June 8, 2014
Stetson Memorial United Methodist
Church
Pentecost
Sunday
Sermon
Series on “The Names of God”
Sermon
22 of series-
“The
Sacred Names of God: Ruach”
Joel
2:28-29 Names of God Bible
Genesis
2:7 Names of God Bible
Acts
2:1-18 Gods Word Translation
Names
of God Bible (with direct verse lookup), The Baker Publishing Group
“Hello My Name is. . . Ruach”
Let us pray. . . (Pray for God’s illumination of our hearts,
minds and souls.)
As we
continue our journey of learning about and praying in the Sacred Names of
God, we have heard many names for God on our journey thus far. But one of
the most important to the church is the name that started the church. It is why
we are celebrating today Pentecost Sunday. It is the name that began all of
creation itself. The name is Ruach. . . (well. . . it is more of a thing
than a name. . . ) the breath. . . the Spirit. . . the wind. Ruach
Yahweh. . . the Lord’s Spirit, Ruach. . . Spirit, Ruach El. . . God’s Spirit,
Ruach Elohim. . . Spirit of God (breathe), Ruach Qodesh. . . Holy Spirit. . . on
that day of Pentecost the church was transformed by the very breathe. . . the Ruach
of God. . .
The Names of God Bible tells us that:
The
Spirit offers wisdom, ability, guidance, power, and revelation. So powerful is
the breath of the Spirit that it can even bring the dead to life. Though Ruach
when used in connection with God in the Hebrew Scriptures may simply refer to
his power or his will, more often it signifies that God is present by his
Spirit. The New Testament speaks of the gifts of the Holy
Spirit (Ruach Qodesh) is given to the body of Christ so that together we can do
the will of God on earth. The Holy Spirit is the One with the power to
re-create the life of God within us.
Today, as we celebrate the power of the
Spirit in the church, the scriptures remind us that the
Spirit is a social Spirit – a Spirit
that leads us to certain solidarity with each other, the whole world, and all
its people. The Spirit does more than make individuals feel good or different.
Let me read to you the account of when
the Spirit of God. . . the Ruach of God.
. . became a reality to the church. . . the body. . . the Disciples of
Christ from Acts chapter 2, verses 1-21. Now when Christ left He told His
disciples that He was going back to heaven but the Spirit. . . the Advocate
would be sent to help them. They had been waiting and praying for days until
that fateful day. (I am reading from the
God’s Word Translation this morning)
The Believers Are Filled with the
Holy Spirit
“2
When Pentecost, the fiftieth day after Passover, came, all the believers were
together in one place. 2 Suddenly, a sound like a violently blowing wind came
from the sky and filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 Tongues that
looked like fire appeared to them. The tongues arranged themselves so that one
came to rest on each believer. 4 All the believers were filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them the
ability to speak.
5
Devout Jewish men from every nation were living in Jerusalem. 6 They gathered
when they heard the wind. Each person was startled to recognize his own dialect
when the disciples spoke.
7
Stunned and amazed, the people in the crowd said, “All of these men who are
speaking are Galileans. 8 Why do we hear them speaking in our native dialects?
9 We’re Parthians, Medes, and Elamites. We’re people from Mesopotamia, Judea,
Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the
country near Cyrene in Libya. We’re Jewish people, converts to Judaism, and
visitors from Rome, 11 Crete, and Arabia. We hear these men in our own languages
as they tell about the miracles that God has done.”
12
All of these devout men were stunned and puzzled. They asked each other, “What
can this mean?” 13 Others said jokingly, “They’re drunk on sweet wine.”
Peter Talks to the Crowd
14
Then Peter stood up with the eleven apostles. In a loud voice he said to them,
“Men of Judea and everyone living in Jerusalem! You must understand this, so
pay attention to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk as you suppose. It’s
only nine in the morning. 16 Rather, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about:
17
‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour my Spirit on everyone.
Your sons and daughters will speak what
God has revealed.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.
18
In those days
I will pour my Spirit on my servants, on
both men and women.
They will speak what God has revealed.”
There are 4 P’s that we receive from
this Ruach Qodesh. . . the Holy
Spirit.:
1.
Power – it came
upon the believers in power. As I said that one of the words for Ruach is
wind. Now we have all seen the power of wind. It can turn windmills. It can
be devastating as in a hurricane. A tornado can pulverize a house. In the
account I read we hear how the Holy Spirit. . . Ruach Qodesh. . . came as a mighty
wind. When the church is filled with the
Holy Spirit, barriers come tumbling down, lives are healed and transformed by
that same Spirit. But. . . but. . . this
power is not to be used to manipulate believers through guilt and fear but to free
people from the paralyzing grip of sin in their lives.
2.
Presence – As
Jesus came into that upper room where the frightened disciples were after His
death, He lifted their spirits by His presence, we can be fearless because we
are promised that we will have the presence of the Holy Spirit with us. If we
know that God is with us and that His love and grace can reach us at our
lowest, darkest point, we can face almost anything.
