​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012                                                                              
Sermon Notes (Sunday, January 17, 2021)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
 “Four Prayer Requests!” #1
Jeremiah 17:5-8; Ephesians 3:14-21
 
This morning we start a 4-week sermon series that I titled, “Four Prayer Requests!”  This series of messages is based on Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21.  Paul was big on prayer.  As you know, Paul wrote more than half of the New Testament Books and it’s almost impossible to find one book without some sort of a prayer.  I think the prayer he prayed in Ephesians 3:14-21 is the jewel of his prayers. 
 
Two main reasons have encouraged me to share these four messages with you.  First: generally speaking, we are not good at prayer.  Our prayer life is not great.  So as we look at the Prayer of Paul in Ephesians 3, we get to remember how central prayer is to the follower of Jesus.  Writing to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.”  No wonder that Paul prayed always and in all circumstances.  In addition to that, there is another important reason.  Second: Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3 should be a model of our prayers.  One of the best ways to learn how and what to pray is to study the prayers of the Bible.  As we examine this prayer, we learn a great deal about the content of biblical prayer and the intensity with which we should pray.
 
So as we look at Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21, it’s so easy to get lost in the details.  At first reading, it appears to be a complex arrangement of phrases piled one on top of the other, all leading to a very powerful doxology in verses 20-21.  Yet, when we carefully examine the prayer, we will see that Paul prayed for four things in Ephesians 3:14-21.  (1) Paul prayed for inner strength to believers through the God’s Spirit.  (2) He prayed for Christ to dwell in our hearts through faith.  (3) He prayed that we would be rooted and grounded in love.   (4) Finally, he prayed for our hearts to grasp the greatness of Christ’s love.  What a prayer!
 
I am excited that we will be unpacking this wonderful prayer over the next few weeks.  This morning we will cover the first part of the prayer in which Paul prays for inner strength through God’s Spirit.  In Ephesians 3:16 Paul says, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.”  There is so much that we can say as we reflect on the first part of the prayer, but let me highlight a couple things for us today:
 
First: A Prayer for Strength
The first section of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is a prayer for inner power.  Paul wrote, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power.”  This is extremely relevant because we are exhausted.  We are tired.  We are drained.  It’s been extremely difficult year.  There are so many things that can sap our strength: discouraging circumstances, monotonous routine, physical weakness, personal failure, unwanted interruptions, unfinished responsibilities, and unresolved conflicts.  Any one of those things could knock us out of commission, but often two or three of them hit us at the same time.  And then we are knocked to the floor and find it hard to get up and get back in the fight.
 
This first part of Paul’s prayer is a prayer for something most of us desperately need every day—spiritual strength.  Paul says when you are on the verge of giving up, pray for strength.  Take this prayer to heart before you throw in the towel, Paul would say to us today.
 
The word that Paul uses for “power” here is the Greek “dunamis,” from which we get the English words dynamic and dynamite.  When you are made strong in the inner being by the Holy Spirit, there will be power to blast out the unbelief, and power to overcome despair, and power to rise above anger, and power to keep going when you would rather quit.  
 
Second: Power from Within
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.”  Did you notice that this power is put to work in the “inner self” or the “inner being”?  It’s a power that originates from within.  This is the place where we need the most help.  Paul faced countless hardships in his life.  It amazes me how Paul never prayed for change in his circumstances, rather, he prayed for spiritual strength to endure the race the Lord set before him.  There is nothing wrong with praying for God’s intervention in our circumstances, but Paul invites us to a different and greater type of power.  It’s our inner power, our spiritual power.
 
When God strengthens our inner being with power, the spirit becomes strong even when the flesh gets week.  I like the words of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 where Paul says, “Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
 
Over the years, I have seen the outwardly deterioration of so many wonderful followers of Jesus, nevertheless they become more and more steadfast and radiant.  Their memories may be fading; their arthritis may be nearly unbearable; cancer sucks all their energy, though their outer being weakens, their inner being runs from strength to strength.
 
Friends, with awareness of our spiritual weakness and our need for Spirit-given strength, let us continue to pray for one another.  Let’s continue to pray for God’s “dunamis,”, for God’s power and energy to strengthen our inner selves, so that when our bodies break, deteriorate, fade, or spoil, the interior life will shine forth the glory of God.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012                                                                              
Sermon Notes (Sunday, January 10, 2021)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
 “Don’t Forget Jesus!”
Deuteronomy 6:10-12; Luke 2:41-52
 
The story we just read from Luke’s Gospel is one of the few stories that we have about Jesus from his childhood.  In fact, from the time Jesus is an infant, until the time He is about 30, the Bible tells us very little about what His life was like.
 
In today’s story Jesus is on a trip with his parents.  He is 12 years old, and it’s the Passover, so he’s gone with them to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship.  At the end of the feast, His parents left with a large group.  Mary and Joseph got about a day away, and then they realized that they were living every parents’ nightmare: they had left their son back in Jerusalem.  Jesus was missing.
 
Please not that this has nothing to do with Mary and Joseph being irresponsible and neglecting of their parental duties.  In ancient times, people traveling used to go in caravans.  Women usually traveled separately to the men.  Children spent most of their time playing games around the caravan. 
 
Can you imagine what it was like in that moment?  “I thought you had him, Mary.”  “No, I thought you had him, Joseph!”  Mary and Joseph had to go back and check all the rest stops.  And then they rushed back to the city and for three days, three whole days, they looked around Jerusalem; the hotel, the restaurant, relatives’ homes … And then, finally, they went back to the Temple.  And there was Jesus …  sitting in the midst of the rabbis and scholars, asking questions and giving answers.
 
When Mary sees Jesus, Scripture tells us that she asked, “Child, why have you treated us like this?  Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”  But Jesus, calmly, replies “Why were you searching for me?  Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them.”  As we examine this story today, I want to bring to our attention two short observations as we enter this New Year.
 
First: Do Not Leave Jesus Behind
I believe that the temptation of all time is to leave Jesus behind.  In His infinite love, God warned the nation of Israel in Deuteronomy 6:12 saying, “Do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”  This warning is repeated many times throughout the Bible.  The temptation of all time is to plan and Jesus is not included in our plans.  The temptation of all time is to budget and God’s kingdom is not a line in our budgets.  The temptation of all time is to plan your week and there is no time for Jesus.
 
