Another wonderful day of worship and fellowship in the house of God has rolled around!  Being in God’s house and gathering with people of faith is uplifting to the soul and pleasing to God!  Good Shepherd will welcome you if you need a place to gather or have been out of fellowship for a time.  We will also honor 6 graduates of High School and 6 college graduates.   We are located at 3031 Bittel Road in Owensboro and church is at 10:30!

Today we will begin a new illustrated sermon series called “For the Journey!”  Come find out where the journey leads us each week as we travel this summer on a ‘camping’ trip up the Appalachian trail.  Each week will deal with an aspect of following Jesus  Christ as a committed disciple!  This summer journey is designed to be fun and challenging to our souls! Don’t miss it!

In His Love,

Pastor John and Mary

In His Love,  Pastor John and Mary

Friends are a precious gift to any person!  Close friends whom we can share our hearts with are few and far between.  I am blessed with a close friend in my wife.  I also have several men who are friends I count on.  But outside of your mate, friends who will stick with you and speak honestly to you are not that easy to find.

Job was in the thick of his personal crisis.  He had lost his material possessions and his children, and now had lost his health as well.  His body was covered with sores and he itched and ached.  Worms infested the sores and he could find no rest day or night.  He was just a shadow of his former self and at this point had no answers as to why this was happening to him.  His own wife had advised him to curse God and die.  Three friends were there with him and sat  for seven days in silence.

Eliphaz  finally spoke up and gave advice from the popular world-view of his day: “God punishes the wicked rewards the righteous.”  In this view, any suffering was the result of some sin.  Confession and honesty about your sin would restore and heal you.  Eliphaz got this revelation from a personal experience with a “spirit” and by learning from personal observation.  (Job 4:12-21)  But this view was not the truth in Job’s case!  God had allowed Job’s suffering for His own reasons and had Himself declared Job righteous before the suffering began. (Job 1:8)

Job knew his own heart and his integrity would not let him confess to something he was not aware of.  He would not try to manipulate God just to get everything back.  Rather than being comforted by Eliphaz’s words, he became  more miserable!  (Job 6:21)  Job went to God in prayer for the help he needed and the answers his friend could not give!  (Job 7:17-21)

I am reminded of my need for compassion for those who suffer!  It is so easy to judge them from my own worldly wisdom!  God’s ways are above our understanding.  Listening  and waiting on the Lord is a wiser course of action.  My prayer:  “Help me O Lord, to be a better friend to those who suffer!”

The Bible teaches us that the unseen world is eternal and the world that is visible is only temporary. (2nd Corinthians 4:18)  God dwells in the realm of the eternal and made this visible creation, including us.  Satan and Adam’s disobedience brought sin and death into the world and corrupted both creation and man.  Satan, the accuser, has been given permission to tempt, test, and try us.  He seeks to steal from us, kill our bodies, and destroy our souls in Hell.     (John 10:10)

God in His love seeks to redeem us from sin and death through faith.  He reveals Himself to us through creation and by revelation in our inner man.  He gives each person a conscience with a basic knowledge of right and wrong.   The Bible is the story of God’s gracious plan of redemption implemented throughout history in the lives of people who by faith trusted God.

Job gives us insight about God and Satan and the nature of our spiritual conflict.   Satan first accused Job before God of selfish motives.  (Job 1:9-11)  Satan accused God of showing favoritism toward Job and blessing him.  He stated that if God removed his hedge and the blessings,  Job would curse God to His face!  God gave him permission to test him, but placed boundaries for the test.  Job suddenly and catastrophically lost everything he owned as well as his ten children in a violent storm.  (Job 1:19) His response was to humble himself and to worship God, not curse Him. (Job 1:20-21)

Satan came before God to bring attention to Job again.  God commended Job for keeping his integrity during the temptation but Satan responded with another accusation.  He contended that if God would allow him to take Job’s health, Job would curse God.  (Job 2:4-6)  God again set a limit and permitted Satan to inflict Job physically.  During this trial, Job’s own wife suggested he curse God and die.  Job finally cursed the day of his birth but never God.  (Job 3:1-4)

The story of Job gives us insight into the battle we face each day to trust God and believe His word.  God allows Satan to bring testing and trials.  We must learn to walk by faith and not give in to our feelings or Satanic temptation to deny God!   God will keep us safe as we trust in Him!  Faith brings the victory!

When God wants His people to remember something, He usually designs a feast or celebration!   God gave Israel “Passover” as a way to remember their deliverance from bondage in Egypt.  He gave them “Pentecost or “first-fruits” to celebrate the harvest and giving of His Law.  He gave them “Tabernacles” where they lived in booths to commemorate their 40 years in the wilderness before entering the promised land.  He gave the church the “Eucharist” (thanksgiving) to celebrate Jesus Christ’s final sacrifice and as a picture of the great wedding banquet to come!   Our God likes the idea of His people celebrating!

