Sunday, April 06, 2014

sermon, "Hello My Name is . . . Shopet", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, April 6,.2014

April 6, 2014
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series on “The Names of God”
Sermon 13 of series-
“The Sacred Names of God: Shopet”
Psalm 94:2-14 Living Bible (TLB)
Ezekiel 37:1-14 The Message Bible
Spangler, Ann (2008-09-09). Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide

“Hello My Name is…Shopet”

Let us pray…

Loving and Gracious God, full of compassion and love, You are the giver of all that is good and perfect. We thank you for this day that we can slow ourselves down and bask in Your word. As we sit at Your feet, we ask that You would help us understand the message for us today through the Spirit that You have placed within us. By that same Spirit, may we be moved beyond ourselves and into service for Your glory. May we come away from our encounter with You this morning changed people of God. Speak Lord, we are anxious to hear Your voice within our hearts.

Have you ever been in a courtroom or seen a TV show about a courtroom? I have. As You walk into the courtroom you see both parties sitting before a judge who has been placed there so that there is someone who can get to the truth of a matter. As the judge hears both sides of the story, he tries to figure out who is telling the truth and who is not. It is an important job because these people have come before him so that they can have closure on an issue. I am sure it must be hard to try and decipher what information is important for the case and what information just doesn’t belong. I don’t think I would like to have a job like that. People’s lives depend on the judge being fair and impartial.

I like watching the show “Law and Order”. I enjoy watching the police and detectives try to get to the bottom of a crime. They try to find truth amongst the lies that have been told. Most of the time they win but there are times when evil triumphs over good. There is only just so much they can do to find the truth. How can we know the truth of the matter? How can we get to the bottom of a situation and find where the truth lays? When we see evil winning over good in the world, how can we be sure that the good wins in the end? Is there someone who will find all truth and expose all lies that are integrated in throughout the truth of the matter?

We are continuing on our journey of learning the Sacred Names of God and praying in that same name. We have learned so many names for God… ElohimEl Elyon El Olam. Remember Go’el our redeemer? How about El Emet the God of Truth and that we learn from our Rabbouni…our teacher? Last week, we learned that as we follow our Rabbouni, we discover that He is Ebed Yahweh, for He is the Servant of the Lord. But our God is not all “fuzzy and warm.” There are times when He needs to discipline His children like any other good parent. It is these times when He is known as Shophet, the one true Judge.

So, let’s talk about our Shophet…the Judge…the one true Judge of the world. You know, the One who you “can’t pull the wool over their eyes.” Ann Spangler tells us in the book “Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide “, “justice is ultimately rooted not in a collection of laws or rules but in the very character and nature of God. As Judge of the whole earth, he is the only One competent to measure the motivations of our hearts. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word “judge” is often parallel to the word “king.” When we pray to God our Shophet (sho-PHAIT), we are praying to the One whose righteousness demands perfect justice but who has also provided a way for us to be acquitted of our guilt through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son.” God is the Judge of all and it is through Him that we finally get that real justice.

Through the prophets of old and also the prophets that are among us today, God passes down His judgment on His people. God uses people even today to speak to His people and tells them not only the judgment but why they are being judged. Our God…our One true Judge…cannot be fooled. From the Psalm I read this morning we hear how this is a true statement. God is not deaf or blind. He sees what we do even “behind the scenes” where no one else may see. He sees what is within our hearts and our thoughts and minds. Even though it may look as if the evil is winning…even though we may think we are getting away with what we do…God sees all and will bring all to light. But God is not a god who punishes just because He can but punishes because of the love He has for us.

Have you ever felt unjustly accused of some offense, large or small, that you never committed? At these times we need to be very careful. We may become “self-righteous” and demand that God act on our behalf NOW! “Who do they think they are? Do they really think that they are going to get away with that with me?! They should suffer as much as they made me suffer!” It is kind of like what I talked about with the Kids Life children on Wednesday. We talked about “throwing stones” and about how “yee without sin cast the first stone”, the stones you were given this morning are a reminder of this truth… We may end up bitter and desire vengeance verses punishment (and there is a difference).

