Author Archives: Pastor Jim Driskell, Lutheran Church

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About Pastor Jim Driskell, Lutheran Church

I am the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Chestertown, Md. I pray that you will come and worship with us, worship is 10 am Sundays. We are a renewal church and we are lifting God up in classical worship, and being faithful disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. 101 Greenwood Av, Chestertown. Plenty of parking behind the church.

Blessed to share Jesus’ blessings Mark 10: 17-22 First St Johns Oct 11, 2015

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[For the audio of this sermon click on the above link]

We make our beginning in the Name of God the Father and in the Name of God the Son and in the Name of God the Holy Spirit and all those who share God’s blessings with others said … AMEN!

Today’s reading should seem obvious to us, this is of course Mark’s take on the rich young ruler. To most of us today, we see charity as pretty much of a given, especially in the church. We do things here at First St Johns like the Food Bank, Panera Bread that we give to people on Monday mornings, helping people in job search, distributing clothing. A very few people give towards an “alms fund”, those funds are given to me and I use them to help people who are in genuine need. We do other things on a pretty regular basis. For the first century Jewish person, that kind of charity really wasn’t a given. There were those who were blessed because for some reason God obviously chose to give them great wealth and so they must have some virtue that they deserved to be especially blessed by God. Jesus makes His well known observation of the rich young ruler: “’Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matt 19: 23-24) What was Jesus saying here? Today we kind of nod our head, in agreement, yea you go get him Jesus, those rich people who hoard all that money; George Soros, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Rockefellers, Bushes. Ya, the problem is that when we sit there and say that, we’re kind of being disingenuous. Jesus is identifying a very obvious issue here, this man is obviously wealthy and obviously devoted to His wealth. The Concordia Self-Study Bible notes: “In his listing of the commandments, Jesus omitted ‘Do not covet’. This was the rich man’s main problem and was preventing him from entering life.”[1]

Now do you think Jesus just forgot about that one? Or just wanted to give the rich young ruler a cursory overview of the commandments? … We are like little children to Jesus, the oldest and wisest of us, don’t even scratch the surface of the depth and breadth of what God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit know. Have you ever taught a little child to count … One, two, …. Three? Don’t you think Jesus was trying to get the rich young ruler to come up with his own answer. In Matthew’s version Jesus says: “If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” The rich young ruler replied “Which ones?” I have to interject my opinion as to Jesus’ reaction … What???? Are you somehow of the opinion that the commandments are some kind of smorgasbord? Pick from this one, don’t like that one. Have to tell you, that’s pretty much the consensus today. Ya, the commandments, some of them are good, some of them … nah, n/a, not applicable, at least not to me. Jesus leaves which commandment out that would apply? … Do not covet, number ten. Rather lengthy one too, seems that God wanted to make sure that we understood, we don’t covet anything. Yet here’s this guy who seems to come off as very devout, maybe expert on the commandments and he seems to have a very distorted view of them. Look around today’s world, it is clear the world has a very distorted view of the commandments, much like the young man. The world also seems to add some of their own commandments. One of course being “judge not lest ye be judged”. That seems to be a big favorite today. And other commandments, ya not so important; Have no idols, taking the Lord’s name in vain, Sabbath day, honoring mother and father, false witness, coveting? You can really see why the young ruler wanted to be clear on which ones, I would be willing to bet that first century Israel was much like 21st century America. Pick and choose, which one’s important, which one isn’t. They’re the Ten Commandments, not suggestions!

Let’s look at the Amos reading, we need to be a little fair here. It has almost become accepted today that if someone is wealthy, they had to have done it by either receiving it, or through dishonesty. I got mine honestly, but that guy with the bigger house, bigger car, bigger big screen TV, he must have taken advantage of someone to get all that. No, that is not true, I prefer to believe that most have done it through hard work, sacrifice, being smart. Are there people who achieve wealth in a way that lacks integrity? Yes! In the Prophet Amos’ reading, Amos is certainly saying on God’s behalf that many, seems even most, are acquiring wealth dishonestly: “For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins, you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate.” (Amos 5:12) At this time in history, Israel/Judah, the kingdom has been divided by then, has become very corrupt. That is what prophets like Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah are warning the people about. God is not going to continue to tolerate this. And yet there is the recognition of the fact by Amos: “They hate him who reproves at the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth.” (Amos 5:10). The men of a town would gather at the gate to the city where people would bring law suits or accuse someone of breaking the law. It was where people expected justice. For those who did act justly, according to God’s will, they were not appreciated, especially by those who held some level of wealth and power. They expected those who were judges to just roll over for them. They would cheat someone, be accused and the judge was supposed to turn a blind eye, that is why Amos refers to those who “afflict the righteous, who take a bribe.” I have to play by the rules, but apparently the guy who has money and power, he doesn’t, he gets his way regardless. I have to believe that while the rich young ruler talked a good game, which we see many today do, he really didn’t play by the rules. Remember Zaccheus, with Jesus? He offered, without prompting to repay any he might have not dealt fairly with. The rich young ruler didn’t. Much like people today and then, he seemed to have bought into this belief that because of his wealth that was his golden ticket in. That was not what Jesus was about. “Jesus looking at him, loved him…” I think Jesus felt compassion and pity. Jesus knew that the rich young ruler was too tied to his riches and while he said the right things, they were not where his heart was. He had bought into the world’s view that wealth meant he was blessed and had a stairway to heaven. Referring to the Led Zepplin song, clearly even in the 1960s and I think as much if not more so now, “there’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold and she’s buying a stairway to heaven.” Peter doubts Jesus’ words too, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”(Matt19: 27) Jesus replied: I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, [the resurrection] when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matt 20: 28-29) Oh Peter, because of your faithfulness and the faithfulness of all who will follow, what that man has will look like petty cash compared to what you will receive, paraphrasing Jesus.

Jesus gave up the glory of heaven to live life as a man on earth. He sacrificed to be one of us and more than that, He sacrificed all He had in the torture of the cross, His very life, God the Son, perfect and holy, sacrificed to pay for our sins. God gives us what we need, we pray for our daily bread and He faithfully provides for what we need to live the life that He wants for us. That does not mean that we ignore His will and go out and grab for all that we can, to dishonestly enrich ourselves. For that matter He wants us to use some of the gifts He has given us for those who are in need, to provide for His church so that collectively we can reach and provide for those who are in physical need, and so they can also hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To not just live in the world today, but hear the promise of life and life more abundant in the eternal, perfect world of the resurrection. So, yes, take out that journal, take time in prayer. Are we too much about the world’s message? Or are we about the message of the Gospel. Do we believe that because we have much in the world, that God has blessed us to wealth, and yes, pretty much all of us here are pretty wealthy compared to the standards of Jesus’ time and of the rest of the world’s standards today. Do we live the life that Jesus wants for us by sharing our abundance? Or do we live the deluded life of the world that says our life should be plentiful here and also buys us a stairway to heaven?

