Spiritual Focus (from Journey Program Worship Services - Fall 2007)

WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL FOCUS FOR THE WEEK?
Each Sunday, the minister leading the service introduces a spiritual focus for the week based on the subject of the talks. It is referred to during the adult sermon portion of the service and includes a brief summary of the lesson and practical suggestions for how you might use the spiritual message of the sermon in the workplace, at home, in your marriage, with parenting, friends, etc.
Listed below are many of the recent spiritual focus messages in chronological order. This list also gives an overview of the topics covered from week to week.

11/11/2007 - Celebrating Spiritual Progress…one step at a time
“Little by little I will drive your enemies out, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land...” Exodus 23:30
Before he died, Moses got a chance to see the promised land from the top of Mt. Nebo. But it was Joshua who, after receiving a blessing from Moses, led the Israelites across the Jordan River into this new land. There were two phases to the journey: one with Moses, and one with Joshua. The “wilderness years” under Moses represent doing the “right thing” out of a sense of obligation—you follow God’s laws because you know you should. The “conquering years” under Joshua represent a new motivation—you continue doing the “right thing” but now you do it because you want to! Joshua represents this new enthusiasm, this new energy. The landscape changes, and under Joshua spectacular battles are won (e.g. Jericho, Ai), but won with the clear recognition that we cannot succeed without the Lord. Commit to a “promised” way of life. Accept that there will be “hills and valleys,” but also know that the Lord is guiding you one step at a time.

11/04/2007 - The Most Important Part of the Lord’s Word
“The Ten Commandments are the most important thing in the Word. In a brief encapsulation they included all the elements of religion that provide for God’s connection to us and our connection to God.” True Christianity 283
In its essence God’s will is that each one of us and everyone everywhere develops such a close relationship - a partnership - with Him that we feel we are working together toward the same goals. To help us experience such a loving connection, He has revealed His divine plan and instructions to follow it in the pages of His Word.
The Ten Commandments are a synopsis of His plan, especially when they are understood as to their internal meaning. They teach us how to get out of the “slavery” of selfishness and worldliness and into the freedom of growing spiritually with all our heart, mind and strength. The more you look into these rules of life and explore their meaning, the more valuable they can become in doing the Lord’s will.
This week consider how you can develop a closer partnership with the Lord by following His Ten Commandments.

10/28/2007 -Supporting Each Other
“And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy...so Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and the other on the other side, and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek...” Exodus 17:11-13
As the Israelites continued on their journey, they encountered a new problem - the Amalekites. Moses knew they’d have to meet this enemy head-on, so the armies of Israel and Amalek met in battle at Rephidim. The Lord instructed Moses to hold up his hands. As long as he did this Israel prevailed but if he let them down Amalek prevailed. Moses’ hands became heavy during this day-long battle so Aaron and Hur supported his arms “until the going down of the sun,” and the Lord made Israel victorious (Ex. 17:11-13). Amalek - the hells - want you to feel alone and think you’re fighting alone, that you’re the only one with a problem. But we’re not alone - we have Aaron and Hur to support us. Church communities exist for one purpose - to support each other in looking (up) to the Lord. At times we become “Aaron & Hur” (offer support), at other times we need “Aaron & Hur” (receive support). Let’s make sure we support each other in the Oak Arbor Church so that everyone is looking to the good (Lord) in their lives.

10/21/2007 -Manna in the Wilderness
“And Moses said to them, ‘This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.’ And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. And the Children of Israel ate manna in the wilderness forty years.” Exodus 16: 31, 35
When the Israelites first noticed the “bread from heaven” they didn’t know what it was or what to do with it. They didn’t even know it was good for them. But once they prepared and ate it, they discovered it was sweet and nourishing.
Like the Israelites, we don’t always notice heavenly things in our busy, earthly lives. This week pay special attention to what the Lord is providing for your spiritual wellbeing. Take time to acknowledge and show gratitude for the blessings the Lord brings into your life each day. This may mean just identifying something good and saying in your heart, “Thank You, Lord”. Or it may mean sharing this good news with someone else, either verbally or in a note.

10/14/2007 -The Blessing of Bitter Realizations, by Jason Schnarr

"So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur: and then went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter." Exodus 15:22

Look for the good the Lord is bringing out of difficult, hard and bitter experiences in your life. Consider the Lord’s eternal perspective on your life and look for the good in all situations. Even the hard truths and challenging situations in life are opportunities for growth. When you have a difficult experience, look for the good that can be brought out of it. What might the Lord be teaching you through these experiences?