I love the way Ann Spangler states the obvious…that we may miss sometimes… “God’s justice is tempered by his great mercy, which is most powerfully and eloquently expressed in the person of Jesus Christ. No matter what your life may have looked like before you came to Christ, there is no longer any condemnation for you. Today the Judge of the whole earth rises to show you compassion.” With compassion…not anger…not vengeance…but compassion.

Are you feeling in your life that you are being punished by God and that He will never relent? Are you feeling that your hope and faith has dried up in the desert of judgment? Are you feeling crushed by the things of the past and that you just can’t stand anymore? Are you in the valley of dry bones with a scorching wind blowing across your soul? God is there with you and He hears your cries for mercy and restoration. He will bring your “back to the land of the living.”Listen to the words from the prophet Ezekiel. Hear the words of hope and redemption. Hear the words our God tells us from the pit of judgment…
Ezekiel 37:1-14 The Message (MSG)

Breath of Life

God grabbed me. God’s Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them—a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain—dry bones, bleached by the sun. He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”I said, “Master God, only you know that.”He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones: ‘Dry bones, listen to the Message of God!’”God, the Master, told the dry bones, “Watch this: I’m bringing the breath of life to you and you’ll come to life. I’ll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You’ll come alive and you’ll realize that I am God!” I prophesied just as I’d been commanded. As I prophesied, there was a sound and, oh, rustling! The bones moved and came together, bone to bone. I kept watching. Sinews formed, then muscles on the bones, then skin stretched over them. But they had no breath in them. He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, ‘God, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath. Breathe on these slain bodies. Breathe life!’”So I prophesied, just as he commanded me. The breath entered them and they came alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army. Then God said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they’re saying: ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there’s nothing left of us.’ “Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, ‘God, the Master, says: I’ll dig up your graves and bring you out alive—O my people! Then I’ll take you straight to the land of Israel. When I dig up graves and bring you out as my people, you’ll realize that I am God. I’ll breathe my life into you and you’ll live. Then I’ll lead you straight back to your land and you’ll realize that I am God. I’ve said it and I’ll do it. God’s Decree.’”

Within the valley of dry bones…our God…Shophet…wants to bring those old bones back to life. He will breathe the breath of life back into you. Our God may punish us as His children but is anger is but a moment and His mercies are for a lifetime. We will rise again. Like a Phoenix rising out of the ashes we too will rise again from our doubt…from our disobedience…from our judging of others…from our valley of dry bones. We too will rise as God’s chosen ready to do battle in His name.

Beloved children of God… If you taken nothing else home from this morning, there are truths that I would like you to remember:
1.     Even though the world around us may seem to be winning…if evil seems to be winning over good. The Go we serve is Shophet..the righteous judge and He will judge the world.
2.     When we are unjustly judged we need to be careful not to turn it into a self-righteous indignation.
3.     Even though we may be going through our own valley of dry bones where we are feeling the Judgment of God upon our lives…we WILL RISE AGAIN!
4.     God will breathe the breath of life back into our parched land and restore us.
And
5.     Yee without sin…cast the first stone…

Let us pray… (Pray to Shopet)

Our loving and compassionate Shophet, we thank you for Your righteousness and that You judge with a righteous hand. We have hope because You will judge the world in which we live and Your judgment is true and fair. Good will WIN! Help us in those times when we are unfairly judged and trust in Your truths. Lord, we know that we ourselves will be judged and we that you that even though we may be in the valley of dry bones You will raise up us again. Breathe the breath of life into us O God so that we may live again…

Amen!

