September 14, 2014
Stetson Memorial United Methodist
Church
Sermon
Series on “All My Day: A Summer of Prayer”
Inspired
by Marcia McFee
Sermon
11 of series-
“The
Spirit of God”
Joel 2:23-29
Common English Bible
Romans 8:22-28
Gods Word Translation
“The Power-Filled
Gift From God. . . ”
Let us pray. . . (Pray for God’s illumination. . . )
Have
you ever felt “convicted” to do something that you have never done before?
Have you ever felt that little feeling inside to step out in faith and do something? It can be really hard to do that. You may feel that if you do this “thing” you may fail because you don’t really know what you are doing and are not sure if you even know how to do it. You get this prompting within you and you just want to ignore it but it just won’t go away. Why would you even want to do something like this? What if you fail and everyone around you sees you fail and thinks you are nothing but a failure? What if you do this and. . . (fill in the blank)? The Spirit’s prompting. . . conviction. . . can be so strong that you stand frozen. . . unable to move out because of fear. But there is hope. . .
Have you ever felt that little feeling inside to step out in faith and do something? It can be really hard to do that. You may feel that if you do this “thing” you may fail because you don’t really know what you are doing and are not sure if you even know how to do it. You get this prompting within you and you just want to ignore it but it just won’t go away. Why would you even want to do something like this? What if you fail and everyone around you sees you fail and thinks you are nothing but a failure? What if you do this and. . . (fill in the blank)? The Spirit’s prompting. . . conviction. . . can be so strong that you stand frozen. . . unable to move out because of fear. But there is hope. . .
This
summer, we have been working though the prayer beads that were made as a way to
helps remind us what we should be praying for. Well we are almost to the end of
the beads this week. I know we have learned a few things as we have gone
through the beads on the string. Let’s
see. . . the Gold Bead. . . which reminds us to begin with adoration . . . .the
bumpy beady. . . .that is to remind us to let go and let God. . . .the embrace
of silence with the “holey Bead” . . . the steeping stone bead. . . our journey of faith. . . The next one. . . the black...the black and
white...the gray bead...reminds us to bring our spiritual struggles to God. . .
.and the green bead, represents concern. . . not worries but concerns. And we
have the red bead. . . the one that lets
us know that we need to pray for the lovable and not so lovable people in our
lives. . . even those who do us harm.
Then there is the three purple beads on the string...the ones that remind us to
pray for those “who are standing in the need of prayer.” And we are not just
limited to the three beads. . . they are there to remind us that there are
those who are needing...waiting...for our prayers for and about them. The green bead from last week is all about
praying for those around the world. . . praying for the worlds situations. . . praying
down God’s “kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven”. . .
The
next bead is the fiery red bead. Now this, at times, can be a complicated bead.
You see with this bead we are reminded. . . well
it’s sort of asking. . . that we are given a gift that we are to use for
God’s service. This bead is the one that we ask God to work through the Holy
Spirit in us so that we will use our gifts and talents to and for His glory.
Now this can be a tough bead because we are asking God to ignite the Spirit
within in us to cause us to “step out of our comfort zone” and use the Spirit
within us to “go forth and make disciples
of all nations.” Now this can be a hard thing to pray for because sometimes. .
. we are happy just the way we are. We don’t want to move out of our comfort
zone. We have never done the things that God may ask us to do and frankly. . . we
may not be sure we want to or are equipped to do so. . .
The
scripture that I read from the Old Testament book of Joel gives us hope in
those time that we are not sure. . . are frightened. . . .to step out in faith.
It gives us hope because it talks about a promise that God has given us. It
tells us to rejoice and be glad in our God. He will provide for us abundantly. All
the times in the past when we may have been in need. . . all those times in the
past when we may have failed. . . they are gone. God will be in our midst and
will not be put to shame. God has even poured out His Spirit upon us. . . upon
you and me. . . and we will prevail. It
tells us that this Spirit is not just for his “chosen people” but for all
people. . . we are now all His chosen
ones. And within this same Spirit we will be equipped to do His work. We will prophesize in His name. . . we will
dream dreams in His name. . . we will see visions in His name. . . we will be
equipped for the good works that He has laid out for us to do in His name. . . there is hope and strength in His
“Power-Filled Spirit.”
