A Baby Changes Everything - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

A Baby Changes Everything

Luke 2:1-20

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

I was excited about having a child in my marriage, and a baby, under any circumstances, is a miracle.

But first-time parents know that a new baby brings changes. Parents worldwide nod their heads in comprehension when they hear this statement: “A baby changes everything.”

Suddenly, you can’t just get up and go. You must consider the baby’s needs. It becomes harder to go out with your single friends, and you gravitate toward the ones who also have children.

If you do get up and go, taking the baby with you, you’ve got to cart around all that baby gear: diaper bag, stroller, car seat, portable playpen, and all the rest. And let’s not even talk about the lack of sleep! Even if you do not have children of your own, watching someone else’s children or being friends or relatives to parents changes the dynamics of the relationship. Even being around children that you have no relation to changes things. 

As any psychotherapist will tell you, many people spend years sorting out mistakes their parents made as they learned their new job and finding ways to forgive them — even as they are having children of their own and making a different set of mistakes. The cycle continues, generation after generation. It’s the most important job in the world, and no one is adequately trained ahead of time. All we can do is make the best of the situation with what we have, which is exactly what Mary and Joseph do, make the best of the situation. 

The text says that Mary and Joseph are traveling to Bethlehem for a census.  There are problems with the date in Luke; it is difficult to construct an accurate date for Jesus’ birth based on inconsistencies in the chronology suggested between Luke and Matthew. Augustus was emperor from 27 B.C. until A.D. 14, so Augustus’s reign did not present a problem. The problem arises in aligning the reigns of Herod the Great, who died in 4 B.C. (as described in Matthew 2:19), and the reign of Quirinius, who came to power in 6 or 7 B.C., and who Luke claims was the governor of Syria at the time.

Joseph didn’t need to go to Bethlehem he also didn’t need to take Mary with him if he went.

Shepherds are not a reputable occupation at the time. These are model outsiders! How many churches would turn this pair away if they came knocking at our church doors today?

Even if things did not go as planned, new life breaks forth. Jesus, God’s work, arrived during political events and had no vacancies. The essential message of Christmas is that even when things do not go as planned, God arrives. We forget the scary nature of the first Christmas—that it was all about unexpected things in places unsought. Christ arrived in a manger in a cattle stall. If the Son of God can arrive in such circumstances, so can truth. So can joy.

For weeks television advertisements have told us how we should feel this day. We ought to feel warm and loving, especially if we have spent a small fortune on gifts for our family and friends. We hope that most in our congregations do feel great peace and joy this day, but let us take care not to presume. Some may come to church this night dealing with the death of a loved one, worrying about mounting financial debts, or struggling with tensions in their relationships. The good news from the Scriptures this night is more powerful than the pain that some may bring.

Christ is born for you!

Mary recounts the mighty deeds of the Lord, who has just intervened in her life. God has “brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly … has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty” (Luke 1:46-55). It may seem like these things have little to do with the plight of a young, unwed mother in Galilee, but clearly, Mary sees her experience in the context of a much grander plan.

Who are the powerful cast down from their thrones? Nothing like that has ever happened in Mary’s experience. The Roman emperors have reigned for generations, and the throne’s present occupant gives no sign of resigning. When has Mary ever seen, in her short life, all the hungry people of the earth invited to a great banquet and the arrogant rich sent off to try their hand at begging? These promises, compelling to one such as her, have yet to be realized.

This baby changes everything, not only for his parents but for the whole human race. The birth of Jesus changes the religion game entirely because upon hearing this lovely story, we rediscover — or maybe understand for the first time — that God’s deepest desire for us is that we enter the place of holiness not through a portal of fear, but through a portal of love.

That same Jesus is calling us on Christmas Day, as he has a habit of doing, calling us to himself and into a deeper relationship with him. Everything about the life we’ve been living that’s bitter, ugly, broken, or shameful, we can lay on the straw beside the manger. We need no longer carry such burdens; the grown-up Jesus will bear them for us. There is no anger, no judgment before his manger-bed, and there is only grace, acceptance, and love.

The timeless invitation comes to us this Christmas, as it has in so many Christmases past. Come, draw near to Jesus Christ, whose coming into our world changes everything!

Spread the good news.

He was placed in a manger on some wood.

A Commanding Name - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Matthew 1:18-25

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

I am particular about my name, I have many stories around my name. 

We all love our names

-most beautiful thing to us

-sales and social skills tell us to use someone’s name repeatedly in conversation 

-All Saints Day and Charge conferences we call names.

We joked about the NFL franchise in Washington DC not having a name for a while and being called "The Washington Football Team" This is the first year that the Washington, D.C. NFL team has been called the Commanders. For 87 years, they were the Redskins, a name that was found to be disparaging to Native Americans. Then, for two years, they were simply “the Washington Football Team.”

“Washington’s leaders,” according to ESPN, had stressed “that the franchise would like to incorporate the military because of its connection to the nation’s capital. Commander is a term used most often in the military as a naval officer rank, but it also can be used as a generic term.” According to team president Jason Wright, “It’s something … that embodies the values of service and leadership that characterizes” the D.C. region.

In today’s story of Mary and Joseph, God’s work often upsets comfortable social expectations and conventions. The first Christmas was not produced by a flawless lead-up and elaborate preparations dictated by convention. 

Mary and Joseph are engaged

Mary is pregnant with a Child that isn't Joseph's

Joseph wants a quiet divorce

Joseph has a dream, the Angel tells him to go through with the marriage and name the child Jesus. Joseph follows the command. 

Names have meaning in the Bible, for example, Jacob’s name is changed to Israel after his successful wrestling match with a divine being. Abram’s name is changed to Abraham after the creation of the covenant with God. Saul becomes Paul after he becomes a follower of Christ. The names of newborn children, says Fuller, are “carefully chosen to reflect the circumstances of their birth as well as to indicate something of their personality or status.”

The name Moses means “to draw out,” reflecting Moses’ rescue as an infant from the waters of the Nile.

The name Miriam means “drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved.” It later evolved into the name Mary.

The name Elijah means “the LORD is God.”

And the name Immanuel means “God with us.”

The name Jesus means “the LORD saves.”

Joseph trusted God (through God’s messenger of the angel) and was willing to take on shame (marrying a woman carrying another man’s baby). He was willing to be obedient, even at the cost of his reputation.

The angel basically said, “I know this is not what you expected, Joseph, but it is going to be OK. God is about to do something wonderful, despite the fact that according to Jewish custom and law you are in a rather socially unacceptable situation.”  God is at work. Amid all our less-than-picture-perfect Christmases, the Christmas trees that are not quite as perfect as we want them to be, the lives that are not as perfect as we want them to be, God does something new.  Discipleship is rooted not in certainty, but in a trust-filled relationship with God. There will be times of uncertainty, impracticality, and even seemingly foolish action.

Verses 22-23 call back to Isaiah 7:14 Jesus, the first name, means “the LORD saves,” and that Jesus will save his people from their sins (v. 21). Jesus has been sent to earth to be the One to save us from all the sins and shortcomings that fracture our relationships with God and the people around us. We make such a mess of our lives, as individuals and as communities, that we need a Savior to rescue us. Jesus does this by offering us forgiveness for our past failings, and guidance for the path that lies ahead.

