The Power to Change - week 3

 

We are in a series called The Power to Change and I’m wondering how many of you have been hoping to experience some kind of change this year?  Are you hoping to get out of debt?  Hoping to improve your health or improve your relationships?  Anyone hoping to exercise more and get into shape?  Are you hoping for some kind of change?  If you are hoping for change, I have some bad news for you.  Hope is not enough.  

Hope is not enough.  We can hope all we want, but hope won’t change our life.  Believe me, hoping to eat healthier has never helped me eat better.  Hoping to get our finances in order won’t control our spending or increase my giving and generosity.  Hoping for a better relationship with God doesn't get me out of bed earlier in the morning to spend time reading the Bible.  Hope is a start.  Hope is important and good and right but hope alone is not enough.  

In this series we have learned that behavior modification won’t bring about lasting change, we need spiritual transformation. We need to dig deep and ask some spiritual why questions.  Why do we really want to change?  Why might God want us to change?  Last week, Pastor David talked about the need for us to see ourselves differently.  We need to ask ourselves some spiritual who questions?  Who does God want us to be?  Who do we want to be?  Do we see ourselves as the kind of person who can do more and be more than we think is possible because of the power God gives us?  Today we are going to begin to talk about the spiritual how.  How do we begin to actually change our lives? 

In all of our lives there is something very small that can turn our hope into change.  If we can harness the power of this one thing, our lives will change for the good.  To help us understand this one small thing, let me ask you, what did you do Friday morning when you first woke up?  Most of us know exactly what we did because we did the same thing on Thursday and Wednesday.  What was the first thing you did when you woke up?  We all know what Pastor David did.  He hit the snooze button a few times.  That’s the kind of person he is, but what did you do?  

All of us have some version of doing the same thing every morning.  If you are a man over a certain age, the first thing you probably do is make a trip to the bathroom.  Then in some order we shower, get dressed, make the bed, make some coffee, check our email, and turn on AccuWeather to see what Bernie Rayno says about the weather for the day.  Maybe then we fix breakfast for ourselves, or our kids, take some time to check the news, facebook, and then hopefully read the Bible, read a devotional on our Bible app, say a prayer, brush our teeth and go to work.  We all have a certain routine filled with small habits.  

Every morning my grandmother read the obituaries.  Before she would even do the crossword puzzle, she would read the obituaries.  She would tell us that if her name wasn’t in the paper, she could start her day.  It’s what she did every day. One day she really struggled because her name was in the paper.  She was reading the obituaries and there it was, Catherine Russell.  She told us that she didn’t know what to do or if she could continue on with her day because her name was there, but when she read the obituary and realized that it wasn’t her, she could begin her day.  

While the order we do things might change from day to day, and time might limit some of what we do, most of us have some kind of morning routine filled with small habits.  These habits have become part of our lives, and it is small habits like these that can become powerful agents of change.  For a great take on the power of small habits, I encourage you to listen to the commencement speech given by Navy Admiral William McRaven in 2017 titled, If You Want To Change The World, Make Your Bed!  Here is part of what he said:, 

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.  If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.

Little things in life matter.  One small habit can change everything.  Now I want to be clear and say that when we talk about habits that can change our lives, I am not talking about behavior modification. We learned a few weeks ago that just changing our behavior won’t bring about spiritual transformation, but once we tap into the power of God’s Holy Spirit and begin to see ourselves the way God sees us, then small holy habits can begin to bring about transformation.  We don’t start by changing our habits, we start by being clear about why we want to change and seeing us the way God sees us, but then changing our habits can turn our hope to change into actual change.  

There is a story in the Old Testament that shows us how one small habit helped change an entire nation.  In 587 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated Israel and took most of the people into captivity.  The very promising young men of Israel were all taken to the King’s palace to be indoctrinated into the culture of the Babylonians.  The goal was to make these men into strong leaders for Babylon.  One very promising young man was Daniel.  

Daniel was able to interpret dreams and when no one could interpret a dream that troubled Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel was sent for and he gave the king its meaning. Nebuchadnezzar was so pleased with Daniel that he said that there was only one God in all the land and it was the God of Israel.  King Nebuchadnezzar said, surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings.     

How did this amazing event ever take place?  How did Daniel get to the place where he was close enough to the King to tell him the meaning of his dream?  What we learn about Daniel is that it all started with one small holy habit.  After Nebuchadnezzar died, another king came to power named Darius.  Daniel continued to rise in power and leadership and all the Babylonian leaders were jealous of Daniel so they tried to discredit him.  Because they couldn’t find any flaw in his character or wisdom, they knew they had to somehow undermine his faith.  

Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”  Daniel 6:5

So the Babylonian leaders went to Darius and said he should set a decree that all the people could only pray to him and if anyone prayed to someone other than him, they would be thrown to the lions.  This pleased Darius, so he set the decree and no one could pray to anyone other than the King.  But Daniel had always been faithful to the God of Israel.  Here’s what Daniel did.    