The real tragedy is to keep going when Jesus is missing of our lives.  It’s as if you know there is a serious problem with your house’s foundation and instead of addressing it and taking care of it, you just ignore it.  Writing to the nation of Israel, the Prophet Hosea lamented the fact that they have gotten weak without even knowing it.  In Hosea 7:9, he says: “Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it.  His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice.”  The same thing is said of Samson.  Samson – a man who has always enjoyed the presence and the strength of the Lord – because of his disobedience, the Spirit of God departed him.  In Judges 16:20 we read: “Then Delilah called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him.”  May we never lose sight of Jesus this year.
 
 
Second: Do Not Look for Jesus in the Wrong Places
Beware of looking for Jesus in the wrong places.  Luke tells us that Jesus was 12 years old when His parents left Him behind.  Luke also tells us in Luke 2:46, “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.”  I am surprised that it took Mary and Joseph three full days to find Jesus, “after three days they found him in the temple,” Luke says.  I understand that Jerusalem gets crazy during the Passover with people coming from all over the world to celebrate the Feast of Passover, but I think they should’ve guessed where Jesus was.
 
Like the Magi in our story from last week, Joseph and Mary looked for Jesus in the wrong places.  The Magi looked for the newborn king where kings should be born, the palace of Herod.  The trap of looking for Jesus in all the wrong places is a dangerous one.  Think about how much energy and time we waste today when we look for Jesus in the wrong places.  Are we looking for God in the right places?
 
So as we enter 2021, I believe we need to wrestle with an important question; a question that will be like our compass this year.  Where do we find Jesus in the world today?  Friends, Jesus is found in the faithful proclamation of His Word.  We encounter Jesus in the pages of the Bible.  Spend as much time as you can with Jesus this year.  Read your Bible daily.  Meditate on it.  Let your spirit get fed on God’s Word.  Saturate your life with Scriptures.
 
But let me add to that another important piece as we discern where is Jesus in the world today.  Jesus is found in the life of service.  He is present when we serve others in His name.  Christ is found in feeding the hungry; in giving drink to the thirsty; in clothing the naked; in visiting and checking on the sick; in sheltering the homeless.  Christ is found in showing hospitality to a stranger; in a moment that you spare of your time to pray with someone; in an act of mercy and a gesture of love; and in helping the weak and helpless.
 
Friends, as we enter 2021, I encourage not to leave Jesus behind.  Make sure He is at the center of your life this year.  Make sure He is the captain of your ship.  Let’s make every day count this year.  A day that we do not get the chance to commune with Jesus is not worth living.  A day that we do not get to do something for the glory of God is not worth living.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012                                                                              
Sermon Notes (Sunday, January 3, 2021)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
 “The Magi: The Dilemma of Another Way!”
Matthew 2:1-12
 
Liturgical Calendar marks this Wednesday, January 6, as “Epiphany Day.”  The Feast of the Epiphany falls 12 days after Christmas.  It is also known as “Theophany”, “Little Christmas” or “Three Kings Day.”  The word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek “epiphaneia” which means “manifestation, revelation, or making known.”  So the essence of Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi, and the manifestation of His divinity, as it occurred at His baptism in the River Jordan.
 
The story of the Magi making the journey from Persia to Israel to see the newborn King is a fascinating story and there is so much we can learn from it.  I truly believe that the truth that we can glean from the Magi’s encounter with Jesus is so inspiring to us today. 
 
So what is the story of the Magi?  Here is the shorter version.  The Magi, people from the modern-day Iran, saw a star that indicated the birth of a new king in Israel.  Wanting to honor Him with gifts, they set out on a journey following the star to find this newborn King.  Feeling that the newborn king is a threat to his throne, King Herod instructed the visitors to come back to him when they find the exact location of the baby.  Matthew tells us “having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.” 
 
Like us, these Magi had their own plans for their lives, but then they met Jesus and that encounter brought them face to face with another way.  Encountering Jesus required them to make a choice.  Which way they should take?  Should they obey the command of Herod or the warning of God in the dream?  Should we follow our own way, or the way presented to us by God?  It seems that this is a choice that all of us are faced with as well – both in terms of the overall direction of our lives as well as in the moment-by-moment decisions that we make every day.
 
Today we will see that the Magi’s dilemma – the dilemma of “another way” – is our dilemma too.  From the attitudes of the Magi and the events that surrounded their journey, we see how we can handle the dilemma of another way.  I think the Magi set some sort of criteria for us of what it means to follow the way of Christ.  Three lessons from the story of the Magi as we handle the dilemma of another way in this New Year.
 
First: What Do We Seek?
“The other way”, the way of Christ, shows itself in what we seek.  What was it the Magi were looking for?  What was it the Magi were seeking?  Matthew 2:2 states, “Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  Over time, what we truly seek becomes the object of our worship.  It becomes a “god” with a little “g”.
 
They Magi were looking for Jesus.  They wanted to worship Jesus.  I believe that is what we need to be looking for in this New Year – an experience of worship, a fresh glimpse of He who was born King of the Jews.  Psalm 27:8 reminds us, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”  I encourage you today to reconsider our ways of thinking and daily routines to ensure our top priority is to seek God’s face.  What we seek matters.
 
Second: Where Do We Look?
“The other way”, the way of Christ, determines where we look.  It becomes our compass.  We learn from the Magi that there are wrong and right places to look for Christ.  The Magi started by looking in the wrong place.  They looked where their own human reasoning said they should look.  The star indicated the birth of a new king in Israel.  The Magi went where kings should be born.  They went to the palace of Herod the Great in the capital city of Jerusalem.  We, too, are tempted to look for Christ in the wrong places.
 
The Magi looked in the right place when they looked to God. The trip to Jerusalem was not a total loss.  While they were there, they discovered where they should have looked in the first place: the Bible, the prophecies about the birth of the Messiah.  The scribes in Jerusalem said that, according to the prophet Micah, the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.  With this new information, they looked again at the star and followed it to Bethlehem until it stood over the house where the child Jesus lived.  Where we look is important.
 
