Sunday, May 03, 2015

sermon, "I Will Rejoice For He Is My God!", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, May 3, 2015

May 3, 2015
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon 2 in Sermon Series
“Five Marks of a Christian”
Adapted from: “Five Marks of a Methodist”
By Steve Harper
Psalm 73:24-28 CEB
Philippians 4:4-9 NIV
I Will Rejoice For He Is My God!

Prayer for God’s word to be heard through me or in spite of me. . .

I love getting good news, be it for myself or for someone else. Good news is so needed in a world that seems to be nothing but bad. We see it in the news and in the news paper. This world seems to have gone from bad to worse. So when someone has good news it really is something to rejoice about.

Even in heaven there is rejoicing. We are told in scripture that there is much rejoicing when one soul turns from sin and turns to God. When God created the heavens and the earth and all that is within it, He stepped back and rejoiced in His creation and called it very good.

I would rather live my life rejoicing. . . looking to find the good that there is in the world and rejoicing about it. . . than the alternative of feeling down all the time. . . finding not much to rejoice about. At dinner time, we sit around the table and give thanks. . . rejoice about. . . one thing that happened that day that was good. . . something that we are thankful for.

We have begun our journey of looking at the five things. . . five ways. . . that we can see that we are “being changed by the story” of Easter. I have adapted this Sermon Series from a book written by Steve Harper that is titled “Five Marks of a Methodist: The Fruit of a Living Faith.” But this book is not just for “Methodist”, it is for all who follow Christ. It gives five distinct ways to tell. . . to visually see. . . that you are being “changed by the story”, not just reading it.

The five ways are as follows:
A “Christian” not just Methodist:
1.   Loves God
2.   Rejoices in God
3.   Gives Thanks
4.   Prays Constantly
5.   Loves Others

          Last week, we talked about the first of these character traits. We love God. We love God with all that we are. . . and all that we have within us. This love we have for God is what drives us in our relationship with Him. The more we are in love with Him the more we want to know Him. And the more we know Him the more we want of Him in our lives.

The next tell tale sign is that we rejoice in God. The Psalm that I read this morning, talks about rejoicing in God. . . being so overjoyed that there is nothing that compares to Him. We are so overjoyed that we can’t help but talk about Him and all that He has done. As we rejoice in the Lord, we witness to a world that is in such need of the Good News. There are so many that need the hope of the gospel. As they hear the news and accept it in their lives, they too begin to rejoice in our God and Savior. . .

In the Letter to the Philippians, Paul talks about this rejoicing in God. In the fourth chapter He gives these instructions:

Philippians 4:4-9New International Version (NIV)

Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

As we rejoice in the Lord we are changed. . . the story has changed us. . . we become gentle and “fearless”. We know that we can go to God in prayer and He will answer. We are given peace. Instead of concentrating on the chaos around us we are concentrated on what is good. And that brings us joy instead of the despair that our world seems pretty abundant with.

Joy. . . real joy that makes you “dance in the streets”. . . flows from the love of God. The joy of the Lord truly is our strength. Being a Christ follower. . . being a disciple of Christ . . . is a whole-life response to God’s grace. . . With all of our heart. . . all of our mind. . . and all of our strength. This joy is not a fleeting or superficial thing but it takes over our whole being. Being loved by God and loving God builds a bond that produces a life that can only be found in relationship with Him.

A Christian rejoices in God. . . they rejoice with God. . . for God is there all in all. So how is it with your joy meter? Are you rejoicing in god or is the chaos of the world creeping in and stealing your joy? Come to the fountain of joy and be revived again. Come to the life giving waters our Savoir offers and come away rejoicing in the streets. Come to the font of blessings and have the joy of your salvation restored. Rejoice in God for He is good.

Amen!





May 3, 2015

Fifth Sunday of Easter
Psalm 73:23-28 (Common English Bible)
Philippians 4:4-9 (The Message)
and sermon, “I Will Rejoice for He Is My God!“
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
-          mystery box – Life Saver candy
-          “Grab the life preserver”
video:
text:

by Pastor Ruth Foss
“Our God is Faithful”
“Happy Song”
“God is Good All The Time”
“I Will Magnify His Name”
“Spirit of the Living God”
Offertory, “Trust His Heart”
Communion “God of Wonders”
closing song, “Blessed Be The Lord God Almighty”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
May 3, 2015

&
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Matthew 22:36-38
1 John 4:16b-21
and sermon, “Loving God. . . “
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
-          mystery box – bracelet of fishing hooks
-          “We are all called to be fishers of men”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
centering song – “Surely The Presence”
Opening Prayer
“There Is Power In The Blood”
“Deep and Wide”
“The Lord Reigns”
“Glory To The Lamb”
Offertory, “People Need The Lord”
Pastoral Prayer
closing song, “Pass It On”
Departing Blessing
song after departing blessing, “The Lord Reigns”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 26, 2015
&
Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 3:12-19
1 John 3:1-7
Acts 3:1-19
Matthew 28:18-20
2 Kings 2:1-11
and sermon, “Let the Story Change You”
video:
text:
by Raymond A. Foss
Children’s Message
-          mystery box – sunglasses and mint/candy
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
“Sweet, Sweet Spirit”
“Do Lord”
“My Life Is In You Lord”
“Your Love, Oh Lord”
Offertory, “O How I Love Jesus”
closing song, “The Dancing Heart”
song after departing blessing, “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 19, 2015
&
First Sunday after Easter
Isaiah 52:13-15
Luke 24:13-53
Walk to Emmaus
Christ Appearing to Disciples
Ascension
and sermon, “The Rest of the Story”
by Steve Curtis
Children’s Message
-          mystery box – large candle
-          “Shine the light as copies of Jesus”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
“Trees of the Field”
“Trading My Sorrows”
“You Are My All In All”
“Agnus Dei”
Offertory, “Behold the Lamb”
https://youtu.be/m0vHQHIlQ8kPrayer of Thanksgiving
Communion, “You Have Been Given” and “I Sing Praises”
closing song, “The Power Of Your Love”
closing songs, “My Tribute” and “The Strong Name of Jesus”
song after Departing Blessing, “Trading My Sorrows”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 12, 2015
&
April 5, 2015
Easter Sunday!
Surely the Presence
Greetings and Announcements / Opening Prayer
Let The Glory Come Down!
Matthew 28:1-10 (The Message)
John 20:1
John 20:11-16 (Amplified Bible)
Communion
and sermon “The End Is Just the Beginning. . . ”
scan:
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
“I Believe in Jesus”
“Go To The Rock”
“Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”
“Fairest Lord Jesus”
Matthew 28:1-10 and
Offertory, “He’s Alive”
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Children’s Message
Communion, “The Old Rugged Cross” and
Because He Lives
closing song, “This Is The Day”
Departing Blessing
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 5, 2015

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 37,400+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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