January 20, 2019 Second Sunday after the Epiphany

1For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns. 2The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name. 3You shall also be a crown of glory In the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem In the hand of your God. 4You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the LORD delights in you, And your land shall be married. 5For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:1-5 NKJV

1On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” 11This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:1-11 NKJV

Who is Jesus? So many times Jesus did not live, teach or act the way people expected. There is a story about someone fighting against liquor by the drink and when the other person stated Jesus turned the water into wine their response was “I have always been disappointed in Jesus for doing that.” Many were disappointed with Jesus.

The disciples never knew what to expect

His family thought Jesus was crazy

People were drawn to Jesus though they didn't understand Him

Jesus drove the religious leaders crazy

The kings were not sure even who Jesus was

If we are honest we struggle with who Jesus is. Many do not know Jesus because the Jesus they know is defined by popular culture rather than the Bible and others because even with the Bible they see the Jesus they want to see. If we are not careful we become idolaters by creating our own Jesus.

How can we know we are following the real Jesus? When like those who lived with Jesus we are uncomfortable.

We never know what to expect

At times either we think Jesus is crazy or we are

We are drawn to Jesus even though we do not understand Him

Jesus at times will drive us crazy

Often we will see a new side to Jesus which will surprise us

If your Jesus is like you and agrees with you than YOU ARE YOUR OWN JESUS! Knowing Jesus is journeying through life one step at a time trusting the water will become wine, the parable will make sense some day, we are no longer “desolate” or forgotten, we are not crazy and Jesus will give peace in the midst of life and our relationship with Him! When we are enlightened about who Jesus is we can shine that light to others!

Do we really want a god we can understand? (When we cannot understand our self?) Or do we want God to be so powerful, mighty and holy to catch us when we fall and redeem us to grow closer?

Baptism is

Baptism is my final going under

and God raising me to new life

Baptism is feeling the blood of Jesus

touching me and making me clean

Baptism is the Holy Spirit washing

over me and through me to live

Baptism breaks the chains on me

setting me free to love and to serve

Baptism lifts me above pain and pride

and allows me to walk at God’s side

Baptism opens my life for God’s use

and His anointing empowers me

Baptism enables me to change the world

for God has been set free within me

Baptism flows from me to others

as God draws them through me

Baptism is God’s cleansing life

washing out the darkness and fear

Baptism is how I say to the world

I belong to You and long for You My Love!

Ron Ramsey 1/8/17

January 13, 2019 First Sunday after Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord

Isaiah 43 The Redeemer of Israel

1But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. 5Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; 6I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth— 7Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:1-7 NKJV

15Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.” Luke 3:15-17 NKJV

One of the points of division between denominations is baptism. Should there only be believers baptism or should children be baptized also? What about family baptism? Does it matter how much water is used? Does it matter whether it is “living water” or just any water? These are only some of main issues about baptism.

The two protestant sacraments (or sacred events) interestingly have very little description in the Bible of how they should be done and most of the teaching is about why you should or should not participate in the sacraments.

(Baptism is such an amazingly deep study I have included a previous message on baptism which comes from the Seven Deadly Sins messages shared earlier to be able to look at the baptism of Jesus.)

Why was Jesus baptized by John? John pointed out Jesus had no need to be baptized by a human being yet Jesus replied it was necessary. Jesus had not just to show us the way but to reveal Himself as the way! So each step Jesus took was a guide for us as we seek to live out our salvation by drawing near to Jesus and growing in our relationship.

God has honored us by reclaiming us and reinstating God's protection on us and the psalmist helps us discover some of the ways God protects and empower us. As we follow Jesus in baptism and throughout our lives these promises are made real in us!

God's concern for Christians is so great He will even crush other nations for our good. When we walk in fear of the people and nations God will see all will be done for our blessing and protection so we will be free to beget spiritual children.

We do not have to react in fear of fire and destruction but marvel in the amazing promises and blessings God offers to we who do not deserve but are offered to us out of a loving Heart! 

Jesus led the way to Baptism and leads us throughout life to the Father!

Question 6 1Peter 3:18-22, Genesis 7:6-10 Water is Baptism? Water is God’s way of showing the fullness of His grace.

“6 Noah was 600 years old when the flood covered the earth. 7 He went on board the boat to escape the flood—he and his wife and his sons and their wives. 8 With them were all the various kinds of animals—those approved for eating and for sacrifice and those that were not—along with all the birds and the small animals that scurry along the ground. 9 They entered the boat in pairs, male and female, just as God had commanded Noah. 10 After seven days, the waters of the flood came and covered the earth.” (Genesis 7:6-10 NLT)

“18 ¶ Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. 19 So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— 20 those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. 21 ¶ And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 22 Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.” (1 Peter 3:18-22 NLT)

Why do we fight about Baptism? It amazes me that we can fight over Baptism which is a sign of God’s grace.

Baptism is done by God! Baptism is a symbol of what God does in us! The important part is not how we do Baptism, but that we by faith allow God to work in us.

Water is not the important part! Jesus will baptize us with fire and the Holy Spirit. The word fire has the idea of lightning.

Our part is faith, not the ceremony! Our faith opens our lives to God’s power and purpose working in and through us. Infant baptism acts through the faith of the parents and is seen in scripture in the story of the jailer who had his whole family baptized in the middle of the night! (Acts 16:25-34)

“That which we do not understand we

turn into ritual or ceremony.”

Saved through water. Peter reminds us that baptism is like the Ark and is God’s way of saving us from the flood and from destruction.

Cleansing power. Baptism is a symbol of God’s cleansing power. Peter reminds us that God’s cleansing is not removing dirt but cleanses our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ!

Symbol of resurrection. Baptism incorporates us into the resurrection of Jesus and is a symbol that God enables us to join with Christ in heaven. Peter says it so beautifully:

“18 ¶ Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.”

God left the glories of Heaven and made the way for us to call Heaven our home!

“Baptism is something done by God, not done by us!”

January 6, 2019 From chaos to life! Epiphany of the Lord

1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. 6Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day. Genesis 1:1-8 (NKJV)

If we are honest life is something we do not understand. We can think we do and even explain life to others but this is being dishonest with ourselves and with others!

Where do we come from?

Were we created or evolved?

Does life have meaning or is it meaningless?

If there is creation who is the creator?

And the deep question: Why am I here?

As we look around and see the horrendous violence, natural disasters, slavery (which is now greater than at any time in history we know), hatred, division, fear and ignorance we can either see life as meaningless or if there is a creator wonder why so much bad does happen.

Years ago we called major storms an “Act of God” but now we call them “Natural Disasters”. Is our universe so flawed that it seems to try to destroy itself or at least us? Why is the universe broken and flawed just as we are

The scriptures from the beginning tell us there is a Creator who purposely made everything step by step so we would have a safe place to live and an amazing garden full of life! The fullness of God's awesome power and love is revealed in and through creation – in ourselves who are created in the image of God!

So why all of this pain and suffering? Because we destroyed the good!!! By deciding to be god rather than loving God we broke our relationship with God and creation lost God's protection and began the process God warned us about of dying we shall die.

After the fall humanity recognized we were naked but this is more than being without clothes! No longer were we under God's protection and creation turned against us as we turned against God! We live in desolate and destructive fear cutoff from God, others and even ourselves.

We want so much to pass the blame to God so we can have someone else to blame! If we are not blaming God we blame the creation God declared “very good”.

We see the love of God in that dying we will die which gives us an opportunity to return to the God of Creation and through Jesus Christ go from dying to life. Though there are recent attempts to change the wording history (His story – the story of God working within creation) is divided by the coming and resurrection of Jesus as we see in BC which means Before Christ and AD which means Anno Deo the year of the coming of God!

Where are you? Are you living a Before Christ (BC) or an Anno Deo (AD) life?