As we move toward Christmas, let’s keep the commanding names of Jesus and Immanuel in front of us. They tell us that Jesus is our Savior, coming to save us from sin and deliver us to new and abundant life. He is also Immanuel, God with us, the surest sign that our Lord is with us in every time and place and situation. With Jesus, we are never trapped in our sins and shortcomings. With Immanuel, we are never completely alone.

The Authentic Messiah - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Matthew 11:2-11

2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,

    who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Authentic

adjective

1. Conforming to fact and therefore worthy of trust, reliance, or belief.

2. Being so in fact; not fraudulent or counterfeit.

3. Executed in a manner so as to produce legal effectiveness.

I have a bit of a challenge with authenticity. I don't always say what is really on my mind because I worry about if someone can handle it; however, the more I hold back, the more frustrated I become, and so then I let it out, and someone's feelings get hurt, or somebody gets cussed out. So, I have to balance being real, being true to myself, and not steamrolling everyone I'm around. 

But we all struggle with this in one shape or form. We want to be authentic, and we want to be authentic naturally. I remember when people started saying the phrase "keep it 100," meaning they wanted someone to be 100 percent authentic. Being authentic also meant you did not have to tell someone you were telling the truth; it should come naturally. Andre 3000 said in the song Walk it Out remix, "walk it out like an usher if you say real talk, I probably won't trust you.

Companies everywhere are sensing that consumers gravitate toward brands that appear to be authentic and genuine. Starbucks is popular because it imitates original Italian espresso bars. BMWs Mini taps into people's natural desire for joy and freedom on the road. Organic foods are flying off the shelves because consumers sense that they are connected to farming practices that are healthy and good.

I believe authenticity is one reason the church won't grow. People outside the church know enough people on the inside are fake. We hug people and then talk about them behind their backs at brunch. We are quiet in the meeting, only to have a bunch of stuff to say in the meeting after the meeting. People see that; they may not say anything, but they see it. 

We find ourselves looking at a story about authenticity in scripture with the story around Matthew chapter 11. 

The Request

John made a request of Jesus. John sent messengers to see if Jesus was the one, or should we search for another? John was worried and confused in jail for speaking the truth to power.  John wondered if he was following the right person. I don't blame John for wondering if he was following the right savior; if we are being real, we wonder the same thing. God, I don't understand; I thought this was the job you had for me, but it seems like everyone in here has lost their mind. I thought this spouse was forever, but I don't know if we will make it to next Friday. Encounters with Jesus regularly left people confused. Not only did people get confused looking for Jesus, people got confused and made a fake Jesus when they couldn't find or did not like the real one. 

How else can so-called evangelical Christians wholeheartedly support putting people in power with no morals? Claim to love all God's children, but if they come out a shade or two darker than you are comfortable with, there is a problem. Claim to love God but allow his children to be in danger by going to school, playing in a park, or starving on the street. Some people don't like the real Jesus that demands a fundamental change in their lives and some uncomfortable times, so they make up one to make themselves feel better. I don't blame John for being confused because some people are even more confused today. The Kingdom of God is not always comfortable and will require some sacrifice. 

The Reassurance

Jesus responds with a track record. Being authentic, Jesus responds with what he has done. Jesus does not respond with a bunch of titles; Jesus responds with action. I ask the church what have we done? Does the community know we exist? Does the community know we exist if we take away the one or two big programs we do a year and then pat ourselves on the back? Are we using Christianity for anything more than fire insurance to ensure we don't burn when we die? Have we gotten so focused on our personal relationship with Christ that we don't have any room for anything else? Christianity is about action, and Christianity is about community. 

Jesus being authentic, also didn't gossip about John behind his back once the messengers left. Jesus had good things to say about John. Jesus said John was the last and greatest of the old-school prophets. Jesus asked the people what they were looking for. They would not find nice robes here; they would not find a reed, which was a shot a Herod. Herod had coins printed with the image of a reed on them. Not only did Jesus speak well of John in his absence, but he also called out the person persecuting John as well. That is the mark of a real friend, how they treat you when you are not around. 

John is the messenger foretold by the Old Testament's Malachi, the one who will prepare the way for the Authentic Messiah. John is not a royal yes-man in soft robes but is "like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi" (Malachi 3:1-3). John accomplishes this mission by calling people to repentance and baptizing them to cleanse them of their sins.

Likewise, if we want to be Authentic Disciples, we will align ourselves unequivocally with Jesus and his distinctive, even radical, way of life. "Let your light shine before others," says Jesus to his followers, "so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (5:16). An authentic relationship with Christ calls for community and calls for action. We cannot wait for someone else to do the work of the Kingdom; we must be willing to do it ourselves. 

Your Latter Will Be Greater - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.

In the second year of King Darius, 2 1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,[a] the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

6 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LordAlmighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Now and then, I look at my yearbooks from school, and I go online and go through my old pictures on Facebook and Instagram. Doing that makes me feel good inside; sometimes, I want to remember a happy time and feel that way all over again. In the past, while there were some great times, there were also some not-so-great times, and the not-so-great times taught me some valuable lessons that I probably would not have learned if everything had been great all the time. So, when I look at where I am now, I know my present is much better than my past, and my future will be better than my present. I may not get there the way I planned or on the path that I chose, but I know my situation is better now than it was in the past.

Three major characters in the history of the Jerusalem Temple of God are Joshua, Zerubbabel, and Haggai. Joshua was the High Priest at the time, Zerubbabel was the King, and Haggai was the scribe, the prophet if you will. The temple was destroyed, and the people of God got conquered, captured, and enslaved. The people of God were in captivity for a while, but now it is time to go home. When they get home, Haggai wants them to rebuild the temple of God. The prophet addresses an argument in the first chapter of the Book of Haggai; he is ready to rebuild, and some people don't think now is the right time. They want to put it off for some unknown reason, and Haggai says it will never be enough. I know and have dealt with some people like that; they don't want to make decisions and act on them, they want to keep referring them to another committee, won't sing or play a song because they claim to be worried about not doing right, so they don't do anything at all. People pretend like they want everything to be perfect, and pursuing perfection prevents them from taking any action. Haggai says enough is enough, and it will never be enough for all the posturing. 

Haggai says in 1:5-6:

5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

You are planning and doing a whole bunch, but it is never enough. How many business plans sit in someone's head because they haven't taken action, waiting for the right time? How many goals aren't accomplished because we think now is not the right time? How many conversations do we miss out on because we are waiting for a better time to have that conversation? 

Les Brown says: 

"The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream."

The other thing preventing the people from participating in rebuilding the temple was nostalgia; they remembered how great the old temple was and because the new temple didn't look like the old temple yet, the people did not want to get involved. By the time Haggai said what God had told him to say, they had been trying to rebuild the temple for nearly 18 years; they had only poured the foundation and not much else. People caught up in perfection and others in love with the past kept the church from getting back on its feet in the present. 

Did you know that religious institutions and industries in America contribute about $1.2 trillion a year to the U.S. economy and society? That figure includes church-run hospitals, church-related colleges, and other institutions birthed by churches and other religious groups. But it also includes local parishes of all sizes across our country, even some that are in the process of closing their doors. These organizations are running based on the work our predecessors did. However, we are not putting as many new organizations out there; we are riding on the backs of what we used to do.

