Sunday, March 15
Sunday School (only by phone) – Subject: Consequences for Injustice – Habakkuk 2:6-14 – Teacher: Nevin Ebersole
We can get discouraged – but know this – God will win!
What God allows – He allows.
All labor is in vain without God.
The just shall live by faith.
Whatever is God’s will – is God’s will.
Fear is self-contained slavery.
Worship Service – We had a modified worship service – all doors open to the sanctuary so no one touched doors – offering baskets on stools at the sanctuary doors – hymns were on the screen so no one touched hymn books – no handshakes only elbow bumps (that was fun!)
Opening devotions: Glendon Zook
Do we give as much attention to our spiritual hygiene as we are giving to our physical hygiene these days?
The safest place for us to be is abiding in Christ.
Minister: Jon Cassel – Title – Perfect Peace – Isaiah 26:1-6
Jon chose this subject several weeks ago – before he knew how the coronavirus would be affecting our lives today.
Did coronavirus bring fear or has fear already been lurking in your heart?
Isaiah 26:1 – Notice the strong city – the walls of salvation.
Visualize a walled city with open gates.
Jon said he wanted to project a photo of a walled city with open gates on the screen, but couldn’t find one. Fortified and walled cities always have closed gates.
Imagine a walled city with open gates – that is peace – that is salvation!
Isaiah 26:1-2: In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.”
How do we become a people of peace?
We need help.
Overcoming fear (or any other sin that takes over our hearts) must be replaced by something good – something from God. Make a commitment to truth.
Verses 3-4: You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
Contrast the two cities in Isaiah 26:1-6
Verses 1-2 – A strong city with walls and bulwarks – and open gates.
Verses 5-6 – A city that has crumbled – that God has brought low.
He brings down those who dwell on high, The lofty city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He brings it down to the dust. The foot shall tread it down. Isaiah 26: 5-6.
What an amazing God we serve!
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 God can be trusted to set the record straight.
Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham – looked for a city made by God.
We must be looking for the city whose maker and builder is God.
Philippians 4:47 The peace of God, which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The peace of God will guard our minds.
We can have peace everywhere we walk.
We can live in “a strong city with walls and bulwarks – and open gates.”
Love, joy and peace are supernatural gifts from God.
Closing by Ron Copenhaver
We are living in a time for the church to rise up.
There is disquieting evidence that the virus is starting to shake up people.
Check on your neighbors – make sure the elderly are okay.
Go out and be “The Church.”