Christ is Our Rest

September 11, 2024 • Pastor Jacob Mayard

Christ is Our Rest The Pentagon says Iran’s supplying of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia is a "deeply concerning development" that threatens European security and shows how Iran’s destabilization efforts are reaching beyond the Middle East. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed Tuesday that the missiles were transferred between the two countries, adding that Russia "will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine." "The supply of Iranian missiles enables Russia to use more of its arsenal for targets that are further from the front line, while dedicating new missiles it's receiving from Iran [for] closer range targets," Blinken said while speaking alongside British Foreign Secretary David Lammy during a trip to London. Blinken also vowed Tehran would face repercussions for the transfer and that the U.S. would be announcing additional sanctions on Iran later in the day. Strengthening of alliances who are mentioned in Ezekiel 38 and 39 The State of Israel’s creation was aided by strong Soviet advocacy. On November 29, 1947, the Soviet Union voted in favor of the 1947 United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which opened the doors for a Jewish state. Joseph Stalin adopted a pro-Zionist foreign policy, seemingly convinced that the new nation would be socialist and reduce British influence in the Middle East. While the United States first recognized Israel de facto upon Israel’s declaration of independence on May 14, 1948, the Soviet Union was the first nation to extend de jure recognition to the newly established Jewish state three days later. However, during the Suez Canal Crisis in 1957, the Soviet Union, stripped of its socialist dreams for this new country, began supporting the Arab states against Israel.  Iran’s weapons sale to Russia strained Russia and Israel’s relationship. Israel has been concerned about Iran and Russia’s increased military cooperation, mainly through arms deals and potential joint defense initiatives. The war in Ukraine exposed that Russia must obtain weapons from Iran. Russia understood this would be unacceptable in Israel, clearly indicating that Putin is not afraid to antagonize the two states completely. Although Israel is hesitant to enter full-blown conflict with Russia, Russia has chosen its side, evidenced by its invitation of Hamas leaders to Moscow on October 26, 2023.  Isaiah 17 Russia’s S-400 air defense systems stationed in Syria against Israeli planes patrolling the region.  The hook in Gog’s mouth? The similarities and the point: Israel is BACK in the land. The enemies to the north of Israel. Israel doesn’t have to do anything. God fights for them and destroys the enemy. “ALL nations will know the the Lord is God” This is the work we’re called to as well, that the world may know who Jesus is. God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power, wisdom, and a sound mind. Work to be done until the trumpet Trust in no man (psalm 146) Not your own hands. Figuring out God’s will. Far easier to trust Him to bring His will about. Stop doing things in your own strength. Psalm 127:1-2 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. He calls us where we’re at! What has He asked of you to do today? Who is within your reach today? How can you affect them? Jesus is our greatest example always. Section 1: John 4:1-6 The Samaritans. To explain the origins of the Samaritans, we must go back to the days of the kings. After King Solomon ruled over the Israelites – God’s people – the unwise actions of his son Rehoboam in the tenth century BC led to a schism in which the kingdom was split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, each with its own king. Both kingdoms devolved into corruption and sin, despite repeated warnings from prophets sent by God. Thus, God warned, they would be overtaken by conquerors. The northern kingdom fared worse than the southern kingdom, with a long line of wicked rulers. It didn’t help that the temple, where God’s people were to worship, was located in the southern kingdom.  In 721 B.C., the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians. Many of the people of Israel were led off to Assyria as captives, but some remained in the land and intermarried with foreigners planted there by the Assyrians. These half-Jewish, half-Gentile people became known as the Samaritans. In 586 B.C., the southern kingdom of Judah fell to the Babylonian Empire once and for all, as the walls of Jerusalem were breached, the temple was destroyed, and the city walls torn down.  Samaritans are first mentioned in the Bible in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the 5thcentury B.C. At this point, Babylon had given way to the Persian Empire. Nehemiah, a Jew, curried favor with the king and was able to return to Jerusalem to rebuild. However, the Samaritans remaining in the land opposed the rebuilding efforts and caused problems for Nehemiah and his fellow workers (Nehemiah 6:1-14). This was the beginning of a long-lasting hatred between Jews and Samaritans. Where is Samaria Today? Samaria as a city was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. After Israel’s fall, Samaria as a region was in the central area of what used to be the northern kingdom. During the time of Jesus, Samaria was located between Galilee to the north and Judea to the south. Today, Samaria is in what is now the northern West Bank. Several hundred Samaritans still live in Israel and continue to practice their faithcentered on the Pentateuch and Mount Gerizim. Why Were the Samaritans Disliked So Much in Jesus' Time? The Samaritans, being a mix of already spiritually corrupt Israelites and pagan foreigners, created a religion for themselves that the Jews considered heresy.  They established as their center of worship a temple on Mount Gerizim, claiming it was where Moses had originally intended for the Israelites to worship. They had their own unique version of the five books written by Moses, the Pentateuch, but rejected the writings of the prophets and Jewish traditions. The Samaritans saw themselves as the true descendants of Israel and preservers of the true religion, while considering the Jerusalem temple and Levitical priesthood illegitimate.  