At the same time, some of the older members look back to the time when the church was in its heyday. The building was in miraculous shape, the pews were full, and the building buzzed with activity. 

Haggai says it is time to get back to helping the church, and you know how he knows it is time? Haggai looks at everyones' homes. This is during the feast of booths, where the people remind themselves what it was like to wander in the wilderness. So they don't stay inside their homes; they build tents outside the houses, like camping. Well, Haggai can see some pretty nice homes and some excellent camping setups and see oh ya'll have time for these things but not for God? 

This is not just about money but time and priorities; what are you putting in front of your relationship with God? 

Haggai said the people had a job to do, and we needed to get started on it now. 

Take Courage

Over and over again, the bible says fear not, and Haggai is telling us we don't have to be afraid of the immense task in front of us. Take courage because you have the most incredible support you could have backing you up. The splendor of the temple will be better than the former temple. That word for splendor in Hebrew is Kabod; it means honor, wealth, glory, literally weight. When God shows up, he will throw his weight around; you have the best VIP pass you can obtain with the weight of the Lord God almighty backing you up. Take courage, and be active in pursuing what God has for you. 

Work

This will not be easy; it will take hard work. If it were easy, everyone would have already done it, but I don't know anything worthwhile that doesn't get accomplished without hard work. 

God is With You

God will never leave you nor forsake you

Nothing can separate you from the love of God

Romans 8:38-39

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In his own time and place, Haggai calls us to hear and rely on the facts: that God is truly present with the people, that the relationship between God and humanity is real, and that the community will flourish in ways pleasing to God. 

The same God that brought them out of Egypt is the same God that brought them out of Babylon, and that same God is with them as they rebuild and is with us as we rebuild what we have lost in our lives. Everything belongs to God, and he will help our latter days be better than our former days. 

Your Latter Will Be Greater

Your past does not negate God's prophecy; your best is right in front of you. People may try to put a period in your life, but God says it is a comma. Your problems are way smaller than God's promises.

Lord Have Mercy - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Luke 18:9-14

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

I struggle with comparison; I can't help but try to figure out where I stand with everything. I look at salaries, education, church membership, and attendance. I look at vote totals, almost everything I can think of, and compare it to something similar. I know that about myself, and I am working on it. I am just being transparent about my personality quirk; sometimes, it comes in handy; I get nominated to be the treasurer or auditor of many organizations because of this instinct. I get called in to consult with organizations because they want to know what other organizations are doing in similar situations. 

I am not the only one who thinks about comparison; I am just willing to say it out loud. We buy clothes, cars, and houses and then compare them. Oh, girl, where did you get that outfit from? How much did it cost? Was it on sale? What kind of extra features came in that new truck you just bought? What neighborhood do you live in again? Don't let there be some fellas around an open flame with some meat that needs to be cooked; we all compare people, places, and things. Comparison is not a bad thing all the time; sometimes, you need to compare things to teach people as well. That is why Jesus spoke in parables a lot, the kingdom of God is like a seed the man scatters on the ground but doesn't know if it grows or not, or the kingdom of God is like the mustard seed and if you have faith the size of a mustard seed you can move mountains. 

Jesus is talking to Pharisees, religious leaders. This passage is part of a larger conversation about prayer. Jesus just finished telling the Pharisees about the parable of the persistent widow.

The thing about Jesus's parables is that the good guy is not who the people listening to the parable think it is. Jesus was talking to Pharisees, so they would expect the Pharisees to be the story's hero. The Pharisee in the parable is pompous when he says "other people," which literally "the rest of humanity" in Greek. The Pharisees thought he was the best in the world because he regularly attended church and tithed. 

The tax collector has a bad reputation. Tax collectors in the Bible were not like IRS agents are today; they were independent business owners; who would collect taxes and give money to the Roman government. Because they were independent, they could collect more money than they had to give to the government and keep the rest. So, some collect enough taxes to get rich off the backs of the poor people in the area, and the people began to hate all the tax collectors, good or bad.

Pray consistently

Both people go to church and know they need to pray. You can't get away from this concept in Christianity, and prayer should be a regular task in your life. Not just blessing food or praying corporately at church, we should be praying before we make major decisions, we should be praying before we make minor decisions we should be praying at all times. The Bible says to pray without ceasing. I hear people complain about taking prayer out of school or other places as if that caused the decline of institutions. I submit to you that if prayer is in you, it should not matter if you get to make a big show out of it in public. They can take prayer out of the building but can't take it out of me. 

Pray with determination 

The tax collector went to the temple expecting his prayer to be answered, begging for it to be answered. His determination was so strong it bordered on desperation. If he didn't think God would answer his prayer, why even ask? The man asks because he expects an answer; God is not a man that he should lie nor the son of man that he should seek cause to repent. This man, this tax collector, came to the church looking for grace and mercy and expects to receive it. 

Someone might think that the tax collector is not worthy; only God's assessment of righteousness matters.

Pray authentically 

One of the reasons I believe Christianity gets a bad reputation in the world today is because Christians aren’t authentic. We act like we have it all together when we are truly broken on the inside.

This man said Lord have mercy on me, 

The prayer may not be in public but in private 

The subject and verb may not agree

They may not ask you to pray this prayer at a presidential inauguration.

Need heaven to move on my behalf

Lord, Have Mercy on Me

-Employers

-Employees

-Unemployed

You aren't big and bad by yourself; no matter where you are in life, you need the Lord's mercy. 

Psalm 51:3 David said my sin is ever before me."

Humble. Self-emptying. Obedient. These are the qualities of Jesus Christ and his faithful followers, qualities that led to Christ's exaltation. Remember, said Jesus, "all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted" (Luke 18:14). The path to God's future includes serving others sacrificially, as we follow a Lord who "came not to be served but to serve" (Matthew 20:28).

The tax collector didn't care what anyone else thought

The tax collector was justified because he put his faith entirely in God, asking God to be merciful to him. He took an honest look at his past, regretted many of his actions, and asked God to forgive him. 

Let your memory be your motivation 

Let your past power your future 

Isaiah 40:4-5

4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Late in the midnight hour, God is going to turn it around, it's going to work in your favor!

Don't Move Until God Moves - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7

29 This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

I don't like quick fixes; I like simple fixes, but the quick ones bother me; almost every time someone suggests a quick fix, I know we will be back here quickly fixing it again in a few months, if not sooner. However, it is hard not to want the quick fix; we watch television shows where they solve the world's problems in 30 minutes, really 22 minutes with 8 minutes of commercials. Advertisements promise you will lose 15 pounds in weeks without diet or exercise, take this online course to learn how to make six figures almost overnight. Millions of people play the lottery even though we have a better chance of getting struck by lightning than winning. We want the quick fix because it makes us feel good no matter the reality of the situation. 

Jeremiah is dealing with the results of a quick-fix mentality in scripture. Jeremiah wrote a letter to the Hebrews in Babylonia captivity; the whole letter is verses 1-23. Jeremiah wrote the letter in chapter 29 because of what another prophet did in chapter 28.

