18th Sunday after Pentecost!
Focus Statement: The Lord told Moses how to get water for the Hebrews because they were quarreling and saying, "Is the Lord Among us or not?"
Function Statement: Because of hearing this message the congregation will remember/realize that they have had/will have times when they will wonder if the Lord is there, they will realize it is alright to question the Lord at these times, and they will realize the Lord will always come through for them!
1st Movement:
Just before I was sixteen, my family moved to Corning. We selected a church to go to that wasn't
even the denomination that we had formerly attended because when we visited
there and the church that was the denomination we had attended, we kids really
wanted to go to this church. It had a
good youth group and they were doing things with the kids. The lady that taught the youth had such an
open spirit about her. She gave you the
feeling that you were wanted and that she was really glad you were there. She had a way about her that she could joke
around, yet she could be firm and let you know her expectations. The Sunday School class was one of
anticipation about what we were going to learn about today; the kids liked
being there. There was a young couple in
the church that also worked with the kids; he later was named the youth
director. They had the youth over to
their house on Thursday nights for cottage prayer meetings. We gathered for refreshments, and there was
always plenty of them. He really had a
heart for influencing the youth. We
would have a little lesson and then share concerns and have prayer. These folks really became special and
influential in my life! I went to camp
during this time and at camp went to the altar feeling that God was calling me
into some special service but not really knowing what that service was
yet. Things were looking good, and I was
excited spiritually!
Then, our church was doing so good that they had to start trying
to decide what to do; we were running out of room! They didn't work together in this, and the
church ended up splitting over what to do.
Some stayed at the old building and continued on there, and some went to
another location and built another building.
My parents wanted to stay. They
didn't feel right by leaving! The
problem for me was that all the people I had grown to love and who had been so
influential for me had gone to the other church! Besides that, the ones who were left in
general were bitter and said things about the other folks assuming that we all
felt that way or we wouldn't be there!
My family stuck it out for two years, thinking it would get better, but
it didn't. It was dragging us down,
listening to all the back biting, so we finally left and went to another church
where the Lord healed our brokenness!
During the two years while I was dealing with missing those who
I had grown to love and listening to everyone at church run them into the
ground, I was doing a lot of soul searching.
At times, I would wonder if the Lord was really there or not! Is the Lord going to take care of me or
not? I asked the Lord a lot of
questions. I lashed out at the Lord a
few times; I couldn't believe what God's people were doing and saying! I couldn't believe what God had let
happen! I was wondering, "Is the
Lord among us or not?"
2nd movement:
That is exactly what the Hebrew people were asking in our
scripture today, "Is the Lord among us or not?" They had come to wonder this because they
were running out of water. We get down
on them because they quarreled when they were hungry and they quarreled when
they were thirsty, but I'm not sure that is the real point of these
scriptures. These stories were
remembered told, and later put into scripture for a reason, and I doubt it was
to show how much the Hebrew people had quarreled! I really doubt it is a lesson against
quarreling because, after all, God gives them what they ask for! God doesn't strike them down or
anything! I think they were just being
human just like I was being human when I was asking God questions, just like I
was being human when I asked if God was there, just like I was being human when
I wanted to know why God had allowed this to happen, and just like I was being
human when I would at times lash out at God!
I think the Bible is just being very truthful about how we are at times!
The neat thing about this scripture is that God didn't strike
them down, but instead, God met their need!
God heard their complaints and did something about it! I think this story is here to show us some
things about God! God is approachable,
even with our complaints! God is not a
God that is out there somewhere and unreachable! God "is" there! God "will" hear! God cares!
14 Since, then, we
have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the
Son of God, let us
hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have
a high priest who is
unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been
testedd as we are, yet
without sin. 16 Let us therefore
approach the throne of grace with
boldness, so that
we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.[1]
Heb. 4:14-16
God is a God who came to us
incarnate in Jesus Christ and knows what we need. God is not a God who can’t sympathize with
our weaknesses!
3rd Movement:
What are you going through in life? What are you going through today? What are you asking of God? Or have you felt that God was beyond your
approaching with the needs of your heart?
What does this scripture say about God that concerns where you are
today? Are you questioning? Are you hurting? Are you asking why? God cares!
What about us as a church?
What do we want to ask of God concerning our church? Do we understand all things? Are we always happy how things are
going? Do we say anything to God about
it? Do we ever wonder if God is there or
not? What does this say to our church
today? Shouldn’t we as a church trust in
a God who cares and knows all things? Shouldn’t we share that kind of God to
the people we love?
I think it says many things to us. Are you questioning God? Are
you hurting? As we encounter Christ at the table today, come to a God who
cares! As we encounter Christ at the table today, allow the Holy Spirit to lead
us into those things and the understanding that God has especially for us. If you are burdened or heavy laden, bring
that to God too. Come as you are! Come
and encounter a God who really, "is" there, is approachable, hears,
and cares! Come to a God who will always
answer, although the answer may not always be what we think we need. You can rest assured it will be what is best
for us! Thanks be to God!
Prayer of Confession
Service
of Communion
No comments:
Post a Comment