The Stones Will Cry Out

Pastor Barry Kerner

Luke 19:28-44

Habakkuk 2

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We’re going to be reading out of the Gospel of Luke this morning, Chapter 19: verses 28-44. I’ll give you a few moments to find that in your Bible.

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday. The first day of Holy Week marking the beginning of Christ’s last seven days on His journey to the cross. To commemorate Holy week we’ll be posting a seven part devotional on our website. You can download this daily devotional and use it as we journey with Christ during the seven days of Holy Week.

Here’s a short story I heard last year.

It was Palm Sunday but because of a sore throat, 5-year-old Johnny stayed home from church with a sitter. When the family returned home, they were carrying several palm fronds. Johnny asked them what they were for.

“People held them over Jesus’ head as he walked by,” his father told him.

“Wouldn’t you know it,” Johnny fumed, “the one Sunday I don’t go to church and He shows up!”

Even though we’re social distancing I’m sure that Jesus is still here amongst us. Amen

If you’ve found Luke 19 in your Bibles, we’ll begin with verse 28.

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[a]

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

As Jesus made His way to the Eastern gate that day a sort of carpet was being sewn together ahead of him. Fresh, green palm branches, presumably picked from nearby trees, and thick, worn clothing, likely from the backs of the crowd, formed a tapestry of endearment toward Israel’s long-awaited Messiah.

Many believe that it was the palm branches that made this day unique.

For centuries, the church has memorialized today, the first day of Holy Week, as Palm Sunday because of the palm branches and the cloaks that the people spread out before Jesus as he entered Jerusalem.

The Gospel writers tell us a crowd gathered, gushing with excitement, and lining the road in front of Jesus as He slowly rode into the city. As He made his way, one step at a time on a borrowed beast of burden, the crowd heralded His arrival.

Some 450 to 500 years prior to Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, the prophet Zechariah had prophesied the event we now call Palm Sunday with these words,

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious,  lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).

The prophecy was fulfilled in every particular, and it was indeed a time of rejoicing, as Jerusalem welcomed their King. Unfortunately, the celebration was not to last.

Luke tells us that as Jesus entered Jerusalem the people began rejoicing and praising God, shouting, Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! (Luke 19:38)

Some of the Pharisees try to get Jesus to make the crowd stop. They ask him to rebuke the people for what they’re saying — the whole “Blessed is the King” bit. The Pharisees get it, you see. This isn’t just any phrase. This is the kind of welcome reserved for Israel’s Savior. It’s a phrase found in the Hebrew Scriptures, going back to Psalm 118, a psalm that rejoices in the Lord’s triumph. By verse 22 of this psalm, the rejected stone has become the “cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22). This is a marvelous work — by God’s doing — which then launches the day of salvation (Psalm 118:23–24).

This day of salvation is the long-anticipated deliverance that Israel thought might never come. But it will, it does, and Psalm 118:25 captures the hope saying: “Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!” Now this salvation and success is nothing generic. It will come through a person — the Messiah of God — the one sent by God to rescue His people. So goes the shout, in the psalm,

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! (Psalm 118:26)

Without doubt, this rambling crowd in Jerusalem, is taking its cues from Psalm 118. They are declaring Jesus to be their long awaited Messiah. That’s why the Pharisees tell Jesus to stop the madness. “Jesus, Do you hear what they are saying? They think you’re the Messiah come to save us. Tell them to shut up.”

Jesus doesn’t stop them, though. Of course, Jesus is the Messiah. And, He has come to Jerusalem to save his people. He says, instead, that if the people weren’t saying it then the stones themselves would cry out.

The people wanted salvation and success, remember. They wanted the Messiah to march into the city and do hard business with Rome. They wanted to be free from Gentile oppression, even if by force, even if by threats and plagues and a split sea, as they recounted so well in their history. They wanted another exodus, one that expelled the Romans.

Instead, what they got by Friday morning was a bloodied has-been, a man in Roman custody, rejected by their own leaders, standing next to an infamous criminal named Barabbas. They wanted an incomparable king, but they would see was a beaten blasphemer. Or so they thought.

The sounds of the crowd this Sunday — this Palm Sunday — would later be betrayed by the sounds of their own stony hearts. The cry, “Blessed is he!” would soon become a shout, “crucify him!” For this reason, there is something nauseating about today. We read of the response to Jesus, but because we know the story, we know it’s not real. It’s not right.

And as we feel the deep tragedy of their words, of their blindness, we shouldn’t expect that we’d have been any different. The Pharisees and the people had their problems, and so do we. If we know our hearts apart from grace, if we could listen in on this crowd, we’d hear our shouts along with theirs. We’d hear our praise, hollow as it were, and then, by Friday, “ashamed we’d hear our mocking voice call out among the scoffers.”

It is not the righteous, after all, who Jesus came to save, but sinners. Sinners like us.

It’s vitally important that we understand the banter that occurred between Jesus and the Pharisees that day. When the Pharisees hear the crowds praising God and acknowledging Jesus as their long awaited Messiah they command that Jesus silence his disciples.  His reply is, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Song writers and preachers have had a field day with this statement. They make it out that if people today stop praising God the rocks around us will suddenly come out of retirement, shout praise to Him and burst into song.

Unfortunately this is not  so. Neither Jesus nor Luke means that this crying out of stones is a covering for silent worshipers. It does not mean that creation will praise God if we fail to do so. It is a specific reference to that occasion—and the crying out of the stones that Jesus prophesied would not be a cry of praise but a cry for judgment.

Those who believe that Jesus was saying that the pebbles and rocks, kicked up by His parade along the way, would sing His praises if His followers did not, miss the entire message of all of the prophets of the Old Testament, the prophet John the Baptist and even the greatest prophet of all, Jesus Himself.

The message of all of the prophets can be summarized in four points

One: God is holy and must judge every sin.

Two: All the children of Adam are born in sin and must face God’s judgment.

Three: God planned to send down a holy Redeemer who would bear the punishment of sin for the children of Adam.

Four: There are consequences for those who reject God

Those are the four truths which all the prophets of God preached. They are so important that I want to repeat them.

First: God is holy, and cannot overlook sin.

Second: Man is unholy, full of sin, and has no way of saving himself from the penalty of sin.

Third: God has a plan to cleanse sinners and save them from judgment.