The Hebrews were captured, and in chapter 28, Hananiah prophesied that this dire situation would be over quickly and easily; he said that they would be out of captivity in less than two years. Things would be back to what they were real soon, don't worry, we will be back in Israel in less than two years. Jeremiah had a vision of a yoke on the people's necks, meaning the people had to work and work hard. Hananiah prophesied the yoke was broken. Jeremiah prophesied that people needed to figure out how to live under King Nebuchadnezzar; Hananiah prophesied the leader would be removed. Hananiah died a year after making his prophecy. 

Hananiah's prophecy removed blame from the people and absolved them of personal responsibility. We don't have a book of Hananiah; we have a book of Jeremiah, though. 

God told Moses in Deuteronomy 28 before the people entered the promised land that this would happen. Prophets told the people of God to change their ways 800 years before Babylon took them over. 

It's easier to reminisce about Israel, blame Nebuchadnezzar, or think this situation is temporary than to do any substantial work to change it. 

Psalm 137:1-4

137 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.

2 We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it.

3 For there, those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, and those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

4 How shall we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?

Nebuchadnezzar is not absolved of what he and the Babylonians did; we just can't sit around blaming them without any action. This prophet told those who moped that God says, "Your old life is dead. Your new life is to be found in Babylon. Deal with it. Settle down. Adjust!"  Jeremiah did not want the people to have false optimism . 

There is no quick fix; you will have to change your behavior in Babylon with new people, new land, and more work. Things were nice in Israel, but we are not in Israel anymore and won't be back anytime soon. Reach out to the people around you right now. You may not like your present situation, but your survival depends on accepting it. 

Paul said in 2nd Corinthians 12:7-10

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Hebrews might have a few things they want. 

• They might wish they still had the temple. But they don't.

• They might wish they still lived within the walls of Jerusalem. But they don't.

• They might wish they could still drink the wine of their own vineyards. But they can't.

• They might wish they could sing their songs in Judah, but they can't.

Admiral James Stockdale spent 1965-1973 as a prisoner of war in a camp sarcastically called the Hanoi Hilton. Stockdale was the highest-ranking US military officer in a camp with no prisoner rights, no set release date, and no hope that any prisoner would even get out alive. The Vietnamese Army used prisoners as propaganda. 

In his book "Good to Great," author Jim Collins asked Stockdale this question: Who didn't make it out? "Oh, that's easy," said Stockdale. "It was the optimists."

"The optimists were the ones who said, "we're going to be out by Christmas. Christmas came and went. Then they'd say, "we're going to be out by Easter," and Easter would come, and it would go. The optimists would pin their dates on Thanksgiving, then Christmas again, and eventually, "they died of a broken heart."

"You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end. Instead, you must confront the most brutal facts of your reality, whatever they might be." And that's what Stockdale did to survive the prisoner camp.

Therefore, Jeremiah's advice to the Jewish people in exile — and by extension to us — is to do two things. First, decide if we're "here" (wherever "here" is) in the will of God, and second, if so, settle into life as though we're here for life — or until God moves us on. Jeremiah's counsel is that in life, the circumstances in which we find ourselves are not always amenable to an easy solution. It might be best to adapt to your surroundings, adjust to make life bearable, and adopt the lifestyle that's the social norm for your neighborhood.

This does not mean you compromise your faith but are willing to take the long view. This problem, situation, and context are here to stay for the indefinite future. 

When we find ourselves in a new place, new life, or new experience, we should decide how we can live a meaningful life within the situation rather than outside of the situation.

Settle into the land and make a community with the people in the area. Look at what you have around you and put it to use, don't spend a bunch of time and energy talking about what you used to have in Jerusalem; work on the land you live in right now. There are resources and opportunities all around us, but as long as we keep saying we can't do anything, we will be right. 

There is still time to grow; there is still time to change; just because you are in Babylon doesn't mean you cannot grow. Peace is a state of mind, not just a location or a status. Shalom is used throughout the passage, applying it to all walks of life. God is present and active with the people even in a foreign land. God is concerned about their spiritual and their physical welfare. God didn't just say keep praying; God said work the land, start some families, build homes on the land you currently live in. 

God is with you in Babylon and Jerusalem, in Baghdad and Boston; move beyond God bless America to God bless me everywhere.

Admiral Stockdale said to Jim Collins: "I never lost faith in the end of the story. I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would get out; that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which in retrospect, I would not trade."

Hope in an uncertain future. I can tell you it will be alright because I told you that you would have to work for it. 

Jeremiah 29:11-14

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

Parting Words - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

2nd Timothy 1:1-14

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, a beloved son:Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did,as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

I am not ashamed to admit I learned a lot from my mother and grandmother; my mother taught me how to ride a bike, do a front handspring, pray, and read the Bible. I remember sitting at the kitchen table reading Galatians 2:20. I remember visiting my grandparents during the Summer. Grandma Hargrave in Chicago would take us to Maple Park United Methodist Church, and Grandma Bruce would take us to St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Freeport, Illinois. My mother and grandmother have been influential in my life and development. 

In his acclaimed book, Mama Made the Difference: Life Lessons My Mother Taught Me, Bishop T. J. Jakes says:

"Mamas Teach Us to Believe in God," he comments: "So much in our lives begins with believing—love, peace, growth, change, destiny—I am so thankful that my mother always taught me to believe. She taught me to believe in God … and she taught me to believe in myself.… The strong Tide of my mama's many lessons flow out of the currents of these two streams." 

We see the influence of a mother and grandmother in scripture in 2nd Timothy 1. Timothy is Eunice's son and Lois's grandson, both Jewish women. Acts 16 tells us that Timothy's father was Greek, and we are not sure if he was a believer or not. 

The year is A.D. 67. He's doing jail time in Rome for the second time under Nero, an emperor whose days are also ending. Nero would die about a year after Paul in A.D. 68. Nero had been emperor since A.D. 54, and it had not been a smooth ride. The Great Fire occurred in A.D. 64

At least 70 percent of the city burned down, and the people blamed the Christian for their city burning down. Can you imagine blaming a community for a disaster without any proof? Can you imagine abusing a group of people because of their race, ethnicity, or religion because something happened that damaged your town or economy?  The Christians were an easy target for abuse because people wanted to blame outsiders or foreigners for the catastrophe.

Church tradition says that the apostle Peter was a victim of this outrage and was crucified head down. Later, Paul was beheaded, and within three to four years, the young church had lost its two foremost apostles, including its most eloquent and learned voice — apologist and theologian, the apostle Paul.

However, the church was not without leaders. Although Peter and Paul were gone, the second generation of pastors was ready to carry the torch. One of these was Timothy, arguably Paul's favorite and most devoted disciple. It is Timothy to whom Paul addresses his parting words. Paul knew Timothy's mother and grandmother, and he mentored Timothy in the fundamentals of the faith. Timothy served with him in Ephesus for about three years and was undoubtedly with him on many of Paul's travels, including Troas, Philippi, and Corinth.

Paul is sharing parting words to the young man who was a trainee, an intern, and then a co-worker with the apostle. His advice to Timothy was that he should not forget what he was taught, what was deposited into him over his life. Paul wants to reassure Timothy, remember Timothy's tears, request Timothy, and remind Timothy that he has been redeemed.

Faith is deposited like a treasure; we must put something into it to get something out. If I haven't been putting money into a bank account, then when I need to make a withdrawal, there won't be any money there to withdraw. If you haven't made any faith deposits, if you haven't spent any time praying, reading your Bible, fasting, tithing, going to church, or building up your faith, then when your faith is tested, you won't have much faith to draw on when you need to use faith.

