Saturday, June 13, we gathered to praise God, pray, and join our hearts in worship.
Mark opened the service by reminding us all of the importance of forgiveness—and that sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself.
We shared praises and prayer requests—with great thanksgiving for cancers removed and healed, chaplain training completed (Pastor Joel in Puerto Rico) and prayers for job opportunities and for peace talks in Iran.
Thank you Becky, for leading us in prayer!
Jake taught the kids about Jesus paying our way to heaven.
What if your ticket is dirty–or crumpled–or lost? Who pays your way? Jesus!
Brother Chuck and Jessica led us in glorious praise to our Father
Speaking from Joshua 6: 1-8, Chuck reminded us to take hold of the promises of God — to follow His instructions, and fight the battle. Glorifying God is part of doing battle with the enemy. God is faithful. We walk in faith and believe the promises.
We trust God’s instructions, even if they seem strange. He instructed the Israelites to march around Jericho – a strange way to take a city. The trumpet blown by the priests was the “Shofar of Jubilee.”
Jubilee: when the land is returned to its true owners, slaves are freed and debts cancelled. God’s promise is for you.
Walk as people of the promise. Share His promise of freedom with your community–they need to know!
Several Sabbaths have passed since the last update, but wonderful things have taken place at Pataskala Seventh Day Baptist Church – here are links to the services and a few photos too.
Becky gave an encouraging message about the blessing on Obed Edom and how it impacted his family for generations. I Chronicles 26: 4-8. Who is Obed Edom? Someone who wanted more and more and more of God. When the Ark of the Covenant came to his house for a few months it blessed his family so much they packed up and moved with it to Jerusalem when King David gave the orders to bring it home. Obed Edom invigorated his kids and grandkids to have a hunger for God, what a legacy.
Brother Chuck shared patterns of scripture from the book of Daniel—how God planned the end from the beginning, for example, the 490 years between the restoration of Israel and the ministry of Jesus were prophesied by Daniel. There are no surprises to God. God restores what we break, and puts things back in order. God clarifies things.
Dan shared about the hedge of protection we form around us by the ways we seek the Lord on a daily basis in worship, prayer and Bible Study and keeping Sabbath.
Marissa shared the symbolism in pretzels with the kids (!) Originated by the Pennsylvania Dutch, these treats were often shared after bedtime prayers with children. The familiar knot represents arms crossed– an approach to prayer taught by that community to their youngsters.
Brother Chuck reminded us of Biblical characters who made excuses… but God used them anyway. Moses said he was not eloquent enough. God appointed his brother Aaron to help him communicate. Gideon called himself the least among the smallest tribe of Israel. God pared his volunteer army down to 300 and used them to conquer Assyria, one of the greatest powers in the world at that time. Jeremiah said, “I am only a youth.” God said, “I have put my words in your mouth.” Human limitations do not limit God. We all have a calling. Those the Lord calls, he equips.
Dave reminded us that June 6, 1944 is the anniversary of D-Day, something Becky prayed we would not squander as we continue to ask the Lord for repentance and revival across our nation and the world.
Brother Chuck shared the power of memory, and the importance of setting up memorials. When Joshua led the children of Israel into the promised land (finally!) Just as the Red Sea parted for Moses, the Jordan river parted before the Ark of the Covenant and they all walked through on dry land. He instructed a man from each tribe to go to the middle of the river and pick up a stone—to create a memorial so they would never forget God’s work on their behalf. I will never leave you or forsake you. Choose you this day whom you will serve. Be strong and courageous! The stones from the middle of the river helped them communicate God’s promises to future generations. “Why are these here?” What a story to tell.
You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you. Isaiah 26:3
Join us in person every Saturday for Sabbath School, and Worship, or if you’re far away, join us for Worship online via Facebook.
Mark opened with prayer, then announced upcoming events including a youth retreat, women’s retreat and an Association meeting. The mission offering this quarter is going to the Heartbeats of Lincoln County, a pregnancy care center.
Prayers and praises were led by Becky. We are grateful that her neighbor is 99% improved and coming home from the hospital. A family lost a loved one to colon cancer. A church member had a heart procedure and anticipates more treatment. A young woman requested prayer for her family, and Seventh Day Baptist teams are preparing to hold Vacation Bible School in Guyana. More than 500 children and adults attended last year’s event.
Susie led us in a responsive reading based on the Sermon on the Mount “A New Way of Life. Love your enemies. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Davis helped the kids understand that unlike card-guessing games, you never have to guess when it comes to God. He knows everything.
And we sang praises to God. Thank you Chuck and Jessica!
Brother Chuck continued his series on the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, with the message to the Laodiceans from “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” Rev. 3:14b.
The Laodiceans were wealthy. Aqueducts provided running water from mineral-laden hot springs valued for their healing properties. Others brought cold, pure water that refreshed.
The Ruler of God’s creation says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one of the other! So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Rev. 3: 15-16. With neither hot nor cold properties, the water was useless.
The Laodiceans raised glossy black goats whose long silky hair was highly prized for expensive clothing. The city was also famous for salve developed by local phycisians to treat eye ailments. But the church of Laodicea was told, “You say I am rich, I have acquired wealth, and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, poor, blind and naked.” Rev. 3:17
Today, all of the wealth of Laodicea is gone.
But. Not even death itself limits the King of the Universe. Nothing is hidden from His sight. There are no secrets. The lies we’ve believed about ourselves “I’m not good enough, I’m too far gone, — the God of making things happen, who holds the Key of David… the ruler of creation—Jesus, was at God’s side at Creation – everything was made though him, He is Truth itself, and utterly trustworthy. He heals us. He breaks the power of lies.
“I’ve been teaching high school ethics. Our culture is in the midst of a “my truth/your truth” crisis. It’s all over the media. We try to redefine God’s truth. We need to be careful—watchful. Christ Jesus is truth itself. “In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” John 1: 1-5
The message to Laodicea is the most severe of the seven messages to the seven churches. Brother Chuck reminded that we were all put on the earth for the glory of God. We are here on purpose for a purpose. You were not an accident, you were not a surprise to God. He is calling every one of us for a purpose.
The American church has a lot in common with Laodicea. Wealth has become an idol. Do we know “how blind, how pitiful and how wretched we really are?” Did those thoughts cross the mind of Jesus when he talked with the rich young ruler (Luke 18-20)?
As individuals we need to pray, “Lord help me take my eyes off the things that take my eyes off of You. Take away what distracts my commitment to you.”
Even with the best eye salve, you’re blind. Even with the fanciest clothes, you’re naked. Why serve what is turning to dust? It’s not about tithe, the board meeting—only Jesus.“Buy gold from me refined by fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the rights to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Rev. 3:18b-22
The Laodiceans had lost track of what is truly important. We must walk in humility and repentance. Jesus died for us. He says, “I need YOU in my kingdom – I stand at the door and knock…” All we have do is say, Jesus, come in. Let all the wealth be for you and your glory.”
“Anyone who hears my voice and opens the door—I WILL come in and eat with him.
Lord, Help us see. Break us of our pride. Take away what stands between us and you. We repent of any lies we believe. We want to give you the glory. And more glory.
Amen.
Join us in person every Saturday for Sabbath School, and Worship, or if you’re far away, join us for Worship online via Facebook.
Pataskala Seventh Day Baptist 