Fourth: Those made righteous will be saved but the guilty will be punished

Of all the words of Jesus recorded in the Bible, about twenty-five percent of his teaching was devoted to prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, the scattering of the Jewish people worldwide, and the end of the age.  He spoke of these events in advance and discussed the rewards and punishments that nations and individuals would experience.

Jesus had a number of things in mind when he spoke on these matters, and He sought to accomplish several things:

Jesus’ teachings sought

• to forewarn his first-century followers when to flee the city of Jerusalem so that they would survive its destruction by the legions of the Roman Empire
• to bring others who heard his message to repentance—both those who heard him speak in person, and those who would read his words down through the centuries
• to motivate believers to keep on the watch for Christ’s return by paying attention to world events
• to let everyone know that God has already determined the outcome of human history, and that his victory over the nations is guaranteed
• to make it clear that those who obey God will be rewarded and those who ignore God will be punished when God intervenes to put an end to human rule and establish the rule of the Kingdom of God.

The call to repentance comes through loud and clear.  And the assurance of God’s ultimate victory over rebellious mankind is equally clear. 

The entire twenty-third chapter of Matthew’s gospel is devoted to Jesus’ denunciation of the Jewish religious leaders as “hypocrites” who would provoke God’s punishment upon the Jewish nation within that generation.  He told them,

“Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.” Matthew 23:36

While gazing upon the stones of the city of Jerusalem Jesus said, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” The Pharisees would have understood Jesus’ reference to Habakkuk chapter 2, where a warning is given regarding the Chaldeans known as Babylon. This warning is transferable to any city, nation, or church similarly built on greed, violence, and injustice, as Babylon was. The Pharisees would have understood exactly the warning Jesus was issuing to Jerusalem.

From Genesis 11 to Revelation 18, the Bible represents Babylon in these terms. In Revelation Babylon stands for Israel’s religious system. Habakkuk predicts Babylon’s fall because of such sinful human intent and action by its leaders and people. In fact, he presents the very stones and timbers of the city as crying out to God for intervention because of human sin and refusal to acknowledge God. In chapter 2 verse 11 Habakkuk prophesies, “The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.” It is clearly a cry for judgment, not a cry of Hosanna and the Pharisees would have gotten the message that day.

The prophet Habakkuk directed five woes towards the idolatrous Babylonian nation. Selfish ambition. Greed. Violence. Debauchery. Idolatry. These are pretty strong words, or “woes” as they are often referred to in Scripture. Jesus called out Jerusalem on these very same five sins and they could very easily describe much of modern-day culture. God described the ancient nation of Babylon in these very same terms to the prophet, Habakkuk and some things never change.

1. Selfish Ambition (Habakkuk 2: 4-5): A society so focused on wealth and status that corners are cut and relationships crumble. From social media influencers to C-suite executives, the pursuit of the “American dream” of wealth and success has driven many people to take shortcuts and even sacrifice others in their climb to the top.

2. Greed (Habakkuk 2: 9-11): The Bible uses the word covet to describe a level of envy and jealousy so great that it leads to resentment towards others. God took the sin of coveting so seriously that it made it into the ten commandments.

3. Violence (Habakkuk 2: 12-14): Babylon was one of the most violent and powerful nations at that time. America is certainly in no shortage of violence.

4. Debauchery (Habakkuk 2: 15-17): Debauchery isn’t a common word today. It refers to an excessive indulgence for pleasure. For Babylon it was drunkenness. Today, it could describe our culture of sexual freedom, drug addictions, or the opioid crisis that is crippling much of the nation.

5. Idolatry (Habakkuk 2: 18-20): Now, in Babylon’s day, this often translated into a physical idol made out of precious metal, jewelry, or wood that would be worshiped as a god. However, in today’s modern culture, idolatry refers to anything that we place before God. This can be a relationship, career, finances, a hobby – you fill in the blank.

God might have been speaking about the Babylonians in this conversation with Habakkuk, but it could so easily describe society today. Are you able to identify with any of these “modern-day woes?” Might they at all be evident in your life? If so,  ask for God’s help in setting you free.

As Jesus entered his beloved Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday, He recognized the marks of a violent city ruled by greedy leaders. The stones were calling for God’s judgment. He wept over the city (verses 41-44) because of the “woes” awaiting Jerusalem’s people under the judgment of a holy God. Only one thing could hold off that promised retribution: acknowledging God’s only begotten son, Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior..

The cries of the disciples, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” were cries of hope for Jerusalem. Like the sackcloth, ashes, and repentance in the Nineveh of Jonah’s day (Jonah 3:5-10), the cries of the disciples and pilgrims on this day might have averted the promised disaster, had they only been picked up by the city’s leaders and populace.

Sadly, the stones did “cry out” and God heard them. But their cry, like that in Habakkuk, was a cry to the God who not only saves but who also brings righteous judgment. In 70 ad God used the Romans to judge the nation of Israel. The nation was destroyed, its people scattered and as Jesus prophesied for the mighty city Jerusalem, not a stone was left standing upon another. The end of the age had come. The Old Covenant was done away with and God had ushered in the age of a New Covenant.

Let me close with these few thoughts. Could it be that today the stones are crying out to you? Could it be that you have realized that God has said, “woe” to you? Perhaps there are sinful activities in which you have engaged and in which you have continued to practice. Perhaps you have taken advantage of others, stolen from others, used violence, sought pleasure at the expense of others, or been involved in idolatrous practices (as these woes clearly explained). Perhaps you are prideful in your accomplishments and in your achievements. Perhaps you are seeking to build your own kingdom, rather than God’s kingdom. If this is you. Then, the answer is simple – repent of your sins and embrace Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you find it difficult to believe that we serve a God who judges the evildoer. Your ears have been “tickled” so many times that you’ve come to believe that God won’t punish sin.  Paul tells Timothy that itching ears want teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. Perhaps, when you think of God, you only see grace. Perhaps, when you think of God, you only see mercy. You think that God cannot be a harsh judge.

Please realize this, that God is a wrathful God. God will punish sin because men are entirely responsible for their sin. Apart from this understanding of God, the gospel simply doesn’t make sense. If your God isn’t an exacting, judging God, then there was no reason for Jesus to come and offer Himself up as a sacrifice for sin. If you believe that’s the case, then Easter with its cross and empty tomb was pointless.

