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Saul to Paul

8/30/2020

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Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them…” (Luke 23:34) Spoken on the cross.  It’s Passover.  It’s Jerusalem.  Many people were in Jerusalem because of the Passover.  How many were there for the crucifixion?  No one ever really recorded a number.  Josephus the Jewish historian says that there were as many as a million.  Some recent archeological studies are coming closer to that number.  In the meantime, Christians know that several groups were present: Roman soldiers, some of the high priests, some of Jesus’s followers including his mother, and other bystanders.
          It’s an earth-shattering moment for the followers of Jesus.  It’s a fair bet that some of those believers were there.  A reflection on Stephen’s final words in Acts 7 would open the possibility that he was there, and he heard these words spoken.  How else would he be able to say, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” (verse 60) He’s being stoned to death.  He is following the example of his beloved Savior.
          Now, it says in verse 58 of that same chapter that a young man named Saul kept watch over the witnesses’ clothes while Stephen was being stoned.  Saul, filled with self-righteousness and venom for Christians, was in attendance.  Saul is no slacker in the intelligence department.  He heard every word that Stephen said to the high priest that is contained in Acts 7.  But he heard it through the lens of hate.  So much so, that he obtained warrants to go after as many Christians as he could and bring them back to Jerusalem.
          Saul is on his way with warrants in hand.  Suddenly, without warning, he’s knocked down by a bright light.  This is when Pastor Josh says, “Saul is looking for Christians and God is looking for Saul.”  Stephen’s oratory in chapter 7 must have had quite an impact on Saul.  That is why Jesus says “…it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” (Acts 9:5) It was quite an impact Stephen had on Saul.  Just not in a good way.
          But God was fixing to turn that all around.  “God saved him in the midst of working against the Church.  Nobody is so far gone that God can’t reach them.  God can save you wherever you’re at and if He can’t, then He’s not God.” summed up Pastor Josh.  Then he said, “From the guttermost to the uttermost.”
          Saul’s name is changed to Paul and he begins his new life as a follower of Jesus Christ.  For him, persecutions are many.  A list of them can be found in 2nd Corinthians 11:24-31.  It’s an impressive list.  One that is not for the faint of heart.  But even while enduring all of this, much is accomplished.   At least three long missionary journeys, planting churches, preaching the gospel, encouraging early Christians, and authoring over half of the new testament books of the Bible.  Is it any wonder at the end Paul says (2nd Timothy 4:7), “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”  Here he is at the end.  He says in verse 16 of the same chapter, “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me:  I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.”  He forgave like Stephen forgave like Jesus forgave.  Pastor Josh says, “Be a Christian like Christ in what you say and what you do.  It may not seem like a lot.  Somebody watches, hears it, and remembers it.”

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Truth

8/23/2020

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Jesus is on the cross.  Two criminals are along each side of him.  One is bitter, the other remorseful.  The remorseful one asks Jesus, “Remember me…”  Jesus responds, “Verily I say to thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)  In today’s English it’s  “I tell you the truth, today you’ll be with me in paradise.” 
          “I tell you the truth.”  No lies, no fabrications, no maybes, no ifs; just the truth.    It seems like most folks don’t want to hear it.  Sure, they want things to be true if it suits them.  But truth does not change.  For something to be true, it must stand on its own.
          And, just how many truths are out there?  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)  I am the truth.  Old Testament scholars will recognize the ‘I am’.  When Moses asked God, “Who shall I say sent me?” God said, “Tell them, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:13,14)  Truth can only be found through God.
          The world will say many things and expect them to be believed.  But a short lifetime on this planet will tell one that there are many beliefs, theories, ideas, and so on.  But none of them can stand as the truth.  People believe them because they want to believe them.  There is one truth that still exists.  He’s the Creator God.  The truth is His and He sent it to us as His Son.  That is why Jesus can tell us that he is the truth.  And why he says he is the way.  And why he can offer us eternal life.
          “Some people can’t handle the truth.  We need folks who care enough about us to tell the truth.” said Pastor Josh early in his sermon.  The text was taken from Acts 5:33-42.  It’s the second time Peter and the other apostles have been hauled in front of the high priest and others that were with him.  The high priest says that he had told them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus.  Peter responds, “  We ought to obey God rather than men.”
          Peter stands boldly before the high priest and others that are present.  He tells them it was them that slew Jesus and God that has raised Jesus up and that he and the apostles are his (Jesus’) witnesses.  These words enraged them.  So much so that they were going to slay Peter and the apostles.          Gamaliel, a member of the highest court in ancient Jerusalem, cautioned against killing Peter and the other apostles.  He was somewhat lenient in his beliefs and said that this was just another group to deal with.  Other groups had come before and they died out.  So would this one.  And, besides, if it was of God, did they really want to go against Him?  In the end, Peter and the others were released and they continued preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus.
          “Somebody needs to tell people there is a hell to shun and a heaven to gain.  Preacher, that’s kind of a harsh thing.  I’m telling you if you’re dying lost, you’re going to hell.  We cannot compromise over the truth of the Bible.” said Pastor Josh during the course of the sermon.
 “I’ve been around a man for a long time.  We’re friends.  One day he finally asked me, “Do you believe if I died, I’d go to hell?”  I looked him square in the face and said “Have you been born again?  Are you a Christian?  Have you been saved?”  He said, “No.”  I said, “Yes.”
          “He didn’t like it but it was the truth.  I had to tell him the truth.  What are you gonna’ say, you gonna’ sugar-coat it and grease his skids to hell?  An old preacher used to say we needed folks who weren’t scared to storm the gates of hell with a water gun.  Hell is an awful place and a burning place.  Preach against it.  Stand for Jesus and protest sin.” said our pastor.  ​
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Prayer

8/16/2020

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“Prayer is a mighty weapon.” said Pastor Josh after a short introduction to the sermon.  Philippians 4:6 says to be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  Taking it one step further Second Corinthians 10:4 also says that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the puling down of strong holds.  Conquering only comes through God and prayer is our communication with God, the Almighty Creator.
Pastor Josh continued with a comparison.  “Prayer is like having a registered bull and not turning him in to the cows.  It doesn’t make any sense.  You have this asset, but you keep him locked up in the barn all day.  Doesn’t make any sense.  We have an asset in prayer and we ought to use it.”
“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1)  And God said…” (Genesis 1:3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, and 29).  Only His word was necessary to create all that is.  "Is" is a small two-letter word power-packed with so much meaning.  Just an appreciation of what God has done should make the most timid person of prayer feel bold.  Imagine it.  Everyone on this earth has the chance to talk to their one and only Creator.  It’s called prayer.
In the book of James it says that you have not because you ask not.  Pray over big and small things, in good or bad times.  Pray when you don’t need anything and when it seems like you need everything.  Pray when you’re like the man on the way to Jericho who is beaten and left for dead.  And pray when you’re like the good Samaritan who stopped, rendered aid and went the extra mile to pay for someone’s recovery.  Pray. Just pray.
James also says that you ask and receive not because you ask amiss that you may consume it upon your lusts.  For example, “Lord, I sure wish I had a new Chevrolet pickup, had a million dollars, had that farm or this job.  I wish my kids were this or that.”  Pastor Josh said, “If you’re worried about what you look like then you’re trying to consume it on your lusts.  I can pray for my kids but if I pray for my kids so that I won’t be embarrassed” (he paused, in thought)”…seen Andy Griffith?  Aunt Bee gets on to Andy because he’s not getting on Opie because he needs getting on to but because Opie’s making Andy look bad.  Not because it was wrong, good or bad.  Andy doesn’t know if it was wrong, good or bad.  He’s just embarrassed by Opie.  Can I tell you that’s wrong?  These are unwise prayers.  Be careful about those.”
 James also says the the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  Get up in the morning and pray.  See what you might get accomplished—it’s what really needs done.  Ask God’s help.  Ask for His will to be done.  It really matters.  Prayers work because God answers.
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While Men Slept...