The Jews had good reason to celebrate!  Their enemy, Haman, was hung on the gallows that he built.  The king had extended favor to Esther and Mordecai by giving them Haman’s estate.   Haman  had offered 375 tons of silver, the equivalent of about 120 million dollars, to eliminate the Jews and the king told him to keep his money!  (Esther 3:9-11)   His estate must have been tremendous. Not only that, but they were now granted the right to defend themselves against their enemies and even eliminate their enemies on the appointed day that Haman had picked by casting the l0t!  Their lives were spared and they were able to see their enemies get their due!

The plan was devised by Mordecai after the king granted him authority to write up what the Jews needed in order to counter the first decree which, according to the law of the land, could not be set aside.  Before the day came, many people of other nationalities became Jews for fear of them. (Esther 8:17)  On the day set by Haman, the tables were turned and the enemies of the Jews were themselves destroyed.  (Esther 9:1-2)  Five hundred were killed in Suza and another 75,000 were eliminated across the land of Persia by the Jews.  Esther asked for another day to eliminate enemies in Suza and the king granted her plea!  Thus the feast of Purim (lot) was begun.  They celebrated for two days giving gifts and eating choice foods!  (Esther 9:20-22)

God is in absolute control of everything!  When His people fast, pray and seek to obey, He comes through.  Evil toward His people is turned back on the heads of those who would harm His children!  Tell someone this good news today! Celebrate the victory that is ours in Jesus Christ!

“If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.” Proverbs 26:27

“An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad.” Proverbs 29:6

We must be careful when we plot revenge.  All judgment and vengeance is the Lord’s.  (Romans 12:19)  The Lord has a way of turning the tables on those who seek revenge and plot evil.  He has ways of protecting those who are innocent and especially those who are serving Him.

Haman was thrilled with his position and his influence!  He boasted to his wife and friends of his good fortune and how he was the only one invited to meet with Queen Esther for a banquet.  (Nehemiah 6:1-12)  There was just one fly in the ointment: Mordecai the Jew would not show him honor by bowing before him!  He complained to his wife and friends who proposed a plan to hang Mordecai on a gallows 75 feet high!  This would have been high enough to display the execution above the walls of the city!  He had the gallows built and was ready for the next day.

But God was moving silently behind the scenes.  The king could not sleep, so he had the chronicles of his reign read to him.  He heard the story of the plot to assassinate him–a plot Mordecai had exposed thus saving his life.  He asked what had been done for this man and found out it had been overlooked.  He asked who might be in the court to honor Mordecai, and providentially, Haman had just walked in!  The king asked him what he would do to honor someone special to the king.  Haman thought of himself and proposed a grand public honor.  He was suddenly embarrassed when he found out it was Mordecai, the man he was planning to hang!

The end of the story finds Haman hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai!  This is what will happen for all of His people who serve Him faithfully.  It can appear as if the wicked got by with their schemes, but not at the final judgment!  Check your heart today and come clean of any thoughts or plans for revenge.  Forgive and turn the table back toward God’s mercy before He turns the tables on you!

As God’s people, we should try to be the best citizens we can be.  We are to be known as people who obey the law and serve and pray for those in authority.  We  promote respect for those in authority and aid their proper rule.  However, when a civil authority gives orders to disobey the law of God, we must respectfully decline and obey God!  This can bring trouble and wrath from authority!

Haman was a man who was exalted by King Xerxes to a place of honor above all others.  All officials in the king’s palace knelt down and paid honor to Haman  (Esther 3:2)  except one man.  Mordecai, Queen Esther’s Jewish uncle, would not bow his knee before a man because of his faith in God and God’s word. (Esther 3:4)   This infuriated Haman and he devised a plot to eliminate all Jews from Persia.  He offered the king 375 tons of silver to allow him to eliminate these disrespectful people.  (Esther 3:8-9)  For those in authority to feel secure, any threat to their power or position must be removed! (Remember that King Xerxes removed Queen Vasti for her disrespect!)

How did Mordecai react to the decree to kill all Jews?  He immediately began to fast and pray, calling other Jews to join him.  (Ester 4:1-3)  He asked his niece, Queen Esther, to help.  She would have to exercise some wise “civil disobedience” herself if she were to approach the king.  She asked for prayer covering as she prepared for this potentially life-threatening task of asking the king for help.  (Ester 4:15-17)  Her attitude was one of faith and of willingness to die to protect her people!

Queen Esther could be a type of the Church.  The Church has been placed by God in places of influence to be a witness for God and His people.  The Church is to be submissive to the authorities of the world in all things except where that compromises faithfulness to God.  The Church is to be willing to die for what is right, rather than compromise the truth for the passing pleasures of sin for a season.  The Church must speak up or loose its place of influence for God!  Ask God what other lessons might be here for you as you read this story of God working through ordinary people to accomplish His purposes!

