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Sunday, January 26, 2014

sermon, “Hello My Name Is El Chay”, by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, January 26, 2014

January 26, 2014
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series on “The Names of God”
Sermon 4 of series-
“The Sacred Names of God: El Chay”
Joshua 3:7-13
2 Kings 19:14-16
 (All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)

“Hello My Name Is El Chay”

A reading from 2 Kings 19 verses 14-16. . . listen for and to the word of God for you and me the people of God:

2 Kings 19:14-16 Names of God Bible (NOG)
14 Hezekiah took the letters from the messengers, read them, and went to Yahweh’s temple. He spread them out in front of Yahweh 15 and prayed to Yahweh, “Yahweh, Elohim of Israel, you are enthroned over the angels. You alone are Elohim of all the kingdoms of the world. You made heaven and earth. 16 Turn your ear toward me, Yahweh, and listen. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and see. Listen to the message that Sennacherib sent to defy Elohim Chay.

Let us pray. . . Loving and eternal God, giver of all true wisdom and might, we pray for your mantle of wisdom to fall upon us gather here today. May we gain wisdom and insight from your word. We ask that you would open your word to us so that we may catch a glimpse of what you would have us do in and with our lives. Speak to us in ways we will understand. Speak Lord, We are eager to hear your voice. . .

I love the movie Frankenstein. It makes me laugh to myself when Frankenstein announces ---it’s alive! His “creation” comes to life after he took body parts from all these different people and with a flash of lightning. . . IT’S ALIVE! Of course what happens after with the “creation” turning out to be more of a “monster” to people doesn’t surprise me. What did he expect trying to do something that only God does right. . .  But there are times when I use Dr Frankenstein’s Exclamation “It’s alive” whe trying to get the girls up in the morning. . .

This morning we are continuing on our journey as we talk about the “Sacred Names of God” and pray in those very same names. Last week we talked about Elohim, Creator God. It would stand to reason that this week we would talk about El Chay. . . the Living God. . .  The name El Chay- The Living God- emphasizes God’s role as Creator of all that is, in contrast with idols made of wood and metal or stone which are created by human hands. It sets the God of Israel apart from the gods of the surrounding nations. How do we know we serve the Living God? How do we know He will hear our prayers?

Well the 2nd Kings Scripture from this morning we hear the prayer of king Hezekiah when they when God’s people were threatened by the King of Assyria. Hezekiah knew he served a Living God. . . El Chay. His God would listen, hear and see what was going on and would stop Sennacherib king of Assyria and Babylonia. El Chay was not like the gods of the people around him. . . He was the Living God who acted on behalf of Hid people. We too, as Gods people serve a living God and we, like Hezekiah, know that our God is still alive and working things out for His people. . . what confidence we have to know that our God acts on our behalf.

The inhabitant of the area in which Hezekiah lived worshipped idols instead of El Chay. Talking with the idols made of stone and metal was  and is like talking to thin air. . .  It does no good but when we talk with El Chay. . . now that’s a different story. El Chay is a living God who sees and hears His children...His worshippers like you and me. We can fulfill our need for worship by bowing down before El Chay, the Living God who transcends culture and time and yet is present with us today. This is the God who created heaven and earth. . . created you and me in our mother’s womb. . .  who has counted every hair on our heads. He is not the work of our hands but we are the work of His.

Jeremiah 10:3-5 tells us:
“The religion of the people is worthless. Woodcutters cut down trees from the forest. The hands of craftsmen prepare them with axes. Craftsmen decorate them with silver and gold and fasten them together with hammers and nails so that they won’t fall over. These trees are like scarecrows in cucumber gardens. hey aren’t able to speak. They have to be carried, because they can’t walk. Don’t be afraid of them. They can’t harm you. They can’t do you any good either.”

Like in the times of Hezekiah we too have enemies that we must contend with. . . often these enemies come from the inside verses the outside. There is rage and anger, addiction and depression. . . situations  that look hopeless. We can’t defeat these on our own. . . the problem seems so big that we may think it is too large for El Chay to deliver us. . . but we need to reject that lie. . . our God is a live and more powerful than anything we could ever come up against..

We have seen it right here at this church how He still continues to be involved in the life of his people and will answer our prayers.  As Hezekiah prayed in trust, we too can pray in that same trust. We have seen, with our own eyes, the deliverance of the Lord in our lives and in the lives of those around us. . . we have seen marriages renewed. . . the lost found. . . we have seen miracles happen when there was no hope.