8/9/2020

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“But while men slept, his enemy came...” (Matthew 13:25).  It’s part of the Parable of the Tares and, in it, Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven and what can happen when man becomes wishy-washy, indifferent, lukewarm, neither hot nor cold.  The enemy comes. 
The text of the sermon was taken from Revelation 3:14-22.  Those who have red-letter Bibles will notice that these are the last words of Jesus and he’s speaking them to the church of Laodicea.  They are neither cold nor hot.  All is well with them.  They have the good life.  In terms of “things” they are rich.  So, they kick back and counts their blessings. 
God doesn’t take time off, go on vacation, or just enjoy the moment.  He knows there’s a war out there.  It’s a spiritual one and the enemy never rests.  God asks Satan, “Where have you been?”  Satan replies, “Walking about the earth.”  (It’s in Job 1) Peter goes on to warn that Satan, our adversary, goes about looking for who he may devour. (I Peter 5:8) Who’s the “who” you ask.  It’s mankind.  The devil’s one mission in life is to take as many to hell with him as he can.  For your own sake, don’t let it be you. 
What prompts such a sermon?  Our pastor has become very concerned of late with the state of things in our country.  Why?  This is a common question of his which he follows with “I’m glad you asked because I’m fixing to tell you.  Because we now live in a world where people will look at Bibles being burned and it’s not as offensive as it used to be.  Not as taboo.  This is the day and time in which we live.  Be against sin.  Wake up!  Don’t be indifferent.  Don’t just glide through life on cruise control.”   
Down through the centuries there have been many book burnings.  Even the Bible speaks of it.  It’s in Jeremiah 36 and it occurs in 7th century B.C.  King Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, burns a scroll written by Jeremiah.  The king had no desire to repent from the evil he had done.  He reigned about 11 years before being carried away by the Babylonians into captivity where he died. 
Just recently, August 1, in Portland, Oregon a bible was burned.  It’s on video.  There are some who say that more than one was burned which may be true but there is absolute evidence of the one being burned. 
There is an actual definition for book burning.  It is the ritual destruction by fire of books or other written materials, usually carried out in a public context.  The burning of books represents an element of censorship and usually proceeds from a cultural, religious, or political opposition to the materials in question.  This definition can be found on Wikepedia.com.  That sums it up. 
Yes, we live in a country that hardly blinked at the burning of the Bible.  It’s come to this in our great country which God has blessed so abundantly.  Don’t be indifferent, lukewarm, wishy-washy.  The devil is sewing tares.  Hell has enlarged herself (Isaiah 5:14).  Don’t die and go to hell.  Answer Jesus at the door.  He’s still knocking (Revelation 3:20). ​
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Obey God Rather Than Men

8/6/2020

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The book of Acts is a history book.  In it, Luke gives a factual account of the progression of the Christian faith after Christ’s ascension.  From these early beginnings a small group of scared believers committed themselves to spreading the gospel of Christ to an empire.  What a story! 
History is a continual struggle between God and man and this present day is no exception.  For example, just recently (July 24) our supreme court voted to uphold a Nevada ruling that put a cap of 50 persons to attend church but allowed 50% capacity of casinos, gyms, restaurants, and other businesses.  The gaming industry of Nevada obviously has a lot of power.  So much so, that it reaches all the way to the supreme court of the land.  The devil is alive and well. 
Let’s go back, though, to Acts 5:17-32.  It’s another story of a small group before a high court.  This time it’s the apostles.  They’ve been thrown into prison.  An angel of the Lord releases them and tells them to go back to the temple and preach.  In the meantime, the high priest sees them and notifies the high court. 
The high court notifies the prison and wants to know what has happened.  The officers of the prison report that the place is locked up tight but that there were no men inside.  The court immediately rounds up the apostles and tells them they’ve already been warned not to preach in the name of Christ and spread their doctrine that the blood of this man is on the court’s heads. (Acts 5:28) 
Peter steps forward and makes a simple statement, “We ought to obey God rather than man.”  He also says that God raised up Jesus and the court hanged him.  The court was angry and got ready to kill them.  There’s more to the story but it wasn’t part of the sermon.  Those interested can find the outcome in Acts 5:33-42. 
“Be for Jesus and against sin.  Today we’re protesting sin.  Don’t let man tell you what to do in matters of religion.” said Pastor Josh early in the sermon.  “Be careful if you get filled with indignation.  There is righteous indignation but this (Acts 5:18, 33) is plain old hatred—that won’t get your feet off the ground.” 
“If we say ‘obey God’ then go do it.  They (the apostles) obeyed God.  They didn’t wait, they went right now.  Our days are appointed, serve God now.” continued our pastor.  We are reminded that we will all stand in judgment someday.  “When push comes to shove, you obey God.” 
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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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