God’s message of judgment upon the wicked ought to generate three responses in the soul of someone who is truly a child of God. The first response should be  thankfulness and praise to God, that through the grace of God, you will escape these terrors. You know that by faith, Jesus has been punished in your place. Your sins were born upon His body upon the cross almost 2000 years ago.

The second response should be a burning desire to share the Gospel with everyone you can. You understand that those who are not saved will suffer the penalty for sin. You have the responsibility as an instrument of God’s salvation to share the good news with your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors.

Third, the Bible tells us to rejoice in the anticipation of God’s return to judge the world. We should be awaiting with joyful expectation, that God will fully vindicate Himself.

Consider the following verses of Scripture…

Let the sea roar and all it contains, The world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the mountains sing together for joy. Before the LORD; for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with equity (Psalm 98:7-9).

The execution of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity. (Prov. 21:15).

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains; Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy. Before the LORD, for He is coming; For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, And the peoples in His faithfulness (Psalm 96:11-13).

It is comforting (for us) to know that “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” In other words, whether we sing our praise or not, the Lord’s glory will prevail (Habakkuk 2:14). But, our worship is not to silence the stones but to turn their testimony from judgment to jubilation.

As we draw closer to Resurrection Sunday and its celebration of God’s sacrifice for us our challenge this week is to turn from whatever wrongs we may have done, turn to our hearts to  God and recognize the rightful place that He should be given in our lives.

Let us pray…

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The Christian Response To Isolation

Pastor Barry Kerner

Christians across America are beginning to feel great loss as social distancing shuts them out of attending their church’s worship services and weekly Bible studies. We have been called, along with others, to help “flatten the curve” in an attempt to mitigate the effects of the Corona virus which is rampaging our communities. After just two weeks of isolation our inability to fellowship with other Christians face to face is beginning to take its toll. Feelings of despair and loneliness are beginning to emerge even among the strongest of believers. No matter one’s faith, these experiences are especially foreign in a nation that protects freedom of religion and peaceful assembly.

As Easter approaches, Christians are finding it deeply unsettling to be told they can’t gather together to worship and pray with one voice. This Sunday our church, Delphi Falls, will miss gathering a one body take communion together. The disruption feels like being cut off from our traditions and customs as well as the heart and soul of the church’s ability to gather together to encourage one another. Genesis 2:18 tells us that , “It is not good for man to be alone.”  Christian or not, human isolation is unnatural and unhealthy. We are created to live in relationship, and we suffer greatly in the absence of companionship.

It is an unfortunate reality that we all will face this trial and that we will need to forgo our custom of gathering in person during this season of social distancing. Nevertheless, there are several things Christians can contemplate that offer some measure of solace and comfort and turn this Lenten trial into renewal. First, understand the fact that Christians are not strangers to being separated.

Such isolation happened right from the beginning of the church. In the Book of Acts we find the first Christians persecuted by both the Jewish religious leaders and the Romans and driven from their communities. Consider also that the Apostle Paul was imprisoned just some 30 years after the establishment of the church at Pentecost in 33 A.D. Although separated from his churches, he continued to write to them and encouraged them to strengthen one another through the trials.

Roman persecutions continued on and off through the ages. After the fall of the Roman Empire persecutions of Christians, as well as of Jews, continued into the modern era. Soon after communism came to Russia, thousands of priests were executed, and countless churches and synagogues destroyed.

In China, where the Wuhan Corona-virus originated, Christians and their churches have been persecuted for centuries and continue to be today. In fact, communist officials in China have taken advantage of lock downs to destroy empty churches. In-home Bible studies continue to be illegal. Perhaps most distressing of all, China’s social distancing of Christians from one another extends deep into cyberspace. Churches are prohibited to even meet online without government approval.

In North America, a different sort of isolation is occurring within churches. Those who express the biblical understanding of marriage and seek to uphold other Biblical moral principles are no longer welcomed in many mainline denominations. In the United States, lawsuits against photographers, cake artists, florists and others who adhere to these Christian views of marriage and Godly principles are becoming commonplace. Our neighbor to the north, Canada recently passed laws compelling speech and criminalizing any expression of the biblical understanding of marriage and other God given values.

Before the Corona virus pandemic, Americans may have taken for granted their ability to worship in person. Our current situation should be a wake-up call to discern and resist any deliberate efforts to curb freedom of worship in the future. We should remember the faithful throughout the world who are persecuted and forced to meet in secrecy and cut off from even meeting online, and understand such isolation as persecution.

Second, while cultivating a deeper understanding of the terrible power of isolation, come to an understanding that this season can strengthen us to prepare for additional trials which may come.

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle [you].” (1 Peter 5:10)

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

Today’s separation from churchgoing should also remind Christians of the ultimate isolation: separation from God. The starkest definition of sin is separation from God.

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)

As the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, resulted in our sharing their sinfulness, so did the obedience of Jesus Christ through His death on the cross result in our justification before God. But, His atoning death is only made effective in our lives when we trust in him alone as our Savior (John 14:6). When we believe that Christ’s death on the cross was our death to sin, God no longer considers us guilty and deserving of punishment (Romans 3:21-26); instead, he embraces us as his children and as full-fledged citizens of his heavenly kingdom (Philippians 3:20).

We are then able to celebrate that we no longer will suffer the consequence for sin which is eternal separation from God. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

When we lose the privilege of worshiping in person with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we feel a loss and a sense of isolation. We strive to find ways to connect with those from whom we’re physically separated. Telephone calls, emails, and even snail mail helps us to continue the bonds we have forged. Churches have turned to live stream service and at Delphi Falls we will soon be meeting in a virtual Bible study.

 Although we are prevented from worshiping, singing and praying corporately, are we continuing to foster our relationship God. We may be prevented from churchgoing but we are never really alone. God is always with us. Are we doing all that we can to stay connected with God during these extreme circumstances. Being in isolation should not stop us from studying His word every day, singing and praying to Him.

We don’t know what we have until we lose it. Christians are finding new and innovative ways to overcome isolation. In today’s world of technology there is no need to be completely isolated from God and fellow believers. We have the means to reach out and touch someone day or night. We can make good use of this time to, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) by thinking of those in our community who may be living alone and good use a phone call and an encouraging word.

