During April 2018, a High School Student, Kyle Plush called 911. He was in a lot of trouble and needed help – but help never arrived. In the aftermath of Kyle’s death, the local 911 seemed to be making real attempts to improve.  However, yesterday Fox 19  “uncovered lengthy delays at Cincinnati’s 911 Call Center, including calls stuck on hold for several minutes or longer with no pick-up.”

What do you do when you are in trouble? Isaiah 41:14 (ESV) — 14 Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Compared to our Redeemer, those who can help us are like small worms. God is the one who helps and redeems His Holy People. And, friend, God really does help! He really does
answer those who call.

Help, I am troubled and afraid! John 14:27 (ESV) — 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Help, I am feeling down! Daniel 8:18 (ESV) — 18 And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up.

Help, I am constantly weeping! Matthew 5:4 (ESV) — 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Help, I feel so unloved! John 3:16 (ESV) — 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Friend, when you need help do you call a small “worm” or God?

 

I was running on the treadmill the other day and heard these words in a song from a group called Sidewalk Prophets:

I’m giving You fear and You give faith
I’m giving You doubt
You give me grace
For every step I’ve never been alone 

I will trust in You
You’ve never failed before 
I will trust in You 

If there’s a road I should walk 
Help me find it
If I need to be still
Give me peace for the moment
Whatever Your will
Whatever Your will
Can You help me find it

Can You help me find it 

I thought this song expressed everything we need to know about
having a relationship with Jesus Christ:

• He provides us faith
• He gives us grace
• He is always with us
• He has never failed us
• He is the way
• He provides us peace.

Jesus is the way, the truth and life. John 14:6

 

Before the Babylonians came in and destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem, God had warned that this would happen. God refused to share His dwelling place with other “gods”. These “gods” polluted the sanctuary with idolatry.

 

Not wanting His people to perish God had sent warning after warning.  Yet the people would not change their wicked ways. When Israel defiled God’s dwelling place and abandoned her covenant He left. Unlike these foreign man-made “gods”, the God of Heaven is not limited by range or sphere of influence. And when He leaves an unholy dwelling place, his power is not diminished.

 

Similarly, God has now made His dwelling place within the heart of faithful baptized believers. So, what are the warnings we Christians should immediately stop ignoring?

1. Avoid all sexual immorality. 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 (ESV) — 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
2. Avoid laziness – we must have an active faith. Romans 12:11 (ESV) — 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
3. Avoid corrupt talk. Lies, gossip, malice, slander and abusive words should be avoided at all cost. Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) — 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
4. Avoid all forms of godlessness. Titus 2:12–13 (ESV) — 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
5. Avoid stealing. This can be as subtle as not declaring tax or not putting in an honest day’s work. Ephesians 4:28 (ESV) — 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing
   honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

 

What a sad day it must have been for all who witnessed God’s Glory departing from His temple.

 

Since it is impossible to avoid sin, how do we prevent the Glory of the Lord from departing from us? It is extremely simple. Please, today, without delay confess your sins and turn from your evil ways.

 

1 John 1:7–9 (ESV) — 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Do you know the A.B.C.’s of owning a plug-in car? It is quite simply, “Always Be Charging”. For this, I rely on a simple 110v wall plug.

Spiritually, we should be doing the same. We should always be plugged into the limitless power from God the Father. Relying on this world, “to keep us going”, is precarious. Some of the emotionally energy depleting hardships I am currently observing are: Releasing Will Rogers into God’s loving arms; Myles and Kelly entrusting Hannon into the care of surgeons; A family whose car is badly damaged by someone who should be in detox; A child who overheard her mother attempting suicide; A family whose marriage is in survival mode; An alcoholic Dad, needing an intervention.

So, how does this work? How do we stay plugged into God’s power? One day King David came home to a mess. The Amalekites had made a raid and taken their families captive. So, what do you think King David did?

1 Samuel 30:6 (ESV) — 6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Friend, are you “greatly distressed”? Then look to God for power – strengthen yourself in the Lord your God. Like David, pray.

Father in Heaven, we ask you to “summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us” (Ps.68:28). In Jesus name, we pray… Amen.

