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Mark Wheeler
Romans 5:12-21
Fifth Sunday in Lent, 03/26/2023
“Behold, There Is a New Creation: Be-Healed”
Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church
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Welcome to worship, friends – on this fifth Sunday in the season of Lent – a Season designed to prepare us for the wonder and grace of Jesus’ death and resurrection, Maundy Thursday, Jesus’ Last Supper, His Good Friday arrest and crucifixion and death, and Resurrection Sunday – let’s join in as Linda Soderstrom leads us in our Call to Worship –
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And let’s immediately follow that with our Prelude of Praise and wonder –– Grace Greater than All Our Sin #472
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Good morning Friends! Welcome worship at Lidgerwood!! Shalom Aleichem!
A woman took her husband to the doctor’s office. After his checkup, the doctor said, “Your husband is suffering from a very serious infection.“
The husband, who was hard of hearing said, “What did he say?“
His wife said, “He says your sick.”
The doctor went on, “But there is hope. You just need to reduce his stress. Each morning, give him a healthy breakfast.
Be pleasant, nice, and kind. For lunch and dinner make him his favorite meal. Don’t discuss your problems with him, it will only make his stress worse. Don’t yell at him or argue with him. And most importantly … just cater to your husband’s every whim.
If you can do this for your husband for the next 6 months to a year, I think your husband will have a complete recovery.“
The husband said, “What did he say?“
His wife said, “He says, You’re going to die.”
Well, I guess some infections are worse than others!!
Healing! That’s the theme of today’s worship service. Physical healing – that’s why we pray. Emotional healing – that’s why we love. Spiritual healing – that’s why we worship. Where is your hurt and pain today? What healing do you need?
This is why the Season of Lent exists. So that we might see in ourselves that we are so deeply loved by God that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life – God is Yahweh Rapha – the Lord is Healer – the Great Physician …..
This Season of Lent is meant to bring us to this Great Physician, the Creator of our very selves, and every element and chemical and relationship that offers healing ….
Welcome, friends, from around the world, to this worshipping community!
Let’s take a second to welcome each other into a moment of Sabbath in God’s presence and peace, and with others whom we love and with whom we grow together. Friends, may “The PEACE of Christ be with you – and also in you!!”
Welcome to this “gathering” in God’s name. We are assembled in NorthEast Spokane, WA, along with people from all over the world. We are very glad you are “here” with us.
Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit presence and power, in your homes, through your phones and computers, in this building here, and in your lives. Pray with us … and hear and be transformed by God’s Word.
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Choir –! Thank you for how you lead us in worship with this Sunday’s Choral Anthem – remind us that God heals “Because He Loves Us So”
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While the choir transitions to the pews, let’s fill this time highlighting some announcements :
The Easter Cantata – The Rose of Calvary – will take place on Resurrection Sunday, April 9, during
worship – invite your friends to hear this beautiful rendition of the original Easter story!
There will be a New Member Class on April 15, 9-noon
Listen in as Linda opens our Prayer time in Confession and Thanksgiving
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10 Gloria Patri
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- what are some praises, thanksgivings, adorations we want to offer?
- Is there a person or a situation you want to lift to our Lord for His answers and grace?
14 We pray this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray: [The Lord’s Prayer]
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Let’s prepare to receive a Word from our Majestic God by singing a song of Devotion and Praise and Glory – One Race, One Gospel, One Task – #735!!
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Spirit of Healing and Comfort, of Integrity and Truth, we believe in You and trust in You. As You did on the day of Pentecost, fill us, renew us, challenge us with Your Spirit and with Your Word … and we commit ourselves to work with You in Your world, in the authority of Jesus’ name. Amen.
I remember learning about Adam and Eve from my earliest days in Sunday School. One thing that always bothered me was that they blew it for the rest of us. I remember thinking that if only they hadn’t sinned … we wouldn’t have to worry about mosquitoes or wasps or other insects that make such a nuisance of themselves.
Of course, as a young child, I was unable to appreciate the biggest result … ever since our first parents … Adam & Eve … sinned, when they chose to do what THEY wanted … instead of what GOD wanted … when they disobeyed God; it has resulted in Sin being passed down to all their future children.
We have received an inheritance from our first parents … and it’s not a bunch of money.
