one kingdom under the Lamb

Good morning brothers and sisters,
This Sunday we celebrate World Communion Sunday, which reminds us that the church is one body throughout the world. Related to that, our passage for today shows us the Apostle John's vision of God's throne room. Surrounding God's throne are four living creatures with four faces, several wings and eyes. There are also 24 elders surrounding the throne. John has just wept because an angel presented a sealed scroll that John knew was important, but no one was worthy to open. We'll see in the passage that Jesus, the Lamb of God is worthy. In him people from every nation and language become one body.

May it be so for us too,
Sam

Revelation 5:6-14

⁶Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne.

⁸When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹They sing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; ¹⁰you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.”

¹¹Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, ¹²singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” ¹³Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” ¹⁴And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

going where people are

Good afternoon friends,
First, as you know, our church is led by elders in active service including me, called the session. In the past we've found it helpful for session to read something and discuss it together during our meetings. We're doing that again this year. In the past I've either bought the books for the elders or asked them to buy the books themselves, but this seems to me to put an extra burden on people who are already sharing a lot with the church through a significant time commitment. So I'd love it if other folks in the community would be willing to sponsor a book for an elder. You can either buy the book and bring it to church in the next couple of weeks or just let me know you are willing to help and write me a check/give me the money and I'll order the book. Let me know if you'd like to help; we need 6 more books and each book is about 18 dollars.

Today's reading continues Paul's discussion of the right to support that an apostle has. He writes how important it is for him not to take advantage of his rights so he can proclaim the gospel more freely. To reach the most people we need to be willing to step out of our comfort zone and go where people are.

God bless,
Sam

1 Corinthians 9:12-23

Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. ¹³Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar? ¹⁴In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this so that they may be applied in my case. Indeed, I would rather die than that—no one will deprive me of my ground for boasting! ¹⁶If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe betide me if I do not proclaim the gospel! ¹⁷For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. ¹⁸What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. ²⁰To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. ²¹To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some. ²³I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Spirit in the desert

Good morning brothers and sisters,
As Moses was leading the Israelites in the desert between Egypt and the Promised Land he found that the job was too hard. There were too many people for him to decide disputes and lead the people by himself. In response, God told Moses to choose 70 wise and spiritually mature elders of the people to help in leadership. Then God filled them with the Holy Spirit for leadership. The funny thing is that Joshua is jealous that this might hurt Moses' authority. Moses insists that deeper spirituality and spiritual power among the people is a blessing, not a threat.

Pentecost fulfills Moses' wish that all the people might be filled with God's Spirit. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit fills all the believers, a blessing that we see continuing in the church and even beyond. This is a great passage for Presbyterians since we believe strongly in sharing leadership among elders in the church. As we look forward to our annual meeting to elect new elders, we remember this passage and we celebrate God's spiritual gifts for our life together.

God bless,
Sam


Numbers 11:24-30

24So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. 25Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.


26Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” 29But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!” 30And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.