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The Shepherd's Voice

7/25/2021

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          “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.” (John 9:1) Then the discussion starts.  Questions about what his sin was.  Jesus said there was no sin.  He, Jesus, spits on the ground, makes a clay, puts it on the man’s eyes and tells him to go wash in the pool of Siloam.  He does and comes back seeing.  Hallelujah!
          Well, this just kicks up a firestorm and everyone gets in on the act.  The neighbors take him, the man who was blind, to the Pharisees.  After all, no one regains their sight on the sabbath.  It had to be someone who was not of God that performed this ‘miracle’.  The plot grows.  The Pharisees take issue with Jesus’s response in verse 39.”
          Jesus has their attention and he tells them why he has come.  John 10:10 says, “…I am come that they (the sheep) might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  Same verse he also says that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy.  Here he’s referring to those who came before him.  They could not give the sheep an abundant life.  Jesus is the giver, the only giver.
          This abundant life is spelled out in Psalm 23.  Green pastures, still waters, restored soul, walk in paths of righteousness; only the Lord is the shepherd.  And those who follow him know his voice. 
          “Listen for the voice of God.” said Pastor Josh.  The sheep know his voice (verse 4 and 16 of John 10).  Both the ones in the fold and the others not of the fold.  “The abundant life is what God does on the inside of us.”  continued our pastor.  It’s a new meaning, a new purpose, a new vitality.  Those who know Jesus and what he is all about experience an abundant life.  It’s a new life.
           “The world can take a lot from us but it cannot take an abundant life.” said Pastor Josh.  The chapter that follows the story of the good shepherd is the one that Jesus brings Lazarus back to life (John 11:43).  “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (verse 25). 
            “One day there will be a call from God and it will be universally answered.  Life is short, make the most of it.  Eternity is a long time, prepare for it.”  said Pastor Josh.

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Stand by God

7/11/2021

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        The ship wrecked (Acts 27:41).  Paul told them it would (same chapter, verse 10).  A hurricane force wind, Euroclydon, came up (verse 14).  According to research, this is a northeast wind that blows in the Mediterranean mostly in the winter and the fall.  Research calls it a cyclone.
          The men of the ship were probably regular joes.  Paul, unlike them, was guided by the will of God.  Ephesians 1:1 tells us as much.  Christ, himself, in Acts 9:15 says that Paul is a chosen vessel unto him (Christ).  Paul was guided by his spiritual eyes.  The men of the ship were guided by their natural eyes.

     Before they (all 276 of them, verse 37) left port they had been told this could (actually would) happen if they set sail.  The helmsman and the owner of the ship, the experts, disagreed with Paul, the man of God.  Being impatient, they chose not to heed what a man like Paul would say. As a child, mothers warn their children, “Burn, burn.  You’ll burn yourself if you keep trying to touch that stove.”  Some children pay attention and others don’t.    They get burned.  It’s much the same story here.  Paul, guided by God, gave the warning.  They got burned.
          Paul knew he was going to reach Rome regardless.  God told him he was going to Rome (Acts 19:21, 23:11).  However, in verse 10, Paul said their would be much damage to the ship, the cargo and their lives.  By verse 22 which was many days later, Paul stands and says, “Sirs, you should have hearkened unto  me…now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life…” 
          Then he explained how he knew that.  “For there stood by me this night the angel of God whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.” (verse 22, 23)  Then he repeats it again, “Be of good cheer…”
          Here Paul was in a dire situation.  Countless times he could have panicked and been driven by fear like the crew.  Here he was facing the possibility that this trip could be the last one.  But, he believes God.  He knew, because God told him, he was going to Rome.  And he shared the confidence he had with the crew.  It must have been quite a revelation for them when all that Paul said came to pass.
          So it should be with us.  Stand by God and he’ll stand by you.

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Liberty

7/5/2021

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          “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”  It’s from II Corinthians 3:17 and is printed on the t-shirts that Sweden wears for its annual celebration of the 4th.  This year it’s being held on Saturday, the 10th a few days after this article comes out.  It was also the subject of the sermon this past Sunday.
          Back up to verse three of the same chapter.  Paul, the Apostle, is explaining that through Christ we now have the Spirit of the living God.  It’s not written in ink or tables of stone but “in the fleshly tables of the heart.”
          Moses brought down the Ten Commandments on the tables of stone.  The passage is Exodus 34:28-35.  Moses spent 40 days and nights with God on Mount Sinai.  When he came down with the tables his face glowed with the glory of the Lord.  He covered his face with a vail to speak to the people.
          The ten commandments, God’s covenant with man, now written in stone for the people of God to follow.  The first four are how we are to revere God: have no other gods, no graven images or idols, don’t take the Lord’s name in vain, and keep the sabbath holy.  The next six have to do with treating others: honor your parents, don’t murder, nor commit adultery, nor steal, nor bear false witness against your neighbor, nor covet.
          At first they were kept in the Ark of the Covenant under the mercy seat and covered it with a vail (Numbers 4:5).  Once a year a priest would enter behind the vail and make a sacrifice for the sins of the people.  Until this time, there was no final redemption for sin.  It had to be continued annually.  Pastor Josh said it was much like having a credit card.  Sometimes you run it up so much, all you’re doing is paying the interest on the debt.  The bill still remains.  The people were only keeping up.  The debt remained.
          Jesus was the final sacrifice who paid off the debt.  When it was completed, the vail was ripped from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51).  We were now free to communicate with God directly.  That is liberty.  Our liberty was won first by Jesus and then defended by the American soldier.  God has richly blessed our country.
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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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