Praise the Lord for this new day. Today is Friday the 13. It is going to be one of the glorious days. The Lord has made this day as a gift to us. It is full of His promises and marvelous grace. May we all live to to the fullest under His care and authority.
We read about an amazing catch of fish in Luke 5. Jesus is preaching from a boat on the Sea if Galilee, using the shoreline as a natural amphitheater. “When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, 'Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.'” Simon had been washing and mending his nets, while keeping one ear listening to what Jesus was teaching. Jesus’ call for Simon to launch out into deeper water is an analogy of what He wanted to do in Simon’s life. Jesus would take Simon Peter to a deeper, more personal commitment to Himself.
Verse five reveals that Simon’s answer, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” By his reply he communicated that he and his partners were exhausted. The word translated “toiled” indicates very hard work, they had not slept all night and they had worked hard all night. The circumstances of the past evening have indicated that further fishing will be fruitless. Despite these circumstances, Jesus was asking them to take the freshly cleaned nets, row out to the deep water, and go through the strenuous process of letting out and taking in the nets all over again. They needed to learn that obedience to Jesus should not hinge upon favorable circumstances. We are tempted to be guided by our fears instead of following what God says. The greatest obstacle that we face in life is our own fear, the fear of being inadequate or the fear of failure. In Peter’s reply he revealed his respect when he calls Jesus, “Master” . This word means master or teacher and is the Greek equivalent of “rabbi.” Peter showed his love and respect for Christ by not letting his better judgment hinder his obedience.
How does Jesus take us from where we are to where he wants us to be? He pushes us or propels us. Perhaps doing thing our own way has left us empty, and it’s time to give God’s way a try. Maybe our own knowledge and skills have failed us and we need God’s power, God’s knowledge, and God’s skill. We need to do things God’s way. It is time for us today to obey God and try things His way, whether or not we understand where, why, or how it’s all going to work out. Launching out into the deeper water may be scary, and it is certainly less familiar, but it is where God’s blessings are to be found.
The results of the disciples' obedience are recorded in verses six and seven, “And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink."
As they harvested their catch, the two boats, each seven and half feet wide and over twenty-seven feet long, were filled to overflowing and began sinking. Several tons of fish were hauled ashore that day in the midst of roar of a delighted crowd.
The "New Call" would not only demand a greater commitment but it was also an invitation to greater intimacy. (verse 8) “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
At first this seems a strange reaction for, if we take it at face value, that he would ask Jesus to leave. We must, however, understand the scene in the light of what happened there. This new revelation of the power and glory of Jesus gave Peter an acute sense of his own sinfulness. Peter was not really trying to get rid of Jesus; he was simply overwhelmed by a sense of his own unworthiness. When he called Jesus, “Lord” it is an entirely different word than used previously in verse five. This word (kurios) is reserved by the Jews as a description of GOD. Peter’s reaction is what we often see in the Bible as man’s reaction to face-to-face confrontation with God.
When the prophet Isaiah “… saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up” he declared, “Woe is me, for I am undone!” (Isaiah 6:1, 5). Job had much the same experience; “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. (6) Therefore I abhor ( despise) myself, And repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6). John would write of his experience in Revelation 1: 17, “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead….”
When we are first introduced to the power and majesty of the Lord we are immensely aware of our own sin, and do not know what to do but try to escape from his presence. Simon asked Jesus to leave him, not because he does not want to be in his presence but because he feels unworthy of being there. As our experience deepens, and we gain the knowledge that only in Him can we experience the forgiveness of our sins, then a consciousness of our sin drives us to Him. Every miracle had its purpose, without exception. Peter came to see Jesus in an entirely new light. He suddenly realized that Jesus is Lord and he was himself a sinful man. Peter realized his own reluctance to obey the Lord’s command to let down the nets as sin.
Peter confessed to being a sinner and testified to the greatness of His Lord. Jesus responded in the second half of verse ten by a command not to fear and promise that he is to be a fisher of men; “….And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/xGPS8sa-bRQ
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Praise and Worship Service
First United Methodist Church, Endicott .