3.
Peace – We can
have peace because of the Ruach Qodesh. As
the disciples were offered peace when Jesus entered the locked upper room we
too are offered that same peace through the Spirit.
4.
Prophecy – The
Acts scripture tells us that those who witnessed the “download” of the Spirit
were perplexed. They didn’t know what to make of it. They even thought that the
disciples were drunk on wine. Peter boldly, through the Spirit, stood up and
told them that they weren’t drunk but it was the fulfillment of what the
prophet Joel had prophesized. The word “prophecy” means to speak forth or
declare. As a matter of fact that is what Peter did so that they could make
sense of the signs and wonders.
5.
Now I said there
were only 4 P’s but there actually is a 5th one. The 5th
one is purpose. The Spirit acts with purpose. It gives strength and power so
that the disciples of Christ can make known the forgiveness of sins. . . so
that others can also receive the gift of the Spirit. There is a purpose for why
we stand here today. There is a purpose for the Spirit that is within you and
within me. . . to enable us to preach, teach, to share the gospel of Good News.
6.
OK. . . let me
add one more. . . personal. The Holy Spirit is not an idea but a person. It is
the third part of the Trinity. . . Father, Son and Spirit. Our job is not to
understand but to receive the Holy Spirit into our lives. The Spirit is given
to all who know, trust and walk with Jesus.
The Spirit changes behavior and moves us
into community.
Ø The coming of the Spirit transformed the early
Christian community
1. Locked doors were opened.
2. Fear was replaced by courage
3. Peace was proclaimed.
4. The power to forgive sins was present
5. Those who were afraid spoke boldly
Thousands heard the message in their own
language.
Ø The coming of the Spirit today is reflected in our
social values.
1. In a world of racism and prejudice, the Spirit
speaks to people of every nation under heaven.
2. In a world of fear and doubt, the Spirit inspires
people to open doors and to speak out.
3. In a world of selfishness, competition, and control,
the Spirit gives out gifts that are shared for the benefit of all.
4. In a world where too many people lack basic
freedoms, the Spirit invites us to work for honesty and freedom for all.
5. In a world with war and violence, the Spirit
proclaims a message of peace to all.
6. In a world of with great wealth and affluence, the
Spirit calls us again to a special concern for the poor.
The gifts of the Spirit are for
liberation. We might say that the Spirit is an inclusive spirit who
desires to set everyone free.
Today is Pentecost Sunday and we have a
lot to celebrate. We are give a Spirit of power and might. We are given a
Spirit of presence. . . we do not travel
alone in our faith journey. We are given a Spirit of peace in knowing that
fact. We are given a Spirit of prophecy as we proclaim the truth of our Risen
Lord, Jesus Christ from our own door to the ends of the earth. We are given a
Spirit of purpose as we have boldness and strength as we share the Gospel of
Peace. And we have a Spirit within us that is not just some ones thought or
invention but is living and breathing within us as we walk this journey of faith.
It may be hard to grasp this fact but it still remains and we understand by
faith what the world cannot ever understand. Let us then go forth and
prophesize that Jesus is Lord through the Spirit and have peace in knowing we
never walk alone.
Let
us pray. . .
Spirit
of the Living God, Ruach, breathe your life into us. Purify, counsel,
encourage, convict, and enable us. Give us your gifts that we may use them
wisely in your service as we step out in faith and trust in you. Ruach Qodesh,
fall down upon us again, give us boldness, as we share the Good News of our Risen Lord,
Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. Fill us again with Your salvations
power. May we stand in the gap for those who cannot stand. . . transform us and
make us anew.
(
Adapted from - (2011-09-01). Names of God Bible (with direct verse lookup), The
(p. 30). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.)
Amen!
June 8, 2014
Sermon 22 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred
Names of God”
Joel 2:28-29 Names of God
Bible
Genesis 2:7 Names of God
Bible
Acts 2:1-18 Gods Word
Translation
Names of God Bible (with
direct verse lookup), The Baker Publishing Group
Spangler, Ann: Praying the
Names of God: A Daily Guide
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
- Ruach (Breath), Ruach Elohim (Spirit of God), Ruach Qodesh (Holy Spirit)
children’s message
-
Adding Air to the
Balloon
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and
sermon “Hello My Name is. . . Ruach”
sermon
blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten,
ME
June 8,
2014
Pentecost
Sunday
&
Sermon 21 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred
Names of God”
Genesis 17:1-2 (Names of
God Bible)
1 Samuel 17:45-47 (Names
of God Bible)
Ephesians 1:15-23 (Common
English Bible)
Spangler, Ann: Praying the
Names of God: A Daily Guide
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
- El Shadday, Yahweh
Tsebaoth
à Almighty God, the Lord of Hosts
children’s message
-
We can defeat our
giants,
in
the strength God gives us
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and
sermon “Hello My Name is . . . El
Shadday”
June 1,
2014
&
Sermon 20 of Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
1 Peter 3:13-22 (CEB)
Acts 17:22-31 (CEB)
Sirach 34:19-20 (CEB)
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
- Yahweh Ropheka à the Lord Who Heals
children’s message
-
When we are sick,
God
is our Healer
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and
sermon “Hello My Name is . . .