April 6, 2014
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Sermon 13 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Psalm 94:2-15 (Living Bible)(TLB)
Ezekiel 37:1-14 (The Message Bible)
“Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide”
By, Ann Spangler
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          Shopet à Judge
Communion
and sermon “Hello My Name is . . . Shopet”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 6, 2014
&
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Sermon 12 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Isaiah 53:1-9 (The Message)
“The Suffering Servant”
1 Samuel 16:1-13
“God Looks into the Heart”
“Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide”
By, Ann Spangler
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          Ebed Yahweh à Servant of God
Communion
and sermon “Hello My Name is . . . Ebed Yahweh”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
March 30, 2014
&
Third Sunday in Lent
reading of poem, “Lent”
by Ann Weems
from her book, Kneeling in Jerusalem
Sermon 11 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Psalm 31:1-5 (Names of God bible)
John 13:12-17 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
(John 20:16 – in the garden)
“Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide”
By, Ann Spangler
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          Rabbouni/ El Emet à Teacher/God of Truth
Communion
children’s sermon by Regina Goode
about Johnny Appleseed
and sermon “Hello My Name is . . . Rabbouni/El Emet”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
March 23, 2014
&
Second Sunday in Lent
Sermon 10 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Psalm 121
John 3:1-17 (not read)
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          Yahweh/Yahweh Yireh (ya-WEH yir-EH)à The Lord will supply
Prayers of the People by Ray Foss
children’s sermon by Kelly Curtis
-          Mark 1:12-13 – story about Lent and waiting
and sermon “Hello My Name is . . . Yahweh”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
March 16, 2014
&
First Sunday in Lent
Sermon 9 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Job 19:25-27 New International Version (NIV)
Romans 5:12-19 New International Version (NIV)
Isaiah 49:7
Leviticus 25:48-49
Numbers 35:9-30
Jeremiah 50:33-34
Mark 10:54
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          Go’el (go’EL)à Redeemer
Opening Prayer
children’s sermon
-          Why are You Sad?
and sermon “Our Redeemer Lives”
(in the bulletin as “Hello My Name is …Go’el”)
by Raymond A. Foss
filling in for Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
March 9, 2014
&
Transfiguration Sunday
Sermon 8 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Psalm 46
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          El Olam (EL o-LAM)à Everlasting/Eternal God
and sermon “Hello My Name El Olam”
(in the bulletin as “Hello My Name is …El Olam”)
by Ellen Alward Dickinson
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
March 2, 2014
&
Sermon 7 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Daniel 4:19, 24-35 (The Names of God Bible)
1 Kings 19 (The Names of God Bible)
Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          El Elyon (EL el-YOHN)à God Most High
children’s sermon, “God Rocks!”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon ““Hello My Name El Elyon”
(in the bulletin as “Hello My Name is …El Elyon”)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
February 23, 2014
&
Sermon 6 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          Ishà Bridegroom
Hosea 2:16, 19-20
Revelations 19:6-9
 (All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
Worship Songs:
-          Bless His Holy Name
children’s sermon, Scouting Sunday,
by Jean Howes
-          God’s promise
and sermon “Hello My Name Is… Ish/ Bridegroom”
 (in the bulletin as “Hello My Name is …Ish”)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
February 9, 2014
&
Sermon 5 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          Adonay (Adonai)à Lord
Daniel 9:9-16
Daniel 9:17-19
Daniel 9:9-19
 (All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
children’s sermon
-          a servant is someone who serves the Lord,
using all of their talents to bring His kingdom on earth,
serving our Master in everything they say and do.
by Pastor Ruth
and sermon “Hello My Name Adonay”
(in the bulletin as “Hello My Name is …Adonay”)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
February 2, 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)
children’s sermon
“We have a living and breathing God who is always there for us.
He answers us when we call. Our God is not dead…He surely alive…“
by Pastor Ruth
and sermon “Hello My Name is …El Chay”
 (in the bulletin as “Hello My Name is …El Chay / Living God”)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
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)
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)
children’s sermon
-          There is only One who can save us, Jesus, the one Savior
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)
children’s sermon
-          different names, different meaning – one person
-          many names for God, all one God
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


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