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amin and Shalom

[1] Concordia Self Study Bible p 1477

Why You Shouldn’t Use Liturgy in Your Worship

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Liturgical worship is coming back into style nowadays, though it has been around for centuries. Some people love it; some people hate it. We started using liturgy in our church several years ago. Here’s why you shouldn’t use it.

The Connections to the Ancient Church

Many people associate the use of liturgy with the Roman Catholic Church. Actually, the Romans were not the first to use liturgy. Liturgy developed in the Early Church, possibly having been influenced by liturgy from Jewish backgrounds. Using liturgy gives a sense of connection to something more than the local church. Liturgy allows a local church to feel connected to the universal church that consists of all true believers through the ages. Today, churches pride themselves on being independent, creating new things, and trying to “start movements.” Liturgy reminds us that we are already part of a greater movement of God’s kingdom on earth. If…

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Suffering as a Christian, supported by the Body of Christ, the Church

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Despite what others say and might think it’s supposed to be, quite often becoming a Christian does mean that you are going to experience, at least, challenges, if not more. Now before you go running back to your little hiding place, where you’ve been hoping the rest of the world will just pass you by, I ask you, do you have a better idea? I don’t care if you’re a big tough guy, or a little woman, you all have your hiding places, thinking no one will see you and just pass you by. If you just let things alone, pass from life into death, you might just get through life without much difficulty. It is a lousy way to live the life that God has given you, but I guess you managed to get through without having your prissy little sensibilities hurt.  Good for you, you had a sad little life, you’ve sinned against God by piddling away your life and ignoring Him and since you did it all your way, and ignored God, well God has ignored you and let you condemn yourself to eternal separation from Him and eternal condemnation in Hell. You sent yourself there, God did permit it, goody for you, you had your free will.

For those who are in Christ you will experience challenges, there will be difficult times. It stands to reason, if you put yourself out there and are serving others you are going to take hits, you just are. In fact if you consider yourself a Christian and have just been cruising through, you might want to take a serious look at your relationship with Jesus, been a little too much about you and not really much about Him? I would question if you are still in relationship with Jesus and have slipped into the nice, cozy little world of condemnation.

My theme, lately, has been about the Body of Christ and how we all seem to feel like free agents, it’s all about me and Jesus and forgetting that it’s really about Jesus and His Body, His Bride, the church. All those fellow believers who are all experiencing challenges. Doesn’t it make more sense to turn to and rely on Christian brothers and sisters in times of trouble? Who else would know better the attacks of Satan and the world then someone else who has undergone those attacks? A brother or sister, someone who is in the Body, who also hurts when another part of the Body, you, me, brothers and sisters, has been hurt, we should be there to support others and know they support us.

We certainly have the Holy Spirit who is watching over us, we are protected, although we will stay take shots and hits in the world. But doesn’t it help more to have a flesh and blood brother watching over you and you watching over him? To build each other up and support each other? that other person may not be in the same church. I may not totally agree with him, but if he is genuinely in Jesus, we need to have each other’s “six”.

Whether you are new or been a long time in the Body of Jesus, you will experience adversity in the world. If the world rejected Jesus, it will challenge and reject you. That’s why you have the church and brothers and sisters. For those guys who think they’re so tough and can do it on your own, don’t be surprised when you are chewed up and spit out and leave yourself condemned to hell also, it will happen, I see men and women like that all the time. Tough guy, know it alls who end up flat on their back looking up at the sky and then expecting someone else to pick up the pieces because they were smart guys. If not for yourself, be there, at church, daily lives of Christians, for others to help them. I will bet an enormous amount you will be blessed and start wondering how you ever survived without brothers and sisters in Jesus.

Original sin

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Part of my responsibility in preaching is to preach about Law and Gospel. A good Lutheran sermon always contains discussion that we are condemned under the Law, we all break the Law, we all offend God, when I say all, I mean ALL. That therefore means all those who are human and are alive and have ever been alive (except of course Jesus). No one is exempt and so the pushback I always get is that there must be some, yup like babies, that aren’t sinful. Some Christians will even assert that there is an “age of accountability” and for those who fall below that age they are not sinful. I mean how could cute, sweet infants be sinful? I have to wonder if the person that brings this point has ever had to deal with a baby. Does a baby mean to be selfish, angry, demanding? Of course not they will respond, that’s just their nature. Uhm yea, and that’s the point. We are all naturally sinners, King David writes: “ESV Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” This is Scriptural, there is no reference in Scripture about an “age of accountability”. This is just a way for man to overcome an uncomfortable truth, from birth to death we are immersed in sin and death in this life, that is our condition. You don’t slowly develop into being a sinner, you are one right out of the gate.

And of course you always have the “…well I’m a good person…” Really? In general I’m sure you love your momma and don’t kill people, I’m really not trying to offend, but for every person who thinks they’re a “good” person, I bet I could ultimately turn up five people who would not think they’re so good, would have some problem with them. That’s the human condition, not so much that any of us are “bad”, we are and we do sin, we do things that offend a pure, holy, just God. We sin because we are born of two sinners, into a sinful world, a world of death and defect. None of us can be anything else. So you oh so sensitive souls who take offense at every little slight, first off, get over your sensitive little self. Second, deal with it, you are in this world, with us people and you are as sinful as anyone else. This state of sin cannot but separate us from God whose nature is completely opposite to ours, completely holy.

Having said this, there is a qualification. While we all remain sinners until the day someone’s throwing dirt on our face, some of us have been brought back into relationship with God. There is only one way we can be brought into relationship with God, and that is through the righteousness of God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are still sinners, but because Jesus paid for our sins through His sacrifice on the Cross and in His perfect righteousness we are saved and restored into right relationship with God.

Martin Chemnitz was the next generation of Lutheran theologians after Martin Luther. Chemnitz picked up Luther’s mantle and wrote and taught extensively on Lutheran belief, or as he and Luther would have taught what was original, genuine Christian teaching. In the following Chemnitz writes about what “original sin” is, that which we are all under and is only healed through baptism in Jesus. Also why sin separates us from God and why that separation needs to be closed in order for us to be in God’s will and not condemned to the sin, death and lostness of the world. We can reject God, but that leaves us in the human condition of sin and death, and that only results in condemnation. If we reject God, there is only one option, we are all condemned by sin and if we stay in that condition and reject Christ we are condemned to Hell. By our rejection of God, because Hell is the final end for all who want their way and not God’s.

