Water In A Dry and Weary Land
Water In A Dry and Weary Land
“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” – Psalm 63:1
Have you ever been absolutely parched with nothing to drink?
Your mouth gets dry and your strength is sapped. How wonderful was it when you finally got something to drink?
The Psalmist talks about His need for God in these terms. He thirsts for God like a person wandering the desert, desperate for something to drink.
He realizes that there is no other source of relief. Nothing else will satisfy. Only God can satisfy and quench the thirst of his soul.
A God Who Is Near
How wonderful it is that God makes Himself near to us?! We need Him. Our souls thirst for Him. We would die without Him.
He does not hide from us. He does not abandon us. When we turn to Him, He is there. He seeks us when we wander. He pours out the water of His Spirit until we overflow.
Seek Him, today. Seek Him in prayer. Seek Him in His Word. Seek Him in His temple. He will be found. He will heal you. He will strengthen you. He will be with You.
O God,
You are my God. Earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Be with me, now, and always. I need You. Please give me Your comfort, strength, forgiveness, healing, and salvation.
Amen
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
Children’s Church – Simon of Cyrene
Faith's Online Children's Church
Faith’s online Children’s Church is like a church service kids or Sunday school. It’s intended to be done at home with both kids and their parents.
Here’s how it works:
Every week, we’ll post a new Children’s Church post on the FaithWesleyChapel.com website. That post will contain music videos, lesson videos, discussion questions, and some activities parents can do with their kids.
We’ll include in the post any items you may need for the project as well as any questions that will be asked. We encourage parents to check this information out before getting started with your kids so you can have all the supplies you need on hand.
We hope Faith’s Online Children’s Church will help your kids grow in their faith, provide opportunities for great conversations, and strengthen your family bonds.
Let’s get started with this week’s online Children’s Church!
Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
The Cross Craft
This week the instructions and list of supplies are in the attached pdf. You’ll be making a cross necklace. I encourage you to discuss with your kids how they can serve others, both in and outside your household, as you work on the craft.
Click Here to Download the Cross Craft.
Have a great time with your kids helping them to learn more about God and grow in their faith.
God bless!
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
The Waters of New Birth
The Waters of New Birth
“Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” – John 3:5
How is a person saved?
We live in an age where there are lots of ideas on how to be saved or how to get to heaven.
- Some say we just have to be a good person
- Others say all religions will get you there
- Still, some others say we’ll all end up in heaven eventually no matter what
But Jesus tells us something different. In John 14:6 He says,
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
There is only one way to salvation and that is through faith in Jesus.
This isn’t a very popular belief in our current culture of tolerance, but this is the truth.
This shouldn’t be surprising, though. At its core, our sin, which condemns us, is that we put other gods before the one true God. It may be money, ourselves, or literal false gods, but it’s all a rejection of the Triune God as our God. We should not be surprised that God would not bring salvation through the worship of false gods.
We should also not be surprised that being a “good” person isn’t enough. First, who defines “good?” Second, God clearly says his standard isn’t good, it’s perfect.
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:48
So, we must have faith, but how do we do that? Is our weak and wobbly faith enough?
We can’t even believe on our own.
“Jesus answered. ‘No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.’” – John 6:44-45
Means of Grace
God gives us faith through His wonderful grace, by what we call His “means of grace.” One of those means of grace is Baptism. Through the water with the Word, we are washed clean of our sins, faith is created in us, and we are born anew as children of God and citizens of the Kingdom of God. What a wonderful gift Baptism is!
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” – Romans 6:4
Even our faith is a gift of God. That is how we have faith and that is why, even though our belief is like the shifting sands of the beach, God’s faith most assuredly saves.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gracious gift of salvation that you have brought to us through Jesus Christ and which you promise us in Baptism. Help us to always remember that we have been washed clean of our sins and that we now live as children of God and citizens of Your Kingdom.
Amen
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
Grace Given Glory
Grace Given Glory
“We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:12
What brings you glory?
About a month ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup. What a glorious moment for the team!
Now, the Rays have made it to World Series. Will they also experience the glory of a national championship victory?
