A New Name (sermon notes from last Sunday morning)

I always have to start with something funny…
This is for you moms…
From a mom’s perspective…
I'd had a pretty hectic day with my four-year-old. When bed-time finally came, I laid down the law: "We're putting on your p.j.s, brushing your teeth, and reading ONE book. Then it's lights out!" Her arms went around my neck in a gentle embrace, and she said, "We learned in Sunday school about little boys and girls who don't have mommies and daddies." Even after I'd been such a grouch, I thought, she was still grateful to have me. I felt tears begin to well up in my eyes, and then she whispered, "Maybe you could go be THEIR mom?"

Today I’m beginning a new VISION sermon series…
Please visit the Vision Bulletin Board in the foyer…
The LORD stopped whispering and MEGAPHONED me some clear marching orders…
First of all, I truly believe God is giving us A NEW NAME!

How fitting that we would discuss such things on Mom’s day…
Mother’s do you remember agonizing, researching, praying, getting counsel on what you would name your children…?
I believe it was the Holy Spirit’s prompting on Holly’s heart when she said she was considering the name: Nathaniel which means: Gift of God…and what a beautiful gift He is!

Find Isaiah 62
Zion's New Name
1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.
2 The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
3 You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married.
(we’ll come back to those two words)
5 As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest,
7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.
8 The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: "Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled;
9 but those who harvest it will eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather the grapes will drink it in the courts of my sanctuary."
10 Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations.
11 The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.' "
12 They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.

Hephzibah: Meaning: my delight is in her… A symbolical name of Zion, as representing the Lord's favor
1. A New Name representing delight and favor!

No Matter Where you’ve been…No Matter What You’ve Done…You Can Begin Again!
New Beginnings Christian Center conveys the delight and favor of a Loving Merciful God toward His People...
I feel it is important and the will of God to send a clear msg to our community and within these walls that the Assembly of God in Rogue River is a place of NEW BEGINNINGS!

Methods change But the Message remains the same
Ministries Begin and End But The Church will Never die

Matthew 16:18…Jesus said… I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.
Philippians 3… 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

James Pike penned…Time to get serious...For years we've struggled in the church that our goals we might attain, We've fought with tooth and nail against the enemy, our position to maintain. But the day of Christ's appearing now is drawing near, And something is happening in the church that makes the demons fear. For long they have oppressed us and held God's people back, But now they see the church is gathering to launch a last attack. Desperate times call for desperate measures and now the church is on its knees, Seeking the Lord for help, and God is pleased with what He sees. No longer are His people playing church and acting like spoiled children and wayward fools, They finally got THE MANUEL down and learned to play by God's Own rules. (II Chron.7:14)They have humbled themselves to bow in prayer, they have turned to seek God's face and leave their wicked ways, And this attitude of seeking God has numbered satan's days. Soon we will enter an era when God's Spirit moves with unexpected POWER, And all our hopes and prayers will be realized in the passing of an hour. From each believer God now demands a resolve that will not tire, To lay ourselves upon the altar to be cleansed by His all consuming fire. Then will we be filled with POWER from above, To reveal to this world, as never before, His HOLINESS and LOVE. My brothers and sisters, now seek God that He will reveal to you the secrets of your heart, Allow Him to purge you from within and give you a new start. Let go the sins of pride and unbelief which brought Lucifer's demise, As you see yourself revealed as seen through JEHOVAH'S eyes.Now is the day of salvation. Now do all that you will do,Get serious with God, and He'll get serious with you.

Getting serious with God is very simple, The work of finding His delight and favor has already been done at the cross, it’s simply bowing before the maker and expressing Need for His intervention in all things…
Three words that change a life forever that bring a new beginning everyday
I NEED JESUS

God takes a Name very seriously that’s why He includes misusing His name in the Ten Commandments…
Ezekiel 39:7...I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the LORD am the Holy One in Israel.
And Jesus said John 17:11...I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.

A name is holy, A name is power
1. A new name of delight and favor
2. A new name of holiness and power

Let’s go back to that 2nd word that sticks out in Isaiah 62
bu'-la which means "married"
A name symbolically applied to Israel: "Thy land (shall be called) Beulah .... thy land shall be married. .... so shall thy sons marry thee" (Isaiah 62:4). In this figure, frequently used since Hosea, the prophet wishes to express the future prosperity of Israel. The land once desolate shall again be populated.

I don’t know If that stuck out to you the way it did me?
THE LAND ONCE DESOLATE SHALL AGAIN BE POPULATED!
I’m the first one to say it’s not about the numbers...
And to quickly challenge dissatisfaction with the contentment of Christ…to focus on what real success is…
But if you’re not growing you’re dying...

If the love of Jesus is not a contagion in the Christian Life causing an Inviter’s lifestyle infecting the world with the light of the gospel, salt, light, city on a hill…than something might be wrong…

Turn with me to Genesis 32
Jacob Wrestles With God
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
27 The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered.
28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon.

