January 10, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
Second Sunday of 2016
“Baptism of the Lord Sunday”
Isaiah 43:1-3 NIV
Acts 8:14-17 MSG
Psalm 29 NIV
Matthew 3:13-17 NIV
“Fire and Water. . . !”
Prayer for the
Spirit’s leading. . .
Last week, we talked about “epiphanies” and how
they just kind of happen. For instance, your reading one of those long sections
in the bible that you have read at least a hundred times. All of the sudden you
have this unveiling of your eyes and you all the sudden have this understanding
that you have never had before. That’s an epiphany. God revealed something in
His word that He felt you needed to see and understand.
In studying for my sermon, and that is an epiphany
in itself. . . I am actually studying when I prepare a sermon. . . I had one of
those epiphany appointments. Today is baptism of the Lord Sunday. Now I realize
that you receive the Holy Spirit at baptism and it is through the baptismal
waters that we receive grace. I have written many sermons on water and the
Spirit. But this time. . . this time.
. . there was a deeper understanding. . . an epiphany. . . (Speak
from the Spirit about water and our baptism by the fire of God).
So this is when fire and water work together. It’s when the water of our baptism works with
the flame. . . the fire. . . of the Holy Spirit. You need both in baptism, both
fire and water. In our baptism of water. . . our rebirth. . . we are given the
gift of the Holy Spirit. . . the flame within us. We are re-created into a new
person. God, through Christ, recreates us into a new creation. God loves to
create. In Genesis we hear about how God created light over the waters. God
created. . . the earth was birthed, out of the waters that covered the earth.
Something new was created out of the water. But in our baptism there is yet
another element that is added to the creation. Fire is added. . . the Holy
Spirit. . . to complete the new creation. . .
From the Acts Scripture this morning we see the
Apostles, Peter and John, went Samaria to complete what had already been
started. These new converts had received their baptism in the name of Jesus but
there was something missing. They needed the Holy Spirit. They went and prayed
over them and that was when they received the Advocate and the Counselor. . . the
Spirit of and from God that would teach them and guide them on their way. Fire and water working together to bring the
finale of fire that Jesus began on the cross. . .
Matthew three verses thirteen to seventeen gives us
another snapshot of what happens when we are baptized. . . It reads:
Matthew
3:13-17New International Version (NIV)
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from
Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him,
saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15 Jesus replied, “Let it
be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then
John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was
baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he
saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a
voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well
pleased.”
I
like how the Message Bible ends this piece of scripture:
“You
are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.” In our baptism we too here. . . You are my son. . .
you are my daughter, you are chosen and marked. . . I have claimed you and you
are mine. . . the pride of my life. . . through this water I have marked you
with the seal of my Spirit.
The voice of God stating that Jesus was God’s Son
and He is well pleased in Him. . . the voice of God stating that you and me, we
are sons and daughters and God is well pleased. The All powerful and infinite
God. . . who as we read in Psalm 29 this morning. . . whose voice thunders over
the waters. . . who sits over the floods. . . who gives strength and peace to
His people. . . is well pleased. . .
Today is the Baptism of the Lord Sunday, the day
when we remember not only his life changing baptism but ours as well. Through
water we are saved. Through water we are redeemed. Through water we are given a
new life. (Walk down the aisle with the
Baptismal Bowl and sprinkle the congregation when saying remember your baptism)
So when the waters of life seem as if they are about to overtake you. . . remember your baptism. . . But now, this is what the Lord says he who
created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed
you; When you feel as if you have
no one who really cares in your life. . . remember
your baptism. . . I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you feel like an outcast in this journey of life. . . remember your baptism. . . When you pass through the
waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not
sweep over you. When life has thrown you too many curves
and you just can’t take one more. . . remember
your baptism. . . When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will
not set you ablaze. You have
been sealed with love. . . you have been sealed with power. . . you have been sealed
with grace. . . you have been sealed by the Spirit. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of
Israel, your Savior; Remember your baptism. . .
Amen!
Prayer Over
theWater
Let us pray: Almighty God, the life you birthed in
us by baptism into Jesus Christ will never die. Your justice never fails. Your
mercy is everlasting. Your healing river
flows. Your Spirit blows where you will. We cannot stop you, God!
We are dry and thirsty, O God. Come, refresh us!
Come upon us, Holy Spirit!
Come upon these waters.
Let these waters be to us drops of your mercy.
Let these waters remind us of your righteousness
and justice.
Let these waters renew in us the resurrection power
of Jesus.
Let these waters make us long for your coming
reign.
Most Holy God, Father! Full of Truth and Grace!
Glory to you!
Jesus Christ, Savior, Lord! Glory to you!
Spirit of
fire, Spirit over the waters, Spirit of holiness! Glory to you!
Eternal God, One in Three and Three in One! All
glory is yours, now and forever. Amen!
=============
February 6, 2016
Baptism of the Lord Sunday
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
and sermon, “Fire and Water ”
text:
video:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon
blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s
Message from Mystery Box
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
praise
song - “Hear Our Praises”
praise song – “You Deserve the Glory”
praise songs - "We Will Dance",
"Blessed Assurance", and "Glory and Honor", all together
offertory
– “Your Love Oh Lord”
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
January
10, 2016
&
January 3, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
First Sunday of 2016
New Year/New Things
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (MSG)
Isaiah 43:18-19 (MSG)
Revelation 21:1-8 (NIV)
and
sermon, “Brand Spanking New…!”
text:
video:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
January
3, 2016
All of my
poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001,
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2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for
usage. See all 40,960+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
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