WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.100 A year ago, we celebrated our 10th anniversary. 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:09.880 As I concluded the message last anniversary Sunday, 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:15.419 I used an analogy of a 747 in describing our 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:18.239 church and I said we were something like a 747 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:22.440 that is filled with people lumbering down the 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:26.780 runway which had not quite yet gained power to 00:00:26.780 --> 00:00:33.289 take off. I did not realize at the time what 00:00:33.289 --> 00:00:36.590 that picture seemed to spark in many hearts. 00:00:38.090 --> 00:00:40.130 It's been referred to a number of times over 00:00:40.130 --> 00:00:44.750 the last year. This morning, I am pleased to 00:00:44.750 --> 00:00:46.850 be able to say to you that something dramatic 00:00:46.850 --> 00:00:49.950 is in the process of happening at Grace Church. 00:00:50.689 --> 00:00:55.609 By God's goodness, that 747 is picking up speed. 00:00:56.380 --> 00:01:00.659 and is approaching the point of takeoff. What 00:01:00.659 --> 00:01:03.899 has happened to create this change in the last 00:01:03.899 --> 00:01:11.000 year? I would point to a number of things. First 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:13.379 of all, I would say that there has been an increased 00:01:13.379 --> 00:01:16.319 response in the heart of many people toward prayer. 00:01:17.859 --> 00:01:20.000 Over the last year, we've had perhaps a half 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:23.750 dozen church -wide prayer meetings. which have 00:01:23.750 --> 00:01:27.030 been attended by 20 to 50 people depending upon 00:01:27.030 --> 00:01:29.950 the night and the occasion. Another one is coming 00:01:29.950 --> 00:01:34.069 up shortly in just two weeks. Those times of 00:01:34.069 --> 00:01:36.769 concentrated prayer together have been precious 00:01:36.769 --> 00:01:41.329 in the sight of God. And I believe that God has 00:01:41.329 --> 00:01:43.890 answered prayer in the last year in our midst. 00:01:45.750 --> 00:01:48.549 In the spring last year we talked about becoming 00:01:48.549 --> 00:01:53.120 shareholders in the work of God. We've called 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:58.340 us 621 shareholders based upon Matthew 621. Where 00:01:58.340 --> 00:02:00.859 your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 00:02:02.099 --> 00:02:05.120 Hundreds of us made specific commitments before 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:08.939 God to indicate that we in fact see ourselves 00:02:08.939 --> 00:02:12.060 as shareholders in His work in the world and 00:02:12.060 --> 00:02:16.199 in our local church. In the last year, a number 00:02:16.199 --> 00:02:18.840 of new staff members have come. We've had new, 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:22.580 key, gifted leadership arrive on the scene. And 00:02:22.580 --> 00:02:25.860 that has begun to spark something brand new. 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:30.240 We've attempted some innovative approaches to 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:34.599 ministry, including the summer outdoor worship 00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:38.379 service that was widely received in our congregation, 00:02:38.419 --> 00:02:42.000 which we plan to do again. I believe the survey 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:45.580 indicated that something like 80 % of you voted 00:02:45.580 --> 00:02:49.389 to continue. the summer outdoor worship service 00:02:49.389 --> 00:02:54.210 as a significant ministry in our church. There 00:02:54.210 --> 00:02:56.629 is a broadening involvement in evangelism, which 00:02:56.629 --> 00:02:59.750 is most encouraging. And Bob was correct this 00:02:59.750 --> 00:03:01.770 morning in saying that the mission that we've 00:03:01.770 --> 00:03:04.449 articulated in the last three weeks is not new. 00:03:06.110 --> 00:03:07.949 Perhaps we're saying it in a bit of a different 00:03:07.949 --> 00:03:10.610 way, but that has been our goal from the beginning, 00:03:11.409 --> 00:03:14.470 the fulfillment of the Great Commission. And 00:03:14.470 --> 00:03:16.990 increasingly we are seeing more and more people 00:03:16.990 --> 00:03:19.770 in our church involved in that in some significant 00:03:19.770 --> 00:03:24.669 way. The forming of that mission statement, the 00:03:24.669 --> 00:03:28.729 use of the vision diagram that we've been talking 00:03:28.729 --> 00:03:31.469 about seems to have captured a lot of hearts. 00:03:31.629 --> 00:03:33.870 God is doing something new in our midst and the 00:03:33.870 --> 00:03:36.449 things I've just talked about are bits and pieces 00:03:36.449 --> 00:03:39.629 of that. But at the root of it all is the work 00:03:39.629 --> 00:03:43.159 of God. is the work of the Holy Spirit stirring 00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:49.060 us up in a fresh way. Last year I described to 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:53.860 you a church that I would envision. A church 00:03:53.860 --> 00:03:58.139 known for practicing prayer, for penetrating 00:03:58.139 --> 00:04:04.000 culture, prioritizing missions, perfecting holiness, 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:10.439 preserving peace, providing acceptance. and proclaiming 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:14.759 Christ as Lord. And I believe that that church 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:19.079 is more realized today in Grace Church than it's 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:22.240 ever been in our 11 years. We certainly haven't 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:27.379 arrived. We have a long way to go. But God is 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:33.959 working. The journey is underway. And since this 00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:37.040 747, if I may continue that analogy at least 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:40.730 for today, is nearing the point of takeoff, we 00:04:40.730 --> 00:04:45.730 need to get our bearings for the journey. I hope 00:04:45.730 --> 00:04:47.970 in the last three weeks we have learned something 00:04:47.970 --> 00:04:52.490 more about our destination, about our goal as 00:04:52.490 --> 00:04:56.110 a church, where we're off to. But we need to 00:04:56.110 --> 00:05:00.689 get our bearings this morning so that we don't 00:05:00.689 --> 00:05:03.829 miss the destination, the mission, the purpose 00:05:03.829 --> 00:05:06.029 that we've tried to talk about and articulate. 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:10.740 We need a guidance system that will unfailingly 00:05:10.740 --> 00:05:13.720 get us to our destination, that will enable us 00:05:13.720 --> 00:05:18.899 by God's grace to fulfill our assignment. I invite 00:05:18.899 --> 00:05:21.600 you to open your Bible with me to 1 Samuel chapter 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:25.660 12 as we examine a crucial point in Israel's 00:05:25.660 --> 00:05:30.480 history. A time of transition in that ancient 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:37.220 nation. Samuel has just anointed Saul to be the 00:05:37.220 --> 00:05:42.459 king of Israel. You may recall that that was 00:05:42.459 --> 00:05:47.160 not God's perfect will for the nation. He was 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:50.540 their king. But they asked him for a king, and 00:05:50.540 --> 00:05:53.959 so God graciously exceeded to their request, 00:05:54.680 --> 00:05:58.819 though they had gotten ahead of God's plan. Samuel, 00:05:58.860 --> 00:06:01.459 in obedience to God, anointed Saul to be the 00:06:01.459 --> 00:06:05.339 king. and he has just gained the first great 00:06:05.339 --> 00:06:10.139 victory for the nation. The question arises in 00:06:10.139 --> 00:06:13.339 the heart of Samuel, will this nation now trust 00:06:13.339 --> 00:06:17.160 in their King, who has given them the victory, 00:06:18.339 --> 00:06:24.019 or will they trust in the Lord? And so he calls 00:06:24.019 --> 00:06:27.420 them together at a significant place called Gilgal. 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:34.790 And there he met with them. And he spoke God's 00:06:34.790 --> 00:06:37.810 heart to them, reminding them of what God had 00:06:37.810 --> 00:06:43.430 done in their history. And at a point of what 00:06:43.430 --> 00:06:46.430 seems to be something of a new beginning for 00:06:46.430 --> 00:06:53.170 the nation, at least a new era, he establishes 00:06:53.170 --> 00:06:57.230 with them what some have called a constitution. 00:06:59.370 --> 00:07:02.050 He reminds them that they are to trust the Lord. 00:07:02.889 --> 00:07:09.430 and obey the King. God confirmed the words of 00:07:09.430 --> 00:07:13.709 Samuel by sending a storm that was completely 00:07:13.709 --> 00:07:18.069 out of season. And when the people saw this storm, 00:07:18.290 --> 00:07:22.029 they knew that God was speaking through Samuel. 00:07:25.050 --> 00:07:28.889 They repented of their error, of getting ahead 00:07:28.889 --> 00:07:33.600 of God. They were concerned about their sinfulness. 00:07:35.399 --> 00:07:38.000 God gives them some words of reassurance through 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:42.339 Samuel. Whatever the past had included, whether 00:07:42.339 --> 00:07:46.519 it be times of faithfulness or times when they 00:07:46.519 --> 00:07:48.699 had gotten ahead of him and failed him as they 00:07:48.699 --> 00:07:53.879 had in asking for a king, God would still bless 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:59.420 their future if they would be obedient. The chapter 00:07:59.420 --> 00:08:01.920 concludes with these words that we'll read beginning 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:06.160 in verse 22 of 1 Samuel 12. For the LORD will 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:10.579 not abandon his people on account of his great 00:08:10.579 --> 00:08:14.379 name, because the LORD has been pleased to make 00:08:14.379 --> 00:08:18.240 you a people for himself. Moreover, as for me, 00:08:18.339 --> 00:08:21.759 far be it from me that I should sin against the 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:26.939 LORD by ceasing to pray for you. but I will instruct 00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:31.220 you in the good and right way. Only fear the 00:08:31.220 --> 00:08:34.740 Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart, 00:08:35.700 --> 00:08:38.299 for consider what great things he has done for 00:08:38.299 --> 00:08:42.559 you. But if you still do wickedly, both you and 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:48.840 your king shall be swept away." Samuel tells 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:53.759 the nation, your future is still secure. But 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:58.379 it depends upon three parties, each of whom had 00:08:58.379 --> 00:09:02.340 a contribution to make to that future and that 00:09:02.340 --> 00:09:09.940 security. There was God. There was Samuel himself 00:09:09.940 --> 00:09:15.919 as the prophet -priest, Samuel who was the transition 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:18.840 figure from the time of the judges in Israel 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:23.840 to their kingdom. And then there was the congregation, 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:29.179 the people, along with their king. I believe 00:09:29.179 --> 00:09:33.320 by way of application a similar assurance is 00:09:33.320 --> 00:09:36.179 given to us today as well as a similar warning. 