The LORD's Day, March 25, 2007

Life’s Journey To Heaven

Psalm 84.1-7

Life is a journey. It ends in one of two places. Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7.13-14)

The journey to hell is a horrible one. It has temporal pleasures but ends in destruction. The journey to heaven is an upward journey. It has its difficulties, as we see in this passage, but it is a glorious journey and ends in eternal life with Jesus forever.

The focus of this Psalm is the Dwelling Place of the LORD. The Psalmist is speaking of Mount Moriah, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. When Solomon prayed the prayer of dedication for the temple he caught some of the New Covenant: But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.”
(II Chronicles 6.18-20)

We are told in Hebrews 8.5 “They (the priests) serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.

So this intense desire to be in the courts of the LORD is a deeper desire now made clear under the New Covenant to be with Him in heaven.

The Psalmist speaks of the blessedness of the birds. They are close to the altar.

He speaks of the blessedness of those who serve in the House of God. They live there.

He speaks of the blessedness of those who are going up to Jerusalem to worship the LORD. They have much to look forward to and the journey itself is a joy. He calls it pilgrimage. For the Psalmist it was a journey to the Jerusalem here on earth, a shadow of what was to come. For us it is the New Jerusalem, the reality in Christ. For the Psalmist and us it is the sheer delight of being in God’s Presence The Jews journeyed to Jerusalem at the times of the feasts. To this day the Passover ends with, “Next Year in Jerusalem ” For believers this pilgrimage is our life’s journey. When our hearts are set on it, it is blessed We are looking for the New Jerusalem.

1. This Journey is Blessed Because Jesus is The Way
We know where we are going John 14.1-6
We are marching to Zion We are on our way to heaven.

We have fellowship with Him.
We share with Jesus our life and His life. Psalm 86.17 ...You, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me... Psalm 61.3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe... Psalm 71.5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth... Psalm 90.1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations...

What a joy to walk with Him

We create good memories as we go

*VBS in Norwalk, CT
*Mission Trip In Dominican Republic
*Going to Billy Graham1969-70/Serving with Billy Graham1990
*Friends from a guy who has a PhD and teaches English at Christian College to a one who has his own boat repair business- friends who are serving the LORD.

2. This Journey is Blessed Because It is a Highway
Isaiah spoke of it. And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. Isaiah 35.8

It is above sin and the world. While we battle with the world and sin we do not walk in the way of the world and sin. We travel to heaven on a way that is free to a large degree of the consequences of sin.

We are not completely (like a highway through a congested area - noise and air pollution)) immunized because we still live in the world but we do not have to deal with personal consequences if we are on this way. It is an abundant life.

It bypasses much of the pain and sorrow that people who are on the road that leads to destruction experience. Jesus told us we would have trouble in this world. This is because we are following Him. There is a vast difference between that an the sorrow of the transgressor. “...the way of transgressors is hard.” Proverbs 13.15

3. This Journey is Blessed Because We Have Fellowship With Each Other I John 1.7
While there may be some truth in these words:

To dwell above with saints we love, Oh that will be glory
To live below with saints we know, well that’s a different story

There is no other place on earth where you can get the kind of fellowship you do in the church.

Praying by ourselves has its place and benefits. Praying with one another has blessings and joys as well. We experience the joy together of answered prayer.

Recently we have been experiencing this joy. It brings our hearts together. It is sad that artificial means are used to bring life into the church. The church exists in Christ. He is our Life. He is the Life! Praying is one of the things that as we simply put God’s Word concerning it into practice we become what He desires for us. Praying builds up our faith together. We experience that communion and comradery that is uniquely the church’s. Next Saturday I’ll be at a track meet at my old High School. It will be great to see old friends but it is nothing like the church of Jesus Christ. We share the deep issues of life.

We share A Common Book, God’s Word.
We are all reading, studying, meditating on God’s Eternal Word. W have fellowship around it. We quote it to each other. We talk about it. We encourage each other with it. It is our way of life.

