praying to idols made of stone and wood and metal. They told him that he could pray to Jesus Christ in heaven. They explained that if he confessed his sin, God would forgive him. They told him that if he prayed to Jesus he would be transformed into a more loving person who would care for the poor. Madhu prayed to Jesus and found out that all of this was true. He became a Christian.¹

The prophet Isaiah warned us about praying to idols made of stone or wood or metal. We know this. So let's pray to the one true God.

Holy One, I awake into a sense of your presence with me. From time to time today, remind me that each day is a journey into the unknown but that there is nowhere I can go where you are not with me. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. Amen.²

In ancient times it was thought that each city and nation had its own God. Israel and Judah had their God, Yahweh. Other nations had their gods too. Each nation expected their God to bless them with prosperity and protect them from enemies. But Yahweh, the God of Israel, was a jealous God. He did not want his people worshiping other gods and idols of stone, wood and metal. He told them, “you shall have no other gods before me.”

Yahweh blessed the Hebrews with peace and prosperity, but he demanded from them obedience to his laws. When these laws were broken repeatedly he withdrew his presence from them and allowed them to be conquered by the Babylonians. The prophets told the people of Yahweh to hold firm in their faith, study the ancient scrolls, and obey God's law. If they did these thing Yahweh would bless them richly and redeem them from exile in Babylon. Some people believed this. But others were not so sure. They thought that since Babylon had defeated Judah in battle the Babylonian gods must be stronger than Yahweh. God sent Isaiah to speak with them and tell them this.

Isaiah 44:6-8 6 “This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. 7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come—yes, let them foretell what will come. 8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

As Isaiah walked among God's people in exile he saw them worshiping things made of stone or wood or metal. He told them that these were not gods. There were just things with no power to bless and redeem. Worship and prayer to things made by human hands was worthless. The only god worthy of our prayer and worship is Yahweh who in the beginning created all that there is, and will still be here at the end when all is finished. Why would you worship something of stone, wood or metal made by human hands when you could worship the creator God?

To convince the people, Isaiah challenged them to test the idols. See if they could do what their priests said would do. Give the idols the opportunity to prove themselves. Isaiah knew what would happen. The idols made of stone, wood and metal had no power. Nothing happened. Then Isaiah reminded the people that the one true God had blessed them and protected them in the past. They needed to return to this God, Yahweh, who had proven his power and would keep his promise to bless and redeem. As people turned away from worthless idols Isaiah told them to share their discovery with others. They were to tell other people about the creator God who has the power to bless and redeem.

So what about us? Most of us do not worship Hindu gods. We don't have altars in our homes with objects made of stone, wood and metal. We don't bow down to figurines. But we do have a book which is very important to us. This book is so important that we record our deepest longings and desires in it. We call this book our checkbook. In our checkbooks we list all of the things most important to us, and we place a dollar value for each of these things. We list all the things we have bought made of stone and wood and metal and we enter how much money we spent on each. If we look in our checkbooks we will know how much we value things made of stone, wood and metal, and how much we value God.

If you looked in my checkbook you would see my largest expense is for housing. I live in a house made of wood. Thirty percent of my salary goes to my living expenses. After the living expenses my next largest payment is for the student loan which allowed me to go to Fuller Seminary and become a pastor. I believe that God was calling me to this work, and I am blessed by being a pastor far more than I spend each month on the student loan. After I pay my living expenses and student loan I am free to spend the remainder as I wish. My first discretionary spending is the tithe I give to the church. I give ten percent of my gross income to the church and divide it evenly between Beaver Dam and Pitts Creek. Transportation, entertainment, food and clothing come out of whatever is left.

I can't see into your checkbooks, so I urge you this week to examine them for yourselves. How much do you value things made of stone and wood and metal? And how much do you value the creator God, his Son and his church? Your checkbook will tell you.

Let me finish with a story about giving. Jerry and Stacy Kramer were about to be married and had a conversation about tithing. Stacy was always a believer in tithing. Jerry was not so sure. He suggested giving 5% to the church and 5% to charity. But Stacy insisted that the first 10% had to go to the church. So that's what they did. And since Jerry had a six figured salary as stewardship consultant they lived comfortably. Then Jerry felt God's call to be a pastor.

Jerry and Stacy served some time as missionaries in Tanzania, and then he became pastor of the Free Church of the Annunciation in the Bradmoor neighborhood of New Orleans. A few months later Hurricane Katrina ripped though the community. Six feet of water flooded the church for three weeks. Gangsters came by boat and used the upper floors as a hangout. Jerry and Stacy had been evacuated safely to Baton Rouge and returned to the church a week later. They immediately began organizing relief efforts for the community using a local Walmart parking lot as a distribution point for supplies. He recruited people from his church to deliver the supplies to those in need.

