Sing a New Song - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

I have an interesting relationship with music, my wife will ask me a lot of times what am I thinking about, and usually a song is playing in my head.

We all appreciate the value of a good song, educators will tell you that music is a way to learn new things. We learned the alphabet by singing the letters, most children’s shows have music incorporated into them.

Singing as a form of communication is deeply rooted in the African American culture. It began with the African slaves who were kidnapped and shipped across the Atlantic during the Middle Passage. Slaves from different countries, tribes and cultures used singing as a way to communicate during the voyage.

Music was a way for slaves to express their feelings whether it was sorrow, joy, inspiration or hope. Songs were passed down from generation to generation throughout slavery. 

These songs were influenced by African and religious traditions and would later form the basis for what is known as “Negro Spirituals”

Songs were even used in the Underground Railroad to communicate the path to freedom. Songs like Follow the drinking gourd, and people think that Wade in the Water referred to the way Harriet Tubman would take people to freedom. Song is important.

Today’s reading includes a passage (vv. 1-4) that scholars once identified as one of the four so-called “Servant Songs” in the book of Isaiah (along with 49:1-6, which repeats lines from today’s reading; 50:4-11; and 52:13–53:12). Isaiah is written to people in captivity.

Isaiah is talking to the crowd about a conversation he had with God. This crowd is suffering a disaster on two fronts, their homeland has been destroyed, and they are in exile, trying to make due in a foreign land. These people feel like God has abandoned them, and here is a man who has not been successful in trying to talk to them.

The people are  held captive by the Babylonians and away from their homeland. Isaiah spend the first half of the book telling the people how this trouble is their fault, like a true friend should. Hold people accountable for their actions. After Isaiah tells the people how they got themselves into trouble, he tells them how they are going to get out of this tough time for the second half of the book.

605 BCE, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II besieged Jerusalem, which resulted in tribute being paid by the Judean king Jehoiakim.

The people of God decided to stop supporting Nebuchadnezzar and start supporting Egypt.

The fourth year of Nebuchadnezzar II's reign, Jehoiakim refused to pay further tribute, which led to another siege of the city in Nebuchadnezzar II's seventh year (598/597 BCE) that culminated in the death of Jehoiakim and the exile to Babyloniaof his successor Jeconiah, his court, and many others;

Jeremiah and other prophets warned the people but they didn’t listen.

hundreds of miles away from home. Your king is gone. Your temple is in ruins. Jerusalem's walls are destroyed and wild animals roam the streets. Many family members and friends are dead or missing. Everything you hold dear is uprooted. Where is your God?

Although the city of Jerusalem was utterly destroyed, other parts of Judah continued to be inhabited during the period of the exile. Most of the exiled did not return to their homeland, instead traveling westward and northward.

God is going to send them a savior

The savior will bring justice

The people of God where caught between a rock and a hard place Babylon and Egypt, their political situation was tough.

Rolling back rights

Banning water breaks in one of the hottest summers

More concerned about what books are in libraries when we can't keep the air on in the summer or the heat on in the winter.

Isaiah 10:1-2

10 Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, 2 to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.

Isaiah 1:17

17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.

Proverbs 21:15

When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

Deuteronomy 16:20

Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Amos 5:24 

24 But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.

He will not falter

I know you are tired now, but God is going to send you someone who does not get tired. His power doesn't come from some man-made source, that is why it won't fail. Only what you do for God will last.

(Interview with Russell Simmons. Where the DJ could not recall the top 10 songs from last month or year.)

He will take our hand

(Layla and I at the Dickinson Festival of Lights)

The road may get dark and bumpy

1 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 His hand, God’s unchanging hand.

Hold to His hand, God’s unchanging hand.

Build your hopes on things eternal.  Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

2 Trust in Him who will not leave you. Whatsoever years may bring.

If by earthly friends forsaken, Still more closely to Him cling. [Refrain]

3 Covet not this world’s vain riches That so rapidly decay.

Seek to gain the heav’nly treasures. They will never pass away. [Refrain]

4 When your journey is completed, If to God you have been true,

Fair and bright the home in Glory Your enraptured soul will view. [Refrain]

In the Access Business - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr

Romans 5:1-8

5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I am a bit obsessive about access. 