To rewind, this is from Chemnitz, in “The Doctrine of Man” (p 196), giving a description of our spiritual condition from birth to death unless it is remedied by baptism, the faith that God gives us and maintained through confession, absolution, taking the true Body and Blood of Jesus and hearing the preached Word of Law and Gospel.

Chemnitz writes about the condition of those who are not in Jesus: ” Original sin is darkness of the mind, aversion to the will of God and stubbornness of the heart against the Law of God. These evils are not called actions, but out of them arise the actual sins, both inner and outer. In the mind come persistent doubts and blasphemies. In the will arise false security, neglect and mistrust of God, admiration of self and the placing of our life and wishes before the command of God. Then come great confusions and a flood of vile affections. Let us not imagine that original sin is an inactive thing. For though indeed a few men are held in check by honest discipline, nevertheless there are great doubts in the minds of men and many inner drives pulling them away from God and running contrary to His Law. It is as Jeremiah says: The heart of man is wicked, brazen and inscrutable (Jer 17:9)”

“Thus with the original depravity there are always actual sins, which in the unregenerate are all mortal. And the total person is damned with his fruits, as John says: ‘He that believeth not the Son … the wrath of God abideth on him’ (John 3:36)…”

Of course we have those who will just reject God’s say. “Who’s to say what is good or bad? I didn’t vote for God!” They will ask up to the point when someone does something to them, then of course it requires a federal investigation. If it happens to you, eh, too bad for you. get over it. If it happens to me? Well of course that’s wrong, I demand justice! This is of course the immature, selfish, sinful nature of the world. The dog eat dog, survival of the fittest, if I can take from you to bad for you and good for me. That’s why there is God, He is a God of justice, completely holy and wrathful against those who sin and offend. He is there to assure that ultimately those who offend, who reject Him, who make themselves their idol, their ultimate end, that they will not be allowed to offend again. That His people will be saved to eternal life. They will no longer be subjected to the evil, sinful lusts of those in the world who truly believe that it is all about them. In Christ we have the promise of eternal life the way it was meant to be, the new world of the resurrection. Yes there is a God, who does love us, who did give His Son to save us. Who also is not going to tolerate anyone else presuming to be God, to set the rules, to determine what is “fair” and “unfair”. It always amuses me to hear someone say something to the effect that they don’t need God, they can operate their own life, it’s not fair, I didn’t vote for this. There really are presumptuous, arrogant people like that. But if we’re all honest, we’re like that to some degree. The world and all who are in it are sinful by nature and man is just fine with that, we want it our way. We are all condemned by original sin which is our nature, God will not tolerate that. He did give us a way to be in relationship with Him even in this lost world and that is through Jesus. So you can live in your fantasy world that denies the sinful world around us and that you don’t need to be saved. Or you can really decide to follow where the Holy Spirit is leading you and to start living true life in Jesus. You are a sinner and you need to be saved in Jesus.

Una Carne Marcos 10: 2-16 Primera Saint Johns 04 de octubre 2015

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[for the audio version click on the above link]

Hacemos nuestro comienzo en el Nombre de Dios el Padre y en el nombre de Dios el Hijo y en el nombre de Dios el Espíritu Santo, y todos aquellos que saben que son de una sola carne con su cónyuge y de un solo cuerpo con Cristo dijo … AMEN !

El mundo seguirá empujar en el Cuerpo de Cristo. Esa es la forma en que ha sido y seguirá siendo. Lo he dicho antes, pero había más mártires cristianos en el siglo XX que en los 1.900 años anteriores de la iglesia cristiana, combinada. El siglo XXI, está empezando a parecer que superará la anterior.

Recordamos hermanos y hermanas de Jesús, que fueron seleccionadas en los tiroteos en Umpqua Community College. Otro incidente que golpea cerca de casa para nosotros.

Desde que vi las lecturas de este domingo y en especial desde el jueves, cuando los informes de los trágicos acontecimientos de Umpqua salieron, me he sentido llevado a recordar que sí, Jesús fue sin duda citando Dios en Génesis que un hombre y una mujer se convierten en una sola carne cuando están casados ​​dentro de la iglesia. Nosotros, que somos en Jesús somos parte del Cuerpo de Cristo, Esto no es “una sola carne”, pero ciertamente nos dice que cuando los que están en Cristo, son parte del Cuerpo de Cristo como los que murieron en Umpqua somos, que nos sentimos algo de lo que estaban sometidos. Deseo que realmente podía transmitir lo que esto significa, y esto es más de la empatía. Todos somos humanos, todos tenemos un poco de comprensión empática de lo que significa estar muerto o morir. Pero para nosotros, que son parte del Cuerpo de Cristo este tratamiento que estamos viendo de los cristianos tiene que trascender simplemente este sentimiento de empatía simplemente humano. Cuando nos damos cuenta de los que son parte del Cuerpo de Cristo que mueren a causa de su testimonio de Cristo, tiene que haber una emoción que corre a través de todo el cuerpo, superando la empatía que entiende la comunión que tenemos con los que han muerto testimoniando Jesús. Cuando tomamos la comunión, el verdadero Cuerpo y Sangre de Cristo, estamos haciendo una declaración de que somos una parte muy importante del cuerpo de Jesús. El cuerpo de Jesús es su iglesia. No se puede estar en comunión con Jesús a menos que esté en comunión con su Cuerpo y su cuerpo es su Iglesia, nosotros, todos los hermanos y hermanas de Jesús. No estoy haciendo algunos llaman a la acción tampoco. No estoy tratando de sensacionalismo esto como algunos otros son. Ciertamente no estoy respaldando la llamada de Ron Ramsey para los cristianos para obtener permisos de armas. La iglesia ha pasado por períodos como éste antes. La iglesia Hechos fue duramente perseguido, a partir de Stephen que fue llevado a cabo y apedreado cuando se presentó ante el Sanedrín y proclamó que Jesús es el Mesías, el Hijo de Dios. La iglesia está pasando por persecución. Nuestra sociedad actual se ha vuelto contra Cristo, Jesús nos dijo que habría aquellos en el mundo que asesinar a los cristianos a pensar que están sirviendo a Dios. Claramente estamos viendo una realización de esa profecía. Nuestra sociedad está directamente enseñando que la iglesia es de alguna manera el mal, el enemigo. No estoy diciendo que cualquier persona, que es creíble, está diciendo que los cristianos deben ser asesinados, pero está claro que en los Estados Unidos la iglesia de Jesús, el Cuerpo de Cristo está siendo retratado como algo malo y enemigo. Realmente he reflexionado sobre lo que estoy tratando de transmitir en este sermón. Realmente luchado con tratando de no agitar a la gente en un frenesí, crear el miedo y la sensación de caos. No es así como se supone que debemos sentir como cristianos. Se nos dice no tener miedo, se nos dice que Dios está en control. Dios está en control y que debería tener ninguna duda de que todo lo que vemos a nuestro alrededor está bajo su control. Los cristianos han sufrido el martirio a lo largo de la historia. Tenemos que luchar a brazo partido con esa realización, que sólo porque estamos aquí en esta parte del mundo, son tan increíblemente privilegiado, que no somos inmunes a lo que está pasando a nuestro alrededor. Que nosotros necesitamos tener una comprensión revitalizado que somos parte del Cuerpo de Cristo, y que las personas en este país, en Umpqua, Charleston SC, Columbine de Colorado, aunque justo al lado de Bart Township, y ciertamente los cristianos en Irak, China, África, India, Siria, están sufriendo por la causa de Cristo. Probablemente suena francamente bizarro que confiamos en que todo esto es para la gloria de Jesús. Yo realmente no quiero pensar de esa manera. Pero es difícil para mí descarto. Con demasiada frecuencia hemos visto un increíble crecimiento de la Iglesia a causa de los que sufrieron el martirio. Muchos de los que podría no llegar a conocer la salvación eterna en Cristo, han sido salvados por el sacrificio de los demás.

