Overcoming

 

Psalm 15:2-5

He who walks blamelessly 

and

 does what is right

    

and speaks

 truth in his heart;

3 who does not 

slander with his tongue

    and does no evil

 to his neighbor,

    nor takes up a reproach

 against his friend;

4 in whose eyes a vile person

 is despised,

    but who 

honors those who fear the Lord;

who swears to his own hurt

 and does not change;

5 who does not put out his money at interest

    and does

 not take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved.

Over the last 50 years, the percentage of adults living without children has climbed 19 percentage points from 52.5 percent in 1967 to 71.3. (Really? Actually, about 2016 the Pew Report said this was higher.)

A study in 1997 explored family relationships in later life and found that 7 percent of adult children had cut ties with their mother and 27 percent from their father. 

In 2020, research by sociologist Karl Pillemar showed 1 in 4 Americans are estranged from their families—roughly 67 million people. That's a lot of people.

Since the Pandemic, those who do not want children and have no children has increased 3%. To 26%

Covid. The Giant Cold.

What will we do with bad news?  

One of the Sermons we heard this week was about dealing with Judas. Not something that generally perks our ears up and caused me, to mentally frown, to hear this. A very great Christian, I knew named Peter, who was also a man who could become very, very down recalling his experiences in the Vietnam War, said anyone who preaches Judas should be avoided. And I had to agree with his emphatic ness on Judas never being an example. 

But actually, this was a college addressed sermon about not feeling we add up to Righteousness. A Sermon against the ease of self euthanasia. Suicide.

Even the very kindest of people I know, have adult children problems. We didn't know our children were being told their Christian parents were idiots and the world of the next generation was so much brighter. And worried.  They worry their parents didn't teach them the right soul tools. Or too many soul tools. They think their parents didn't have enough money or social influence. Not enough fun. Too many chores and rules.  Not enough of a clean, orderly life. You name it, parents are to blame. The parent used to be right. 

PTA or PTO, in elementary school you can't be a room mother because all the mothers want to do this. But no cupcakes, it offends the sugarless. No actual Christmas carols because that's "religious".  We see the problem almost immediately. No jungle gym time after 4th grade, education is serious. And the children get into more disagreements.  By 5th grade, the PTO moms are about half. They work. Like they didn't in elementary school? By 7th grade, the public schools have a hard time finding a volunteer. We witnessed a school push to buy dance tickets that required the football coaches to get in and "get physical", to restrain the crowd from a push point requiring injury. Not to mention the language in Texas football that puts brain dementia or damage to blush. From... the coaches! It's rough out there. I tell ya, it's rough out there. Remember.

We did so many youth ministry Bible Studies. I say the Light of Mankind is still shining, even if so many are still sorting it all out. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world and Nations. Jesus Christ is the Light of mankind.

Poor Judas of our day really is worried climate change is the Cuban Missile Crisis. And so worried he or she isn't righteous on so many fronts, it's like a merry-go-round. Fails on every circle.

What's Wrong? The Systems are all screwed up. Why? The Book of Judges calls this the era of chaos and crime because everyone decides for themselves. And why do they? Because the world of internal chaos is in each family and each individual. When our light is dim, who do we follow? Because it's likely they are screwing it up too.

Why? We have all faced too much change. Our last 3 generations have seen such development that when Television was finally able to do breast cancer scares and reality on the nightly comedy hours without whispering the word, "cancer." Edith and Archie Bunker led the way.

Why? We have tried to find so many codes to fit in, we are like Cotton Mather about eating ham on Christmas.  We are joyless. Pressed in perfections. Joy less. And finding everything resembling order or not order had a hateful comeback. So many, in fact, this Sermon was addressing not fitting in to your very own God given place in life. We mentally tell ourselves we don't measure up.

If Life has suddenly become a fruit smoothie, how are we going to get the raspberries and blueberries back into the basket without going bananas?

As I was reading the verses of Psalm 15, I was trying to decide who reminded me of this with what we know of their lives.

Who do you think of from Psalm 15?

Joel 1:10

The field is ruined; the land mourns. 

For the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, and the oil fails.

Joel 1:12

The grapevine is dried up, and the fig tree is withered; 

the pomegranate, palm, and apple

--all the trees of the orchard--are withered. 

Surely the joy of mankind has dried up.

Joel 1:18

How the cattle groan! The herds wander in confusion 

because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering.

Jeremiah 12:4

How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field be withered? Because of the evil of its residents, the animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, "He cannot see what our end will be."

We have all had times when the Bible seemed to be farfetched. Perhaps now we realize why the Bible explains anger so much!!!! How beautiful are the expressions of the human spirit our Father has actually experienced! The generations of Kings and Chronicles in the variations of outlook and faith. The sadness of those without true hope in faith.