“My door is always open.” That statement sounds like good news to most of us. If an employer, teacher or elected official speaks those words to us with a welcoming smile, it means we enjoy access to that person — that this worthy personage will make time for us, no matter what else may be going on.

That’s the policy many of us operate under as pastors. A few of us publish office hours, but most of us are prepared to make time if the need is urgent. Figuratively speaking, our study doors are always open. A big part of ministry is offering people access to ourselves.

Access is a precious commodity in our world. In Washington, D.C., lobbyists pay big money in the form of campaign contributions to buy access to elected officials. Whenever a former senator or member of the president’s cabinet signs on with one of those lobbying agencies a few blocks from the Capitol, ethical alarms go off. Such a move causes consternation along the banks of the Potomac River. These former officials have recently had extraordinary access to the highest levels of government. It now appears they’re trying to sell that access to the highest bidder.

Access is an issue for members of racial-ethnic minorities trying to move into certain neighborhoods — just as it is for businesswomen seeking access to male-dominated social clubs where so many business deals are cut over power lunches.

People want to have exclusive access to a person, if only for a few moments.

The book of Romans is the apostle Paul's longest letter in the Bible, and Paul wrote this letter before he visited the Roman Church. 

 

Paul was laying the groundwork before he visited because he might have been worried about how the visit would go. Paul wasn't sure the Roman Church would receive him, and he wasn't sure the Roman country would accept him.

 

Paul collected offerings from Gentile churches in Macedonia and Asia, and Paul was worried the Roman church would not take a gift from the Gentiles. This idea is funny because the Romans were oppressing the Jewish-born Christians while the Jewish-born Christians had trouble, including the Gentiles. 

 

This church is also in the city of Rome, Roman leaders did not let their military generals come close to Rome because they feared a potential takeover, yet these people who professed to follow a king of kings lived in their city. The Roman Government was always scared of being overthrown, so much so that their military leaders couldn't come back home with their soldiers because the Government would see that as an attempted takeover. Now you have this group of people living in the city who were not treated warmly. 

 

Paul used the Roman letter to address these issues and many more. First, Paul lets the believers in Rome know that the Gentile Christians and the Jewish Christians are justified by faith, not by some sort of social status. As believers, we are made right in God by faith and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

So now, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith in God's promises, we can have real peace with God because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. Because of our faith, he has brought us into this place of the highest privilege, where we now stand. We confidently and joyfully look forward to becoming all God has in mind for us to be. Paul is showing the people how to connect to something peaceful in the middle of the tests and trials. 

I. A SUMMARY OF JUSTIFICATION (5:1-11): Paul lists five results of divine justification.

A. The believer has peace with God (5:1): This is accomplished through the work done by Jesus

Christ.

Therefore 5:1 is a transition phrase. Paul spent the first four chapters laying the groundwork for what he wanted to say in chapter five. That we are justified by faith.

B. The believer has access to God (5:2): This high privilege brings about great confidence and joy concerning the future.

Christ has removed a barrier so that we can have access to God. The Greek word Paul uses for “access” literally means “having an introduction.” It’s as though we were travelers to a foreign land, carrying with us letters of introduction to the court of the king.

A great many of us already possess such a letter of introduction to a foreign government. That’s what a passport is, literally: a letter of introduction. If you, as a citizen of the United States, open your passport, you’ll read these words on the first page:

“The Secretary of State of the United States of America hereby requests all whom it may concern to permit the citizen/national of the United States named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful aid or protection.”

It’s a letter of introduction. When Paul celebrates “access to grace,” he’s picturing a small scroll, rolled up and bearing the wax seal of a king or governor. You can’t cross the border without a passport; and you can’t experience the grace of God without presenting your “letter of introduction” — your confession of what Christ has done for you.

C. The believer has assurance from God (5:3-4).

1. The fact of this assurance (5:3): It helps us in time of suffering.

2. The fruit of the assurance (5:4): Suffering produces perseverance, which produces character,

which produces hope.

The power of sin is broken.

Being justified by faith makes us at peace with God, gives us hope for the future and power for the present.