Sponsored by Union Center UMC
6 PM Gathering - Coffee - Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship
Music: Jane Hettinger,
Speaker: Dave Hettinger
Friday, January 13, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Brown's Daily Word 1-12-11
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for the world we live in. Praise the Lord for His Word which is Eternal and trustworthy. The Lord blessed us with wonderful Wednesday gathering for fellowship and Bible Study. The fellowship was sweet and the study was a great blessing. We are studying the Gospel according St John. We looked at chapter 1 yesterday. The following are some of the notes I used for the study.
Christianity is not a philosophy, it is about a Person, and that Person is fundamental to our faith. John began his Gospel in an unusual manner. Unlike the Synoptic writers who began their accounts of Jesus in historical context, John opened his Gospel in eternity. Under divine inspiration, John was not content to begin his story as Mark did with the story of John the Baptist. Nor was it enough as Luke did to go back to the birth narratives of John and Jesus. John did not even go back with Matthew to the genealogy of Abraham and the roots of Israel, or with Luke to the beginning of the human race in Adam.
Instead of grounding his Gospel in the roots of humanity, John moved beyond human history. He started “in the beginning.” These words take us back to Genesis 1.1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” John starts with God, before the inception of time and life as we know them. In the Bible, it is impossible to go any further back than God, and so that is where John began his narrative, in eternity past with God’s eternal purpose.
In the beginning was the Word. Recognize the significance of what John says here: In the beginning, from all eternity, the word has existed. In other words, the Word, Jesus, has eternally existed. John stated, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God.” In those few words, John informed us that the Word has existed throughout all eternity. At the beginning of time, the Word was there with God. The Word has existed eternally. He already “was” when time began. At creation, the Word was already present. Also, catch John's words as he stated that the Word was with God.
In verse 3, John turned from the Word’s relationship to the Father to His relationship with the creation. The apostle informed us that not only was the Word present at creation, He was also the agent of creation. “All things were made thru Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made.” Everything that exists owes its existence to the Word. He is the Creator. Apart from him, there is no existence. It is no accident John moves from the Word as God to the Word as Creator. As New Testament theologian Oscar Cullmann points out, “The self-communication of God occurs first of all in creation. That is why salvation and creation are very closely connected in the NT. Both of them have to do with God’s self-communication.” The two primary ways God has revealed Himself are through Creation (natural revelation) & through His Word (special revelation—Scriptures and Savior).
God’s revelation is tied to creation, and John informs us that all of creation owes its existence to the Son of God. Therefore, nothing is outside of his range of activity. He is in control of everything . He is Lord over everything. He is the Creator of the world. He holds the deed, the copyright. Colossians 1:15-17: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones of dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
John moved on from creation in general to the most significant element of creation, life itself. Life is one of the Gospel of John’s distinctive characteristics. John used the word life 36 times. Life is an important concept in the Gospel of John, and in the opening verses, the apostle reminded us that only in Christ is life obtained. He is the originator of life.
Jesus is also the originator of spiritual light. Light is also an important concept in John’s Gospel, especially as it is contrasted spiritually with darkness. Jesus identified Himself as the Light of the world (8.12). Light represents God’s deliverance for the sinful, darkened souls of humanity. In John 1:5 we read of the stark contrast between the light of God with the darkness of sinful humanity. The spiritual light cannot be extinguished by the darkness of this world. . . the darkness could not overcome/extinguish the light. We need to keep in mind the fact that John wrote this gospel after the resurrection. Because of this John knew well that Jesus Christ could not be overcome by the darkness of this world. He is the victor. The light shines (continual) in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
Blessed be His Name.
Brown
http://youtu.be/g5e3FynMX_4
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Praise and Worship Service
First United Methodist Church, Endicott .
Sponsored by Union Center UMC
6 PM Gathering - Coffee - Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship
Music: Jane Hettinger,
Speaker: Dave Hettinger
Praise the Lord for the world we live in. Praise the Lord for His Word which is Eternal and trustworthy. The Lord blessed us with wonderful Wednesday gathering for fellowship and Bible Study. The fellowship was sweet and the study was a great blessing. We are studying the Gospel according St John. We looked at chapter 1 yesterday. The following are some of the notes I used for the study.
Christianity is not a philosophy, it is about a Person, and that Person is fundamental to our faith. John began his Gospel in an unusual manner. Unlike the Synoptic writers who began their accounts of Jesus in historical context, John opened his Gospel in eternity. Under divine inspiration, John was not content to begin his story as Mark did with the story of John the Baptist. Nor was it enough as Luke did to go back to the birth narratives of John and Jesus. John did not even go back with Matthew to the genealogy of Abraham and the roots of Israel, or with Luke to the beginning of the human race in Adam.
