Pages

Sunday, February 04, 2018

sermon, "G.P.S. (God's Protection Service")...", buy Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, ME, February 4, 2018, Scout Sunday

February 4, 2018
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series:
Lord…Teach Us To Pray
What are we really asking and praying for…?
Psalm 147:1-11, 20 (Complete Jewish Bible)
 Matthew 6:13 (9-13) (CJB)
1 Corinthians 10:13 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temptation


“G.P.S. (God’s Protection Service)…”

The Lord be with you…
And also with you…
Let us pray…
Pray that the words spoken are not my own but God’s Words…

Please stand for the reading of the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 6, verse 13. Listen to and for the Word of God for the people of God…Jesus’ disciples…
Matthew 6:13 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
13 And do not lead us into hard testing,
    but keep us safe from the Evil One.
[a]For kingship, power and glory are yours forever.
Amen.’

Good morning. The question I would like to pose to you this morning is this, how many of you have ever been tempted? Now temptation doesn’t have to be something like stealing, adultery, or even taking drugs. Temptation is something that we know we shouldn’t do or have but we choose to have it or do it anyway.

We have begun this year unpacking the Lord’s prayer. It is one of the most recited prayers and one that is biblical because it is the one that Jesus taught His first disciples. They always saw Him going away, by Himself, and praying. They saw the relationship He had with God and they wanted to have that same connection that He did.

But sometimes prayer may become so mindless and automatic that it loses all its true meaning. It becomes so repetitive that it becomes what we do instead of what we feel.  Our relationship with God becomes very distant…no real intimacy with God…no closeness and warmth with Him.

But have you ever really thought about what you are praying? Have you ever really thought about what you and I are truly asking from God?  Each part of the prayer has meaning. It is a prayer with and of purpose. So as we prepare for Lent, we have been breaking down the prayer together. My prayer is that we will maybe recapture, maybe for the first time, the meaning behind the words we pray. I don’t want to be a mindless drone just reciting the words. I want to be an intimate disciple praying, pleading, feeling every, single, word I speak to God.

We began with…Our Father Who art in Heaven and decided that the word Father in this context is essentially calling God Abba (and not the singing group), Daddy. It is the most intimate Name for our God…so intimate it is as if we are climbing up in His lap and being so close that not only can we feel, His heartbeat…we can hear it…that is the intimacy Jesus had with the Father…with Abba…that He taught His Disciples to have… Unfortunately, the name Father can be hard for some people because of their earthly fathers. But this is our perfect Heavenly Father we are talking to. He can’t do us harm…that’s not His nature. This is the One who gave you and I the breath of life. He will never leave or forsake you and me. He has promised, and He cannot tell a lie or go back on His promises…
Hallowed be Thy Name, we have a Mighty God whose Name is Holy and if we decide to take that name in vain He won’t put up with it forever….we are making a vow to keep His name Holy...to not defile His Name in any way…
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven:
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done…not my. When we do His will here on earth, we are bringing down His Kingdom to earth from Heaven. By stating this we are also saying that we BELIEVE that one day His will shall manifest itself on earth as it is in Heaven.
 “Give us the food we need today.” (gives us this day our daily bread). We talked about the fact that there may be times in our lives that we wonder where our next meal…our next job…our next (Fill in the blank) is coming from. But we also affirmed that somehow it was given…either by someone else or even in a miraculous way…God working for our good…He is a Good, Good Father…

But we are not only asking for our physical needs to be met but our Spiritual needs also to be met. Now it is not going to happen by itself. We are asking for our daily Spiritual bread but are we going to His Word to find it? Um Hello…how can we eat the bread if we are not going to the table to get it…?