Bearing One Another’s burdens.
I am finding out that one of the greatest things the church can do is listen. You know that is something we are losing the art of in our rapid fire high tech world. One of the reasons I enjoyed visiting China is that we all sat around and talked after dinner. We listened to one another.

When we listen to a brother or sister we are imitating God as we are told to do in Ephesians 5.1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
Be imitators of God.


4. This Journey is Blessed Because It is mapped out for us in God’s Word.
Psalm 139.16 All the days ordained for me were written in Your Book before one of them came to be.
We know the end He is the Alpha and Omega. He is the Word of God

If you begin following the LORD at a young age as I did, you have directions and
promises for all of life. I love the early words of the Book of Proverbs- a real father to son talk.

But really no matter where you begin your walk with the LORD the Word of God has directions for you.

General Directions like “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

Specific Directions like if we are going through a time of trouble or a time of great abundance.

A fool need not err therein.

5. This Journey Is Blessed Because Of Where it Ends

The journey of life for the believer ends with Life It ends with Jesus It is being with Him forever

Heaven is awaiting everyone who is journeying with Jesus. He is taking us there.

I love what is probably the last words Paul the Apostle wrote:

II Timothy 4.6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.

This journey ends with a crown. Finish it and you have won

This journey ends with a glad welcome home. II Peter 1.10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Eternal Possessions.

He goes on : 12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

He will soon put aside the tent of the body. The LORD Jesus Christ made it clear to Peter. His departure- the close of his career ( I like those words )... Peter was going home to a rich welcome.

This journey will end and it will mean glory for all who have longed for His appearing.

Every once in a while I get these bursts of desire to depart and go to be with the LORD. They have been getting more intense as time has gone on. My journey and yours will end one day. We will be with the LORD forever

Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. Finish well. Keep the faith. It won’t be long until we are with Jesus...

Two hymns as we close...
When We See Christ
When We All Get To Heaven



The LORD’s Day
March 25, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Life’s Journey To Heaven Psalm 84.1-7

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

V
This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 87-89
Monday- Men’s Prayer Meeting- 6:30am
Wednesday- Bible Study- 7:30pm at the parsonage Psalm 87-89
Thursday- Bible Study- 10:30am at the church Psalm 87-89

Next Lord’s Day- Palm Sunday
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children) The LORD’s Supper Served

Spanish Service- 4pm

In Your Prayers For All of God’s People
Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. leaves for Iraq next month (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter doing better, facing surgery this week. Please pray for Monica’s (Katrina’s granddaughter) mother-in-law, Rosemary, with breast cancer. Sonya, Albert and Anka’s niece in Canada results on the biopsy were negative Praise the LORD Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Praise God for a good report on Judy Mucci. She continues on Chemotherapy. Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson recovering from a heart attack last Sunday. He is doing well and is thankful for all the prayers offered for him. Pray for Eloise Brooks and Jean Louis as both are on dialysis.
***********************************
*A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503
*If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see Alice Gordon.

Good Friday Service- 2pm, April 6th
Early Morning Services -6:30am Each day of Holy Week


Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
Life’s Journey To Heaven
Psalm 84.1-7




Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God

The LORD's Day, March 18, 2007

The Result of Refusing to Listen To God

Psalm 81.8-16

There is a great need of grace today and a long with it an understanding of God’s Sovereignty when it comes to obeying His voice. Many think they will be like the thief on the cross- at the end there will be an opportunity for peace with God, ignoring the call to come to Jesus now. Others foolishly think everyone is going to heaven or I’m not as bad as a lot of people, surely I’ll get in. Lots of people believe in some sort of heaven, few believe in hell.

When Jesus comes, and I say this with tears, there will be many people who are shocked. When He comes He will set everything straight. He will judge all the people.


1. God is warning everyone today v.8

Few are listening.

Many stubbornly refuse to obey.

This is not new. It is recorded here in this lament Asaph wrote down.