Did you hear it?
If you aint feelin it yet, your feeler plumb broke!
Somebody shout…OVERCOME

So…3. A new name representing Growth and an Overcoming spirit
Delight favor power holiness growth overcoming
My blood’s beginning to boil
My cups startin to overflow
Listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit
If you focus hard enough, maybe get quiet enough it will sound like a megaphone

What Satan fears most Is a man on his knees; Not vast marching armies With great weaponry.
He knows he can stand Against the power of men; To engage us in battle Is mere sport to him. But a man on his knees With his head bowed in prayer Is something quite different To the prince of the air. For when he sees us in prayer To our God most high, He knows we have seen Through his devilish lies. That's why Satan fears most A man on his knees; And we'll keep him trembling If our prayers never cease.

Please understand we are not leaving the Assemblies of God.
We will be the Assembly of God in Rogue River named New Beginnings Christian Center.
You may notice at the Vision Board the simple logo representing an OPEN CIRCLE OF LOVE...
I'm excited about the words 'Christian Center' because of all that the word Christian is supposed to represent...It's all about JESUS

Helen Parks wrote…JESUS
My Lord and my God, my Savior, my King-My Master, my Friend, my Everything!My Creator, my Healer, My Supplier of need-My Guide - through the trails of my wilderness, lead!My Sharer of sorrow when the hot tears start;My Comforter dear, mending my broken heart!My Messenger of peace in life's turbulent stream-My Source of such joy as I can't even dream!My Giver of everything perfect and good-You would heap more upon me, if let Thee I would.My Hearer of prayers, both great and small;No cry is too faint-You hear them all!My Rock of salvation, my Foundation sure;My Pavilion to hide in-My Fortress secure!My very strong Tower into which I may run;My wall of Defense while battle is done!My Hedge about me when Satan's on prowl,My Door to the sheep-fold when ravening wolves howl;My Destroyer of all my enemies' best plans-My Deliverer of my enemies into my own hands!My Judge, my Advocate, my Covenant, my Priest;My Sacrifice, the Blood of my Lamb not least!My Bread of Life-Thy words so sweet;My total sustenance-my Water, my Meat!My Lily of the Valley-of Sharon my rose,The perfume of Heaven on my way bestows;My Pearl of great price, Heaven's jewel most rare-The bright and morning Star, mine to share!My Road-map, my Letter from Heaven, my Light;My Voice of Almighty God-my Song in the night!My Name Above All Names, on which I may call;My Knowledge, my Wisdom-my All-in-All!My Ark of safety-great Gift of God's love;My Holy Spirit baptizer, my Fire from aboveSent to burn out the dross, refine silver and gold-That I may inherit Heaven with the holy men of old!My Alpha, my Omega-my Beginning, my End;Answer to all my problems-To all yours, too, my friend!My Truth, my Life, my Way is He-Won't you come along with me?

Hear it again and for the first time…
No Matter Where you’ve been
No Matter what you’ve done
You can begin again
Come to Jesus

Some of the changes coming are difficult...
This letter was sent in the mail this week:
Dear Friends of CLS,

It is with great sadness we inform you that the 2008-2009 school year will be Christian Life School’s final year. Due to the financial difficulties of our country, the resources are simply unavailable. CLS has been struggling for many years to meet the expectations that come with being a “private school.” This ministry cannot survive the current economic tide.

We wish to express our deep thanks to those who have sacrificed so much for CLS over its 30 years of ministry, especially to the incredible efforts of Mary Schaefer. Much agonizing prayer has brought us to this decision. We believe it is an act of wisdom not fear.

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
~Romans 8:15

We hope to end this ministry very well. We wish to celebrate the 30 years CLS has been used of God to create Christian leaders. Its fruits will be seen for years to come. Please invite all friends of CLS past and present to attend our final Award Ceremony Tuesday, June 9th at 7pm.

With Love,
Rogue River Assembly of God Board

There are some that are making this change about the divisions between the school and the church, but those are secondary issues, the #1 issue is the ECONOMY...
Matthew 12:25...Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

The Lord put this song on my heart to close the service...
MY LIFE IS IN YOUR HAND
By Kirk Franklin, From album God's Property
You don’t have to worry and don't have to be afraid Joy comes in the morning, troubles they don't last always For there's a friend named Jesus, who will wipe your tears away, And if your heart is broken just lift your hands and say,
Oh! I know that I can make it. I know that I can stand. No matter what may come my way, My life is in your hands.
So when your test and trials, they seem to get you down.
And all your friends and loved ones are nowhere to be found.
Remember there¹s a friend named Jesus who will wipe your tears away.
And if your heart is broken just lift your hands and say,
With Jesus I can take it, with him I know I can stand.
No matter what may come my way, My life is in your hands. ----