Our True Pathway - Be Spiritually Alert.. Notes from Sunday Morning Meeting 3-21-21
for example
How are our sins washed away?
1 John 1:7; "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin." ... If we are walking in the light.. Jesus said I am the light of the world”..John 8:12..He goes on to say “ He who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life… *Luke and Matthew both remind us how desperately people need the light of life. Months before Jesus was born the father of John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was a priest named Zacharias, and he began to prophesy about their baby John and the coming Messiah. In Luke 1:76-79, Zacharias said:
76. "and you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77. to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins,
78. Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
79. to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.''
So if we walk in the light of Jesus, If we have “fellowship with one another” ..Fellowship is mentioned 19 times in the NT .
In the OT a transliterated form of the Greek (word κοινωνία), which refers to concepts such as fellowship, joint participation, the share which one has in anything, a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution. It identifies the idealized state of fellowship and unity that should exist within ... It is often confused with the related term communion.. This is how important “fellowship is..
You know poor communication has been the plague of mankind ever since the tower of Babel. Such statements as the following reveal that we face problems when trying to communicate to one another: “I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”
We can sometimes be misunderstood because of mispronunciations as when Howard Hendrick’s child told a friend that his father taught in a “cemetery.” Well… It does sound a little like seminary.. Sometimes sound-alike phrases are misunderstood as with the child in a Christian school who was asked to draw a picture depicting the hymn “Gladly the Cross I’d Bear” and instead drew a picture of Gladly, the cross-eyed bear. Bicultural relations are notorious for miscommunication.. Just ask anyone in a Filipino/American relationship….But if we have problems understanding the concepts of each other, that is nothing compared to the problems we encounter understanding the concepts of God, for His thoughts are not our thoughts and are far above ours..
Now, God has given us His thoughts in the Bible and explained them carefully, but as time has passed, they have become “greek to us” and we have warped His thoughts and reverted to our own practices concerning His word. One such concept that has been especially warped in its biblical meaning is the concept of Christian fellowship. Today, churches have fellowship halls, fellowship dinners, and fellowship retreats, but very few have real fellowship. Yet for a church that seeks to be guided in principle and practice by the New Testament, fellowship is very important.
John 1.. “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” In other words John says we will share with you our experiences so that we may come together and all have fellowship with the Lord…
Matthew 18:20
“ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
So we need to walk in the light of Jesus, we need to have fellowship and then Jesus does the rest.. He has paid with his blood on the cross.. But for us to receive this redemption we need to let the light of Jesus shine through us and have fellowship with one another…
Hebrews 10:17; "Then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” 6.
What does it mean to be cleansed from sin?
Cleansing in 1 John 1:7-10
The cleansing of our sin is a spiritual cleansing, but is a cleansing that changes our actual behaviours going forward. As we are cleansed in this way, we will grow in fellowship with God and with one another. And because of the obvious change , we can through Jesus, be a light in the world..
Lets talk about a common misconception about sin…
A few months ago, an acquaintance told me about her mother-in-law, Cynthia*, who had been found to have bipolar disorder. In her late 50s, and always having been a competent person, Cynthia had a great deal of trouble coming to terms with this. She refused to accept the diagnosis or to take the medications prescribed by her doctor. She was hospitalized several times. Failing to cope, her life — and her family’s life—was in turmoil, as is not unusual in situations like these… When relationships are on the brink, when our lives are falling apart when we have nowhere to turn we turn to God.. that’s if we can cut through the rage, despair, and hopelessness that accompanies a state of instability.. And being bipolar , which is a chemical imbalance, that manifests differently in different people, as we are all individuals, keeps one on a rollercoaster of emotions effecting judgement, thought process, ability to concentrate or focus, the ability to think rationally and it all gets magnified and mixed up.. So as you can well imagine as a person feels such turmoil it may be difficult to reach out to the Lord with a thankful heart.. What does this have to do with sin?