Before the storm Jerry's church was an unnoticed neighborhood church with little impact on the community. After Katrina the church is warmly thought of as a catalyst for the rebuilding of the neighborhood. Jerry and Stacy had made a commitment to God through their tithing and service. God transformed their church into one accomplishing his mission in the community.³

So I urge you to look at your checkbooks and see what your commitments are. Do you spend your time and money on things made of stone, wood or metal? Or do you use your resources to advance the kingdom of God? I think we should start by praying asking God what we should do.

Lord God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, we worship you because you are the only god worthy of worship. We fall short when we worship with our time and money things made of stone and wood and metal. Forgive us we pray. Help us to support your kingdom with our resources. This we pray in your son's name. Amen.

1http://christianity.about.com/od/miraculousintervention/a/madhutestimony.htm

2Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press p87

3LeBlanc Douglas, Tithing Test Me in This (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010), 28-42.

Sermon – Isaiah 55:10-13 – God's Word Will Not Return Empty

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Beaver Dam and Pitts Creek Churches

Sermon – Isaiah 55:10-13 – God's Word Will Not Return Empty

July 13, 2014

In 1993 an agricultural study was conducted by the University of Illinois to determine the relationship between rainfall and corn production. They planted corn and controlled the amount of water it received it covering them when it rained and giving the corn a precise measurement of water. They established three control groups, one with below average rainfall, one with average rainfall and one with above average rainfall. They also setup three test groups which corresponded to the the control groups, but received 25% more water than the control groups. As the corn grew they measured the corn production in both the control groups and the test groups to see what effect the 25% more water would have. They determined that providing corn with 25% more water leads to great corn production.¹

The prophet Isaiah knew this 2500 years ago. We will get to this, but first let's pray.

“God of goodness and growth, let your love be made real in me this day. Soften the hardened places of my heart and crowd out any corners of greed or anxiety. Make me be fruitful in thought, word, and deed.” Amen.²

Isaiah 55:10-13 ¹⁰ As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, ¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. ¹² You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. ¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."

The last chapters of the Book of Isaiah were written at a time when the people of God were picking up the pieces of their lives after a national disaster. Their lives had been uprooted when the Babylonians had defeated their armies, destroyed their cities and farms, and burnt their temple to the ground. Now they had returned to rebuild.

When the temple, that Solomon had built, stood the people believed that God was in it. His glory shone in the Holy of Holies. But when the temple was destroyed the glory of God left Jerusalem and went to heaven. Even as they rebuilt the city and the temple they felt that God was still far away. Also there were many people who chose not to return to Jerusalem. They remain scattered around the Persian empire and beyond. How could they come into contact with their God?

The prophet Isaiah told the people of God that God's presence should not be thought of as located in some physical place. God did not live in a special holy place on earth where people had to come to experience his presence. Rather, people could come close to God though God's word, the Bible. The people of God, at this time, began to setup gatherings where believers could come together around scipture. The Greek word for gathering is “συναγωγή” which comes into English as “synagogue”.

In a gathering or synagogue the people of God would come together to read and study God's word. They would have a teacher, a rabbi, who was trained in biblical interpretation. He would know what past teachers had said about a passage from scripture and would help his people to apply God's word to their lives. And through the study of scripture the people began to experience the presence of God and the deepening of their faith. According to Isaiah just as rain comes from the sky to water the crops and make them produce so too does the word of God come from heaven to nourish faith in our hearts.

The early Christians adopted this Jewish idea that our faith grows when we read and study scripture together with someone who is trained in biblical interpretation. They gathered in groups and used the Greek name for assembly, ἐκκλησία , which comes into English as “church”. Our Presbyterian church continues this practice of gathering people to study God's word with a person trained in biblical interpretation. We call this person a “teaching elder”. That's my title. A my role is to gather us together to read and study God's word nurturing our faith.

So according to Isaiah whenever we come together to study the Bible our faith grows because just as rain causes the crops to grow so too does the word of God cause faith to grow in our hearts.

According to the University of Illinois study, which I talked about earlier, a 25% increase in rainfall causes greater production of corn. So too a 25% increase in the time we spend with scripture will cause our faith to grow more abundantly. So I urge you to increase your consumption of God's word. Be in worship every Sunday. Attend Bible studies. Pray and meditate on scripture every day. And your faith will grow in abundance.