Esther lived in Persia during the days of Ezra and Nehemiah when the 50,000 Jews were rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.  It is the story of ordinary Jewish people who are trying to be faithful to their God while they live in a foreign land.  Although God is not mentioned,  He is turning all circumstances to work out for the good of those who love Him.  (Romans 8:28)

God puts Esther, a  beautiful Jewish virgin,  in the palace of the king of Persia.  The king liked to drink and boast of his wealth and evidently his women, too!  He called for his beautiful queen, Vasti, to come and display herself before the nobles who were drinking with him.  Queen Vasti refused!  The king and his nobles decided that she must be made a public example so that other women would not get the idea that they could disrespect their husbands.  Queen Vasti was removed from her royal position and never allowed into the king’s presence again!  As a result of this, a search was made for the most beautiful woman to take the queen’s place.  God exhalted Esther to this place of honor!

In today’s culture, what Vasti did would have been totally acceptable!  She did not want to be eye candy for this group that were already inflamed by wine.  She had her principles and stuck by them.  She would have been commended by all today, especially Christians!

However, in that culture, women were expected to be totally obedient to their husbands.  In the pagan culture, nothing could stop the king from having what he wanted!  All the men in power agreed about that and felt threatened by the queen’s action!  They felt that they needed to take action to protect themselves and their way of life. (Esther 1:18-20)

God used the culture of that day to accomplish His purposes.  He removed the one queen, probably protecting her for her stand of faith.  He placed Esther, a godly Jew, in the place of influence and gave her favor in order to bring about the deliverance of all his people!  (Esther 2:17)  As a godly Jew, Esther learned how to obey the king and still remained  loyal to her God.  By faith she has become a Christian example  of a woman true to her people and to God!

Dear Friends,

Let’s gather today to honor God and worship with His people!  Worship brings the presence and peace of God into our lives in a tangible way.  God is worthy of our best efforts and is to be praised!

Today is “Mother’s Day” and we celebrate God’s wonderful blessing of mothers.  Honoring our fathers and mothers is a command given for all and promises us a long life and blessing!  Sounds like something to get into!  See you at church!  In His Love,  Pastor John and Mary

Would you like to be remembered by God for the good works?  Nehemiah had the great honor of God’s approval recorded for all to read.  Let’s look at Nehemiah’s last four prayers of petition to the Lord, see his heart,  and learn why God answered his prayers with favor!

“Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.” Nehemiah 13:14

Nehemiah was asking to be remembered for removing Tobiah the Ammonite from the temple.  Nehemiah threw out all his things and cleansed the room where he was staying. (Nehemiah 13:1-2,7-9)  Nehemiah also found out that the Levites had not received their portion of the tithes and therefore had to return to work, neglecting the work in the temple.  He rebuked the officials who had allowed this and ordered the Levites back to work  in the temple.  He reminded the people to bring their tithes into the storehouse and replenish the storerooms.  Nehemiah did this because he loved the Lord’s house and knew what would bless God and His people.  Faithfulness to God’s house is always remembered and rewarded!

“Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.  Remember me for this also, O my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.” Nehemiah 13:22

Nehemiah rebuked the people for doing business on the Sabbath, closed the gates, and warned those bringing goods to remove them on the Sabbath.  (Nehemiah 13:12-18)  He was concerned that God’s wrath would come upon the people for their disrespect of God’s commandment.  He was looking out for their welfare and God remembered him for it!

“Remember them, O my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.” Nehemiah 13:29  “Remember me with favor, O my God.” Nehemiah 13:30b

The last recorded deed of Nehemiah was his dealing with mixed marriages in Judah and the priesthood.  He rebuked the offenders strongly, even beating and pulling out the hair of some of them!  (Nehemiah 13:25)  He made them swear not to give their daughters or allow their sons to marry outside the faith.  Sin requires decisive action or it brings God’s wrath.  Nehemiah was “remembered with favor” by the Lord!

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.  This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.“ Nehemiah 8:10

After rebuilding the walls, Ezra and Nehemiah held a great church service.  He brought out the book of the Law of Moses and began reading it to all who had gathered inside the walls.  Ezra the priest opened the Book as all the people stood in reverence.  (Nehemiah 8:4-5)  Ezra praised the Lord and the people responded with “Amen! Amen!” and bowed in worship.  As the Book was read, the people began to understand how they had failed to follow God’s word.  This triggered emotions and conviction and many began to weep.

Why did Nehemiah tell the people not to grieve and weep before the Lord?  Godly sorrow that leads to true change is commended in Scripture.  (2nd Corinthians 7:8-11)  Nehemiah actually sent the people away to enjoy choice food and sweet drinks and share with those who didn’t have any.  He told them that the joy of the Lord would be their strength!  (Nehemiah 8:9-10)

Joy always follows true understanding of the grace and mercy of God.  Joy is the result of God’s mercy being revealed to us as a gift to be received by faith.  As the people understood God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness for them, they could celebrate as people who were forgiven.  The Book of the Law revealed this mercy and love of God.  They could celebrate it’s restoration to their lives and to the lives of their children.

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit of God.  (Galatians 5:22)   New Testament believers can enjoy the Lord’s promise of joy as a fruit of abiding in Him and His word abiding in us.  When we understand God’s word, the joy of the Lord becomes our strength!  We have God’s law written on our hearts and the Spirit gives us understanding of God’s word.  We can have this same joy for our strength, too!  “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13