5-12-24 Sermon "Something New" - 18 Minutes

Luke 24:44-53

Before I begin with my sermon this morning,,,

I wanted to read this that I received from the National Day of Prayer for Mother's Day.

The woman described in Proverbs 31:10-31 can evoke several emotions depending on the season of life you are in and the lens you are looking through.

She is not someone women compete with or even compare themselves to.

Her days, like yours, are full and fruitful.

She is an example of what it looks like to walk in the wisdom and ways of God, obediently relying on God for daily opportunities to complete the good works He prepared.

It is not that she did all these things every day, but throughout her years just like with you,,, she stores up treasure in heaven, and she goes about her daily duties.

An excellent life, like an excellent wife, concentrates on the glory of the Lord through discipleship, relationships, leadership, stewardship, and fellowship.

While the list of her accomplishments seems astounding to us as she bought and sold land, exquisite fabrics, planted vineyards, fed her family with foods that were delicious, her hands were diligent, and her attitude was delightful,,, I believe the sum of all the days of your life is astonishing as well.

If you are married, you tend to your husband, and your family name is honored in your community largely due to the integrity, stewardship, generosity, kindness, and diligence that marks your life as it did the Proverbs 31 woman.

As we celebrate another Mother’s Day this morning,,, I wanted to invite you to pause for just a minute,,, and think about,,, all the days of the life of your mom,,, and challenge you to,,, “rise up and bless her.”

And if you are a mom,,, to reflect on all of your days,,, not comparing yourself to any of the women in the Bible,,, or anyone else,,, but just recounting all the hours of prayer,,, tears,,, cheers,,, coaching,,, volunteering,,, homework-helper,,, late night advice,,, accomplishments,,, appointments,,, disasters averted,,, answered prayers,,, and loads of laundry,,, God has seen you through.

It said that it knows this can be a very tender day for those who are praying to be a mom,,, and to know that we are praying for you.

It is also a tender day for those of us that have moms in heaven,,, we are praying for you,,, as you look back on all the things you learned and lived as her child.

Also,,, for those that are "mothers to many in the church,,, as you teach all of us how to act in church,,, how to worship,,, how to praise God,,, how to pray,,, all of the things that you do,,, without being our "mother",,, we thank you as well!

Though no one is perfect, “a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.”

Thank you, Moms, for all you are,,, and,,, for all you do!

Let us pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Mothers! Thank You for the wonderful women who birthed us or chose to bring us into their lives and brought us up. Thank you for all that they sacrificed and the many ways they served through our stages of growing up. Thank you for the lessons they taught us, their patience, grace, and love. In this tender time of Mother’s Day please comfort those who are missing their mom or who long to be a mom. We thank you for women in our lives who are like a mom to us, and we thank You that we are Your children and forever a part of your family. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen!

Happy "Mother's Day,,, to all,,, this morning!

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This morning I'll be reading Luke chapter 24 verses 44 through 53. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Luke 24:44-53

In Luke's Gospel,,, in the preceding verses,,, the two disciples from the Emmaus Road story,,, have returned,,, and they have told the rest of the disciples about seeing Jesus earlier on the road,,, and they have just finished with this explanation when Jesus appears amongst them,,, after calming their fears,,, showing them his hands and feet,,, and eating some broiled fish,,, then,,, He begins to explain the scriptures to them. Luke 24:44–53 (HCSB) 44 Then He told them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, 47 and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you what My Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.” 50 Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands He blessed them. 51 And while He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven. 52 After worshiping Him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they were continually in the temple complex praising God. The word of God for the people of God,,, thanks be to God! God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ___________________________________ Last Sunday,,, we looked at 1 John 5:1-6,,, and we learned that we have everything that we need to "Overcome the World",,, through our obedience to God! I told you that we must remember these verses so that we can stay focused on loving those around us! While at the same time,,, remembering that the Holy Spirit will guide us to obey the commands of Jesus,,, and not just those that we decide to pick and choose! Because it's when we focus on our love for others,,, and continue in obedience to God,,, that we are truly showing that we love God! And it's that type of obedience,,, that allows us,,, to,,, "Overcome the World"! And we have the strength to live that way,,, because of God's love,,, for us! And the Holy Spirit testifies to that truth,,, each and every day,,, as we continue our battle,,, in "Overcoming the World"! This morning we will look at these verses in Luke,,, and see how they help us in our walk with God this week. ___________________________________ Verses 44-45 said: 44 Then He told them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Now Jesus is going to show them in the scriptures the same things that He has just shown Cleopas and his companion on the Emmaus Road.