That's some sad life experience in the Scriptures. Some true and real life news.

Jeremiah 5:17

They will devour your harvest and food; they will consume your sons and daughters; they will eat up your flocks and herds; they will feed on your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust."

1 in four are estranged from families. One in five have participation in Abortion. We can see the sword. 1 in 3 say this economic crush is stretching them to breaking in

 necessities.  This is a world in hurt, pretending. 

Where is the GOOD NEWS?

Jesus. Jesus tells us He is the Good News.  Where is the Good News? There it is! Jesus brings us Salvation. Hope for the sinner in us. Hope for those lost in their sins. We are Not Alone. Jesus has Not Forsaken us.

Jesus gives us His Word. Joel lived in the 9th Century B.C. and he wrote of sorrow. Overcome. Jeremiah recorded History so well on March 11, 597 B.C. we have the Cuneiform of Babylon easily read of sorrow and trouble and weird politics and bad behavior Overcome. Micah gave His Word about recovery of Hope and Faith by His Word in 700 B.C. after all Jeremiah knew was lost and recovered. 

Paul knew. So did the actual Brothers of Jesus. The Disciples knew.

2 Corinthians 4:8

We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, 

but not in despair;

2 Corinthians 4:9

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, 

but not destroyed.

Recently, in September, Canada discovered a mummy of a dinosaur. But in fact, Hollywood would call this a dragon. This is a juevenile of 13 feet. Duck-billed Hadrosaur.

Chilling.

Mummies were discovered to be 6,000 years old in China. 

These mummified people came from India, Denmark, U.K., and had beautiful customs, horses, beads and artifacts. People were circling God's Good Creation for many, many years. Why and how did this juvenile Dragon Dinosaur get to be mummified. Probably they had someone on hand who knew about mummification around the world. Why did they mummify the beast? Lucky enough to have killed a 13-foot juvenile and not the 32-foot parent. Why? "Look Martha, Martha it is a Duck-Billed Hadrosaur, I didn't just make it up!!!" Beware of Dragons. They are real.

Jesus tells us He will never leave or forsake us. Climate Change was something that Elizabeth I of England knew of in the late 1500s A.D. and this wonderful Elizabeth II did also discuss. As did Joel and Jeremiah.

Perhaps our best verse of thinking about this would be........ Habakkuk telling us, "Martha, Martha, Jesus is our best portion."

Habakkuk 3:17,18

Though the fig tree does not bud 

and no fruit is on the vines, 

though the olive crop fails 

and the fields produce no food, 

though the sheep are cut off from the fold 

and no cattle are in the stalls, 

yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice 

in the God of my salvation!…

Which brings us back to who does Psalm 15 remind you of. I am remembering... Elijah. We are all sometimes alone. And yet, we are not.

1 Kings 19

19 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree.

 And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 

5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

The Lord Speaks to Elijah

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 

10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I,

 even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 

11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.

 And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 

12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 

13 And when Elijah heard it,

 he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

 And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 

14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 

16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Be still.  And know the Lord, God of mercy and encouragement, is the Lord God.

This is His Battle. We are barely Motel 6, we just leave the Light on and Pray. A Lot.

The Lord is going to work all this all out. We have read the last pages of the Bible, His Word about His Good Creation. Preach to all of Creation. Mercy. Love. Joy. Hope.

In the middle of all the histories,

God would entrust us, today,

His Son,

and infant in the middle of mankind

Born in a Manger

to be 

Grace upon Grace

Abba, Father,

All have fallen short of

Your Glory.

Your Steadfast Love

fill us with Hope

in this walk with Jesus

help us to walk blamelessly

and do what is right.

Be our Mercy and Guide us.

Help us to speak to You

with truth in our heart, always.

Help us with your Plan 

to know You.

Let our words be truthful.

Help us to be so

filled with You

we do not slander others.

Give us such Love

to do no evil to a Neighbor

Help us to walk the straight

path of Love

and not the path of reproach

as a diversion from 

our own fears, worries and plots.

To be a true friend

to ourselves as well.

To know to despise evil.

Honor those who reverence the Lord

Understand we all have our hurts

and listen well enough to one another

to hear, hear

the details don't change.

Just as the Lord is unchanging.

Not to seek our advantage always

 and invest in one another.

Never take a bribe

or plot in groups against 

the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved.

Dwell in us, Father,

Dwell in those we love, Jesus Christ.

Help us to seek You first, Holy Spirit

and in 

Jesus our Savior,

we will finish well.

Jesus the Lord

Our Father

Honor, Glory

Love and Mercy

are Ours in Your Holiness.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †