Sunday Morning Series - Hope That Does Not Waver - Misdirected Hope

Text: Mark 4:35-41

When the evening came, Jesus instructed the disciples to pass over to the other side of the Sea. So, they sent away the multitudes, joined Him in the ship, and set sail. The wind whips up the sea, and they find themselves in a life and death situation.

Jesus is in the back of the boat, asleep on a pillow. Some of them are fisherman by profession, so they do what they know to do: they start bailing. Finally, they realize they're losing the battle. Water is coming into the ship faster than they can get it out.

Their hope was to cross to the other side. They had a word, a command, from Jesus Himself. When all their efforts end in failure, they begin to ask questions. They wake up Jesus. "Master, don't you care that we perish?" Questions contrary to the Word give rise to answers that can misdirect our hope.

They probably wondered why Jesus didn't get up and help them bail. Maybe some questioned the wisdom of leaving at that particular time.

The boat in this story represents the church, while the sea represents the world. They were in the world but not of it. If we get on a boat, we'd better be prepared to get wet. We're told in Scripture that in the world we'll have tribulation. Relationships will experience problems. You'll buy a house, and have goofy neighbors. It doesn't mean you missed it or did anything wrong. Don't lose heart. Jesus has said He's overcome the world.

When they woke up Jesus, He immediately took charge. No he didn't pick up a bucket and begin to bail or organize them into teams. He rebuked the wind and commanded the sea to calm down. He then asked the disciples a couple of choice questions. "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

A wrong or misdirected hope will empty you of faith and fill you with fear. When our focus is on our problems, it's easy to think Jesus doesn't care. They had not lost faith in Jesus, but fear stopped them from moving out in faith.

We tend to look at our works and measure our storms by them. Instead, we should look at our storms and measure our faith by them. How many times have we questioned why storms come into our lives? I do so much for God and try to live according to His ways? Storms come to try to defeat your faith. Godly hope is fulfilled by faith; worldly hope is fulfilled by works. We are delivered by our faith, not our works.

Works is bailing out the water. Faith is rebuking the wind and calming the sea from the side of the boat. Instead of relying on your own efforts to solve the problem, use your faith to stop the storm in your life.

To here the entire message, check out our website Sermon Player. You can download it to your MP3 player, your computer, or podcast it.

If you're visiting or live in the area, you're welcome to worship with us. Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd., Warrington, PA. Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:00 A.M.

Announcements

Zoe has a Book Club that meets on the last Sunday of each month. If you have questions, see Jim, Ray, or Candy.

Did You Know?

If you go to the website sermon player or click on the link from the Facebook posting, you can listen, download, or podcast over three years worth of church services. THERE IS EVEN A FEATURE SO YOU CAN EMAIL A LINK to a friend. It's almost like giving a CD or tape away, but you don't have to purchase anything!

Quotable Quote

"Unbelief demands material evidence rather than faith." - Ray McCauley

This Week at Zoe

On Wednesday, May 26, 2010, at 7:30 P.M., Pastor Steve will continue teaching on the Parables of Jesus. He'll be covering the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22.

Sunday Morning Series - Hope That Does Not Waver - Expectation Not Desperation

Text: John 4:46-54

What we believe is made up of what we:

1) Hear

2) Read in the Word

3) See around us

4) Can imagine based on what we hear, read and see.

These form the basis for our future actions and are what we have hope for, faith for, and expectation.

In our text the nobleman comes to Jesus and asks Him to come heal his son. He traveled 25 miles and expected Jesus to come home with him. Instead, Jesus makes a remark about how people want a sign. The nobleman didn't give up and again requests Jesus to heal his son. Jesus tells him to go his way. His son is healed. The father returns home based on Jesus' words.

Originally, he came to Jesus out of desperation. Jesus doesn't respond to desperation. While he started out of desperation, he graduated to faith by obeying Jesus' word. He'd had a plan in his mind that didn't work out, but he was open to the Lord's way of doing things.

To hear this message in its entirety, please check out the Sermon Player on our website. If you're in our area, we invite you to worship with us. We're located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Rte. 611), Warrington, PA. The church telephone number is (215) 343-7686.

Quotable Quotes

"Faith does not deny fact; it changes it.." (Benny Hinn)

This Week at Zoe

On Wednesday 5/19/2010 at 7:30 p.m. Pastor Steve will be resuming the teaching on the Parables of Jesus. He'll cover "the Other Barren Fig Tree from Matthew 20 and Mark 11.

Sunday Morning Series-Hope That Does Not Waver-Generating Expectation

Text : Mark 5: 21-43

In the Story, Jairus, a ruler of the Synagogue, asks Jesus to come and lay hands on his dying daughter so she will be healed and live. He has high hope that Jesus can heal but little expectation that Jesus will come. Jesus' agreement to come suddenly raises his expectation.

Along the way the Woman with the issue of blood finds her way to Jesus, touches the hem of his garment, and receives her healing. She had a serious problem and had spent much time and money on solutions that did not work.

She heard of Jesus. Learned about him and his powers, and developed a plan for her healing that could not fail. It could not fail for it relied on nothing except her action to come about. Her hope was to touch the hem of his garment. Her faith was that when she did so she would be made whole. Her expectation was complete healing.

As these proceedings play out Jairus receives word that his daughter has died. Jesus says to him,"Do not be afraid; only believe."

