Sermon Reflections based on from Cosmic Interpretations, Galactic Forgiveness | Alex Hardt | January 28, 2024
What a wonderful way to end our series on Joseph and God’s goodness. Redemption and Forgiveness are at the heart of the gospel and were so well demonstrated in the story of Joseph. Our memory verse, Genesis 50:20 shouted out to us each week the truth of God’s sovereignty, goodness and omniscience. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Pastor Alex began with Genesis 45:1-4 where the story of Joseph’s revelation of himself to his brothers shows his great humility and love for his ‘lost’ brothers. During a great famine in the whole land, Joseph’s brothers had journeyed to Egypt to buy grain. (Joseph had interpreted a dream Pharaoh had concerning 7 good years and 7 lean years. Pharaoh believed Joseph and put him in charge of the plan to keep them all alive during the 7 lean years. Genesis 41.) In chapter 42, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain but did not allow his youngest Benjamin to go with them. While buying grain they encountered Joseph but did not recognize him. He required that they leave one of their brothers there and bring their youngest brother to him to verify their story, he had accused them of being spies. Then Joseph had his servants put the silver they had paid for the grain with back in their sacks. When the brothers discovered this, they were terrified and decided not to go back. Well, the famine continued and they eventually needed to return. The fact that Jacob’s youngest, Joseph’s brother, was required to go troubled Jacob immensely. All he could think about was how he had lost Joseph and feared losing Benjamin too. Judah promised that he would bring Benjamin back or die trying. When they appeared before Joseph this second time, they were very afraid of his retribution for the ‘stolen’ silver. Joseph as overcome with emotion at their meeting and said in Chapter 45:4-5 “ Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” After all that had transpired, Joseph had seen God’s hand in all that God had allowed to happen. He did not have hatred or revenge in his heart but overwhelming love. Joseph had seen God’s provision from the pit to the palace. He knew from experience God is sovereign and omniscient! He tried to relay this to his brothers, but they had not made the journey from pit to palace and did not understand Joseph’s love and compassion. Our life’s journey gives us opportunities to see God in action, experience His love, compassion and forgiveness first hand. If we allow Him to work in our lives we are enriched in both faith and character. Joseph is a wonderful example to us of God’s power of sanctification and how He grows and matures us in our faith. Joseph wanted restoration of his family and reconciliation with them not revenge. Joseph is an example to us of the power of forgiveness. His life was transformed from possible bitterness and hatred to love, acceptance and longing for his brothers and father. Forgiveness is transformative to each of us on the inside. It works it wonders by making us better in Christ. We can accept hurts, betrayal, wrongs and hatred and let them go. Christ will take those and replace them with love and kindness. Letting go frees us and gives us a new pathway in Him. Joseph certainly had a new pathway with his brothers and father and whole family who come to be cared for and settled in the land of Goshen. Where are your pathways leading you? Are you moving forward with forgiveness by embracing Christ? God promises forgiveness in Christ, Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Through forgives we are free to serve Him, Psalm 130:4 “But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.” Our memory verse from our study of 1 John was 1:5 “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” Forgiveness in Christ brings us into God’s light and the darkness is dispelled! Praise God! 1 Timothy 6:17 wisely speaks to us and I see Joseph lived by these principles. “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” Joseph kept his focus on God. May we do likewise and experience His providential care, forgives of sins and love. Linda MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections based on from Pit to Purpose | Alex Hardt | January 14, 2024
Have you ever been stuck somewhere, a pit so to speak, and could not see a way out? Can you identify with the despair Joseph must have felt after his brothers took his robe and put him in the cistern, pit? These verses from Psalm 103 come to mind as David identified with being stuck. We learn later that Joseph clung to his faith in God to see him through just as David leaned upon God in his darkest times. Psalm 103:1-5 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Things looked bleak for Joseph but God had it handled and had great renewal and hope in Joseph’s future. David realized this in his life too and trusted God to provide all that he needed. What about you? Have you ever been with Joseph and David despairing over the future? David encourages us to lay claim to the providence and provision of