I was discussing with some younger preachers who were badmouthing seminaries. Now I joke about seminary all the time, but I appreciate the growth I gained from earning a Master's in Divinity and would like to pursue a doctorate soon. However, the other preachers were upset that they knew some people who graduated from seminary and didn't know any more Bible than when they started school. I said that it is because you don't go to seminary to learn the Bible; you go to seminary to learn about the Bible. You learn the languages; you learn the history and customs. You learn research methods in seminary and how to write papers. If faith was not in you before you went to seminary, the seminary would only expose that. 

I know that pressure can do at least two things; bust a pipe or make a diamond. 

If the faith wasn't in you to begin with, then it's going to be hard to call up something that wasn't there to begin with.

Reassure

Paul wants to encourage and reassure Timothy by letting Timothy know that he prays for him every day. Paul resorts to prayer a lot; and Paul worships God with a clear conscience, and Paul prays day and night. What have we wanted bad enough to be willing to let it consume our prayer lives?  

The motivational speaker, E.T. the Hip-Hop Preacher, tells a story about a student who wants to be successful. In the story, a student asks a teacher to teach him how to be successful, and the teacher says follow me. The teacher walks out into the ocean, and the student follows the teacher until the water covers the student's face, and almost drowns. The teacher and the student go back to the beach, and the teacher asks the student, when he almost drowned, what he wanted most. The student said he wanted to breathe, and the teacher told him you would never be successful until you wanted to accomplish your goal as badly as you wanted to breathe. Work on it day and night, Paul had something to pray about all the time, night and day, and he kept praying. If we want something to reach God, we should at least be able to pray about it and pray about it all the time, bombard heaven with that request until God says I'm sick of hearing about here, take it. 

Remember

Paul remembers Timothy's tears, sees them and lets Timothy know they mean something. Recalling your tears will lead to joy. Paul says I know you cried for a long time, I also know that the Bible says weeping may endure for a night, but joy shall come in the morning. Remember what you used to cry over and rejoice that you aren't crying over it now. I remember your tears and realize you are much stronger now; you are much wiser now; what used to knock you down doesn't even phase you anymore. 

Request

Paul requests Timothy to rekindle his gift. To "rekindle the gift" means to stir up the grace and faith, and love that we have received, and we stir them up by putting them into practice. 

Don't spend so much time getting mad at others for what we think they should or should not be doing; we can only focus on our actions and responses. 

It is so easy to lose sight of God's gifts. The most important thing to do is stir up the gifts of grace, mercy, and love.  - 

God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, a more apt translation is a spirit of cowardice, but of power, love, and a strong mind, more accurately translated to self-discipline. Therefore, armed with this spirit, Timothy shouldn't be ashamed of what happened to Jesus (his martyrdom) or what's happening to Paul (his imprisonment). Instead, because Timothy has the spirit of God's power, he should embrace his portion of suffering that comes along with the good news of God. In this letter's view, all who follow God in Christ will be persecuted (3:12), and Timothy is no exception.

That is not something everyone would be walking around with proudly. But you can put aside the shame and fear when you understand it is not about you but the one in you. Paul can worship with a clear conscience because he knows he has been redeemed.

Redeemed

Paul knows that his time is almost up but that he serves an on-time God. We are saved, not by works but by grace. We can trust in Christ Jesus because he has already done the job of saving us. We are washed in the blood of the crucified lamb; we are all that God says we are.

The Bare Essentials - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

1 Timothy 6:6-19

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

I spend a lot of time thinking about money; I want to know how much something costs, how much it costs to make, and how much it can be resold. I get fascinated with entire systems, not just one or two parts, and I assume that is a byproduct of earning a business degree. I also know that even though I think about money and have no problems talking about money, talking about money is uncomfortable. 

All this is true. But we can't live without money, can we? After all, we need a paycheck, and we need to put food on our TV trays. No argument. We came into the world empty-handed and shall leave life empty-handed, but we can't survive empty-handed in the interim. We need to cultivate the skills necessary to survive.

Men in early societies were taught at a young age to hunt, use an axe, fish, farm, or yoke a pair of oxen. Women learned to skin the hides, erect shelters, cook the food, gather herbs, bring in a harvest and bear another generation of workers. Now we pretty much hunt and sew as a hobby instead of survival. 

As urban life emerged, shopkeepers, cobblers, tinsmiths, artisans, bookkeepers, autocrats, politicians, writers, philosophers, and others plied their trades. Some professions were more lucrative than others.

As this was happening, spiritual leaders, including the apostle Paul, realized that the need to earn a living was fraught with potential problems:

• If one was too wealthy, others might covet your possessions and even steal what they could.

• Envy might cause some souls to work harder than necessary.

• Those who were employers might prefer to see their employees starve rather than give them a decent wage.

• Careers are sometimes judged based on their earnings when they ought to be evaluated in terms of the service they offer. A teacher, one could argue, has more intrinsic value to society than a football player.

• Most would agree that some professions are simply wrong: Prostitutes, drug pushers, jewel thieves, crooks, etc. No reasonable person would consider these activities as bona fide "professions."

The author gives Timothy some final instructions on being a pastor. Paul understood what kind of environment Timothy was about to start pastoring in, trying to bring people to Christ. During this time, other religions encouraged paying for contentment, paying this god for crops, pay this god for rain. Paul wants Timothy to avoid prosperity preaching. People will use part of verse 10 to speak ill of wealthy people, but Paul is not speaking ill of rich people; wealthy people were supporting the New Testament churches. Paul just wants people to have the right priorities regarding wealth. If you have to use part but not the whole scripture to make an argument, your argument is not very sound. 

People have demonized the rich, and others have deified the rich; what we should do is put wealth in its place. The reality is that there will always be someone wealthier than you, and countless millions are poorer than you.

Do we need a $450 million yacht like Jeff Bezos? No, but we might not be able to live without spending $4,500 on a pontoon fishing boat!

Do we need a boat? Maybe we do. It's all relative. If you make $14,500, are you poor? Not if you live in India, where the per capita income is just north of $2,000. But in the United States, you are living in abject poverty if you're making $14,500 per annum. According to the "Remember the Poor" website,

• If you made $1,500 last year, you're in the top 20 percent of the world's income earners.

• If you have sufficient food, decent clothes, live in a house or apartment, and have a reasonably reliable means of transportation, you are among the top 15 percent of the world's wealthy.

• Have $61,000 in assets? You're among the wealthiest 10 percent of the adults in the world.

• If you have any money saved, a hobby that requires some equipment or supplies, a variety of clothes in your closet, two cars (in any condition), and live in your own home, you are in the top 5 percent of the world's wealth.

• If you have more than $500,000 in assets, you're part of the richest 1 percent of the world.

Unfortunately, we live in a culture of outrage and discontent. It's challenging to be at peace with ourselves and content with what we have. Sometimes, it's hard to feel blessed.

Paul wants Timothy and us, for that matter, to focus on godly things, not just money. We have to put our focus on eternal life, and eternal life starts now. Actually, eternal life began when Christ rose from the dead. When Jesus said I come that you have life and life more abundantly, that was not a call for us to wait until we got to Heaven; that was a call for us to have Heaven here on Earth. 

