February 19, 2006

Lesson: Matthew 24.15-28

Sermon Title: Rumors

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INTRODUCTION:

Cub Reporter (1)

The newspaper editor was instructing the cub reporter in important details of his calling. "Never state as a fact anything you are not absolutely sure about," said the editor. "To avoid putting the paper in the position of stating something which it may not be able to prove, you should always use the words 'alleged,' 'claimed,' 'reputed,' 'rumored,' and so on, unless you know positively that everything is true as stated.

The cub was sent out to get society items, and soon thereafter the following paragraph appeared in the society column:

"It is rumored that a bridge party was given yesterday by a number of reputed ladies. Mrs. Smith, it is said, was hostess. The guests, it is alleged, with the exception of Mrs. Brown, who says that she comes from Illinois, were all local people. Mrs. Smith claims to be the wife of Alexander Smith, who is rumored to be doing a thriving business in town."

  1. It was rumored.

    1. Look at the way in which the cub reporter put this story together.

      1. Rumored.

      2. Reputed.

      3. Alleged.

      4. Claims.

      5. Rumored used twice.

    2. I wondered at the meaning of the word RUMOR?

      1. I found these definitions in the dictionary.

        1. Gossip is to circulate, report or assert to be true by a rumor.

        2. Rumor is a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to the facts.

      2. So the Sermon Title is accurate. You shall hear of RUMORS!

    3. The words used in this humorous story are often the words that are used for and about Jesus.

      1. One of the point that Jesus is constantly seeking to make is that the Christian needs to develop a reliance on secure information.

      2. There is nothing:

        1. Rumored.

        2. Reputed.

        3. Alleged.

        4. Claims.

        5. Rumored.

      3. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

      4. What he offers is not:

        1. Rumored.

        2. Reputed.

        3. Alleged.

        4. Claims.

        5. Rumored.

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MAIN BODY:

  1. Rumors Abound.

    1. Iranian President Calls Holocaust a Myth, Wednesday, December 14, 2005 (2)

      1. TEHRAN, Iran--Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad escalated his anti-Israeli rhetoric Wednesday, calling the Holocaust a "myth" used by Europeans to create a Jewish state in the heart of the Islamic world.

      2. "Today, they have created a myth in the name of Holocaust and consider it to be above God, religion and the prophets," Ahmadinejad told thousands of people in the southeastern city of Zahedan.

      3. He calls for a commission to demonstrable prove the reputed reality of the Holocaust.

    2. Helga and I, with Geisla and Fritz Edler, were driving past Roswell, New Mexico.

      1. This is the UFO capital of the world.

      2. It is alleged that the US Government is holding Extraterrestrials and their flying saucer in a secret location.

    3. Did NASA really land people on the moon?

      1. NASA's Apollo Moon Project a Hoax (3)

        1. This article has been written to prove, once and for all, that we are not being told the truth about the NASA film footage of the Apollo missions. This will astound even the most hardened sceptic and convince many people that the whole Apollo moon project of the late 1960's and early 70's were a complete hoax. Video links are provided so you can watch with your own eyes the 'official NASA footage' that proves that we really haven't been told the whole truth!!!

      This article was Updated on 6th November, 2005, to offer new evidence concerning NASA's current views on lunar radiation.

    4. White Supremacy, White Separatists, White Nationalists.

      1. White supremacy: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (4)

      White supremacy is a racist ideology which holds that the white race is superior to other races. White supremacy is most often thought of in connection with anti-black racism and anti-Semitism, though it has also been used to justify discrimination against Native Americans, Chinese, Irish, Arabs, Italians, Roman Catholics, Southeast Asians, and others.

      For example, politically, socially and economically, white supremacy was by and large the law of the land in the United States before and for decades after Reconstruction; the same is true of apartheid-era South Africa, and of parts of Europe at various periods of time, most notably under the Third Reich...

      White supremacy is sometimes used in a more limited sense to indicate a philosophical belief that whites are not only superior to others, but should rule over them. White separatist and white nationalist groups often use this more limited definition in order to distinguish themselves from white supremacists.

      White supremacy, as with supremacism in general, is rooted in ethnocentrism and a desire for hegemony. It contains varying degrees of racism and xenophobia. Associations of white supremacy with ethnic cleansing and racial separation are common, but not necessarily intrinsic.

          1. It is claimed that whites are superior.

          2. It is a claim that cannot be justified or maintained.

    5. Enough about rumors of this kind.

    6. Well, one more point.

      1. There are some of my collogues or pastors in the profession who believe and teach the same things about Jesus Christ.

      2. There is no Virgin Birth.

      3. There are no Miracles.

      4. There is no Resurrection.

        1. Look at what the scribes and Pharisees paid the soldiers who were guarding the tomb to say.

        2. We fell asleep, and his disciples came during the night and stole the body.

        3. I don't care how much they might have paid me, I would not want to have to deal with the fallout of sleeping on watch.

      5. Jesus was only a man who developed an intimate relationship with God and thus became more than any other human.

        1. Look at all the furor over The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

        2. This is a work of fiction

        3. Dan Brown has been accused of seeking to destroy the individual's acceptance of the nature, personhood and purposes of Jesus.

        4. An enormous amount of opposition has developed to counter a work of fiction.

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  1. Jesus warns, in no uncertain terms, to beware of false prophets and false messiahs.