Third: What Do We Give?
“The other way” manifests itself in a life of giving.  The way of Christ is the way of giving more than receiving.  In Acts 20:35 we read, “Remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  The Magi came to Jesus’ house bearing gifts.  They gave gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  The gold represents Christ’s kingship; frankincense, a sweet-smelling resin used in worship, represents his priesthood; and myrrh, an ointment used in burial, foreshadows Christ’s death and passion.
 
“The other way”, the way of Christ, is the way of giving.  Have you ever asked yourself what can you give, what can you offer, to God’s kingdom this year?  We have been given so much and God expects us to give back.  God expects us to financially support this local congregation and God’s mission locally and globally.  He expects us to use our time and talent to serve others in the name of Christ. 
 
Friends, the Magi put before us today the dilemma of another way.  There is a better way to live our lives.  At some point in our lives we’ve got to choose between the way of the world and the way of Christ, the way of Herod and the way of Jesus.  The way of Christ is characterized by three important marks: seeking Christ over and above everything else, looking for Christ in the right places, and embracing giving more than receiving.  The Epiphany, the manifestation of Christ, opens before us a whole new way of living, a whole new dimension of life.  May God give us grace today to choose the other way, the way of Christ.  Amen.
 
 
 

​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
December 27, 2020
Russell Long
Psalm 111: A Hallelujah Helper             December 27 2020
Millions of people have used this product since its introduction in 1971. You may even have a couple of boxes of it in your pantry right now: Hamburger Helper. It may not be what you serve at Thanksgiving or Christmas, but it’s obviously tasty and convenient enough for people to keep buying and using. It’s the same reason Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is so popular. Sometimes you just need a quick meal that everyone in the family is happy to eat.
Just as we need some help with meal prep from time to time, we Christians often need help with our worship prep. Maybe today was one of those Sundays. It’s not Easter, Christmas is over, and so you didn’t come to church with the expectation of an inspiring service. Instead you went through your morning routine feeling more obligated than excited to go to church. Wouldn’t it be something if there was a product that could put us in the right frame of mind for worship every Sunday? Hamburger Helper won’t do that, but Psalm 111 can. It’s a Hallelujah Helper. A close look at this Psalm will motivate us to lift our hallelujahs to God with genuine cheerfulness no matter what Sunday or day of the week it is.
Psalm 111 in fact begins in Hebrew with the word “Hallelujah!” Ever wonder what that word means exactly? It means: “Praise the Lord!” Why should we want to do that? Listen again to a few verses from Psalm 111. “Praise the Lord…Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered…” (Psalm 111:1a, 3, 4a).
Our God is worth praising because his deeds are majestic. You might think of how God created the earth in six days with his powerful Word. I’ve gained a new appreciation for this miracle when I compare it to the construction being done a typical house. It takes planning drawings, plumbers, carpenters, painters, carpet layers and others to get the job done. No matter how carefully a person builds a house or a church, there’s always going to be something that could have been done better. And yet when God was done with his work of creation on that first Friday afternoon, he looked with satisfaction on a universe with stars, comets, oceans, animals, and two people named Adam and Eve. Everything God created was absolutely perfect. Genesis 1:31 says “ And indeed it was very good.”
But then sin came into the world and ruined everything just as a single grain of sand can easily ruin an expensive camera. So perhaps you don’t feel so inclined to raise a “Hallelujah!” for God’s work of creation – not when it’s cold outside and we have the windows open. Consider more closely then these sentences from the verses we just read: “He provides food for those who fear him… 6 He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations.” The author seems to be alluding to the way in which God provided for the Israelites after he rescued them from Egypt. He not only brought them out of slavery, He also provided food for them as they made their way to the Promised Land.
We’re not struggling through a wilderness like the Israelites did, but we are reliant on the food and homes that God provides for us every day. What’s amazing is that God continues to provide for us even when our attitude is less than thankful. Sure, you may have paid for the food that’s on your table but who gave you the ability to earn the money to buy the food? Who ensures peace so that the food could be delivered to the grocery store from which you purchased it? God. And so he is deserving of our praise.
But what ought to motivate us even more to give God our hallelujahs is what the psalmist said in this verse: “He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—” (Psalm 111:9a). This verse has special meaning for all who are baptized, for through baptism God has made a covenant with us. A covenant is like a contract. As in building a house each of those contracts states what the plumber, the electrician, or the painter will do in exchange for what we will do for them: pay them. Compare those contracts with the covenant God made with you in baptism. Through baptism God adopted you as his child. He washed your sins away. He gave you the Holy Spirit and has granted you eternal life through faith in Jesus. He’s done this all for free and forever. Have you ever seen a contract like that? Have you ever heard of a will in which the signatory left everything to his worst enemy, even pledging that his heirs will be the enemy’s servants forever? That’s what God has done for you and for me, for all those who have been baptized. For even though we, as sinners, were God’s enemies, through baptism God pledged himself to us and gives us blessings through Jesus we don’t deserve. That’s quite a covenant! It’s no wonder the psalmist concluded that verse by saying, “…holy and awesome is his name” 
But if our God is so deserving of our hallelujahs, why can days, even weeks go by without any praises escaping our lips? It’s because like the Israelites we have such a short term memory when it comes to remembering God’s blessings and his love for us. The psalmist gives us a way to combat this attitude. He wrote: “Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them” (Psalm 111:2). The word “ponder” in Hebrew literally means to “visit often.” Does that describe your routine with God’s Word? Do you visit it often, as often as you visit your favorite Facebook page? No, the content of Faithbook (God’s Word) doesn’t ever change like the content on Facebook does so Satan makes us believe that there is no point in visiting God’s Word often. But although God’s Word doesn’t change, your life does! A psalm you read last year may not have seemed to say much to you at the time but what about today? What new challenges are you trying to sort through that this psalm would speak to?
The story is told of a church member who shared how visiting again a portion of the Bible she had read many times before led to a truth she knew well but was presented in an inspiring way she hadn’t thought of before. She was reading from the book of Exodus about the building of the tabernacle, that tent-church which served as the focal point for Israelite worship in Moses’ day. Besides the tabernacle itself, God wanted his people to build the ark of the covenant, the altar of incense, a lampstand, and other worship utensils all made from or covered with gold. God then appointed a man named Bezalel to be the chief artisan and gave him the ability to build these objects. You can bet that if we had these objects today, and if God permitted this, they would be on display in a world-class museum – not just because they would be 3,500 years old by now, but because they would be genuine works of art to rival anything Michelangelo sculpted.
But when Bezalel and his helpers were done with the work, these objects were kept in the tabernacle where only the priests got to see them. In fact, the ark of the covenant was only seen by the high priest once a year or when the Israelites moved from one place to the next. How did Bezalel feel about that? Wouldn’t he have wanted everyone to see his handiwork? It’s this thought that struck this student of God’s Word: all our gifts and talents come from the Lord and are to be used for his glory – even if no one else sees or appreciates what God has done through us. Doesn’t that truth help in your daily work as a mother for example? Very few people see how many vegetables you have cut for school lunches. Your family probably takes for granted the hours of your life you have spent in line at the grocery store for them. And that card you made to cheer up a friend? She treasures it for sure but no one else may know about the effort you put into making that. And that’s OK. Your talent and your faithfulness might not be obvious to the people around you, but God sees and delights in them just as he delighted in the works of art that Bezalel made for the tabernacle. What other truths like that will God open your eyes to this week as you visit again his Word?
That brings me to one last point our psalm makes. The first verse of the psalm reads like this: “I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly” (Psalm 111:1). The psalmist is encouraging us to do more than visit God’s word often in the privacy of our home, he points out the importance of joining with fellow believers to sing God’s praises. it’s God’s encouragement. Put it into practice. Now we are in the middle of a pandemic and many are afraid to come out. I get that totally. You can worship online with us and connect with others in church through phone calls and other means.
But will you be excited about going to church every Sunday? No. So what can you do? Well, when you’re stuck for a meal idea you can reach for the Hamburger Helper, but when your hallelujahs have become stuck in your throat reach for Psalm 111 – that Hallelujah Helper. As you read the psalm again, you’ll be reminded of the many reasons you have to praise the Lord, even if it isn’t Easter or Christmas. Psalm 111 teaches that we have an awesome God who saved us from our sin, and who never takes a break from caring for us. May we never take a break from praising him.
One year ago today I was up here and talked about new year’s resolutions. How do we successfully carry out our resolutions? It all begins with the vision of Christ in our hearts, in our minds, and before our eyes. May one of your resolutions be to spend time in God’s word, looking to see what he has for you to hear. Who knows what you may discover?   “Hallelujah!” Amen.