Fear is a Faith expectation killer. Fear expects bad things. Faith expects good things.

Hope is created, Faith is demonstrated and Expectation is generated.

For the entire message, checkout the Sermon Player on our website at www.zoe-ministries.org.
If you are in the area and would like to have a first hand experience with us, we are located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Rte. 611), Warrington, Pa. The church telephone number is (215) 343-7686.

Mark Your Calendar

The Ladies' Brunch will be held on Saturday, May 22, 2010, at 10:00 A.M. in the Children's Church area. Please bring a breakfast item and your Bible. See Phyllis or Connie if you have any questions.

The Zoe Book Club meets on the last Sunday of the month. If you'd like more information, see Jim, Ray, or Candy.

Men's Breakfast

The Men's Breakfast will be held in the Children's Church area on 5/15/10, at 8:00 A.M. Please bring a breakfast item and invite a friend.

Quotable Quotes

"Youth fades, love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; a mother's secret hope outlives them all." - Oliver Wendell Holmes (1775-1817)

This Week at Zoe

On Wednesday, 5/12/10, at 6:30 P.M., the leadership will meet for prayer. At 7:30 P.M., we'll have all church prayer. We expect to finish around 8:45 P.M. Come out and pray for your family, your church, your community, and your nation.

Sunday Morning Series - Hope That Does Not Waver - Where Does Our Hope Come From?

Text: John 5:1-9, Mark 10:46-52

In the story of the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda, we note several things. He hopes to be the first one into the pool when the angel stirs the waters, but he didn't have anyone to help him. His faith was in having someone put him in the pool. After a long time of not receiving what we hope for, our expectations of it diminishes.

Jesus comes along and alters his hope to one that has no disappointment with it. Jesus bypassed the pool and healed him in an unexpected way.

On the other hand, Blind Bartimaeus had lots of faith but little hope of getting an audience with Jesus. With little hope that it will happen, he continues to beg. Hearing that Jesus is nearby, he cries out. Jesus is attracted by faith and has Bartimaeus brought to him. The man casts aside his beggar garment, essentially his meal ticket, and comes to Jesus. When questioned what he wants, he doesn't give excuses or a story. He tells Jesus he wants to receive his sight.

How can we keep both our hope and expectation levels high? Knowing what Christ did on the cross, can give us a boost (Isaiah 53:5). Believing what the Word says about healing (Psalms 107:20, Matthew 8:8, Luke 4:36) will help get us on the right track. The scripture also tells us we can call for the elders of the church, be anointed with oil, and the prayer of faith will bring healing (James 5:14-15, Matthew 9:35). In other parts of the New Testament, people were healed when Peter's shadow touched them. Clothes that touched Paul were laid on sick people, and they were healed. The last two examples come under the heading of "gifts of healings." Not everyone operates in these gifts.

Your focus should not be on the method of healing, but on possessing hope and expectation built from the Word. You can't come to God casually and receive healing.

For the entire message, check out the Sermon Player on our website. If you're in the area, we're located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Rte. 611), Warrington, PA. The church telephone number is (215) 343-7686.

Announcements

If you need prayer during the Sunday morning service, please let an usher know. Thank you!

Men, please mark your calendar. On Saturday, 5/15/10, at 8:00 a.m., the men will meet in the Children's Church area for their monthly breakfast. Please bring a breakfast item. If you have any questions, contact Keith.

Men's Night Out

So far, very little input has arrived from the men concerning our Men's Night Out. It is scheduled for either Friday, 5/7/10, or Saturday, 5/8/10.

An email will be sent out with our plans this week. We may have to cancel the event if we do not get a response.

Quotable Quote

"Don't jump to conclusions too quickly. Many things lie unsolved and the biggest test of all is that God looks as if He were totally indifferent." - Oswald Chambers

This Week at Zoe

On Wednesday, 5/5/10, at 7:30 p.m., Pastor Steve will resume teaching on the Parables of Jesus. He'll cover the "Barren Fig Tree" from Luke 13.

Sunday Morning Series - Hope That Does Not Waver - Patient and Hopeful

Texts: Romans 15:4-5, Psalms 37:7-9, Psalms 40:1, Psalms 27:11-14, Hebrews 12:1, James 5:7-16

Why be patient under duress, under stress? Patience feeds hope, and people who have hope believe.

Hope can be threatened by many things, but we'll only look at three here: relationships, finances, and health. If you don't exercise patient endurance in stressful circumstances, you can lose heart.

How do you know you've lost heart? People go from believing to wishing. Wishing and fretting are sure signs you're no longer exercising hope and faith.

What short circuits our hope? Hebrews 12:1 tells us to lay aside the weights and sin that so easily beset us. If you're running a race, you wear lightweight shoes and clothing. You don't want anything to slow you down. One of the things that will impede our progress is grumbling against one another. To move forward, we need: belief, courage, and patience.

It's hard to face a job loss, relationship problems, or have a doctor tell you a serious illness could end your life. This is the time to be courageous and not lose heart. I John 4:18 says that love casts out fear.

To hear the full message, please visit our website and click on the Sermon Player. It's also available for MP3 and podcasting.

If you're in the area, feel free to pop in and worship with us on Sunday morning, at 10 a.m. or for Wednesday Bible Study, at 7:30 p.m. We're located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Rte. 611), Warrington, PA. The church telephone number is (215) 343-7686.