In
the letter to the Romans, Paul talks about this “power-filled Spirit of God”.
The scripture I want to read about this said “Spirit” is found in Chapter 8
verses 22-28. Listen to the Good News about this Spirit of God and take heart.
. .
Romans 8:22-28GOD’S
WORD Translation (GW)
22 We know that all creation has been groaning with the pains of
childbirth up to the present time. 23 However, not only creation groans. We,
who have the Spirit as the first of God’s gifts, also groan inwardly. We groan
as we eagerly wait for our adoption, the freeing of our bodies from sin. 24 We
were saved with this hope in mind. If we hope for something we already see, it’s
not really hope. Who hopes for what can be seen? 25 But if we hope for what we
don’t see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 At the same time the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we
don’t know how to pray for what we need. But the Spirit intercedes along with
our groans that cannot be expressed in words. 27 The one who searches our
hearts knows what the Spirit has in mind. The Spirit intercedes for God’s
people the way God wants him to.
Nothing Can Separate Us
from God’s Love
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love
God—those whom he has called according to his plan.
The
Spirit within creation. . . the Spirit within you and me. . . groans with
anticipation. This Spirit helps us in our weakness. . . in those times when we
say to ourselves “I cannot do this.” You
and I are right when we say “we” can’t do this but the power and strength of
God through the Spirit enables us. . . equips us. . . to do what we cannot do
on our own. As we pray and ask that God would pour out his Spirit upon us
in a mighty way. . . He hears. It is by this same Spirit that He prompts us. .
. convicts us. . . to do His good and pleasing will hear on earth. We are
called according to His plan and we will prevail in all that we do in and
through His power and might. But. . . but. . . we must be willing to pray the
prayer of submission to His will. . . pray the prayer “Thy Kingdom come, Thy
will be done.” Just as Jesus prayed not
my will but Your own. . . we too need to relinquish our will to God’s will in
our lives.
Maybe.
. . jut maybe. . . as we pray for the Spirits movement in our lives we will be
moved to the movement of God in the world. As we pray “Come Holy Spirit” we will be
changed and empowered by that same Spirit. Perhaps if we. . . as we. . . ask
for a download of the Spirit’s power and might in our lives we will step up to
the microphone of God. . . instead if the microphone of the world. . . .and
with the boldness of Peter share the Good News of hope instead of the bad news
of despair that the world is proclaiming. "Ask
and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be
opened to you.” Just because you and I don’t think we have the power. . . God
knows we do and it is within the knowing that God will provide that we are
emboldened for the Gospel of grace. It’s all about trust. Trust in our God and
trust in our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Just
saying. . .
Let
us pray. . . pray about the Holy Spirit
and ask for its power to fall mightily...
Amen
====
September
14, 2014
Joel 2:23-29 Common English Bible
Romans
8:22-28 Gods Word Translation
Matthew
28:16-20 (“The Great Commission)
&
Sermon 11
of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer
Sermon Series on Prayer
The Fiery
Red Bead – The Holy Spirit of God
children’s
message
- Mystery
Box – a soccer ball, a partially deflated soccer ball, and
a deflated beachball
by Pastor
Ruth Foss
and sermon, “The Power-Filled
Gift from God . . . “
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
September 14, 2014
&
Isaiah
56:4-8 (NIV)
Psalm 67 (NIV)
Communion
&
Sermon 10
of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer
Sermon Series on Prayer
Blue
Green Bead – The World
children’s
message
- Mystery
Box – a bolt, a nut, and a washer
- they are not useful for their intended purpose
alone
- we need all
three to hold things together strongly
- the church is
like that – each of us has gifts
- named some of
the gifts of individuals – song, smile, faith, joy, encouragement, laughter,
prayer warriors
- the church
needs all of us nuts to be bolted together
- Jesus is the
washer . . . He washes us clean
- we need all of
us together
by Pastor
Ruth Foss
and sermon, “Virally Going
Global”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
September 7, 2014
&
Luke
18:1-8 NIV Bible
Ephesians
6:10-18 Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Sermon 9
of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer
Sermon Series on Prayer
Three
Purple Bead – People You Love
children’s
message
- Mystery
Box – a bag of purple beads
by Pastor
Ruth Foss
and sermon, “Standing in the
Need of Prayer”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
August 31, 2014
&
1 John
3:11-18
“More on
Love and Hatred” (NIV)
Luke
6:27-36
“Love for
Enemies” (NIV)
Hymn –
“They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”
Sermon 8
of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer
Sermon Series on Prayer
Red Bead
– People You Love
children’s
message
- Mystery
Box – a stone with the word “unforgiveness” on it. . .
