Sunday, July 17, 2016

sermon, "Higher Ground", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, July, 17, 2016, Patten, ME



July 17, 2016
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series:
God Is A Rock
“Take Me To The Rock”
Psalm 30
Psalm 61; Psalm 88;
Exodus 3:1-3; Genesis 22:1-2

“Higher Ground. . . ”

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

A reading from the Poetry of the Psalms. . . the 61st Psalm. . . Listen and hear the word of God for the people of God. . .

When I was in Jerusalem we went to Mount Megiddo.  Now this is the place that they say the final battle is going to be when Jesus comes back to make everything new. Now I don’t like heights at all. But I was determined to get to the top. When I got there I understood why this would be the final battle place. From this vantage point you could see for miles in all directions. You really do get a better view when you are above all things below. . .  It is the same way with our lives. It is hard to see when you are in the valley and we need to go to a higher place to see more clearly. We to go to the Rock of Higher  Ground.

Last week we all agreed that God is a Rock. We understand and know that God is good all the time. . . all the time God is good. . .   But why do we use the metaphor. . . the imagery. . . of a Rock when we talk about God. . . when we try to explain who He is to someone that may not know God he way we do. Last week we looked at the imagery of God being the “Solid Rock”. We call Him that because He is never changing always the sure foundation that we can build our lives upon. He is the safe harbor. . . the Solid Rock under our feet when storms blow into our lives and we experience the slippery landscape of the world around us. And He is the Solid Rock that gives us the strength to face anything at any time. . . as we cling to Him for help.
Our God is “Higher” than anything of this world and the next. But too often we live our lives not going to the “Rock that is higher than we are” and try to do things on our own. We only call upon the Rock. . . only tap into the unlimited power and strength given to us in and through the higher Rock. . . when we are all out of ideas. We want transformation in our lives. . . in our walk with God. . . and try to effect that change on our own. This is the Rock that raises us up to higher places. . . to where He is.

We hear many stories in the bible and read poetry found in Psalms that is all about this higher place. . . and it being the place of God. In the Poetry of the 61st Psalm we hear about how the Psalmist needed to be lifted to the higher places. . . go to the rock that was Higher than they were for this is where they found their shelter and strength, this is where they wanted to dwell forever. . .  Lead me to the rock that is higher than I [a rock that is too high to reach without Your help]. For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me. . .  We too need the Rock that is higher than we are. From His vantage point, He can see all the pit falls and snares of the enemy and can help us to go around “by a different route” in order to avoid these traps.

The Higher Ground. . . the Higher Rock. . .  Have you ever noticed that God was very much connected to mountains. . . .that higher ground? It is a place where many met God. We hear the history of these encounters all over the bible. There are way too many for us to read today but I encourage you to read these stories of how people encountered God in the “High Places.”  Let’s look at a couple these encounters with God on the mountain top.

The first is found in Exodus 3 verses 1-5. Let’s read together this defining moment on the mountain top. . .

Exodus 3:1-5Amplified Bible (AMP)
The Burning Bush
3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro (Reuel) his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of God. 2 The [a]Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing flame of fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was on fire, yet it was not consumed. 3 So Moses said, “I must turn away [from the flock] and see this great sight—why the bush is not burned up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned away [from the flock] to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then God said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet [out of respect], because the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

Now this is not the only time we hear about the mountain of God. . . we hear that this is the place where the commandments of God were given. But for now let’s look at Moses encounter.  He was in the valley and looked up and saw a great sight. He went up and met God on the mountain. . . this is His first of many encounters as he lead the people of God through the wilderness. God called Moses. . . and us. . . to come up from the valley to be lifted to a higher place in our relationship with Him. It is in the leading of the Holy Spirit that we grow and are brought to the Higher Ground. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. . .


The second I want us to look at is in Genesis chapter 22, verses 1-3. Here we have yet another higher place that God used to grow one of His people.

The Offering of Isaac
22 Now after these things, God tested [the faith and commitment of] Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he answered, “Here I am.” 2 God said, “Take now your son, your only son [of promise], whom you love, Isaac, and go to the region of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and his son Isaac; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and then he got up and went to the place of which God had told him.

OK. . . Isaac was the child of promise. . . he and Sarah’s long awaited son. Now God calls him to sacrifice his child on a mountain. . . of his choice. Now let me stop here of a moment and say I would have had a hard time with this one. Finally I have the child that I had waited for all my life and now God is asking me to offer him up as a sacrifice. No wonder he didn’t tell Sarah what he was doing. She would have thought he had absolutely gone mad. . .  But Abraham knew God was faithful. He knew that God could be taken at His word so Abraham trusted God. . . even with his son. The rest of the story is when Abraham was getting ready to sacrifice his son God stopped him and gave him a ram as a substitute. . . you know that is kind of what God did for us. When we were dying in our sin. . . He gave a substitute for us. . . the spotless Lamb. . . His own Son Jesus Christ.

All this reading about God being Higher than anyone else. . . about how when we are lead to the higher ground we grow closer to the one who is Highest of all. I can’t help thinking about those who are still in the valley not knowing how to get to higher ground where there is security and safety and a place to grow in the “Son” shine. . .  You all know that Cristy and I have been working with the young adults and youth within our community. Well as Cristy was putting scripture on line for us to meditate on a strange remark was made by someone. The scripture was from the Poetry of the Psalms. . . the 88th Psalm to be exact. . .  Listen to the words of those looking for higher ground. . .

Read the 88th Psalm. . .  

Speak through the spirit. . .

God is a Rock! He is a Solid Rock that never changes. He is the Rock of faithfulness and truth. He is the Rock we run to who takes us to higher ground. He is the Rock we lead others to so that they can grow closer to the God who takes them. . . leads them. . . higher than the world around them. . . out of the pit of chaos onto the road of “Higher Learning” about  the God who is above all things.

AMEN!



July 24, 2016
the God who is above all things
July 24, 2016
out of the pit of chaos
July 24, 2016
lost in addiction, in chaos
July 24, 2016
they don’t know Him
July 24, 2016
they are out there hurting
July 24, 2016
God takes us to higher ground
July 23, 2016
the mark of the beast
July 23, 2016
in the darkness, the chaos
July 23, 2016
stuck in the valley
July 23, 2016
held by the chaos – v2
July 23, 2016
listen to their cries
July 23, 2016
look around
July 23, 2016
climb to the rock
edited July 23, 2016
in the dark places – v2
July 23, 2016
they are not here
edited July 23, 2016
wake up, help – v2
July 23, 2016
wake up, help
edited/expanded July 23, 2016
we have a calling – 2
expanded July 23, 2016
to hear their cries – v2
July 23, 2016
to hear their cries – v1
July 22, 2016
lead them to the rock
edited July 22, 2016
held by the chaos
July 22, 2016
in the dark places
editing “too many in Sheol”
July 22, 2016
cling to God for help – v2
July 21, 2016
too many in Sheol
July 21, 2016
we have a calling
July 21, 2016
those who are still in the valley
July 21, 2016
God called to him
July 21, 2016
a safe harbor – v2
July 20, 2016
Lead me to the rock
July 20, 2016
go to the rock
July 20, 2016
we cling to God for help
July 20, 2016
cling to God for help
July 20, 2016
we need the rock
July 19, 2016
the sure foundation
July 19, 2016
a safe harbor
July 19, 2016
we are down in the valley
July 19, 2016
a higher place
July 18, 2016
guide them to the heights
July 17, 2016
climbing higher- 2
July 17, 2016
Higher Ground
July 17, 2016
above the chaos
July 17, 2016
miles in all directions
July 17, 2016
from the heights
July 17, 2016
a new perspective
July 17, 2016
we bring You these gifts
7/17/16 Prayer of Thanksgiving
&
July 17, 2016
climb the mountain
July 17, 2016
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series:
God Is A Rock
“Take Me To The Rock”
Psalm 30
Psalm 61;
Psalm 88;
Exodus 3:1-3;
Genesis 22:1-2
and sermon, “Higher Ground…”
text
video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message from Mystery Box
by Cristy Ann Chaffee
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
July 17, 2016
&
July 17, 2016
build your house
July 17, 2016
build upon God
July 17, 2016
sinking fast
edited July 17, 2016
Solid Rock – v2
July 17, 2016
where will we stand
July 16, 2016
seeking that rock
July 16, 2016
like a house of cards
edited July 16, 2016
on this rock we stand
July 16, 2016
we can stand - 2
July 15, 2016
fixed to the rock
July 14, 2016
nothing moved that house
July 13, 2016
build our lives
July 13, 2016
Solid Rock
July 10, 2016
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series:
God Is A Rock
“Solid Rock”
Psalm 91
Psalm 18:1-3;
Psalm 62:5-8;
Deuteronomy 32:1-4;
Matthew 7:24-27
and sermon, “Firmness of Rock…”
text
video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message from Mystery Box
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
July 10, 2016

All of my poems, photographs, and videos 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 41,480+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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