Jesus was in Jerusalem during His final week before the cross and He gave out this painful statement (Matthew23.37-38):
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.

Asaph is speaking of the past and present. Jesus is speaking of the present and the future. We see here the results of refusing to listen to God even when He is standing right among us.

2. God gave them over to their stubborn hearts. v.11-12
We see the heart of God in Jesus’ statement. When the LORD arrives at this place He isn’t like us when we give up on something. He is doing with grief and sorrow in His heart. He sees what is ahead.

If you go back to verse 9 you see the issue over which they stumbled and fell. They put other gods before Him. He is the true and living God. He is the LORD God Almighty. Israel is His witness. Billy Graham said he could give an argument for the existence of God in one word, “Israel.”

Jesus said all the law and the prophets hang on two commandments: Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. You can’t do the second until you do the first.
Israel had failed at the first part. When there is spiritual failure among God’s people, He comes and seeks to restore. Like a Shepherd He leads us and if we stray, the LORD goes out after us. He seeks us.

I have a friend who is the accountant of a faith mission organization. Before he fully surrendered his life to the LORD, he was falling away. One Saturday night he was in a bar. It was late. He had been drinking. This man came up to him, called him by name and asked him what he was doing. He had never met him before. The man told him he was going to be at such and such a church tomorrow. My friend said, “Hey That’s my church ” Then this angel (unaware to my friend at the time) said again, “What are you doing here? ” He went on to say, “I want to get out of here This place disgusts me.” That was it. David realized that the LORD had sent an angel, went home and repented and surrendered to Jesus Christ. He listened to the LORD.

Israel had the prophets. God had spoken to them over and over again. He didn’t just send one prophet. There were times when the LORD had two speaking during the same time frame. They didn’t listen. They were judged and the inhabitants of the Jerusalem were carried off to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar’s army.

God didn’t give up on them. After 70 years He allowed them to return and build the temple. They did and the second temple was finished. Once again things came between them and their LORD. When Jesus came they were down to the last generation. The temple would be destroyed and the people scattered because they were not willing to submit to and obey Jesus. On Palm Sunday (Luke 19.41) As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it 42and said, If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They 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.

God warns before He acts in judgement . When He is not listened to, when there is stubborn refusal to listen and obey, He gives the people over to their own ways. He sends them away, lets them go, lets them loose. He dismisses them from His blessings and His presence that they once knew. Like Samson they don’t know it until the enemy comes and they have no strength to fight. Then they are free to follow their own plans and counsel which is not freedom at all

It is frightening today for me to hear what people believe and espouse It reminds of Paul’s words to Timothy about false teachers: I Timothy1.7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. So many things flying around today about God which have no biblical basis whatsoever and so many being taken in by this nonsense.

The LORD wants all men to come to repentance. He is not willing that anyone perish so...
3. There is Grace Offered Today v.13

Asaph is speaking of hope that would come if Israel would just listen and follow the LORD. God is still calling His people through the Psalmist.

Thank God for the Ifs in His Word

If My people...
If we confess our sins...
If anyone hears My voice and opens the door...

All of these are addressed to the people of God when they have fallen short of His Glory.

Here in Psalm 81 Grace is offered to the fallen


4. There are great promises in Grace v.14-16

God promises the protection from the enemies and that He will fight the battle for them. Jerusalem rejected God’s Grace and their enemies overtook them.

Our enemy today is the devil. People who are lost are not the enemy- they are victims of the enemy. He is out to destroy God’s men and women. He is attempting to sneak into the church. He seeks to gain a foothold in our lives. If we listen to the LORD and follow Him we will be safe from the fiery darts of the evil one. We will be in a battle but when we are on the LORD’s side the battle belongs the LORD

v.16 Contains two wonderful promises. He will feed us with the finest of wheat. He will satisfy us with honey from the rock.

Wheat refers to the righteous in the Word of God. The wicked are referred to as chaff and weeds or tares. Wheat is also the good seed. It is the Word of God. God will fill our souls with His wonderful Word if we listen and obey Him. He will make us strong. He will nourish us.

