Scriptures; Isaiah 41:1-13, and Hebrews 12:14-29
Message; “A Popeye moment.”
Isaiah 41:1-13
The Helper of Israel
(1) “Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength! Let them come forward and speak; let us meet together at the place of judgment.
(2) “Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service ? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.
(3) He pursues them and moves on unscathed, by a path his feet have not traveled before.
(4) Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord -with the first of them and with the last-I am he.”
(5) The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward;
(6) each helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!”
(7) The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer spurs on him who strikes the anvil. He says of the welding, “It is good.” He nails down the idol so it will not topple.
(8) “But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend,
(9) I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
(10) So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
(11) “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.
(12) Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.
(13) For I am the Lord , your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Hebrews 12:14-29
Warning Against Refusing God
(14) Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (15) See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (16) See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. (17) Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
(18) You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; (19) to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, (20) because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” (21) The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
(22) But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, (23) to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, (24) to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
(25) See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? (26) At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” (27) The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken–that is, created things–so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
(28) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, (29) for our “God is a consuming fire.”
This is the word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
I remember as a child, my brothers and I used to watch cartoons on television , Saturday mornings. One of my favorites was Popeye. I loved the old Popeye cartoons. You know, Popeye the Sailor Man? It was clear he was our hero and Brutus was his natural enemy, threatening to harm poor Olive Oil, the love of Popeye’s life. Every episode, after Brutus’ taunting and bullying, Popeye reached the point where he would say; “that’s all I can standz, and I can’t standz no more.” Out came his can of spinach, down it went, and suddenly his muscles were popping and fists were flying. Brutus didn’t stand a chance!
I’m convinced we all occasionally need to have a “Popeye Moment.” When someone or something you love is in danger or you come to a point in life that requires change desperately. We need to “draw a line in the sand” and have a showdown. A time to say; “that’s all I can standz, and I can’t standz no more.”
How many of you know what plant is in this picture?
Is it a weed or is it something to be cultivated?
When I was a boy I figured it was just a weed to be pulled from the garden. My father used to send us boys out to weed his garden. A task I hated! And invariably I would rid his garden of this stuff, thinking it was just a weed. Until one day when he resisted from having a “Popeye Moment”, and took me by the hand and informed me of what are weeds and what is growing on purpose. I was not feeling too loved that day. He was angry! He put the fear of God in me, when it came to weeding and caring for his garden. He sternly reminded me if I had a problem, all I needed to do was ask. And he said;”I will help you.”
I’m sure Bonne resist having a “Popeye Moment”, like my father, when it comes to weeding her gardens and flowerbeds. She gets angry! She takes me by the hand and instructs me on what to weed out and what to leave alone. I’ve learned the hard way to many times. She’s put the fear of God in me when it comes to weeding her gardens and flowerbeds. And yet I know, if only I ask, I need not fear.
Gardening and plant recognition has never been one of my strengths. I’m a slow learner, and have a tendency to be lacking in a desire to learn, what to weed and what to leave. Bonne and my father both have had the right to be angry with me. To come to their, ‘’Popeye Moment” and say; “that’s all I can standz, and I can’t standz no more.” They both would bring out their can of spinach like Popeye, and down it would go and instead of fist’s flying they remembered the words from the Hebrews writer:”Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” (Heb.12:14,15). So as they downed their can of spinach knowing that it came from God, their muscles popped out and delivered a blow that I had no chance of guarding against. They took me by the hand and said as God said in Isaiah 41:13: “Do not fear; I will help you.
In our Old Testament reading of Isaiah chapter 41. God called the Israelites to be his people from the time of Abraham to the time of their captivity. God chose Israel because he wanted to, not because the people deserved it.
Although God chose the Israelites to represent him to the world, they fail to do so. So God punished them and send them into captivity. God had a “Popeye Moment”.
You see, the Israelites were slow learners like myself. They had a hard time weeding and caring for God’s garden. They were unwilling to heed the instructions of God. Unwilling to learn the difference of what are weeds and what is planted on purpose. They choose to worship the gods of their captures, the weeds, and build idols of gold and nail them down so they would not topple. But topple they did. Because they had neglected to remember that they were God’s garden and He needed to cultivate His garden. To pull out the weeds that caused sin and death so that what was planted on purpose, His Word, that spinach that gives us strength could grow.