the Lord. Joseph confirms this with our memory verse Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” God had it handled and as Joseph looked back he saw God’s hand in their lives just as David had. Going down into the pit is tough or maybe I should say sliding into it. Many times things pile one upon another and it seems hopeless to reverse the trajectory of our lives. Joseph saw no way out of his dilemma. Jealousy and envy had wreaked havoc on the lives of Jacob’s sons. The Bible links jealousy, hatred and envy. Hebrews 12:14-17 in the Message speaks plainly of Jacob’s brother Esau and the problems envy, jealousy and hatred can bring. “Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears. After selling Joseph to the Egyptian bound caravan, Rueben was not able to save his brother. The hatred they had was now cast in regret as they saw their father’s grief. The ‘getting rid’ of the favored brother did not bring the joy, it brought sorrow that they could not live down or fix. That is often the case with a slide into the pit, there is no way to rescue yourself, fix those relationships or undo what you’ve done. Only GOD, can rectify the situation! The brothers discovered their callused hearts were vulnerable to hurt and despair even though they thought they were above it. They thought they were ‘fixing’ the problem in their family by getting rid of Joseph. ATTENTION: God had other plans. Our greatest hurts or failures can be used by God. He can redeem us in all ways as He is sovereign and His plans will prevail. Job 42:2 reminds us “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Do you believe this? Do you trust God to prevail? Know this, God will not give up on you! Consider Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” God always has a purpose and can use whatever happens to us for our good and His glory! Romans 8:28- claim it in your life. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” God always keeps His promises and His plan always prevails as we will see as the story of Joseph continues. Linda P.S. Look back at Psalm 103 above, God had redemption in mind for all of Joseph’s family, crowns of love and compassion for Joseph and his brothers as well as renewal for all their family. God is indeed good! MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from Dazzled By the Divine | Sara Wade | September 3, 2023
Have you ever wondered if the impossible is possible? Sometimes in our moments of desperation and pain, when we feel overwhelmed and have no idea what to do... we become open to God and seeing his handiwork. So much of what happens in our life is beyond our capacity, skill set, talents, gifts, intelligence, or strength. There is no way that either you or I could do or handle everything alone. We need someone to come alongside us and give us wisdom, someone to give us strength, someone to lead us and guide us, someone to help us do what seems to be impossible. This someone happens to be God. Matthew 17:18-20 says it like this... 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” The disciples of Jesus couldn't do what was asked of them. Jesus had trained, showed, and instructed them how to cast out demons. And yet they still couldn't do it. And I know what your thinking... Of course, they couldn't cast out demons...that's out of this world...that's impossible. Jesus, God, is asking humans to do only what God can do. And you would be right, except Jesus doesn't give them a pass. He calls them out for their little faith. They didn't believe that God could use them to do the impossible. They just needed an ounce of faith in God and God's plans to cast out the demons through them, but the disciples (the closest friends of Jesus) didn't even have that. Jesus wasn't upset that they didn't cast out the demons...he was upset because they didn't believe they could. They didn't trust God or believe that God would use them. They didn't trust that God, the creator of the universe, could cast out and destroy demons. How is the world supposed to believe and trust in God, if Jesus' own disciples are doubting the Almighty?!? Every day people are encountering situations where it seems impossible that any good could come out of the situation or that the situation could be resolved or that anything could be done. We feel overwhelmed, hopeless, lost, broken, empty, and afraid. But if we have even the smallest of faith. The faith of a mustard seed then we can move mountains the scriptures says. I don't know about you, but I am sure glad I don't have to face life alone. That I have a God who is there by my side, leading me, guiding me, and helping me to make the impossible possible. I can see a different path forward because of God. My future no longer looks dark but full of light. It doesn't mean it will be easy, it just means it's possible. And that possibility gives me hope of a brighter future. May you trust God, may you be dazzled by the divine, and may you know that the impossible is possible with God. ] Blessings, Pastor Alex MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. |
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