Honey From the Rock is promised. There is something about the character of a believer who is growing in grace. They are getting sweeter and they have the fragrance of Christ. It is pleasant to be around them They sweeten up our lives.

5. These promises are conditional. v.16

The word is “would” or as some have it “should”. The idea is this is what God’s intention is and what happens if the conditions are met. Otherwise they are abandoned to do their own thing, to follow their own desires, to do as they please. While this sounds like freedom it is anything but that It is misery. It is emptiness. It is loneliness. It is heart ache.
I have never warned someone according to God’s Word or seen them warned, and watched them refuse to listen and obey without seeing that poor soul in bitter heartache and distress in the days ahead.

The simplicity of this message is seen in the Song Trust and Obey:

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.Refrain

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.Refrain

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey. Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go
Never fear only Trust and Obey Refrain

Do this and you will be blessed. Failure to listen and follow Jesus will result in destruction and devastation in your life. There is a day of accounting coming when God will open the books. On this side of eternity He calls us to be prepared to meet Him.

Our posture as believers should be to eagerly listen and follow. There should be an increasing measure of the fruit of God’s Spirit in our lives. Spiritual Growth is a safeguard against spiritual failure. Pride comes before a fall. Humble yourselves today. Daily confess your own need of Jesus’s cleansing and help in this journey to heaven.

II Peter 1
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The LORD’s Day
March 18, 2007
We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
The Result of Refusing to Listen to God Psalm 81.8-16
*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

V
This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 84-86
Monday- Men’s Prayer Meeting- 6:30am
Wednesday- Bible Study- 7:30pm at the parsonage Psalm 84-86
Thursday- Bible Study- 10:30am at the church Psalm 84-86
Next Lord’s Day-
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm

In Your Prayers For All of God’s People
Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq. His mother has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and is going on disability. Billy Knapp, Jr. leaves for Iraq next month (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter doing better, facing surgery March 30th. Please pray for Monica’s (Katrina’s granddaughter) mother-in-law, Rosemary, with breast cancer. Sonya, Albert and Anka’s niece in Canada results on the biopsy were negative Praise the LORD Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Praise God for a good report on Judy Mucci. She continues on Chemotherapy. Helen Pawson’s family in their loss of Helen’s brother this past week. Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson recovering from a heart attack last Sunday.
***********************************
*A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503
*If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see Alice Gordon.

*Bay Shore Barnes and Noble Book Fair Voucher Supporting Good Shepherd Nursery School, tomorrow March 19th - simply present a voucher at time of purchase on that day. Vouchers available downstairs.

Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
The Results of Refusing to Listen to God
Psalm 81.8-16

Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436
Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God

The LORD's Day, March 11, 2007

Tell The Next Generation

Psalm 78.1-7

There is a plea here from the Psalmist, God speaking to the people through him, about...
Our children, our children’s children, our children’s children, children
Our nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, all young people we are in contact with... and in reference to the LORD, His mighty acts and His Holy Word...we are to speak about them.

The previous generations failed. He chronicles this failure in the remainder of the Psalm- Aspah speaks of how the nation of Israel, the descendants of Jacob did not believe the LORD even while He was doing wonders and miracles among them. They vexed the Holy One of Israel (v.41). They limited God and caused Him pain.

What this generation (who all died out there in the desert due to unbelief) forgot we will tell our children. We will tell them about the Word and Works of the LORD God Almighty This is what the LORD through the Psalmist is urging God’s people to do.

1. We will not hide them from the next generation. (v.4)
We will not purposely or by neglect conceal what we have heard and know about the LORD.

If we did then this current generation would be cut off from the truth.

There is a spiritual desolation that comes to the people who do not pass on the truth to the next generation. Israel is an example of this. I Corinthians 10.1-13
Look what happened after they got into the Promised Land- Psalm 79.