In other words, eternal life is not something we look forward to; it is something that has arrived because Christ has arrived and has brought eternity into our midst.  

There are things we can do to make life better for us on our own. The word translated as "contentment" (autarkeias) also means "self-sufficiency. "  

Be humble: You had luck, privilege, advantages, options, and opportunities that millions can only dream of — even if you worked your tail off to get to where you are. Humility goes a long way. The Bible says, "As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty" (v. 17). 

Be realistic: There are no guarantees. The market may crash tomorrow. Who could have predicted the coronavirus and measured its economic impact? If you practiced a policy of contentment, you were in a better position to weather this storm and any that may come in the future. Your peace and stability are not tied to your financial situation. Money is fleeting, and you will never have enough. Someone will always have more than you.

Be generous: We live in a sharing economy. Be a part of it. Join forces with local charities. Be creative in how you can generously distribute your assets among those who need a helping hand. Yes, we should still share; the pastor is going to talk about money, but I talk about money to help the people. Giving is a spiritual discipline, like fasting, praying, reading the Bible, and attending church. They all help you be a better Christian. Be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share.

Be faithful: God's will takes priority over catering to our self-interests. Watch for any signs that you are starting to love money. Loving money is the root of everything that can go wrong in your life (v. 10). Instead of lusting after riches, grow your thirst for righteousness: "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness" (v. 11).

Paul would say that putting wealth (and other potential idols) into proper perspective is vitally important. Take hold of the life that is life, Paul would say. Do not get stuck on money, nation, CNN, church growth, or … anything else. "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness" (1 Tim. 6:11).  

Fight the good fight.

Be not dismayed whate'er betide, God will take care of you;

Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.

Refrain:

God will take care of you, Through every day, o'er all the way;

He will take care of you, God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail, God will take care of you;

When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.

All you may need He will provide, God will take care of you;

Nothing you ask will be denied, God will take care of you.

No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;

Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.

Time is filled with swift transition,

Naught of earth unmoved can stand,

Build your hopes on things eternal,

Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

Refrain:

Hold to God’s unchanging hand,

Hold to God’s unchanging hand;

Build your hopes on things eternal,

Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

The Best Mediator - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

I wanted to be and still want to be a mediator; I feel some of my most significant accomplishments came from bringing people together in the same room to accomplish a goal. A mediator stands between two people estranged from one another to facilitate communication between them. If there's a power differential between them, the mediator is duty-bound to protect the interests of the weaker party. I’m told in many assessments that I have a strong since of justice and want to make sure that everyone is treated fairly. We all have some sense of justice, if we did not care about our fellow brothers and sisters I believe the world would be in a worse place, I am not saying everything is perfect, but I am saying that things are better and they get better when people are willing to help others and not just help themselves. 

1st Timothy is considered a Deutero-Pauline letter, a pastoral epistle probably written around 100CE. Paul was doing hybrid ministry before COVID; Paul pastored churches, visited churches in person, and sent letters to other churches. Paul's involvement in the churches was not an either/or situation but a both/and situation. What the Galatian church did, didn't stop the Corinthian church, the Corinthian church didn't stop the Ephesian church, the Ephesian church didn't stop the Philippians church, the Philippians, the Philippians didn't stop the Thessalonians, the Thessalonians didn't stop the Colossians, they all had work to do for the Kingdom of God, so they did the work.

1st Timothy is different from other Pauline letters; Paul usually thanks God for the person to whom Paul is writing the letter. This time Paul thanks God for what God has done for Paul. Paul is happy about Timothy but happier about what God brought him through. Paul is thankful that God saw fit to save him even though he violently persecuted the church. Because Paul is thankful, Paul is also prayerful. 

Prayer is a duty and a privilege. God wants us to pray for everyone. We should pray for everyone, and everyone should pray. There are not many instructions or mechanics around it; Paul says we should just pray. Prayer is for all things and all people. Paul doesn't lay out some complicated plan; he just says pray. Paul says to pray for everything and everybody. Paul doesn't have a bunch of steps to prayer; he says just to pray. 

Isaiah 55:6 (NKJV)

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV)

17 pray without ceasing,

 

Matthew 7:7 (NKJV)

7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

 

Mark 11:23 (NKJV)

23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

 

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We can pray because we have the best mediator and intercessor operating on our behalf.

The word "intercession," de ē seis, is derived from a verb with the meaning "to have the good fortune to be admitted to an audience [with a king]. " 

Once a year in the Old Testament, the High Priest was allowed to go into the inner section of the temple to make a sacrifice for the sins of all the people. The High Priest was a mediator for all the believers to God. Usually, no one was allowed into the Holy of Holies, and going in without being worthy meant instant death. They did one time a year for the people's sins for that year. 

Paul says in today's reading: "there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all." Jesus does not fear stepping through the curtain blocking the Holy of Holies, for he, the second person of the Trinity, is the same as God and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is our mediator; in this case, Jesus is going in on our behalf. Jesus is willing to save us no matter how bad we were in the past. The God who desires salvation for all, whose son gave himself as a ransom for all, is the same God who appointed Paul a teacher of the Gentiles. If God can save Paul, God can save anyone. God looks beyond our faults and satisfies our needs. God loves us and there is nothing that can separate us from that love. We just have to be willing to take what we need to Jesus. Pray, and keep praying, after you are done, pray some more.

Have A Little Talk With Jesus

Have a little talk with Jesus 

Tell him all about our troubles 

Hear our fainted cry, answer by and by 

Feel a little prayer wheel turning 

Know a little fire is burning 

Find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

I Know the Lord Will Make a Way

I have a Savior who I can tell all my troubles to

When I'm burdened and don't know what to do

I can go to Him in secret prayer

And I can leave all my burdens there

I know the Lord will make a way

Somehow yes he will

God Wants it All - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Luke 14:25-33

25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

I am a joiner; I like to join organizations, especially if those organizations help me accomplish the goals I set for my personal development. I have joined the Masonic Order, I have joined Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, and I look at different social clubs, networking organizations, community groups, and the like to see if I would be a good fit for them or if being involved with them is a good use of my time. There are still some organizations I would like to join during my lifetime; however, I must consider some things before I go further. Before entering any new group or organization, I at least want to know, what it takes to join the group, and how much it is going to cost. The cost of organizations varies; I am in one organization that has yearly dues that cost as much as a lifetime membership for another organization. 

There are exclusive clubs in this world. Certain country clubs come to mind, demanding six-figure initiation fees. The wealthier members can presumably afford it. But what club requires everything of its members? The church of Jesus Christ. We find Jesus talking about the membership fee in the Gospel According to Luke, chapter 14. Jesus is addressing the crowd in this passage. 

One of the essential characters in the Gospel According to Luke, is the crowd. I like the Gospel according to John because John always says, "the disciple whom Jesus loved," and I can put my name in that place. Luke is growing on me because he has a trait where he mentions the crowds. Luke wants the readers to know that this man named Jesus is not just going around performing parlor tricks in private, that Jesus is doing things for the world to see. 

Cost is what we give up to acquire, accomplish, maintain, or produce something. It involves a measure of sacrifice and perhaps loss or penalty in gaining something. Cost requires effort and resources.  The process of discipleship takes time and has false starts and modest successes, and nothing of worth is accomplished overnight. 

