Sermon Notes: "Off We Go"

"Off We Go" on another adventure in gleaning from God's Word...and today's message started in Acts 1:7-8, and then traveled around to various other places that we will explore as we arrive there.


Before we get started, here is a picture of the Interlachen Methodist Church from 1895...

picture from Internet www.interlachen-fl.gov

 And here is how it looks today:

I love that this little church has retained the character of it's beginnings, and that it still has a warm, loving spirit that welcomes all who enter its doors.  We feel blessed to be a part of this local gathering of the Body of Christ.  They live up to the Gospel mandate to be a witness for Christ, as we studied in our lesson today.

And so, that being said, let us begin:

Acts 1:7-8

7.  "And He said to them, "It is not for you to know 

times or seasons which 

the Father has put in His own authority.

8.  But you shall receive power 

when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; 

and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, 

and in all Judea and Samaria, 

and to the end of the earth."

• What is our calling? 
• What has God called us to do?  
• We are to be witnesses of what we have seen and heard and experienced.

How do we take our every day lives and turn it around and share it as a witness for Jesus Christ?

• We need to PRAY and WORSHIP...
• When a church tries to live for Christ...Satan starts to tremble.  We are supposed to shake him up...

Mark 16:15 says:

"And He said to them,

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature..."

• PRAY
• GO

Read Acts 2:1-4

Why were the disciples in an upper room?  They were waiting...they were listening for and waiting on God...and they were "all with one accord in one place"...in agreement and waiting and worshiping together.  And then the Holy Spirit came and filled them with His Spirit...and gave them the message of salvation to take to the uttermost parts of the world.

Our witness starts with a closer relationship with Jesus Christ...

We can't give what we have not received.  To be a witness means that we must love God like never before...love people like never before...even when people can be difficult to love.  That's what we are called to do.  

When the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost over 3000 souls were added to the Kingdom. (see Acts 2:41)  

In Acts 2:42-47 we see the beginnings of the Christian church...this is what they did:

• They continued steadfastly in the Apostle's doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (verse 42)
• Many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. (43)
• All who believed  were together, and had all things in common. (44)
• They sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. (45)
• Continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart (46)
• Praising God and having favor with all the people...and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (47)

John 13:35 says, 

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Live like never before...live in community with one another...

Acts 3:1-8...The lame man asked Peter and John for "alms" (money), and in verse 4, Peter said to the man:

4.  "Look at us"

6.   "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you;

in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk".

7.  And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, 

and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.8.  So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God."

Matthew 5:16 says:

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Does the Father in heaven see your good works today?  Are you fulfilling the call to worship Him, to work for and serve Him...to witness for Him in the world?  Do others see and ask, "Why are you different?"

Acts 3:12  "So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people:  "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?"

When is the last time you've done something to "surprise" your neighbors or friends or family regarding your relationship with Christ?

Read  Acts 3:12-16... 

• Can you stand and tell your story? 
• Can you give an answer to everyone who wonders why you are so happy...What has God done for us?  
• Be ready to share...

We should be like a rescue station next to the gates of hell...ready to rescue people from entering into hell by sharing our testimony and witness for Christ and what He has done for us.

• Are you a witness for Jesus Christ today?
• Are you living a life so that others can see Jesus Christ living in you?

Appropriately our closing hymn was "Take the Name of Jesus with You"...

Take the name of Jesus with you,
Child of sorrow and of woe;
It will joy and comfort give you,
Take it then where'er you go. 

    Precious name! Oh, how sweet!
    Hope of earth and joy of heav'n;
    Precious name! Oh, how sweet!
      Hope of earth and joy of heav'n. 

Take the name of Jesus ever,
As a shield from every snare.
If temptations round you gather,
Breathe that holy name in prayer. 

Oh, the precious name of Jesus,
How it thrills our souls with joy;
All the favor of the Father
In this name we may enjoy. 

At the name of Jesus bowing,
Falling prostrate at His feet,
Claim His vict'ry over evil
And the enemy defeat.   Amen!

source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/miscellaneouslyrics/christianlyrics/takethenameofjesuswithyoulyrics.html

Please Note : I want to repeat this disclaimer here...the notes, outline, and content included here are based upon my own personal understanding of the message that was being given.  I am not attempting to completely quote or reproduce this message or any other message I've shared previously.  Just as each person reading these notes may glean insights and thoughts that seem to directly apply to one's own situation and interpretation, my own delivery of these messages is skewed by my hearing and translation of what is being said.  Some may read my notes here and wonder if they were hearing the same message as I...and I say, God speaks to each of us as He wills...there are things He is trying to get across to each individual that may be entirely different than what the person sitting next to you in the pew is needing to hear...  That is how the Holy Spirit works! He knows what we need to hear and how to apply it to our hearts.  So it is with that understanding that I present these sermon notes to you.