Let me tell you a story about the Bible leading someone to faith. Rosaria Butterfield was a self described leftist, lesbian professor. She was an atheist and had little time for students who wanted to insert the Bible into their thought. As a scholar she wanted to know why Christians hated her so much. She thought it had something to do with the Bible they read. Her experience of Christians was that they would put scripture on the placards they raised from the sidelines of gay pride parades. So she decided to read the Bible for herself to find out how it taught Christians to hate so much.

She wrote an article for a local newspaper about the “unholy trinity of Jesus, Republican politics, and patriarchy”. This generated, as she expected, numerous pieces of hate mail from Christians. But she received one letter that was different. It was from the pastor of the Syracuse Reformed Presbyterian Church, Ken Smith. Rev. Smith did not call her names. Rather he asked her to examine her assumptions about faith. And Ken invited her to dinner with himself and his wife, Floy. Rosaria accepted the invitation and they began a conversation about faith.

Rosaria read the Bible over and over and asked Ken questions about it as she did. Ken and his church prayed for her for two years. And then one day she was ready to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord of her life.³

Remember these words from Isaiah.

Isaiah 55:10-11 ¹⁰ As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, ¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Our role as Christians is not to hate people we disagree with but to share God's word with everyone. Tell them what God has done for you. Invite them to come on Sunday mornings, to prayer session and Bible studies and experience the Bible for themselves. Pray for them. Share scripture with them. And one day, maybe years later, they will come to faith. And whenever someone comes to faith this happens.

Isaiah 55:12-13 ¹² You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. ¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."

Let's pray. Father in heaven we thank you for your word which pours down upon us in blessing. We thank you for the faith that is flourishing in our hearts. Grant us the grace we need to proclaim this good news to people who seem to be so far from you. Help us to share our faith and bring others to faith in you. This we pray in your son's name. Amen.

1http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/pubdoc/B/ISWSB-73.pdf

2Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press p78

3http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/january-february/my-train-wreck-conversion.html?paging=off

Sermon preached at the Seowon Kyong Presbyterian Church in Cheong Ju, South Korea

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Seowon Kyong Presbyterian Church

June 29, 2014

Sermon – John 20:19–23 –Be Witnesses Who Receive the Holy Spirit.

Video: http://www.swkch.com/main/sub.html?pageCode=11

(성령받은 증인들이 되라)

Peace and Grace be with you.

(하나님의 평강과 은혜가 여러분에 있기 축원합니다).

I would like to begin by thanking and glorify God because I can worship with you, Seowon Kyong Presbyterian Church.

(저는 먼저 서원경 장로 교회에서 여러분과 함께 예배드릴 수 있음을 하나님께 감사와 영광을 돌립니다.)

Also I would like to thank Rev. Hwang and this church for the opportunity to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to all of you, smile soul, happy church.

(또한 영혼이 미소짓는 행복한 교회인 여러분께 예수그리스도 복음을 전할 기회를 주신 황목사님과 성도님들께 감사를 드립니다. )

Also I would like to greet you as a pastor of Newcastle Presbytery. Rev. Hwang has visited our presbytery two times and has preached many times in our churches. He sent two DaeJeon seminary interns to our presbyteries last year and one intern, Inkyung Park, came back to Symna Presbyterian Church this spring.

(저는 뉴케슬 노회의 목사 로서 여러분에게 인사를 드리고 싶습니다. 황목사님께서는 우리 노회에 두번 오셔서 여러교회에서 설교를 하였습니다. 또한 지난해는 대전신학대학교 학생들을 보냈고, 한 인턴 학생은 서머나 교회에 올 봄에 다시 돌아와서 지금도 교회를 섬기고 있습니다.

I am the pastor of Pitts Creek and Beaver Dam Presbyterian churches, Maryland USA. Pitts Creek and Beaver Dam Presbyterian churches were among the very first Presbyterian churches in America. They were founded in 1683 by a missionary from Ireland named Francis Makemie.

(저는 메어릴렌드에 있는 피치크리 장로교회의 목사입니다. 피치크리 장로교회는 미국 장로교단에서 처음으로 세워진 교회입니다. 영국옆에 있는 아이렌드 나라의 장로교 교단에서 파송한 프란시스 메케미라는 선교사가 1683년에 세웠습니다.)

And so for over 330 years the gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed and lives have been transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit.

(330년 이상동안 피치크릿 장로교회는 예수의 복음을 증거 하였고 사람들은 성력의 역사에 의해서 변화를 가진 삶을 살았습니다.

