Agape – Sermon for January 17 2010

Prologue
Job’s Integrity 1:1-5

Satan Tests Job the First Time 1:6-22
The Heavenly Counsel Meets 1:6-12
1:6
The angels (sons of God),
the LORD (YHWH – Yahweh or Jehovah),
Satan (the Accuser)
The Hedge 1:10
Reference Luke 22:31 (sift you as wheat)
Satan Strikes Job’s Household
Disaster 1 – Job’s donkeys and servants 1:13-15
Disaster 2 – Job’s sheep and servants 1:16
Disaster 3 – Job’s camels and servants 1:17
Disaster 4 – Job’s sons and daughters 1:18-19
Job Responds to the Disaster 1:20-22
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. 1:22

Satan Tests Job the Second Time
The Heavenly Council Meets Again 2:1-5
Skin for skin! 2:4
Reference Ex 21:24 Dt 19:21
This is not the only time Satan quotes Scripture to God – Ref Mat 4:5-6 Psalm 91
Disaster 5 – Satan Strikes Job’s Body 2:6-7
Painful soars 2:7-8
More than soars: Job 7:5 (worms), Job 7:14 (nightmares), Job 19:17 (bad breath), Job 19:20 (undernourishment), Job 30:17 (unrelenting pain), and Job 30:30 (black peeling skin)
Job’s wife 2:9
Tasteless wife joke: Proverbs 21:9, 25:24.
Tasteless husband joke: Job 19:17
Job Responds to His Illness 2:8-10

Dialogues About Suffering
Job’s Three Comforters Mourn With Him 2:11-13
Shivah – 7 Day period of mourning
Job Curses the Day of His Birth 3:1-26
Eliphaz Responds to Job 4:1-5:27
Job Responds to Eliphaz 6:1-7:21
Bildad Responds to Job 8:1-22
Job Responds to Bildad 9:1-35
Job Pleads with God 10:1-22
Zophar Responds to Job 11:1-20
Job Responds to Zophar 12:1-25
Job Wants to Argue His Case 13:1-19
Job Asks How He Has Sinned 13:20-14:22
Eliphaz Responds to Job 15:1-35
Job Responds to Eliphaz 16:1-22
Job Defends His Innocence 17:1-16
Bildad Responds to Job 18:1-21
Job Responds to Bildad 19:1-29
Zophar Responds to Job 20:1-29
Job Responds to Zophar 21:1-34
Eliphaz Responds to Job 22:1-30
Job Responds to Eliphaz 23:1-17
Job Asks Why the Wicked Are Not Punished 24:1-25
Bildad Responds to Job 25:1-6
Job Responds to Bildad 26:1-14
A Hymn to God’s Wisdom 28:1-28
Job Speaks of Former Blessing 29:1-25
Job Speaks of Present Anguish 30:1-31
Elihu’s Speeches 32:1-22
Elihu Presents His Case Against Job 33:1-33
Elihu Accuses Job of Arrogance 34:1-37
Elihu Reminds Job of God’s Justice 35:1-16, 36:1-21
Elihu Reminds Job of God’s Power 36:22-33, 37:1-24

Job Gets His Chance to Curse the LORD to His face 38-41
The LORD Challenges Job

Job’s Responses
Job’s First Response 40:3-5
Job’s Second Response 42:1-6

Epilogue – The LORD’s Verdict and Job’s Restoration 42:7-16

Conclusion:

If you have been cursing God, you’ve done so in ignorance not fully understanding the full power of God. Job had a chance to meet God face to face through a storm and then understood the response that was required and the only one possible. The scriptures clearly say that we will all get this same chance: Romans 14:9-12, Phillipians 2:5-11.

The question is: will you praise God now while you still have a choice?