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:40.980 The future of Grace Church Roseville is secure 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:47.639 and will be blessed by God depending upon three 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:50.799 parties who each have a contribution to make. 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:58.159 to that future. There's God. There is the spiritual 00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:00.799 leadership of the church. Obviously there's not 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:04.860 an exact parallel to a prophet priest like Samuel 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:08.179 in our day. But we do have spiritual leaders 00:10:08.179 --> 00:10:12.720 in our church. And then there is all of us as 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:15.980 a congregation. Those are the three parties. 00:10:17.289 --> 00:10:22.309 You and I are on a great journey with God. As 00:10:22.309 --> 00:10:24.549 a congregation of people in a certain sense, 00:10:24.769 --> 00:10:28.009 on this, our eleventh anniversary, we are just 00:10:28.009 --> 00:10:33.110 beginning a new era of ministry. Our bearings 00:10:33.110 --> 00:10:35.809 for the journey that is before us, that is still 00:10:35.809 --> 00:10:40.789 in our future, are found in the three contributions 00:10:40.789 --> 00:10:44.590 that each of these parties that I've named must 00:10:44.590 --> 00:10:52.029 make. great jet liners as they fly over the ocean 00:10:52.029 --> 00:11:01.870 have highly advanced systems of guidance. The 00:11:01.870 --> 00:11:06.149 officers in the cockpit punch in certain codes 00:11:06.149 --> 00:11:10.289 to the computer and that navigation system that 00:11:10.289 --> 00:11:14.269 is in the plane locks into celestial bodies or 00:11:14.269 --> 00:11:18.480 into satellites And the result is, because of 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:21.539 the comparison of the readings punched into that 00:11:21.539 --> 00:11:25.840 computer in the plane, as it flies out over the 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:29.240 thousands of miles of the ocean, it does not 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:33.659 lose its place. And it arrives at its destination 00:11:33.659 --> 00:11:39.059 safely, because it had its bearings for its journey. 00:11:40.919 --> 00:11:43.039 What I want to talk to you about this morning 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:48.669 are the bearings for our journey. Each of the 00:11:48.669 --> 00:11:53.830 three parties that I've named has a bearing to 00:11:53.830 --> 00:11:59.009 give for our journey. Let's think about the contribution 00:11:59.009 --> 00:12:04.330 of God, God's part. In His faithfulness, God 00:12:04.330 --> 00:12:09.570 will preserve us. We have that blessing. We have 00:12:09.570 --> 00:12:13.370 that word of assurance. Regarding ancient Israel, 00:12:13.429 --> 00:12:15.970 God had chosen them to be His people. And that 00:12:15.970 --> 00:12:20.129 emphasis is clear in verse 22. They were His 00:12:20.129 --> 00:12:24.730 people, identified with Him. And so it is true 00:12:24.730 --> 00:12:28.970 today. According to God's free and sovereign 00:12:28.970 --> 00:12:34.169 choice, we are His people. Not only we, but we 00:12:34.169 --> 00:12:40.600 are one church of God's people. God has identified 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:45.419 His testimony, His name in the world with us 00:12:45.419 --> 00:12:52.919 as a congregation. Now that's sobering. We, in 00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:55.759 a similar sense as ancient Israel, are identified 00:12:55.759 --> 00:13:02.340 with the name of God. So great is God's act of 00:13:02.340 --> 00:13:07.019 redemption on our behalf that He is pleased to 00:13:06.970 --> 00:13:14.470 tie His reputation to you and to me. Therefore, 00:13:14.549 --> 00:13:19.470 God has made a commitment to us. And to us, as 00:13:19.470 --> 00:13:22.450 He said to ancient Israel, I will not abandon 00:13:22.450 --> 00:13:31.769 you, for my name is identified with you. Jesus 00:13:31.769 --> 00:13:37.600 said, all power is given to me. Go, therefore, 00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:41.879 make disciples, baptizing, teaching them. And 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:48.919 lo, I am with you always to the end of the age." 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:55.080 That's His promise. Here's God's part. In His 00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:59.500 faithfulness, God will preserve us. God will 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:05.720 bless us. Now that's like the North Star. in 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:08.879 our bearing. It doesn't move. It's always there. 