Being reconciled means a change in the relationship.

Boast in our sufferings - appreciate the hard work we have done.

D. The believer is indwelt by God (5:5): The Holy Spirit lives in the hearts of believers.

E. The believer is preserved in God (5:6-11): A believer's salvation is secure, guaranteed by:

1. Christ's past work on Calvary's cross (5:6-8)

a. What he did (5:6): He died on the cross for us.

b. Why he did it (5:7-8a): He died because he loves us.

c. When he did it (5:8b): He did it when we were still helpless and hostile sinners.

The God who justified also glorified

Christ died for the ungodly when people rarely even die for the worthy. While we were still in our mess, Christ saw fit to save us. 

What Christ did freely and gladly is a love higher than any human could ever attain. Some people won't give up their place in line or their lunch, and Christ gave up his life. 

Just to be clear: “salvation” describes the future of God’s people in terms of their rescue from a terrible fate; “glorification” in terms of the status they will enjoy; “resurrection” in terms of their new embodiment of the other side of death. 

God has established true peace, so different from the pax Romana, on the foundation of true justice, so different from the Roman Iustitia, and has done so through the Lord Jesus, so different from the lord Caesar. 

When you know that you win in the end, the current situation doesn't seem so bad. 

The grace is unilateral and unconditional, it can’t be bought by conditional methods.

May we all come to learn, day by day, to rely on God’s grace alone. Trusting in God’s promises, may we know ever more fully God’s grace as we have seen it in Jesus Christ. May you realize, in the deepest part of us, that our Lord truly offers access to grace!

The Windcatcher - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Acts 2:1-4

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

A Norwegian company is developing this new system to generate electricity from wind power. Fast Company magazine reports that when it becomes operational next year, "it could deliver five times the annual energy of the world's largest single turbine. That's because the system is three times taller than the average turbine, exposing the blades to higher wind speeds."

They will call it "Windcatcher."

The structure will be large, as tall as the Eiffel Tower.

And it is wide, stretching the length of some of the world's largest cruise ships.

Built as an enormous metal grid, it will contain 126 wind turbines. It will float on a platform anchored to the ocean floor using the same technology the oil and gas industry employs.

Imagine 126 turbines spinning in an enormous grid. The Windcatcher blades will be smaller than those on a typical windmill, enabling them to turn faster. And the position of the grid in deep water will allow it to catch the strongest of winds.

Numbers. Size. Location. Put these elements together, and you have a single structure that will generate enough electricity to run 80,000 European homes.

That's a lot of power.

Windcatcher is still on the drawing boards, so its performance is uncertain. "What happens when a big storm or hurricane hits it?" asks Dave Makichuk of Asia Times. "Would it withstand a hurricane or freak storm or even rough seas? Would these blades chop up sea birds at an alarming rate?"

Such questions still need to be answered. 

The wind is a staple in our lives, we cannot see it, but we feel its effect. We appreciate the wind on a hot summer day when the breeze feels just right. We use the word wind in our daily conversations. When we hear rumors, we say something is blowing in the wind. When we get new information, we say we just got wind of it. When a task is easy, we say it will be a breeze. When someone has too many alcoholic drinks, we say they are three sheets to the wind. The wind is a part of our everyday language, and I assume that is why the author of Acts chose to describe the coming of the Holy Spirit using language about wind. 

The text describes the day of Pentecost. Pentecost = 50 Days after Passover, the Jewish feast of Weeks (a week of weeks). Pentecost was the occasion for celebrating the harvest and particularly for giving thanks to God for graciously bringing forth fruit from the land.  

In Acts 2:1-21, we witness an extraordinary event—the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The disciples gathered in one place and experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit powerfully and visibly. The outpouring of the Spirit is anticipated by John the Baptist (Luke 3:16) and Jesus (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8). 

One of the most remarkable aspects of this event was that the apostles began to speak in different languages, enabling each person to hear the message of God in their native tongue. This miraculous occurrence teaches us a profound lesson: we are called to meet people where they are in life. God broke down language and cultural barriers through the Holy Spirit to ensure His message reached all people's hearts. It reveals the importance of embracing diversity and recognizing that different individuals have unique experiences, backgrounds, and languages.