It is Sin. I was born in sin. And so were you. And Now, because of Adam & Eve, instead of really wanting to serve God … we are born and grow … really wanting to do what WE want (just like Adam & Eve); and left unchecked … this is a really bad infection! In fact, it’s an infection that has eternal fatality!
This is why, when we confess our sin – while we might include time to confess individual sins, personal sins – it is really our sin-nature we confess, and need forgiveness for and healing from.
When we go to the Doctor and he tells us our diagnosis, we usually have many questions …
Is it serious? What is the treatment? If the diagnosis is very serious, we might ask, “How much longer do I have?“
And now that I have told you that you have a fatal infection … you might have some questions for The Doctor.
We will look to the Great Physician to answer our questions this morning.
Let’s turn to today’s Bible reading, and discover God’s perfect cure – He wants us to Be-Healed: Read: Romans 5:12-21… —-
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12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, & death through sin, & so death spread to all men because
all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
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15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.
16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.
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17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned thru that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace & the free gift of righteousness reign in life thru the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification & life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
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20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Who is infected?
We are all infected with the disease called Sin. We get this infection simply by being born. I don’t know if Scientists will ever find a gene in our genetic make up that is the “Sin” gene; but just like our hair color and eye color are inherited … we also inherit Sin.
And this Sin (singular, capitol “S”) is what causes us to commit sins (plural, small “s”). In our New Member class we will learn again that Sin (capitol S) is that Sin we are born with … because of what Adam & Eve did; sins (plural, small s) are the sins we commit … because of what WE do.
And the bad news is that we can do absolutely nothing to help ourselves. We can’t take penicillin to get rid of this infection. We can’t try to live a holy life on our own. Amy Grant sings a song in which she says, “Being ‘good’ is just a fable; I just can’t cuz I’m not able”. She is absolutely right! We can’t go to a surgeon and have him cut out this infection. It’s there!
Romans 5:18 says, “Consequently, … the result of one trespass was condemnation for all.”
Here’s a question that comes up in almost every group that reads the Adam & Eve passage together: If God is omniscient, and He knows all things. He would know that Adam & Eve would sin; and as a result … all humanity would be born with this infection. If God really knows all this … why would He create Adam and Eve to begin with?
Let me answer this question with another question: Those of you who have children …
When you had children … did you really think that they would be perfect?
Or did you realize that there would be times that they would disappoint you?
Did you realize that your children (from time to time) would make you cry?
Did you realize that they would cause you pain? Did you realize that they would hurt you? That they would disobey you?
If we realize all these things … why in the world would we have children?
My guess is … we hope that the good times will outweigh the bad. We hope that the joy will be greater than the pain; that obedience would be greater than the disobedience.
When Caitlin was born … and I held her in my arms for the 1st time … I remember that overwhelming sense of love;
that sense that I would be willing to do ANYTHING for her. The same was true for Brianna and Andrew … even though by now I knew, 1st hand, perfection was out of the question!
I knew that no matter what … I would always love my children. I knew I would try to spend time with them; I would try to be the absolute best father ever.
As I recall how I felt at the birth of my children … I wonder how God felt when He created Adam & Eve.
We’ve already talked about some of His hopes and dreams for them; His plans for them; His promises made.
God was committed, even then, to spending time with His children; to be the best Father ever. He was thinking, even then … that He would be willing to do anything … no matter how great the sacrifice. And He knew what that sacrifice would entail!
God knew … just like you know. Our love for our children makes it all worthwhile.
Another important question that we have to ask:
Is there a cure for this fatal infection? Are we doomed to die? How can we Be-Healed?
I’m here to tell you this morning … we don’t have to die … there is a cure!
Romans 5:17 says, “For if, by the trespass of the one man , death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.”
Yes, there is a disease called Sin. Yes, it is fatal. Yes, if this infection is left unchecked, untreated it is a terminal illness.
But there is hope! And that hope is found in Jesus Christ!
God can cleanse us from Sin. He can change us from within! He can heal us from the infection! He restores us into a great relationship with Him. We are forgiven!
The last question I’d like for us to talk about is, if God’s plan for us is to live a holy life, free from the power of Sin … does that make us some kind of “super Christian“?
Sometimes, when we start to talk about holiness or sanctification or being cleansed from our sin, People start to get nervous.
They start to look for the exits.
Holiness isn’t something to be afraid of. Holiness is simply a way of living made possible through an intimate and personal relationship with God. Why do people like to go to live stand-up comedy shows? How is that different from watching the same show on TV? We might actually meet our favorite, famous, star! People like to be seen, we take selfies with, famous stars! Think what it would be like to hang out with … God Almighty!!!