​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (4th Sunday in Advent, December 20, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
“God’s Love Revealed!”
1 John 4:7-12; 18-21
 
The Swiss theologian, Karl Barth, (1886-1968), is regarded as one of the greatest Reformed theologians of the 20th century.  One of Barth’s accomplishments is his Church Dogmatics.  You may be interested to know that Barth’s Church Dogmatics runs to over six million words and 8,000 pages ~ one of the longest works of systematic theology ever written.  When Barth visited the University of Chicago in 1962, students and scholars crowded around him.  At a press conference, someone asked, “Dr. Barth, what is the most profound truth you have learned in your studies?”  Without hesitation Barth replied, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  Karl Barth, the greatest mind of the 20th century, was impacted and touched most, not be reading theology, but by the simple gospel truth, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
 
Today is the Fourth and last Sunday of Advent.  The Season of Advent takes us from hope, to peace, to joy, and now to love.  LOVE is celebrated as the theme of this Sunday.  I am grateful that on this Fourth Sunday in Advent we get to focus and reflect on God’s love.  I believe that we, as a church, and also as individuals, need to come back to the foundation.  What is this all about? 
 
Sometimes we just need to step back and ask ourselves: what is this all about?  Someone said that sometimes we need “a gospel reset.”  And if we are hitting that reset button, we need some kind of “truth” or “main idea” or “start screen” that sets us straight and tells us where to go.  I believe this Forth Sunday in Advent takes us to that main idea, to that start screen.  It takes us to the magnitude and wonders of God’s love.
 
If the birth of Christ tells us one thing about God, it tells us that our God is a loving God.  When humans failed to reach God because of our spiritual blindness, God reached out to humanity.  When humanity failed to find God, God left His glory in heaven and came down to earth to search for us.  When we couldn’t figure God out, He revealed Himself to us; he lived among us; walked down our streets; our eyes have seen Him, and our hands have touched Him.  The incarnation of Jesus Christ reminds us that God absolutely loves us.  Yes, it’s hard to wrap our heads around this amazing truth because it seems too good to be true.
 
So as we ponder God’s love on this Fourth Sunday of Advent, please allow me to share with you this morning two short observations from First John chapter 4.
 
First: Be Assured of God’s Love
The Apostle John speaks of God’s love not as much as an attribute of God, but as part of God’s very nature.  “God is love,” says 1 John 4:9.  John wanted his audience to capture this transforming truth and to be assured of God’s love.  1 John 4:16 states, “We have known and believe the love that God has for us.”  John says you’ve got to know that love and to believe it.  It’s so sweet.  It’s so good.  “I have known God’s love and I’ve got to believe it,” John says.  I wish that you would do too.
 
For some people, this truth may sound elementary, it’s a Sunday School lesson.  And indeed it is, but it’s also a lesson that we need to learn over and over again.  In fact, when it comes to the challenges and problems we face in our lives today, a lot of it has to do with us not really knowing that God loves us; a lot of it has to do with us not grasping the love of God.  How many times you’ve asked yourself if God loves me, why I am going through all these difficulties, trials, and tribulations?  If God loves me, why things are going south?  If God loves me, why my health is failing?
 
John wants us to be assured of God’s love because God’s love transcends our circumstances.  The more we are assured of God’s love for us and of how much we don’t deserve it, the more we are humbled and filled with joy, and then the more we are poured out in love for others, which all amounts to magnifying the glory of God.  Be assured of God’s love.
 
Second: God’s Love is Demonstrated
But you may ask yourself, why we can be assured of God’s love?  First John chapter 4 gives us a few reasons why we can be assured of God’s love.  John says, God’s love is demonstrated and displayed.  God’s love is a person.  We can see this right here in 1 John 4:9, “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son,” says John in his gospel 3:16.
 