00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:18.340 That's God's part. He said, I will never leave 00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:23.299 you or forsake you so that we may boldly say 00:14:23.299 --> 00:14:29.960 the Lord is our helper. That's God's part. You 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:33.279 and I can find assurance and guidance in this 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:37.179 truth. It is one of the bearings for our journey. 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:41.200 Let's lock onto it. That God is faithful, as 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:45.500 we have just sung. And God will not abandon His 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:54.559 people for His great name's sake. We need a second 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:56.600 bearing for our journey and it's provided by 00:14:56.600 --> 00:15:01.559 the spiritual leaders of our church. In their 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:05.139 faithfulness, our spiritual leaders will support 00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:09.379 us. The prophet -priest Samuel acknowledged his 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:16.139 responsibility to them before God. A responsibility 00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:21.220 that he boiled down to two. To pray for them 00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:24.080 and to teach them the good in the right way. 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:28.899 That is the way of God, the Word of God. That 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:32.600 is the essence of the responsibility of spiritual 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:36.840 leaders in this age as well. To pray for the 00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:39.700 people of God and to teach the people of God 00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:44.980 the way of the Lord. Now today we are all priests. 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:49.360 We talked about that a few weeks ago. We are 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:54.019 all royal priests. We are a holy priesthood unto 00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:58.500 God. There isn't someone like Samuel in that 00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:02.440 sense today. We all have direct access to God. 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:05.860 He's opened the way to himself through the sacrifice 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:11.580 of Jesus on our behalf. But God has appointed 00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:17.039 within the holy priesthood order and organization. 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:22.759 God has appointed in this age that there be two 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:26.639 offices established within his priesthood. The 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:31.940 office of elder, the office of deacon. The elder 00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:35.220 is the one who is responsible for superintending, 00:16:36.299 --> 00:16:40.000 for overseeing the work of God, for giving guidance, 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:44.299 ruling over, in a godly sense, the people of 00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:50.259 God. The elder. The one who is to be esteemed 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:55.519 and loved because of his work. And then there 00:16:55.519 --> 00:17:00.750 are deacons. The word means servants. Those who 00:17:00.750 --> 00:17:03.610 in some manner come alongside the elders and 00:17:03.610 --> 00:17:06.509 help carry out the function of leadership within 00:17:06.509 --> 00:17:12.630 the church. Who administrate and manage the royal 00:17:12.630 --> 00:17:17.490 priesthood of God. Those who are filling the 00:17:17.490 --> 00:17:22.509 offices of elder and deacon in the church need 00:17:22.509 --> 00:17:27.140 to do so with the grace of God upon them. exhibiting 00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:30.740 the fruit of the Holy Spirit as well as the Holy 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:35.500 Spirit's power. Those who are the spiritual leaders 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:38.859 of the Church are to establish the direction 00:17:38.859 --> 00:17:42.259 of the Church. They're responsible to God for 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:47.460 that. They're shepherds. And they are to minister 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:52.180 to the body by both prayer and teaching. I think 00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:55.700 we see that illustrated in Acts 6 when the Apostles 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:59.079 appoint a group of people to look after a certain 00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:03.380 issue that had arisen in the church, giving us 00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:07.099 a foreshadowing, I think, of the purpose of deacons, 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:10.759 so that they, the apostles, could give themselves 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:15.940 to the Word of God and to prayer. Now, elders 00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:20.019 are not apostles, but they share that same kind 00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:23.200 of responsibility as apostles had in the early 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:26.339 age of the church. The Word of God and prayer, 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:35.039 that's the heart of their responsibility. For 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:37.259 their part, the spiritual leaders of Grace Church 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:42.440 Roseville in faithfulness need to and I believe 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:45.559 will support us as a congregation of people. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:51.339 If they fail, we will not come to our destination. 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:56.079 We will get off course. that spiritual bearing 00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:02.140 is essential. But there's a third party that 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:06.579 is involved in ancient Israel and today. There's 00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:09.059 the part of the congregation, the contribution 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:13.480 that all of us make together. In faithfulness, 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:17.579 we, by the grace of God, will honor the Lord. 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:22.019 What does it mean to honor the Lord? Well, Samuel 00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:25.880 seems to outline for us what I would summarize 00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:29.960 as meaning honoring the Lord. He says to the 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:34.460 congregation, only fear the Lord. There's where 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:43.720 it begins. Fear. Not terror, but respect. Reverence 00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:47.779 is the word I would use as a synonym. What does 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:49.720 it mean to have the fear of the Lord? It means 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:53.710 to have reverence of the Lord. to have a sober 00:19:53.710 --> 00:19:58.069 realization of who God is and what our relationship 00:19:58.069 --> 00:20:02.410 to Him is. I hope as a result of the last year 00:20:02.410 --> 00:20:05.130 of preaching, as we talked about the God that 00:20:05.130 --> 00:20:07.970 we worship and the good gifts God has given to 00:20:07.970 --> 00:20:11.549 us and the new us, who we are in light of that, 00:20:12.549 --> 00:20:14.990 that there's a deeper sense of the fear of God 00:20:14.990 --> 00:20:20.049 in our hearts. Having understood some of these 00:20:20.049 --> 00:20:23.430 things, that we are now giving God more and more 00:20:23.430 --> 00:20:27.690 His proper place in our lives. To serve Him, 00:20:27.710 --> 00:20:30.650 to worship Him, to place Him above all others. 00:20:32.710 --> 00:20:35.509 To fear the Lord means to see all of life in 00:20:35.509 --> 00:20:41.230 relation to God. And to let our respect of who 00:20:41.230 --> 00:20:45.710 God is and our reverence for God be the driving 00:20:45.710 --> 00:20:51.910 motivation of all that we do. That's what it 00:20:51.910 --> 00:20:56.630 means to honor the Lord, that's our part. But 00:20:56.630 --> 00:20:59.170 there's more, he says, secondly, serve the Lord. 00:21:01.390 --> 00:21:03.150 First we started with reverence, now we come 00:21:03.150 --> 00:21:06.390 to responsibility. It's more than an attitude 00:21:06.390 --> 00:21:10.049 of heart, it must be expressed in the life. Life 00:21:10.049 --> 00:21:14.480 itself is a stewardship. God has committed to 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:17.240 us abilities and privileges and opportunities 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:21.559 and resources So that we might make a difference 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:25.180 in the world So that we might touch the lives 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:29.720 of others and do good What does it mean to serve 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:34.920 the Lord? Means to see all of life as lived unto 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:38.859 the Lord Not just part of it that we would call 00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:42.259 sacred and the rest of it is secular but seeing 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:47.839 all of life as sacred and as our duty unto God 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:52.940 because we are priests. And he tells us to do 00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:58.539 that in truth. That is, sincerely and faithfully. 00:21:58.619 --> 00:22:00.859 To do it with all of our hearts, holding nothing 00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:10.960 back. To do it wholeheartedly. As the people 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:14.740 of God, we want to honor Him by our reverence, 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:20.200 by our deep sense of responsibility, and thirdly, 00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:25.440 by Samuel's words here, by our remembrance. Samuel 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:31.160 says to them, remember, consider what great things 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:35.839 He has done for you. The word consider is a very 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:38.720 broad word. It means to see, to look, to appear, 00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:43.589 to show. The idea is to keep in your mind's eye 00:22:43.589 --> 00:22:46.410 what God has done for you. Don't lose sight of 00:22:46.410 --> 00:22:51.589 that. And show it to yourself over and over again. 