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The Elmira Seventh-day Adventist Church August 2006 Newsletter |
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The Elmira Seventh-day Adventist Church August 2006 Newsletter |
God's Prostitutes
There are many lessons in scripture that illustrate God's care for His people and His church. One of those illustrations is shown through prostitutes/harlots.
We will be asking a couple of questions that will reveal God's care for His church and His people and answering these questions through the Biblical record of prostitutes/harlots.
What is a prostitute/harlot? Prostitute: A woman given to indiscriminate lewdness for hire; harlot. Harlot: A loose woman; Prostitute.
Unfortunately, harlots/prostitutes are typically women, who sell themselves for sexual pleasure.
How sad our world has become. God created a man and a woman in the garden. They were His crowning act, His greatest creation. And Satan perverts this union for base passions that the reflection of God may be distorted in mankind. And yet, a prostitute/harlot is used as an allegory for His care for the church and His people. How can this be?
First let us ask the questions and see if we can answer them.
1. Can any good come out of bad?
2. What is God up to when the church seems to be falling apart?
To answer our questions:
1. Can any good come out of bad? Of course it can!
Let us turn to Genesis 38: there we see Tamar acting as a harlot - Judah's daughter in-law. Tamar married Judah's first son Er and he died leaving no children. So the second brother Onan was to marry Tamar and raise children to his older brother Er. He dishonors the brotherly covenant and Onan is killed. Judah, tells Tamar to live with her father as a widow, till his youngest son, Shelah, comes of age and then she would be given Shelah for a husband. Thus, Shelah could then bring children into the world on behalf of his brother Er. But, Shelah grows up and Judah does not comply with his promise. The rest of the story goes that Tamar played the harlot - and Judah - fooled by his daughter in-law Tamar - sleeps with her - and she becomes the mother of twins, Pharez and Zarah.
Judah should have followed through with his promise. Now guilt falls on Judah and shame on Tamar. What a mess! How can any good come out of this?
Let me take you to the book of Matthew: "And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram" (Matthew 1:3).
If you have read Matthew chapter one, you will remember that it is the lineage of Jesus. Judah and Tamar's son, Pharez, is the ancestor of Jesus! Bad to Good.
How about Rahab, a prostitute living in the walls of Jericho?
"And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there" (Joshua 2:1).
"And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse" (Matthew 1:5).
Again, another harlot in the lineage of Jesus! Bad to Good. Can any good come out of bad? Sure it can!
Yet another illustration - Mary Magdalene - a prostitute who became one of Jesus' most devoted followers. So powerful was her testimony, Jesus said of her:
"Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her" (Matthew 26:13). And thus, her account is written in all four gospels. Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:36-50 and John 12:1-9. Bad to Good!
Through even the worst of worst, God can turn bad into good. How about your own situation-s? If He can turn prostitutes and harlots around, he can surely turn your situation-s around. Nothing is impossible with God. ". . . With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
Powerful are these testimonies. God can take any "bad" situation and turn it into good, for His glory.
Question number two: What is God up to when the church seems to be falling apart?
Take note that God says of the city Jerusalem, Mount Zion, God's chosen, "How is the faithful city become an harlot" (Isaiah 1:21)! "My people . . . have gone a whoring from under their God" (Hosea 4:12).
Notice He says His church has become a harlot. How so? Whenever the church or an individual turns aside and leans toward earthly things, God equates this with harlotry/prostitution, a well known sin. And we know that these do not inherit the kingdom of heaven.
The book of Hosea helps solve the problem. "The book is an allegory in which the prophet is presented as a man married to a harlot or an adulterous wife. This troubled relationship stands for the betrayal of God by Israel, which has "played the harlot" by dallying with Canaanite religion" (Bible Dictionary).
Hosea is told to take a wife of harlotry:
"The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son" (Hosea 1:1-3).
Can you imagine, God telling Hosea to take a wife in whoredoms? He (Hosea) does, and the gist of the story is, Gomer returns over and over again to her harlotry, yet she has a husband, a roof over her head, and a pillow to sleep on.
Sounds a lot like us! God has many, many blessings and yet we keep turning back to the world. What a shame!
Each time Gomer returns to her harlotry - God sends Hosea to bring her back home. Once maybe, but the second time? - I don't know about you - but I would be asking God about His reasoning.
This story illustrates in allegory and answers our second question - God's care for His church and people. No matter how many times we turn our back on Him, He is right behind us pleading with us to turn back.
"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33:11).
Hosea had to pay for Gomer. "So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee" (Hosea 3:2-3).
Friends, Jesus had to do the same thing. He paid the price. God sent His Son. What care, what love!
