3/22/20- “Hope in a Season of Affliction” Dr. Sloan
LMPC During Coronavirus
I am excited to be here. There are some churches who will not livestream. We just got a new camera- and I hope it works well. I am excited about the hope of a Drive In worship service on Palm Sunday and Easter. However, I miss seeing you all. You are in our hearts and prayers. We love you LMPC family and want you to stay safe.
I am excited to be here. There are some churches who will not livestream. We just got a new camera- and I hope it works well. I am excited about the hope of a Drive In worship service on Palm Sunday and Easter. However, I miss seeing you all. You are in our hearts and prayers. We love you LMPC family and want you to stay safe.
Some say there is no hope. But that depends on where
we place our
hope. If your hope is to have all the
expectations you had a month ago fulfilled, then hope is lost. But let me tell you where your hope should
not lie:
It should not lie in the stock market always going up- that never happens. Many here have seen it crash in 1987, in 2001 after 911 and bounce back after 57 days; and in 2008.
It should not lie in always being healthy. If everyone today stayed in a padded heap air cleaned room- we would still not all be healthy. Our bodies are not designed to be healthy forever.
Your hope should not lie in your work; Your hope should not lie in your games or entertainment;
Your hope should not even lie in your family.
Your hope should not lie in Publix, Bi Lo, Food Lion, Piggly Wiggly always having everything you need. Your hope should not lie in the government.
All these are fine things. None of them, I don’t think are evil in and of themselves- nor are they good just because they exist.
It should not lie in the stock market always going up- that never happens. Many here have seen it crash in 1987, in 2001 after 911 and bounce back after 57 days; and in 2008.
It should not lie in always being healthy. If everyone today stayed in a padded heap air cleaned room- we would still not all be healthy. Our bodies are not designed to be healthy forever.
Your hope should not lie in your work; Your hope should not lie in your games or entertainment;
Your hope should not even lie in your family.
Your hope should not lie in Publix, Bi Lo, Food Lion, Piggly Wiggly always having everything you need. Your hope should not lie in the government.
All these are fine things. None of them, I don’t think are evil in and of themselves- nor are they good just because they exist.
Jeremiah lived in a
time in which all the hopes of the people were drastically changed.
They had hope in their city and wall and army- but they were gone.
They had hope to live a peaceful quiet life- but that was gone. The army of Babylon broke down their wall- killed all their old men and women and young babies- worst than the flu or the coronavirus.
People were starving to death. All their real estate transactions were gone. All their investment and wealth disappeared completely. It was in that context that Jeremiah wrote these great verses- that inspired the hope-filled song, “Great is they faithfulness.”
Hear the Word of the Lord from Lamentations 3: 1I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath. 7He has walled me in so I cannot escape; He has weighed me down with chains. 19Remember my affliction and wandering, the wormwood and the gall. 20Surely my soul remembers and is humbled within me. 21Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22Because of the loving devotionb of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail.
They had hope in their city and wall and army- but they were gone.
They had hope to live a peaceful quiet life- but that was gone. The army of Babylon broke down their wall- killed all their old men and women and young babies- worst than the flu or the coronavirus.
People were starving to death. All their real estate transactions were gone. All their investment and wealth disappeared completely. It was in that context that Jeremiah wrote these great verses- that inspired the hope-filled song, “Great is they faithfulness.”
Hear the Word of the Lord from Lamentations 3: 1I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath. 7He has walled me in so I cannot escape; He has weighed me down with chains. 19Remember my affliction and wandering, the wormwood and the gall. 20Surely my soul remembers and is humbled within me. 21Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22Because of the loving devotionb of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail.
23They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! 24“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will
hope in Him.” 25The
LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
26It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
We are in a different season. I wanted to share some things I saw that made
me smile. I think we can use a little humor these days.
1) Homeschooling is going well- two students suspended and one teacher fired for drinking on the job.
2) And just like that… prayer is back in school!
3) This is it. The day your dogs have all been waiting for. The day their owners can’t leave the house and they get you 24/7. The dogs are rejoicing- the cats are horrified at their humans interrupting their naps and their place on the couch.
4) Until further notice: No one can stop by unannounced. We aren’t sick- we just don’t trust you around our toilet paper.
