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Cast Out and Welcomed In

3/29/2020

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     "Jesus had heard that they had cast him out..." (John 9:35)  Yes, word had gotten back to him about what they had done to the blind man who had received his sight.  The once blind man's testimony is given in John 9:30 through 33.  He's standing before the Pharisees and they have concluded that they have no idea who this man, Jesus, is.  He replies, "How can you not know who he is?  He has opened my eyes.  I know that God doesn't hear sinners, but I know that a man who worships God and does his will, He hears him.  Since the beginning of the world, have you heard of anyone opening the eyes of a man born blind?  If he weren't of God, he could do nothing."  The Pharisees, "You dare to teach us!" and they kicked him out.
     What a scene!  The grapevine was hard at work.  The news of what happened spread like wildfire.  Jesus got wind of it.  He knew all that the man had been through and how he stuck fast to the truth.  And just like the shepherd who looks for the lost sheep, Jesus looks for this man until he finds him.  First question Jesus asks, "Do you believe on the Son of God?" (John 9:35) The man replies, "Tell me who he is that I might believe." (verse 36)  "The one you are talking to and see is he." is Jesus' response.  The most important words any Christian can utter were spoken next.  The blind man said, "I believe."
     Pastor Josh's sermons are posted here on this website.  These past few weeks it has been really nice to be able to hear them.  I can picture myself sitting there in the pew Sunday mornings listening and taking notes.  I have taken notes of sermons that go back sixteen years.  That's when I realized that preachers messages' are chock-full of witticisms, references, and things I really wanted to remember.  Just like the ones he said right in the middle of his sermon this past Sunday, the 29th.  He was talking about Jesus going on the hunt for the blind man after hearing what happened to him.  It was, "Let yourself be found."  When Jesus is looking for you, "Let yourself be found."  Other tidbits were, "Go for God.  Don't stay where you're at.  Slow down, America, and see who's really in charge.  There's a day coming when you will see him and you will believe.  (It's in Romans 14:11.)  If you wait till then, it'll be too late.  Jesus says over and over, "Come to me."  And finally something I've heard Pastor Josh say regularly, "You can have just as much of God as you want to have." ​
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Stand Your Ground

3/23/2020

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     "Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14:1)  Excellent words for any time in history.  It seems that anyone who professes to believe in Jesus becomes a target.  A target for derision.  Such was the case for the blind man in John 9.  By the time we get to verse 24 he has been raked over the coals by the Pharisees.  This all begins in verse 13.
     From the look of things, his neighbors and those who had seen him blind took him to the Pharisees.  Right off the bat they don't like that this man's sight was restored on the Sabbath.  Some said that this could not be the work of God because he didn't keep the Sabbath.  Healing is a no-no on that day.  Others wondered how such a miracle could take place if it wasn't from God.
     Anything the blind man said to them was to no avail.  The conclusion must be that this man could see already.  They call the parents in, they're scared but they do testify to the fact this is their son and he was born blind.  The Pharisees ask them why it is that he can now see.  They pass the buck and tell them that their son is of age and to ask him.
     The Pharisees called him in again.  "Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner." (John 9:24)  They're calling Jesus a sinner.  The blind man responds that whether he (Jesus) is a sinner or not, he knows that he was blind and now he sees.  The Pharisees begin to grill him again.  His response is that he has already told them and since they refused to believe it the first time, why should he tell them again unless they also want to be his disciples.
     Then things get ugly.  It says reviled in the Bible (John 9:28) which is a mild description for saying that they threw a fit.  They ranted and raved at  the man.  They go so far as to say that they're disciples of Moses.  Jesus says in Matthew 5:11, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."
     This man, blind since birth, healed on the Sabbath by a man called Jesus.  He didn't see the man who healed him, he only knew his name.  But he wasn't going to change his story for anyone.  Why?  Because he knew that whoever this man was, he was greater than Moses.  After all, he had been blind until Jesus came along.  All those other years the Pharisees had done nothing for him.  And now they want to persecute him for being healed by a man called Jesus.  If you have a story to tell, tell it.  Give Jesus the glory.   ​

