Monday, January 25, 2016

sermon, "Now That's A Deep Well...!", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, January 17, 2016, Human Relations Day

January 17, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
Third Sunday of the New Year
Human Relations Day
Ephesians 3:14-21 AMP Bible
Psalm 36:5-10 AMP Bible

“Now That’s A Deep Well. . . !”

Prayer for the Spirit’s leading. . .

A Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 3, verses 14-21, listen to the Word of God to you and me, the people of God. . .

Well’s. . . how deep is a well? Do you ever run out of water in a well? What do you do. . . how long does it take in order to get the well working again and have enough water so that it is usable again?

In the bible there are many references to well’s. There were well’s in various parts of the tabernacle in the wilderness where the Israelites worshiped and heard from God. There is Jacobs well which he dug and it was left to all of those who would inherit the property. As a matter of fact, this is the same well where Jesus had an encounter with a Samaritan woman where He offered her Living Water. It is the same Living Water that we are all invited to drink as well. . .  God offers this water because of His great love for humanity.

So far this year we have had epiphanies, those aha moments, when we really understand and get a glimpse of who God is. We have visited the shore of the Jordan River and step into the water with Jesus as remembered our own baptism. All of this has me thinking about how deep God’s love for us truly is. Don’t get me wrong I know that God loves us, but how deep is that love? Is it as deep as a well or much more than that? Is this well of living water He offers able to run out or is it vastly more than that?

From the Psalm this morning we not only hear how loving and honorable our God is but we hear about a fountain of life. This is where we find this life-giving water. But it’s not of temple life but it is of eternal life that the Psalm speaks of. We are allowed to drink from this river. . . to drink to our fill. But there is one catch. . . we have to believe. There is a never ending supply of this water as we take refuge under His wings.

God’s deep love. . . I think one of the best descriptions of it is found in the Letter to the Ephesians found in Chapter 3. Paul prayed continually for the people of Ephesus that they would truly understand who they were in God’s eyes and how much He loved them. It is also my prayer too that we would all understand how precious we are and dearly loved to and by God. . .

Speak from the Spirit. . .

My conclusion is this. There is no end to what God offers. There is no end of God’s love for us. There is no end to this well. We don’t have to worry about times of drought. There is no true drought with God as we dip our cup by the stream of life and drink our fill all the days of our life. We can and will do this through our Lord Jesus Christ in whose name we have hope and a future. Amen. . .  

edited January 20, 2016
By Your Living Waters – v2
January 19, 2016
no end to what God offers
January 19, 2016
drink to our fill
January 19, 2016
we have to believe
January 19, 2016
Christ dwells in us
January 19, 2016
God’s deep love
January 19, 2016
drink from this river
January 19, 2016
a fountain of life
January 19, 2016
The well of living water
January 19, 2016
God’s love is deep
January 19, 2016
always enough
January 18, 2016
we are invited to drink
January 18, 2016
stepped into the water
January 18, 2016
never to thirst again
January 18, 2016
drink from the well
January 18, 2016
the same living water
January 17, 2016
the same well
January 17, 2016
drink of the waters
January 17, 2016
feed your soul
January 17, 2016
stop and drink
January 17, 2016
pools of water
January 17, 2016
Springs eternal
January 17, 2016
Deep water
January 17, 2016
Third Sunday of the New Year
Human Relations Day
Ephesians 3:14-21 (AMP Bible)
Psalm 36:5-10 (Amp Bible)
and sermon, “Now That’s A Deep Well. . . !”
text:

video:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message from Mystery Box
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
January 17, 2016

All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,800+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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