Sermon Notes 7/15/2018, Pastor A.C. Myers, FUMC, Interlachen, FL.

The Secret Garden Chronicles: The Rushing Mighty Wind - Revisited

This post originated last year on 4/25/2017...but today is Pentecost Sunday...the day we recognize as the time when the Holy Spirit came upon the Disciples after Christ had ascended into heaven...and so I thought this message would be appropriate today...

Original Post:

Yesterday evening I sat in the Secret Garden watching the wind blowing the trees to and fro...and thought about how strong the trees were! It occurred to me that often times the trees are bent so far in the wind that it is a wonder why they don't break in two.  Of course, sometimes they do, if the wind becomes too fierce.  But on a day like yesterday (and even this morning it is still pretty breezy), the trees sway back and forth and always bounce right back into their original posture when the wind finally dies down.

While I was watching the trees blowing in the wind, these two Pileated Woodpeckers flew onto this dead tree nearby and stayed there long enough to let me catch a couple of pictures before they flew back into the woods, making a lot of racket as they flew!

 They don't really have anything in particular to do with this post, but I thought you'd like to see them since they came just at that moment when I was sitting there contemplating what the Lord would say to me...So there must be SOME significance to their appearing at that time!  It's not often that we can see two such amazing birds together at the same time like this!

Then the Lord brought this verse to my attention:

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it,

but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.

So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

John 3:8

Hmmm, maybe the woodpeckers do make a point here...they flew in out of the woods, but I'm not sure exactly where they were from, making a lot of noise, and then took off flying again, out of my view...and I could still hear their loud raspy calls, but couldn't keep up with where they flew...and the wind was so strong at times that I wasn't sure how the birds could even fly...let alone hear each other calling...

"So is everyone who is born of the Spirit..."...When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, His Holy Spirit comes from the Father above and fills us...like a rushing mighty wind...at least that is how the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, (see Acts 2:1-13)...

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, 

as of a rushing mighty wind,

and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

Then there appeared to them divided tongues, 

as of fire,

and one sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit 

and began to speak with other tongues,

as the Spirit have them utterance."

(Acts 2:1-4)

And there are times when His Spirit comes to us as a still small voice...

"And, behold, the Lord passed by, 

and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, 

and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; 

but the Lord was not in the wind: 

and after the wind an earthquake; 

but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 

and after the earthquake a fire; 

but the Lord was not in the fire: 

and after the fire a still small voice."

I Kings 19:11-12

And at other times He provides us with the right words to say at the very moment we need it:

Luke 12:11-12

"Now when they bring you to the synagogues 

and magistrates and authorities,

do not worry about how or what you should answer, 

or what you should say.

For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour 

what you ought to say."

I particularly love those two verses, because there are so many times in life when we feel like we are being put to a test...and we may have this happen much more in the future...when we will have to testify as to our faith in Christ and whether or not we are a Christian...and there are times when we will be uncertain as to what we should or shouldn't say...and God's Holy Spirit Himself will give us exactly the right words at precisely the right moment to respond to those who may question our faith. I don't have to worry ahead of time about what to do or what to say...I just need to stay close to the Father...and let His Holy Spirit do the talking.  Probably not a bad idea in many cases in life...with family members, friends, neighbors, antagonistic people....Let God's Holy Spirit do the talking through me...and not be so quick to think I've got all the answers already.   

There are also times in life when we are like those trees in the wind...being tossed to and fro and we become fearful that we might even break in two under the strain of the wind...whether it be the strain of sorrows, doubts, fear, health issues, family problems, or even temptations beyond our ability to cope... God says:

I Corinthians 10:13

"No temptation has overtaken you 

except such as is common to man;

but God is faithful, 

who will not allow you to be tempted 

beyond what you are able,

but with the temptation will also 

make the way of escape, 

that you may be able to bear it."

Not only that, but when we are at the end of our rope, feeling hopeless and abandoned by loved ones and friends and we don't know what to do or even how to pray...

Romans 8:26-27

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses, 

for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, 

but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us 

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Now He who searches the hearts 

knows what the mind of the Spirit is, 

because He makes intercession for the saints 

according to the will of God."

How thankful we should be for this marvelous gift of the Holy Spirit!  When Jesus left this earth to go to heaven, He did not leave us helpless or comfortless. As a matter of fact, He told His Disciples about this wonderful "Helper" before He was crucified, but of course, they didn't quite understand it at the time...but this is what He told them:

John 14:15-17

If you love Me, keep My commandments.

And I will pray the Father, 

and He will give you another Helper,

that He may abide with you forever...

The Spirit of truth, 

whom the world cannot receive, 

because it neither sees Him nor knows Him,

but you know Him, 

for He dwells with you and will be in you."

I started out writing this post, not sure where it was going, and just as these passages unfolded here before your eyes, God unfolded them to me.  I pray that these words bring hope and encouragement to you today, in this "post-Easter" season, just as I am sure these teachings and thoughts helped Jesus' disciples after He was taken up into Heaven. 