What the apostle John says in his gospel and letters is also echoed by the apostle Paul in Romans 5, which again is super clear.  In Romans 5:8 Paul says: “God demonstrates his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  The birth, life, and death of Jesus Christ is where we see the love of God displayed.  Jesus Christ is the most vivid display of God’s love.
 
What John is saying — and what actually the whole New Testament is saying — is that we don’t ever have to wonder if God loves us.  We don’t have to scratch our heads about this because when we ponder the mystery of God’s incarnation, it’s impossible to miss the point.  It’s impossible to miss God’s love.  God has made it so clear that we never have to question His love.  God has shown His love for us.  He has made it plain.  He has spelled it out.  God has demonstrated His love for you.  How?  When Jesus came down from heaven and died for you. 
 
Friends, as you leave this house of worship today, I want you to know that you’re loved.  You’re loved beyond measures.  The evidence of God’s love is not the smooth sailing, but the scars on Christ’s palms.  They will never fade away because they are the sign and seal of His everlasting love.  We have done nothing to earn God’s love and nothing we will ever do that might cause God to stop loving us.  So day after day after day we are called to reflect God’s love.  When we use our time, talent, and treasure to expand God’s kingdom, we reflect God’s love for us.  When we love one another, we reflect God’s love.  When we love the stranger and unloved, we reflect God’s love.  There is no fear in love.  There is assurance and affirmation.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood                          
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012                                                                              
Sermon Notes (3rd Sunday in Advent, December 13, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor 
 
“Find Joy in the Right Place!”
Luke 10:17-24
 
Luke chapter ten takes place near the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  Jesus got time for one last preaching tour before He makes His final journey to Jerusalem and the cross.  So to get the towns and villages ready for His arrival, Jesus sends out 70 of His disciples in pairs to prepare the way.  He sent them out with His blessing and with some simple instructions that we find in Luke 10:8-9, “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.  Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”  As Jesus commissioned them, He said in Luke 10:16, “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
 
Luke doesn’t give us too much details about the adventures of the 70 so we don’t know if they were welcomed or dismissed, if people rejoiced or rejected the gospel message they proclaimed.  But one thing we do know, the 70 newly commissioned disciples return from their first mission trip rejoicing over the outcome.  They returned with joy, and they stated the reason for their joy: “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”  Everything Jesus said came true.  Jesus rejoiced with His faithful disciples, saying in Luke 10:18-19: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”  The disciples are pleased and so is Jesus.  In fact, if you read between the lines a bit, you can even see a smile on Jesus’ face.
 
The Real Source of True Joy
But in the same breath, Jesus wants the disciples to step back and think about an even greater source of joy; a true source of genuine joy.  In Luke 10:20, Jesus said, “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  Why?  Why would Jesus pour cold water on their faithful work and their resulting joy?  
 
I want you to know that Jesus never meant to discourage the disciples or minimize their accomplishments, rather, Jesus wanted to take their rejoicing to a new level, a more excellent level.  In other words, Jesus reminded the disciples that the work He has given them to do is well and good, but they should not lose sight of a greater source of joy, namely, eternal security.  There was a better place for them to find their joy. 
 
Today is the Third Sunday in Advent.  The season of Advent takes us from hope to peace and now to joy.  But I want you to seriously consider this question.  What really makes you happy?  Over this last week, what has brought joy to your heart?  What do you like to see every day that puts a smile on your face?  What would you enjoy in the future that would cause your heart to sing?
 
A most recent research data showed that most humans agree that the following items will make them happy: Good or improved health, a romantic relationship, more money, weight loss, peaceful family relationships, genuine friendships, nice vacation and good weather.  These things are not evil in themselves.  And I am not saying that we shouldn’t consider these special blessings and be thankful to God when they come. It’s fine to pursue them.  And when we get them, we should be grateful.  Yet, Jesus invited His disciples to a greater source of joy in Luke 10.
 
The Joy of Names Written in Heaven
The words of Jesus to the 70 in Luke 10 should be a wakeup call for us.   Where do we find true joy?  Jesus redirects our focus away from our accomplishments in this world to what He has accomplished for us on the cross.  “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  This is where we are to find our true joy; not in our own accomplishments, but in what Christ has accomplished on our behalf.  True joy is not found in what this world gives, but in what God offers us.
 
Basically, Jesus was saying rejoice in what God has done for you.  Salvation, the gift of eternal life, is not something we do, but something that God does for us.  Luke puts the verb in the passive voice.  It literally means, “rejoice that your names have been written in heaven.”  The verb that Luke uses and is translated “written” is the Greek “eggraphō” which means recorded permanently in heaven.  Who wouldn’t rejoice over this great truth?
 
Friends, needless to say, this has been a tough year.  Brokenness is all around us.  Where do we find joy?  Is it even possible to rejoice in 2020?  How can we rejoice in the midst of a global pandemic?  How can we rejoice in the face of death, loss, pain, and suffering?  Jesus would say it’s when we accomplish what He has given us to accomplish that we will certainly find true joy.  It’s true that joy is found in using time, talents, and treasures to serve the Lord.  God is pleased when we faithfully carry out our individual callings – whatever that might be.  But even when we fail to do that, let’s remember that our greatest joy is knowing that we are loved and redeemed by God.  The greatest joy is knowing that your name has been written in the Book of Life in heaven.  So as we get to the final days of 2020 and as you realize how hard it is to be joyful this year, let your heart rejoice that your name has been written in heaven.  To Him be the glory, now and forever more.  Amen.

​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood                          
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012                                                                              
Sermon Notes (2nd Sunday in Advent, December 6, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor 
 
“Peace for Troubled Times!”
Isaiah 26:1-4; John 14:25-27
 
Today we continue our Advent journey and on this Second Sunday in Advent, we focus our attention on PEACE.  This week we remember that peace is our inheritance.  It’s God’s gift to His children.  Today we remember that from God alone can we receive the peace we need when our days get stormy and trials and tribulations stir up the waters around us.  As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are empowered to utilize the gift of Christ’s peace.  Today we get to remember that we will not be shaken or discouraged by what we see and hear around us, but in a collective determination we will live out the power of God’s peace within us. 
 
