Great Stories Collated by Rev. E. Anderson

September 8, 2007 at 12:45 am (Great Stories)

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Rev. E. Anderson

THE TABLECOTH 

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc., and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church.

His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home.

On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church. By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus.. She missed it.

The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet.. “Pastor,” she asked, “where did you get that tablecloth?” The pastor explained.

The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria. The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth.

The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again. The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do.. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great.At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn’t leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison.. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman’s apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid Who says God does work in mysterious ways..I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today, to guide you and protect you as you go along your way. His love is always with you, His promises are true, and when we give Him all our cares you know He will see us through. So when the road you’re traveling on seems difficult at best.. Just remember I’m here praying and God will do the rest.

Pass this on to those you want God to bless and don’t forget to send it back to the one who asked God to bless you first. When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need. Take 60 seconds and give this a shot! All you do is simply say the following small prayer for the person who sent you this. Father, God, bless all my friends and family in what ever it is that You know they may be needing this day! May their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.

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Sermon Starters presented by Rev. E. Anderson

September 8, 2007 at 12:40 am (Sermon Starters)

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Rev. E. Anderson

This is but a sermon starter to get you thinking and studying in relation to the text and theme. Trust it will be provocative and promotive. 

THE UNDERSTANDING LORD 

Hebrews 2: 14-118; 4: 14-16

DIVINE VOCATION: In the Old covenant there was established the vocation of an high priest. Aaron was the first and his successors had to come from the Levitical order. Tremendous duties and responsibilities had to be fulfilled by the high priest on behalf of God. He had to understand from both angles, from the God-ward and man-ward positions. He was to act as a mediator between the two. In the book of Hebrews we are told a greater and higher priesthood as been established and Jesus Christ has been appointed and anointed to exercise this role – 4:14; 7. DIVINE QUALIFICATION: Jesus Christ has not only been ordained the great High Priest for all mankind, He has won and earned the right to occupy this role by the knowledge of who He is and by what He has done – Hebrews 1:3. In every way He qualifies to act on behalf of God and man by reason of the fact of His person, nature and in His personal accomplishments for both. It is stated quite categorically in 1Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” DIVINE APPRECIATION: From the readings it is possible to derive the knowledge that Jesus Christ has a full appreciation and value of that which has been bestowed on Him. There is no inadequacy on His part. He is intelligently aware of the demands of this task and is able to function without difficulty in it. He is called the ‘great High Priest’ because He stands out as the one who has complete understanding, unction and ability to perform the calling. His understanding comes out within it and reveals His Lordship within it.  

       1/.  HE REALLY UNDERSTANDS BECAUSE HE BECAME MAN – 2:14,16 

The great mystery and miracle is that Jesus Christ the Son of God and an equal within the Godhead became man. He was willing to surrender His divine form to take on human form to get inside and alongside man to be aware what really makes a man tick – Philippians 2:6,7. He started life as a babe and knew childhood etc., fully identifying with the process and program of human existence. The incarnation is the simple but true pronouncement that God became man. 

       2/. HE TRULY UNDERSTANDS BECAUSE HE HAS FACED HUMAN TRIALS – 2:18; 4:15 

We are told that Jesus Christ suffered trials and temptations from all angles and so knows what man has to cope and deal with. Whilst He was here it was essential that He be put through a very intensive program of difficulties to test His nature and capabilities. He was put under enormous pressures to find out His moral and spiritual strength and stamina and He did not fail. He neither failed God or man with regard to the sin issue. He was without sin. He could even affirm it Himself – John 8:46. Of all men He stands unique in this matter and appears as worthy representative for God and man. 

       3/. HE VERILY UNDERSTANDS BECAUSE HE KNOWS MAN COMPLETELY – JOHN 2:25 

He not only knows what makes man tick, He knows what is in every man. No one escapes His gaze or comprehension. Of all persons, He is the One that has a perfect assessment of every individual and He exists to act on the behalf of all. He is not hardened by what He sees and knows with regard to the weaknesses and infirmities of the people that require His ministry. In fact, He is switched on sympathetically to the persons. Whilst not necessarily in accord with them, he is present in order to supply in some factors deliverance and in trials succour and support. Christ is all heart and not hardness. 

       4/. HE WHOLLY UNDERSTANDS BECAUSE HE HAS ALREADY MINISTERED AND DOES MINISTER INTO THE NEEDS OF MANKIND – 2:18; 4:16 

His earthly ministry adequately proves and shows how He freely and graciously worked to act as a pure and true go-between God and man. Ordinary people could come and find a listening ear, a loving heart and an appropriate word into their situations. See the prophetic word in relation to Him ; Isaiah 50:4,5;42;3. He never turned anyone aside or put them off but was always ready to respond and act divinely on their account. See His gracious treatment of Peter in prayer and restoration – Luke 22: John 21.  

       5/. HE CERTAINLY UNDERSTANDS HENCE HIS ACCEPTANCE OF THE CALLING 

In no way would Jesus Christ accept this particular vocation and calling if He was not up to it and if He did have genuine feeling for both God and man. It is because He understands that He fully takes on the whole work and knows that all will benefit and be blessed. There is no way that He will opt out of what is now eternally is and all of Christendom is yet to see functioning in this role with greater effect. There is to be greater demonstrations and unfoldings of His mercy, grace, faithfulness and succouring and all are to enjoy Him and His ministry.The One who is the High Priest is the Lord. Because of His supreme majesty He is able to carry this through into His priestly office and ministry. He has authority to forgive sin, to reconcile to God, to initiate the favour of God, to effect access into God’s presence etc. He is present with us to express His understanding and we need to understand that He does understand. We can rest and enjoy the full blessedness of His present role as our divine Mediator. 

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