A Cloud of Witnesses

Andrea@EasTview.org
The card over the water cup was held up by air pressure. Can you see the air pressure? No? But now we've seen it we believe. We can't see God except by faith.

Global Leadership Summit coming up October 20.21

Dave Ens www.EasTview.org
Hebrews 12:1-2
http://bible.com/72/heb.12.1-2.hcsb Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses  surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance  the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus,  the source and perfecter  of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him  endured a cross and despised the shame  and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.

The 1/2 marathon was a challenge.
This passage is a challenge to remember we are not alone. Others have invested in us. Who are the significant people that are part of your cloud of Witnesses? We need to speak into other people's lives.
The honour roll of faith. People who lived with enormous faith. Many of them never saw the fulfillment but still believed that God is faithful.
They are not there to be glorified. These are imperfect people. They believed in something greater than them.
Where is your faith?
Are you inspiring others?
Record the names of the people that inspired you on the church's wall of faith.
http://bible.com/116/heb.11.1-3.nlt
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

This is not about faith in doctrine but based on a faith in God through Jesus. Not about but in Him.
Not about hope in my plans. My faith will be shaken if I don't get my way. It's not about exchange of goods and services.
A friend said I've been doing everything right but what I'm asking for I'm not getting so I'm questioning my faith. Are you trying to manipulate God?
Faith invites us to participate in what God is doing.
Faith is a response to the trustworthiness of God.
Noah is a great example of trusting God. He built an Ark even though he had no idea why.
Faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for. Just as Jesus is the very SUBSTANCE of God.
By looking at Jesus we see God. Weakness is my strength. Trusting submission to God like Jesus is our calling. He died for us while we were still sinners.

The Lord Table. The Lord's Supper. Our faith is based on a relationship with the one who was willing to die for us.
Take a moment to reflect on that as we share this bread and the fruit of the vine.
http://bible.com/116/1co.11.23-26.nlt
For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me."  In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it."  For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again.

A Story of Redemption

Men tend not to look at maps. Some do.
The Bible maps the genealogy of people. We matter. We have a Father that loves us.
Mark Enns will talk about the last chapter of Ruth.
Next Sunday we start a new series Great Cloud of Witnesses

Mark
http://bible.com/72/rut.4.13-17.hcsb
Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he was intimate with her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to Naomi, "Praise the Lord , who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel. The neighbor women said, "A son has been born to Naomi," and they named him Obed.  He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Excited to talk about Ruth. And Jesus. And the perfect Father God.
Jesus talked about seeds. Some of the seeds today are depression as a result of rejecting Jesus.

Ruth the daughter in-law of Naomi. On Father's day we talk about the pagan Moabite woman who chooses faith in God.

Maybe her husband shared the story of the God of Isreal.
Ruth became the ancestor of Jesus.
Some of us ignore the Bible. Leave it hidden. It is the testimony of God. Do again. Read the story and apply it.
The blessing of reading will last till Jesus comes back.
Bless the Lord oh my soul.
Luke 4:18 the book of Isaiah was handed to Jesus. He declared his intentions to proclaim freedom.
God doesn't cause problems, he gave His Son.
Jesus did not come destroy but to give Life.
Greek sozo save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction
Matthew. The lamps and bridesmaids. The ready virgins went to the party. The rest were rejected.
Come forward for prayer. Ask someone to go with you.
I couldn't run from His presence.
Jesus Loves Me Chris Tomlin from the album Love Ran Red

Ruth. Investing in redemption

Julia Moldovanenko fabulous singer and pianist led the music team in singing
www.worshiptogether.com/songs/glorious-day-living-he-loved-me/

Dave Ens
Ruth
Matt 13.44
Jesus tells parables that show we will invest into what we value.

May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the household of Israel. May you do worthily and get wealth (power) in Ephratah and be famous in Bethlehem.

God gave up his son for us. He values us wholeheartedly.

Boaz redeemed Ruth and they became grandparents to King David.

Marriages were contracts. Land and rights were very important. Inheritance was part of the deal.

Boaz had a desire for Ruth to be securely established. He acted shrewdly in the opportunity God gave him.

http://bible.com/116/rut.4.9-10.nlt Then Boaz said to the elders and to the crowd standing around, "You are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. And with the land I have acquired Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, to be my wife. This way she can have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property here in his hometown. You are all witnesses today."

We spend a lot of time at the workplace. God's presence is there. Are we redeeming the people we deal with?

God is active in all areas of life.

Worship

Pastor Mark
We were created to worship. The Jews worshipped God and he gave them the victory.
Jesus said that the rocks would cry out.
Sacrifice of praise. What should praise look like?
The Psalms are all whiney. 150 praise him. Let every one praise the Lord. Worship with whatever you have. Croaking cove voice and all.
Colonization brought the gospel but also western culture. A pipe organ in a church in India.
In Nepal each people group had their own style of music. They need to have their songs.
The shamans danced to the Lord and called on Mark to dance with them.
All the members of that church had been Christians for less than 5 years. They came to church early and started to praise the Lord.
Why was it that the choir defeated the enemy? They praised and God came near.
If you have D words in your life start praising. Ps 104.1.3

Step out of your aisle and start praising.