Instead of grounding his Gospel in the roots of humanity, John moved beyond human history. He started “in the beginning.” These words take us back to Genesis 1.1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” John starts with God, before the inception of time and life as we know them. In the Bible, it is impossible to go any further back than God, and so that is where John began his narrative, in eternity past with God’s eternal purpose.
In the beginning was the Word. Recognize the significance of what John says here: In the beginning, from all eternity, the word has existed. In other words, the Word, Jesus, has eternally existed. John stated, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God.” In those few words, John informed us that the Word has existed throughout all eternity. At the beginning of time, the Word was there with God. The Word has existed eternally. He already “was” when time began. At creation, the Word was already present. Also, catch John's words as he stated that the Word was with God.
In verse 3, John turned from the Word’s relationship to the Father to His relationship with the creation. The apostle informed us that not only was the Word present at creation, He was also the agent of creation. “All things were made thru Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made.” Everything that exists owes its existence to the Word. He is the Creator. Apart from him, there is no existence. It is no accident John moves from the Word as God to the Word as Creator. As New Testament theologian Oscar Cullmann points out, “The self-communication of God occurs first of all in creation. That is why salvation and creation are very closely connected in the NT. Both of them have to do with God’s self-communication.” The two primary ways God has revealed Himself are through Creation (natural revelation) & through His Word (special revelation—Scriptures and Savior).
God’s revelation is tied to creation, and John informs us that all of creation owes its existence to the Son of God. Therefore, nothing is outside of his range of activity. He is in control of everything . He is Lord over everything. He is the Creator of the world. He holds the deed, the copyright. Colossians 1:15-17: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones of dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
John moved on from creation in general to the most significant element of creation, life itself. Life is one of the Gospel of John’s distinctive characteristics. John used the word life 36 times. Life is an important concept in the Gospel of John, and in the opening verses, the apostle reminded us that only in Christ is life obtained. He is the originator of life.
Jesus is also the originator of spiritual light. Light is also an important concept in John’s Gospel, especially as it is contrasted spiritually with darkness. Jesus identified Himself as the Light of the world (8.12). Light represents God’s deliverance for the sinful, darkened souls of humanity. In John 1:5 we read of the stark contrast between the light of God with the darkness of sinful humanity. The spiritual light cannot be extinguished by the darkness of this world. . . the darkness could not overcome/extinguish the light. We need to keep in mind the fact that John wrote this gospel after the resurrection. Because of this John knew well that Jesus Christ could not be overcome by the darkness of this world. He is the victor. The light shines (continual) in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
Blessed be His Name.
Brown
http://youtu.be/g5e3FynMX_4
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Praise and Worship Service
First United Methodist Church, Endicott .
Sponsored by Union Center UMC
6 PM Gathering - Coffee - Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship
Music: Jane Hettinger,
Speaker: Dave Hettinger
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Brown's Daily Word 1-11-12
Good morning,
Praise the Lord. We will gather for our mid-week fellowship and Bible study starting at 6 PM. Special menu for Wednesday evening meal is Chicken parmesan prepared with much love. We will be studying in the Gospel according St John, chapter 1. Choir practice is at 7.30 PM.
I love the New Year – there’s something great about being able to turn that calendar page and start anew and afresh. It’s a great time to reflect on the past, and look forward to the new and exciting things the Lord wants to do in our lives in 2012…
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS: What resolutions will be made for 2012?
The top 5 resolutions people make last year were:
• 5. stop smoking
• 4. make more money
• 3. improve relationships
• 2. exercise more
• 1. lose weight (the number one resolution!)
“But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” (Isaiah 43:1-2)."
• There may be floods and storms in this New Year, but the Lord is with you!
“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19).
• God is getting ready to do new things in our midst.
• He says: Choose to forget about the former (old things from last year)!
• He wants to bring rivers into your desert experiences and bring you refreshing!
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14).
Over 30 times in the Bible God tells us to be strong and courageous. Several times God spoke this to Joshua as he was getting ready to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land:
Joshua 1:6: Be strong and of good courage. 1:7: Only be strong and very courageous. 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. “but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” (Daniel 11:32b).