As followers of Christ, we are commissioned to extend this same love and understanding to those around us. We must seek to understand people's perspectives, their struggles, and their joys. By doing so, we demonstrate the inclusivity and grace that Christ embodied during His earthly ministry. The Gospel transcends boundaries and invites everyone to experience the transformative power of God's love.

This festival would have been a large gathering of Greek-speaking people, but the disciples still spoke in languages other people would understand. Don't look at people speaking in tongues strangely if you are unwilling to talk to your neighbor. 

As the disciples began speaking in various languages, some onlookers misunderstood the situation and accused them of being drunk. In their ignorance and skepticism, they sought to dismiss the profound work of the Holy Spirit. This episode reminds us that there will always be naysayers and haters in our lives—those who misunderstand and ridicule our faith.

We live in a world that often fails to comprehend the ways of God. Just as the onlookers judged the disciples without understanding, so too will people misjudge us for our beliefs and actions. However, let us take courage in the face of opposition, knowing we are not alone. The Spirit of God dwells within us, empowering us to respond with grace and love.

Remember the words of Jesus in John 15:18: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." Jesus Himself experienced rejection, persecution, and hatred. As His followers, we are called to endure and respond to such opposition with steadfast faith, knowing God is with us.

In response to the accusations, the apostle Peter boldly addressed the crowd. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, he fearlessly proclaimed the truth and defended the disciples' actions. Peter, who turned his back on Jesus, is now filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking boldly to the naysayers. Peter, who cussed and ran at the mention of Jesus during the crucifixion, is now out front and center defending him. Peter Quotes Joel 2:28-32

"The story of Pentecost indicates that the coming of the Holy Spirit represents a new order that is manifested as a leveling power that destroys privilege: the Spirit is poured upon "all flesh," sons and daughters, young and old, male and female servants."   

Peter's transformation from a fearful disciple to a courageous preacher demonstrates the profound impact of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The same Holy Spirit that transformed Peter's life is available today. It equips us to speak the truth, proclaim the Gospel boldly, and stand firm in our convictions. We can draw strength from the Spirit dwelling within us when we encounter opposition or challenges. As redeemed individuals, we have a powerful testimony of God's love and grace, which should encourage us to share His message without fear or hesitation.

Peter's defense was not rooted in his abilities or knowledge but in the power of the Holy Spirit working through him. It was through the Spirit that Peter could eloquently and persuasively articulate the truth of Christ's redemption. In Acts 2:14-21, we see Peter quoting the prophet Joel, emphasizing that the pouring out of the Spirit fulfilled God's promise and was a sign of the last days. Peter understood that the Spirit's work was not limited to the present moment but had far-reaching implications for the salvation of all who would call upon the name of the Lord.

This Spirit that swept through the house gifted more than those disciples at Pentecost and those with whom we minister today. That Spirit has been loosed into the world, and its creative and life-giving power is now the gift of families and communities, of churches, and nations. The relevant question becomes not just "How will I respond to these party gifts of the Spirit?" but "How will we respond to these gifts?" 

The climax of Peter's sermon in Acts 2 is the proclamation that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21). This powerful statement encapsulates the universality of salvation through Jesus Christ. It reaffirms the fundamental truth that no other name is given to humanity by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12).

In a world filled with diverse religious beliefs and philosophical systems, the message of Jesus as the only way to salvation may face opposition and criticism. However, let us not waver in our conviction, for the truth remains unchanging. Salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

While exclusive, this truth is also inclusive in its offer. The invitation to call upon the name of the Lord is extended to everyone. Regardless of our past mistakes, social status, or cultural background, Christ's saving grace is available to all who sincerely seek Him. The Holy Spirit empowers us to boldly proclaim this message of hope and redemption, assuring those who hear that they, too, can experience the transformative power of God's love.

The Men and Women of Galilee - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Acts 1:6-14

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in whitestood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Although the first astronauts were all men, crews going into the skies these days often include both men and women. The Space X Crew 5, which launched to the International Space Station on October 6, 2022, consisted of two men and two women, and one of the women was the commander of flight.

