Sunday, September 14, 2014

sermon, "The Power-Filled Gift From God", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church", September 14, 2014

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. . .

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

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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 32,170+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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