To forget the LORD, to fail to pass on these things He had done is to face a future where the nation and family will be destroyed, cut off from God. I am certain this is one of the reasons that the first feast Israel ever celebrated and continues to this day is the Passover and that it included the younger members of the family- in fact the whole family In fact the feast was kicked off by the youngest asking the questions about why this night is different than all the rest and about the different kinds of bread eaten on that particular evening. The beginnings of the nation coming into the Promised Land was and is remembered by children as well as adults around a family feast.

Don’t cover or hide the truth. Only those who are off would do this on purpose. We had a situation of this some years ago where a parent held down a child’s hand. That was about 10 years ago- I have wondered about those souls. Horrible But it can be done by giving the wrong things or too much of good things and miss the best. We can cover the truth with gifts. I am not against gifts but we all know how for instance a secular celebration of Christmas can usher Christ right out of it. This can happen at Thanksgiving too When we ought to be thanking the LORD we can cover up what He has done by celebrating the wrong things.


Things deep in meaning and rich with all kinds of arrows pointing to the LORD can become ends in themselves rather than a means to the Alpha and Omega Let’s not hide what God has done or the meaning of our celebrations.


2. We Will tell them to their children.
Count your blessings Psalm 40.5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. That does not mean we should not attempt to In doing so we see some of God’s greatness in our lives
Talking about them to our children’s children and their children is what we are being told to do here.

Recount the miracles that have happened in your life. I remember my grandmother telling me about that little girl who had invited her to the special services then mission was having in Brooklyn back in the 1920's. This little girl was persistent and when I get to heaven I want to thank her for her persistence. She invited my grandmother all week. Finally it came to the final night. She went to my grandmother’s apartment and told her that this was her last opportunity to come. My grandmother went and asked the LORD to come into her heart that night. I learned about the rewards of being persistent.

We have all had experiences of God doing wonders in our lives. We need to tell it to our grandchildren and great grandchildren. The idea here is to relate, to number them, take account of, to declare, to talk about them, to count exactly or accurately. We should talk often about the answers to prayer in our lives. Tell our stories to the children in our lives... the power of a story!

We are to speak of the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, (Hymns and Songs). We are to tell the stories of the Psalms, interweave them into events in our children’s children’s lives.

Tell of His power (strength, fierceness, might). God is holy and they need to be told that. He is powerful. He can do anything

Talk about the wonders He has done. Creation gives us such a great opportunity with young children whose hearts are tender toward the things of the LORD. We can talk about those first seven days of this planet we live on.

There are marvels in creation. I remember my dad taking my brother and I out for a walk one time and showing us a tree and how to cut it down and showing us how we could make it fall where we want it to. As spring approaches, what a wonderful time for opportunities to tell of God’s wonderful creation and Jesus’ death and resurrection

God’s works are wonderful. They surpass all of our puny thoughts. They are extraordinary There are things the LORD has enabled us to do that are beyond one's power.
We need to speak of these to the children in our lives. God has worked in us and we need to boast in the LORD of what He has done to the little ones.

There are things the LORD leads us through as we spoke last week that are difficult to understand. I think these things need to be appropriately told to the younger generation. Sure we have a desire to protect them. Sometimes difficulties of life are concealed from the younger generation but when we do this to an extreme then we are presenting an untrue picture of life. God does extraordinary and hard and what appears to be difficult things (Nothing is hard for Him ) In our lives.
He does wonderful things for His children and we need to relate them to our children. He is with us in the hard times of life. Hard times will come to all of us. Sometimes I believe we think our lives can be a fairy tale Life ain’t like that I have had to explain to Emma where Marlee’s dad is. He is with us in the hard times and brings us through them

3. We will tell of His Word and speak of it often.
She (my granddaughter) just got a Bible for children. It is covers many of the stories in God’s Word on her level. We read a number of them when she was over this past week. What a joy to share the eternal things with her.