 

Next week we will honor Summit’s 10 graduates.  We have 6 high school seniors that are planning their future by going to college or starting their career (Joel Devadason, Natalie Eastham, Carter Guin, Faith Krebs, Benjamin Painter & Nathan Schaefer).  There are 2 students that have earned their college degree (Jenna Painter & Leah Schaefer), and 2 who just received their Masters Degree (Andrew Ellis & Sarah Webster).

I have been blessed to witness eight of the graduates grow up in the Church at Summit.  First I would like to congratulate the parents of every one of these graduates.  I know you have had a huge impact on their lives.  You should be very proud.  I am glad to say the Church of tomorrow is in good hands!  The Lord has blessed this group with so many abilities!  Some have great athletic ability, using their skills in basketball, baseball, football, or gymnastics.  Others are good at public speaking or have a servant’s heart.  My Prayer is you always use this ability to bring others to Christ, that they may see Jesus in your lives.  When you look back, you can see how the Lord has blessed you and has kept you from a serious injury.  Now may you always be a team player on the Lord’s team.  All of our male graduates have been blessed with the ability to lead
singing, preach, and to lead the worship in a public way.

Many will be away from home for the first time and my prayer for all of you is to:

-Always remain faithful to the Lord (Acts 11:23)

-Always submit yourself to the Lord (James 4:7)

-Always draw close to God and God will draw close to you (James 4:8)

-Remember the Lord is your strength and your shield (protector)  (Psalms 28:7)

May God Bless you all as you begin this new chapter in your lives.

The death, burial, and resurrection of Lazarus has much to teach. In John chapter 11 Jesus had just learned that his dear friend was about to pass from this world.

 

Lazarus’ death was an opportunity for God to be glorified. This is always the case when faithful Christians die. John 11:4 (ESV) — 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

 

Death is an opportunity for our faith to grow. John 11:15 (ESV) — 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

 

Lazarus’ death teaches us that faithful believers never really die. John 11:26 (ESV) — 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

 

His death teaches that Jesus feels our pain during our loss. John 11:35 (ESV) — 35 Jesus wept.

 

Lazarus’ burial teaches that Jesus opens the tombs of man. John 11:39 (ESV) — 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” …

 

Friend take comfort in the sure knowledge that when faithful followers leave their earthly tents, Jesus calls them home. John 11:43 (ESV) — 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”

 

I recently read an old saying about how temptations are like stray cats: if you treat one nice, it will be back shortly with a whole bunch of its friends.  There is a lot of truth in that statement.  Sin can sneak up on us as something seemingly so innocent at first, but before we realize what is happening, we rationalize additional sin in our lives by saying “it’s okay this one time,” or “I can stop any time I want.”  After a while, our hearts can be so hardened that we ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit residing in us which tells us to flee from the sin we are about to commit.

While the more we yield to sin opens us up to more enticements, the opposite is also true.  By firmly and consistently resisting temptation, our resolve becomes stronger.  The apostle Paul writes, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions” (Romans 6:12 ESV).  Paul very clearly is telling us that we become slaves to sin when we give into it.

Resist the tool of Satan and he will leave you as it is written: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 ESV).

 

1 Peter 4:10-11 –  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: [11] whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

You are gifted!  The Apostle Peter said that each of us has received a gift and we must use it to serve others. Peter said we must be a good steward of the grace (unmerited favor) God has bestowed upon us.  God has blessed us, not because of what we may have done. We, therefore, must use our abilities to serve others.  Your abilities are not the same as mine.  God has arranged us all in the Body of Christ as he has chosen (I Cor 12:18) and expects us to work together for his glory (Eph 4:16).  God supplies us with the strength to use our abilities and we should use them to glorify God.  Jesus said, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matt 5:16

 

Now, once again, there is scientific evidence to reinforce our good behavior.  Adam Grant, in his book Give and Take, says if people start volunteering 2 hours per week, their happiness, satisfaction, and self-esteem go up a year later.  What a bonus!  We can use our abilities to glorify God and be happier and feel better about ourselves.  So, let’s try it and see.  But what can you do?

 

Here are just a few ideas. Help with VBS. Teach a class.  Write cards to visitors, the sick, or absent members.  Organize a youth activity.  Plan something with the college students. Mentor a young adult.  Help some young parents.  Help plan the next mission trip.  Organize some community outreach: at risk youth, nursing home support, public school mentoring, life skills programs. Or,
anything else to be a light in our community.

 

You are gifted! You have talents beyond belief.  You just need to find where your talents and interests collide and use it to glorify God.