THE
FAMILY OF GOD
As I sit here today, I am looking back over the last few
weeks and how my life has changed, my plans for the immediate future again on
hold because of medical tests and a diagnosis of returning cancer. My future,
this summer, is one of chemotherapy again, followed by possible surgery. It
seems like I have been through so much in the last two years, and a person,
like me, wonders when these trials will end and life can get back to normal
with my energy back to do the work of the ministry again.
But Praise the Lord, I know who holds all my tomorrows,
whether in sickness or pain, or I go home to be with Jesus. Some of you are in
that same situation as me right now, and I want to encourage you in the Lord to
not lose your hope. I felt like I was
losing my hope when I received the first diagnosis of possible cancer, but I
went before my Lord and peace, His peace returned. And I know where my hope
lies.
But yesterday in church, I was surrounded by love, my
church family. And I was totally overwhelmed by my “brothers and sisters” in
the Lord. The joy came as the congregation laid their hands on me as Pastor
prayed the prayer of faith. And received such a blessing as a dear handicapped
sister prayed for me in her wheelchair. I have prayed with her many times and
now she has returned the blessing. And I realized again how precious is the
family of God, especially in times of great trials.
“Well known gospel songwriters , Bill and Gloria Gaither,
were home for Easter and attending their home church in Anderson, Indiana. They
heard of a young man in the community who had been severely burned when an
explosion demolished the garage where he worked. Doctors did not expect him to
live through the night.
A church prayer chain was activated, and church members
prayed all night for the young man. When church members gathered to celebrate
Easter the next day, they received word that the young man was recovering. The
pastor reported that he had just spoken to the doctor, who told him the young
man had a good chance of pulling through. They rejoiced in the answer to
prayer.
As Bill and Gloria Gaither went home after the church
service, they talked about what a wonderful thing it is to be a part of a
family of believers and to able to pray together to our Father in heaven.
Before long, a new gospel song was born: “The Family of God.” (“Hymns” by Petersen)
THE FAMILY OF GOD
I’m so glad I’m a
part of the Family of God, I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His
blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, for I’m part of the
family, the Family of God.
You will notice we
say “brother and sister” `round here, it’s because we’re a family and these are
so near; when one has a heartache, we all share the tears, and rejoice in each
victory in this family so dear.
From the door of
an orphanage to the house of the King, no longer an outcast, a new song I sing’
from rags unto riches, from weak to the strong, I’m not worthy to be here, but
praise God I belong!
I’m so glad I’m a
part of the Family of God, I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His
blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, for I’m part of the
family, the Family of God. (Bill and Gloria Gaither)
As we concluded our service with this song, it was hard
to hold back the tears as I thought of “my family” seated around me. Our church
body is known for its love. I remember the day I first entered the door of this
church 20 years ago, and was surrounded by such love and here I am, still
surrounded by such love in the midst of another trial.
We are all joint heirs with Jesus, our Lord, and we
indeed shed tears over one another in times of heartache and pain. And I am so
glad I am a part of this family, my “brothers and sisters” in the Lord. I am
reminded again of the beautiful picture of our intercession for one another, in
holding up our hands in great times of trial, in Exodus 17:10-12.
In the valley below, Joshua and Israel were fighting a
battle against Amalek. Moses was standing on the top of the hill with Aaron and
Hur. When Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed in the battle, when his
arms tired and he dropped them, the enemy prevailed. So they took a stone and he
sat upon it, and Aaron and Hur supported his arms on either side and the battle
was won.
I see a picture of holding each other up in prayer. We
become tired in the battle and we cannot keep our hands raised any longer and
the enemy would try to come in and defeat us, but our brothers and sisters are
there to hold up our arms in prayer and praise to our God and the battle is
won, victory is ours through our Lord Jesus Christ. Also, you will notice they
sat Moses down on a rock. And who is our Rock, but the Lord Himself. When we
are firmly planted on the Rock, Christ Jesus, hands raised in victorious
prayer, the enemy is defeated. Oh, praise the Lord!
So I am not defeated in this battle and either are you,
as we continue to hold each other up in prayer, and we will see great victories
won. And I always think that someday the battles will be other, and we will be
home at last. But meanwhile, we have “The Family of God” to surround us and
hold us up in the midst of the battle. Praise the Lord!
Pastor Sharon