“God has given gifts to each of us from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you.” (1 Peter 4:10, NLT). God wants us to discover and develop our gifts and use them to bless others. Are we using our gifts? Are we serving the Lord with our talents, treasures and time? He is calling us to go deep, grow strong, and bear fruit. Let’s forget the past, and press forward into all of the new and wonderful things the Lord has for us in 2012!
Blessed be His Name.
Brown
http://youtu.be/g5e3FynMX_4
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Praise and Worship Service
First United Methodist Church, Endicott .
Sponsored by Union Center UMC
6 PM Gathering - Coffee - Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship
Music: Jane Hettinger,
Speaker: Dave Hettinger
Praise the Lord. We will gather for our mid-week fellowship and Bible study starting at 6 PM. Special menu for Wednesday evening meal is Chicken parmesan prepared with much love. We will be studying in the Gospel according St John, chapter 1. Choir practice is at 7.30 PM.
I love the New Year – there’s something great about being able to turn that calendar page and start anew and afresh. It’s a great time to reflect on the past, and look forward to the new and exciting things the Lord wants to do in our lives in 2012…
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS: What resolutions will be made for 2012?
The top 5 resolutions people make last year were:
• 5. stop smoking
• 4. make more money
• 3. improve relationships
• 2. exercise more
• 1. lose weight (the number one resolution!)
“But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” (Isaiah 43:1-2)."
• There may be floods and storms in this New Year, but the Lord is with you!
“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19).
• God is getting ready to do new things in our midst.
• He says: Choose to forget about the former (old things from last year)!
• He wants to bring rivers into your desert experiences and bring you refreshing!
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14).
Over 30 times in the Bible God tells us to be strong and courageous. Several times God spoke this to Joshua as he was getting ready to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land:
Joshua 1:6: Be strong and of good courage. 1:7: Only be strong and very courageous. 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. “but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” (Daniel 11:32b).
“God has given gifts to each of us from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you.” (1 Peter 4:10, NLT). God wants us to discover and develop our gifts and use them to bless others. Are we using our gifts? Are we serving the Lord with our talents, treasures and time? He is calling us to go deep, grow strong, and bear fruit. Let’s forget the past, and press forward into all of the new and wonderful things the Lord has for us in 2012!
Blessed be His Name.
Brown
http://youtu.be/g5e3FynMX_4
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Praise and Worship Service
First United Methodist Church, Endicott .
Sponsored by Union Center UMC
6 PM Gathering - Coffee - Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship
Music: Jane Hettinger,
Speaker: Dave Hettinger
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Brown's Daily Word 1-10-12
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day. We praise the Lord for the mild days of January here in New York this winter. Last Sunday was the Baptism of Lord Sunday. Our Lord came and was baptized in the river Jordan. The Heavens opened and the thundering affirmation came, "This is my well beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased". According to the Gospel of Mark it is written that Jesus was then driven by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. He was driven, not invited to go. He was not merely encouraged to go, nor permitted to go, but driven, forced, compelled to go because God was mightily at work in Jesus and this confrontation with the powers of evil was central to the whole work.
Jesus was driven out into the Wilderness by God to engage in the testing of the power of Satan. The wilderness was the dwelling place of the demons and forces of evil. The wilderness is the moral and spiritual dumping grounds, that God forsaken place of chaos and abandonment. When we think about the wilderness we conjure thoughts of a place that is lonely and fearful at night, filled with wild and vicious beasts. The wilderness is the place where the Children of Israel wandered in punishment for refusing to trust God. There in the wilderness Jesus engaged in battling the temptations of evil. Satan had home court advantage. Yet, Jesus, the mighty conqueror, defeated Satan, the great deceiver.
Forty days Jesus spent alone in the wilderness. Forty days is a long time. The number forty plays a strong role in Biblical history. Forty days and forty nights God made it rain in judgment. Forty days were the number of days for mourning in Egypt for the beloved Abraham. For forty years the children of Israel wandered in that desert and ate manna. Forty days Moses was on Sinai. Forty years were the days of peace in the time of Gideon. David reigned over Israel for forty years. For forty days Jesus engaged in the testing, there in the wilderness. Jesus endured the testing. Angels came to minister to him. There is a celebration in the Christian faith for each and all of us where we resist the temptation to forsake or betray the destiny that God has given for each of us. There is a sense of joy and victory when we know that we have faced a major challenge to forsake who we are and to remain faithful to our own particular mission and purpose.
