Birth, Wind, Spirit, Gift

 

 

Pastor Jerry began his sermon by stating that after 40 years in the ministry he knows less about preaching than he does today. 

There is a divine calling to preach and teach.  God chooses to speak to the people through the minister and often God uses the people to speak to the minister.

 

As a Bible Student he was taught to formulate a sermon with a Title, topic, illustration, 3 points and an end.  Yet during a sermon, often a new thought will come and the direction is changed. 

He does not understand how the Spirit of God can bring across a message to each member that is different than the one he is preaching about. 

 

He admits that after all his study and searching he still does not fully understand Jesus and then he asked if any of the congregation fully understood Jesus?

 

Today Pastor was reading from John 3:1-17   I quote a portion.

⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

¹² If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?  ¹⁵ That whosoever believeth in him (Jesus) should not perish, but have eternal life.

 

The Bible setting was the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus under the cover of darkness.  He was full of questions ‘how to reach the kingdom of heaven,’ and the answers he received were perplexing.  Jesus gave him the WORDS of life “Ye must be born again.”

 

These words were a puzzle because Nicodemus could only hear the word “AGAIN.”  He was not able to grasp the spiritual significance and could only understand birth in the natural, which would make the statement from Jesus impossible.  He was hearing sideways and not directly.

 

Jesus explained that He must be born of the Spirit;  A spiritual Birth from above

 

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a leader of the Jews and he needed something tangible, and absolute.  He had seen and heard of Jesus doing some impressive things, and he tried to pin Jesus down for a straight answer that he could be satisfied with.

 

Jesus used the wind as an illustration.  We can feel the wind and its effects but we cannot understand or control it.

 

There are times when we are guilty of not hearing the message and missing the point. 

 

Perhaps our antenna is not set to pick up the truth.  Jesus gave the message of Life;  A New Birth, the Wind, by the Spirit and receive the Gift from God.

 

Pastor stated that often during the service something drifts, and we catch insight.  It may be the sermon, or a song, or the responsive reading, but it is God speaking. 

 

What an amazing God we serve.

 

 

Wind, Rain and an Old Tree

 

 

Fallen Oak Tree (and Luke)
photo by Hazel

During the night that was full of wind and rain, one of our Oak trees could take it no longer.

Down it went blocking part of our driveway.  This morning, all our dogs, were interested, but Luke is the dog most inquisitive and you can see him wondering what I am doing with this camera.

Fortunately we have a circular drive, so we are not obstructed from leaving if we so desire.

Providentially our sweet neighbors know a lot of people, including some who use wood to burn in their stoves.  They will visit us in a few days and cut up the wood and remove it for us.  Good for them and good for us.

Previously mid-year, we hired a company to remove a couple of our Oak trees that might threaten our home if they fell.  They also took away the wood for their stoves.

During these winds, several large branches from our Oak trees have fallen, and Robert plans to do some burning when the weather clears.  Our county will soon announce a burning day so we can legally take care of this.

We are thankful that our truck was parked along the side of our mobile and not anywhere near the path of the falling tree.  Also thankful that there were no wires for the tree to hit.

Our little problem is minor compared to those in other areas who have experienced storms that surpass ours. 

We send up a prayer for them, and for the helpers who are working diligently to provide help and restore some sense of living.

Thank you Diane and Joe, for your part in making a dent in the devastation experienced in the New York area by the Hurricanes.

Click HERE to read Diane’s story “How do You Spell Relief?”

 

This post is linked with Jennifer on Wednesday at:

  God-Bumps and God-Incidences