 “Forgive us what we have done wrong, as we too have forgiven those who have wronged us.”
1. we have to admit it to God.
2. turn away from the sin because you can’t just keep going on sinning and expect to be forgiven.
3. We have to forgive others as we are forgiven… Not on just the surface. We are telling God we are going to forgive but how many times do we hold sins against people even when they have stopped. News flash, we all have a past…some are just bigger than others, but the past is past, and we are now in the present which is a present from God for you and me. The present of forgiveness so our future will be forever changed.  Remember the pencil illustration of how God uses the eraser to erase our sin’s and we need to do the same if we are claiming to be Christ Followers…

So, we come to the last part of the prayer…
13 And do not lead us into hard testing,
    but keep us safe from the Evil One.
For kingship, power and glory are yours forever.
Amen.
(Other translations say, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil”)

Temptation…Meriam Webster tells us that temptation is:
1: the act of considering or causing to consider doing something wrong or unwise
2: a strong desire
 a temptation for candy
3: something that causes a strong desire
 The money was a temptation
We are tested…tempted. Ok…show of hands…how many of you think that God tempts us? How many of you blame God when we are tempted…or even the satan…you know the old…the devil made me do it…statement… Ok…Do you think God would want us to do anything against His word…show of hands? Why? Give time to answer. Ok…so if God doesn’t want us to do anything against His Word, how can He be the source of our temptation?

Ok…so let’s think back to our temptation time. While you were being tempted…did you feel or think anything that would stop you? Did anything happen to try and get in the way of you being tempted? It may be the little voice in your head, it may be a friend stops by, out of the blue, stopping you from committing that sin…and yes, it is a sin if it is against Gods word and we have already said the temptation is against God’s will. God at work providing the way out for you and me…
but keep us safe from the Evil One… but deliver us from evil. God is trying to get yours and my attention. He is trying to intercede and stop us. The bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13:
13 No temptation has seized you beyond what people normally experience, and God can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. On the contrary, along with the temptation he will also provide the way out, so that you will be able to endure.
He will also provide the way out, so that you will be able to endure. And how can God do all of this…? For kingship, power and glory are yours forever.
Amen. (For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the Glory forever more) We have a powerfully awesome God. There is nothing that can stop Him. He conquered sin and death. The enemy…the Evil One…cannot stand against Him. We get to the end of this prayer we are saying “God…you can do all of this because I know there is none above you. I have complete trust in You and I shall not be moved. You are Everything that I need at all time, everywhere. And I say Amen…let it be…I agree with all that has been said. Thank You God!”

I believe in thinking before speaking. My question is, are you and I thinking as we pray or are we being just mindless drones with no feeling or heart? Are you and I willing to let go of our ambitions and lives and take up the promises and life we are promised by Abba? Are we trusting God for our daily bread and looking for it in His word? Are we being as forgiving as we are given forgiveness? Are we blaming Him or asking for help n our temptations of life? How powerful do you and I really think He is?

God is the Great Recreator…if we let Him. We are washed clean by the blood of Jesus and made righteous. Do we really understand and believe what we pray or is there just nothing? Are you and I willing to take a chance on God or are we still waiting for something more assured? Beloved…there is nothing that is more assured than the promises of our God and King. If He says it, we can believe it, it is done! But it is yours and my choice to make. We are given a G.P.S. We are offered God’s Protection Service. This prayer is the proof of His love and guidance. What will your choice be?

Amen, amen, and AMEN!

==================
February 4, 2018
Keep us safe from the Evil One
February 4, 2018
Stetson Memorial UMC
Week 4
Sermon Series:
Lord…Teach Us To Pray
What are we really asking and praying for…?
Psalm 147
Matthew 6:13 (Complete Jewish Bible)
Matthew 6:9-13 (Complete Jewish Bible)
“The Lord’s Prayer”
and sermon “God’s Protection Service”
text

video

by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message

by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
February 4, 2018
&
February 4, 2018
your anger consumes you
February 4, 2018
release your pain
February 4, 2018
wash them in the blood
February 4, 2018
let go of their crimes
February 4, 2018
O Lord, forgive us
edited February 3, 2018
we are not perfect – 2 – v2
February 3, 2018
we are not perfect - 2
February 3, 2018
give us food to eat
February 3, 2018
this is the One who gave us the breath of life
February 3, 2018
feeling every single word - 2
edited February 3, 2018
forgiveness of sin – v5
(editing version 3)
February 3, 2018
forgiveness of sin – v4
(editing version 2)
edited February 3, 2018
God is our Daddy – v3
edited February 3, 2018
a paradox of Christ – v2
February 3, 2018
a paradox of Christ
February 3, 2018
parsing the words
edited February 3, 2018
Did Christ pray this prayer? – v2
February 3, 2018
Did Christ pray this prayer?
February 3, 2018
searching for God
February 3, 2018
the food we need
edited February 2, 2018
forgiven of sin – v2
edited February 2, 2018
forgiveness of sin – v3
edited February 2, 2018
forgiveness of sin – v2
edited/ renamed February 2, 2018
forgiveness of sin
February 2, 2018
forgiven of sin
edited February 2, 2018
haunted by demons – v2
February 2, 2018
haunted by demons
edited February 2, 2018
stalked by our demons – v2
February 2, 2018
stalked by our demons
edited February 1, 2018
Help me to Forgive them – v3
(changing the order of the stanzas)
edited February 1, 2018
Help me to Forgive them – v2
edited/new name January 30, 2018
I have seen God at work
January 30, 2018
I have seen God working
edited/change name January 30, 2018
Help me to forgive them
January 30, 2018
help me forgive them
January 30, 2018
Forgive us, oh Lord
edited/new name January 29, 2018
Forgive us for what we have done wrong
January 29, 2018
For what we have done wrong
January 29, 2018
God is in our days
January 29, 2018
God is in our minutes
January 29, 2018
God is in everything
January 29, 2018
those who have wronged us
January 29, 2018
we must forgive them
January 29, 2018
we forgive them
edited/change name January 28, 2018
Forgive me, I pray
January 28, 2018
Forgive us, we pray
January 28, 2018
talking with God – 2 – v2
January 28, 2018
Curling up in God’s lap
January 28, 2018
Stetson Memorial UMC
Week 3
Sermon Series:
Lord…Teach Us To Pray
What are we really asking and praying for…?
Psalm 62:1-8 (Complete Jewish Bible)
Matthew 6:11-12 (Complete Jewish Bible)
Matthew 6:9-13 (Complete Jewish Bible)
“The Lord’s Prayer”
and sermon “Providing Forgiveness…”
and baptism of Steve Tremblay, Jr.
text
video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
January 28, 2018
&
January 28, 2018
we bring down God’s kingdom
January 28, 2018
awesome and intimate
January 28, 2018
Drawing near to Daddy
January 28, 2018
God’s name shall be Holy
January 28, 2018
we must honor God
God cannot lie
January 28, 2018
God has promised
January 28, 2018
God is the One and Only Father
January 28, 2018
This is our Father
January 28, 2018
God gave us the breath of life
January 28, 2018
God would not harm us
January 28, 2018
God will never harm us
January 28, 2018
the never-ending love of God
January 28, 2018
meaning within these words
January 28, 2018
our daily bread - 2
edited January 28, 2018
bread for today – v2
January 28, 2018
bread for today
January 27, 2018
we praise God Almighty – v2
January 27, 2018
the intimacy of Christ
January 27, 2018
talking to God
January 27, 2018
God’s name is mercy
January 27, 2018
God’s name is righteousness
January 27, 2018
God cannot harm us
January 27, 2018
we hallow the name of God
January 27, 2018
every word with meaning
edited January, 27, 2018
harken to God
changing tense
January 27, 2018
harkening to God
January 27, 2018
bowing in reverent prayer
January 27, 2018
sharing our life with God
January 27, 2018
hearing the prayer we offer
January 27, 2018
we are starving in the desert
January 27, 2018
we are lost in the wilderness
edited/ new name January 27, 2018
we remember what God has done
January 27, 2018
remembering what God has done
edited January 27, 2018
we remember who God is – v2
January 27, 2018
we remember who God is
January 27, 2018
we praise God Almighty
January 27, 2019
with the brush of the artist
edited January 26, 2018
painting with light – v3
edited January 26, 2018
painting with light – v2
January 26, 2018
painting with light
creation scripture
Genesis 1:1-5
Genesis 1:1-19
runner scripture
Psalm 19:4-5
“In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.”
painting Facebook post – Pastor Ruth Foss
1/26/18 6:17am
“By the way…
nice sunrise…
I Love to watch you paint…”
January 15, 2018
&
edited January 26, 2018
God is our Daddy – v2
January 26, 2018
God is our Daddy
edited January 25, 2018
Hallowing God’s name – v3
edited January 26, 2018
Hallowing God’s name – v2
January 25, 2018
Hallowing God’s name
January 25, 2018
we proclaim the holiness of God
edited January 25, 2018
whispering the Lord’s Prayer – v2
edited January 25, 2018
breathing the Lord’s Prayer – v2
edited/new name January 25, 2018
breathing the Lord’s Prayer
edited/new name January 25, 2018
whispering the Lord’s Prayer
edited/merged January 25, 2018
whispering to our Abba Father – v2
two instances of poems