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.  Daniel 6:10

In the face of persecution and certain death, Daniel didn’t waver or hesitate to do what he had always done, which was to bow down to God and pray.  Daniel had always prayed to God three times a day.  Daniel always prayed facing Jerusalem to honor God and he always prayed on his knees to humble himself before God.  This was a holy habit that Daniel had been doing for years.  This life of prayer is how Daniel rose to power in the first place and it was his life of prayer that gave him the ability to interpret dreams.  This one holy habit of prayer is what gave Daniel the courage to remain faithful, even in the face of the lions, and help the king of Babylon proclaim that the God of Israel was the God of gods and the Lord of kings.  

One holy habit changed everything.  So what is one holy habit you can adopt to become the person God says you are?  God told Daniel that he was a man who would always remain faithful, and the habit of prayer helped Daniel be that man.  

 

If God says you are a parent who passes your faith to your children, one small habit you might want to embrace is to pray with your children before they go to bed, or before they go to school. 

If God says you are the kind of person who is grateful in all situations and sees the good in all people, then one small habit you might want to embrace is to send out thank you notes each week.  

If you want to be a more spiritual person who is able to more clearly hear the voice of God, one small habit you might add to your life would be to read the Bible in the morning before you turn on the TV or check in on social media.  

If you want to be closer to God and feel like you are part of a larger community that has power and can change our world, one small habit might be to commit to being in worship every Sunday, and if you are able to be there in person, be there in person.  

Let me be clear, I am very grateful for our ability to worship together online.  Our online presence gives many people who can’t be with us in person the opportunity to worship and be present with us.  When people are sick or move away, we have the opportunity to stay connected.  There are many wonderful and important things about our online worship, but if you are able to join us in person, I invite you to do so.  Being together in worship is important.  

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  Hebrews 10:24-25

There is encouragement, love, and yes, power that we can tap into when we worship together in person.  While it is important to gather so we can experience that love and grace and power, it is also important for us to meet together so we can be the one offering that love and grace and power.  One of the important parts about being present in worship is that God might want to use you to encourage and spur others on.  We can’t do that when we are online and sitting at home.  

Worship isn’t just coming together to get strength and power from God and others, it is also about coming together to serve and love and strengthen others.  One small holy habit to strengthen your faith this year might be to simply return to in-person worship.  We are here and we would love to have you join us.  

The power to change your life is often found in one small holy habit.  If you are hoping for change but the change you want seems too big, don’t be afraid to start small.  Start with one small holy habit.  And if you want to start a new habit, here are two things that research shows can help you.

1. Make it obvious.  

If you want to read your Bible every day, put your Bible on the table where you will see it every day.  If you have to go find it all the time, chances are something else will get in the way.  You know the old saying, out of sight, out of mind.  Keep it visible and obvious.

We do this with medication and vitamins. If you want to remember to take a vitamin every day, don’t put the bottle back on the shelf, leave it out where you will see it.  Put your pills in a weekly case where you will be reminded to take them every day.  

If you want to pray before you start your day, put a notification on your phone that goes off at the same time, and no matter where you are or what you are doing, stop and take a few moments to ask God to help you through your day.  Even if you are driving you can ask God to guide you through the day, just don’t close your eyes.  

2. Make it easy.

James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, talks about a 2 minute rule.  When you start a new habit, make it something you can do in 2 minutes.  If you want to make prayer a part of your life, don’t start with 20 minutes of prayer, start with 2 minutes, everyday, and go from there.  If you want to pray together as a family, start with just a few minutes a day. 

 If you want to practice gratitude and send out notes, make them short and sweet.  Keep the box of cards on your desk and take just 2 minutes to let someone know you appreciate them.  

I always liked the idea of journaling but felt like I had to write paragraphs every day.  If you want to journal, write just a sentence or two.  Make it easy.  Those simple first steps will lead you to longer and more involved habits as you keep going.  

Too often we think that something short and small might not be worth it, but it is.  Those small holy habits can help us tap into the power of God that can change our lives, our families, and even our futures.  In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul said, 

Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT)

Small changes can change our lives and our destinies. Don't be afraid to start small.  When Israel started to rebuild the Temple after King Nebuchadnezzar tore it down, the work was going very slowly, but the prophet Zechariah encouraged the people with these words.  

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.  Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)

What one small holy habit can you add to your life so that in time you will become the person God created you to be?  What one small holy habit can help you tap into the power God gives us to change?  Find that one small holy habit and start doing it today and allow God to give you the power to change.  

 

Next Steps

The Power to Change - Week 3

Holy Habits

Reflect on the spiritual whys of change.  

● What are the spiritual reasons you want to change?

Reflect on the spiritual who.  

● Who does God want you to become?  

● Who do you want to become? 

Now focus on the spiritual how.  

● What are some of your current habits? 

● In what ways do these habits honor God? 

● How could you use these habits to start a new one?

Read Daniel 6  (Look specifically at verse 10)

● What holy habit did Daniel practice?

● How had this habit helped Daniel in all of the difficult situations he faced?

● How did this one habit change the Kings of Babylon and even the people of Babylon?

One holy habit can change everything.