The evangelical faith she followed did not encourage her in her battle. The general opinion she had grown up with was that emotional problems were an indication of not “being right with God”— the result of sin. In her mind, and in the minds of many others in her church, her illness was not a medical issue. They believed, as one author wrote, “if a person has ‘the peace of God which passeth all understanding’ (Philippians 4:7) in his life he cannot have emotional conflict. Ultimately…symptoms are spiritual problems.”1 .. some would say then, to be consistent, that heart problems are spiritual problems, others might say that diabetes is a spiritual problem and of course that leaves hundreds possibly thousands of known diseases or disorders that we need to deal with..At least most of us have to deal with some of them eventually… So the question here is does disease manifest in us as a result of sin… If so than anything less than perfect health is a punishment from God.. I don’t want to belabour this because it is a ludicrous belief system.. But its good to put things in prospective… For those who would condemn the sick and infirmed as sinners and deserving of their plight should look first into their own heart and ask.. Where did this harshness come from.. Judge not least you be judged Christ said… Remove the plank in your own eye before you seek to remove the speck in your brother’s eye…
But what then is the reality?
Cynthia’s friend from church told her that taking medications demonstrated a lack of faith. The friend advised her to throw away her pills. Not long after, Cynthia was found wondering the streets of another city, confused and in a daze. She had to be committed to hospital against her will. To this day, she is still in denial, feeling guilt and shame from the experience. It was traumatic in and of itself ….
Hearing this story saddened me deeply. Being a Christian and having worked for many years as a Clinical social worker or Psychiatric Social Worker my experience is wide in the field of mental health to include bipolar disorder; I also know how important my faith is to my well-being and how much we all need the support of a church family. I am not alone in this. And medical professionals are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of spirituality to mental health.
We must be aware , however, of the structure which gives us health and well being. It is called the “Tripod of Life” and God gave it to each and every one of us… For us to be whole, to thrive, we need what is physical.. Good physical health, We need also sound mental health, and and well rooted, solid spiritual health. These are the 3 legs that support our wholeness. Mental health and physical health are intertwined.. right? and spiritual health weaves itself through the tapestry of life on every level. But spiritual health is the thing that grounds us and connects us to our world and to each other… It is done through the grace of God.. God knows are weakness no matter which kind we have..he knows our needs .. He knows our struggles ..The demons, so to speak, that plague us all… Even Paul when talking about his thorn in the flesh confessed that he had asked the Lord 3x to remove it but that he came to know that this ‘thorn” as he described it, was left with him to keep him humble..He had his thorn for a reason.. we have ours also… We often don’t understand the ways of the Lord.. that’s why faith is so important.. that in spite of our lack of understanding we can go forward with peace in our hearts and confidence knowing that God is directing our steps, in our best interest..
Jesus died on the cross for our sins.. He never said if you sin you will punished by an ailment of some sort or form.. He said have faith, repent and redemption is yours.. Period..end of story.. I think it is important to know and understand what sin is and we have covered it in some depth over the past weeks. Right? However, it is just important to understand what it isn’t because we don’t want to be operating under false assumptions…Walk in the light of Jesus, have fellowship with one another and our sins will be paid for with the blood of our Lord and saviour.. have faith, repent and redemption is yours….. It can’t get simpler.. But we have people that think well maybe God missed a thing or two so we’ll help him out a little..We’ll add a few requirements and make some connections that God missed….The sheer audacity !!!
Some Christian writers have revealed that a large segment of those identifying themselves as Christians do indeed cling to faulty ideas and judgemental things, and lack compassion towards those with mental illness or those who are weak. In spite of overwhelming evidence of biochemical factors in mental illnesses, many well-known, respected writers and evangelists still believe these illnesses are caused by sin and weakness of character—that is, by something that is under our control.