Introduction, Prayer, Announcements, and Administrative

Group Reading & Activity – The Stoning of Stephen (Acts Chapter 7)

Leader Reading – The First Stone Thrown (John 8:1-11) Reference: Lev 20:10 and Deut 22:22

Activity – Highs, Lows, and Stones Thrown

Conclusion – Lessons learned, benediction, and dismiss

* To continue to hunger and thirst for a deeper intimate relationship with my Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, and precious Holy Spirit

* To lead in a way the releases the Father’s love and the fresh move of the Holy Spirit in everything that we do – so that all that we do is worship unto Him and lifts up Jesus Christ

* To keep our church balanced by continuing to raise up ministry teams in each of the ministry areas described in “The Purpose Driven Church” and make sure that the teaching and conference activities train, equip, and encourage congregational participation in each of these areas

* To evangelize to reach the harvest of souls that God has for us

* To raise up 15 disciples that are trained and equipped to befriend and disciple (love, nurture and teach) new believers, or those who have come back to the Lord, and bring them to a place that they can do the same with others

* Continue to look for spiritual calls on people and help them grow in releasing their giftings of the Holy Spirit in a safe environment

* To especially recognize the call of God on young adults and encourage our church to help them financially and spiritually pursue the call of God on their lives through education, mentoring and earning credentials

* To continue to travel helping strengthen and encourage leaders of small churches and their congregations through the Agape Barnabas Outreach

Several main goals have dominated how I have spent my time this year. As we have grown spiritually, I have been preparing our church for numerical growth. Throughout the first part of the year I focused on beginning to develop training programs at church that would help members of our congregation mentor new believers, or those who would need special love and attention because their lives had been shattered. I continued to lead the youth group in finding their own faith as we studied the scriptures and enjoyed activities together. Our church has always been a spiritual hospital where we help those who have crashed recover spiritually, physically and emotionally. Our valley wide monthly healing services continued to release these types of healing to many in the community. We invite guest speakers and prayer teams from other churches; worship; teach; share testimonies and then pray for the sick anointing them with oil. We have truly seen miracles occur, at least one a month, along with many instant and progressivehealings.

In May I decided to apply for further credentials from an international Christian organization called Global Awakening because I may be traveling more through our ministry called Agape Barnabas Outreach and wanted to have credentials that would be recognized by more places. We are also attracting younger families in church and one of the young men, Chris, wanted to become a pastor. We applied for the credentials together. The result was that we both qualified but had to read 15 books over the summer and write a report on a conference we had attended. That was the end of fishing until I went to Canada in August.

In Canada at Upper Beverly lake in Ontario ( 19th year of renting the 4 cabins) we did amazingly well. Although there were no record breakers, all of us caught a number of large bass and had wonderful fellowship. This is always my sabbatical for the year where I let go of everything I can and draw especially close to the Lord.

In September I received special recognition concerning my ordination through Life Center, a large international church in Harrisburg, Pa.. at a conference for us by our apostles in Harrisburg. It was inspiring. In October, myself and Chris received full licensing from Global Awakening in Baltimore, Maryland during an apostolic convention. In 2 years we will qualify for lifetime ordination from them. Chris is now serving as an associate pastor in training. Our church congregation is steadily growing. By the end of the first quarter of next year we should have our building and property totally paid off. Praise the Lord!

I decided to go back into archery hunting for relaxation and fellowship among the men of the church. Enclosed are the surprising results of grace and mercy.

JoDee and Donald, Nate and Cathy, and their families are doing well. Jodee has 3 teenagers and a 3 year old, Nate has 3 teenagers. I enjoyed going to family gatherings and sporting events this year. May God richly bless each one of you throughout the holidays and new year!!!

Suddenly!

David Farnholtz 2009

I have hunted white tail deer for years but have never gotten a large buck. I had an opportunity to go to Texas to hunt white tail deer and so decided to go. However the Lord closed the door to the trip. I talked with Stephen, a man at church who did a lot of archery hunting and asked if he would mentor me. He has been willing and patient with me.

One Sunday I preached a message that included how SUDDENLY, when everything seems to be going wrong and no hope is left, our Lord may intervene and turn things around. We also need to be ready because Jesus will SUDDENLY come back again when no one expects it. The next day, Monday, I was late to meet Stephen to go hunting. We got together and raced out to our hunting stands. We both went into the woods to different spots and then came out of the woods because there was someone already there. We drove to our backup spot and there were cars there and hunters going into the woods. Our third choice was 30 minutes away, but we had little choice. As I walked into the woods to my stand I went by a large deer scrape and said “I would like to see the buck that made that.”. Until i got to my stand I had 1 hour to hunt. After 45 minutes I began to quietly pack up. SUDDENLY I saw a large buck with high antlers begin to come into the woods from the field. I was all excited, but the buck turned away. I thought that he was going to come down along the corn field, so I switched positions. I waited and waited and began to think that he had sensed me and was gone. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him coming through thick brush. I switched position again and waited and waited. I picked out a tree at the end of the thicket and decided that when he stepped out from behind it I was shooting. Well, it seemed like forever, first the antlers appeared, then the head and neck, and then SUDDENLY, he stepped out and I instinctively shot. In archery, they always run away and you wait before going after them. I sat in the dark, wondering, “It happened so fast, did I even aim?”. Later, Stephen came, and we began tracking. There was no evidence that I shot him for about 15 yards. Then we found the blood trail and 15 yards later he lay dead. The Lord had directed my arrow through both lungs. Stephen field dressed him and we began to drag him out of the woods, wondering “How are we going to lift him into the truck?”. We went back to the truck to get a better way of dragging him. A farmer passed by and talked with us. We went back into the woods and continued to drag him, when another flashlight approached us. The farmer had taken his equipment home and come back to help us. Praise the Lord! He estimated the deer to be between 180 and 200 pounds live weight.