What one holy habit do you need to start this week in order to become the person God created you to be?

● Find ways to make this habit OBVIOUS.  

● Find ways to make this habit EASY.

○ Can you start this habit in just 2 minutes a day and then build from there?  

God, because we have a relationship with You, we’re able to experience real change. Help us identify a habit in our lives that You’re calling us to start. Then, show us how we can start practicing that habit today and all this week. 

We ask this in Jesus’ name.  Amen

The Power to Change - week 1

 

How many of you made a New Year’s resolution?   

Did anyone make a plan to eat healthier?  Exercise more?  Read the Bible in a year?  Spend less money and more time with kids and family?  If you made a resolution, how are you doing?  I know, it’s just been a week, but according to a study of 40 million people, most people have failed in their New Year resolutions and given up by the second Friday of January.  If you haven’t given up yet, good for you, but many of you will by the end of the week.  

How many of you set goals last year to get into shape and out of debt and yet you still weigh more than you want and you spent more than you planned in 2023?  How many of you set a goal to read the Bible in a year and you still have that goal?  Too many of us make plans to change but are never able to follow through and so year after year nothing changes and we just feel stuck.  We want to improve our lives but we never seem able to achieve the change we want.  

If you are tired of feeling stuck and longing for some real change, you are not alone.  In fact you are in some very good company and I don’t mean those around you.  There is someone else who understands our struggle and he is the one who wrote most of the New Testament, the Apostle Paul.  Paul went through a dramatic change in his life when he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and he was one of the most faithful and courageous people for Jesus that the world has ever known, but he also felt stuck when it was time to make a change. In his letter to the Romans, Paul said

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.  I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.  Oh, what a miserable person I am!  

Romans 7:15, 19, 24a (New Living Translation)

Of all the passages of scripture, this one is the most real and raw for me.  This is how I feel in so many areas of my life.  I know how I want to live and the disciplines I want to have, and I know all the ways I want and need to change, and I try to change, but the good I want to do I don’t always do, and the wrong and the evil that I don’t want to do I too often end up doing, and I feel miserable.  Year after year I feel miserable because I make the same resolutions, set the same goals, and give up after failing in the first 2 weeks of January.  

There is a reason we go through this cycle over and over again, it’s because we are trying to change the wrong way.  One of the foundations of this message series is what real change is and isn’t. 

Real change is NOT behavior modification.  

Real change IS spiritual transformation.  

Real change isn’t behavior modification.  It’s not just changing the outside of our lives but asking God to change us from the inside out.  Real change has to be spiritual, changing who we are, or who we think we are, and living from the inside out.  Paul understood this.  As long as he was trying to change his behavior on his own he ended up failing and miserable.  What changed him, what freed him so that he could live life the way he wanted to live it and the way God wanted him to live it, was the power of Jesus Christ.  Paul said,

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 7:24-25a (NLT)

Paul knew that when it came to real change in his life, he had to lean into and draw on the power and strength of Jesus Christ.  

As a Christian, when it comes to thinking about change and how God is involved in helping us change, there are three mindsets we tend to see.  Two are wrong, but one is right.

The first mindset is:  God THEN me. 

With this mindset, we see how God begins a process of change by drawing us to Himself.  We come to terms with the reality of our sin, we accept God’s forgiveness, and we know that Jesus saves us.  As we walk with Jesus, we begin to see the kind of life God wants us to live and we think we are supposed to go out and just do it.  Do all you can to be like Jesus.  With this mindset we often think, if it’s going to be, then it’s up to me.  We are the ones who have to make the change.  We have to think better, act better, speak better, love better and live better.  It’s all up to us. 

This mindset usually ends in failure because we don’t have what it takes to live the life God sets out for us.  On our own we will try, but fail.  On our own we end up in a constant cycle of trying and failing. We can’t do it, only God can do it, which leads to the second mindset:  God NOT me.

With this mindset we tell ourselves that it is God’s job to change our lives. Because we can’t do it, we’ve tried and failed, it must be God’s job.  I can’t do it so God has to do it for me.  With this mindset we are expecting God to do the difficult things that we don’t want to do, or we end up asking God to clean up the messes we have created.  For example, with this mindset, we don’t try to control or limit our spending, we ask God to help us pick the right powerball numbers so we can win the jackpot and get out of debt. 

The problem with this mindset is that it absolves us of any personal responsibility.  We just expect God to make all the changes and for God to do all the work.  While God longs to change us and at times He steps in to make dramatic changes in our lives, this is not the way real change will be experienced in our lives.  God doesn’t exist to clean up our messes and do all the work for us, God wants a relationship with us, which leads us to the third and right mindset:

God THROUGH me.  

This is what spiritual transformation looks like.  It looks like God’s power working in us and with us and through us to bring about real and Godly change in our lives.  This is the mindset Paul gives us when he says, 

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10

Paul was very clear about the kind of person he was and that the only reason he had changed was because of the grace of God.  The grace of God changed Paul dramatically and it was that grace that continued to change Paul's life. But Paul went on to say, while God’s grace was at work in Him, he also worked hard.  He worked harder than all of the apostles in serving Jesus, and he did.   