At the heart of discipleship is transformation. The cost of discipleship is not just becoming accumulators of new information about life and living it fully or changing our behavior in regard to Jesus' teachings. The cost is engaging in a profoundly radical shift toward the ethics of Jesus with every fiber of our beings. 

Jesus lets his disciples know that the road he is walking is not without its sacrifices; to follow Jesus is not without its heavy demands; to carry the cross is not without its tangible consequences. We must be willing to endure these consequences if we ever hope to experience the promised rewards of following Jesus' way. 

You must become a disciple with your eyes wide open, counting the cost of this decision. Jesus is telling us to read the fine print. When the text says hate the, it does not mean hate as we use it today, some things get lost in translation (we are reading about a Hebrew who spoke Aramaic, had his words written in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, etc. until we got it in English). Jesus means that we should place anything above God in order of priority. God comes first.  

When Jesus says consider the cost to avoid embarrassment, he means that people will have something to say if you don't plan out something and it fails, regardless of whether they could do a better job or even know how to do it. 

On a hillside above the town of Oban, Scotland, there is a gray granite structure known as McCaig's Tower. It has an alternate name: McCaig's Folly. Passengers waiting to board the ferry to the sacred Isle of Iona can look and see this circular stone wall looming over them. It vaguely resembles the ancient Roman Colosseum, but you can see nothing but sky through its gaping windows, and it's nothing but a shell.

This massive stone monument was never finished. John Stuart McCaig, a wealthy banker, was the man who conceived the project. You do have to say this, on old McCaig's behalf: he did count the cost before the first stone was laid. The tower was supposed to cost 5,000 pounds sterling, nearly $1 million in today's money.

Work began in 1897 and continued until 1902 when Mr. McCaig died of a heart attack. Part of his purpose had been to give off-season work to local stonemasons. The project indeed fulfilled that purpose for as long as it lasted. Even though McCaig had made provision in his will for the tower to be completed, his heirs disagreed. They saw the project as too costly. The heirs went to court and successfully challenged Mr. McCaig's will, stopped construction work, and to this day, McCaig's Folly stands as a monument to a dream never realized.

Mr. McCaig had grand visions for his tower; he wanted a lasting monument to his family; it was to include a museum and art gallery: a real showplace for the little town of Oban. A central tower would display heroic statues of McCaig, his siblings, and their parents. 

But that's not how people remember it today. They don't remember the dream, only the disappointing reality. When tourists ask what's that up on the hillside, the locals point at the gaping windows and lack of a roof. They reply, "That's McCaig's Folly."

What do you suppose those we leave behind will say of our Christian lives after we've gone on to our reward? Will they say, "Well done, good and faithful servant"? Or will they sigh and say, "What a folly!"?

Working out our discipleship in terms of what we give away and keep for ourselves is no small issue. What we own can come to own us, posing a serious threat to our spiritual welfare.  Working out our discipleship requires a costly, challenging, and lengthy process. 

When I was driving to Seminary in Dallas, there was a peach store along the way on Interstate 45; when I had time, I would stop there because they had some excellent peaches and sold peach preserves. The process of canning preserves ensures the food is edible and flavorful for a long time. You must endure the process because a misstep in the process will harm the taste and quality of the food. Preserves taste good and last long, but you must surrender the desire to eat the food right away; you can't have the peaches right off the tree; you have to take them through the process. 

We want and receive radical grace from God. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. God still loves us; well, this radical grace we receive also comes with some costly discipleship. Discipleship is not for the faint of heart; we have to deny ourselves, carry a cross, focus on the eternal, and use the gifts that God gave us for God's glory in our daily lives. We have to place our commitment to God above everything else. 

Jesus wants to save us, to be sure. That's what he's all about and why we call him "Savior." It turns out that what he most wants to save us from is ourselves. Jesus has no problem asking people to give something up for the Kingdom of God because he will give it all up for all creation.

Fresh vs. Stale Water - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Jeremiah 2:4-13 

4 Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob, all you clans of Israel.

5 This is what the Lord says: “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.

6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’

7 I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.

8 The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.

9 “Therefore I bring charges against you again,” declares the Lord. “And I will bring charges against your children’s children.

10 Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this:

11 Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols.

12 Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,” declares the Lord.

13 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

As an elected official, I have learned more about water in the past few months than I ever thought. I am learning about treatment plants, flood planes, floodways, dredging, drainage, ditch grades, and a whole bunch of other water-related topics. I had the opportunity to visit a cistern on a field trip recently. A massive structure that could hold 15 million gallons of water when filled, they decommissioned it in 2007. The city found a better way to store and process water, so they moved on to that. I think we all think about water; we need it to survive, prepare food, clean ourselves, and clean our places; water is essential to us. Water is vital to the people of the Bible as well. 

In By Water and By Spirit

"Water provides the central symbolism for baptism. The richness of its meaning for the Christian community is suggested in the baptismal liturgy, which speaks of the waters of creation and the flood, the liberation of God's people by passage through the sea, the gift of water in the wilderness, and the passage through the Jordan River to the promised land. In baptism, we identify ourselves with this people of God and join the community's journey toward God. The use of water in baptism also symbolizes cleansing from sin, death to old life, and rising to begin new life in Christ. In United Methodist tradition, the water of baptism may be administered by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. However it is administered, water should be utilized with enough generosity to enhance our appreciation of its symbolic meanings."

We see a passage about water here in Jeremiah. 

Jeremiah the prophet spoke on behalf of God for an incredibly long and anguished number of years, from the time of King Josiah (640 to 609 B.C.) through the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon (586 B.C.) and beyond. Despite tremendous opposition, including plots against him, he persisted in speaking this divine word, which compelled him from within to speak (20:9). Prophets don't always say what you want to hear; they will tell you what you need to hear.

Jeremiah 2-3 reads like a lawsuit, and God has summoned the House of Jacob. The people of God got used to success and left while the getting was good. God led the people through all kinds of disasters, and they still left God. 

The chosen people of God have chosen other gods; they shunned God's purposes, even if it meant shunning God's provision. Now whatever provision they have made for themselves ran out. Jeremiah called out everybody, priests, prophets, politicians, and everyday people. There were people in all camps that had turned away. God wants to know, "what did I do wrong that made you all turn away?"

The people went looking for something other than the Almighty, and that, Jeremiah says, is precisely what they have: gods who are no gods. Gods who cannot hear or answer prayer, who cannot save them, now that calamity is upon them, and trouble has come their way. Change and chance can happen to us all, and everything we thought was worth something could be worthless in the blink of an eye.

At the time of the writing, Babylon is either just about to take Israel over or has already done so. When the opposing army tries to take over a city, they cut off communication to other places, they cut off supplies, and they cut off water. The town has no more connection to running water, but that is ok because they still have cisterns with water they saved.

Cisterns were a big part of daily life in the ancient Middle East, this was a desert climate, and there was no such thing as indoor plumbing. A cistern is an underground storage tank that collects runoff from the roof in the rainy season. In the height of summer, the cisterns offered their accumulated supply through many thirsty days. Cistern water didn't taste the best; water from a stream or brook was far preferable—but it could still sustain life.

One attraction of the self-devised cisterns we construct to sustain our lives is that we feel we can control them. We like to control what is around us; even if we aren't in control, we want to feel like we are in control. The people lost their access to moving water, so they depended on the cisterns; the cisterns are going empty and are cracked, and now you need fresh water again. 