It is, of course, a good thing that such opportunities and responsibilities are open to both sexes, but historically speaking, it has taken a long time to get there.

That seems jarringly clear in another “going into the sky” moment. We’re talking about the ascension, when Jesus was taken up through a cloud into the heavens. As those who witnessed this phenomenon stood, dumbstruck, staring into the sky, two heavenly messengers, specifically identified as men, spoke to them saying, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?”

Written by Luke to Theophilus. Luke's narrative is focused on God and connected to history and the community.

The preface closes with a summary statement (vv. 12–14). The community of believers includes both male disciples (only 11 names are given, preparing for Judas' replacement in 1:15–26) and women, with Mary explicitly named alongside the mention of Jesus' brothers.  This reading from Acts goes through verse 14, which plainly states that as the apostles devoted themselves to prayer, they were “together with certain women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.” So, there’s a reasonable likelihood that there were also women disciples who witnessed the ascension.

Assurance from Jesus

The confusion (1:6): 

The apostles want to know if Jesus will establish his kingdom at this time. 

Jesus had spoken of the kingdom and promised the coming of the Spirit, so it is no surprise that his disciples wonder about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel (v. 6) .

The clarification (1:7): 

Jesus tells them that the Father will determine when that occurs. Jesus does not spend a lot of time talking about what is not yet but tells the people to focus on what is right now.

Jesus is concerned about saving more than just Israel. 

While God’s plan of renewal is mediated through Israel (a concern for the apostles, vv. 6–7), it would reach beyond Israel to include those who had been disenfranchised from Israel’s commonwealth, the Gentiles. Hence, the reign of God for Luke would also challenge the claims of Israel regarding its exclusive rights and position within God’s plan. For this reason, the inclusion of the Gentiles in the “new” people of God is an overarching concern of Acts.24

24 A cursory reading of Acts indicates that the early “Christian” communities encountered “integration” problems, which were a major concern of Acts (8:26–15:35). Nevertheless, integration into the new “Christian” community links conversion with integration into the new community, which has to do with the creation of a new social entity—the unity of Jew and Gentile into one people of God through Jesus Christ (Liew, “Acts,” 420–21). 

The commission (1:8): 

Meanwhile, they are to witness for Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea. How do we live as Disciples of a now departed Jesus? - Don't Worry, Watch, Wait, and Pray

Ascension of Jesus

Faith is about waiting sometimes, others it’s about action.

Discipleship is about an active witness more than a personal relationship.

Receive power = closest English word compared to dynamite. 

The Holy Spirit gives them power to be witnesses, this is functional as well as spiritual. 

Verse 14 they all joined together constantly in prayer - Prayer is an active practice. Jesus tells them not to leave Jerusalem yet. - Pray a little longer. Jesus decided I am going to work from home.

Isaiah 40:28-31 King James Version (KJV)

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.

Pray

Now is the time to be praying, praying more than ever. 

Philippians 4:6-7 New King James Version (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.

Know that the same way you saw Jesus leave is the same way you are going to see him return in the meantime, don’t worry, watch the right things, wait on the Lord, and pray. 

Whose Time is it Anyway? - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. 16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

My mother was particular about time; she set all her clocks somewhere between 12 and 18 minutes ahead. We used to get text message reminders when we were supposed to "spring ahead" for daylight savings. She detested being late; she was a stickler for time, and my mother was also different about timing. I compared my mother to the stories of Eagles. Eagles are rumored to push their offspring out of the nest to start flying before they may think they are ready. The parent eagle knows when it is time, even when the baby eagle has gotten comfortable. We have moved houses, changed careers, started businesses, got married, had children, and done many things before I could check all the boxes I wanted to check first. My mother's favorite phrase was God will work it out. Be on time and be in God's time. 

Knowing the time is critically important in our fast-paced society. Fortunately, we seldom need to ask, "What time is it?" The current time is right there in the corner of our laptops, at the top of our tablets, or on the face of our smartwatches, accurate to the second, courtesy of the internet. If we're in the car, we can find the time glowing at us digitally on the dash somewhere.