My grandmother had mastered this and was a strong influence in my life- It was gently done, always appropriate, it naturally flowed out of her life. She did it for Jesus and her grandchildren and never in front of others to impress them, as I remember. She did it with much grace and love. Her witness lives on in my life.

God has established His Law.

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children.

We need to relate this to the children. The church and our homes are the only places they may hear it these days.

This was the instruction given to Israel in Deuteronomy 6:
1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. [a] 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

4. The results will be wonderful. v.7

*They would be faithful.
They would put their trust in the LORD. Their confidence would be in Him. The LORD has never failed me. I have lacked faith but He has always been faithful. The LORD is faithful to all His promises.
Psalm 107.8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men The Psalmist in the 107th Psalm repeats this phrase 4 times. We join in with that desire to see people give glory to the LORD for the things He has done. We resist pride filled people. They are difficult to be around. No one enjoys being around someone who toots their own horn. Blessed is the child who learns that God is the LORD and that everything good in their lives come from Him. It is just appalling to me how in the greatest times of abundance in our nation the least amount of thanks is going up from dinner tables in our country.
Appalling but not surprising when we read God’s Word. This was the pattern of Israel, mentioned once again in our reading this past week.

*They would not forget His Deeds.
How quickly we forget How easily it slips away from people where they have come from. One generation fails to tell the story and it can be lost. This is why we need to tell it over and over again. Our hearts cry out with the Psalmist in Psalm 107 and with the promise here as well in this seventh verse.

*They would keep His Commands. Think of how better the world would be if just one command was kept- Obey your father and mother. Think of all the things that would be resolved in our community and in our nation if that was obeyed.

At my Dad’s 80th Birthday celebration we took a family picture. He was an only child. At the front of the church was my dad and mom and his descendants. Two of my daughters commented (after seeing the developed picture, Wow We have a large family ” We really don’t- fairly typical in size for baby boomers and their children and grandchild. What did strike me is the influence of one man and how far reaching that could be over an 80 year span. We need to think about that. We need to pray and seek to follow the words of this Psalm. We are molding future generations. Keep on praying. Keep on looking for opportunities to lovingly, in the context of every day activities, to share the love of Jesus Christ, His Deeds in your life and His Eternal Word

Tell it to the next generation.

The LORD’s Day
March 11, 2007
We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Tell the Next Generation Psalm 78.1-7
*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.
V
This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 81-83
Monday- Men’s Prayer Meeting- 6:30am
Wednesday- Bible Study- 7:30pm at the parsonage Psalm 81-83
Thursday- Bible Study- 10:30am at the church Psalm 81-83
Next Lord’s Day-
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm
In Your Prayers For All of God’s People
Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq. His mother has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Billy Knapp, Jr. leaves for Iraq next month (neighbor of the church). Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter. Sonya, Albert and Anka’s niece in Canada results on the biopsy were negative Praise the LORD Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for a lifelong condition. Praise God for a good report on Judy Mucci.
***********************************
*A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503
*If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see Alice Gordon.
*Bay Shore Barnes and Noble Bookfair Voucher Supporting Good Shepherd Nursery School, Monday March 19th - simply present a voucher at time of purchase on that day. Vouchers available downstairs.


Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
Tell the Next Generation
Psalm 78.1-7





Pastor’s messages are now available on the Internet
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730


1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God

The LORD's Day, March 4, 2007

The LORD is Our Shepherd

Psalm 77.10-20

God leads us. He guides us. He is our shepherd.

The work of the shepherd was to move from pasture to pasture. It was and is the duty of shepherds was to keep their flock intact and protect it from wolves and other predators. The shepherd was also to supervise the migration of the flock and ensured they made it to market areas in time for shearing. In ancient times shepherds also often milked their sheep, and made cheese from this milk.

Shepherds lived apart from society, being largely nomadic. It was mainly a job of solitary males without children.

Shepherds to be fed the lambs and the sheep, bringing them to good pasture lands and water, grooming and clipping them, delivering new lambs, led them and taught them to stay together, went off after the wandering lost ones, and protected the sheep in the field and in the fold.