Paul traveled more to share the gospel, he established more churches, and he was persecuted more than the other apostles.  Paul faced stonings, shipwrecks, snake bites and shackles because of his hard work for the gospel.  Paul did more work for the gospel than maybe any other single person other than Jesus, but he knew that his hard work wasn’t the full reason for the change and growth in his life because he goes back and says that all his work was only effective because of the grace of God that worked through him as he was working.  

There is a balance and understanding Paul has that he doesn’t work without God and that God wants to help him and equip him to work as well.  There is a partnership that takes place as we allow the Holy Spirit to bring about transformation in our lives.  God works through us to strengthen us so that we can work for and with God.  This is spiritual transformation and not just behavior modification.  This is where there is real power to change.  

This all sounds good, but how do we begin to put this into practice?  Well, for spiritual transformation to take place it has to be spiritual.  Profound, isn’t it?  But it’s true.  Spiritual transformation has to be powered by the Holy Spirit and it requires us to ask spiritual questions about who we are and how we live and why and where change is needed.    

Behind every motivation to change there is a why and a how.  If we want to get in shape this year, why?  Is it because we want to look good, or get ready for the beach or maybe the big high school reunion coming up this year.  Is it because our doctor told us we should?  Is it to lower our health care premiums?  Why are we motivated to make the change and then how will we do it?  How will we get in shape?  We will follow the latest diet; keto, clean eating, dry January or intermittent fasting?  

All of these whys and hows are fine, but they don’t help us tap into spiritual transformation because they aren’t asking deeper spiritual questions.  Is there a deeper spiritual reason why we need to think about getting into shape and improving our health?  A spiritual reason we might want to get into shape is because we were created by God and our bodies are the temple of the Spirit so we should want to take good care of what God has given us.  Tapping into the spiritual why behind our need or desire for change can help us think about transformation and not just modification.  And how will we make this happen?  Don’t just think outwardly but inwardly.  What is the power of God that we can draw from as we try and make changes in our lives?  

Another resolution people make is to spend less time online.  That’s a great goal.  When we look at our devices and see how much time we really spend connected online, we might begin to see the need for a change.  But can we identify a deeper reason to change, a more spiritual reason why we should spend less time online.   

A spiritual reason for spending less time online could be that if part of our purpose as children of God is to love God and love others, it’s hard to do that effectively when we are spending 4 hours a day on social media.  Spending less time on social media gives us more time to love and serve God, as well as time to love and serve our family, friends, and community in ways that will be a blessing.  A spiritual why can help us focus on spiritual transformation and not just behavior modification.

Another goal people set is to spend less money and get out of debt.  Again, that is a good and worthy goal, but what if we dig deeper and talk about the spiritual dynamics of money and spending.  Can we see that all of our money is a gift from God and that we are called to use it all wisely?  If we can get out of debt and spend less, then it frees up more resources for us to be a blessing in our church and community. There can be true spiritual transformation that takes place in our lives when we begin to see our spending, and saving, and giving as spiritual acts not just financial acts.  

When we look at where change is needed in our lives and begin to uncover the spiritual whys, it will help us see where spiritual transformation is needed.  Seeing where spiritual transformation is needed helps us ask for the spiritual power needed for change.  How we tap into that spiritual power to find transformation will be some of what we focus on in the weeks to come.  For now, let’s understand that the Bible is clear, God gives us power to change and strength to overcome.

1 John 4:4. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  The Holy Spirit is powerful and is present to work in us and help us overcome all things.  And the Apostle Paul said,

I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NLT)  There is a power God makes available to us that can transform us and not just change our behavior.   

There is power from God that can help us experience real change.  We don’t do it on our own, it’s not God then me, and it’s not all God’s job to change our lives, it’s not God and not me.  Real change is God through me.  The power of God can bring spiritual transformation so we can become the people God created us to be and it is the Holy Spirit that equips us so that transformation is possible.  If you are tired of being stuck, stop trying to change your behavior and begin to ask the Holy Spirit why and how real spiritual transformation can take place in your life.  

Next Steps

The Power to Change - Week 1

Have you made any New Year’s resolutions this year?  

How are you doing with them?

Most people give up on their resolutions by January 14th.  When have you made resolutions and followed through on them?  What gave you the ability to make real change?  

Read Romans 7:15, 19, 24-25.

In what ways do you connect with Paul’s message?

How can your relationship with Jesus help bring about lasting change?  

Three ways we think about God helping us change.

● God THEN me.  God calls us to change and then we have to do it on our own.

● God NOT me.  We can’t bring about real change so we ask God to do it all.

● God THROUGH me.  We ask for God’s grace and power to help us change from the inside out.  

See 1 Corinthians 15:9-10

What are the problems with the first two ways we think about change? 

Asking for God’s grace and power to work through us requires us to uncover some spiritual whys and hows.  

Thinking about the change you want in your life:

● Why do you want to change?  

● Why might God want you to change?  