Yahweh Rophekah”
May 25,
2014
&
Sermon 19 of Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Psalm 23 (King James
Version)
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
- Yahweh Roi and Yahweh
Shammah
à
the Lord is my Shepherd and
the Lord is there
children’s message
-
God takes care of
His children
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and
sermon “Hello My Name is . . .
Yahweh Roi/ Yahweh Shammah”
May 18,
2014
&
Sermon 18 of Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Nehemiah 1:5 (English
Standard Version)
Isaiah 35:1-2 (The Message
Bible)
Deuteronomy 7:21 (English
Standard Version)
John 4:7-15 (The Message)
(MSG)
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
- El Hannora à Awesome God
children’s message by
Ellen Dickinson – Amen and Bow Wow!
and
sermon “Hello My Name is . . . El
Hannora”
May 11,
2014
&
Sermon 17 of Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Exodus 34:10-14 NIV Bible
Deuteronomy 4:23-24 NIV
Bible
1 John 3:1-7 Common
English Bible
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
- El Kanna à Jealous God
children’s message
and
sermon “Hello My Name is . . . El
Kanna”
May 4,
2014
&
Sermon 16 of Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Genesis 21:1-21 (The
Message Bible)
Acts 4:32-35 (The Message
Bible)
Psalm 139
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
- El Roi à God watches over us
children’s message
and
sermon “Hello My Name is . . . El
Roi”
April 27,
2014
&
Easter Sunday
Sermon 15 of Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Jeremiah 23:5-6 (GODs Word Translation)
Jeremiah 31:33 (GODs Word Translation)
Matthew 28:1-10 (English Standard Version)
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
- Yahweh Tsidqenu à The Lord Our Righteousness
and
sermon “Hello My Name is . . .
Yahweh Tsidqenu”
April 20,
2014
&
Palm Sunday
Sermon 14 of Sermon Series on “The Sacred
Names of God”
Isaiah
53:7-12 (The Message)
Isaiah
50:4-9a
Matthew
20:26-27
(Matthew
21:1-11)
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon
today:
-
Ish Makaboth à Man of Sorrows
song
and sacred dance by Erica Berberena
to
“Hosanna” by Kirk Franklin
and sermon “Hello My Name
is . . . Ish Makaboth”
April 13, 2014
&
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Sermon 13 of Sermon Series on “The Sacred
Names of God”
Psalm
94:2-15 (Living Bible)(TLB)
Ezekiel
37:1-14 (The Message Bible)
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon
today:
-
Shopet à Judge
and sermon “Hello My Name
is . . . Shopet”
April 6, 2014
&
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Sermon 12 of 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”
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon
today:
-
Ebed Yahweh à Servant of God
and sermon “Hello My Name
is . . . Ebed Yahweh”
March 30, 2014
&
Third Sunday in Lent
reading of poem, “Lent”
by Ann Weems
from her book, Kneeling in Jerusalem
Sermon 11 of 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)
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon
today:
-
Rabbouni/ El Emet à Teacher/God of Truth
children’s
sermon by Regina Goode about Johnny Appleseed
and sermon “Hello My Name
is . . . Rabbouni/El Emet”
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=502382803201413&id=174161846023512
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/03/sermon-hello-my-name-is-rabbouni-el.html
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/447805342639202304
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/03/sermon-hello-my-name-is-rabbouni-el.html
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/447805342639202304
March 23, 2014
&
Second Sunday in Lent
Sermon 10 of 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”
March 16, 2014
&
First Sunday in Lent
Sermon 9 of 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”
by
Raymond A. Foss
filling
in for Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
March 9, 2014
&
Transfiguration Sunday
Sermon 8 of 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”
by
Ellen Alward Dickinson
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
March 2, 2014
&
Sermon 7 of 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”
February 23, 2014
&
Sermon 6 of 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
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”
February 9, 2014
&
Sermon 5 of 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
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 Foss
and sermon “Hello My Name Adonay”
February 2, 2014
&
Sermon 4 of 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
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”
January 26, 2014
&
Sermon 3 of 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
children’s
sermon
-
“and God Created. . . “
by
Pastor Ruth
and sermon “Hello My Name is …El, Elohim, and Eloah”
January 19, 2014
&
Baptism
of the Lord Sunday
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
children’s
sermon
-
There is only One who can save us, Jesus, the one Savior
and sermon “Hello My Name is …Yeshua/Mashiach”
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”
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment