A Sure Foundation

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(S1) — BIBLES
Jeremiah 6:16 “This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
PRAY
(S2)
Have you ever found yourself standing at a crossroad? Having to make a difficult decision; or choose between two ways or directions?
“When you face two or more options and must choose one, indicating a significant turning point in your life.” USA Dict.
New year/resolutions—The road we take can become defining moments. Our choices, the paths we choose make all the difference...
Good Job/Landscaping/Minsitry
Two years ago as a church we were at a crossroad; faced with a choice of two different paths before us. The theological foundation of our Christian faith and Methodist heritage were eroding away...
What it was not about...
— Not political, but biblical…
1 Timothy 1:5-6 “The command is to love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk.”
— Not about loving or not loving a certain people—It’s has always been how we love God and each other.
1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.”
— Not about excluding anyone—Everyone is our mission—so that many will come to know Jesus who is grace and truth
1 Timothy 2:1–4 “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
— Not about being in some elite club—We have The Way…but are not the only way...
John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
It is about a SURE FOUNDATION…of Christian Faith and Doctrine.
(S3) —
Standing at a crossroad pastors were faced with a decision…church members were given a choice…and as a church you made a decision, to become Revive Global Methodist Church!
“As a Global Methodist Church, we are committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures, and the work of the Holy Spirit, in conveying God’s truth and grace to all people.”
A sure foundation built on the saving work of Christ who said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28–29 )
(S4) — Rest (anapauō)—to REVIVE by way of God’s peace.
— A sure foundation that many had turned away from it. According to the prophet Jeremiah, the people of God were at a crossroad!
Jeremiah, a spokesperson of God to the people Judah/Jerusalem (627-586 BC)…
— “The nation of Israel was sliding backwards, away from faith in God, and quickly toward destruction…their eventual conquering by Babylon.”
It was not always this way—They loved God and once knew His peace.
Jeremiah 2:1–3 “‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown. 3 Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest;
Through Moses and the prophets, God had shown them the way—They had lived it, been blessed by it, and flourished as a nation because of it. The knew and followed—the ancient paths.
(S5)— Jer. 2:13
Hearing Jermeiahs words, they found themselves at a crossroad
Where do you find yourself this new year? Are you at such a crossroad?
The word of God coming to them by the prophet, had a three-fold purpose, of WARNING—INVITATION—CONSOLATION
Facing God’s Judgment
Warning for Jews and ALL nations of the world—due to the oppression, wickedness, and violence; destroying their culture and way of life toward God.
Jeremiah 6:19 “Hear, you earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law.”
Warning to repent and turn back to Godly ways
Jeremiah 4:3–4 “Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts…or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done.”
Warning of their ears being closed to the turth of God
Jeremiah 6:10 “To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.”
It’s easy to get discouraged…but God’s love for them is clear and the exact reason for his warning…2 “O Jerusalem, you are my beautiful and delicate daughter…
Much like we might discipline a child we love…
In God’s way of working here we find both warning and encouragement.
The warning is that God’s patience is not infinite. The time for repentance is lengthy, as in the story of Noah, but after years of fruitless waiting for repentance, the flood of judgment comes. Isaiah, Jeremiah & Lamentations (Commentary)
Jesus preached the same—Grain and weeds may grow together, but the day of harvest is scheduled; it will come.
(S6)
The words of the apostle Peter
“Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9)
God is patient with us but not forever…
— their crossroad; the contuned path away from God; judgement impending, or turning back to the way of the ancient paths; the ’good way…’
— One, the way of destruction/death…the other the way of peace/life
In heinsight, their choice should seem obvious to us, but we can’t ignore the fallen world in which we live, and our nature to choose our way instead of God’s way.
Why…N.Y’s resolutions don’t last…we can’t break bad habits…struggle to recover from addictions on our own..
Finding ourselves at such a crossroad; how do we know this way; God’s best for us?
“In spite of their past, God willingly showed them how to avert judgment. At the crossroad they must heed his warnings and choose the ancient way.
The warning, then the INVITATION—Four steps (16) they could take to choose the right path; get back to the way they had lived; the way of righteousness and peace.
(S7) — The invitation is to..
I. STAND at the crossroad
I. STAND at the crossroad
16 This is what the Lord says: “STAND at the crossroads.”
Why stand? Standing gives us a better view...
Means to go up before and be motionless before God. To face the reason they were at a crossroad in the first place. Facing this reality, they could see the error of their ways and the road God was leading me to take?
Bad habits…poor decisions…health…
To stand also means to put down...whatever is hindering you from taking the right path—the righteous way less traveled.
Matthew 7:14 “...small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Standing also encourages our spiritual alertness to the ways of the world around us—being culturally sensitive, intellectually informed, spiritually dependent, and Jesus centered in our view of the world.
“What is God doing in this time and season, and how am I meant to be a productive part of it, for His kingdom?” Jerry Kulah, A Firm Foundation
Paul to believers in Corinth (15:58)
“Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
As church we made a decision to STAND at the crossroad. What are the ways before you—How is your spiritual alertness before God? Where do you stand today?
(S8)— The invitation is to...
II. LOOK at the crossroad
II. LOOK at the crossroad
16 ...“Stand at the crossroads and LOOK.
...to observe as to see—so that one can perceive, discern, and understand. When we look with God eyes, we have more clarity and a better vision of God’s plan over our own.
When we look, what do we see? A growing or declining church? Do we see leadership that is vision-driven with an evangelistic purpose? Do we see a church that offers healing for the physically and spiritually unhealthy? Do we see God’s agenda or only our own?
When you look, what do you see?
— a world, nation, a people far from God? Headed only for destruction…?
— an opportunity…to show people the better path; that leads to peace
look (to perceive) — to see with a heavenly perspective
“as Jesus was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”” (Acts 1:9–11)
To look is to see, and perceive the world with a heavenly perspective
(S9) — The invitation is to...
III. ASK at the crossroad
III. ASK at the crossroad
16 ASK for the ancient paths, ASK where the good way is.
Why ask for the old paths, “because new one are delusive and destructive.”
Asking for the old paths means “search for the tested ways,” the course that has been tried. The Christian way of life commends itself because it has worked in the past.” The Wesleyan Bible Commentary
What are the old paths? The devotion of Abel, faith of Abraham, Obedience of Moses, willingness of David, the words of Elijah and all the prophets, and the apostles who believed and followed God and his way of salvation.
Psalm 103:7 “7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:”
Sometimes we don't see because we don’t ask. “God doesn't want only whats good for you, but what’s BEST for you” and we find that in our asking..
When we stand, look and ask; God’s word becomes a lamp unto our feet and a light for His path.
(S10) — The invitation is to...
IV. WALK in it
IV. WALK in it
16 ...and WALK in it.
to follow the ancient paths...
“Walk therein: after examination and consideration, make your decision and act upon it” The Wesleyan Bible Commentary
Why walk in the old paths? Because there we find the blood of Christ that justifies, makes is right with God
— There we are shown mercy, forgiven, saved and redeemed, for God’s glorious purpose.
When Jesus said, follow me to the disciples, it meant that they had to walk in his ways. When we say yes to Jesus, the only natural thing to do in following is to walk…in the ancient paths for they all lead to Jesus.
“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:6 NKJV)
Are you walking in Christ? Have you chosen the ancient ways that lead to Jesus?
When we STAND, LOOK, ASK, and WALK in the good way…The warning—Invitation—and now the CONSOLATION becomes clear.
(S11) —
16 …there, you will find REST for your souls.
The better path, the good way of God is the obvious choice. Who doesn’t desire the kind of peace?
Where do you STAND right now? How will you take a STAND in 2025?
Will you LOOK, and ASK so the way is clear?
In what way(s) will you choose to WALK in the path of righteousness and peace?
Truth is its still a choice! Sometimes we don’t always choose the best way. After Jeremiah's WARNINGS, God’s INVITATION, and promised CONSOLATION
16 ...But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
We are all facing God’s Judgement, but “In spite of our past...God is willing to show us how how we can avert the coming punishment…death. While we have breath, we can always go back to the fork in the road...
There we find our sure foundation...
(S12)
Matthew 11:28–29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you REST. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find REST for your souls.
We may have a New Name—New Mission—New Vision, but we still seek the 'ancient paths,' the way of righteousness and peace in Jesus.
It isn’t about being the best or the only way, but it is about choosing the right and proven path…the ancient way…the way of salvation…
(S13)
JESUS our SURE foundation!
JESUS our SURE foundation!
All the ancient paths…God’s good way…lead to Jesus
“As a Global Methodist Church, we are committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures, and the work of the Holy Spirit, in conveying God’s truth and grace to all people.”
May this sure foundation...cause a REVIVAL in the church…transform our lives…and inspire us to make disciples, and spread scriptural holiness in our community, and across the Globe.
— May we be REVIVED by way of Jesus who is God’s peace.
Pray—Lord help us to STAND…LOOK…ASK…and WALK in your ways...