We talk about glory in several ways, but there is only one form of glory that truly lasts. The glory of the Stanley Cup or World Series victory will fade. Glory in battle fades. Glory in Christ is eternal.
We do not find glory or righteousness in doing the right thing, avoiding temptation, or saying the perfect thing. We find our glory and righteousness in Christ alone as a gift according to the grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Do we receive glory for glorifying Christ’s name in our lives?
It is a high and excellent goal that the name of the Lord would be glorified in us, in every aspect of our lives. We certainly desire to do what is right and to follow Jesus in all that we do, but even our best works are like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). So, our efforts to glorify God in our lives do not bring us glory.
However, by the grace of Christ Jesus, we are made righteous in God’s sight; not because of what we have done, but what He has done. Indeed, God is glorified in the grace and forgiveness He gives to us by His work on the cross and our glory, as well, is a gift.
“For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:17
Truly, both our glory and Christ’s are found in the grace and mercy of Jesus.
Dear Jesus,
I pray that you would be glorified in my life. I know that even my best works are not worthy of You, but I pray that through the forgiveness and grace that you bestow upon me, people would see Your good work and glorify Your holy name.
Amen
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
I’m Gonna Get You!
I'm Gonna Get You!
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” – 1 Peter 5:8-9
Do you ever feel like a certain sin is hunting you down?
You know what I mean. It’s a sin you try not to do, but find you do all too often. Sometimes it may even make you feel like,
“Why not just do it? I know I’m going to end up doing it anyway.”
You are being hunted.
We often like to think that we are just strolling through life in control of our own lives, aware of the influences for us and against us. However, there are influences and threats that we don’t see with our physical eyes. The devil prowls around looking to pounce on our weakness.
Be alert!
So, Peter warns us, “Be self-controlled and alert.” Alert, because temptation lurks all around us and we need to be aware. Self-controlled, because when temptation does come, we need to resist.
Temptation comes in many forms.
- Sin – This is probably the most obvious form of temptation, to try to lure you to sin. Sure, God says not too, but it looks so good, the devil tells us. It’s the same lie as the in the garden.
- Complacency – This is a less obvious form of temptation, but one we face a lot in the U.S. Life tends to be pretty good. We have food, shelter, safety, and plenty of distractions. You could read the Bible, but, then again, you could binge-watch Cobra Kai on Netflix.
- Suffering – Peter mentions this, specifically, in our passage. Life was hard. Suffering and persecution were abundant. The temptation is either to think, “It’s just not worth it,” or to think “God must either not care or not be the true God.”
Misery Loves Company
No matter what form of temptation the devil brings, his goal is always the same. He wants to devour you and everyone else, especially Christians. The devil stands condemned and is destined for an eternity of suffering in hell and he wants to bring as many with him as he can.
Satan wants you to abandon God, whether because you love your sin more than God, because you don’t think you need God anymore, or because you are angry at God for allowing you to suffer.
So, Stand Firm in the Faith
God will never leave you nor forsake you. Don’t abandon God. God’s ways are better than sin. God’s love and life are real, not like the empty distractions of this world. God is greater than your suffering and He will carry you through your suffering.
Paul, also spoke of standing firm in the faith in the face of suffering in his letter to the church in Rome.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” – Romans 8:18
Heavenly Father,
I face temptation every day of my life. Give me discernment to see it, wisdom to resist it, and strength to stand firm in the faith You have given me. Hold me in that faith that I may always say with Paul that I consider the present sufferings (or sin or distractions) are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
Cheater, Cheater, Pumpkin Eater
Cheater, Cheater, Pumpkin Eater
“Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.” – Proverbs 10:2
Have you ever stolen anything?
No? How about fudged the numbers a little or withheld information?
Not too long ago there was a guy named Bernie Madoff. He pretended to be a brilliant investor, but he was actually running a Ponzi scheme. He made millions while many people lost everything they had. In Bernie’s case, he was caught and is now spending life behind bars. However, some dishonest people are never caught.
Cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater is something we used to say when I was a kid if we thought someone was cheating in a game. This passage reminded me of that…or maybe it’s just that I’ve got pumpkin pie on my mind. What is the problem with ill-gotten gains?