00:22:52.049 --> 00:22:54.509 And show it to others. Consider what the Lord 00:22:54.509 --> 00:23:00.009 has done for you. That's why it's good for us 00:23:00.009 --> 00:23:04.390 to have occasions like anniversaries. When we 00:23:04.390 --> 00:23:10.599 look back and we see the hand of God. As you 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:13.140 and I do this, we will be encouraged in our faith 00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:17.039 in the trying moments of future days. It's interesting 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:19.720 to me that Samuel called the people to come to 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:26.140 Gilgal for this time of renewal in their commitment. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:30.019 This orientation time as they were beginning 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:34.980 a new era in their life as a nation with a king 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:39.420 and a kingdom. because it was at Gilgal that 00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:46.079 there was a certain pile of stones which God 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:51.400 had them place there to be a perpetual reminder 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:54.960 to them for generations to come of what he had 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:57.059 done at the River Jordan when he brought them 00:23:57.059 --> 00:24:04.299 across and entering the land. He wanted them 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:07.519 to remember that pile of stones and to remember 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:11.259 what God had done when they met at Gilgal. I 00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:13.380 wonder if they didn't meet around that pile of 00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:17.160 stones. Consider what the Lord has done for you. 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:20.900 Now we don't have a pile of stones here today. 00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:27.819 We have in our hearts memories. And we can go 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:30.380 back to those memories and we can see what God 00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:35.920 has done. And as we see that, we will Remember 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:38.180 the faithfulness of God, and when the challenges 00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:42.000 come in the future, we can draw upon that for 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:45.019 strength in our faith. God has led us in the 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:47.599 past. God has answered prayer in the past, and 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:50.119 He will do it in the future. We can know that. 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:55.460 We can know that. So the part of the congregation 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:57.200 is to honor the Lord, and I want to tell you 00:24:57.200 --> 00:25:00.680 something. If we fail, we will not get to our 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:05.839 destination. God can be faithful and do his part. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:08.640 The spiritual leaders can be faithful and do 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:11.359 their part, but if we as a congregation fail, 00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:16.619 we'll lose our way in the journey. We need all 00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:24.279 three bearings. And as those bearings are in 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:27.660 place and that 747 takes off and that navigational 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:31.569 system kicks in, And God does His part and the 00:25:31.569 --> 00:25:33.269 spiritual leaders are faithful in their part 00:25:33.269 --> 00:25:35.150 and all of us as a congregation are faithful 00:25:35.150 --> 00:25:37.630 in our part. The result is that we're going to 00:25:37.630 --> 00:25:41.029 arrive at that destination. We'll see the mission 00:25:41.029 --> 00:25:45.710 accomplished. We need our bearings for the journey. 00:25:46.569 --> 00:25:49.730 It's time to start. The plane's just about in 00:25:49.730 --> 00:25:58.200 the air. I want to close the service this morning 00:25:58.200 --> 00:26:03.619 by doing something that no one knows about. And 00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:09.019 when you leave here, don't tell anybody. God's 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:13.539 here. And God says He's going to do His part. 00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:21.380 How do I know that? The Bible tells me so. What 00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:23.640 about you who are spiritual leaders in our church? 