A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm by Phillip Keller is a good book.

Many songs have been written about this work of God, beginning with Psalm 23.

Some express the mystery of God as He leads, where He leads:

His ways are not our ways. If sheep could talk they might ask each other, “Why is he leading us this way?” If we are honest sometimes we wonder this ourselves.

This morning I want to us to look at the unusual places the LORD leads His flock, His children. In the very verses we are looking at in Psalm 77 there is one of these places eluded to.

1. God leads His Children through storms.

Most of the time we pray to be taken out of them. Most of the time Jesus brings us through them. Sometimes He calms them. Most of the time He calms us.

Many times the battle is in the mind and heart. We can make things much bigger than they are and depending on how overactive our imagination is. We can build things to be towering mountains until he Truth sets us free. I just came through one of them this week

One of the things this Psalm is saying to us is that God leads us through storms and there are times when we cannot see His Footprints- or evidence of His Hand.
We shared that quote from Spurgeon this week in the Bible Studies- “When you cannot trace God’s Hand, you can trust His heart.”
Get the picture here the Psalmist is drawing for us. He is going through this dark night of the soul. He is feeling God is far away and not responding to his cry. He is discouraged until he turns his thoughts toward the LORD’s work throughout the ages. By the end of the Psalm he realizes that through this very dark period in his life God was leading and protecting him though he did not know it. He didn’t see evidences of God being there until the storm was over and even then God’s footsteps were invisible. God brings us through storms sometimes without a great Revelation of Himself.

Jesus with the disciples that night when the squall blew up.

2. God leads us through fire. Daniel 3.27a

We go through fiery trials 1 Peter 4:12 (King James Version) 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (NIV)

When the LORD leads us through fiery trials we are entering into the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings. We talked about this last week. This is not a fellowship of eating and drinking like a church dinner. At times it will be going through what Aspah is describing for us- painful difficulty- the fellowship at times being that we know Jesus went through similar things and the feelings of being alone and abandoned are ours. We share in the knowledge He too went through what we are experiencing. We are being drawn closer to Him at the same time it seems as if He is millions of miles away

Nebuchadnezzar saw the fourth person but we are not told if the three young men did We often assume they did but we don’t know. I remember hearing a story of a missionary who was going to be brutally attacked and the would be attackers called it off when they saw angels all around the man. He didn’t see them but the enemy did After they came to the LORD they told him how they saw angels wielding swords all around him. You have to wonder how many times we are kept safe and we don’t find out about it

Sometimes even through a lion’s den Daniel 6
Paul wrestled wild beasts in Ephesus. Daniel sat quietly and had a good night’s rest while Darius couldn’t sleep knowing he had thrown a just man to the loins. God loves to put commas where men put periods. He loves to write last chapters. He has the final word He is the Alpha and the Omega

3. Sometimes God leads us through a strange land. Genesis 42.1-5

Egypt was this to Israel: Its root meaning- “siege”. Abraham went down to Egypt because of a famine as did the children of Israel. God had bigger things in mind. They thought they were going down there to get food to save their lives.

They were going down there for a family reunion with their brother, Joseph.

They were going down there for a long time so the family could become a nation and have the LORD deliver them and bring them back to the land He promised to Abraham.

We see in this account as in many accounts in God’s Word, His Sovereignty. These boys were being punished for what they did to their younger brother, Jacob was reaping what he had sown years before with own family- deception There was a famine in the Promised Land and I have to wonder if part of this was not due to their sin. Yet Benjamin didn’t sin and he had to go through it too. Sometimes God leads us through a strange land.

Certainly that is happening today. Things are rapidly changing and effecting all of us. Places that were familiar to us have all changed. One of these places as I have mentioned before is in the area of the celebration of days that are special to us as believers. While the influence we have had over the culture is diminishing, the secular counterpart is flourishing. Look at the all stuff out there for celebrating Easter. The LORD, our Shepherd leads us.