I truly believe this is another timely message.  Peace is what we all need in the face of this pandemic.  There is a constant need for peace.  Our world needs peace.  Our own nation needs peace.  Our families need peace.  We, as individuals, need peace.  Where does peace come from?  Where is real and lasting peace found?  As we ponder this topic this week, I pray that you will find God’s peace in these troubled times.
 
This morning I would like to share with you three important principles that we find in the Bible when it comes to understanding peace; three transformational and foundational principles.  What does the Bible say about peace?  But before I share these three principles with us this morning, it might be helpful at this point to define peace.
 
What is Peace?
What is peace?  “Peace” is one of the most misunderstood concepts in our culture today.  Most of us today would think of “peace” as an absence of war or conflict.  We think of peace as a smooth sailing where everything seems to be just fine.  Yet, the concept of “shalom” in the Old Testament is more comprehensive.  “Shalom” means more than just an absence of war or conflict.  It refers to a sense of wholeness, completeness, fulness, and harmony.  It also carries with it the implication of permanence.
 
In the New Testament, the Greek word for peace is “Eirene”, and it literally means “to join or bind together that which has been separated.”  That’s what faith is all about.  When we trust Jesus as our personal Savior, He binds us to Himself for all eternity.  This unity with Christ gives us harmony, inner rest, and a state of reconciliation with God.  According to the new Testament, peace, therefore, originates in our relationship with God.  Our entering into a relationship with God marks the beginning of our ability to experience God’s true, heart-changing, and supernatural peace. 
 
Peace is not the absence of trouble.  Rather, it is the assurance that God is right there with you in the midst of your troubles.  In other words, don’t wait for all of your problems to be solved and then decide to quit worrying and to have peace.  It is actually the opposite.  Decide to trust God in spite of the hardships and troubles around you.  In Isaiah 26:3-4, the Prophet reminds us, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”  Three important principles as we look at this topic today:
 
First: Jesus is the Exclusive Source of Peace
Christ is the exclusive source of peace.  In our Scripture passage from John 14:27, Jesus boldly said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”  Jesus is the only source of true peace.  Seven hundred years before Christ was born, the Prophet Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would be the Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6 states, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  On the night of His birth in Bethlehem, the angels filled the night sky with the chorus “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” Luke 2:14. Friends, when Christ was born, peace was born because heaven reached out to earth and God reconciled humanity to Himself.
 
Second: The Lasting Nature of Christ’s Peace
Christ’s peace is radically different than the world’s peace.  In John 14:27 Jesus goes on to contrast between His peace and the world’s peace.  Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”  When you contrast something, you’re trying to point out how much better one is than the other.  And Jesus says, “I don’t give to you as the world gives.”  Jesus is contrasting His peace against the peace that the world gives.  The peace that Christ gives is genuine and everlasting, but the world offers a false peace; one that is fleeting at best.
 
Third: God’s Peace Transcends our Circumstances
God’s peace always transcends our circumstances.  Writing from his prison cell, the apostle Paul prayed for the believers in Philippi saying, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:7.  Yes, we can have God’s peace while in the middle of a storm.  We can have peace in the good and bad times alike.  Nothing should rob us of our peace.  In spite of our circumstances, God can keep us in perfect peace. 
 
The world will be just as troubled, and conflict will continue to abound.  But we can be at peace not because this world is in good shape, but because the ONE who holds us in His hand is greater than all of the problems facing us and the brokenness we feel. We can trust Him to safely bring us through the swamps and jungles of life, and into His eternal presence.
 
“Give me some peace.”  That’s the cry of humanity today.  Psalms 29:11 reminds us, “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.”  A trip to Hawaii may bring you some momentary peace.  A Yoga class may bring you some relaxation and stress relief.  But believe me permanent, lasting, perfect, and transcendent peace is only found in Christ.  He is our peace,” says Paul in Ephesians 2:14. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  Amen. 

​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (First Sunday in Advent ~ November 29, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
“Finding Hope in the Midst of a Pandemic!”
Psalm 46; 1 Peter 1:13-16
 
If you’re familiar with the Church liturgical year, you would know that today is the First Sunday in Advent.  Advent is one of the most uplifting church seasons.  As you may know, the word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word “adventus” which means “coming.”   The season lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas.  Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation; we prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the First Coming of Christ, while looking forward to His Second Coming in glory.
 
During Advent, four important themes are emphasized: hope, peace, joy, and love.  Being the First Sunday in Advent, “Hope” is the theme of our worship together today.  It’s the hope of Christ’s coming; it’s the hope of God’s intervention.  I truly believe that hope is what we need the most in the face of a global pandemic.  Hope is a very broad topic and it’s impossible to cover it in one sermon, but I would like to spend a few minutes this morning unpacking very briefly this important topic.
 
Any examination of the topic of hope should start with defining hope.  What is hope?  What is the Biblical definition of hope?  Then we will look at the source or the foundation of our hope.  Where does hope come from?  Finally, I will look at what does it mean for us today to live as people of hope?
 
First: What is Hope?
What is hope?  Unfortunately, hope is an overused word in our culture.  You hope that your team wins the Super Bowl, or you hope you will get a raise this year.  Hope, as the world sees it, is a longing for something that may or may not take place.  If someone says to you that “I hope you have a good day,” there is no guarantee that the day will go well.  That is not hope…that is wishful thinking and it is utterly undependable and has no power to bring anything to pass.
 
Biblical hope, however, is something entirely different than the wishful thinking of the world.   Biblical hope is not a feeling or an emotion.  The Christian hope is far superior to that of the world.  Biblical hope is “A deep settled confidence that God will keep His promises!”  Biblical hope is a “joyful, confident expectation.”  Do you see the difference between the world’s hope and the Christian hope?  To have a Biblical hope is to have a sure anchor of the soul.  If this is what hope means, what is the source or the foundation of our hope?
 
Second: Where Does Hope Come From?
Where does hope come from?  Our hope is rooted in God’s faithfulness.  Ever since the heavenly Father created time, everything has been in flux—everything changes, except God Himself.  The environment changes with the seasons, and in a similar way, our life also goes through seasons.  Some are filled with joy, while others are characterized by difficulty.  But the Lord is faithful, and we can always take comfort in knowing this.
 