As we draw close to Easter let us remember that Christians have nothing to fear. In essence, to have faith is to set aside anxieties and to put our trust in the grand plan in which we do our best as servants of Christ.

While we do our part to slow the spread of the virus by social distancing, we also should welcome this unexpected, additional Lenten exercise of sacrifice and meditation as a wake-up call to shake us out of complacency and build spiritual reserves for when we face greater persecution. In the meantime, we should keep watch for the paschal light that shines in the darkness, guiding us home and showing us that our Savior conquered death by death.

For those who trust God, there is help in His Word.

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God’s Work With Our Hands

Luke 14:25-33

Pastor Barry Kerner

In the past, many churches staged rally days as they were beginning a new program or season of ministry. They used these times to  promote their ideas and to rally their members to come on board and provide support. After a long, weary winter a church man hold a rally day to mobilize their church members to perform service at the church or in the community. At the beginning of summer a call is made to rally like minded volunteers to prepare for one of the fiercest battles to be fought – the annual Vacation Bible School. At the end of the summer, rally days are held to welcome back members who have taken a vacation from church and to rally the forces for the work of fall and winter ministries.

Rally Days have become more of being a church event rather than a focus towards ministry. People are welcomed back to church without a word these days, though I doubt that the church leaders of a century ago would have approved of a winter break or a summer vacation from any ministry. I’ll would ask you this question, “Has the church negotiated a truce with Satan? Has the church declared a cease fire in its war to win souls?”

Here’s a crazy idea, perhaps what the church needs is a new type of rallying cry.

A rallying cry can be like a lightning rod for our members. It should harness and focus their energy, and guide them towards the things that really matter.

America’s first rallying battle cry, was used during the Revolutionary War, It was, “Remember Paoli.” On September 20, 1777 over 1800 British Light Infantry (Special Forces) attacked 2000 hardened American Continental soldiers under Gen. “Mad Anthony” Wayne at midnight with bayonets and swords, dispersing them in one of the bloodiest battles of the War of Independence. But, in accomplishing the mission, the Redcoats committed numerous atrocities murdering soldiers who surrendered, burning some alive, and  repeatedly stabbing wounded men with their bayonets. This so outraged American civilians and soldiers alike that it crystallized American hatred of the British. The cry “Remember Paoli” was heard repeatedly in later battles.

Two years later, General Wayne led America’s first official Light Infantry unit in a midnight, bayonets only, attack against Stony Point, high on the Hudson Palisade. Wayne was successful. But more importantly, General Wayne spared 600 captured British soldiers when all thought him justified to put them to the sword. Wayne took the high ground and no atrocities were committed.

Remember Paoli took on an additional luster for now it meant more than revenge.  As Benjamin Rush (Founding Father, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Surgeon General of the Continental Army) said to AGeneral Wayne: “You have established the national character of our country.  You have taught our enemies that bravery, humanity, and magnanimity are the virtues of the Americans.”

The American Revolution gave rise to dozens of other rallying cries—“No Taxation Without Representation;” “Join or Die;” “Don’t Tread on Me”—but few had as significant an impact as “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death.” The phrase first appeared in a March 1775 address by Patrick Henry, which concluded with the immortal line, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” Henry’s speech convinced the Second Virginia Convention to raise militias, and his words immediately became a battle cry among colonial minutemen. They considered them a symbol of their determination to shake off the yoke of British rule. Many Virginia militia recruits marched under banners emblazoned with “Liberty or Death,” and some even sewed the words onto their shirts.

On February 23, 1836, Mexican General Santa Anna besieged Colonel William B. Travis and some 200 Texas independence fighters at a former Franciscan mission known as the Alamo. The Texans were outnumbered and outgunned, but they held out for 13 grueling days until March 6, when the Mexicans stormed the fort and killed nearly all its defenders. The defeat was catastrophic—Travis, James Bowie and famed frontiersman Davy Crockett all died in the onslaught—but the Texans’ courage under fire helped galvanize their compatriots. General Sam Houston and others used the rallying cry “Remember the Alamo” to whet their troops’ appetite for vengeance, and in April 1836, the Texans routed a superior Mexican army and captured Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. “Remember the Alamo” lived on even after the United States annexed Texas in 1845, and was later revived by U.S. troops during the Mexican-American War.

Soon after the towers fell on September 11^th, 20001, a cry went up and “Remember 911” still rings in our ears today. America’s outrage against terrorists launched the longest war-time footing in U.S. history. The American Character brought out by this horrendous tragedy still endures today.

Rallying cries are often easy to spot. They masquerade as the slogan or tagline of a company:

• Nike tells everyone, “Just do it.”
• Technology company One Plus is committed to “Never Settle.”
• Dunkin’ Donuts reminds us that “America runs on Dunkin’”
• McDonald’s customers voice their support as they say “I’m lovin’ it”
• Apple wants us all to “Think Different.”

Each statement is proudly proclaimed in the organization’s branding and marketing campaigns, but its true value is felt internally. The slogan guides behaviors. It frames the brand, and clearly articulates what the company represents. This is the power of a brand’s rallying cry. It guides an organization to greatness. A rallying cry is more than a tagline. It has a deep meaning for the organization that transcends marketing and sales.

In 1997 Apple launched its slogan, “Think Different.” The slogan became a rallying cry for the brand, and it still guides the company twenty years later.

Think Different was launched with an ad called “Here’s to the Crazy Ones.” The narrator speaks over a series of photographs of time-honored visionaries — people like Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thomas Edison, and Alfred Hitchcock.

He says, Here’s to the crazy ones.
The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.
They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo.
You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward.
While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

The rallying image is still a useful one for us today, especially because the meaning can vary so much. In some cases, it’s the troops getting assembling for battle — in others a listless patient gathering strength to rise off a sickbed.

Let’s take a moment and turn to the Gospel of Luke. The 14^th chapter. Starting in verse 25.

25 Now large crowds were traveling with [Jesus;] and he turned and said to them, 26“Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33 So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.”

This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be unto you from God who is our Creator and from Jesus Christ who is our Savior and our Friend. Amen.

Now, large crowds were traveling with Jesus, because summer was finally over and it was Rally Day in Galilee. So Jesus turned and began his “welcome back to church” sermon by saying: “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Can I get an Amen?