with the same title
January 25, 2018
whispering to our Abba Father - 2
#whispering the #LordsPrayer to our #Abba #Father #God http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2018/01/whispering-to-our-abba-father-2.html
#Christ #Spirit #Faith #grace #poem #prayer #prayerlife #pray #journey #hope #love #joy #Matthew6 #Psalm62 #prayerwarrior #worship #glory #peace #relationship #believe  #mercy #bread #hallowed #kingdom
edited January 25, 2018
seated in the lap of God – v2
January 24, 2018
talking with God - 2
January 24, 2018
these words we pray
January 24, 2018
spreading God’s ripples
January 23, 2018
we can hear God’s heartbeat
January 23, 2018
our breath of life
extract January 23, 2018
God is our Father – 2
January 23, 2018
God’s breath birthed us
stanza 1
stanza 2
stanza 3
edited January 22, 2018
the intimacy of Christ’s prayer – v2
edited/ new name January 22, 2018
climbing up into our Daddy’s lap
edited January 22, 2018
whispering to our Daddy – v2
edited January 22, 2018
hearing these words – 2 – v2
January 22, 2018
hearing these words - 2
January 22, 2018
within the prayer of Jesus
edited January 22, 2018
whispering our prayers to Daddy – v2
January 22, 2018
whispering our prayers to Daddy
edited/ new name January 22, 2018
climbing up into God’s lap
January 22, 2018
climbing up into His lap
January 21, 2018
teaching us His prayer
January 21, 2018
seated in the lap of God
January 21, 2018
the intimacy of Christ’s prayer
edited/ new name/ reworked January 21, 2018
whispering to our Abba Father
January 21, 2018
whispering to our Daddy
January 21, 2018
praying from the lap of God
edited January 21, 2018
feeling every single word – v2
January 21, 2018
listening to the prayer we offer
January 21, 2018
feeling every single word
January 21, 2018
not my own words but God’s words
January 21, 2018
needing to feel our prayers
January 21, 2018
our prayers become meaningless
January 21, 2018
pray like this
January 21, 2018
meaning in these words
edited January 21, 2018
enter the Father - v2
January 21, 2018
enter in with God
January 21, 2018
Come to Abba
January 21, 2018
enter the Father
January 21, 2018
Stetson Memorial UMC
Week 2
Sermon Series:
Lord…Teach Us To Pray
What are we really asking and praying for…?
Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8 (Complete Jewish Bible)
Matthew 6:9-10 (Complete Jewish Bible)
Matthew 6:9-13 (Complete Jewish Bible)
“The Lord’s Prayer”
and sermon “Abba’s Kingdom…”
text
video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
January 21, 2018
&
January 15, 2018
the words familiar
January 15, 2018
each word a prayer
edited/ new name January 15, 2018
dripping with meaning
January 15, 2018
every word - 2
January 15, 2018
the words we pray
January 15, 2018
This is how you should pray
January 15, 2018
The reddest of letters
the idea of a “Red-Letter Bible”,
with the words of Jesus in red
January 14, 2018
praying with these words
January 14, 2018
just mouthing these words
January 14, 2018
Save us from the Devil
January 14, 2018
protect us from evil
Luke 11:4c
(John) Wesley’s Notes on the Bible
Luke 11
11:1 Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples - The Jewish masters used to give their followers some short form of prayer, as a peculiar badge of their relation to them. This it is probable John the Baptist had done. And in this sense it seems to be that the disciples now asked Jesus, to teach them to pray. Accordingly he here repeats that form, which he had before given them in his sermon on the mount, and likewise enlarges on the same head, though still speaking the same things in substance. And this prayer uttered from the heart, and in its true and full meaning, is indeed the badge of a real Christian: for is not he such whose first and most ardent desire is the glory of God, and the happiness of man by the coming of his kingdom? Who asks for no more of this world than his daily bread, longing meantime for the bread that came down from heaven? And whose only desires for himself is forgiveness of sins, (as he heartily forgives others,) and sanctification.
11:2 When ye pray, say - And what he said to them is undoubtedly said to us also. We are therefore here directed, not only to imitate this in all our prayers, but to use this very form of prayer. Matthew 6:9-13.
11:4 Forgive us; for we forgive them - Not once, but continually. This does not denote the meritorious cause of our pardon; but the removal of that hindrance which otherwise would render it impossible.
&
January 14, 2018
starting with God
Luke 11:2b
“Father, hallowed be your name.” (NRSV)
edited January 14, 2018
praying daily – v2
January 14, 2018
praying daily
January 13, 2018
we breathe in His prayers
January 13, 2018
teach us, Lord Jesus
January 13, 2018
submit to Christ’s teaching
January 13, 2018
do you just mouth the words
January 13, 2018
in prayer, in trust, in submission
January 13, 2018
modeling prayer
January 14, 2018
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series:
Lord…Teach Us To Pray
What are we really asking and praying for…?
Luke 11:1-4 (The Voice)
“The Lord’s Prayer”
 Matthew 6:9-13 (King James Version)
“The Lord’s Prayer”
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 (Complete Jewish Bible)
1 Chronicles 4:10
“Prayer of Jabez”
Number 6:24-26
“Nate’s Theology Quiz”