La iglesia en el este de Europa sufrió una severa persecución hasta la caída del comunismo. Ahora vemos una notable revitalización de la iglesia en Rusia y Europa del Este. Cientos de musulmanes se están convirtiendo en los cristianos en lo que fue la parte comunista de Alemania hace veinte años. La iglesia en China todavía está siendo perseguido activamente y sin embargo, hay estimaciones de que habrá más cristianos en China que cualquier otro país en el mundo en los próximos veinte años. Tertuliano, padre de la iglesia, dijo que “Cuanto más nos segar abajo, cuanto más numerosos que crecemos”, “la sangre de los mártires es la semilla de la iglesia”. Tertuliano era un romano que murió en 225 dC, vio algunas de las persecuciones más crueles de los cristianos en la historia. Estas persecuciones comenzaron bajo el emperador romano Nerón en el año 64 dC y duró hasta el 313 dC, cuando Constantino hizo del cristianismo la religión oficial del imperio. En todas estas persecuciones de Roma hasta nuestros días en China y el este de Europa, los cristianos nunca han respondido con violencia. Jesús era completamente inocente y santo sufrió una muerte violenta, incluso rezando para que Dios Padre le perdonaría a los que le persiguieron porque no saben lo que están haciendo. Hoy, hay los que están siendo adoctrinados en nuestra sociedad a odiar a los cristianos. No podemos responder de odio. Jesús mostró el amor y el perdón, incluso mientras Él estaba sufriendo la agonía de la cruz. Para que podamos responder en el odio y la violencia sería pecado, y sería un testigo infiel a la iglesia, el Cuerpo de Cristo. Estamos sobre el perdón, estamos sobre la vida. Debemos responder con verdadero amor y el perdón para testimoniar fielmente a Jesús. Él murió para que nuestros pecados serían perdonados y que sería salvo que se pierden en nuestro pecado. Ciertamente, hemos visto que los mártires de todo a través de la historia hasta ahora han muerto de manera que, como decía Tertuliano, su sangre sería la semilla que otros podrían ser parte de la iglesia de Cristo, para ser parte del Cuerpo de Cristo, para ser salvo porque otros han muerto. Jesús modeló el verdadero valor para todos los que están en él. Debemos demostrar que el valor ahora. Tenemos que estar en oración por los que nos odian por nuestra fidelidad a Jesús y su iglesia. Muchos continúan siendo llevado lejos de la verdadera vida en Jesús, e incluso si sufrimos debe ser para que otros lleguen a conocer a Cristo y ser salvos a la vida, la vida más abundante en Jesús, la vida eterna en la resurrección. Una de las cosas que nuestros diferentes grupos de oración que aquí se han comprometido a, es mantener una lista de aquellos que saben que no han sido salvados en Jesús. Les pido a todos ustedes aquí hoy para armar una lista de los que sabes que no son salvos en Cristo. Algunos de los que puede haber gente que considera que son hostiles a usted personalmente. Razón de más por las que deben ser incluidos. Jesús nos dijo en el Sermón de la Montaña: “ESV Mateo 5:43” Ustedes han oído que se dijo: Amarás a tu prójimo y odiarás a tu enemigo. 44 Pero yo os digo: Amad a vuestros enemigos y orad por los que os persiguen. “No va a ser fácil, pero seguro que Jesús no tomó el camino más fácil para nosotros.La paz de Dios que sobrepasa todo entendimiento, guardará vuestros corazones y vuestros pensamientos en Cristo Jesús. Amin y Shalom

One Flesh, One Body in Jesus Mark 10: 2-16 First St Johns October 4, 2015

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[for the audio version of this sermon click on the above link]

We make our beginning in the Name of God the Father and in the Name of God the Son and in the Name of God the Holy Spirit and all those who know they are of one flesh with their spouse and of One Body with Christ said … AMEN!

The world does continue to push on the Body of Christ. That is the way it has been and will continue to be. I’ve said this before, but there were more Christian martyrs in the twentieth century than in the previous 1900 years of the Christian church, combined. The twenty-first century, is beginning to seem like it will exceed the previous one.

We remember brothers and sisters in Jesus who were singled out in the shootings at Umpqua Community College. Another incident that hits close to home for us.