This morning I will be talking about this Holy Spirit and witness of Jesus. The coming of the Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus before he carried and died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin. This is what he said:

(오늘아침 저는 여러분에게 이러한 성령의 사역과 예수증인 에 대해서 말씀드리고자 합니다. 성령의 강림은 예수님께 십자가를 지고 걸으시고 십자가에 목박혀 의해서 약속된 것이었습니다. 예수님께서 말씀하셨습니다.)

John 14:16-18 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

( John 14:16, 내가 아버지께 구하겠으니, 그가 또 다른 보혜사를 너희에게 주사 영원토록 너희오 함께 있게 하시리니, 17. 저는 진리의 영이라 세상은 능히 저를 받지 못하나니 이는 저를 보지도 못하고 알지도 못함이라. 그러나 너희는 저를 아나니 저는 너희와 함께 거하심이요. 또 너희 속에 계시겠음이라. 18. 내가 너희를 고아와 같이 버려두지 아니하고 너희에게로 오라)

After his resurrection Jesus kept this promise. He gave his disciples the Holy Spirit to be with the church and in the church forever. We will get to this, but first let's pray.

(예수께서는 부활 하신 후에 이약속을 지키셨습니다. 그는 그의 제자들에게 성령을 주셔서, 성령님께서는 영원토록 교회와 함께 있고, 교회 안에 있으십니다. 우리모두가 이를 더 정확히 할게 되실것입니다. 먼저 기도하시겠습니다)

“Spirit of God, source of life, refresh my spirit, reshape my desire, and re-create my heart, that I may show forth your enduring glory; through Jesus Christ. Amen”.¹

(생명의 근원이신, 하나님의 영이며, 우리의 영혼을 새롭게 하시옵소서, 우리의 마음을 재 창조하시옵시며, 우리의 삶의 목적을 새롭게 형성하시옵소서 . 그래서 우리가 예수님을 통하여 당신께 무궁한 영광을 돌릴수 있게 하옵소서. 아멘)

Jesus not only promised that he would send the Holy Spirit, but he also told his disciples what the Holy Spirit would do. Let's return to John 14.

(예수님께서 성령을 보내실 것을 약속하신것 뿐만 아리라, 성령께서 하실일을 제자들에게 말씀하셨습니다. 요한복음 14장 26절입니다.

John 14:26 ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

(요 14:26 보혜사 곧 아버지께서 내 이름으로 보내실 성령, 그가 너희에게 모든 것을 가르치시고 내가 너희에게 말한 모든 것을 생각나게 하시리라)

So the function of the Holy Spirit is to help the disciples remember what Jesus said and did. This is why we have such confidence in the New Testament.

(성령의 사역은 예수가 말씀하신것과 행하신 것을 제자들이 기억하도록 돕는 것입니다. 그래서 우리가 신약성경의 말씀에 큰 확신을 가지는 것입니다.)

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John record what Jesus said and did. They are true because the authors worked under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

(마태, 마가, 누가, 요한복음은 예수가 무엇을 말하고 행하셨는지을 기록하고 있습니다. 저자들은 성령의 영감아래서 사복음서를 기록하였기때문에 사복음서는 진실된 것입니다.)

And we understand them because the Spirit is here with us, teaching us what they mean. My words, which proclaim the good news of the gospel, is the word of God for us because, both I and all of you are filled with the Holy Spirit, our teacher.

그리고 우리는 성령께서 우리와 함께 여기에 계셔서 말씀의 뜻이 무엇인지 우리를 가르치기 때문에 우리는 말씀을 이해할 수 있습니다. 선생되는 성령님께서 여러분 모두와 저에게 이시간 임재 하셨기에, 제가 전하는 복음서의 복된 소식을 전하는 저의 말이 하나님의 말씀되는 것입니다.

Jesus also told his disciples what they must do once the Holy Spirit comes into the church. From John 15: 26-27

(또한 예수님께서 성령이 교회에 임하실 때 해야 할일을 제자들에게 말씀하셨습니다. 요한복음 15: 26-27입니다)

John 15:26-27 ²⁶ "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. ²⁷ And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

(요 15:26 내가 아버지께로서 너희에게 보낼 보혜사 곧, 아버지께로서 나오는 진리의 성령이 오실 때에 그가 날를 증거 하실 것이요. 너희도 처음부터 나와 함께 있었으므로 증거하니라.)

So just as the Holy Spirit testifies to us who Jesus is so too must we who have been filled with the Holy Spirit testify to others about our faith in Jesus. This is the function of the church.