It’s not a message many want to hear and I don’t think it went over very well when Jesus preached it, either! This was one heckuva sermon for Jesus to deliver, especially after the Pharisee’s dinner party during which he proclaimed “all are welcome!” Now that all those sinners, outcasts, and other folk have heard His message and rallied around Him, He tells them “hate your family” and “carry the cross or you can’t be my disciple?” Today we might call that bait and switch. Jesus was realing them in hook, line and sinker. Well played, Jesus, well played.

Like the people of the Apple commercial, the crowd must have thought that Jesus was one of the “crazy ones!” Throughout His ministry He was thought of as a misfit, a rebel. The Pharisees and Sadducees believed Him to be a troublemaker. Jesus was the round peg trying to fit into the square hole of Israel’s religious system. Jesus saw things differently than those in charge. He wasn’t fond of all of the rules with which they had added to God’s Word, burdening God’s people. Jesus had no respect for the status quo when it conflicted with the will of His Father. Millions have quoted Him. Whole populations disagree with Him. His followers glorify Him while the rest of the world vilifies Him.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore Him. Because Jesus changed things. He thought and acted outside the box and pushed the human race forward.

Back then as today many think Him a crazy one. Others number Him among the geniuses.
Because, like the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, Jesus was one who did.

Jesus embodied Apple’s rallying slogan long before they were even founded. Jesus wanted His followers, His church to “THINK DIFFERENT!”

That day, as He sat and preached, Jesus must have been at least somewhat excited to see that his message was reaching more and more people. But the words He spoke indicates His concern, too: Do the people really understand what they’re signing up for? Do they realize this is an “all or nothing” proposition? Do they know where this path leads?

Looking out at the crowd, Jesus may have noticed how some of the folks seemed to have one foot on the path with Jesus and one foot back at home. A few were keeping one eye on the door just in case someone more important or interesting showed up. Others appeared to be listening to the sermon, but were in fact mentally making a shopping list for later on (go ahead you can nod if you know what I mean. And don’t worry – I’ve actually written sermons in my head while listening to other preachers’ sermons! In the name of Jesus Christ, we are all forgiven! Amen?)

It may not be a crowd pleaser, but this passage from the 14th chapter of Luke represents one of Jesus’ central messages: All are welcome, grace is for everyone, but following Jesus is a costly affair. This was literally a “come to Jesus” rally day talk for the crowds that day! Jesus says to all who would follow him: “No one comes any further on this journey until you know what you’re getting into and where we are going. I need you to be all in: Both feet forward, eyes on the prize, and, most importantly, hands free of possessions so you can carry the cross and follow me.”

You see, Jesus calls us to practice “hands-free discipleship.” He asks us to give up all that stuff we love to hold on to so tightly—our over-packed schedules, our control over everyone and everything, our personal comforts and privileges, our strongly held beliefs, and everything else we’re proud to possess—so that our hands will be free to carry the one thing Jesus requires of us: the cross of Christ.

When Jesus spoke to the crowds that day He basically said, “Hey. I need to clue you in about what it means to be my disciple. It isn’t going to be easy. Don’t follow me unless you are ready.”

He reminded them that they would have to leave their homes, their professions, and their families. He reminded them that they would have to carry the cross. He told them parables about a contractor building a tower and a king going to war. He warned them, “Think it through. Make sure you have the resources you need to finish what you start.” Jesus was saying, “Count the cost before you commit to following me.”

Today most of us are not called to leave family and home and profession behind to follow Jesus. But, there is one thing required of all of us, and that is to carry the cross.

When we think of carrying the cross, we tend to think it will be something very dramatic and difficult. We imagine that carrying the cross for Jesus must involve a huge sacrifice or spiritual battle. Maybe it’s terrible sickness or indeed the loss of family and possessions. And it could be, if those things serve the Kingdom of God.

But in general, the meaning is really much simpler. It’s closer to home, to our real lives. Here it is: Carrying a cross is what we do voluntarily as a consequence of our commitment to Jesus Christ.

I’m going to say it again. Carrying a cross is what we voluntarily do as a consequence of our commitment to Jesus Christ. It’s when we do God’s work with our hands.

So, what does that mean? Well, God doesn’t hand us a contract and say, “Donate this percentage of your income and every Tuesday and Thursday volunteer for this charity, and be in church 48 out of 52 Sundays.” As your pastor, I’d like to sign a contract like that, but God doesn’t.

God says, “O.K. We’re in a relationship, you and me. We love one another. And you’ve made a commitment to follow Me. You know what I’m like.  You know where my heart is, because Jesus came and told you and He showed you. So how is your life going to look like Jesus’s?” And then we have a decision to make. Are you in? Or, are you out?

One way to think about it is to say that carrying the cross means living a cross-shaped life. A vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with arms stretched out to others. It is really simple but also really challenging. It’s a moving target because it’s different for each person and it keeps changing as our lives and resources change.

But for everyone, living a cross-shaped life means Monday through Saturday, as well as Sunday.

Carrying the cross certainly can be a deeply personal struggle with any number of things: loving our neighbors, dealing with an addiction or an illness, or overcoming adversity. Some days, carrying the cross and following Jesus means just putting one foot in front of the other and struggling forward in spite of what life throws at you. Day by day, we all seek to see Him more clearly, to love him more dearly, and to follow him more nearly. (nod if you just started humming the music of Godspell)

Today, when we hear Jesus ask us to “take up the cross and follow”, we most often think of our daily discipleship walk. We imagine ourselves enduring life’s difficulties and coming out a better Christian at the end. But in Jesus’ time, the only people who carried the cross were criminals. Carrying a cross meant only one thing: a death sentence. The only people you saw with a cross on their backs were trudging through the city to their execution. This was not an attractive lifestyle choice. Carrying a cross didn’t make you a better person, build character, help you win elections, or give you better arm muscles. It just made you dead.

So for Jesus to say to the large crowd rallying around him “Listen, you can’t be my disciple unless you carry the cross and follow me” must have been quite a shock to the hearers. How many do you suppose turned around and went home? How many do you suppose turned to each other to ask, “What did he just say? Carry the what? Is He crazy? Where is He going with this?”

For those who stayed for the whole sermon, the point was made clear: discipleship is serious business. It’s time to get real about what it’s like to follow Jesus, and to trust in God, when the party’s over, when the crowds are gone, and when Rally Day is finished. It’s time to contemplate just where Jesus is leading us in this cross-carrying itinerary—because it sure looks like we’re all headed to Calvary.