I want us to learn a bit from this great and famous passage from Lamentations. 1) It is a season; 2) God knows our affliction; 3) In God there is still hope.
1) Homeschooling is going well- two students suspended and one teacher fired for drinking on the job.
2) And just like that… prayer is back in school!
3) This is it. The day your dogs have all been waiting for. The day their owners can’t leave the house and they get you 24/7. The dogs are rejoicing- the cats are horrified at their humans interrupting their naps and their place on the couch.
4) Until further notice: No one can stop by unannounced. We aren’t sick- we just don’t trust you around our toilet paper.
I want us to learn a bit from this great and famous passage from Lamentations. 1) It is a season; 2) God knows our affliction; 3) In God there is still hope.
1) It is a Season- This Is the first Sunday of
Spring. Seasons change. This coronavirus time will end. We know this coronavirus will end. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and
it is not a train- it is fresh air, it is an opening out of your containment
cell- your home.
Have you ever been in a submarine? If your claustrophobic, submarines and elevators and MRI machines are no fun. But if you know that it will not close in on your forever you can survive it. It is like holding your breath underwater until you can come up for air. Eventually the submarine resurfaces. Eventually the elevator door opens. Eventually the MRI stops. Eventually the airplane lands and you get off the plane. As bad as this pollen is- eventually it will stop. When it is winter and snowing- we know it will not be winter and snowing forever- by the way- it is the first Sunday of Spring!
Jeremiah says in verse 24- “The Lord is my portion therefore I will wait for Him.” Then in verse 26 he says: “It is good to wait quietly on the salvation of the Lord.” There is a waiting for relief, for salvation, In alsfor the pain and sickness and heartache and fear to stop.
What does it mean, “The Lord is my portion?” When the Prodigal Son was leaving his home he asked his father for his “portion” of his estate. Portion is a statement of wealth. If God is your resource, the source of your wealth then you need not fear. While something may be taken away- we have one far wealthier than the stock market or your workplace that can give it back.
Ecclesiastes 3 says to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. In almost every news conference about the coronavirus this has been emphasized. “We will get through” this. “We will come out stronger”; “We will go through this together.” But I want to say that this is not the good news. The good news that Jeremiah knew is that even if “we” don’t get through, God still sees each individual who believes in them through. This life is but a season.
One day- the churches will open for worship again- and we can really pass the peace. The schools will open again. The businesses and work that drove us crazy will open again. But will we thank God when it does? Will we get our priorities straight now that we have had time to think about it… this time?
Have you ever been in a submarine? If your claustrophobic, submarines and elevators and MRI machines are no fun. But if you know that it will not close in on your forever you can survive it. It is like holding your breath underwater until you can come up for air. Eventually the submarine resurfaces. Eventually the elevator door opens. Eventually the MRI stops. Eventually the airplane lands and you get off the plane. As bad as this pollen is- eventually it will stop. When it is winter and snowing- we know it will not be winter and snowing forever- by the way- it is the first Sunday of Spring!
Jeremiah says in verse 24- “The Lord is my portion therefore I will wait for Him.” Then in verse 26 he says: “It is good to wait quietly on the salvation of the Lord.” There is a waiting for relief, for salvation, In alsfor the pain and sickness and heartache and fear to stop.
What does it mean, “The Lord is my portion?” When the Prodigal Son was leaving his home he asked his father for his “portion” of his estate. Portion is a statement of wealth. If God is your resource, the source of your wealth then you need not fear. While something may be taken away- we have one far wealthier than the stock market or your workplace that can give it back.
Ecclesiastes 3 says to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. In almost every news conference about the coronavirus this has been emphasized. “We will get through” this. “We will come out stronger”; “We will go through this together.” But I want to say that this is not the good news. The good news that Jeremiah knew is that even if “we” don’t get through, God still sees each individual who believes in them through. This life is but a season.
One day- the churches will open for worship again- and we can really pass the peace. The schools will open again. The businesses and work that drove us crazy will open again. But will we thank God when it does? Will we get our priorities straight now that we have had time to think about it… this time?
2. God Knows your Affliction- Jeremiah does not hide
his head in the sand like an ostrich.
Rather he lists all the things that have gone wrong for him in most of
this book. He lists how he has seen
affliction. He lists how he has been
walled in- like many of you are feeling right now. He has been deprived of peace- how many of us
have not slept so well the last few weeks?
He says “I have forgotten what prosperity is.” He says, “My splendor is gone” All of his glory and shiny stuff has lost its
shine. He has lost everything. He had hoped for so much more from the
Lord. But it seems the dreams he had
even from God are crumbled into dust.
While the coronavirus may be novel- human suffering, pain, loneliness is
not.
He remembers he says my affliction, his wandering- a sense of lostness, his bitterness and gall.
There are many verses in the Bible reminding us that God sees us in our pain. He”I r are just a few: Genesis 29 Leah named her son “Reuben” which means “he sees my misery.” Exodus 3:7- when the people of Israel were brought into slavery- “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have given heed to their cry…I am aware of their sufferings.” Psalm 31:7 reminds us that God sees our affliction. When Jesus walked on this earth- He took notice of those who were sick when other people ignored them- and healed them. He took notice of the children and brought them into His arms.
Tom Hanks who has the coronavirus quoted from Mr. Rogers who said after 911 that his mother always told him that in times of crisis- look for the helpers. The helpers are people who are looking to find those who need help. They are the hand of God in a tough time. There is something very god-like in looking to see who needs help and then doing what you can. In our time there are many. I saw the story about two young cellists who knew an elderly neighbor who was shut in; they went to their neighbor’s porch- sat on the opposite end of her. And played the cello. It was a simple way to help- but it encouraged millions in the end.
He remembers he says my affliction, his wandering- a sense of lostness, his bitterness and gall.
There are many verses in the Bible reminding us that God sees us in our pain. He”I r are just a few: Genesis 29 Leah named her son “Reuben” which means “he sees my misery.” Exodus 3:7- when the people of Israel were brought into slavery- “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have given heed to their cry…I am aware of their sufferings.” Psalm 31:7 reminds us that God sees our affliction. When Jesus walked on this earth- He took notice of those who were sick when other people ignored them- and healed them. He took notice of the children and brought them into His arms.
Tom Hanks who has the coronavirus quoted from Mr. Rogers who said after 911 that his mother always told him that in times of crisis- look for the helpers. The helpers are people who are looking to find those who need help. They are the hand of God in a tough time. There is something very god-like in looking to see who needs help and then doing what you can. In our time there are many. I saw the story about two young cellists who knew an elderly neighbor who was shut in; they went to their neighbor’s porch- sat on the opposite end of her. And played the cello. It was a simple way to help- but it encouraged millions in the end.
3. In God There is Always Hope.
There are people who think they are self-sufficient. But they are beginning to doubt that now.
There are people who really try to live as if there is no hope- that is such a Bergin way to live.
Have you ever seen that movie Trolls? There are two kinds of walking creatures- there are Bergins and there are Trolls. Trolls are usually upbeat, happy, singing full of joy. Then there are the Bergins who think the only way they can be happy is by eating the joyful Trolls.
I don’t know about you, but I have seen some real Bergins lately. There are some who love painting the worst case scenario to the point of despair. I have heard people criticize others just for being brave. I have heard some criticize others for mentioning we need to stay safe. The toilet paper is gone. The chicken and ground beef can’t be stocked fast enough. People are hoarding. I thought- okay once they get 100 rolls of toilet paper about a third of a roll a day for a year, they will stop hoarding toilet paper. But now it appears to be a habit almost a fetish to get any toilet paper. Now we are running out of ammo. Not good stuff.
I have always loved reading strategies of generals and wars. Every general from Napoleon to Wellington to Washington to Cornwallis to Lee to Grant has been defeated in battle. But one of the tricks is an orderly retreat. You know in the Battle of Camden- where there is a coronavirus battle going on- there was not an orderly retreat. The general fled as fast as he could on horseback to Charlotte and his army was lost. Fear took hold of his ability to keep his army intact and the whole patriot army was lost. I guess what I am asking for is an orderly retreat. Keeping your distance but not hoarding your stuff. Don’t hold onto this life so much that you cannot help your neighbor or be considerate and even share. Look for ways to be generous when people are afraid and are holding their fists tighter and tighter. God is the One who helped Jeremiah.