    1. Then if anyone says to you, 'Look! Here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!'--do not believe it.

      2. Messiah, the "anointed one." an alternative name for Christ.

      1. So if they say Jesus is here, that is in person, don't believe it.

      2. So if they say Jesus is there, don't believe it.

    2. There will be many false prophets and messiahs.

    3. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens.

      1. A false messiah is obvious: someone claiming to be a savior.

      2. A false prophet may be more difficult to identify, because false prophets are those who proclaim that everything will turn out all right.

    4. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

    5. How can you begin to know the difference?

      1. Whoever speaks against Jesus is suspect.

        1. Luke 9:49-50 (NRSVA)

      6. John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you."

        1. 1 Corinthians 12:3 (NRSVA)

      Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.

    6. Take note, I have told you beforehand.

      1. So, if they say to you, 'Look! He is in the wilderness,' do not go out.

      2. If they say, 'Look! He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.

    7. The coming of Jesus will not be secret or hidden.

      8. "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man."

  2. There are a few questions that we might as of ourselves.

    1. Do you believe in Jesus?

    2. Do you believe Jesus?

    3. Do you trust in Jesus?

    4. Do you have faith that Jesus desires what is in your long-range best interests?

    5. Do you have the desire for a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ?

    6. There is a song that we sing on occasion, "Deeper, Deeper"

      3. Deeper, Deeper

      Words & Music: Charles P. Jones, 1900

      Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
      Daily let me go;
      Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
      More of grace to know.

      Refrain

      O deeper yet, I pray,
      And higher every day,
      And wiser, blessèd Lord,
      In Thy precious, holy Word.

      Deeper, deeper, blessèd Holy Spirit,
      Take me deeper still,
      Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
      And His perfect will.

      Refrain

      Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
      Deeper let me go!
      Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
      Let me fruitful grow.

      Refrain

      Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
      Till all conflict past,
      Finds me conqu'ror, and in His own image
      Perfected at last.

      Refrain

      Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
      Holy faith and true;
      In His pow'r and soul exulting wisdom
      Let me peace pursue.

      Refrain

    1. This is the source of our salvation.

    2. Jesus describes depth in the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:3-9 (NRSVA)

      3. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears listen!"

      1. The deeper we are willing to grow in the love and truth of Jesus the greater is our protection against false prophets and messiahs.

      2. This requires that one let the seed do its full growing so that it produces what it may.

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CONCLUSION

  1. For the October, 2004, Thoughts from here and there I wrote about "Looking for Security"

    1. The candidates for both major political parties are holding out the hope for greater security for the citizens of America.

      1. President Bush and Dick Cheney have their, An Agenda for America: A Plan for a Safer World and More Hopeful America. "On September 2, 2004, in New York City, President George W. Bush accepted the Republican nomination for President. In his address, he promised to build on the accomplishments of his first term by building a safer world and more hopeful America for our workers, families, and children." (5)

      2. John Kerrey and John Edwards have their, Our Plan for America: Stronger at Home, Respected in the World. "John Kerry and John Edwards have released a book outlining their plan to make America stronger at home and respected in the world. Together, they will ensure America is secure, that all Americans have the opportunity to fulfill their potential, and that families are strong and have the support they need." (6)

    2. Both a sitting President and his challenger suggest that they can create a safer American that will be less prone to attack from terrorists.

      1. We can perhaps create a safer America, but no one can promise a more secure America. There is no guarantee of security! There is no safe that cannot be opened. There is no home security system that cannot be breached. There is no border that cannot be crossed. If a determined terrorist desires to wreck havoc, he can and will. We live in a dangerous and very unsecured world. So what do we do, live in fear? Give up our freedom for security by passing more stringent Patriot Acts?

      2. The early Christians were terrorized by the Roman State. Jesus Christ was crucified. Our spiritual ancestors had no economic or political clout. What they did have, we also can have. They did not put their trust in human governments, but in the presence, power, and hopefulness of the realized promises of Jesus Christ.

  2. In 1868 Fanny Crosby wrote: On April 30, 1868, Dr. W. H. Doane came into my house and said, "I have exactly forty minutes before my train leaves for Cincinnati. Here is a melody. Can you write words for it?" I replied that I would see what I could do. Then followed a space of twenty minutes during which I was wholly unconscious of all else except the work I was doing. At the end of that time I recited the words to "Safe in the Arms of Jesus." Mr. Doane copied them, and had time to catch his train.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o'ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.
Hark! 'tis the voice of angels, borne in a song to me.
Over the fields of glory, over the jasper sea.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast
There by His love o'ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe from corroding care,
Safe from the world's temptations, sin cannot harm me there.
Free from the blight of sorrow, free from my doubts and fears;
Only a few more trials, only a few more tears!

Jesus, my heart's dear Refuge, Jesus has died for me;
Firm on the Rock of Ages, ever my trust shall be.
Here let me wait with patience, wait till the night is over;
Wait till I see the morning break on the golden shore.

    1. Where else are you going to turn for security?

    2. Here to our security in Christ, Pastor Shultz

Amen

1. Retrieved from Pastor Tim [posts@cybersaltlists.org]

2. Retrieved from Fox News, February 13, 2006

3. Retrieved from: http://www.ufos-aliens.co.uk/cosmicapollo.html

4. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_supremacist

5. Retrieved from http://www.georgewbush.com/Agenda/

6. Retrieved from http://www.johnkerry.com/plan/

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