Since I saw the readings for this Sunday and especially since Thursday when reports of the tragic events in Umpqua came out, I have really felt led to remember that yes, Jesus was certainly quoting God in Genesis that a man and woman become one flesh when they are married within the church. We who are in Jesus are part of the Body of Christ, This is not “one-flesh”, but it certainly does say to us that when those who are in Christ, are part of the Body of Christ as those who died in Umpqua are, that we feel something of what they were subjected to. I wish I could really convey what this means, and this is more than empathy. We’re all human, we all have some empathetic understanding of what it means to be killed or to die. But for us who are part of the Body of Christ this treatment that we are seeing of Christians has to transcend just this feeling of just human empathy. When we become aware of those who are part of the Body of Christ who die because of their witness to Christ, there must be an emotion that runs through the entire Body, exceeding empathy that understands the communion we have with those who have died witnessing to Jesus. When we take communion, the true Body and Blood of Christ, we are making a statement that we are very much a part of the Body of Jesus. The Body of Jesus is His church. You can’t be in communion with Jesus unless you are in communion with His Body and His Body is His Church, us, all brothers and sisters in Jesus. I am not making some call to action either. I’m not trying to sensationalize this like some others are. I’m certainly not endorsing Ron Ramsey’s call for Christians to get gun permits. The church has gone through periods like this before. The Acts church was sorely persecuted, starting with Stephen who was taken out and stoned when he stood before the Sanhedrin and proclaimed that Jesus is Messiah, God the Son. The church is going through persecution. Our society today has turned against Christ, Jesus told us that there would be those in the world who would murder Christians thinking they are serving God. Clearly we are seeing a realization of that prophesy. Our society is straight out teaching that the church is somehow evil, the enemy. I’m not saying that anyone, who is credible, is saying that Christians should be killed, but it is clear that in the United States the church of Jesus, the Body of Christ is being portrayed as somehow evil and the enemy. I really have pondered over what I am trying to convey in this sermon. Really wrestled with trying not stir people into a frenzy, create fear and feelings of chaos. That is not how we are supposed to feel as Christians. We are told not to be fearful, we are told that God is in control. God is in control and we should have no doubt that all we see around us is under His control. Christians have suffered martyrdom all through history. We have to come to grips with that realization, that just because we here in this part of the world, are so incredibly privileged, that we are not immune to what is going on around us. That we do need to have a revitalized realization that we are part of the Body of Christ, and that those in this country, in Umpqua, Charleston SC, Columbine Colorado, even right next door in Bart Township, and certainly those Christians in Iraq, China, Africa, India, Syria, are suffering for the cause of Christ. It will probably sound outright bizarre that we trust that this is all to the glory of Jesus. I really don’t want to think that way. But it is hard for me to dismiss. Too often we have seen an amazing growth of the Church because of those who suffered martyrdom. Many who might not come to know eternal salvation in Christ, have been saved because of the sacrifice of others.

The church in eastern Europe suffered severe persecution up until the fall of communism. Now we see a remarkable revitalization of the church in Russia and eastern Europe. Hundreds of Muslims are becoming Christians in what was the communist part of Germany twenty years ago. The church in China is still being actively persecuted and yet there are estimates that there will be more Christians in China than any other country in the world in the next twenty years. Tertullian, a father of the church, said that “The more you mow us down, the more numerous we grow”, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”. Tertullian was a Roman who died in 225 AD, he saw some of the most vicious persecutions of Christians in history. These persecutions started under the Roman Emperor Nero in 64 AD and lasted until 313 AD when Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the empire. In all these persecutions from Rome up to the present day in China and eastern Europe, Christians have never responded with violence. Jesus was completely innocent and holy and He suffered a violent death, even praying that God the Father would forgive those who persecuted Him because they did not know what they’re doing. Today, there are those being indoctrinated in our society to hate Christians. We cannot respond in hate. Jesus showed love and forgiveness even while He was undergoing the agony of the cross. For us to respond in hate and violence would be sin, and would be an unfaithful witness to the church, the Body of Christ. We are about forgiveness, we are about life. We must respond in true love and forgiveness in order to faithfully witness to Jesus. He died in order that our sins would be forgiven and that we would be saved who are lost in our sin. Certainly we have seen that martyrs all through history up until right now have died so that, as Tertullian said, their blood would be the seed that others might be a part of the church of Christ, to be a part of the Body of Christ, to be saved because others have died. Jesus modeled true courage for all who are in Him. We must show that courage now. We must be in prayer for those who hate us because of our faithfulness to Jesus and His church. Many continue to be led away from true life in Jesus and even if we suffer it must be so that others will come to know Christ and be saved to life, life more abundant in Jesus, eternal life in the resurrection. One of the things that our different prayer groups here have committed to, is to keep a list of those they know who have not been saved in Jesus. I ask all of you here today to put together a list of those who you know who are not saved in Christ. Some of those might be people who you consider to be hostile to you personally. All the more reason why they should be included. Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount: “ESV Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” It will not be easy, but certainly Jesus did not take the easy way out for us.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amin and Shalom

One flesh

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My sermon for the past Sunday was on “One Flesh”, it refers to the Genesis 2:24 and Mark 8 passages. Clearly these passages speak to the physical marriage of man and woman, but we seem to not remember that as Christians we are the part of the Body of Christ, that His Church is the Body of Christ, which we, who are saved in Jesus, are part of. As discussed in Revelation 21, 22, the Church is the Bride of Christ. Now I’m not trying to get cute or all weird, but it does seem to follow that because of that, because we take the true Body and Blood of Jesus, that we all become one flesh. Yes, the Bible passages are to be understood as a man and a woman becoming one flesh. They should both readily understand that and that Jesus’ command that “…What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:6) An aside, I have to tell you for those who are involved in facilitating divorce; judges, clerks, lawyers, I truly feel at least a concern. I do not know how people can participate in something that Jesus clearly condemns.

I was also reading Henry and Richard Blackaby’s devotional (Experiencing God Day by Day p 277) which starts “Christians do not live in isolation”. No we certainly don’t, and yet too many who call themselves “Christian” will simply not understand the idea of the Body of Jesus, Bride of Jesus, one flesh etc. We are too much about what are we getting out of this and not at all about what is the Body of Jesus about. I get it, most of us have difficult lives, pressing concerns and different demands that we do need to confront immediately. Certainly the media is beating us into submission, compassion fatigue and when things happen, over and over, in the Body of Christ, we just have to withdraw or be overwhelmed. Yea, I get it. However, we are, nonetheless, part of the Body of Christ. One flesh? Not now, but ultimately, in the resurrection, in the same sense of a married man and woman? Yes. But just because we are not in the same sense as Genesis and Mark describe, does that make it any less genuine? And now, in the shadow of the murders at Umpqua Community College, Charleston SC, Columbine, Lancaster, Pa, just for the United States and the horrific murders in Iraq, Syria, China, Africa on and on shouldn’t that be a signal pain in the Body of Christ, and if we are part of that Body shouldn’t we at least wince?