I know that God has blessed me with every trophy on the wall in my all season porch, both from Pennsylvania and Africa, and I draw all the closer to God with thanksgiving for all of the journey of life that I have experienced with Him.

I have lived long enough to see many die SUDDENLY in traffic accidents, by heart attacks and in other ways. I am concerned that many in America have been given a false hope of being ready to meet the Lord by preaching that includes what I call “sloppy or cheap grace”. These preachers teach that all you have to do to go to heaven is to make a prayer receiving Jesus Christ as you savior. This type of preaching and evangelism lulls people into thinking that they don’t have to make any changes in their lives. The message given is “Just go on living the way you have been and because of the Love of God you will be saved.

It is true that the love of God is expressed in sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that we can have forgiveness of sins. It is also true that we are saved by grace through faith and not by a string of good works that we have done (Ephesians 2:8,9). God is a just God and has made the opportunity for everyone to come back to Him through Jesus Christ. The bible also teaches that we must first repent of our sins (asking for forgiveness of our sins and deciding that with God’s help, we will turn from our current life style to one that honors Him), and then ask Jesus Christ to come into our lives to be our LORD AND SAVIOR. The Bible is clear that if we continue certain life styles, or center on self instead of the Lord’s will for our lives, we will most likely not go to heaven (Acts 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:1-21; Colossians 3:1-10; Romans 1:18-2:11).

However, the good news is that Jesus came, not only to forgive us of our sins, but to also set us free from the slavery to those sins (Luke 4:14-20). When I first repented and prayed to receive Jesus Christ, I was instantly delivered from binge drinking. There were other areas of sin, that step by step, the Lord has delivered me from, and released me into a wonderful journey of walking with God through every day life, led by the Holy Spirit. When we do mess up and commit an act of sin, we can quickly ask forgiveness and purpose to continue to repent. If we do, God will not only forgive us of the sin but also cleanse us from all unrighteousness giving us a brand new start (1 John 1:9). When we surrender control of our lives over to Him for Him to lead us by the Holy Spirit we also have the assurance that we will continue to be with Him even when we die. Our earth suits degrade but our spirits live eternally with Him and one day we will receive a glorified body like Jesus has as He was raised from the dead (1 John 5:11-13; 1 Corinthians 15:35-58). Until then we will continue to go through trials here on earth, but we are no longer alone, for our Lord leads us through the trials.

May God richly bless you as you continue on your journey with our Lord. If this note will help others that you know, please make as many copies as you want and give it to them in the Love of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

1 Samuel, chapter 17, verses 1 through 50

Cast:

Narrator       Goliath        Jesse        Army Men        David        Eliab       Saul

Story:

Goliath Challenges the Israelites

Narrator: The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim.  Saul countered by gathering his Israelite troops near the valley of Elah.  So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them.

Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel.  He was over nine feet tall!  He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds.  He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder.  The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds.  His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.

Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. 

Goliath: “Why are you all coming out to fight?  I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul.  Choose one man to come down here and fight me!  If he kills me, then we will be your slaves.  But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!  I defy the armies of Israel today!  Send me a man who will fight me!” 

Narrator: When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.

Jesse Sends David to Saul’s Camp

Narrator: Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah.  Jesse was an old man at that time, and he had eight sons.  Jesse’s three oldest sons—Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea—had already joined Saul’s army to fight the Philistines.  David was the youngest son.  David’s three oldest brothers stayed with Saul’s army, but David went back and forth so he could help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem.

For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army.