(성령께서 예수가 누구이신가 를 우리에게 증거 하는 것과 똑같이, 우리도 성령으로 충만해 졌을 때, 예수 안에 있는 우리의 믿음에 대해서 다른 사람에게 증거를 해야 합니다. 이것은 교회의 역활 인것입니다)

We are to learn about Jesus from scripture through the Holy Spirit, when we come to church. And then we are to take our knowledge of what Jesus said and did out of the church and share it with others. This is our responsibility as disciples of Jesus Christ.

(우리가 교회에 올때, 성령님을 통하여 성경에 있는 예수님에 대해서 배웁니다. 그리고 우리는 예수께서 말씀하신 지식을 교회 밖으로 나가서 다른 사람들과 나누워야 합니다. 이것이 예수 그리스도의 제자로서 우리의 책임입니다.)

Jesus also told his disciples some of the topics the Holy Spirit would teach them. (또한 예수께서는 성령께서 제자들을 가르칠 내용을 말씀하셨습니다)

John 16:8-11 ⁸ When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; ¹⁰ in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

(요한복음 16:8-11 그가 와서 죄에 대하여, 의에 대하여, 심판에 대하여 세상을 책망하시리라. 죄에 대하여라 함은 저희가 나를 믿지 아니함이요. 의에 대하여라 함은 내가 아버지께로 가니 너희가 다시 나를 보지 못함이요. 심판에 대하여라 함은 이 세상 임금이 심판을 받았음이니라.

The Holy Spirit is at work in our world today. It is within us to turn us from sin and restore us to a right relationship with God.

(성령께서는 오늘날 세상가운데서 역사하십니다. 우리를 죄로 부터 돌아서서 하나님과 바른 관계를 갖도록 도우십니다.)

The Holy Spirit brings us closer to Jesus Christ even as he is with the Father in heaven. And the Holy Spirit is with us when we are judged by God ensuring that we are forgiven by the blood of Jesus even as the devil and his demons stand condemned.

(성령께서는 우리를 하나님 보좌 옆에 계신 예수께로 가까이 인도합니다. 그리고 성령께서는 우리가 하나님께 심판을 받을 때, 사단과 그의 영들이 우리를 비난할지라도 우리가 예수의 보혈로 용서받았음을 증거합니다.

Jesus kept all of these promises and sent his Holy Spirit into his church. Let's hear what he did from the Gospel of John.

(예수님께서는 이 교회에 성령 하나님을 보내셨고, 이모든 약속을 지키셨습니다. 요한 복음 20:19-22절의 말씀입니다.

John 20:19-22 ¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

(요한복음 20:19-22: 이 날 곧 안식 후 첫날 저녁 때에 제자들이 유대인들을 두려워하여 모인 곳에 문들을 닫았더니 예수께서 오사 가운데 서서 가라사대 너희에게 평강이 있을지다. 20. 이 말씀을 하시고 손과 옆구리를 보이시니 제자들이 주를 보고 기뻐하더라. 21. 예수께서 또 가라사대 너희에게 평강이 있을지어다. 아버지께서 나를 보내신 것 같이 나도 너희를 보내노라. 22. 이 말씀을 하시고 저희를 향하사 숨을 내쉬며 가라사대 성령을 받으라 23. 너희가 뉘 죄든지 사하면 사하여 질 것이요 뉘 죄든지 그대로 두면 그대로 있으리라 하시니라.

Just as God has breathed life into Adam so too did Jesus breathe life into his church. This Spirit which came into the church that day continues to be with us today.

( 하나님께서 아담에게 생명의 호흡을 불어넣어 주시듯이, 예수도 그의 교회에 생명의 호흡을 불어넣어 주셨습니다. 이 성령께서 교회에 온 이후로 오늘날 우리에게도 함께 하십니다.)

It is with us as we hear the word of God read and proclaimed, and convinces us of it's truth.

( 우리가 함께 하나님의 말씀이 봉독 되고 설교를 들을 때 성령은 우리와 함께 하시고, 그 말씀이 진리임을 확신토록 합니다.)

The Holy Spirit brings us to belief in Jesus Christ, and sends us into the world to testify to others about what God done for us.

(성령은 우리를 믿음안에 서게 하고,하나님께서 우리의 삶속에서 역사하신 이야기들을 다른사람들에게 증거하도록우리를 세상으로 보내십니다)

The Holy Spirit uses our testimony to bring others to faith. That way the church grows in members and continues generation after generation.