The very church that preaches Christ’s unconditional love and compassion, in some instances, hurts its most needy members. Some of the dynamics contributing to this irony include: The fuzzy line between the psychological and the spiritual
The fact that one often feels an absence of hope and faith when ill
It leads to the mistrust of modern medical findings
And a misinterpretation of the Bible
Fear because of misunderstanding and not knowing how to help
At the same time, it’s clear to me that not all Christians stigmatize those with illness but many do… The result of operating under a false premise…
Churches and Christians need to exercise the core of their faith especially with their brothers… It is unacceptable for excessive harshness to be directed toward people who are already struggling and need a helping hand up not a foot in their back…
I haven’t always been a Christian. I know what it is to be struggling with, and without, God in my life. But now, during crises, I’m no longer alone when it becomes difficult to hang on. I now have a spiritual lifeline— a living God—in whom I can trust and so do we all. My faith means everything to me. This is why Cynthia’s story disturbs me. Those who are in the best position to encourage folks like her are actually causing more suffering.
All of society needs to become better informed about these things. Yet, for members of faith communities, this is especially so because of the important part they play in the emotional care of their members. Pastors and other church leaders desperately need education about mental health issues, so they can encourage—not reject or judge—those with difficulties.
And, they need to know when it’s time to help members of their pastoral community to seek medical care as well. This is important part of how we need, as Christians, to function.. sometimes our help is limited but God has given us all gifts of a different kind and if we use what we have been given to help the weak, the sick, the poor , the starving and the misguided than we have done what God has asked of us…
So how are doctors woven into this tapestry of health and spirituality..
I will let you decide this for yourselves but after I share with you this beautiful letter ..We sometime forget that Doctors are human beings also…
By Dr. David Kamberilas…
In 1973 , I was finishing my junior year in mechanical engineering at Purdue University when, out of the blue, a professor by the name of Frank Signor asked me to spend the summer doing a research project involving biomedical engineering and open heart surgery in canines. Little did I know that this would change my life forever. It was during this summer that I had my epiphany that I did not belong in the engineering world. I wanted to be a doctor. With a little luck and a lot of prayers, I was accepted into the 1974 medical school class at The Ohio State University.
I realized fairly early in my medical career that being a physician gave me not only tremendous responsibilities but also great opportunities. Opportunities every day and sometimes every hour to make a difference. With the graces given to me by our Creator, I have been thankful for the knowledge and skill I have developed to diagnose and treat various disease processes that cause not only physical suffering but also emotional distress in my patients. Even more so, I cherish the sacred interaction that occurs between a patient and doctor behind that closed office door. The stories I have heard have touched my soul.
Our attending physician stated his very well . he said: We “are afforded a privilege not available even to priests. Doctors are called to bring God into situations where priests are not able to assist. They work with men and women who are ministers of God. They work with human beings who are created in the image of God. Doctors are present during the most sacred moments in life. Never forget this!” I believe this with all my heart and soul.
The landscape of delivering medical care is drastically changing. It is unfortunate that your family doctor or internist rarely takes care of you anymore when you are sick and in the hospital. Continuity of care has been trumped by a hospitalist or physician assistant working a 12 hour shift, doing his or her best just to get through a long list of patients to see each day. This is why the rest of healthcare workers need to step up and shine as well. On more than a few occasions, I have been told by patients that they didn’t think much of the doctor that they had in the hospital but that the nursing staff was very loving and nothing short of incredible. Or the story about a caring respiratory therapist who appeared in the middle of the night like an angel to administer a much needed breathing treatment to a man in respiratory distress and then held his hand until the crisis was over. A physical therapist who gave a trauma victim encouragement and hope that they would someday walk again.
At Lutheran Hospital where I do most of my inpatient work, there is a team of very skilled nurses called the PIC team. These highly skilled nurses are usually called when chronically ill patients run out of peripheral veins to place IV’s. They find and puncture deep and hidden veins advancing long tubes into the central veins near the heart. They must be guided by their guardian angels because they always have a gentle touch, a smile, and a genuine caring attitude towards every patient I see them treat and minister to.