Joseph is our example of how we are to be when the LORD leads us through a strange land. He led Joseph down to Egypt. He was with him there.

* Joseph kept himself pure for the LORD.

*Joseph did not try to escape even when he could have easily done so. He would have messed up God’s plan. He would not be able to return to Egypt.

*Joseph saw his nightmare ending as God established him in a land that means siege

When I grew up in Bellmore we had honeysuckle in our yard. For years my aunt tried to transplant it. It would not take. She wanted to bring it out to Melville and run it up on a fence she had on the border of her property. Back about 10 years ago I tried as well. Finally I went to buy some. When they showed it to me it was not the kind I wanted. The lady in Frank’s was kind and knowledgeable. She told me what to do. I took cuttings from across the street and put them in water until roots developed, then I kept them inside for the winter. In the spring I brought them outside and they began to grow and for the past few years I have enjoyed the fragrance of the flowers These guys had to be cut then soaked then put out in the cold. But they also bloomed because they put their roots down. Joseph did the same thing. He bloomed in Egypt You can too wherever your are.

Maybe today you feel under siege. You are in a situation that you had nothing to do with as far as getting there. You feel trapped, cut off and wonder what will happen. You could be like Joseph- in a dungeon. You could be like Asaph, unable to speak and your soul refusing to be comforted.

Do what these men did Trust in God. When the disciples’ hearts were troubled Jesus told them to do that and pointed them to Himself and heaven. God brought of these men out of their troubled hearts.

Joseph’s testimony: Genesis 41.50-51

Asaph’s : Psalm 77.10-20
Notice how Asaph is talking about Joseph. God led him. He kept him. He restored his soul.

God leads us...
4. Always with love
One of the unique qualities of the shepherd is that he must love the sheep. A rancher doesn’t need to do that. Sheep need love. That is why the LORD is our shepherd and not our rancher Sheep must be led, watched over, protected, cared for, attended to and sometimes rescued. They must be fed. Jesus does all this for us and then He laid down His life for us.

God is love. He is good. He cares for us. He is watching over us. He never sleeps or slumbers. He is in control.

Sometimes as we said before that is all we have to hold onto We want assurances and appearances but we are blessed if not seeing we believe. Part of that faith is in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and part of it is in the character of God Himself, the two not really able to be separated- they are just simply facets that part of the same diamond.

The LORD is our Shepherd, We will never lack what we need
He keeps us and guides us, He protects and cares for His sheep.

Sometimes He leads His Children through places that are full of pain,
Yet in those times as we trust in Him, we experience the power in His Name.

His name is Jesus, He came from heaven to save us from our sins,
Lean on Him, Look to Him, tell Him your hurts that are deep within.

He’ll strengthen and He’ll help you He’ll bring you through the storms,
You’ll grow to love Him more and more leaning on the Everlasting Arms.

And then one day He’ll come again to bring His children home,
Praising Him and singing to Him we’ll all stand before His Throne



The LORD’s Day
March 4, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Receiving the LORD’s Supper
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
The LORD is Our Shepherd Psalm 77
*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

V
This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 78-80
Monday- Men’s Prayer Meeting- 6:30am
Wednesday- Bible Study- 7:30pm at the parsonage Psalm 78-80
Thursday- Bible Study- 10:30am at the church Psalm 78-80
Next Lord’s Day-
Turn your clocks ahead one hour
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm
In Your Prayers For All of God’s People
Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq. His mother was just diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Billy Knapp, Jr. leaves for Iraq next month (neighbor of the church). Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter. Sonya, Albert and Anka’s niece in Canada waiting for biopsy results. Please pray for the whole family. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for a lifelong condition. Please pray for healing for all of these. Praise God for a good report on Judy Mucci.
***********************************
*A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503
*If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see Alice Gordon.

Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
The LORD Our Shepherd
Psalm 77




Pastor’s messages are now available on the Internet
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
(Church Phone: 631-969-1730


*1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God