and sermon “Lord Teach Us to Pray…”
text

video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message

by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
January 14, 2018

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, and 2017. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 46,180+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, bread, hope, journey, Psalm 139, Luke 11, pray, prayer, prayer warrior, Lord’s Prayer,

#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #grace #poem #prayer #prayerlife #pray #journey #hope #love #joy #Luke11 #Psalm139 #prayerwarrior #LordsPrayer #worship #glory #peace #communion #relationship #believe #petitions #compassion #mercy #bread #hallowed #kingdom

================

Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, bread, hope, journey, Psalm 62, Matthew 6, pray, prayer, prayer warrior, Lord’s Prayer, Abba, Father

#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #grace #poem #prayer #prayerlife #pray #journey #hope #love #joy #Matthew6 #Psalm62 #prayerwarrior #LordsPrayer #worship #glory #peace #relationship #believe #compassion #mercy #bread #hallowed #kingdom #Abba #Father

=====================

Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, hope, journey, Psalm 62, Matthew 6, pray, prayer, Lord’s Prayer, Abba, Forgiveness, forgive, trust,

#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #grace #poem #prayer #pray #journey #hope #love #joy #Matthew6 #Psalm62 #prayerwarrior #LordsPrayer #worship #glory #peace #relationship #compassion #mercy #bread #hallowed #kingdom #Abba #Father #forgiveness #forgive

=====================

Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, hope, journey, Psalm 147, Matthew 6, pray, prayer, Lord’s Prayer, Abba, Forgiveness, forgive, protection, Satan, Devil, Evil, Evil One,

#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #grace #poem #prayer #pray #journey #hope #love #joy #Matthew6 #Psalm62 #prayerwarrior #LordsPrayer #worship #glory #peace #relationship #compassion #mercy #bread #hallowed #kingdom #Abba #Father #forgiveness #forgive #protection #Satan #Devil #evil #EvilOne

No comments:

Post a Comment