While we all have personal crosses to bear, discipleship is not chiefly about our own daily struggles. Carrying the cross of Christ means lightening the load for others. It means keeping our hands free to do God’s work of loving our neighbors, bearing one another’s burdens.

The ones that are carrying their cross are the ones that very quietly give their time, effort, energy, money, love, compassion, acceptance to the homeless, the hungry, the sick, the dying, the addicts and alcoholics, those imprisoned/in jail, those requiring emergency assistance, those that give their lives during natural catastrophes and wars to save people and protect people – all without asking for anything in return, without asking for fame or acknowledgment.

Those are Christ’s people doing EXACTLY “God’s” work.

With absolute and unconditional love, compassion and care and kindness, acceptance and humility.

 “All their hands are blessed hands”

Those are examples of what it means to carry the cross and follow Jesus wherever He leads.

Today can be your Rally Day to lift up your cross. I’ll call it “God’s work, with your hands” Sunday.

This is a day to celebrate. It’s a day to roll up our sleeves and to get to work, in the name of Christ.

But let’s be clear about one thing: we seek to do God’s work not to puff ourselves up, and never to save ourselves or become better people, but rather to join with God in the work of loving our neighbors, and sharing their burdens. Because we are free in Christ—free of sin and death and everything else that would possess us—our hands are available to take up the cross and become instruments of God’s love, peace, and mercy using our God-given gifts and talents to comfort and to heal.

As we mark this day with a “God’s Work, Our Hands” day, I give thanks for each of you and the ways in which you will practice “hands-free discipleship”. Your hands are truly blessed!

And now, dear friends in Christ, as we prepare to move forward with a new season of work in the church, and as we celebrate all the work we do with our hands, let us also give thanks to God for the work we DO NOT do. Let us rejoice again in the work that God’s already got covered, for it is in Jesus Christ, our brother, that we see God’s work most clearly:

We see God’s work of love for the world through the birth of Jesus Christ.

We see God’s work of compassion in the life of Jesus Christ.

And we chiefly see God’s work of redemption for all sinners in the walk Jesus made to Calvary, carrying the cross, His cross, and loving us to the end—even to death on that very cross.

God’s work is love. God’s work is sacrifice for the sake of others. God’s work is redemption for all of creation. In Christ, our hands are free to carry on God’s work for the sake of our neighbors, easing their burdens, and loving them as we have been loved – to the very end. 

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Biblical Truths For Conquering Fear

Pastor Barry Kerner

While fear and anxiety often occur together, these terms are not interchangeable. Even though our responses to fear and anxiety may appear to be the same they are based on differing sets of circumstances.  Fear relates to a known or understood threat, whereas anxiety follows from an unknown, expected or poorly defined threat.

Fear is an emotional response to a known or definite threat. If you’re walking down a dark street, for example, and someone points a gun at you and says, “This is a stickup,” then you’d likely experience a fear response. The danger is real, definite, and immediate. There’s a clear and present object of the fear.

Anxiety is often a response to an imprecise or unknown threat. For example, imagine you’re walking down a dark street. You may feel a little uneasy and perhaps you have a few butterflies in your stomach. These sensations are caused by anxiety that is related to the possibility that a stranger may jump out from behind a bush, or approach you in some other way and harm you. This anxiety is not the result of a known or specific threat. Rather it comes from your mind’s interpretation of the possible dangers that could immediately arise.

Fear and anxiety produce similar responses to certain dangers. Muscle tension, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath mark the most significant physical responses associated with a response to danger. These bodily changes result from an inborn fight-or-flight stress response thought to be necessary for our survival. Without this stress response, our mind wouldn’t receive the alerting danger signal and our bodies would be unable to prepare to flee or stay and battle when faced with danger.

Fear and anxiety drive us to do things we would not normally do. Our response can be either positive or negative. Is it unrealistic to think we can live without fear and anxiety. Fear and anxiety are normal human emotions designed by God to alert us to dangers so that we will take action against them. A negative response to anxiety or fear will drive us to seek safety and consolation in the things of the world. Alcohol, drugs, dysfunctional relationships may provide temporary relief by masking our distress but soon the euphoria wears off and we find ourselves facing the same fear and anxiety. Facing the same unconquered giants in our lives. But our faithful God doesn’t want us to keep coming back to a place of disorientation, hopelessness and despair. He gives us the answer to conquer those giants, cast off our bonds and to be set free. That answer—Himself! The action He wants us to take is to flee from the false security of the world and run into the open arms of Him who can calm the raging storms in our lives. “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4)

Fear will happen. We can let fear take root in us so that we give way to panic and hysteria. Are you prone to that? When we are afraid, God wants us to trust Him and not give way to fear. Learning to do that is our walk from fear to faith.

We suffer when our own imaginations often lead us down paths of fear and anxiety and we turn to the world instead of turning to God. To compound our distress, Satan himself tempts us to be afraid, for if he can get our focus on the possible bad things we may face, we won’t focus on God. We won’t be found praying to God, putting our trust in Him or experiencing the joy of the Lord which brings peace. Instead we try to alleviate our fears in sinful ways.

But God tells us not to fear. And he gives us hundreds of Bible verses and promises about conquering our fears and overcoming our anxieties. These verses are intended to give us peace in the midst of the hurricanes and raging storms of life.

But we must fight to believe God’s word and not give in to fear. I’m not saying this is easy. But God’s will is that we experience his deep rest and joy. Here are a few things to remember, Scriptures to meditate upon and promises to stand on to help us fight for God’s peace and joy.

Remember to fear not!

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-3)

God tells us, His children to “Fear not”. Why? Because He has redeemed us and made us His own. He has called us by name. Therefore when we go through hard things – when we pass through waters, rivers and fire, God Himself, our Savior, redeemer, fortress and strong tower will be with us, and will keep and protect us. We are sure to go through waters and flames, James calls them trials – we will go through various afflictions in this life – but God promises us that we will not be overwhelmed nor destroyed.

Remember that God is for us!

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?…

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?…

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-32, 35, 38-39)

This is a life changer if we stand on this wonderful promise. God, the Creator of all things, the all-powerful one is FOR US. But not only that, He gave up His precious SON to purchase us! If He gave his Son for us, He is sure to meet all of our needs and to keep us safe in every situation.  Therefore NOTHING – nothing now or in the future will be able to separate us from his love for us in Jesus. And because he loves us in Christ, he will meet our every need.