Faithfulness is one of God’s unchanging attributes.  It means that He always does exactly what He says He will do and acts in accordance with His nature.  He can never deny Himself, so, for example, when God promises in Isaiah 46:4, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you,” you can count on Him when you sail rough seas.
 
God’s unchanging nature and faithfulness is an important foundation of our hope.  Believers know that their hope is solid, concrete evidence because it is grounded in the very nature of God, in God’s faithfulness.  The Christian hope cannot be moved by circumstances or what the eyes see because an unseen God is seen in His faithfulness.  I like the words of Psalm 91:4. It says, “His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”  True hope is grounded in God and springs from God’s faithfulness.
 
Third: What Does it Mean to Live as People of Hope?
Finally, what does it mean for us today to live as people of hope?  Of course, it doesn’t mean that we will be exempt from facing the difficulties, the hardships, the heartaches of this world because believers and unbelievers alike will have to face those times.  Rather, for us as believers, we have the hope, the assurance, the confidence, of God’s presence with us.  So when we are lonely, we can rely on God’s presence.  When we become week, we can rely on God’s power.  When our resources run out, we can rely on God’s provision.  When you hear those voices telling you to just quit, to give up, and to let go, hope comes in handy.  Don’t stop.  Keep going because God is able to shine his light in the midst of our darkness.  When we are perplexed, confused, and paralyzed by the tragedies of this world, we can be assured that in all things God work for the good of those who love Him.
 
Friends, we are a people of hope.  God is not done with us.  There is still much to be done both in our own lives and in the world.  The Church of Jesus Christ has been called to be an agent of hope in a hopeless world.  In this First Sunday in Advent, we remember that hope is what our world needs the most in the face of this global pandemic.  In our New Testament lesson from this morning, in 1 Peter 1:13, Peter invites us,  “Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.”
 
So as we revisit our understanding of hope this Advent Season, may we remember that hope is a person.  Colossians 1:27 states, “Christ in you is the hope of glory.”  May we never forget that true hope is found neither in our politics nor in our strong economy; hope is found neither in our power nor in our wealth.  In 1834, the British Baptist Minister Edward Mote (1797–1874), wrote this great hymn:

1. My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
Chorus
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

2. When darkness hides His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
 
“I put my HOPE in YOU all day long,” says the Psalmist to God in Psalm 25:5.  May this become our prayer too as we enter this season of Advent.  Amen.

​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Stewardship Sunday ~ November 15, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
“A Holy Nation for a Holy God!”
Exodus 19:1-6; 1 Peter 2:9-10
 
I heard the story of the Preacher who wanted to cover all the Prophets on one Sunday morning, so he started with the major prophets.  He spent twenty minutes on Isaiah, twenty minutes on Ezekiel, and another twenty minutes on Jeremiah.  At this point the congregation was getting restless, so the Preacher said I better get into the minor prophets and let me start with Hosea.  “Now where do I place Hosea?” the preached asked.  A gentleman in the back pew said, “he can take my seat.  I am leaving.”  I don’t want to be like this preacher this morning because the call to holiness is a Biblical call that is found throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  The topic is very broad, and we can spend a few hours just scratching the surface of this great topic, but I will be short and right to the point this morning.
 
As you may remember, during the month of November, we are looking at 1 Peter 2:9-12.  “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  This is a tridimensional image of our identity as Christians.  It describes the identity of those whom God has called to His kingdom. 
 
The last two Sundays, we had the chance to unpack how the Christian community is a community that is chosen, or handpicked, by God, and how God in His amazing grace, made us a royal priesthood, a privilege that is only made possible under the New Covenant.  This morning, we get to the last part of Peter’s tridimensional description of the Christian community.  Peter says we are a “holy nation.”  The Church has been called to be a holy community.  What is at stake here?  What is holiness?  How do we live this out?
 
First: What is Holiness?
The Church is called “ἔθνος ἅγιον” ~ “a holy nation.”  The word “Holy”, ἅγιος “hagios” in Greek, means “set apart” or “dedicated.”  In other words, we have been set apart by God for God’s purposes.  We are in the world but not of the world.  Under the Old Covenant, according to Exodus 19:6, Israel was meant to be a holy nation, set apart from the other nations.  Israel was called to be different – to worship only one God and to faithfully obey that God, to have a different set of standards and morality.  They were not to follow the pagan practices of the other nations.  As you know, they miserably failed to be that set apart nation.
 
Yet, in Christ, God has formed a “new nation”; it’s called “the Church of Christ.”  The church has been called to be a community like no other; a holy community; a set apart community.  The Church is the new spiritual nation which is based neither on ethnic identity nor geographical boundaries but rather on believing in one heavenly King, Jesus Christ, who is the true King of kings and Lord of lords. 
 
In Revelation 7: 9-10, the apostle John gives us a glimpse of the Church in heaven.  He says, “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  “A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language.”  This is the holy nation that has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
 
Second: How Do We Live This Out?
How do we live this out?  How are we called to be set apart?  In what ways are we as Christians called to be set apart?  Let me offer two simple yet profound ways.  Meantime, I encourage you to test yourself to see whether or not you are set apart in these ways.  
 
We Are Set Apart in Our Ambitions
There are only two people we can truly live for: self or God.  Christians no longer live for themselves, but for God.  Our only agenda in life is to honor God and glorify Him.  People who do not know God live for themselves.  Yet, when a Christian thinks about their next decision—the next place they’ll move to, when a Christian thinks about starting a family, when a Christian thinks about going to work— they’re aiming at God.  They ask, “How can I make much of God?”  The center of the target is God’s will to be done in our lives.  Therefore, our ambitions, dreams and desires should have God at the center.  The world could care less about this, but that’s why Christians are set apart in their ambitions.