We generally are aware of time and our need-to-know what time it is. We need to get to work on time. We need to catch a flight and be on time. We need to arrive early for our daughter's ballet performance in The Nutcracker. The office won't wait for us; the plane won't wait for us; the performance will not be delayed until we arrive.

We use a variety of devices to ensure we're on time. We have pop-up reminders on our laptops, tablets, and smartphones. We maintain online calendars — probably several — to manage appointments, travel plans, and school events. We may even buy a book or two to help us manage our time more efficiently. All of this happens because we assume, and to some extent correctly, that our time is ours alone to manage. If we mismanage it, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Psalm 31 is a text about time. The Psalms are a collection of prayers, songs, liturgies, and poems. David is credited as the author of Psalm 31; he is going through a rough time. 

David seeks deliverance.

David urgently and prayerfully pours out his heart to God. He entrusts his very being to him, relying on the divine presence to rescue him from his vicious, plotting enemies and to continue to keep him safe. One scholar says that Psalm 31 doesn't follow a logical or literary order. I can relate to that; when you are at your wit's end, sometimes you are not as eloquent as you would like. Sometimes your subject and verb don't agree; sometimes, you won't have perfect grammar and syntax. Sometimes when you need help, you can't turn into an award-winning author; you just know to call on someone for help. I need somebody to come save me, and I need them to save me now!

David Suffers Despair

David prayerfully acknowledges his pain to the Lord. He is facing persecution and multiple death threats. His enemies, although unspecified, are real, and they cause him severe distress. They are among those "who pay regard to worthless idols" (v. 6). Because of them, he faces affliction (v. 7). David lays all his hurt out before God in his lament in verses 9-13. He cries out, "Have mercy on me" (many translations of v. 9) because of his extreme distress (the Hebrew word means dire straits — a difficult narrowing situation), which has constricted him physically and emotionally. He speaks of his sorrow, sighing, misery, and wasting away. Not only that, but his adversaries scorn him, and even his neighbors turn away from him in alarm when he needs them the most. He's afraid that people will forget him. Many folks use whispering campaigns to plot against David (see also v. 20).

David Shows Dedication

David is not speaking about the length of his life but about what will be happening in his life, which depends largely on God. "My times" (NRSV, NIV, NASB, KJV) is translated as "my destiny" (NET, NAB), "my future" (NLT, CEB), "my fate" (Tanakh), and "every moment of my life" (NJB). David trustingly places his precarious life (due to his persecuting enemies and snubbing acquaintances) in God's trustworthy, providential care.

In acknowledging that his life and times were in the hands of God, David seems to have arrived at a conclusion ahead of his time. Perhaps, he wished he had come to this conclusion more quickly, but it was quick enough. Maybe even more than quick enough — he was ahead of most of his contemporaries. There is one God, and David put his trust in his God, and it was this trust that gave him peace.

Isn't this where we want to be? Ahead of time. Early and eager. Ready and steady. Living life to the fullest.

But in the hands of God. The Psalmist knows he can turn to God for help because God has helped him before; if he did it before, he can do it again! David says, "Into your hand, I commit my spirit." (Psalm 31:5). "I'm putting everything I have in this rocky refuge. My times are in your hand. My past and my future, not to mention my present." 

David says that in this time of trouble, I trust God fully!

David's words in verse 15a, "My times are in your hand," mean essentially the same thing as his words in verse 5a. Steadfast love.

"All hands on deck," from the traditional nautical command for every sailor to report for duty, refers to the necessity of everyone involved to lend a hand or assist.

To take someone by the hand is to lead or nurture them

To bite the hand that feeds you is to be hostile to someone who has been kind to you.

To have your hands full is to be busy

To know something firsthand is to be directly familiar with the facts

To hand something off is to pass it along to someone else

To force someone's hand is to compel them to act prematurely or involuntarily

To gain the upper hand is to obtain control

To get your hands dirty

You can catch these hands

Because of David's confidence in God, he can declare, "Into your hand, I commit my spirit" (v. 5a). Christian people will readily remember Jesus' final, dying words spoken on the cross: "Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.' Having said this, he breathed his last." (Luke 23:46). The deacon-martyr Stephen's last words are similar: "While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'" (Acts 7:59). Even though David himself was not dying, he was nevertheless trusting God in the midst of mortal danger. NET and similarly, Tanakh translates his words in verse 5a as "Into your hand I entrust my life." David relies primarily on the Lord, not on himself, even though he is a strong, skilled, and shrewd warrior and leader.