Maybe there is a fatigue going on, but if the persecutions of Christians throughout history that resulted in resolve and strength to the Body, shouldn’t that be apparent now? If so, how does that look? If your reaction is “wow that’s too bad” or “see that’s why we need gun control” or “every Christian should carry a gun” as the Lt Governor of Tennessee suggested, shouldn’t that suggest to the individual that maybe they’re not in communion with the Body of Christ as they should be?

The Blackabys write: “We depend on one another, and this influences everything we do. Jesus said that even when we pray, we are to begin by saying ‘our Father’ (Matt 6:9). We must do everything with our fellow Christians in mind. (1 Cor 14:12)” Yes, He is our Father. OK, that means children? Yes, it does. Is this another mystery of being in Christ along with the Trinity, Incarnation, Redemption, Resurrection? Yea, apparently. Does it mean that just because the concept seems obscure, it’s not valid? No, I don’t think so. The Blackabys suggest: “Ask God to place a burden on your heart for fellow believers.” I do think it’s necessary. Can you ignore such profound pain in your body and not feel it, dismiss it? I’m not sure what the “cure” is. Certainly we are always called to pray. We should remember Tertullian’s words, a Roman, in the middle of the persecutions of the early Christian. He said “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Certainly those who are martyred receive great reward, but for us still in our earthly life, to simply dismiss the suffering and murder of Christian brothers and sisters is not acceptable. As with everything in our Christian life we are always in prayer. We also are to be guided by the Holy Spirit, where is He moving us to confront or to help those in persecution? What are the opportunities He is presenting us and our local church with in order to witness to Jesus to a world that is lost and filled with death. A world that hates God and His people and believes that it is somehow serving a greater God by killing Christians. “”If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18) Jesus’ words, we certainly trust His Words and this is face to face reality for many. The answers aren’t easy we are to trust in God. Paul certainly appealed to civil law for protection against the mob and unfair judgment. I’m not saying to roll over and play dead, but certainly we remember those Christian Martyrs  who gave up everything they had and witnesses to Christ and sacrificed their life. That is a witness to the world that the Holy Spirit uses to change lives and bring them to salvation in Jesus. Stay in prayer, pray for those who hate and abuse you, and know what the Holy Spirit is putting on your heart and act accordingly.

Confiese y orar unos a otros que usted está curado Santiago 5 First St Johns 27 de septiembre 2015

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[for the audio of this sermon click on the above link]

Hacemos nuestro comienzo en el Nombre de Dios el Padre y en el nombre de Dios el Hijo y en el nombre de Dios el Espíritu Santo y todos los que confían en el Señor para el cuerpo y el alma de curación dijimos … AMEN!

Si usted ha estado a un servicio de sanidad aquí, nuestra lección epístola esta mañana sonará familiar. El primer verso es docente, para todos nosotros, “¿Está alguno entre vosotros afligido? Déjalo rezar. ¿Está alguno alegre? Que canten alabanzas. No debemos orar, pero también elogios.

Ciertamente aprecio la fe de aquellos que vienen al servicio de sanidad y están buscando a Dios para la curación. Este servicio no es mi invención, es en el Libro de servicios Luterana y nosotros, que somos hermanos y hermanas en Jesús conoce las perícopas en los evangelios que son acerca de las muchas curaciones que hizo Jesús. Sanó a personas que sufrían de posesión demoníaca, el hombre con la mano seca, la mujer con el flujo de sangre, el hombre que no podía caminar, etc. Sabemos que si es la voluntad de Dios y nos levantamos en la oración, por nosotros mismos y / o parte de un grupo cristiano que Dios sanará. Creo que la línea “Y la oración de fe salvará al que está enfermo” es interesante. Dice la oración de la fe “salvar” a la persona que está enferma. Sabemos que no siempre es la voluntad de Dios para sanar. El servicio de sanidad incluye “también oramos para que los que sufren no perder la fe.” Por mucho que el servicio de sanidad se trata de la curación física, también se trata de la curación espiritual.

Yo no les doy una garantía de devolución de dinero de 30 días cuando lo haga el servicio de sanidad. No puedo promover este servicio como si fuera algo de Benny Hinn mitin estadio de fútbol en frente de 30.000 personas. ¿Qué pasa con las personas que no lo hacen en el escenario en el tiempo? Lástima para ellos? ¿Cómo es que Benny Hinn no puede curar todos en el estadio, si no tiene este poder milagroso? Parece que tienen que llegar en el escenario delante de la multitud y cámaras para que pueda hacer un espectáculo fuera de su “curación”. Creo mucho en el poder sanador de Dios. Estoy muy de creer que cuando los hermanos y hermanas fieles se reúnen para orar por sanidad que es eficaz. No creo que debería convertirlo en un espectáculo. Porque soy especial? Que acabo de enviar solicitudes de curación al Trono de Dios y Él sana a la orden? “Oh fue que Driskell, él necesita a alguien curado de cáncer? OK, de Jim mi hijo, no ya ir sanado. “Este es el pecado de presunción. Yo no configuro el estadio, tengo un montón de gente se presenta y bibady, abucheo bobady, todo el mundo ha sanado en mi palabra. Eso sería genial, pero eso no es cómo funciona Dios. Se trata de su voluntad y que Él quiere que sanó y, en algunos casos, que Él quiere llevar a casa. Como un bromista en Internet, dijo, si este tipo de Benny Hinn es tan grande, ¿por qué no se detienen en el Instituto del Cáncer Dana-Farber, que se especializa en el tratamiento de cáncer pediátrico en Boston y sanar a todos los niños allí? Parece las personas que hacen esto están más interesados ​​en la auto-promoción y el punto de luz.

Esta es una de las formas en que el mundo ve a los cristianos como crédulos, supersticiosos, y presuntuosa. Debido a esto muchos descartan cristianismo como tonta y fatuo. Rechazan el Señor Jesús, el que murió para salvarnos, para ser nuestra redención de nuestros pecados, que nos pusieron en una relación correcta con el Padre. Si nuestra vida terrenal es importante, pero nuestra vida eterna en la resurrección es mucho más importante. Eso es todo lo desestimó por el mundo, ya que no quieren ser uno de los tontos, fácilmente influenciados cristianos. Me hace preguntarme: “¿Bien, usted no cree que Jesús puede sanar, ¿qué tiene eso es mejor” Nunca consigo una respuesta directa, pero la actitud parece ser, que son demasiado digna, simplemente demasiado llenos de sí mismos que creen en la tonta superstición cristiana. Realmente es una especie de metáfora del mundo. Yo no voy a creer lo que Jesús hizo por mí por el bien de mi dignidad. No hay otra solución, por lo que voy a hacer mi orgullo, el factor importante, rechazar a Jesús y ser condenado eternamente. ¿Bueno, lo que sea? Me identifico con la sensación de que hay demasiados por ahí que tratan de hacer un show lado la atracción de curación, que nunca parece ayudar a la persona enferma y sólo hace cristianos miran tonta.