● What are the spiritual reasons why you need to change?  

Take time this week to uncover your spiritual whys and ask God to prepare you for the change His grace and power can bring to your life.

God with the Faithful

 

When I was in High School, several of the people in my home church thought I would end up being a pastor.  They knew my Dad was a pastor and the chaplain at a local hospital, and they knew I loved the church and was very active in it.  Many people were convinced I would end up serving in the local church, but I consistently said no.  

When I was in college, many of my friends said I would end up in the local church as a pastor.  Again, I said no.  I actually said, never, which made them laugh because they said we should never say never to God.  I finally ended up going to seminary and for the first year and a half I continued to say no to the local church.  I then spent some time in a wonderful church as an associate pastor and realized that God had actually made me for this.  

It took years for me to finally say yes to God’s will and God’s plan and through all of those years, God was there.  God didn’t give up on me or turn his back and walk away when I said no, God continued to be with me and led me to a place where I could fully say yes.  When I finally did say yes, it was an uncertain time as I didn’t know where I would end up or if I could really do the job, all I knew was that God was with me.   

Today we are going to look at the story of a young girl who didn’t need years to say yes to God.  In fact, even though she had doubts and fears and questions about what God was asking of her, she said yes to God’s plan quickly.  Her name was Mary.  Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

The Elizabeth that is mentioned here is the wife of Zechariah that we talked about last week.  Elizabeth and Mary were cousins and it was in the 6th month of Elizabeth’s unexpected and miraculous pregnancy that the angel came to tell Mary that she was highly favored by God.  While Elizabeth and Zechariah had felt forgotten for most of their life because they had never had a child, Mary was young and at the beginning of her life.  Mary was also faithful, the angel said that she was favored by God.  God saw her faithfulness and was with her.  So God is with the forgotten and God is with the faithful.  God sees Mary’s faithfulness and God is not only with her but God has a BIG plan for her life. 

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

God has chosen Mary to be the mother of the Messiah. This is a huge blessing and honor.  Young girls at this time dreamed of being the mother of the Messiah.  Many of them prayed for this honor and blessing, but Mary is confused because as faithful as she is, she doesn’t understand how this can happen as she is a virgin and not married.  

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

I can hear Mary saying to the angel, “While God’s plan is wonderful, it does seem that the timing is all wrong.  Maybe if God comes back next year when I’m married and things are settled down it would make more sense.  Right now just isn't the right time.  What will Joseph say?  What will the people say?  How would it even be possible?”  As faithful as she was, Mary had some doubts and questions. She has some fear about what God is asking of her.  God’s response to all this isn’t to abandon Mary, but to encourage her and offer some more information and assurance.  

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

The angel tells Mary that this is going to happen by the power of God and before Mary has a chance to say it can’t happen, he reminds Mary that her cousin Elizabeth who everyone thought could never have a child was already in the 6th month of her own miraculous pregnancy.  What everyone said was impossible had taken place and if God could do that, then God could do this.    

Not only does pointing out Elizabeth’s situation assure Mary that this pregnancy can happen, it also lets Mary know that she will not be alone in what she will go through.  If she says yes to God’s plan, there will be someone she knows and loves who will understand her situation and can help her through it.  I love the reassuring nature of God’s call in our lives.  God never calls us to step out and say yes without giving us both the assurance that it can happen and the support we need if and when we say yes.  

And this is the point Mary is at, will she say yes?  Will she lean into her faith or give in to her fear?  Mary remains faithful and says, yes.  

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary is the picture of faithfulness.  She has doubts and fears about her future and what will happen and how God will accomplish these things in her life, but she doesn’t give in to that fear.  Mary steps out in faith.  She doesn’t know how Joseph will respond and if he will still take her as his wife, but she trusts God to be with her through the uncertainty.  She doesn’t see the path clearly in front of her, she doesn’t know how this story will unfold, but she says yes because she trusts that God will be with her.  

That’s really what being faithful is all about; saying yes to God in the face of fear and doubt and uncertainty because we know that God is with us.  Faithfulness is walking into the purpose and plan God has for us even when the road ahead is not clear and our questions go unanswered.  Saying yes to God really is a journey of faith.  It’s trusting God each step of the way as life unfolds.  

After I said yes, I had an uncertain road ahead as I started the process of being licensed as a pastor.  I had to figure out what Annual Conference I would serve in and I wasn’t sure where to go.  Step by step God led me to PA and finally to Altoona.  Even after I arrived and started serving, I was unsure, uncertain, and questioned God’s will for my life.  In fact, in 30 years of ministry I have continued to have doubts and fears and uncertainty but have trusted that God would lead me step by step as I continued to say, I am your servant God.  Let your word and your plan for me be fulfilled.  And in 30 years, God has never let me down.  

Many of us hear God’s call to do something that might seem big for us and we come to a place where we need to say yes or no.  Will we step out in faith or give in to fear?  If we know God is with us and that God loves us, then fear has no place in our hearts and lives.  The Bible says, perfect love casts out fear and that perfect love isn’t our love for God, it’s God’s love for us.  We might never get to a place of perfect love for God but if we know God loves us, that we are highly favored, and that God is calling us, then in confidence we can say yes and take that first step forward.  