(from
exercise from book study, Having
a Mary Heart in a Martha World)
- God
wants us to forgive; God has forgiven us;
- ask
for forgiveness; forgive even if they haven’t asked
by Pastor
Ruth Foss
and sermon, “The Loveable
UnLovable”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
August 24, 2014
&
John
17:6-19
Christ’s
prayer for his disciples
John
17:20-25
Christ’s
prayer for all believers
Sermon 7
of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer
Sermon Series on Prayer
Green
Bead – Your Special Concern
children’s
message
- Mystery
Box – picture of our cat Moe sleeping
- God
wants us to be at rest, at peace
by Pastor
Ruth Foss
and sermon, “A Weight Upon the
Heart”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
August 17, 2014
&
prayer of
the people printed in the bulletin,
including
the following prayer:
“For our
church that it may be safe for all people
and an
active witness to the truth of Jesus Christ.”
Genesis
32:22-28 Common English Bible
Psalm
139:1-14 NIV Bible
Sermon 6
of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer
Sermon Series on Prayer
Grey,
Black and White, Day and Night Bead – Spiritual Struggles
children’s
message
- Mystery
Box – dog treats and squeaky ball
- God
gives us treats
- God
wants us to play
by Pastor
Ruth Foss
and sermon, “G.W.E.” (God
Wrestling Entertainment)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
August 3, 2014
&
Romans
10:12-15 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
Luke
12:12-15
Luke
12:1-6 Common English Bible
“The Long
and Winding Road” The Beatles
Sermon 5
of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer
Sermon Series on Prayer
Stepping
Stone Bead – Journey of Faith
children’s
message by Ellen Alward Dickinson
reading
story – A Black Bear and Four Boys
and sermon, “A Long And Winding
Road”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
July 27, 2014
&
Psalm
37:5-7 (Common English Bible)
1 Kings
19:9-23 (NIV Bible)
Sermon 4
of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer
Sermon Series on Prayer
Bead with
a Hole - Silence
children’s
message by Pastor Ruth Foss
- Mystery
Box - a blank space
- God starts with a blank canvas,
God fills in the picture until
a masterpiece
is created and we come home
and sermon, “Is Silence Really
Golden?”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
July 20, 2014
&
Psalm
33:30-22
Psalm
25:1-3
Romans
8:30-32
Matthew
11:28-30
Sermon 3
of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer
Sermon Series on Prayer
Bumpy
Bead – Letting Go
children’s
message by Pastor Ruth Foss
- Mystery
Box – a broken set of prayer beads
- God
can make something beautiful of all the broken pieces:
- Dad
can you fix this? Yes I can. . .
and sermon, “In the Letting Go
We Find”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
July 13, 2014
&
June 29,
2014
Psalm
105:1-6 Common English Bible
Exodus
15:1-3 The Living Bible
Psalm
89:1-18 The Message Bible
Closing
Hymn – “As the Deer”
Sermon 2
of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer
Sermon Series on Prayer
children’s
message by Pastor Ruth Foss
- Mystery
Box –
- Sabbath
rest, time with God outdoors, in nature
and sermon, “All My Adoration.
. . !”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
June 29, 2014
&
June 22,
2014
Matthew
6:5-14
“Jesus
Teaches About Prayer” (NCV)
(including
Lord’s Prayer)
Romans
12:12
Ephesians
6:11-18
Sermon 1 of “All My Days: A
Summer of Prayer”
Summer
Sermon Series on Prayer
children’s
message by Ray Foss
- God
fills in the words we pray
based on
Upper Room Daily Devotional for June 9, 2014
Romans
8:26 (NRSV)
Romans
8:22-27
Upper
Room Daily Devotional
“Guided
by the Spirit”
by Milly
Ibanda
for March
and April 2014
- spontaneous
prayer, wait for God’s answer
(based on
Shanequa’s prayer for a puppy July 21, 2006)
opening
and welcome by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “Stop, Look and
Listen”
by Sally Drew
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
June 22,
2014
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