Luke 24:46

46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

all in his hands, I put it all in his hands

all in his hands, I put it all in his hands

All of my burdens, problems, if I have a question

I put it all, yes I put it all, I put it all in his hands

Drive:

Whatever the problem, I put it all in his hands

I know that he can solve them; I put it all in his hands

This, this, this, and that repeat 3x

I put it all in his hands. He can handle it, that's a fact, I put it all in his hands

No matter how great or small, he's the master of them all

I put it all, yes I put it all, I put it all in his hands.

The concluding verse of Psalm 31 reads: "Be strong [you faithful followers of the Lord — v. 23] and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord" (v. 24)

Well-Known Christians - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Luke 24:13-35

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

There are some Well Known Christians

Mother Teresa - A Catholic nun and missionary who dedicated her life to serving the poor and sick in India.

Martin Luther - A German theologian who is credited with initiating the Protestant Reformation.

Billy Graham - An American evangelist who preached to millions of people around the world and is considered one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th century.

C.S. Lewis - A British author and theologian who wrote many books, including "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Mere Christianity."

Pope Francis - The current leader of the Catholic Church and one of the most prominent religious figures in the world today.

Rick Warren - An American pastor and author who founded Saddleback Church and wrote the best-selling book "The Purpose Driven Life."

John Wesley - An 18th-century English preacher and theologian who founded the Methodist movement.

There are local names as well, in this area if we were to call names like Hobbs, Veasey, Warren, Winfield, and Pierson, that would mean something to the members of this church. Some people are famous some are not, but we join the scriptures looking at 2 people on a walk to Emmaus and they run into the most famous person in Christianity of all, but they don't recognize him. 

The Walk to Emmaus is only in the Gospel of Luke a walk by Cleopas and another unnamed disciple. 

Jesus meets some of his followers as they are on the way to a small village from Jerusalem. It’s not a short walk, so it wasn’t a short talk, as you’ll see in the text.  Jerusalem is anywhere from 7 miles to 20 miles away from Emmaus. The passage begins with two people who had been among the disciples who were looking for Jesus at the empty tomb. We don’t know why they are going to Emmaus, perhaps it was their hometown? The movement toward Emmaus is probably not as significant as the movement from Jerusalem.

A. The reunion with Jesus (24:13-16): These two believers are joined by the Savior.

1. Their discussion (23:13-14): They are talking about the Crucifixion.

2. Their darkness (24:15-16): Neither disciple recognizes the stranger who joins them. (Out of Context)

B. The request from Jesus (24:17): He asks why they are so sad.

C. The reply to Jesus (24:18-24)

1. They tell him their problem (24:18-21): The Crucifixion has dashed their hopes that perhaps Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the Messiah!

2. They tell him their puzzle (24:22-24): Some women found his tomb empty and were told by two angels that he has risen!

D. The rebuke by Jesus (24:25-27)

1. Their ignorance of the Scriptures (24:25): He says they have forgotten the prophecies concerning his death and resurrection.

Luke leaves us wondering but it’s possible that Jesus reminded them of passages like Deut. 18:18 that says 

“I will raise up for them a prophet, like you among your people, I will put my own words in the mouth of the prophet who shall speak to them everything that I command.”

Or he might have reminded them of Isaiah 53:13-14 that reads: See my servant shall be exalted and lifted up…. And many were astonished at him…

Or Isaiah 53 that reminds us that he poured out himself to death, was numbered among the transgressors yet bore the sin of many….

2. His interpretation of the Scriptures (24:26-27): He now reviews for them all the Old Testament passages which speak of him.

E. The recognition of Jesus (24:28-35)

1. The meal (24:28-31a)

a. The invitation (24:28-29): The two disciples invite Jesus to join them for a meal.

b. The revelation (24:30-31a): After he prays, Jesus distributes the bread. At that moment they recognize him!