( 성령께서는 우리의 간증을 통하여 믿지 않는 자가 믿음을 갖도록 역사하십니다. 이러한 방법이 교회가 날마다 성장하고, 세대와 세대를 거쳐서 계속 이어져 가는 것입니다.)

Let me tell you a story about Spirit filled evangelism. Cheeia Lo is Hmong American, an immigrant from Laos. The Hmong have very difficult lives in America. She was the first member of her family to go to college.

(성령이 역사한 전도에 관한 이야기를 말씀드리겟습니다. 치아 로우 라오스부터 이민온 몽족 미국인 입니다. 몽족 미국인들은 미국에서 어려운 삶을 살았습니다. 그 가족들 가운데는 첫번째로 대학에 간 사람이었습니다.

In her freshman year she found out about Jesus Christ and came to belief in him. She was afraid to share her faith with her family because, she thought, they just wouldn't understand.

(대학 생활 첫해에 그 여학생은 예수를 발견하고, 믿게 되게되었습니다. 그러나 복음을 가족들에게 전하는 것이 두려웠습니다. 왜냐하면 가족들이 이해할 수 없다고 생각 했기 때문입니다)

But the Holy Spirit told her, “Don't be afraid, I'll give you the words.” And with that she began to share her story of how she met Jesus.

(그러나 성령께서 “ 두려워 말라, 내가 너에게 할 말을 주리라”라고 말씀하셨습니다. 그래서 그 여자는 어떻게 예수님을 만났는가를 이야기 했습니다.)

A personal story like this is the best way to share your faith. You start by telling people about your life before Jesus was a part of it. Tell them of your struggles and insecurity.

(치아 로우 이야기 처럼, 여러분의 개인의 이야기를 통하여 믿음을 전하는 것이 최고의 방법입니다. 여러분께서 여러분이 예수님을 믿기 전에는 어떻게 살았는지 먼저 말을 하는 것입니다. 예수 믿기전, 여러분의 불안함과 고통스러움 삶의 경험을 말하십시요)

Then tell people about the gospel message, how you heard it and what it meant for you. And finally tell them how your life has changed as a result. 그런후 여러분이 어떻게 복음을 들었고, 복음이 여러분에 어떠한 의미를 가지는지, 복음의 메세지에 대해서 사람들에게 말하십시요. 그리고 결과로서 어떻게 여러분의 인생이 변했는지 말씀하십시요)

Cheeia Lo began talking to her family about her faith. She told them about the depression, anger and suicidal thoughts she had experience when she first arrived at college. Then she explained how Jesus Christ had helped her overcome these.

(치아 로우는 그녀의 믿음에 관하여 가족들에게 말하기 시작했습니다. 대학에 처음 도착했을 때, 우울증, 분노, 자살에 대한 충동을 경험 했음을 말했습니다. 그리고 나서 예수 그리스도께서 어떻게 그녀가 이러한 위기를 극복하도록 도왔는지 설명했습니다. )

After explaining all this to her family she download the Jesus film in Hmong, her family's language. After watching the film and hearing her story, 37 members of her family accepted Jesus Christ.²

(가족들에게 설명을 다 한 후에, 치아 로우는 몽족 말로 된 번역된 “예수”라는 영화를 가족들에게 보여주었습니다. 치아 로우의 이야기와 예수의 영화를 본 가족들 가운데, 37명의 가족들이 예수를 영접하였습니다.

So with the coming of the Holy Spirit, the church is empowered to spread the good news of Jesus bringing others to faith. (성령의 역사는, 교회를 강하게 하여 예수 복음을 전하여 믿지 않는 자를 믿음으로 초대하는 것입니다.)

The Holy Spirit will take what we say about Jesus and the stories we tell about how we have experienced Jesus in our lives and will use these to help others believe.

(성령께서 여러분이 말한 예수와 여러분의 간증들을 가지고 믿음 없는 사람들이 믿음을 갖도록 도울 것입니다. )

Your role is to nurture your faith by praying, worshiping and studying the Bible, becoming a witness of Jesus in your lives.

(여러분은 역활은 기도, 예배, 성경공부를 통하여 믿음을 성장 시키서 현재 여러분의 삶의 현장 속에서 예수 증인이 되는 것입니다. )

And then you train your children and young people in church to be witnesses and missionaries wherever they go. 또한 여러분의 역할은 여러분의 자녀들과 교회 젊은이들을 예수 증인이 되도록 훈련하여 그들이 어디를 가든지 복음 전도자요 선교사가 되게 하는 것입니다. ,

You have Dr. Hwang who is a missiologist and author of many mission books. In his book, God’s Mission and the Unreached Tribes, he wrote how to be a witness to the end of world.