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For the Glory of God

3/21/2020

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    "This happened that the works of God might be displayed in his life."  Words spoken early in the opening to the Sunday sermon.  It's a takeoff on part of the words contained in John 9:3.  We had already set aside a time for prayer that had been called for throughout our nation due to the spread of the coronavirus.
     John 9 tells the story of a blind man.  He is sitting by the roadside doing who knows what.  Jesus and his disciples are walking by and the disciples ask Jesus who sinned--the blind man or his parents.  Jesus says his blindness has nothing to do with sin.  That this is a way to show the works of God.
     Now the blind man hasn't asked for anything, he's just sitting by the roadside.  Jesus takes the initiative.  He kneels down, spits on the ground, and makes a clay that he applies to the man's eyes.  The Bible doesn't expressly say so but Jesus must have told him who he was because in verse 11 the man relates what happened and that a man named Jesus did it.
     Jesus told him to go "wash in the pool of Siloam." (verse 7)  He gets up and goes and does what Jesus told him to do and came back seeing.  At first, people who knew the blind man weren't sure it was him.  He probably did look different.  After all, a profound change had taken place.  Expecting a man who could not see, probably had to be led everywhere, and now a man who resembles him walks up to his neighbors.  "Is that really you?"  "Yes, it's me."
     Now they want to know what happened, how did it happen, and who did it.  So he related his story.  It's in verse 11.  Isn't that the way it always is?  We see a difference in people and we want to know all about it.  This man had a testimony to tell.  He had an encounter with a man called Jesus who restored his sight.
     All of us have testimonies and all of us should be willing to share them just as this man did.  When was the last time you gave a testimony?  When was the last time you had a story to tell about what God has done for you?  It's true that Jesus works in all of our lives and it's also true that people want to hear about it.  "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and for ever.  Amen" (II Peter 3:18)  Go tell your story.  People want to know about it.  And give the glory to God for your blessings.            
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With Us in Temptation and Trial

3/14/2020

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​     News flash!  Temptation is not a sin.  Jesus was tempted and he was without sin.  It's all right there in Matthew 4.  And he was tempted by the devil, offered everything the heart desires.  Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus was in all ways tempted, yet without sin.  He endured the same temptations of everyone and knows what it is like.  Temptation did not overcome him but empathy did.
     Empathy, the ability to identify and feel what someone else is going through.  Man can fall short in being empathetic.  It's a finite world and there's only so much one person can do for another.  But, Jesus is our high priest and is able to help us navigate the trials and tribulations that life has to offer.  How does one know that?
     Daniel 3 tells the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were cast into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow to the golden image.  Wonder of wonders, Jesus the Son of God was with them in the fire.  One can only imagine how terrifying it would be to be thrown into a fire.  Jesus was there, though, and that made all the difference.  
     Daniel was cast into the lions' den for praying to God and not to the King.  It's in Daniel 6.  He was in there with hungry lions.  But an angel was sent to shut the mouths of the lions. (Daniel 6:22)  God did not abandon Daniel and He doesn't abandon us to this day.  He is not a distant God but our personal savior.
     Jesus came walking to his disciples in the midst of a raging storm.  One that was so bad that they were scared witless and believed that they were going to die.  They saw someone on the water and thought they saw a ghost.  He told them not to worry, it was him.(Matthew 14:24-33)  Even in the middle of a raging storm, he is a constant refuge.
      Jesus has demonstrated time and again that he is there for his children.  Hebrews 4:16 sums up how he cares for mankind, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."  Praise be to God and his Son, Jesus.
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    Linda Johnson

    Linda Johnson moved to Douglas County with her husband Tom 12 years ago after retiring from teaching. Following Tom's death in 2016, Linda began facilitating a grief support group called GriefShare through Sweden Church.​ She serves as the Sunday School teacher for our High School class. Her "Layman's Pen" articles are also published in the local paper, The Douglas County Herald. 

    Andrea Strong

    Andrea is Pastor Joshua Strong's wife. She also serves Sweden Church as Church Secretary, website administrator, and Sunday School teacher to the Intermediate Class.

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