Praise God!
Pastor Tim’s sermon Sunday at Pine Valley United Methodist Church was “Fanning The Flame of Glory” reminding us that Pentecost continues - it was not just one Sunday. 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” I think this has been one of the many blessings we have learned during the pandemic. It is not our church building - although we cannot wait to go in there! We are the temple and that is evident when we worship on Sunday mornings in our homes or on the lawn of PVUMC! The Holy Spirit is there! Another blessing is the many people who are watching online from other cities, states, and countries.
Pastor Barry got an email from a lady in Michigan who had been watching his Bible study and devotionals. She also sent a picture of her sister who is a nurse working long hours. It said, “I want to thank you all for the internet experience of Pastor Barry's Wednesday Bible Study and Friday devotional. The picture is of my sister, getting ready for her ER shift this afternoon. She has been following PVUMC via the internet. Sometimes watching both Sunday services. Today she wrote: ’Thank you. I woke in great peace today, feeling playful, and realized why would I not ask for spiritual assistance. That's what prayer is for." PVUMC is fanning the flame of Glory!
I like what Rick Warren said. “Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.” Faith is praising God in the storm. Trusting Him in the valley and following Him in the darkness. God will be faithful! And He will give us peace.
As Pastor Tim told us Sunday, the Glory of the Lord was the term given to the tangible presence of the Spirit of God in a specific place. We see God’s Glory as a cloud of God’s presence. The acts of Praise welcome the Glory of God into the temple. We are told that God’s glory filled the temple in 2 Chronicles 5:13. “indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,’ that the house, the house of the LORD was filled with a cloud, so that the priest could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.” The tangible presence of the LORD was manifested and poured out when the instruments were used to praise God.” Even when Pastor Tim had the tambourine.
I bet the whole neighborhood heard us Sunday morning as Pastor Tim taught us about praising God. He read Psalm 150. “Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” As each instrument was named, our praise band praised God with their music.
During this time of unrest and hurt we should be praying and praising! 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” As the nurse said, “Why not ask for spiritual assistance?” She woke up in great peace! We are God’s Temple and it is time for us to be the Temple that God designed us to be! Let every breath praise God!