What is truly an abomination to the Lord? What in our behaviors is an abomination to the Lord? We tend to look for "abomination" in our neighbor's behaviors or foreign behavior. The speck in our neighbor's eye keeps us from seeing the beam in our own. The people thought they could survive and thrive without God and look where it got them.

Remember God's track record

God brought them out of Egypt, God had them cross the sea on dry land, God kept them in the wilderness, made sure they had something to eat, and God brought them into the promised land. God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore and the God that did all of that is the God that is with them in their troubles. God has a track record and proof of performance; if you stick with him, he will provide for your needs. 

Return to God

It is never too late to return to God. Call on his name, confess your sins, turn it all over to God, and he will take you back. The text says what God wants us to say, look at what God has done for you. He has done it before and will do it again. You are in the family, God loves you, and there is nothing you can do about it. 

Run to the Living Water

Living in an active relationship with the life-giving God of the Scriptures brings obligations: the patient work of worship and prayer, acting compassionately and working for justice. It is when we participate in the redemptive work of God—keeping promises, welcoming strangers, forgiving debts—that we drink from the fountain of the living God and discover a quality of life both sustaining and sustainable. 

Jesus at the well with the woman of Samaria

John 4:13-14

13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

Be not dismayed whate'er betide,

God will take care of you;

Beneath his wings of love abide,

God will take care of you.

God will take care of you

Through everyday o'er all the way

He will care for you

God will take care of you

Through days of toil when heart doth fail

God will take care of you

When dangers fierce your path assail

God will take care of you

God will take care of you

Through everyday o'er all the way

He will care for you

God will take care of you

The Original Cloud - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. 32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

July 1976 felt like a momentous time for the people of the United States. That month, we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and its inspired American Revolution. During that same time, another event happened. This event didn't make the newspapers, and most Americans had no idea it was happening. But it would change their lives forever.

At a meeting of the Homebrew Computer Club of Palo Alto, California, a 25-year-old electronic engineer named Steve Wozniak unveiled a new computer. He and his business partner, Steve Jobs, had just invented it. Its plastic keyboard poked up through an opening in a wooden case. They called it the Apple I. It was the first commercially successful personal computer. In 2021 an Apple I computer sold at an auction for $400,000. The collector who bought it wanted an Apple I because it was a piece of history.

It's hard to imagine our lives without personal computers, including desktops, laptops, tablets, or those powerful smartphones we carry in our pockets or purses. When computers first came out, the computer room would be as big as this sanctuary, and now you can fit some inside a breath mint box. When computers first came out, storage was a problem; hard drives and disk space took up a lot of space; now, we can save our data to the cloud. The internet and the World Wide Web arrived and connected us in ways we couldn't have imagined just a few years before. Everything syncs to the cloud automatically. You don't have to worry about losing your family photos or documents. They're out there, safely stored away in the cloud!

But cloud computing, on which so many depend, is not the original cloud. That distinction belongs to another cloud — one that's equally invisible, more mysterious, and harder to wrap our minds around. We read about it in Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses …."

A great cloud of witnesses surrounds us, says this anonymous apostle. And who are these witnesses, this vast cloud of people who surround us on every side? The preceding verses lay it all out for us.

The author writes to us about the faith held by Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Joseph, Moses and the whole company of wandering Israelites, and even Rahab.

There's a list of other, unnamed faithful ones as well: people who suffered mightily to keep the faith. Some "suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two, killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented — of whom the world was not worthy" (11:36-38).

Many of us see our nation as the home of rugged individualists: the lone cowboy, strong and self-sufficient. Our homes are our castles. Our idea is to make our way in the world, to rely on others for nothing. Far too many distrust yearning for the community as a sign of weakness.

Sociologist Robert D. Putnam has spent much of his life studying this hyper-individualistic national trait of ours. In a recent book, The Upswing, he mentions the research of social psychologist James Pennebaker on how our preferred pronouns reveal our deepest values as we talk with others.

Pennebaker has analyzed how often people use "I" instead of "we." He has found that people in the strongest marriages use "we" more often than those with strained relationships. He has also found that the most deeply self-confident people are generous in their use of "we"; it's insecure who favor "I." Moreover, frequent use of "I" is correlated with the risk of depression or suicide, and it's a more reliable marker for depression than words like "sad."

We must understand that we are in this together, and our faith connects us. The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We exercise faith all the time, even outside of our religious habits. We go to bed and wake up in a house we didn't build, eat food many of us didn't grow, drive cars we didn't engineer, on roads we didn't make, with other drivers we didn't train. We go to doctors and take medicine we didn't make and trust other professionals when provided with little to no information. 

Faith allowed the people of Israel to walk on dry land when Pharaoh's army chased them. Faith allowed the people to walk around the walls of Jericho until they fell. Faith is why Rahab helped the people of God take the promised land. Faith helped Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Over and over again, the Bible gives us stories of people who won because they had faith, faith to conquer kingdoms, received promises, and survive in a lion's den. Faith helped heal the sick, raise the dead, put out fires, and scare armies into running away. Faith gave the people victory. Some had names; some did not. These were not perfect people, but they had a heart for God and faith. Faith can lead to some amazing results, and faith can lead to courage in rough situations.

The text lets us know that faith isn't only for the good times, but faith also held the people together during the bad times. Faith held people while they suffered mocking, flogging, and prison. Faith kept the people while they were wandering in the desert, and faith kept the people while they were destitute, persecuted, and tormented. Faith is not just for bright days and fun nights; faith is what we hold on to when the doctor tells us they have bad news, faith is what we hold on to when money is low and bills are due; faith is all we have when it seems like everyone around us is gone. When you have fake friends, you still have faith; when you have real enemies, you still have faith. 

Faith has a long memory and profits from the experiences of those who came before us. Faith can be understood within the bigger picture. Trusting God is the best approach for everyday people, every time and every place. 

The same God that was with the people who succeeded and was with the people who were suffering is with you during your trials and tribulations. 

We can do it because we can look to Christ. After all, Christ was willing to endure for greater glory. Jesus was a pioneer and perfecter of our faith, and Jesus gives us what we need to run the race with perseverance. 

When running a race, joy isn't found in something other than the race; instead, it's located at the end of the race for those who complete it. In chapter 10, the author says Christ came to do the will of God (10:9), which included perfection through suffering, even the suffering of death (2:10; 5:9). Consequently, he endured the cross knowing that joy lay beyond the act of completing the will of his Father.

Having completed this race, Jesus now sits on the right hand of God, referring to Psalm 110:1, which is evoked throughout the letter (1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12). Jesus, then, is the prime example of faithfulness. He endured a horrible death and attained an unparalleled position of honor. The author turns to Christ as the climax of all his examples of faith to encourage the audience to stay steadfast until they complete their race. 

He is enduringly strong; He is immortally graceful.

He supplies strength to the weak. He's available for the tempted and 

the tried. He sympathizes, and He saves. He is our guard, and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent, and He beautifies the meek. 

Jesus is Mary's baby. 

He was born in someone else's cradle, rode to town on someone else's donkey, gave himself up for someone else's sins, and was placed in someone else's tomb, but got up on the third day with all power in his hand.