As I thought about their situation, I started to compare it to what’s going on in our world today. In their situation, God was disciplining His children so that they would come to the point where they were ready to heed His instructions. God reminded them by saying: “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isa. 41:13)
Do we see God having ”A Popeye Moment” in our country today? The pandemic has brought about fear and mistrust of our government and the news media, a failing economy, and the violence that make the head lines daily. Freedoms of free speech, and religion, rights to assemble that seem to be lost. Churches that have closed their doors, and the attitude of fear and complacency that has brought about the worship idols. Are we like the Israelites of old, worshiping gods of gold and nailing them down, the sin of worshiping idols and forgetting the love He has for His chosen?
Is God disciplining us so that we might remember the love He has for those who believe? Those who have come to a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ who came to this world to live and suffer, dying on the cross and resurrected to life, so that our sin will be forgiven and we might have everlasting life?
I believe we need to hear those words again. For they are as true today as they were for those who came before us. “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
We need to take hold of God’s hand and and follow His guidance given to us in Hebrews 12:14 &15. “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Let me ask you. What fight are you facing today? Are you overworking, missing what’s most important in life? Are you battling an addiction and telling yourself it’s not that big of a deal? Are you putting off a conversation, hoping the problem will solve itself? Are you making excuses as to why you can’t help those in need, or telling others of the grace of God?
Maybe it’s time to stop. Make a decision. Have a, “Popeye moment” and tell yourself, “that’s all I can standz, and I can’t standz no more.” Enough is enough. It’s time to change. The good news is your strength doesn’t come from a can of spinach. Yours comes from our God. His power is available to you. His strength dwells within you. His spirit will help you do what you can’t do on your own. The scripture reminds and encourages us by telling us: “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
Remember the words from the Hebrews writer: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,”(Hebrews 12:28). “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy;”(Hebrews 12:14).
Is it time for you to have,”A Popeye Moment”?
In His Service,
Pastor Joe
Listen To Audio: Sermon 20220821
Listen To Audio: Service 08212022
Let us be thankful, because we receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let us be grateful and worship God in a way that will please him. We will worship God with awe and reverence. Come, let us worship God! Call to Worship:
L: The Lord calls to us to go into the world–
P: We will go!
L: God commands us speak as God commands–
P: We will speak!
L: God assures us, “Do not be afraid”—
P: We trust that God will deliver us!
Prayer of Confession: Heavenly Father, what a great and almighty God You are and yet we have sinned against You as individuals and as members of Your beautiful creation. Father, we know that without the Lord Jesus as our Savior we could never stand before Your awesome majesty and yet by grace through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus our Savior, we can address You as Abba, Father. May we live to Your praise and glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Joe will be available at the church on Thursday Mornings from 9:00 to 11:00. If you need to speak to him, contact Pastor Joe at 570-267-4570 (cell) or Email: joe.s.travis@gmail.com
Loose change goes to Kenya/Rev. Malaho.
“Church In The Park” August 28th, at 9:30, weather permitting, but we will have a luncheon either way. No Sunday School. Please bring a dish to pass. Hamburgers and hot dogs, drinks, and paper products will be provided.
Newsletter deadline is Tuesday, August 30th.
Social Hour following church on September 4th.
Please mark your envelope if you are contributing to the snowblower fund.
We are looking for “Message in Music” for the summer months.
Ladies… You Are invited to our Advancing Watchwomen Retreat on September 16-18 at the Loft. Cost $125.00. Session has agreed to pay $60.00 toward fee for each lady. Your Cost $65.00. If someone doesn’t have the money, we have others who want to help out. See Bonne. Please Come and Be Blessed! Fee includes 5 meals, 2 nights lodging (weather you stay overnight or not) 154 Rock Hill Road, Susquehanna, PA 18847. Bedding and towels not included. Dress Casual. Registration and Payment Due September 9th, 2022.
Choir members and those interested in joining, our first practice will be Thursday, September 1 at 1 o’clock at the church. Please consider joining us in singing God’s praises! We will begin singing during the church service on Sunday, October 2nd.