Satan left, but that did not mean the battle was over. This is our reality as well as we continue as Christian disciples in the conflict with the evil one, the great deceiver, satan. There is a constant testing of whether or not we will remain true to our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord. In all kinds of directions there come the temptation to give up on Jesus and go after the world. So much of what we have all around us is the siren call of the testing for us to settle for something less than what God hopes for us to become. So much of the world around us invites us to some easier path which means that we settle for something less than our best. When we continue to struggle and to resist we discover that God is in the wilderness as well, in the midst of the struggle as we remain faithful to Jesus our Lord. "We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" and who still loves us.
Praise the Lord for these mild days of January, as He ministers to us by His angels and brings us more and more into conformity with that image He has given us.
In Christ,
Brown
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Praise and Worship Service
First United Methodist Church, Endicott .
Sponsored by Union Center UMC
6 PM Gathering - Coffee - Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship
Music: Jane Hettinger,
Speaker: Dave Hettinger
Monday, January 9, 2012
Brown's Daily Word 1-9-12
Praise to the Lord the Almigfhty the King of Creation. The Lord blessed us with a full weekend of worship, fellowship, and praise. We all joined for a special birthday celebrations for one of our teens, Audrey, after the second service. Praise the Lord for the way He gives us ample reasons to celebrate His grace and His mercies.
One of the hymns we sang yesterday was “How Great Thou Art.” In it we sing about some of the sublime features of God’s creation. We sing of worlds, of stars, and of rolling thunder; of woods and forest glades and the sweet singing of birds; of lofty mountains grandeur, of the sound of the brook and the feel of gentle breezes. We praise and adore God because of the greatness of God implied in these things.
The theme of this hymn is a biblical theme. There is a theme in scripture that the natural world displays the majesty and glory of the spiritual God who created it.
For example, one Psalm speaks of how the heavens, with sun and stars, “declare the glory of God.” We see the majesty of God in his natural works, and cry, “How Great Thou Art!”
Scripture is very specific in its observation of the phenomena of nature, sometimes focusing on the Storm -- the “rolling thunder” of the beloved hymn.
The theme of this hymn is a biblical theme. There is a theme in scripture that the natural world displays the majesty and glory of the spiritual God who created it.
For example, one Psalm speaks of how the heavens, with sun and stars, “declare the glory of God.” We see the majesty of God in his natural works, and cry, “How Great Thou Art!”
Scripture is very specific in its observation of the phenomena of nature, sometimes focusing on the Storm -- the “rolling thunder” of the beloved hymn.
Last night Alice and I walked for over 4 miles under brilliant moon light, pondering about the majesty and splendor of the Lord.
One of the readings for yesterday was taken from Psalm 29. Seven times the Psalm speaks of “the voice of the Lord.” “The voice of the Lord,” however, is plainly referring to thunder. The Psalmist heard the voice of his God in the thunder and lightning of a mighty storm.
The common belief in times past was that God was the direct cause of thunder and lightning. This has been true of all peoples and all religions. The Psalmist was well-aware of how heathen view the storm, so he took the storm away from their gods to give it back to the One who truly made it. It is not Baal or Jupiter, but it is the voice of Yahweh, the Lord of Israel, the one and only God, that sounds forth in the storm.
This scripture, moves us to hear God’s voice in the thunder. When we speak of the majesty of God, we mean the greatness of God. We mean the yawning gulf that lies between his greatness and our smallness. The voice of a human compared with the voice of thunder, gives us an illustration of the difference between human beings and their Creator. This Psalm reminds us that however available God has made himself to us, because of the work of Jesus his Son, God is not like us. Karl Barth, the Swiss theologian said, "He is Wholly Other ". He is eternal, infinite, and almighty. He is to us as the thunder is.
The Psalmist spoke of the lightning splintering the great cedars of Lebanon, snapping them like toothpicks. There is, however, something else besides fear and trembling. There is also a fascination, even a joy, that we have been in the presence of something so rare and terrible and beautiful. He also spoke of the mountains being made to skip about like colts in a pasture.