Is it just a question of whether you get caught or not?
The Bible says no. In fact, in the above Proverb, it doesn’t even say deceiving people to get a treasure is wrong (though it is), it says the ill-gotten treasure itself is of no value.
“No value?!” you say, “But Pastor, millions of dollars seem like a lot of value!”
What the proverb is speaking to is the reality that all the treasures of the world are fleeting and will pass away. In the end, money won’t help as you stand before God…
“but righteousness delivers from death.“
So, what is righteousness?
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” – Romans 3:20-22
Saving righteousness is not about doing the right thing, not cheating, or even following God’s Law, for none of us would ever be justified before God by our works. Our righteousness comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. It is a righteousness by faith, not by works which delivers from death.
If all we seek in life are the treasures of this world and are willing to do anything to get them, we will reap nothing but death in the end. If, however, we seek Christ and His righteousness by faith, we will overcome death and receive eternal life.
Heavenly Father,
Help me to be honest in all my dealings, to neither steal nor deceive for personal gain. Forgive me for the times I have sought money over honesty. I know that by my own works I could never stand before you. Thank you that I do not have to, that you offer forgiveness and righteousness through faith in your Son. I know that I am righteous in Your sight, not because of what I have done, but what Christ has done.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
I Will Show Myself as Holy
I WIll Show Myself As Holy
“I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.” – Ezekiel 36:23
When is God’s Name Holy?
In this passage from Ezekiel, the people of Israel have been exiled from Promised Land and scattered all over the place due to their unfaithfulness to God. Now, God is about to gather them again and return them to the land He gave them, but the way He tells the people this through the prophet Ezekiel is sobering.
He is not doing it because they have started to be faithful in their exile, but rather He is doing it to show the nations that His name is holy, despite the continued unfaithfulness of the people of Israel…and He wants that to be very clear to the people.
God’s Name Is Holy
When is God’s name holy? Always. God is holy. His name is holy. He does not need us to make His name holy. He does not need us to proclaim His name as holy. God is holy and He will make His name holy among the nations whether His people (Israel or the church) are faithful and show His name to be holy or not.
It can be humbling to know that God is bigger than any of us and bigger than the church. He can act on His own, and He does.
If God were to need us or wait for us to glorify His name and proclaim it as holy in our words and deeds, it would always be tainted at best and, often, His name would be profaned.
Great in Mercy and Grace
One of the greatest ways He makes His name holy among the nations is through the grace and mercy He shows His people despite our unfaithfulness. To be holy is to be set apart for God. How much more set apart can God show Himself to be than when He shows mercy and grace unseen in mankind.
Even when we don’t keep His name holy, God is still holy and He continues to make His name holy among the nations.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name. You are a holy and righteous God. By Your grace and mercy, You have put Your name upon us and call us Your people and, in doing so, You make us holy. Forgive us for those times we defile Your name and help us to live in a way that honors You and to readily proclaim the works of You, Lord, among all people. Let Your name be glorified throughout the world as the holy God that You are.
Amen
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
Order of Service for October 18
Order of Service for October 18
You are invited to worship with us at 11:00 am on Sunday, October 18. Below, you will find the Order of Service so you can follow along and participate in the worship service. If you would prefer, you can also download a bulletin here:
Before we start, please share the live stream on Facebook and invite your friends.
Worship Service for October 18, 2020 at 11 AM
Welcome
Opening Song: How Great Thou Art
O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works thy hand has made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Your power throughout the universe displayed
Chorus:
Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art
Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
(Chorus)
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”
(Chorus)
Invocation
Confession and Forgiveness:
P: Come into the presence of the Lord our God.
C: Have mercy, O Lord. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? Yet, You tell us if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(a time of silence to reflect and personally confess our sins)
P: I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Let us confess our sin before the Lord.
C: Heavenly Father, we confess that we are sinners. We have sinned against you and our neighbors. We have not loved you with our whole heart and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
P: The Lord is gracious and merciful. He promises to forgive our sins. Therefore, upon this, your confession, as a called and ordained servant of the Lord, in the stead and by the command of my Lord, Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Song of Praise and Thanksgiving: Come Thou Fount
Come Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Steams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Here I raise my “Ebenezer” Hither by Thy help I come.
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood.
Oh, to grace how great to debtor, Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.
Old Testament Reading – Psalm 127
Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.
Gospel Reading – Luke 22:39-46
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
Children’s Message
Sermon Hymn – As For Me & My House
Verse 1:
Let our foundation be Built on your majesty
Let every word you speak Fill this home
Jesus our cornerstone. The anchor for our souls
Your glory will be shown By our love
Chorus:
As for me and my house, As for me and my house. We will serve you. We will serve you
As for me and my house, As for me and my house. We will serve you. We will serve you
Verse 2:
We stand on Holy Ground. This is where lost get found
Your goodness all around, It’s pouring out
Your presence is new wine. The old is left behind
There’s nothing but new life To be found
(Chorus)
Bridge:
This is a house where idols fall. This is a house where dead man walk
This is a house where freedoms calls. Can you hear it now, hear it now?
(Repeat)
(Chorus)
Sermon – Series: Households of Faith
Week 2: “Practices of a Spiritually Vibrant Household”
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Prayers
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God
the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen
Words of Institution
Peace
P: The peace of the Lord be with you all.
C: And also with you.
P: We greet each other in the peace of Christ.
Distribution
Prayer
Benediction
Closing Song: All the People Said, Amen
Verse 1:
You are not alone, if you are lonely
When you feel afraid, you’re not the only
We are all the same, in need of mercy
To be forgiven and be free
It’s all you got to lean on but thank God it’s all you need
Chorus:
And all the people said Amen, woah
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen (Last line repeated on last chorus)
Verse 2:
If you’re rich or poor, well it don’t matter
Weak or strong, you know love is what we’re after
We’re all broken, but we’re all in this together
God knows we stumble and fall
And He so loved the world, He sent His son to save us all
(Chorus)
Bridge:
Blessed are the poor in spirit who are torn apart
Blessed are the persecuted and the pure in heart
Blessed are the people hungry for another start
For this hs the kingdom, the kingdom of God
(Chorus 2x)
Upcoming Events
October 22, 7 PM – A Time of Prayer
Facebook, YouTube, FaithWesleyChapel.com
October 23, 7 PM – Growth Group Bible Study
Zoom
October 25, (after service) – Voter Meeting
Song & Dance, Zoom
Oct 31 & Nov 1, 11 AM – 6 PM – Wesley Chapel Fall Festival
The Grove
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Facebook: @FaithWesleyChapel
Twitter: @FaithChurchWC
Almighty God and King
Almighty God and King
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.” – Isaiah 6:1
When I mention, God, what do you think of?
Do you think of Jesus on the cross, a shepherd caring for his sheep, a king on his throne, or maybe a giant grey-bearded man in the clouds?
Our passage from Isaiah 6 describes what Isaiah saw when God called him to be a prophet. There are many ways we think of God; Father, friend, savior, teacher, shepherd… All of these are good and true descriptions and many of these titles and descriptions bring us comfort as well as helping us to understand God more fully.
However, it is good to also remember that He is the God of all creation, He made us just by speaking. He is Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Almighty, and most holy. He is beyond our comprehension. He is greater and holier than we can imagine.
Fear and Trembling
When Isaiah saw the Lord seated on His throne, his immediate reaction was fear and an overwhelming recognition of his sin.
“And I said: ‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’” – Isaiah 6:5
As we begin to contemplate the glory, might, and holiness of God, we cannot help but begin to sense the depths of our sin. There is no hiding it. And it is absolutely terrifying.
How wonderful, though, is it to continue reading about Isaiah to see God’s response to Isaiah’s terror over his sin:
“Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.’” – Isaiah 6:6-7
Heavenly Father,
Were I to enter into Your presence I could not stand. My sin is too great. I am lost. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus, and His bitter suffering and death, please forgive me and cleanse me of my sin.
Amen.
Upon your confession, know that you, too, have the same declaration as Isaiah by the blood of Jesus. These words are for YOU through Christ Jesus:
Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for!
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