His steadfast love never ceases. That means you can count on God to love you in the good times and in the bad times. His love doesn’t change with the wind or even when you feel unlovable. Just like the Prodigal Son’s father always loved him and wanted him to come back.
His mercies never come to an end- Jeremiah saw God’s mercies in his dreadful tragedy. If you look, you can see the merciful hand of God leading today.
They are new every morning. Every morning the sun comes up and gives us a fresh start. Every day there is a new surprise of hope.
Life Care Center in Seattle was hit hard with the coronavirus. 62% of the 130 residents contracted the virus. Geneva Wood got it too. She had just moved there in January having suffered a stroke. But she said she was going to “fight this for my family and make everyone proud.” Last week she was taken off oxygen. Her daughter said, “Do not underestimate the power of thoughts and prayers. Keep it up- it’s working!”
In some ways- we who have not had a Sabbath for years- are catching up on the Sabbaths we gave up- the rest; the prayer; the thinking and reading; the family; the music; the singing, laughing and hope.
Great is His faithfulness. It is not negative to talk of the steadfast faithfulness of God. I am totally convinced it Is the most positive thing that can be said. 2 Timothy 2:13 says “If we are faithless, He is faithful still. God cannot deny himself.” Remember this my friends: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness.”
There are people who think they are self-sufficient. But they are beginning to doubt that now.
There are people who really try to live as if there is no hope- that is such a Bergin way to live.
Have you ever seen that movie Trolls? There are two kinds of walking creatures- there are Bergins and there are Trolls. Trolls are usually upbeat, happy, singing full of joy. Then there are the Bergins who think the only way they can be happy is by eating the joyful Trolls.
I don’t know about you, but I have seen some real Bergins lately. There are some who love painting the worst case scenario to the point of despair. I have heard people criticize others just for being brave. I have heard some criticize others for mentioning we need to stay safe. The toilet paper is gone. The chicken and ground beef can’t be stocked fast enough. People are hoarding. I thought- okay once they get 100 rolls of toilet paper about a third of a roll a day for a year, they will stop hoarding toilet paper. But now it appears to be a habit almost a fetish to get any toilet paper. Now we are running out of ammo. Not good stuff.
I have always loved reading strategies of generals and wars. Every general from Napoleon to Wellington to Washington to Cornwallis to Lee to Grant has been defeated in battle. But one of the tricks is an orderly retreat. You know in the Battle of Camden- where there is a coronavirus battle going on- there was not an orderly retreat. The general fled as fast as he could on horseback to Charlotte and his army was lost. Fear took hold of his ability to keep his army intact and the whole patriot army was lost. I guess what I am asking for is an orderly retreat. Keeping your distance but not hoarding your stuff. Don’t hold onto this life so much that you cannot help your neighbor or be considerate and even share. Look for ways to be generous when people are afraid and are holding their fists tighter and tighter. God is the One who helped Jeremiah.
His steadfast love never ceases. That means you can count on God to love you in the good times and in the bad times. His love doesn’t change with the wind or even when you feel unlovable. Just like the Prodigal Son’s father always loved him and wanted him to come back.
His mercies never come to an end- Jeremiah saw God’s mercies in his dreadful tragedy. If you look, you can see the merciful hand of God leading today.
They are new every morning. Every morning the sun comes up and gives us a fresh start. Every day there is a new surprise of hope.
Life Care Center in Seattle was hit hard with the coronavirus. 62% of the 130 residents contracted the virus. Geneva Wood got it too. She had just moved there in January having suffered a stroke. But she said she was going to “fight this for my family and make everyone proud.” Last week she was taken off oxygen. Her daughter said, “Do not underestimate the power of thoughts and prayers. Keep it up- it’s working!”
In some ways- we who have not had a Sabbath for years- are catching up on the Sabbaths we gave up- the rest; the prayer; the thinking and reading; the family; the music; the singing, laughing and hope.
Great is His faithfulness. It is not negative to talk of the steadfast faithfulness of God. I am totally convinced it Is the most positive thing that can be said. 2 Timothy 2:13 says “If we are faithless, He is faithful still. God cannot deny himself.” Remember this my friends: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness.”
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