I am grateful and excited for all the people here who have said yes to God and stepped out in faith to explore starting a fresh expression.  A fresh expression is one way we are seeking to be the church in the community and developing worshiping congregations for people who might never enter the church to worship with us.  As we have lifted up this vision of being the church, 26 people said they heard God calling them to think about and they have said yes and are now growing and learning together. 

Like Mary, they have questions about how this is going to work and they are uncertain about the future and what the road will look like, but I thank God they didn’t give in to fear and instead said yes and are allowing God to work in them and through them.  One woman has already invited her neighbors into her home for dessert and some discussion about the Bible and many of them accepted.  When we say yes to God, all kinds of things are possible.  

I see those who are stepping out to explore and start fresh expressions like Mary.  God is working in them to create a time and place where Jesus can be shared and lives changed.  But Mary didn’t go through this alone.  Not only was God with her but so was Elizabeth.  The very first thing we see Mary doing after saying yes to God is going to visit her cousin Elizabeth.  Luke 1:39-45

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

This encounter assured Mary that what was taking place in her was from God, and it also gave her someone to encourage her and walk alongside her through the difficult and uncertain days to come.  Everyone who says yes to God needs this kind of encouragement.  Everyone needs an Elizabeth in their lives to assure them that God is working in their lives and that He will be with them through the difficult and uncertain times.  

Each of those exploring Fresh Expressions needs an Elizabeth, someone who will support them, listen to them, and walk alongside them.  Fresh Expressions as part of our church life isn’t just for those who hear God calling them to step out and lead one, it also involves those who will step out in faith with them.  If you are interested in being an Elizabeth to one of our Mary’s, a supporter of someone who is exploring starting a fresh expression, please reach out and let Pastor David know.  Don’t be afraid to say yes.  Trust God and step out in faith.  

Another ministry that needs people willing to be a support and encouragement to others is Bridge of Hope.  Bridge of Hope works with single mothers who struggle with homelessness, but they don’t just give them money for rent.  In fact, the money is the lesser of the two gifts, the real gift they give is support, acceptance, and community.  Through what are called Neighboring Volunteers, a group of faith-filled people walk with these single mothers and their children to help them get to a better place in life.  

In many ways the Neighboring Volunteers are like Elizabeth.  They offer assurance that God is doing a good work in their lives and they help these mothers face a challenging and uncertain future.  While we are financially supporting Bridge of Hope with our Christmas Offering this year, I also hope that we can support them with 6-10 people who are willing to say yes to being a Neighboring Volunteer.  Let me share with you a video of Tirzah Gibboney talking about the importance of this part of Bridge of Hope’s ministry.

Neighboring Volunteers make a difference.  They help change people’s lives.  Maybe that is the call God has for you.  Maybe it’s to support someone with a passion for starting a fresh expression, maybe there is something more or something greater or something different, but if God is calling you, don’t give in to fear.  Trust God’s perfect love for you which can cast out all fear, and say yes to God.  You are the faithful one, the favored one, and God is calling you.  If you take this step of faith, God will be there.  God is always there because His name is Emmanuel - God with us.  

Next Steps

God With Us - The Faithful

Read the story of Mary.  Luke 1:26-45

● Identify the doubt, fear, and uncertainty Mary experienced in this call of God.

● When have you felt some of these same things when God has called you to step out in faith?

● How does God give reassurance and support to Mary?

What call are you hearing from God?

What doubt, fear, and uncertainty do you feel in this call?

How can God’s perfect love cast out fear and help you step out in faith?

Mary found assurance and encouragement from Elizabeth. 

Who can you support and encourage as they step out and follow God’s call in their lives?

Fresh Expressions form when mutual interests or current needs meet hearts that are open to sharing Jesus.  

26 people from Faith Church are saying yes to God and exploring if leading a fresh expression is part of God’s call in their life.  These people need prayer and encouragement.  If you would like to support these people who have said yes and stepped out in faith, please contact Pastor David at: david.carter@bellefontefaith.com

Bridge of Hope helps provide resources for single mothers experiencing homelessness.  You can support Bridge of Hope through this year’s Christmas Offering, but you can also become a Neighboring Volunteer and support families as they seek to find God’s plan for their lives.  To learn more about Neighboring Volunteers, please contact Tirzah Gibboney at: tirzah.boh@gmail.com

God with the forgotten

 

It’s easy to look around today and think that God has forgotten us.  Not only do we see conflict in Israel and Gaza, but there is the ongoing war in Ukraine, and then there is the war no one is talking about in Sudan where during the past 6 months 9,000 people have been killed and another 5.6 million people have been forced from their homes.  In a season when angels sing about peace on earth, good will toward men, we don’t see a lot of peace or good will and we begin to wonder if God has forgotten us.  

Or maybe you are looking at your home and family and wondering if God has forgotten you.  When prayers for healing, jobs, financial stability and improved relationships don’t seem to be answered, we might wonder if God hears us or if God cares.  Has God forgotten us?  Will God ever respond to us?  Will God provide for us?  I don’t know if you have ever been in that place of unanswered prayer, or if you are there now, but many people have felt forgotten by God and it causes them to doubt God’s presence, God’s power and God’s desire to speak to us.   

This place of darkness and feeling forgotten by God is where the Christmas story begins.  The prophet Malachi, which is the last book of the Old Testament, is considered the last prophet to speak to God’s people.  Malachi served as a prophet about 440 BC, so before the birth of Jesus, there were about 400 years when God had not spoken to His people.  During these centuries, Israel had gone through a period of being ruled over by the Greeks, the Syrians, the Egyptians, and finally the Romans and during all those difficult and dark days, God was silent and the people felt forgotten.

While God hadn’t spoken through a prophet, the people remained faithful and continued to worship.  As difficult as it was for them, the people of Israel continued to worship God in the temple and offer the sacrifices and offerings God had laid out for them.  The ancestors of Aaron continued to be the ones who offered up the prayers and sacrifices for the people, and each year a group of them would go to the Temple in Jerusalem.  Each man had to go once a year and at each gathering they would draw lots to see who would get the honor of going into the Holy of Holies to pray for the people.  

Since that honor was done by lot, a man could go his entire life without ever being chosen.  No man could go more than once in his lifetime, but with so many men in each division, you could go your entire life and never be chosen to enter the holiest place in the Temple to pray.  Can you imagine if that was you?  Every year you make the journey to Jerusalem with the hope that this will be the year you get to go in and pray in the presence of God, but each year the honor goes to someone else.  Each year you pray it will be your turn, but it never happens.  You see everyone else get honored and chosen but it’s never you. You begin to feel like God has forgotten you.

That was Zechariah.  He was a descendant of Aaron who throughout his long life went every year to Jerusalem to help offer prayers and sacrifices, but he was never chosen to go into the Holy of Holies. And it is with Zechariah that the story of Jesus begins.  The story of Jesus’ birth doesn’t begin with Mary or Joseph, the story of Jesus begins with Zechariah.  Luke 1:5-7

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.  

Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod, when Israel was ruled by the Romans.  God had not delivered His people from the oppression of foreign nations  and God had not spoken to His people for  400 years about the coming of a Messiah who would set them free or when that might happen.  The people were feeling forgotten.  

And Zechariah, a very old man, had been faithful his entire life.  It says he had observed all of God’s laws and was blameless before God but he had never been chosen by God to pray in the Holy of Holies.  Each year he went with his group to pray at the Temple in Jerusalem, and each year he came home disappointed.  God looked favorably on others but had forgotten him.  

Not only does Zechariah feel forgotten by God because he had never been chosen to pray, but both he and Elizabeth felt forgotten by God because they have never had any children.  Children were a sign of God’s blessing.  If you had a child you were loved and favored by God.  If you had a child, God was looking down on you and He remembered you.  Throughout their long lives, Zechariah and Elizabeth would have both prayed fervently for a child, but God never provided.  God was silent.  God had forgotten them.  

So the story of Jesus begins with a man who feels completely forgotten by God.  God hadn’t spoken to Zechariah’s people for 400 years.  God hadn’t chosen Zechariah to be the one to pray and offer sacrifices in the Temple, and God hadn’t heard Zechariah’s personal prayers, and his wife’s prayers, for a child.  Zechariah must have felt like, three strikes and I’m out.  God has truly forgotten me.  

If that is how you are feeling today, forgotten by God, then you are in good company, and it is here that the story of Jesus can begin in your own life because this is where it all changed for Zechariah.  

Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.  Luke 1:8-10

Finally, after a lifetime of waiting, Zechariah had been chosen to offer prayers on behalf of the people.  Zechariah was going to have his chance to go before God and pray.  He was going to pray for God’s deliverance to come.  He was going to pray for God to speak to His people, and maybe Zechariah would have the opportunity to ask God why he and Elizabeth had never had a child.  It was finally his time to pray. Zechariah entered into the Holy of Holies to pray.    

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,  for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.  Luke 1:11-15

Through an angel, God was finally speaking and God spoke directly to Zechariah and assured him that he personally had not been forgotten but that after a lifetime of prayers for a son God had heard him and God was now answering him.  He and Elizabeth were not forgotten and would be blessed with a son, but the angel wasn’t done.

He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  Luke 1:16-17

What the angel was saying is that their child was going to have the power of the prophets on him and that he would be the one to prepare God’s people for the coming of the Messiah.  God had not forgotten His people.  Not only was a prophet coming to speak God’s word, but the long-awaited Messiah was coming as well.  Into 400 years of silent darkness, a spark of hope was coming.  It’s the one candle shining in the darkness.  God had not forgotten His people, in fact, God was coming to be with His people.

At a moment when Zechariah felt the most forgotten by God because his people had not heard from God, he had never been chosen to enter God’s presence to pray, and he and his wife had never been blessed with a child, God showed up and said I am with you Zechariah, and I am with my people.  You are not forgotten.   