Psalm 29 praises the voice of God. Surely it is easy for us to feel the majesty of God’s voice, when we hear it in a great clap of thunder, but this is not the only way God’s voice comes to us. The writer of Hebrews says that God has spoken to us in diverse manners and ways. The scriptures also speak of a time when, once again, we will hear the voice of God, direct and without mediation. We will hear the voice of Christ calling to the dead, “Come forth,” and they will all come. We will hear his voice from the throne of judgment, saying to us either, “Depart from me,” or, “Enter in to the joys of your Lord.” The book of Revelation says that we will hear a voice from God’s throne, which proclaims the dawn of the new eternal day: “Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” (Rev 21:1-4). If it is an experience to hear the voice of God in a thunder clap, what kind of experience will it be to hear his voice, welcoming us to eternity. So then we have this Psalm, which moves us to listen to the thunder of a storm, and hear the voice of God. It moves us to appreciate the majesty of God and the wide gulf that lies between his greatness and our smallness. It focuses our attention on the majesty of his voice, which remains just as majestic wherever and however it may speak.
The most valuable thing for us to consider from the Psalm – as with all the Psalms & all the scriptures of both the Old Testament and the New – is how it preaches Christ to us. When the Psalm speaks of the Voice being in the wilderness, it speaks well of Jesus, when he went to the wilderness to be baptized by John and be tempted by Satan. It was there that the voice thundered from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
When the Psalm speaks of the Voice being in the mountains, it speaks well of Jesus, sitting before the people, teaching them a sermon on a mountain. We are told that they were amazed at him, because he spoke with a power beyond their experience. It speaks well, too, of Jesus on the mountain of transfiguration, standing there with two older instruments of the voice of God, Moses and Elijah. At that time, a word thundered down, identifying him as the Voice of God. “This is my beloved Son; hear him.” When it speaks of the Voice being over the sea, it speaks well of Christ Jesus, in the boat, as he often was, with his disciples. It speaks of the voice that said to the winds and the waves, “Be still.” The Psalm speaks of what Jesus was in the past, what he is at present, and what he will be in the future.
We see this in the testimony of the New Testament, in regard to what Jesus did after rising from the dead, and sitting down at the right hand of God. There was a sound from heaven like the rushing mighty wind of a storm. There were flames of fire, shining like lighting, on the heads of men. In this way the reign of God’s Messiah was announced and the gospel was first preached. The words of the Psalm were proclaimed: “The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as a king forever.”
The Voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, still sweeps over the earth. It spoke to Saul of Tarsus, and struck him down as he was hit by God’s lightning. Saul was changed forever by that encounter. John heard the voice too, speaking with the sound of mighty waters, exhorting the churches to be faithful in their tribulations.
The voice may not always come so directly but it comes just as powerfully, and just as majestically. Christ Jesus still rumbles and flames across the face of the earth, striking the hearts of men and women. Sometimes, when a storm moves through, afterward things are no different than they were before. At other times things are changed forever. The same is true with Christ, the Voice of God.
One day, the Lord will strike the whole earth, and change things in an absolute, final way. He will bring the present age to an end. When we see and hear a great storm, with its mighty clouds, its terrible thundering and lightning, and its sweeping rain and hail, we are naturally terrified and amazed. When a great bolt of lightning strikes nearby, followed closely by an explosion of thunder, we are struck dumb before it. These majestic forces of nature are symbols of the majesty of God. If we cower in fear or rejoice in fascination at the thunder, how much more when the voice of God speaks!
“Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your heart.” May God grant that you and I, each one of us, obey the Voice of the Lord.
The common belief in times past was that God was the direct cause of thunder and lightning. This has been true of all peoples and all religions. The Psalmist was well-aware of how heathen view the storm, so he took the storm away from their gods to give it back to the One who truly made it. It is not Baal or Jupiter, but it is the voice of Yahweh, the Lord of Israel, the one and only God, that sounds forth in the storm.
This scripture, moves us to hear God’s voice in the thunder. When we speak of the majesty of God, we mean the greatness of God. We mean the yawning gulf that lies between his greatness and our smallness. The voice of a human compared with the voice of thunder, gives us an illustration of the difference between human beings and their Creator. This Psalm reminds us that however available God has made himself to us, because of the work of Jesus his Son, God is not like us. Karl Barth, the Swiss theologian said, "He is Wholly Other ". He is eternal, infinite, and almighty. He is to us as the thunder is.