We Are Set Apart in Our Actions
Every activity has purpose for the Christian, even the smallest ones like eating and drinking.  Christians do not drink a glass of orange juice the same way someone of the world does. We receive that glass with gratitude—a gift of God’s provision.  Our actions—the “what” we do and the “how” we do it—are meant to display our gratitude and love for God.  That’s why in whatever we do, ultimately, we do for God’s glory.  Our actions have purpose.  They are not random; they are intentional.  So the question that should occupy our minds is: Do my actions help expanding God’s Kingdom?  Do they help others to encounter the love of Jesus?  This way, the pledge cards we are presenting today become more than an amount of money we give to this congregation; rather, an action of love and a sign of commitment to God’s Kingdom.
 
Friends, to the degree that we are “set apart” from the world is the degree to which our lights will shine brightly in the world. You are not meant to blend in like camouflage.  If your ambitions, actions, and affections resemble the world, your light bulb is out.  But if your ambition is to please God, and your actions seek to bring God glory, and your affections match the very heart of God, you are surely a bright light in a dark place.  Friends, we need to test ourselves in this, lest we become deceived.  Sometimes we honestly think we live for God, but we’re actually very selfish in our thinking and our planning.  Friends, let’s remember that the Church in its most basic identity is a holy community through which God works actively in and through human beings and actions in the midst of a concrete, historical community.  May it be so.  Amen.

First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Sunday ~ November 8, 2020)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
2 Chronicles 26:16-21; 1 Peter 2:9-10
 
Life can be tough and challenging sometimes.  I believe that when life gets tough, we have two choices.  We can either look down or look up.  We can either think about what we lack or consider what we already have.  We can either look at our suffering and pain or seek more grace and strength from God.  When life gets tough, we can either allow the world and our circumstances to define us or let God and His unfailing love do so.
 
Writing to the first century Christian community exiled and scattered throughout the provinces of Asia Minor, the apostle Peter charged those persecuted Christians to neither allow the world nor the present circumstances to define who they are.  He reminded them that they are God’s elect.  In 1 Peter 2:9-10, he wrote, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
 
As I mentioned last Sunday, 1 Peter 2:9-12 is the passage I have chosen for our stewardship campaign this year.  My goal is to help us discover or rediscover our identity in Christ.  1 Peter 2:9 offers a three-dimensional definition of our identity as Christians.  “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” says 1 Peter 2:9.  Last week, we got to unpack the first part of this statement, “But you are a chosen people.”  Yes, Christians were rejected by Rome, they were mostly rejected by their communities including their own families, but they are chosen, embraced, and loved by the Almighty God. 
 
God handpicked YOU to be on His team.  It’s not that we deserved to be chosen, as if we were the best honeydew melon or tomato in the produce aisle.  No, God chose us, bruised and rotten as we are by nature, simply by His grace.  Because of Jesus we went from one side of the meter –guilty – to the other side of the meter – justified – all because of what Christ has done.  And, as Romans 8:31 reminds us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
 
Royal Priesthood
This morning we get to the second section where Peter says we are “a royal priesthood.”  Peter continues to unfold who we are based on who God has made us to be.  Peter says, “You are a royal priesthood.”  These chosen believers were called out from the world to be a royal priesthood.  For an audience that was probably primarily Jewish, this would have stood out.  In the Old Testament, the monarchy and the priesthood were strictly separated.  Priests came from the lineage of Aaron, from the tribe of Levi.  Only priests could approach God at the temple; only they could offer the sacrifices.  The rest of the Jews could not.  Kings come from the tribe of Judah.  They were also special in Israel because they were anointed with oil by a priest.  This means they were equipped and empowered by God to do the task of ruling Israel and setting an example to the surrounding nations.
 
But again, these privileges were not for regular Jews and they were strictly separated.  We see the strict separation of these two roles in two kings that were judged by God for trying to combine the priesthood and the kingship.  King Saul was anxious to go to battle, and instead of waiting for the priest Samuel to come and offer a sacrifice to the Lord, he decided to do it himself.  In 1 Samuel 13:8–14, God told him that because of this, God had sought a man after his own heart to rule.  Saul was judged for trying to merge the priesthood and the kingship.
 
We also see this in 2 Chronicles 26:16–21 with a king named Uzziah.  Uzziah became very successful, and therefore, prideful.  He felt that because he was so great, he could burn incense in the temple—again a work specifically for the priest to do.  The priests gathered together to confront him and said, “You will not be blessed by the Lord because you have been unfaithful.”  King Uzziah became angry at this and reached out to burn the incense, and leprosy broke out on his forehead because God judged him.  He then stepped down from being king and passed the kingship to his son.  He died a leper.
 
Therefore, the privilege of being “a royal priesthood” would have stood out to the original audience.  It was impossible to happen.  It was a privilege beyond anyone’s imagination.  The only way this is possible is through Christ and under the New Covenant.  Do you see the generosity of our God?  In the Book of Revelation 1:6, John gives glory to Christ for making us “kings and priests to His God and Father.”  This never crossed anyone’s mind, but in Christ, the impossible becomes possible.  So what do we do with this profound truth?  Put on your priestly robe.
 
Put on Your Priestly Robe
Any priest had two major responsibilities.  First, they talk to people about God.  They bring God to the daily lives of the people.  Second, they talk to God about people, their circumstances, their challenges, and their burdens.  There is no better time to take our priestly responsibilities seriously than today.  This has been a tough year for a lot of people.  The pandemic has taken a toll on every single aspect of our lives.  Needless to say, this past week has been a rough one too.  There is a lot of tension in the air because of the election.  You can tell how divided and broken our nation has become.  Friends, we need to argue less and pray more.  We need to pray for God’s healing and reconciliation.  We need to offer more grace and less criticism.  Our nation needs our prayers.  Our world needs our prayers.  It’s time to put on your priestly robe.  We are to intercede for our nation, for the light of the gospel to go forth, and for the needs of God’s people around us.  This is a tremendous job that God has called us for.
 
Friends, what a privilege God has given us in Christ to be “a royal priesthood” to our God.  In many ways, this can seem daunting.  Don’t let it be.  Instead, begin to practice your priesthood in small ways.  Pause and pray about the things that are going on around you.  Pay attention to the needs of God’s children around you.  If you get a sense that God might be nudging you into an action of grace and mercy, trust God as you step forward.  This is the heart of good stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.  Keep your eyes open to see how God moves in and through your actions.  Amen.