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:31.319 I would like to ask those who are elders, who 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:33.660 are pastoral staff members or ministry staff 00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:38.460 members, and who are deacons or deaconesses in 00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:41.740 our various commissions to come forward right 00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:45.079 here in the front and join me on the floor. Would 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:47.079 you do that please? Just slip out of your seat 00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:51.559 if you're in the service. Pastoral staff members, 00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:55.960 elders, deacons, and deaconesses. who serve as 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:58.579 the core of our spiritual leadership. To be sure, 00:26:58.819 --> 00:27:01.779 the spiritual leadership is broader than this. 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:12.940 But here's the core of it. And I want to ask 00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:15.859 you who are spiritual leaders in our church before 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:21.259 God on this, our 11th anniversary, if you are 00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:24.200 willing to do what God wants you to do. as a 00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:26.099 spiritual leader in our church, the heart of 00:27:26.099 --> 00:27:28.099 which, I mean it goes beyond this as we all know, 00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:31.519 but the heart of which is prayer and the teaching 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:33.519 of God's people and the shepherding of God's 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:35.619 people and the variety of ways in which He's 00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:39.339 called us to serve Him. Are you willing? Amen. 00:27:40.099 --> 00:27:41.940 I knew you would be, especially up here in front. 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:47.720 I didn't doubt. I want to ask you as a congregation, 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:52.119 are you willing to do your part? Are you willing 00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:54.619 to say on this 11th anniversary as one of the 00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:57.220 congregation of the people of God whom he's chosen, 00:27:57.700 --> 00:28:00.180 I am saying by God's grace I want to seek to 00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:03.759 honor him in my life for his glory and for the 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:06.339 sake of the mission, the journey that we're on 00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:10.440 with God. I want to ask you to stand right now 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:14.200 where you are. If you're visiting obviously this 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:16.599 doesn't apply to you and we wouldn't ask you 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:18.299 to stand. We don't want to embarrass you and 00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:20.869 don't feel hesitant to remain seated. This is 00:28:20.869 --> 00:28:25.150 for our congregation. We're saying before God, 00:28:26.049 --> 00:28:29.269 oh God, we're willing to do our part. We know 00:28:29.269 --> 00:28:37.170 you are. Now lead on. Let's bow together. I'm 00:28:37.170 --> 00:28:41.130 going to ask everyone to stand, please. Heavenly 00:28:41.130 --> 00:28:47.210 Father, you see our response outwardly and inwardly. 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:52.240 And on this holy day as we remember and consider 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:56.180 what the Lord has done, and as we ponder the 00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:58.880 future and the new era that's beginning in our 00:28:58.880 --> 00:29:02.559 midst, we want to say to you that we, by your 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:05.339 grace and your working in us, will do our part. 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:10.579 God, we don't want to fail. We don't want to 00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:15.559 come short. And so enable us by the Holy Spirit. 00:29:16.390 --> 00:29:19.529 and work mightily within us so that we might 00:29:19.529 --> 00:29:25.210 do our part. And then we pray that as the bearings 00:29:25.210 --> 00:29:28.589 are put in place, that You will guide us clearly 00:29:28.589 --> 00:29:32.329 and safely and directly in the direction of the 00:29:32.329 --> 00:29:37.289 mission You've given us. When we arrive at that 00:29:37.289 --> 00:29:39.849 place, O Lord, be glorified. And on the journey, 00:29:39.910 --> 00:29:45.170 be glorified in our lives and in our church as 00:29:45.170 --> 00:29:53.000 we honor you together. Let's sing together the 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:58.779 chorus with our heads bowed. In our church, let's 00:29:58.779 --> 00:30:02.299 say it this way, in your church, Lord, be glorified. 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:32.700 In your church, Lord, be glorified. Lord, be 00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:35.339 pleased to answer that prayer in the fullness 00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:40.539 that you've promised, beyond all that we could 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:43.849 ask or think. according to the power that works 00:30:43.849 --> 00:30:47.769 in us. In Jesus' name, Amen.