So when we start talking about holiness … we’re not talking about something that makes us holier than others – it isn’t something that makes us a “super Christian“. It doesn’t change us into some little “Christian robot” incapable of doing anything wrong. No one possesses holiness under their own power.
Frank Moore, in his book Breaking Free from Sin’s Grip says, “Ours is a reflected holiness, much like moonlight. The moon has no light source at its core. It shines with light only as it remains connected to the sun. No sunlight … no moonlight.”
It is only as long as we are connected to the Father that His Light is reflected onto us.
That’s why we constantly talk about a RELATIONSHIP with God. If we have any hope of living a holy life, if we have any hope of breaking free from the power of Sin … it is in living in close proximity to the Father. Hanging out with God Almighty! John 15:5 records Jesus saying, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
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When Adam & Eve sinned … it was like a virus that spread. A pandemic. And it caused a fatal infection. The 1st “pandemic”!
We are all infected. We’re all doomed!
But there is hope! There is a cure. And that cure is found in Jesus Christ.
If there is a person in the hospital who is deathly sick from an infection, but then the Doctor comes in to her hospital room and tells her that a simple treatment would cure her; but then she says, “I’m not interested in treatments,” or “I’ve never turned to a Doctor for help before, I’m not going to start now,” or “No thank you, I don’t like needles,” or “No, I think I am going to wait for a better time,” or “No, I think I am going to try to cure myself first … then I’ll come to see you“.
We would be pretty amazed at that, maybe angry with her. We would probably do our best to talk some sense into her, to encourage her to take the life-saving injection.
But the same thing happens in church nearly every week. We pray for people to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We invite people to “come to their senses”. We share the Good News of God’s perfect love and power.
And people know they are lost. They know they have the fatal infection. And they know that Jesus is the answer.
But they say things like: “I’m just not ready“; “I’ll wait for a better time”; “I don’t like to pray”; “I might be embarrassed”; “I’m going to try to clean my life up first … then I’ll come and be baptized and pray.”
This morning, the offer is open. There is a cure for your disease. You don’t have to carry that burden any more.
You can receive that abundant provision of God’s grace.
As the Church of LPC, journeying toward Jerusalem with Jesus as He offers Himself as a sacrifice for our sins on the cross, getting ready for our next Hundred Years of ministry in NE Spokane, Now is the time of God’s favor! Behold, we are a new creation! We are Be-Comers of God’s reality. Be-Dreamers of what that might look like! B-roken from our God, let’s make the move to Be-Healed together!! Amen!
Maybe you already have, but you have neglected your prayers or your Bible; or maybe you’ve just stopped “hanging out” with God Almighty. Today is the Day of Salvation! Do you want it for yourself … and your Church? Amen….
If, this morning, you would like to accept this “cure” for this “disease” I, and a couple others, will hang out up front this morning…. This might be your 1st time, or maybe you’ve received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior a long time ago, but you need to re-fill the prescription. We invite you to seek God’s gracious offer….
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Receive our tithes and offerings as symbols of our very lives and livelihood, given as response to Your life given for us! Bless it, and by it bless the world around us. In Christ’s name, Amen.
– Offering (4449 N Nevada St, Spokane, 99207 ; or text 833-976-1333, code “Lidgerwood”)
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28-31 Expedition Song #611 – There is a Balm in Gilead !
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May we Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit.
And give glory to God, today, and forever! Amen.
And as we do that: “May the Lord bless you and protect you;
may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.”
34 Announcements
- Thursday Bible Study –very Thursday at 10am, here and on Zoom
- Easter Cantata – Rose of Calvary – Easter Sunday, April 9, during worship
- New Member Class – April 15, 9-noon
Resources:
Brincefield, Larry; Fatal Infection; sermon preached 10/2002.
Dietterich, Inagrace T.; Journey of Discovery Bible Study: Behold, There Is a New Creation; Center for Parish Development; Chicago, IL; 1999; Pp. 21-26.
Grant, Amy; I Have Decided; Universal Music publishing Group; 1982.
Moore, Frank; Breaking Free from Sin’s Grip: Holiness Defined for a New Generation; Beacon Hill; 2001.
Wheeler, Mark; “Be Healed”; Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church; 03/26/2006.
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