Jesus told His disciples in John 14:26

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

and in verse 27...

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;

not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled, 

neither let it be afraid..."

There really isn't anything more I can add to that! So I will close here and say, "Amen!"

It's Pentecost Sunday...

It's Sunday, and I know I should write something deep and spiritual. But to be honest, my brain is still a little fuzzy since my surgery...even though my surgery had nothing to do with my brain...totally opposite...but well, I won't give TMI.   Anyway, there really is something to "anesthesia brain". I realize that as I try to type here...you don't know how many times I am hitting the wrong keys and have to go back and rewrite words.  I find it is easier to just go sit in my recliner and read a book than to try and think and write and communicate.  But something drives me to at least keep trying...don't give in to it or it will become difficult to ever get back in the routine and groove...

Today is Pentecost Sunday...the Sunday set aside in the traditional church calendar to remember and celebrate the day that the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, who were gathered "with one accord in one place..." (Acts 2:1).  Acts 2:2-3 tells us that

"Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, 

as of a rushing mighty wind,

and it filled the whole house where they were sitting...

Then there appeared to them divided tongues,

as of fire, and one sat upon each of them."

Now I know that all of Christendom has discussed and debated over this event ever since it happened...and many differences in church denominations have sprung up because of the differences in opinion over just what happened here and what it meant to all Christians everywhere.  I am not going to discuss that here, but what I do want to talk about is who we are in Christ...and what this means to each of us individually.  To do that, I need to look at I Corinthians 12:4-7

rr

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

There are differences of ministries,

but the same Lord.

And there are diversities of activities,

but it is the same God who works all in all.

But the manifestation of the Spirit

is given to each one for the profit of all..."

This morning I happened to pick up my friend Susie Klein's wonderful little book, Walking Butterfly~Comfy Cocoon to Flying Free  (Available HERE on Amazon.com) and turned to this particular page (Chapter Ten, page 58), and I'd like to quote what Susie wrote here. I know she won't mind...she really is a very special friend of mine, whom I met through blogging several years ago...and we formed a very genuine and precious friendship that I treasure highly...  So here is what Susie says:

"The Father designed you for a purpose.

To be loved by Him and to share that love with others.

It really is as simple as that.  When we actually believe God loves us, it changes everything.

When you know you are loved, you are free to give away that love generously and abundantly.

You know there is more where it came from;

there is no need to be stingy or protective.  

Love is generous.

God likes your personality.  He thought it up and installed it in you.

Don't ask Him to change it for a bigger, louder, quieter or fancier version.

He wants to send His love to the world through your style and version.

Are you quiet, or are you boisterous?  

Are you methodical or are your spontaneous?

He enjoys that about you.

He won't answer the prayer to change the way you've been designed.

God has created you with love.

Like one of those tags that grandmas add to a hand-knitted sweater or blanket;

Made With Love.

You are made with love to share love."

I love this, Susie!  It speaks to my heart exactly what I Corinthians 12 is trying to get across to us (if you read the whole chapter)...We are created for the purpose of serving God with the gifts that He, through the Holy Spirit, has instilled in us.

Now, one may think that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have nothing to do with our personalities or how we were made...but I beg to differ.  I believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit enhance and build upon the qualities and traits God has already built into us.  The Holy Spirit takes our propensity for boldness and fills us with the ability to use that gift for God's Kingdom.  He takes our capacity for love and gives us the desire to spread His love wherever we are.  Whatever our particular gifts and strengths are, when filled with God's Holy Spirit...those strengths are magnified and utilized for His glory throughout the world. God made us in His image, with love, and when we become His children by salvation through Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit seals us and empowers us to become all that He intended us to be from the beginning of time.

Jeepers, "It's Sunday, and I know I should write something deep and spiritual!"  Wow!  I guess the Holy Spirit did intend for me to write something from His heart to ours...and I thank Him for the inspiration...and I also thank my friend Susie Klein for her very heartfelt, honest, and down to earth book that has deeply touched my heart in so many ways.  God is using her gift to bless you and me and others today as well...and I know Susie would be very humbled and blessed to know this.

Lord, I am so thankful for Your gift of the Holy Spirit, Who came down to us at Pentecost so many years ago, and Who continues to indwell, embolden, give gifts, and empower us today to serve You and stand strong in the face of countless foes and dangers in life.  Thank you for Your gifts that give us the words to speak when needed, the capacity to love others as You have loved us, and the wisdom to know what, when , and where to be available and at Your service.  Without Your Holy Spirit guiding us we would be lost and confused and unable to be of much help in any situation.  Our own personal traits and qualities are wonderful, but when filled with Your Spirit they become tools for Your glory in Your Kingdom.  Thank You, Lord, for taking the time to shape us and mold us after Your will.  In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.