We can find Jesus in places all the time and not recognize him. 

Jesus lives and abides with us and can be found in us… but not just us… the churches is not an exclusive club. No, Jesus meets us where we are…. Sometimes in the most unexpected ways… …sometimes in the most unexpected people… sometimes out context…

2. The miracle (24:31b): He suddenly disappears out of sight!

3. The meditation (24:32): They reflect, "Didn't our hearts feel strangely warm as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"

4. The mission (24:33-35): The two disciples now return to Jerusalem and report all this to the apostles!

The Toughest Commandment - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Matthew 28:1-10

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

As I grow older, I stay in touch with the fact that I must face some tough decisions. Challenging because I understand that regardless of my emotional state, I must see the situation through. That means I have made big choices in my life, even though I was scared out of my mind doing them. Deciding to go to college in Texas, purchase a house, start a business, get married, and have children are all scary things on the surface, but I went forward with them, and my life is better for me taking that leap of faith. 

We all will have to face significant life decisions if we have not already. Friends and colleagues have moved across state lines to take new jobs. I know people who decided to go back to school, to get married, to get married a second time, people who were faced with major medical decisions, to have surgery, or to take a loved one off life support. Some have decided to go to therapy or go back to therapy.

Some people got the courage to speak up to their boss or apartment complex manager about unfair treatment; there are people I know who walked away from well-paying jobs to pursue a passion or calling, people who are learning to live without their spouse or parent because of an untimely death. Some people chose to run for public office or take a dangerous job in public safety, like a police officer or firefighter. No matter the circumstances, life is full of making tough decisions and making some decisions when we are scared.

We come across some people facing tough choices while they are scared in scripture today. We join the text on the morning of Christ's resurrection, looking at the two Marys. 

Obligatory PSA

-Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute

-The women preached the first Easter Sermon 

Neither Mark nor Luke, nor John mentions the earthquake; in their narratives, already the stone has been rolled away before anyone arrives at the tomb (cf. Mark 16:4; Luke 24:2; John 20:1)

The two Mary's went to the tomb after the Sabbath.

- Their routine has been interrupted by an event that changed the world

Do not be afraid is a common command in scripture, but it is easier said than done. 

Fear is replaced by a promise.

In Matthew, the women are not only the first witnesses of the empty tomb, but they also receive the first appearance of the risen Christ. 

When you step out, Jesus will meet you where you are. The two Marys followed a challenging commandment and got to see Jesus before they finished; they were willing to take the first few steps and saw a risen savior before they had even finished following the command. Miracles come with instructions, and the instructions are not for God; they are for us to understand and appreciate what is going on.

The stone is rolled away so that the people can look in. Seeing the empty tomb is a step that helps the disciples understand what has happened. Seeing a risen savior without an empty tomb leaves room for alternative explanations, such as they imagined it. The empty tomb gives a way for a concrete understanding.

We have trouble with "Fear Not" because we are afraid of so much. We fear the deaths of loved ones, serious illnesses, not having enough money for retirement, business failures, climate change, mass shootings, terrorism, and criminal activity. We see so many threats to our well-being that we can hardly believe it when we hear, "Fear not!"

But the words that the angel spoke to the women on Easter morning are also meant for us. "Do not be afraid," he said. "I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said" (Matthew 28:5-6). The very worst thing that could happen — the death of God's Son on the cross — has now been overcome by the resurrection. Darkness has been replaced by light, and death has been replaced by new life.

"Then go quickly and tell his disciples," said the angel. "'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him'" (v. 7). The angel's promise is that Jesus is going ahead of us, always ahead of us. We do not need to fear the future because Jesus is in it. He calls us forward and promises to meet us in what lies ahead.

"Fear not!" because we have a risen Lord who has overcome anything that can hurt or destroy us. Because Jesus has been raised, we do not have to be afraid.

I serve a risen Savior; He's in the world today 

I know that He is living, whatever men may say 

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer 

And just the time I need Him He's always near

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! 

He walks with me and talks with me 

Along life's narrow way 

He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart! 

You ask me how I know He lives? 

He lives within my heart