And He opened their minds up to understand what they should have already known,,, but couldn't see.

___________________________________ Verses 46-49 said: 46 He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, 47 and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you what My Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”

Jesus is showing them the words,,, about Himself,,, that were written down by those that came before Him.

All of the places in,,, The Law of Moses,,, the Prophets,,, and the Psalms,,, which are the three divisions of the Old Testament as it was sometimes referred to in Jesus’ day.

Jesus told them that because of His life,,, death,,, and resurrection,,, this "Good News" could be proclaimed to all the nations,,, and the forgiveness of sins was available to all!

And it could be preached in His name,,, to all nations,,, beginning at Jerusalem,,, for they were witnesses of His death and His rising from the dead.

This became the outline for Luke in his second book,,, the book of Acts,,, that you can really see in Acts 1:8.

Jesus commanded His followers to remain in the city of Jerusalem until they had received power from on high,,, a clear reference to the Holy Spirit,,, who was promised by the Father.

___________________________________ Verses 50-51 said: 50 Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands He blessed them. 51 And while He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven.

The Ascension of Christ took place forty days after His resurrection.

He took His disciples as far as Bethany,,, on the eastern side of the Mt. of Olives,,, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

While doing so,,, He was taken up into heaven.

___________________________________ Verses 52-53 said: 52 After worshiping Him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they were continually in the temple complex praising God.

They worshiped Him,,, then returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

For the next ten days,,, they spent much time in the temple praising and blessing God.

Luke’s Gospel opened with devout believers at the temple,,, many were possibly praying for the long-expected Messiah,,, we have the angel Gabriel predicting John the Baptist birth,,, then,,, he gives the announcement to Mary that she will bear a son,,, and to name Him Jesus.

So we can see that it begins with devout believers,,, in prayer,,, praising God,,, the same way that it ends!

It closes,,, with devout believers,,, praising and 70 blessing God for answered prayer,,, and for the accomplished redemption that was made possible by Jesus sacrifice.

It is a lovely ending,,, to what some scholars have called,,, the most beautiful book in the world!

___________________________________ We can see that the disciples are returning to Jerusalem,,, to "Something New"!

They spend their time in prayer together,,, praising God for this blessing.

Again,,, I remind you,,, these are the same ones that were hiding,,, scared,,, confused,,, unsure of what to do,,, but the joy that they share together must be indescribable,,, especially compared to their previous attitudes.

But now,,, they know and fully understand,,, the words that Jesus gave them before His death and resurrection!

They are in position to receive,,, "Something New"!

They can accomplish the task that God has for them through the help of the Holy Spirit!

___________________________________ This year,,, as we continue our first year in the Global Methodist Church,,, we are in a position to receive "Something New"!

What that will be,,, though,,, is up to us!

It will depend on our obedience to God,,, our commitment to God,,, and our prayer time,,, just as these things were important for the disciples as they waited in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit!

We have their actions to show us how to accomplish this task,,, and to do that,,, we must be as faithful as they were during their time waiting in obedience.

We,,, as a church family,,, should be united in prayer to seek God's guidance.

Being diligent as we listen for God to show us the way.

___________________________________ This same attitude will help each one of us personally,,, in our daily walk with God,,, if we are just as focused.

Our walk with God will really blossom if we are intent on these things.

And when our relationship with God is strong,,, the way that it should be,,, we are able to withstand anything that can happen to us.

Again,,, as I've told you before,,, this doesn't mean that we won't experience any difficulties,,, but it does give us the strength and knowledge that we aren't facing them alone,,, and that makes it easier to cope with anything that satan wants to throw at us!

___________________________________ So,,, as we begin another week,,, remember these words.

Remember that we need to apply them to our church,,, as well as our personal life,,, so that we can receive guidance from God going forward.

We have the chance for "Something New",,, if we are obedient,,, and listen to God's voice.

It's up to us!

God wants to help us,,, and He will if we let Him!

But we don't need our lack of focus or obedience,,, to get in the way,,, of,,, "Something New"!

___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Hymn: 337 - Oakdale Hymn: 337 - Seminary Benediction -----------------------------------------------------------