When Jews returned to rebuild Jerusalem, they were opposed by Samaritans. This led to further ill-will as the two sects were established in the land in opposition to one another. To the Jews, a Samaritan was more revolting than a Gentile (pagan); Samaritans were half-breeds who defiled the true religion. So the Jews never went through Samaria, even though it was the most direct route between Galilee and Judea. With all that in mind, here we see Jesus, needing to go through Samaria. Jesus was never in a hurry. He never left Israel. He was always where He needed to be, right on time. He went out of His way to meet people right where they were at. Section 2: John 4:7-15 Jesus cuts right to the heart with a simple request. Living water Hear her desperation for fulfillment and belonging. Hear her tone and the way she is weary. Jesus knows her longing for rest from this place in which she finds herself. Matthew 11:28-30 “weary and heavy laden…” For the non-believer, this is an invitation to assurance for tomorrow. For the believer, this is an invitation to peace for today. For Both, it is forgiveness for yesterday. Section 3: John 4:16-26 In Spirit and truth Jesus is bringing those who are on the outside of the circle into His family The messiah will tell us all things. Not any man. She is hoping and waiting and hanging on for the messiah. Earnestly awaiting Him to rescue her from this confusion and turmoil. And here Jesus meets her at the peak of her need. Joshua messed up.  Deceived into a covenant of peace. Joshua is still in God’s will, as He seeks to honor the Lord. READ Joshua 10:1-15 Called on to rescue the deceivers. Joshua is faced with another decision. He responds in Christ- like fashion to go above and beyond what is required Joshua calls on the Lord in response to what He’s already done with the hailstones! God blesses more than Joshua blesses. He delivers the enemy into His hand. God takes care of it on his behalf. God fights for even those who are on the outside. And so we see Jesus meeting this woman is lower than even the gentiles, she is a part of the family but estranged. Jesus brings her in. Section 4: John 4:27-38 Feasting on doing God’s will. Satiates the desire to make an impact in this life. Purpose filling. Jesu longs for His disciples to see that people are ready to receive Him! and He is ready to serve and satiate the longing for truth and purpose. And He promises His disciples fulfillment and blessing when we step into the father’s will. Striving for True sabbath rest Hebrews 4:10-11 Stop doing things in your own strength! Aren’t you tired of striving? Of keeping things together. Needing to be seen and accepted. Of being critical of everyone around because you’re afraid they’ll see you and that you’re not enough. A believer who gets here is free. You can do no wrong; yourprioritize honoring the Lord over everything else. And so every decision is a wise decision. Even when there’s a mistake. Don’t you want to be free? Section 5: John 4:39-42 the women brings people to Jesus. Speak truth about Jesus. Bring Jesus to people like Joshua did. Going above and beyond. What’s my calling? Maybe it’s just a to be a light in a dark world. Stop doing things in your own strength!! He calls us where we’re at. Sometimes the call is to go in order to get to the next season. But we’re called today in this season for the work we have that He has placed in front of us. Let us rest in that. Jesus never left Israel! And He’s coming back to it. Jesus ministered to those who were with Him, those who were in front of Him, and those who were in His path. He also ministered to His hometown people even though they didn’t receive it. He also went miles out of His way in order to meet with those who needed to encounter Him. He ministered to a people that weren’t His own people. The work He has for us today is right in front of us today. There’s faith in being content with what’s in front of you. There’s peace too. Live today in anticipation and expectation of the coming kingdom  Rest comes when I whole-heartedly step into doing everything God has called me to fully trusting(resting in) that He has put me there. I have a choice to trust God or not. I have a decision to make to prioritize Christ in my life, spending time seeking Him and His heart and His ways and what He has to say on the matter. If you prioritize Him, not only will you make time to be with the Lord, but you’ll find that you have even more time than you realized. When you decide to make Him priority number one, you begin shedding all of the things that bring no value or profit to your life. Because in light of Jesus, they don’t matter. They weigh you down. You will find that you have more time. When you sacrifice sleep to meet with the Lord, watch the rest that He gives you. Watch Him multiply the hours in the day for you. Watch Him give you opportunities to glorify Him because He’s done the impossible. Don’t confuse rest with non-action. Do today what God has called you to do today. It’s impossible to do tomorrow’s task today. Have goals, have vision, but what can you do today. Be open to the plans changing. Let the decisions you make today be unto the Lord. He’ll work the rest out. Have in mind that God’s heart is to reconcile the lost to the Father. Every decision Jesus made was to fulfill that. 2 Corinthians 5 the ministry of reconciliation.  Simply to be a light in the dark world. Tomorrow is not promised - to the non believer an appeal to an urgency to make a decision for Christ today. To the Christ follower, an appeal to trust god for your tomorrow  He’s able to do abundantly exceedingly more than we’re able to ask or think. Jesus did more than what was required of Him, He stepped into His creation. He took those nails and a spear in his side just for a shot at a relationship with me. Settle your heart if your desire is to seek God in the decision you’ve made. I’m learning and relearning when it comes to teaching an discipleship, to let the Word speak for itself, to let the Spirit speak for Himself, and to let people make their own decisions in response to the truth and grace of God. But I’m telling you, responding to the Lord FOR the Lord, will reap everlasting life. And then indeed, it is proven, that Christ is our rest.

Guest Teacher - Pastor Tony Clark

August 18, 2024 • Pastor Tony Clark • Ephesians 5:22–33

Ephesians 5:22-33 Marriage—Christ and the Church 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Guest Teacher - Pastor Tony Clark

August 17, 2024 • Pastor Tony Clark