Remember that we are engraved on His hands, always before His face and ever on His Mind!

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. (Isaiah 49:15-16)

What mom would forget her nursing baby? It may rarely happen, but God will NEVER FORGET one of his children. He has engraved us on the palms of his hands. When Jesus looks upon His glorified hands, and sees the marks of the cross, He sees our names engraved there. He will never forget us and are ever on His mind! Some parents have their children’s names tattooed on their arms. How much more did Jesus engrave our names upon his hands when he died for us on the cross!

Remember that the steadfast love of the Lord gives us new mercies every day!

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:21-23)

Here is how we cultivate hope and put fear to flight. The key is to “call to mind” the truth about our God. We must call to mind the fact that God’s steadfast love for us NEVER ceases. We must call to mind that his mercies to us NEVER come to an end.

We must call to mind that every single morning God has new mercies for us. And we must call to mind God’s infinitely great faithfulness.

Remember that we must wait upon the Lord!

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! (Psalm 27:13-14)

Satan tries to get us to believe we will look upon bad things in the future. To combat this we must remember, that even if we can’t see it now, we WILL look upon God’s goodness in this life and certainly the next. When we meditate on these things it helps us to let our hearts take courage rather than fear.

Remember how abundant is God’s goodness!

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! (Psalm 31:19)

We should not fear the future, but fear God and take refuge in him, because He has abundant goodness stored up for us. He has blessings waiting that we can’t even imagine. Paul told the Corinthian church,  However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) And to the Ephesians, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20) God’s goodness is abundant, inconceivable, immeasurable, unimaginable and inconceivable!

Remember to be anxious for nothing!

…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

To combat anxiety and conquer our fears we must pray and give thanks to God “in everything” – in everything you are tempted to worry about. Keep lifting your requests to God. Keep thanking Him for everything you can think of. The result: “the peace of God” – God’s very own peace – “which surpasses all understanding” – a peace that human understanding can’t grasp – “will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Pray and thank God! All day long.

Remember we must humble ourselves!

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

God promises to give grace to the humble. When we cast our anxieties on Him, He promises to “exalt us” – lift us up – at the proper time. Why should we cast our anxieties on God? “Because He cares for you” – the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Creator of all that is seen and all that is unseen cares for you!. God is not too busy running the universe to care for us. We may be like flowers that fade, grass that whither and vapors in the wind but He still knows our name, numbers our hairs and cares for us! He cares because he has redeemed us by the blood of his Son. He cares because he has adopted us as his own children. He cares about every detail of our lives so cast your anxieties on Him!

Remember that the Lord is our Shepherd!

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:1-4)

When you believe in Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior, he becomes your personal shepherd, and you shall want for nothing. Jesus will make you lie down in green pastures, not deserts. Green pastures are rich and full. Jesus will lead you by still waters – a picture of peace. He will restore your soul. He will lead you and guide you in paths of righteousness, by ordering your steps, in ways that bring blessing to your life.

And He will do this for His name’s sake – for His glory.

The Bible is full of truths related to issues such as anxiety and fear. As believers, God gives us authority to use these truths as weapons to combat whatever we experience or feel that doesn’t agree with His Word. Remember to continually be in God’s Word, trust in Him and rest of His promises!

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Have Faith And Wash Your Hands

Pastor Barry Kerner

I went to shake hands with someone at church this weekend, and he jokingly held up his elbow and with a smile, said, “I’m doing elbow bumps today, okay?” He then grasped my hand and pumped it up and down. In light of what’s going on in the world and in our communities it’s heartening to continue to find a bit of humor.

In an effort to control the spread of the Coronavirus, governments have ordered quarantines and lock downs. Schools have closed and businesses have shuttered to wait out the pandemic in an effort to “flatten the curve.” Guidelines have been issued to help individuals fight the virus: Wash your hands often with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds, use hand sanitizer, wash and disinfect surfaces often, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Local and state governments are promoting social distancing and the White House, to limit the transmission of the Coronavirus, has directed, no more than 10 people in one place.

Although things may appear to be spiraling out-of-control I find they’re not. When facing out-of-control situations that may cause anxiety, I have found it helpful to sort my concerns into two categories: First, what I can control and second, what I cannot control

There are many things we can control when it comes to the Coronavirus? We can wash our hands. We can use sanitizers and disinfectants. We can boost our immune systems with vitamins and extra sleep. We can stay home when we’re feeling sick and seek the help of medical professionals if our symptoms persist. We can practice social distancing and comply with any regulations our governments see fit to put in place. Those are some of the things we can control.

What about that second category? Can we control the Coronavirus? Can we control its outbreaks? Do we—as individuals—have ultimate control over what happens or how far this virus spreads? Can we control whether we or our families get sick? No, we can’t.

Here’s what we must remember. Just because we’re not personally in control of a situation, it doesn’t mean that God isn’t. Just because we feel like control is slipping out of our hands, it doesn’t mean that even one detail has slipped through the fingers of our all-powerful God.

Do you find yourself watching the news obsessively? Have you been vigilantly tracking the proximity of the outbreak? Do you have enough toilet paper to last you into the next year? Have you bought gallons of sanitizer or washed your hands till they are chapped and bleeding? Have you been spritzing your spray bottle of disinfectant on every surface of your home rather than attending to your spiritual well being? If so, perhaps it’s time to ask. Who are you trusting in? Who do you truly believe is in control of the situation? Where does your security lie? In God, or in yourself?

Only one word can adequately describe the feeling of despair we feel when life spirals out of control—fear. Even those of us who find our hope in Jesus can face overwhelming anxiety, especially when it comes to those things that are out of our control.

The good news is that God offers hope for us when we are afraid. In Scripture Jesus uses the imperative to tell us “Do not be afraid,” but it’s not always easy to take Him at his word. If we turn to God’s promises throughout the Bible, it becomes easier to face the future and know God is in control, He cares for his people, and He will not forsake us.