One day Jesse said to David,

Jesse: “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers.  And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain.  See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing.” 

Narrator: David’s brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.

So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him.  He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries.  Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army.  David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers.  As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks.  Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel.

As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright. 

Army Men: “Have you seen the giant?  He comes out each day to defy Israel.  The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who defeats him.  He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!”

Narrator: David asked the soldiers standing nearby,

David: “What will a man get for defeating this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel?  Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”

Narrator: And these men gave David the same reply.  They said,

Army Men: “Yes, that is the reward for defeating him.”

Narrator: But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. 

Eliab: “What are you doing around here anyway?  What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of?  I know about your pride and deceit.  You just want to see the battle!”

David: “What have I done now?  I was only asking a question!” 

Narrator: He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer.  Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.

David Kills Goliath

Narrator: David told Saul, 

David: “Don’t worry about this Philistine, I’ll go fight him!”

Saul: “Don’t be ridiculous!  There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win!  You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”

Narrator: But David persisted. 

David: “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats.  When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth.  If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it silly.  I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!  The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”

Narrator: Saul finally consented. 

Saul: “All right, go ahead.  And may the Lord be with you!” 

Narrator: Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail.  David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.

David: “I can’t go in these.  I’m not used to them.” 

Narrator: So David took them off again.  He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag.  Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy.

Goliath: “Am I a dog that you come at me with a stick?” 

Narrator: And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 

Goliath: “Come over here, and I’ll give your food to the birds and wild animals!” 

David: “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will defeat you.  And then I will give the food of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!  And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear.  This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

Narrator: As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.  Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead.  The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword.

*Words in italics are texts that have been modified for age appropriateness.

Worship lead by Joe, Nick, and Alex

Introduction – Welcome, Prayer, Announcements, and Administrative

Sermon – The LORD’s name – Know it (Exodus 3:15) Praise it (Psalm 113)

Discussion – Highs and Lows – Prayers of Blessing

Activity – More worship?

Conclusion  – Lessons learned, benediction, and dismiss

Blessed be Your Name

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say…
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say…
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

Exodus 3:15

¹⁵God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.

This is my eternal name,

my name to remember for all generations.

Yahweh is a transliteration of the proper name YHWH. This name is probably a form of the Hebrew verb “to be,” so it could mean “he causes to be,” or “he who is,” or “I am.” Later Jews were not permitted to speak God’s name aloud, so the Hebrew text supplies the vowels from the word ’adonay (which means “lord” or “master”) whenever God’s proper name, YHWH, appears. In oral reading, the Hebrew reader would pronounce ’adonay, even though the written text is YHWH. We do not know the pronunciation of the divine name. The widely used Yahweh is an informed guess. The English word “Jehovah” is an artificial term made by combining the vowels of ’adonay with the consonants Y-H-W-H. In the NLT, this name is usually translated “LORD” (with small capitals), but it is transliterated “Yahweh” in the few instances, like this verse, where a point is made about the name itself. Also in 6:2-3; 15:3; 33:19; 34:5-6.

Psalm 113

^1fPraise the Lord!

Yes, ^fgive praise, O servants of the Lord.

^fPraise the name of the Lord!

²Blessed be the name of the Lord

now and forever.

³Everywhere—from east to west—

praise the name of the Lord.

⁴For the Lord is high above the nations;

his glory is higher than the heavens.

⁵Who can be compared with the Lord our God,

who is enthroned on high?

⁶He stoops to look down

on heaven and on earth.

⁷He lifts the poor from the dust

and the needy from the garbage dump.

⁸He sets them among princes,

even the princes of his own people!

⁹He gives the childless woman a family,

making her a happy mother.

Praise the Lord!

The name of the LORD (Hebrew Yahweh; see Exod 3:15) reveals his being, character, and reputation. He is exalted in time (now and forever) and in space (from east to west).

Worship lead by Nick and Joe?

Introduction – Prayer, Announcements, and Administrative

Discussion – Pass the Keys, Highs and Lows

Group Reading – Matthew Chapter 16, Revelations Chapter 1

Activity – Drawing Doors

Conclusion – What did we learn? And Dismiss

Group Reading – 1 Timothy, Chapters 1, 2, and 3

Activity – Who wants to be a 10 dollionair, round 1?

Group Reading – 1 Timothy, Chapters 4, 5, and 6

Activity – Who wants to be a 10 dollionair, round 2?