The medical technicians, nursing assistants, dieticians, kitchen staff, therapists and even housekeeping in the hospital get opportunities to minister to the sick and these should not be missed. It really IS the little things. We are frequently told from the pulpit on Sunday to strive to be saints. If you are a healthcare worker you are probably given more opportunities than the great majority of vocations to emulate Jesus and live out your faith each day at work.
As it says in Romans 12:6-8, “We have gifts that differ according to the favor bestowed on each of us. One’s gift may be prophecy; its use should be in proportion to his faith. It may be the gift of ministry; it should be used for service. One who is a teacher should use his gift for teaching; one with the power of exhortation should exhort. He who gives alms should do so generously; he who rules should exercise his authority with care; he who performs works of mercy should do so cheerfully.”
We healthcare workers have been given such a great opportunity by our vocation. I pray that I, my physician colleagues, and all those in the healthcare industry are up to the challenge.
Amen to that Brother ! We are blessed to have men like you in the field because we all need you and we know that God works through you also…
So lets not confuse issues and make a toxic mix. As Christ said to the Scribes and Pharisees .. You err to not know the scriptures and the power of God..
When our bodies are letting us down we pray for God’s mercy to heal us if he sees fit, to mitigate our suffering if He believes it’s best for us. We understand that God works and work that is woven into every facet of life. When we seek fellowship it is not because we lack faith it is what the Lord has asked us to do.. It is what he wants. When we reach out to the medical community, its not because of a lack of faith in God it is because we understand that God works through our Doctors too.. He works through our friends and sometimes even through our enemies…
So what do we need to do? We need to walk in the light of Jesus, We need to keep fellowship with each other to share..to take communion with other believers and we will be cleansed by the blood of Christ once we have repented , through faith we will find redemption… It is a turning away from sin and turning toward Jesus and redemption….
Going forward today..
we have the remembrance of the past, fellowship in the present, and prophetic fulfilment in the future. What a wonderful heritage to us is this service! Let us therefore observe it with great "desire" as did our Lord when on earth with His disciples. Let us perpetuate this service faithfully in our humble church, and His character in our daily living. Soon we shall share with Him in the glories of the hereafter.
Jesus said - “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Communion or “The Lord’s Supper” is a way to celebrate our intimate connection and ongoing relationship with Jesus.
I believe, in spite of world circumstances today there is s a simple way to celebrate!
When we gather as followers of Jesus, spend time in quiet meditation, silently considering and confessing your sins, silently , we have fulfilled the wishes of God….The responsibility is ours and the rewards are very personal indeed…
When you are ready, I will begin by reading a passage from scripture --
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-24
The Bread
Father, we ask you in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who receive it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of your Son, and witness to you, O God, that they are willing to take upon them the name of your Son, and always remember him, and keep the commandments which he has given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen. Pass out bread you have set aside for your group, and eat. Continue the reading --
“In the same way, He took the cup also after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’” 1 Corinthians 11:25
Blessing on the Wine
O God, the eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son which was shed for them, that they may witness unto thee, O God, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
Share the juice or wine you have set aside for your group, and drink.
Finish the reading:
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26
Prayer of Offering:
O Jesus, receive our poor offering.
Jesus, you have given yourself to us,
We now give ourselves to you:
give you our body that it may be chaste and pure,
We give you our soul that it may be free from sin,
We give you our hearts that it may always love you,
We give you every breath that we shall breathe and especially our last,
I give you myself in life and in death
May we be yours for ever and ever.
When we feel abandoned help us to know that you are there,
When we feel afraid help us to know that you are with us..
When we are confused help us to understand..
Let us feel your presence around us and in us continually…
Help us to be born again as a child and of your holy spirit…
Bless our efforts today and grace us with wisdom to live in accordance with a greater understanding of your word…
We ask all in Jesus name…
Amen.
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