10/07/2007 - Moving Ahead on our Spiritual Journey
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”
Psalm 37:5
“Tell the Children of Israel to go forward,” said the Lord to Moses on the shore of the Red Sea as Pharaoh’s army gained on them.
The ‘Children of Israel’ here symbolize all sorts of things that make up our faith - good qualities, characteristics, values, intentions, the truths we’ve learned, etc. The Red Sea symbolizes the threat of failure if we move ahead, and the Egyptian army represents the threat of failure if we let our old attitudes and habits take over.
But by means of a strong east wind the Lord did what seemed impossible, dividing the waters to allow the Israelites to cross in safety. The wind symbolizes His inspiration helping us cut through barriers that stand in the way of our spiritual journey to freedom.
This week: “Don’t just stand there; do something.” In spite of barriers, trust the Lord’s inspiration, and step forward into spiritual freedom.

09/30/2007- Called to do... what?
“God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ ”
Exodus 3:4
Moses at the burning bush—the Lord’s call to Moses to lead the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt to freedom in Canaan—this story runs parallel to our own lives. For e.g., Moses’ reluctance to do what the Lord asked him (the people won’t believe me, I’m not qualified, send someone else) mirrors our own reluctance to follow the plain teachings of His Word (10 Commandments, Golden Rule, Judge not…, etc.). But the Lord’s call to Moses reflects something deeper too: the Lord is calling us to serve in His kingdom. While living in this world, He wants us to find our niche - “uses” to perform which we not only enjoy doing, but which help others too. This is what heaven’s all about—a kingdom of useful services, and the sooner we can get started the better! This week, listen for the Lord’s “voice.” Recognize that, like Moses, the Lord has a job in mind for you and that when He calls you can start by saying: “Here I am” (Ex. 3:4).

09/23/2007 Slavery in Egypt
“Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we”...Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens.”  Exodus 1: 8-9, 11

Nothing can be fixed unless the cause of the problem is identified. We look to our mechanic, doctor, and bank whenever we have car, health, or financial problems, and we know that once the cause is identified life promises to get better because we now have direction, a course of action to take. The same is true of our spiritual lives. Once we identify the cause of our pain life gets a lot better because we now know what steps we can take to turn things around. The Israelites became slaves in Egypt through no fault of their own. Likewise we become slaves to selfishness (Pharaoh) and materialism (Egypt) through no fault of our own, but as a symptom of our fallen condition. The evil influences from hell, not you, are the cause of your pain (slavery). Now that you know the cause, focus on the remedy—loving the Lord and your neighbor. Take the focus off yourself and onto the Lord and others, and you will find true freedom.

09/16/2007 -The Founding Families of Our Faith
“Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family, and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; and I will bless you and make your name great.’”  Genesis 12:1-2
“Then Joseph said to them ‘...God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.’”  Genesis 50:20

The bulk of the story of Genesis (chapters 12-50) tells of the beginnings of the Israelite nation with the Patriarchs - Abram, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. But beyond the literal sense, the Lord provided this story especially for its internal, symbolic meaning, to teach each person some of the ways and means to spiritual development.
On the highest level, the beginnings of the Israelite nation symbolize different aspects of the Divine nature. That’s why Jesus is said to have “expounded the things there concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). On the level that applies to human spiritual growth, the growth of Abraham’s & Sarah’s family reflects stages in each person’s faith.
This week, think about the development of your faith so far. What aspects of your spiritual growth could use some attention? How do you want to continue to grow your faith?

09/09/2007 – Is the Golden Age (Eden) a thing of the Past?
“The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden...”
Genesis 2:8

“The ancients applied the expression ‘golden age’ to those periods when innocence and perfection existed, when everyone was moved by good to do what was right…”
Heavenly Secrets No. 5658

“It may be winter in Eden, but it’s summer in my heart...” or so reads the refrain of a popular song. Is the golden age, represented by the garden of Eden, a thing of the past? Can we, the people of the 21st Century, ever dream of experiencing a “golden age” again? It seems unlikely if we’re to base our opinion on what’s happening in the world around us—war, poverty, crime, disease, disorder, etc. Turning on the T.V. probably won’t help either. A “golden age” can be defined as a state in which a person or group of people have a clear and un-fettered connection with the Lord and heaven (AC 99). It’s a celestial state of life in which we perceive the Lord’s goodness and truth so strongly there’s no debate as to whether we’ll act on it or not—you will what you think. So yes, it is possible for a person to live in Eden again (Rev. 22:2). In your personal relationships raise the bar and do less rationalizing (I really should….) and do more doing (follow-through). You’ll feel like you’re in Eden (again).