El viejo predicador país sostenía un servicio de sanidad e invitó a nadie a venir para la curación. Billy se acerca y dice: “Pastor Necesito ayuda para la audiencia.” Predicador levanta sus manos en oración, pone sus manos sobre los oídos de Billy, mete el dedo en los oídos de Billy, en voz alta pronunciando y atractivo para la curación. Finalmente se detiene y mira a Billy y le pregunta ¿puedes oír? Y Billy dice que puedo oír bien, necesito oración por la audiencia en la corte la próxima semana. Sí que fue un Chuck Swindoll.

Incluso el mundo secular ha llegado en torno al hecho de que hay poder en los fieles, la oración. Dr. Harold Koenig, MD, fue profesor en la Escuela de Medicina de Harvard desde hace muchos años, y una de las cosas que él enseñó en la era cómo la oración, los fieles cristianos han ayudado a muchas personas. Muchas investigaciones han demostrado que las personas que están oraron por realidad tienen mejores recuperaciones, menos complicaciones. Aún más convincente los que saben que están rezando por tener incluso mejores resultados que. Tenemos nuestra lista de oración que rezamos más en cada culto, en el grupo de oración que cumpla domingo después de la adoración, y en nuestra desayuno de oración. Se le anima a tomar la lista de su casa de anuncios con usted e incluirlo en sus oraciones diarias en el hogar. Cuando la gente me pregunta a poner a alguien en esa lista, les pido que me diera las personas de correo electrónico para que les puedo enviar una postal diciéndoles que están rezando por. Claro yo que en parte porque he visto la investigación que muestra que tendrán un mejor resultado cuando saben que están rezando por y yo también lo hacen en la fe de lo que Santiago nos dice, para orar sobre la persona, y nuestro servicio de sanidad es una forma efectiva para orar por una persona enferma o enfermo. Pero siempre en la confianza de que, independientemente del resultado que es de acuerdo a la voluntad de Dios.

Dr. Koenig es ahora el director del Centro de la Universidad de Duke para la espiritualidad, la teología y la salud. No estamos hablando de la Universidad Bob Jones, estamos hablando de instituciones muy seculares de la educación superior, la Universidad de Harvard y Duke ambos han llegado a reconocer el hombre no es sólo una máquina física, también somos seres espirituales que pueden ser sanadas por el poder de oración que Santiago nos habla.

Un artículo en Web MD afirma: “La investigación se centra en el poder de la oración en la curación casi se ha duplicado en los últimos 10 años, …” Dr. Mitchell Krucoff afirma: “Todos estos estudios, todos los informes, son notablemente consistente en sugerir el potencial beneficio para la salud medible asociado con la oración o intervenciones espirituales “. El artículo cita a otras investigaciones: “Estos estudios demuestran que las personas religiosas tienden a vivir vidas más sanas. De hecho, las personas que rezan tienden a enfermarse con menor frecuencia, ya que los estudios independientes realizaron en Duke, universidades Dartmouth y Yale muestran. Algunas estadísticas de estos estudios:

Personas • hospitalizados que nunca asistieron a la iglesia tienen una estancia media de tres veces más que las personas que asistieron con regularidad.

  • Los pacientes cardíacos eran 14 veces más probabilidades de morir después de la cirugía si no participan en una religión.
  • Las personas mayores que nunca o casi nunca asistieron a la iglesia tenían un strokerate doble que el de las personas que asistieron con regularidad.

También, dice Koenig, “las personas que son más religiosos tienden a deprimirse menos frecuencia. Y cuando ellos se deprimen, se recuperan más rápidamente de la depresión.” Se nos dice que elevar oraciones a Dios y pedirle a la oración. Yo nunca, nunca digas que no a orar por la sanación. Pero nuestra oración tiene que ser en términos de la confianza en Dios, confiando en Su voluntad. Su voluntad no siempre es curar, sino que a menudo hace y cuando sucede es asombroso. Pero nosotros no lo hacemos de una manera orgullosa, presuntuoso como si Dios realiza servicios bajo demanda. Se trata de la fe que Dios nos y Su voluntad, Su plan da. Su voluntad es siempre, mejor que la nuestra. Incluso en los momentos en los que no lo veo de esa manera, nos damos cuenta después, que si Dios escogió para sanar o no, que era el mejor resultado y Dios usa que la sanidad o la falta del mismo para su gloria, no por lo que es un espectáculo. Claramente, como Santiago nos dice: “La oración del justo tiene mucho poder, ya que está trabajando.”

Elevamos oraciones aquí en First St Johns por una razón. No estamos aquí para hacer gestos gratuitos, seguir todo el procedimiento, somos un pueblo de fe y confiamos en que Dios nos dice que debemos orar por los que están enfermos. Sí, los hallazgos seculares son interesantes, pero sin tener en cuenta, que confían en la palabra de Dios para sanar o para tomar un ser querido hogar. Confiamos en su voluntad y nosotros seguiremos siendo las personas que toman la oración en serio. No sólo para la curación física, pero como el Dr. Luther nos dice, como pastor que soy un sorger Seel, un “sanador del alma”. Quiero participar en la curación física, sino también en la curación del espíritu. La curación del espíritu es sin duda para la vida en este mundo, pero nuestro Señor Jesús nos ha dado la curación definitiva, el perdón de nuestros pecados, nuestra reconciliación con Dios el Padre que sana nuestra alma que vamos a vivir en la perfección eterna de la resurrección .

La paz de Dios que sobrepasa todo entendimiento, guardará vuestros corazones y vuestros pensamientos en Cristo Jesús. Amin y Shalom

Confess and pray to one another that we will be healed James 5 First St Johns September 27, 2015

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[For the audio version of this sermon click on the above link]

We make our beginning in the Name of God the Father and in the Name of God the Son and in the Name of God the Holy Spirit and all those who trust in the Lord for healing body and soul said … AMEN!

If you have been to a healing service here, our epistle lesson this morning will sound familiar. The first verse is instructional to all of us “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. We should not just pray, but also praise.