And YOU are not forgotten.  At those moments when we feel most forgotten by God because our prayers haven’t been answered, or our life hasn’t turned out the way we thought it would or we wanted it to, or if we are just feeling far from God, we need to remember that we are not forgotten.  One of the promises God has made to us is that He cannot forget us.  God said this through the prophet Isaiah.  “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”   Isaiah 49:15-16a

I will not forget you.  I have you engraved on my hands.  I see your heart and life every day.  I know the hairs on your head.  Jesus said that two sparrows are sold for a penny and yet if one of them falls to the ground, God knows about it.  You are more valuable than half a penny, Jesus said, so God is fully aware of your life.  In fact, God knows the number of hairs on your head.   

God has not forgotten us and God has not forgotten His promise to be with us.  God hasn’t forgotten His promise to provide for us and care for us, and God hasn’t forgotten his promise to love us and forgive us. We might feel forgotten by God, but we are not.  Today and through this Advent Season we celebrate Emmanuel - which literally means, God with us.  While it’s easy to feel the darkness set in around us, today we remember that God’s light has come and the darkness can never overcome it.   

Not only is God with us, but God desires to speak to us.  While God used to only speak to His people through prophets, today God can speak to our very hearts through the Holy Spirit.  If we think God is silent and has forgotten us, maybe it’s because we aren’t taking the time to listen.  How can we learn to listen to God?  In this incredibly busy season, how can we slow down so we can hear God’s voice?  How can we “be still” and know that God is with us?  

I know that this is a busy season for everyone.  There are parties at work and among friends.  There are gifts to buy and wrap and mail.  There are cookies to make and trees to decorate, and even at the church there are extra jobs to do and concerts and programs to attend.  In the midst of this busy season, how can we intentionally be still and listen for the voice of God?  

One way we can do this is to set aside a few minutes in the morning or at night to read God’s word.  There are 24 chapters of Luke so starting today we can read the entire life story of Jesus as we prepare to celebrate His birth.  There are also great online devotionals that can help you prepare for Christmas.  If you open an advent calendar with your children, or if you do one yourself, take time as you open the window to read or pray or simply listen for God.  

Like Zechariah, we could also go off by ourselves and pray.  Notice that the angel didn’t speak to Zechariah until he was by himself.  Sometimes we might need to get away by ourselves to be able to hear God speak.  In this busy season, for us to hear God we might have to place ourselves in a quiet place where we can hear God’s voice.  God has not forgotten us and God does have something to say to us. 

Not only should this be a season where we listen to God, but this should also be a season where we listen to others.  Many people not only feel forgotten by God, they feel forgotten period.  David said a few weeks ago that there is an epidemic of loneliness in our country.  Studies show that the people hit the hardest are young adults, older adults, and mothers with young children.  Feeling forgotten and alone can lead to an increase in depression, anxiety, heart disease, substance abuse, and domestic abuse.  

Loneliness also leads to an increased risk of heart disease, strokes, and dementia in older adults.  The holidays are often the time many people feel forgotten and lonely so it’s important for us to not only listen to God but to take the time to listen to others.  

I want to encourage you to find one person in your life that might be struggling with feeling forgotten and take the time to listen to them.  Maybe it’s a grandparent or a grandchild.  Maybe it’s the single parent you know that needs to talk and share, or the neighbor, young or old, whose family all lives out of town.  Maybe it’s the coworker who is struggling through a difficult season and feels isolated.  If each one of us found one person to listen to during this season, there would be less loneliness, more community, and more joy.  As we take time to listen to God, let’s also take time to listen to those around us who might feel forgotten and alone.

This year, the Christmas story begins where it did over 2000 years ago, in a world and among people who at times feel forgotten and alone.  What we celebrate in Jesus is Emmanuel - God with us.  We are not forgotten.  

 

Next Steps

God with Us - The Forgotten

When have you felt forgotten by God?  

When have your prayers seemed to go unanswered?

Read the story of Zechariah.  Luke 1:5-25

Why did the people of Israel feel forgotten by God?

Why did Zechariah personally feel forgotten by God?

How did all that change?

Take time during this busy season to listen for God’s voice.

● Read the gospel of Luke.

● Read and reflect on the words of your favorite carols.

● Use a devotional or prayer app to help you listen to God every day.

Take time during this busy season to listen to those who feel forgotten by God and others.

● Reach out to a coworker or neighbor is going through a hard time.

● Send a note or card to someone who lives alone.

● Invite someone to worship on Christmas Eve.

● Invite someone who has experienced loss to the Blue Christmas Worship.

Fresh Expressions – A Call to Pray:  Pray for the 26 people who are part of our Fresh Expression Cohort as they listen to God and people who might feel forgotten.  Pray for those who will one day encounter God through one of our Fresh Expression worshiping communities.  

2023 Christmas Eve Offering: Bridge of Hope

Homeless mothers with children not only feel forgotten but overlooked. To help these women and children, our Christmas Eve Offering this year will go to support the ministry of Bridge of Hope in Centre County.