11/26/2023 Soldier’s Psalm (Audio Not Available)

Grace Place Atlanta COGBF 4700 Mitchell Street Forest Park, GA 30297 Website: atlantacogbf.org Email: info@atlantacogbf.org Phone: (404) 241-6781 Wayne D. Mack, Pastor / Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes November 12, 2023 Soldier’s Psalm Psalm 91 1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. 4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. 5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. 6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. 7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. 8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. 9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. 11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. 13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! 1 14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” GMGP In commemoration of this being Veteran’s Day weekend [Veteran’s Day being officially recognized on yesterday, Saturday, November 11], today, I want to pay tribute to Vets, in general, but, in particular, Veterans who are members or a part of the Grace Place family in one way or another. May God continue to bless you for your service and for serving in America’s armed forces. Historically, Veterans Day came to be at the end of World War I. World War 1 came to be known at the time as “The Great War”. It officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: It’s a celebration to honor America’s veterans 2 for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. I’m compelled to pause our regularly scheduled services, so to speak, to respond to a tug at my heart to pay tribute to veterans everywhere, but in particular, here at GP. There are several things that moved me about this important remembrance, but one in particular surfaced in my memory that compelled me to share a Veteran’s honoring message today. I will get to that in a minute, but first let share two snap shots that have stayed with me for most of my life with regards to “those who serve and have served. • Back in the 1960s, Mama Senna, an elderly neighbor of mine who I used to work for as a kid would share stories with me about her sons going off to war. I realized later in life, when I began to piece together my own timeline that she was talking about WWII when she talked about her sons. The one story was getting a letter from her soldier son as they approached the shores of Normandy . . . the one solemn line I remember hearing her read from the letter was: Mama, all soldiers are quiet now as we pen our last letters before going ashore, we can hear the bullets and artillery hitting our amphibius craft. Pray for us. • A second story as told by my Uncle Arnser Lee Johnson who himself was born February 13, 1913 and lived to be 107. He told the story of My Uncle Ollie Johnson who in battle was riddled with bullets. He was brought back to the states where he was operated on at Tuskegee Institute Hospital and Nurse Training School. Most 3 of the bullets were removed, except one. It was too close to his heart to be removed without great risk. I’m told he was told that eventually the bullet would continue to inch toward his heart and deal a fatal blow. Out of the blue one day, he fell dead. [The John A. Andrew Memorial Hospital was originally established in 1892 as the Tuskegee Institute Hospital and Nurse Training School. Its original purpose was to train nursing students and provide care for faculty members at the Tuskegee Institute. When it was founded, it was the first black hospital in Alabama.[2] When it was founded, it did not have an outpatient clinic, and instead only provided emergency services within its Tuskegee building. Unlike most other American hospitals of the day, it practiced outreach to surrounding communities through decentralized clinics in rural areas, and most patients received care at these clinics rather than at the hospital itself. • My final memory was told by a service member who served 26 years in the Air Force and is a member, mostly virtual, of GP. The one thing this Senior Master Sargent said to me that still resonates today is . . . after a tour of service in the Republic of Turkey . . . and having to deal with such stringent cultural and religious laws – women covering their heads and having to walk two steps behind males at all times -- Upon her return to the states and walking down the aircraft stairs . . . it was here that she bowed and kissed the ground in relief and jubilation to be back on American soil. It was also here that she concluded that America is the greatest country on God’s green earth. Now, the main force behind today’s message. It comes as a memory of another story I heard years ago. That story is one of W.W.I. soldiers of the 91st Brigade who agreed to recite daily the 91st Psalm— the Soldier’s Psalm. The 91st Brigade was engaged in three of the bloodiest battles of W.W.I.: Chateau Thierry, Belle Wood, and the Argonne. 4 Other units similarly engaged had up to 90% casualties, while the 91st Brigade DID NOT SUFFER A SINGLE COMBAT REALTED CASUALTY! The WORD is powerful and the war is won in prayer . . . and so are many of our personal, daily battles. For good measure, please join me for a read through of the very chapter of Scripture soldiers over 100 years ago took into battle with them – as many still do. Please turn with me to Psalms 91. Now, before we begin our reading, I must inform you of the basis for this chapter and who it is really talking about. Psalm 91: 1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. 4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. 5 Do 5 not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. 6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. 7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. 8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. 9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. 11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. 13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! 14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” What is the universal prayer for Veterans Day? Lord God, Almighty Father, creator of mankind and author of peace, as we are ever mindful of the cost paid for the liberty we possess, we ask you to bless the members of our armed forces. Give them courage, hope and strength. May they ever experience your firm support, gentle love, and compassionate healing. 6 What is the pastoral prayer for veterans? Please bring all our departed veterans into Your Kingdom and console their families with Your unfailing love. Please heal our wounded veterans through the power of Your Holy Spirit, and give to all our veterans the satisfaction of having served You even as they have served us. PRAYER FOR VETERANS Dear Lord, Today we honor our veterans, worthy men and women who gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect their country. We pray that you will bless them for their unselfish service in the continual struggle to preserve our freedoms, our safety, and our country’s heritage, for all of us. Bless them abundantly for the hardships they faced, for the sacrifices they made for their many different contributions to America’s victories over tyranny and oppression. We respect them, we thank them, we honor them, we are proud of them. We pray that you will watch over these special people and bless them with peace and happiness. By Joanna Fuchs 7