Faith That Lives

Pastor Barry Kerner

In my family we constantly seem to be separating things and placing them into categories. When the mail comes in, I separate it into three piles. One pile for pieces I need to open and address, one pile for my wife, and one pile destined for the recycling bin. Every spring and fall we drag totes of past seasons’ clothing down from the attic and separate them into a pile which we’ll keep and hopefully wear or into a pile of things that are no longer fashionable or will no longer fit and which will be donated to the thrift store.

When I was much younger my dad, needing more room for a growing family,  built an addition on the back of our brick house outside of Pittsburgh. Being as he called himself, “A Jack-Of-All-Trades but Master-Of-None,” he did most of the work himself with the help of some friends and my two brothers and me. One of the first things he did was to remove two stories of orange bricks from the back of the house so that he would be able to attach the new beams and trusses to the existing house. It fell to my brothers and I to sort the bricks into a pile of ones which were in “good” enough shape to reuse or bricks that were broken or damaged and were to be discarded into the “bad” pile. Because chiseling the old mortar off to clean the good bricks was next on the chore list for my brothers and me, it seemed that our criteria for a brick being worthless was low and the discarded pile grew tall.

The Bible shows us that we serve a God who separate things. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2) Scripture tells us that God then said, “Let there be light“, (1:3) and, “God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.” (1:4)

As that this light was separated from the darkness prior to the creation of the sun, stars and moon on the fourth day some hold that the light of the first day was the manifestation of Jesus: “The true light, which enlightens everyone” John 1:9, “The light of the world” John 8:12; 9:5 or of God’s Shekinah Glory which is often said to shine and equated with light (see Exodus 40:34; 2 Chronicles 7:1-2; Ezekiel 43:2; Psalm 27:1; 1 John 1:5)

Seeing the light was good and separating it from the darkness God set up the concept of dualism wherein light is equated with goodness and darkness is equated with evil. That these two are opposed is evident in Christ, “The light of the world” (John 8:12) and Satan, who rules the domain of darkness (Ephesians 6:12; Acts 26:18, Colossians 1:13)

God advances this concept of dualism when He separates Israel, His chosen people (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 14:2; Psalm 135:4; Hebrews 8:8-13) from the other nations of the world. Scripture equates believers, those called out of the world, with righteousness and opposed to those still living in darkness, unbelievers, with unrighteousness. This contrast of the righteous and unrighteous is brought to the forefront in the Psalms, Proverbs and several of Jesus Kingdom Parables (Wheat and Tares; Dragnet; Sheep and Goats.) The final judgment will mark the time when the two, good and evil, are finally separated.

In the three Kingdom Parables the separate destinies of the righteous and the unrighteous, at the end of the age judgment, is distinct. In the Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30) , at the harvest (End of the Age) the two are judged. The tares (Unrighteous) being found lacking are bundled and burned destined for Hell while the Wheat (Righteous) are destined to be brought into the barn (Heaven). Likewise in the Parable of the Dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50), the fish that are caught when the net is drawn in (End of the Age) are judged and separated. The good fish (Righteous) are kept and placed into containers (Heaven) and the bad fish (Unrighteous) are discarded (Hell). And, in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25:31-46) , “when the Son of Man” (Jesus) “comes in his glory” (End of the Age) the sheep and the goats are judged and separated. Those who, by virtue of their righteousness, were compassionate and caring, loved their neighbor, and so loved Jesus. These of “his sheep” inherit, “the kingdom prepared for them since the creation of the world.” Contrasting these are those whose character was unrighteous. They lacked the compassion towards their neighbor and failed to exhibit the care and love commanded for their neighbor. Their lack of love for their neighbor is considered as a lack of love for Jesus. Jesus was clear as to their destiny, “Depart from me,you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41) In verse 46, Jesus reinforces this stark degree of separation destined for the two groups, “Then they [ the unrighteous] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

As a result of their love for their neighbor, the righteous of the parable, “his sheep”, showed their love for Christ. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me,I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:36-36)

Although, God’s gift of eternal life is obtained not by works but, “that we are saved by grace through faith alone,” (Ephesians 2:8-9)  James makes it clear that, like the unrighteous goats of the Parable, a faith that does not exhibit good works (love for our neighbors)) is dead. (James 2:17) We would do well to do as Paul wrote the Corinthians, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5) Though these three Kingdom Parables paint a bleak picture for the unrighteous, the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats gives us a standard by which to “test ourselves.” Through God;’s Word, we can gauge whether ours is a dead faith void of love for our neighbors or if Christ’s love is indeed within us and our faith is alive.

Although we live in a world of darkness the redeemed of the Lord have been called out to be separate from the world. Our calling is to be a light to that would. The way for believers to illuminate the world of darkness is to love our God, whom we cannot see, by loving our neighbors, whom we can see, through a faith that lives. (1 John 4 20)

It's only fair to share...

Pinterest

0

Facebook

0

Twitter

Linkedin

email

It’s With Sad Hearts that the Family Shares the News of Doris Morris, a longtime member of the Delphi Falls community passing away on January 26, 2020.

Doris was a member of the Delphi Falls United Church, she sang in the choir, and attended Church Bible Studies and she would often witness for Jesus. She Enjoyed working on her computer and doing genealogy research. She Is Survived by her Husband of 62 Years Donald Morris, Son Art Morris(Wendy), Daughter Pearl Fuller(Donald). Doris will be buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Cazenovia.

It's only fair to share...

Pinterest

0

Facebook

0

Twitter

Linkedin

email

Here I Am

By Pastor Barry Kerner

Having come from suburban Pittsburgh to rural Central New York, we were struck by many of the differences. It seemed that here everybody knew everybody, once in a while livestock could be seen in neighbors yards and our village’s streets and there were cornfields everywhere. Soon after moving we were invited to an outdoor picnic. Acres of cornfields surrounded our new friend’s large yard. Our oldest son was only about six then. Every so often we would glance up from our chairs on the front porch to keep an eye on him as he played with the other children. As dusk approached, I must have been deeply engaged in the conversation because when I glance up again he and several of his new friends were gone. Calling out, we asked the other children still in the yard where they had gone. We were told that they were playing hide and seek in the cornfield.

Our uneasiness grew as the sun sunk lower and there was no sight of our son or the other children. After a bit longer I walked to the edge of the cornfield and called out, “Nicholai, where are you?” I was soon joined by a few other parents calling out to their children. With the light fading we made our way into the cornfield repeatedly calling out our childrens’ names and, “Where are you?” It wasn’t until the light was almost gone that we heard,”Here I am” from Nicholai and the others. We continued to call out and made our way to them in the middle of the cornfield by following the “Here I am”s from the kids. It was pitch black by the time we all made our way back to our friend’s front yard.

Full of apprehension, it had been comforting when I first heard Nicholai respond, “Here I am.” The repeated, “Here I am”s were music to my and the other parents’ ears and lightened our heavy hearts.

In Acts chapter 9, Saul, the lead Pharisee who had been actively seeking out and persecuting Jesus’ followers in Israel and the surrounding region is in Damascus. But, Paul is blind from his encounter with Christ on the road leading to Damascus. In Acts 9:10 we are told that, “In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,“Ananias!” Ananias responded “Here I am, Lord.” God sent Ananias to minister to Saul, to help restore his sight and so begin the mission to which God had called Paul.

“Here I am, Lord,” tells the Lord that we’re available to do what he says. Often though, we hear the call but don’t respond. Sometimes He tells us to simply stop and help a stranded motorist, visit an old friend or pray for someone. We want to think we’re saying “Here I am, Lord,” but so often we do not. At times we may question the ideas God gives us and come up with a myriad of excuses as to why we’re not readily available. At other times we may have tuned God out completely and are focused instead on what the world has to say.

Including Ananias, the Bible tells us of six people who answered God’s call by saying, “Here I am.”

1. Abraham said it when sacrificing his son Isaac in the wilderness Genesis 22.
2. Jacob said it twice. In Genesis 31:11 when the angel of the Lord told him to leave Laban and in Genesis 46:2 when God told him that it was alright to go to Egypt.
3. Moses said it in Exodus 3:4 when God called to him from the burning bush.
4. Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:4-8 answered when God commissioned Samuel as a prophet.
5. Isaiah says “Here am I” in Isaiah 6:8 when God asked, “Who shall we send.”.
6. Ananias, called to minister to Saul, says it in Acts 9:10.

There is another instance where David, in 2 Samuel 15:26 says he will submit to God’s will and will tell the Lord “Here I am” if the Lord intends to kill him as he is running from Absalom.

The list consists of people who made themselves available to God and submitted themselves to His purpose for them. God then used each of them to minister to others. Notice Adam isn’t on this list. After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, God called to Adam with the question, “Where are you?” God knew where Adam was. But, God was giving Adam a chance to step up. But having just sinned, Adam said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

God has a purpose and we have a choice. Psalm 37:23 tells us that, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us (1 Corinthians 3:16), God establishes our steps every day. What a blessing that is for those who choose to follow. God has a purpose but we have a choice.

Tune out the world and focus on what God is saying to you. Is God asking you to do something? Will you answer “Here I am, Lord?” or will you hem and haw trying to avoid taking the call. Today as you enter your workplace or any other place the Spirit leads you, know that God is actively calling for people who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). We worship God by doing what He says. God has a purpose and we have a choice. We can say “Here I am, Lord” as Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, Isaiah and Ananias did and God will use us to minister to others. Or we can repeat Adam’s reaction and run from God.

Here I am is a two-way street. A “draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8) type of thing. When we step up and step out in faith, it’s as if the Divine steps up, too. Our faith and our relationship with Him are strengthened. God is calling to each one of us — not in the same way, not to the same thing — but He is calling. When you hear or are reminded He is calling, will you — can you — say  “Here I am?”

The harvest is ready and the laborers are few. God is calling each of us today to some task big or small to be done in His holy name. Answering His call, we will know the joy of walking and working hand in hand with God.

It's only fair to share...

Pinterest

0

Facebook

0

Twitter

Linkedin

email

God is the God of the Hills and Valleys

Pastor Barry Kerner

Polytheism (many gods) allows for a group of people that worship a multitude of gods. Each of the minor gods of these religions are usually relegated to having influence over specific domain or area of expertise. After taking down their father Chronus, the king of the Greek Olympian gods, the three brothers Zeus, Hades and Poseidon bickered over who would become the next king. Rather than fight amongst themselves they agreed to settle it by drawing lots. Because of the draw, Zeus whose domain was the sky became the new king of the Olympian gods while of his brothers Hades ruled the underworld and Poseidon ruled the seas. The gods and goddesses of pagan Rome likewise ruled a specific domain. Jupiter was the equivalent of Zeus ruling the sky as king while Neptune (Poseidon) ruled the fresh waters and seas and Pluto (Hades) ruled the domain of the dead.

It was also common in other ancient pagan nations to perceive each god and goddess as ruling a particular domain or sphere of power on the earth. Dagon, for example, was the Philistines god of fertility and crops. (judges 16:23) Later Dagon’s son Baal served as the Caaninite’s god of fertility and Lord of rain and dew. Additional gods exercised power over the forests, the crops, the mountains, the seas, and the rivers. A host of other local and household deities were also confined to a certain geographical areas or spheres of influence. In this cultural framework, monotheism (one god) was unique, and the idea that any god was supreme in all areas was unheard of.

The expression God is the God of the hills and valleys is drawn from the narrative of two battles in the book of 1 Kings. Basically, saying that God is the God of the hills and valleys means that God’s sovereign power is not limited or confined to any one location or sphere of influence. The Lord Almighty rules and reigns supreme over every place on earth—every hill, every valley.

The story in First Kings 20 begins with King Ben-Hadad, ruler of Aram, attacking the city of Samaria in Israel. Ben-Hadad demands that King Ahab surrender his wealth, wives, and children to him. Initially, Ahab agrees, but when Ben-Hadad adds the condition that he be given anything that his servants lay their hands on, Ahab refuses. His refusal infuriates Ben-Hadad to the extent that he threatens to destroy the city so that not even enough dust would remain for each of his soldiers to take a handful.

An anonymous prophet informs Ahab that God will grant Israel victory so that “you will know that I am the LORD” (1 Kings 20:13). King Ahab obeys God by initiating the conflict. True to God’s Word, the Arameans are driven back, and defeated.

Because Samaria is in the hill country of Israel, the Arameans sages mistakenly believe that the God of Israel is only the god of the hills and not of the valleys or anywhere else. Thinking Israel’s ability to triumph was limited to higher terrain, they convince King Ben-Hadad  to regroup and begin to strengthen their forces for an attack on the lower plains.

The unnamed prophet warns King Ahab that Ben-Hadad’s army will strike again in the spring: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD’” (1 Kings 20:28).

Once again being soundly routed by the Israelites, the Arameans discover that Israel’s sovereign God knows no limitations. King Ahab and all of Israel begin to grasp this concept as well. The one true God has proven that He rules everywhere. Ben-Hadad’s forces were defeated so thoroughly in the second battle at Aphek that the king surrendered to Ahab while he plead for his life to be spared.

God gave Israel victory both at Samaria in the hills and at Aphek in the valleys to show that, unlike the ineffective and finite gods of Canaan, Israel’s God is sovereign over all territories and regions. 

Many Christians spiritually liken mountains to our good times, and valleys, our bad times. It is a mistake for anyone to think of God as only a “hill god” or a “valley god.” Our faith is seen to falter when we have this idea that God is the God of our good times, but that He is not there when we are going through bad times. Many think that God has blessed them when they are “King of the Hill” but feel that He has left them alone and helpless when they are struggling in the darkness of the valleys.

The fact is that our God is the God of both the hills and the valleys. In fact, He is the all-powerful, infinite Ruler of the whole earth. “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1).

No matter the situation or place in which we find ourselves, men and women of faith need to move forward in boldness and courage knowing that while our God is the God of the mountains, He is also the God of the valleys! “Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) Our God walks hand in hand with us as we climb every mountain and traverse every valley..

God the Son laid aside His crown of glory, His royal majesty and came down for us, stepping into a world of darkness to light our way. He came down to where we were for the sole purpose of dying on the cross for our sins, so that He could bring us up to what God the Father has for us at His right hand. Jesus came down to crown us with glory and honor, to clothe us with robes of righteousness and make us His bride, sharing everything that He has with us. That is the grace of God. He left His mountaintop and came down to our valley.

So whatever you are going through right now, know that God is right there with you. Whether you are triumphantly raising hands with Him high on a mountaintop or He is holding you in His arms and carrying you through the valley. Victory is already yours. Just as the Israelites were also victorious , so will you be because the God of the hills and valleys is right there with you!

It's only fair to share...

Pinterest

0

Facebook

0

Twitter

Linkedin

email