The Psalmist spoke of the lightning splintering the great cedars of Lebanon, snapping them like toothpicks. There is, however, something else besides fear and trembling. There is also a fascination, even a joy, that we have been in the presence of something so rare and terrible and beautiful. He also spoke of the mountains being made to skip about like colts in a pasture.
Psalm 29 praises the voice of God. Surely it is easy for us to feel the majesty of God’s voice, when we hear it in a great clap of thunder, but this is not the only way God’s voice comes to us. The writer of Hebrews says that God has spoken to us in diverse manners and ways. The scriptures also speak of a time when, once again, we will hear the voice of God, direct and without mediation. We will hear the voice of Christ calling to the dead, “Come forth,” and they will all come. We will hear his voice from the throne of judgment, saying to us either, “Depart from me,” or, “Enter in to the joys of your Lord.” The book of Revelation says that we will hear a voice from God’s throne, which proclaims the dawn of the new eternal day: “Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” (Rev 21:1-4). If it is an experience to hear the voice of God in a thunder clap, what kind of experience will it be to hear his voice, welcoming us to eternity. So then we have this Psalm, which moves us to listen to the thunder of a storm, and hear the voice of God. It moves us to appreciate the majesty of God and the wide gulf that lies between his greatness and our smallness. It focuses our attention on the majesty of his voice, which remains just as majestic wherever and however it may speak.
The most valuable thing for us to consider from the Psalm – as with all the Psalms & all the scriptures of both the Old Testament and the New – is how it preaches Christ to us. When the Psalm speaks of the Voice being in the wilderness, it speaks well of Jesus, when he went to the wilderness to be baptized by John and be tempted by Satan. It was there that the voice thundered from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
When the Psalm speaks of the Voice being in the mountains, it speaks well of Jesus, sitting before the people, teaching them a sermon on a mountain. We are told that they were amazed at him, because he spoke with a power beyond their experience. It speaks well, too, of Jesus on the mountain of transfiguration, standing there with two older instruments of the voice of God, Moses and Elijah. At that time, a word thundered down, identifying him as the Voice of God. “This is my beloved Son; hear him.” When it speaks of the Voice being over the sea, it speaks well of Christ Jesus, in the boat, as he often was, with his disciples. It speaks of the voice that said to the winds and the waves, “Be still.” The Psalm speaks of what Jesus was in the past, what he is at present, and what he will be in the future.
We see this in the testimony of the New Testament, in regard to what Jesus did after rising from the dead, and sitting down at the right hand of God. There was a sound from heaven like the rushing mighty wind of a storm. There were flames of fire, shining like lighting, on the heads of men. In this way the reign of God’s Messiah was announced and the gospel was first preached. The words of the Psalm were proclaimed: “The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as a king forever.”
The Voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, still sweeps over the earth. It spoke to Saul of Tarsus, and struck him down as he was hit by God’s lightning. Saul was changed forever by that encounter. John heard the voice too, speaking with the sound of mighty waters, exhorting the churches to be faithful in their tribulations.
The voice may not always come so directly but it comes just as powerfully, and just as majestically. Christ Jesus still rumbles and flames across the face of the earth, striking the hearts of men and women. Sometimes, when a storm moves through, afterward things are no different than they were before. At other times things are changed forever. The same is true with Christ, the Voice of God.
One day, the Lord will strike the whole earth, and change things in an absolute, final way. He will bring the present age to an end. When we see and hear a great storm, with its mighty clouds, its terrible thundering and lightning, and its sweeping rain and hail, we are naturally terrified and amazed. When a great bolt of lightning strikes nearby, followed closely by an explosion of thunder, we are struck dumb before it. These majestic forces of nature are symbols of the majesty of God. If we cower in fear or rejoice in fascination at the thunder, how much more when the voice of God speaks!
“Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your heart.” May God grant that you and I, each one of us, obey the Voice of the Lord.
In Christ,
Brown
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Praise and Worship Service
First United Methodist Church, Endicott .
Sponsored by Union Center UMC
6 PM Gathering - Coffee - Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship
Music: Jane Hettinger,
Speaker: Dave Hettinger
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