여러분은 선교학 교수이자, 많은 선교에 대한 저서를 쓴 황박사를 가지고 있습니다. 그의 저서인 God’s Mission and the unreached tries. 어떻게 하면 땅끝까지 복음을 전하는 증인이 되는 가 잘 쓰여져 있습니다. )

American Christians have forgotten what it means to evangelize others.

(미국 그리스인들은 다른 사람을 전도하는 것이 무엇인지 의미를 잃어버렸습다.)

Our missionaries came hundreds of years ago. Today we need missionaries to come to America to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to a new generation of Americans who have forgotten it.

(미국에는 수백년전에 선교사들이 왔습니다. 오늘날 다시 예수 그리스도를 모르는 새로운 세대들에게 예수 그리스도의 복음을 전할 선교사들을 필요로 합니다.

We need your prayers. And we need you to teach us how to bring people to Christ.

(우리는 여러분의 기도를 필요로 합니다. 우리는 여러분들이 와서 어떻게 믿지 않는 자들을 그리스도께로 데려 오는지를 가르쳐줄 여러분을 필요로 합니다 )

I know that you are a missional church. You have mission training programs for young adults. Seowon Kyung Presbyterian Church has done good work in France. (저는 여러분이 선교하는 교회라는 것을 알고 있습니다. 선교 훈련 프로그램도 있고요. 서원경 청년부가 프랑스 프리마켓을 하였다는 이야기를 들었습니다)

I ask you to extend your missional vision to America. So come and send young people to America as missionaries.

(여러분의 선교적 비젼을 미국으로도 확장하시고 여러분이 오시든지 여러분의 자녀들을 보내십시요)

Pray: (기도하시겠습니다).

Father in Heaven breathe your Spirit upon us today. Fill us with your love. Help us to remember what Jesus said and did.

(하늘에 계신 아버지, 당신의 영을 오늘 우리에게 불어넣어주소서. 우리를 당신의 사랑으로 채우시고, 우리가 예수께서 말씀하시고 행하신것을 기억할 수 있도록 도우소서.

Bless us with opportunities to share our faith with others to the end of world, and fill others with your Spirit and love. This we pray in your son's name. Amen

(우리가 다른 사람들에게 우리의 믿음을 땅 끝까지 전할 수있는 기회들로 축복하옵소서. 그리고 우리가 전하는 복음을 듣는 사람들에게 당신의 영과 사랑으로 채우소서. 예수 이름으로 기도합니다.)

1Kimberly Long, Feasting On the Word Worship Companion (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013), 176.

2

Sermon – Jeremiah 20:7-13 Angry at God

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Beaver Dam and Pitts Creek Churches

Sermon – Jeremiah 20:7-13 Angry at God

June 22, 2014

God created us for the purpose of being in relationship with us. God wanted people to love. And he wants people to love him. But what kind of relationship does God desire with us? We will get to this, but first let's pray.

In your good time, O Lord, in your great mercy, come to us with your never-failing help. As this day unfolds, let us see in our friends, family, and neighbors the face of your loving-kindness toward them; in our own faces, let us see only what is yours. Be our strength and solace in these hours, and lighten the paths of all we encounter. We pray this in the strong Word that created and upholds the universe: in Jesus’ name. Amen.¹

If we are to have a relationship with God then we must decide what kind of relationship that would be. For example we could see God as far away, up in heaven, aloof and not really concerned about us. If that is what God is like, and many believe this, then its ok to talk with God occasionally, maybe once a week or less often if you find something better to do on Sunday. A God like this makes no demands on you. And you can live your lives as if he doesn't exist.

But God doesn't want this sort of relationship. He doesn't want to hear from you now and then. He created you to live with you. He wants a close, intimate relationship. He wants to be with you all the time. He wants you to talk with him every day, multiple times a day. That's the kind of relationship we are offered.

Others see God as their best friend who will do anything they ask. Whatever you want or think you need just ask God and he will do it. God is like a trained dog who will fetch, sit, and role over on command. But this is not the kind of relationship God wants either. God wants to be close, personal. Think of your spouse. You are with this person every day. You talk several times a day. You do things with and for each other. You love each other. This is the sort of relationship God has in mind with you.

For those of us who have been married for a while we know that our spouse is the source of great happiness. We would do anything for him or her. But sometimes a husband or wife is frustrating. You just don't see eye to eye. And you get angry, sometimes very angry with each other. And this is normal. You will get angry at your spouse from time to time, but you have learned to hang in there because you will get over the anger and the happiness will return.