The 3rd Chapter of Joshua from this morning. . . the Israelites were entering into a new land. But it was a land that had inhabitants that probably didn’t want to give up their land to the people of God. They had this land for a long time and were not about to give it up to a bunch of foreigners. . .  But they had El Chay with them. . . they were going to prosper. . . they were going to take over the land in which the Living God promised them. They had no reason to fear. . .  we too have that same God on our side but we too have those times in which we fear the unknown. . . fear going to a new land, a new chapter in our faith walk. But as did the Israelites we too are loved and watched over by the same Living God who wants us to have victory in all that we do. The Israelites trust grew as El Chay drove out their enemies and blessed them richly. God continues to drive out our enemies. . . addiction, fear, hopelessness, brokenness, and brings us to a place of blessings, freedom peace and a sense of purpose.

Throughout Scripture, we see how God’s people trusted in. . . believed in. . . the One true Living God of Israel. . . our God who is still living and breathing to this very day. 2 Corinthians 6:15-16 tells us: “Can Christ agree with the devil? Can a believer share life with an unbeliever? Can God’s temple contain false gods? Clearly, we are the temple of the living God. As God said,
“I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” And I will live among them and they will be MY PEOPLE.

WE serve a living, breathing God. Our God continues to act on behalf of His people. El Chay will take those parts within us that are dried out and broken and mold them into something of beauty. El Chay will come to our rescue if we only but ask.  Are you in need of a hero. . . a knight in shining armor. . . to come and rescue you not only for your enemies but from yourself as well? Call out to El Chay and He will come and rescue you  from all that ails you. Call out  to El Chay and He will set you free from your prison cell and bring you into a land flowing with milk and honey. Pray in the name of El Chay and be made alive again in our Savior and Friend, Christ Jesus. . . Yeshua the Christ.

Let us pray. . .
Lord, You are a God who speaks, who hears, and who acts. Thank you for making us and breathing life into us. Please watch over us and hear us when we cry to You; deliver us from our enemies and glorify Your name so that everyone who knows us may know that You alone are El Chay, the living God. Amen.

January 26, 2014
Sermon 4 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-         El Chayà Living God
Joshua 3:7-13
2 Kings 19:14-16
Jeremiah 10:3-5
2 Corinthians 6:15-16
(All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
Worship Songs:
-         Soon and Very Soon (King)
-         Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Lord, King)
-         Spirit of the Living God (Living God)
Prayer of Thanksgiving
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
January 26, 2014
&
Sermon 3 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-         El à God
-         Elohimà God
-         EloahàGod
Genesis 1:2-2:3
Deuteronomy 28:2-6
(All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
Offering – “I Will Bless the Lord”
Prayer of Thanksgiving
children’s sermon
-          “and God Created. . . “
by Pastor Ruth
Closing Song – “Friend of God”
and sermon “Hello My Name is …El, Elohim, and Eloah”
 (in the bulletin as “Hello My Name Is. . . God“)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
January 19, 2014
&
Baptism of the Lord Sunday
(and a time to celebrate and remember our own baptism)
Sermon 2 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-         Yeshua --> Jesus
-         Mashiach --> Christ, Messiah
Matthew 1:18-21
Psalm 2
Mark 1:14-20
Matthew 3:13-17
 (All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
Reception of new members
Offering – “The New 23rd
Prayer of Thanksgiving
children’s sermon
-          There is only One who can save us, Jesus, the one Savior
Closing Song – “The River Is Here”
and sermon “Hello My Name is …Yeshua/Mashiach”
(in the bulletin as “Hello My Name Is. . . Jesus, Christ, Messiah“)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
January 12, 2014
&
Epiphany Sunday
Epiphany of the Lord Sunday
Sermon Series on “The Names of God”
Sermon 1 of “What’s In A Name…”
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-         Ha-Shem -> the Name
-         Ehyeh -> I Am
Exodus 3:13-14
Leviticus 24:10-16
 (All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
offering – worship your holy name
Prayer of Thanksgiving
children’s sermon
-          different names, different meaning – one person
-          many names for God, all one God
communion –
-          “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”
-          “Lord, You Are More Precious Than Silver”
and sermon “Our Many Faceted God”
(saved as “Hello My Name Is. . . “)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
January 5, 2014


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 35,240+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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