In Hebrews 13:6 the writer quoted the Psalms by saying, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” It was Jesus who taught us to pray, “Give us today our daily bread” and to acknowledge that He does. (Matthew 6:11) It was the apostle Paul who wrote, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) And then, the apostle Peter told us, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

If the Coronavirus continues to spread and become more devastating, it will be easy, in the coming weeks and months, for many to lose hope and allow fear to control their lives. “For over 2,000 years, through plagues, wars, and natural disasters the Church of Jesus Christ has been a source of hope and compassion. Faith, not fear, should be our animating principle. Calm, not conspiracies, should be our societal contribution. Prayer, not panic, should be our spiritual practice.”

Whether this gets better or worse, I encourage you to turn to God’s Word and learn more about how believers can overcome anxiety in an uncertain world. To this end, stop back next Monday, March 23, when we will be discovering Biblical Truths For Losing Fear which will help you find true rest and hope in Christ and his promises.

“Yes, wash your hands and protect yourself, but put your faith in God and your trust in Him.” 

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Spring Has Sprung!

Pastor Barry Kerner

This morning I saw a true harbinger of spring. My children were wearing shorts to school! The last few months of winter found me shoveling snow and salting walkways. Before venturing outside each time I went through the ritual of finding a hat, scarf and a pair of matching gloves in the hat and glove basket on the bench by the back door. The basket is full to overflowing with winter apparel but seldom contains two gloves that match. Often I was struggling to grasp the snow shovel with two left handed gloves or making a new fashion statement with one black glove and one blue glove. The temperature is expected to rise to the sixties today and soon the basket and its cold weather accessories will be carried up to the attic to spend the warmer months out of sight and out of mind. Spring has sprung!!!

Spring is a season of warming weather and nature coming back to life. As the brown grasses slowly turn to verdant green, flowers begin to poke their way out of the muddy ground and animals are born. We, like the Earth are refreshed as we are reminded of the innocence and beauty that exists in this world. We are renewed as we experience the new life emerging all around us. As a Christian, we are given new life and new mercies every morning. Now, having begun to relegate the memories of the darkness of the short days of winter and their accompanying cold to the recesses of our minds, Spring provides a wonderful reminder to us that we should be living a full life and leaving the old dead parts of life behind. There has always been hope during the coldest, darkest winters of life that Spring will come and new life will come forth!

Just last week, we were starring out the kitchen morning waiting to see the first robin, or the first bud, or the first hint of green. We knew it’ was coming, but it just wasn’t here yet. Our hope was that Spring will soon arrive bringing light rain showers, pink flowers, chirping birds and the sound of buzzing bees.

And so we waited. We waited and hoped for spring because there is nothing we can do to hurry it along. The coming of spring is out of our control. In February we jokingly looked to Northwest Pennsylvania where a slumbering groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil, proceeded to predict how soon Spring and it’s warmer weather would be upon us. But we knew it’s really the God of the universe who brings each new season.

In Psalm 104:30 the author credits God with the newness of life. “You send forth your spirit, they are created: and you renew the face of the earth.” After the darkness of winter, new life is breathed into our dreary lives. Spring is the perfect metaphor for the gospel. It is God’s nature to make something new. In Spring we can observe many attributes of God and find His gospel plan throughout creation.

When was the last time you really took a good look at the intricacies of a spring flower? What about a budding tree branch soon to unfurl its leaves to redress the tree whose leaves died and fell to the ground last fall? Or one of the heralds of Spring, a red breasted robin? Romans 1:20 tells us, “since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…”  All creation tells of the innovative and unique works of God’s hand.

God is also creative in story telling. His word speaks of the relationship between the Creator and us, His creation. Each story- including your story- is part of the whole but stands alone as a chapter in His book. No one else has a testimony just like yours. God draws people to Himself in different ways. You stand alone, wonderfully and fearfully made. (Psalm 139:14) Who would have thought that through death would come life more abundantly? (John 10:10) Through the blood and death of Jesus comes eternal life. How creative! The old is gone, a new life is emerging. Spring reminds us of the new life available through Jesus Christ

Winter, while beautiful in its own way, can be dreary and cold.  After a long winter, when the snow has melted away and that first green leaf appears, joy explodes. All of a sudden, before you realize it, you can see green in other places along with yellow, pink…and smiles. Have you noticed that people begin to smile more when Spring arrives? God created us to be that way. The combination of increased light and warmth invigorates us. When it’s dark outside, our melatonin levels rise and cause us to feel sleepy. That means we have to work harder to stay alert during the long periods of darkness each day. The arrival of spring brings more daylight, so we can enjoy the energy that is no longer needed to fight off drowsiness. The increased light also triggers the release of serotonin, a brain chemical that helps us feel happier. The rising temperature means we’re more likely to be active, and as a result we release endorphin, the hormone that minimizes pain and boosts our good mood.

Before becoming a new creation we lived in a world of darkness-sin. Once a habitual life of sin is given over to the Lordship of Jesus, the Light of the World enters one’s heart. Salvation brings with it an altered mood-the Joy of the Lord. (Psalm 35:9) It’s indescribable! Believers in Jesus see the world differently and with more joy. The mood altering gospel of good news transfers a soul from the dreariness of sin into the newness of life and brings unimaginable peace and joy.

Even without a calendar, we know without a doubt that spring will arrive to the land around us. The seasons, after all, are cyclical. Just as we know the sun will rise every morning and set each evening, we know that every 3 months a new season will come forth in its time. Spring has come and after the seasons of summer, fall, and winter have passed away, Spring will come again. Our God who created all of these nature cycles is faithful to bring them about.

If we confess our sins, our God is also faithful and just to forgive those sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) But many times we seem to forget this. We try to fix our lives on our own and everything becomes out of sync and out of the cycle of life. Just as spring is “right around the corner,” God is “right there” when we stumble. He is ready to give us a new beginning and another chance.

In the Fall we ohh and ahh as the leaves turn from shades of green to shades of orange and reds. As winter sends it arctic blasts to strip the final leaves from the trees we may wonder why they had to die. Why did a living thing fall to the ground only to turn into dust?

It had to. The leaf had to fall and die. If it didn’t then the new leaves would not be able to bud forth the next Spring. In the same way, we must die to ourselves if we expect to live a new life. If we don’t, then the new life God wants for us will never be nourished and will not grow. We will never be able to serve God as He desires if we aren’t willing to surrender it all. The good news of the gospel is that those who are found in Christ Jesus may die but with the death of our lives comes the spring of eternal life.

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