So too with our relationship with God. Since we have a close, personal relationship with our creator we will at times be angry with him. Anger is an indication of how close we are to God. The angrier we get, the closer to God we must be. Let's listen to the prophet Jeremiah who was very close to God and has become very angry at God.

Jeremiah 20:⁷ O LORD, you deceived; me, and I was deceived you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. ⁸ Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. ⁹ But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. ¹⁰ I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side! Report him! Let's report him!" All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him."

^{Jeremiah is between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand God had revealed to him the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem and had commanded Jeremiah to proclaim this to the people. One the other hand, the people receiving God's message think Jeremiah is fool. If Jeremiah proclaims God's word, he will be arrested and beaten by the religious establishment. If he stops proclaiming God's word a fire burns in his heart. This is a no win situation for Jeremiah. And Jeremiah is angry at God for doing this.}

^{The people in Jeremiah's day no longer had any need for God. They thought they could go it alone. It seems that in America there is no longer any need for God either. Many people think God is far away, irrelevant, or maybe was never there at all.}

^{If God was far away, uninterested in us, or irrelevant there would be no point of getting angry. Who would you get angry at? Why would you be angry at something not there. But the good news is that people are getting angry at God because this indicates that they have a relationship with God.} 

 ^{Julie Exline, at psychologist at Case Western Reserve University, has been studying the anger Americans have toward God for a decade. In her study a large number of Americans expressed anger toward God. And I think their anger toward God, like Jeremiah's anger is a sign of great faith and a strong relationship with God. This was confirmed by a study at the University of Toronto that found 82% of Americans depend on God when making decisions.2}

^{Whenever we are angry with someone we love what do we do? Do we separate? Do we reconcile? Do we forgive? Let's go back to Jeremiah and see what he did when he was angry with God.}

¹¹ But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. ¹² O LORD Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. ¹³ Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.

Jeremiah knows that God is the source of his greatest joy. And he is not going to let anyone or anything come between him and God. He trusts that God will one day solve his problems and restore him to happiness. And so he rests secure in his relationship with God.

So too with us. We will from time to time be angry with God. We are angry when a loved one gets sick. We are angry when the Presbyterian General Assembly does something stupid. But we don't let our anger get between us and our God. We rest assured in God's arms confident that he loves us very much.

I would like to share with you a story about someone who became angry with God. Lori Kucharski is a young mother. Recently two of her college friends died of cancer leaving behind small children. Lori has been especially concerned about her own heath and safety because she also has two small children. About eight months after the birth of her son she and her husband were getting pizza ready for dinner. She began feeling a tingling sensation in her right arm. Then the arm went numb and she kept shaking it for feeling to come back. Just then there was a rain shower followed by a beautiful rainbow. She tried to say the word “rainbow” but she had trouble speaking. And her husband rushed her to the hospital. She had a mini-stroke. I'll let her describe what happened next.

“The next few days passed in a blur as I returned home….and then the anger came. I held my son, realizing my faith was completely rocked. I remembered my two beautiful, amazing friends who became mothers and then were taken from their children. And I was ANGRY. My thoughts were not faith-filled. What kind of God allows children to be taken from their parents or parents from their children? How dare He allow my friends to have babies, only to let them die from cancer? One friend, who died of melanoma-related cancer, didn’t even grow up in Florida like the rest of us did, roasting ourselves in the sun all year! How could He consider and call Himself a loving God when things like this happen?”³

Lori was very angry at God for all this. But she did not let anything come between her and God that would hurt their relationship. Let's hear from her again.

“I get angry at God and ask myself why He allows all of these bad things to happen. I know our questions will be answered on the other side, and often they’re answered on this side. I don’t believe God wants me to blindly accept pain and suffering. I believe He wants me to trust Him unconditionally and feel secure and confident in His love and mercy as I move through life. (Jesus said) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV).”⁴

So it's ok to be angry with God. Anger is a sign of the closeness of your relationship with him. And in Jesus Christ God has demonstrated that he wants a very close relationship with you. So be confident that your anger at God will pass and your joy will be restored because God loves you very much.

Father in Heaven, sometimes we are very angry at you. This is a sign of our great love for you and our desire to be in relationship with you. Bless us with faith when we are angry. And thank you for sending Jesus Christ so that nothing will separate us from your love. Amen.

1Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press p50 2http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/angry-god-thirds-americans-blame-god-problems-survey/print?id=12540557
3http://www.ibelieve.com/faith/angry-at-god.html
4Ibid.