Certainly I appreciate the faith of those who come to the healing service and are looking to God for healing. This service isn’t my invention, it is in the Lutheran Service Book and we who are brothers and sisters in Jesus know the pericopes in the Gospels that are about the many healings that Jesus did. He healed people who were suffering from demonic possession, the man with the withered hand, the woman with the flow of blood, the man who couldn’t walk etc. We know that if it is God’s will and we lift up in prayer, by ourselves and/or part of a Christian group that God will heal. I think that the line “And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick” is interesting. It says the prayer of faith will “save” the one who is sick. We know that it is not always God’s will to heal. The healing service includes “we also pray that those who are suffering do not lose faith.” As much as the healing service is about physical healing, it is also about spiritual healing.

I do not give them a 30-day money back guarantee when I do the healing service. I can’t promote this service as if it’s some Benny Hinn football stadium rally in front of 30,000 people. What about the people who don’t make it on the stage in time? Too bad for them? How come Benny Hinn can’t heal everyone in the stadium, if he has this miraculous power? Seems they have to come up on stage in front of the crowd and cameras so that he can make a spectacle out of his “healing”. I very much believe in the healing power of God. I very much believe that when faithful brothers and sisters gather together to pray for healing that it is effective. I don’t believe that I should turn it into a spectacle. Because I’m special? That I just send healing requests to the Throne of God and He heals on command? “Oh was that Driskell, he needs someone healed of cancer? OK, Jim’s my boy, there ya go healed.” This is the sin of presumption. I don’t set up the stadium, have a whole lot of people show up and bibady, bobady boo, everyone’s healed on my word. That would be great, but that’s not how God works. It’s about His will and who He wants healed and, in some cases, who He wants to take home. As one wag on the internet said, if these Benny Hinn types are so great, why don’t they stop at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which specializes in the treatment of pediatric cancer in Boston and heal all the children there? Seems the people who do this are more interested in self-promotion and the spot-light.

This is one of the ways the world sees Christians as gullible, superstitious, and presumptuous. Because of this many dismiss Christianity as silly and fatuous. They dismiss the Lord Jesus, He who died to save us, to be our redemption for our sins, to put us in right relationship with the Father. Yes our earthly life is important, but our eternal life in the resurrection is so much more important. That is all dismissed by the world because they don’t want to be one of those silly, easily influenced Christians. It does make me wonder: “OK, you don’t believe that Jesus can heal, what do you have that’s better?” I never get a straight answer, but the attitude seems to be, that they are too dignified, just plain too full of themselves to believe in silly Christian superstition. It really is kind of a metaphor of the world. I’m not going to believe what Jesus did for me for the sake of my dignity. There is no other solution, so I’m going to make my pride, the important factor, reject Jesus and be eternally condemned. OK, whatever? I can relate to the feeling that there are too many out there who try to make a side show attraction out of healing, which never seems to help the sick person and just makes Christians look silly.

The old country preacher was holding a healing service and he invited anyone to come up for healing. Billy comes up and says “Pastor I need help for the hearing.” Preacher raises his hands up in prayer, puts his hands over Billy’s ears, sticks his finger in Billy’s ears, loudly pronouncing and appealing for healing. Finally he stops and looks at Billy and asks can you hear? And Billy says I can hear fine, I need prayer for the court hearing next week. Yes that was a Chuck Swindoll.

Even the secular world has come around to the fact that there is power in faithful, prayer. Dr Harold Koenig, MD, was a professor at the Harvard Medical School for many years, and one of the things that he taught on was how prayer, faithful Christians have helped many people. Much research has shown that people who are prayed for actually do have better recoveries, fewer complications. Even more compelling those who know they’re being prayed for have even better results than. We have our prayer list that we pray over at every worship, at the prayer group that meets Sunday after worship, and at our prayer breakfast. You are encouraged to take the list in your bulletin home with you and include it in your daily prayers at home. When people ask me to put someone on that list, I ask them to give me the persons mailing address so that I can send them a postcard telling them they’re being prayed for. Sure I do that partly because I’ve seen the research that shows they will have a better result when they know they’re being prayed for and also I do it in faith for what St James tells us, to pray over the person, and our healing service is an effective way to pray over a sick or ailing person. But it’s always in trust that regardless of the outcome it is according to God’s will.

Dr Koenig is now the director at Duke University’s Center for spirituality, theology and health. We’re not talking about Bob Jones University, we are talking about very secular institutions of higher learning, Harvard and Duke have both come to recognize man isn’t just a physical machine, we are also spiritual beings that can be healed through the power of prayer that St James tells us about.

An article in Web MD states: “Research focusing on the power of prayer in healing has nearly doubled in the past 10 years,…” Dr Mitchell Krucoff states: “All of these studies, all the reports, are remarkably consistent in suggesting the potential measurable health benefit associated with prayer or spiritual interventions.” The article quotes other research: “These studies show that religious people tend to live healthier lives.  In fact, people who pray tend to get sick less often, as separate studies conducted at Duke, Dartmouth, and Yale universities show. Some statistics from these studies:

  • Hospitalized people who never attended church have an average stay of three times longer than people who attended regularly.
  • Heart patients were 14 times more likely to die following surgery if they did not participate in a religion.
  • Elderly people who never or rarely attended church had astrokerate double that of people who attended regularly.

Also, says Koenig, “people who are more religious tend to become depressed less often. And when they do become depressed, they recover more quickly from depression. “[1]  We are told to raise up prayers to God and to ask Him for prayer. I would never, ever tell you not to pray for healing. But our prayer has to be in terms of trusting God, relying on His will. His will is not always to heal, but He often does and when it happens it is staggering. But we don’t do it in a prideful, presumptuous way as if God performs services on demand. It is about the faith God gives us and His will, His plan. His will is always, better than ours. Even at the times when we don’t see it that way, we realize later, that whether God chose to heal or not, it was the best result and God uses that healing or lack thereof to His glory, not making it a spectacle. Clearly, as St James tells us: “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

We lift up prayer here at First St Johns for a reason. We are not here to make gratuitous gestures, go through the motions, we are a people of faith and we trust when God tells us to pray for those who are sick. Yes, the secular findings are interesting, but regardless, we trust God’s word to heal or to take a loved one home. We trust His will and we will continue to be people who take prayer seriously. Not just for physical healing, but as Dr Luther tells us, as a pastor I am a seel sorger, a “soul healer”. I want to be involved in physical healing, but also in the healing of the spirit. Healing of the spirit is certainly for life in this world, but our Lord Jesus has given us the ultimate healing, the forgiveness of our sins, our reconciliation with God the Father who heals our soul that we will live in the eternal perfection of the resurrection.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amin and Shalom

[1]http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/can-prayer-heal