God gives us His word, "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him" (Hosea 14:4).
God's prostitutes: Tamar, Rahab, Mary Magdalene, and Gomer. God can turn any bad situation into good, and God isn't idly sitting by. He is constantly on the move seeking to bless and to save His church, His chosen, His people. And finally He will heal their backsliding.
What hope for us all!
The next time you begin to doubt God's care, consider "God's prostitutes."
BIBLE STUDY
Our Thursday evening Bible Study will take a break during the month of August. We will resume August 31, 7:00 p.m.
Most Amazing Prophecies - This series will focus on Bible prophecy and how it affects people today, encouraging them to make an informed decision for Christ. It will be live, via satellite from Pioneer Memorial Church, Andrews University for ten nights, September 15-23. Speaker will be Doug Batchelor with host Dwight Nelson.
The Presence - This special series with Shawn Boonstra will focus on the Sanctuary in the context of final events. Beginning September 29, 7:00 PM, it will run for 5 evenings through October 3.
Both of these series will be broadcast at the church. Come, and invite your friends!
Brittany Miller graduated June 23 from Saranac Lake High School. She received a scholarship award from the Women's Scholarship Fund, three merit awards, one from NY State Assembly Theresa R. Szurl, one from Senator Elizabeth O'Clittle, and one for a two year perfect attendance at SLH. She received a High School Diploma and a Regents Diploma. Brittany will be entering the North Country Community College nursing program this fall.
"I would like to extend my gratitude to those who sent cards of encouragement for my graduation and the money, which will go towards my education! I hope and pray you will remember me and that I shall see you all again in the future." - Brittany.
With temperatures predicted to be close to 90, we held our July 18 blood drive at the school. We had a very successful event, with thirty one pints donated - enough to help as many as ninety three people. Thank you to our callers and all those who helped out or donated. Our next drive is scheduled for Tuesday, September 19, 1:30-6:30 PM. We are in need of callers to contact previous donors in the area around the church. If you can call a list, please contact Sharon.
We extend our sympathy to Frances McMillen, whose brother, Maynard VanEtten, died July 22.
Our Personal Ministries Department cookbook was sent to the publisher June 21. We eagerly anticipate the finished product during September - in plenty of time for your holiday gift-giving!. Cost will be $12.00 per book with $3.00 shipping and handling. To order, contact Sharon.
. . . to Tiffany Green, a student at Broadway Elementary School who was on the Broadway's Best awards list for academic success in the second marking period. This was accidentally omitted in our last newsletter.
Upcoming retreats at Camp Cherokee include:
Singles' Retreat - August 23 - 27.
Annual 55+/Retiree's Retreat - August 27 - 31.
Labor Day Weekend, September 1 - 4, will be the New York Conference Church Retreat. Lots of fun activities will be available for the entire family.
Prayer Retreat - "Prayers That Avail Much," - September 22 - 24, with speaker Karen Martel, Southeastern California Conference Prayer Coordinator. Cost -$60, includes food and lodging. Register by September 18.
For more information, contact Donna or Priscilla at the New York Conference Office, 4930 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, NY 13215-4203, Phone: (315) 469-6921
Save your General Mills Box tops and Campbell's Labels for the Holbrook Indian School in Arizona. These can be used to help them receive classroom accessories, computers and software, electronic items, music and library books, math science, and PE equipment and even a minivan for school transportation. Box tops and labels can be given Joyce Cmelko.
Everyone is invited to join us for lunch each Sabbath following the worship service. Please bring your favorite dish to share! August 12, and September 9 will be picnics at Van Galder's cottage at Mormon Lake, weather permitting. Everyone is invited. Please bring a dish to pass.
Don Congdon
Elder Lawrence Maxwell
Alvin Jackson
Ferne Robinson
Becky (Haesche) Gottshall
Eileen Young
Levi Haesche
We continue our study this quarter of "The Gospel, 1844, and Judgment," by Clifford Goldstein. Please join us as we study each Sabbath morning. Song service begins at 9:20. Classes are provided for adults and children.
Mission Spotlight is shown once each month. Our third quarter programs will come from the South Pacific Division, where our mission offerings will help in two projects: purchasing a new mission aircraft for the Papua New Guinea Union Mission; and providing a worship-evangelistic center for students attending the international university in Suva, Fiji, which trains young people from throughout the South Pacific. Video programs are from Fiji, New Zealand, and Papua, New Guinea.
Thank you for saving your newspapers, magazines, and health food labels for Investment. See Alvin Jackson, our Investment leader.
Check with Larry for monthly sales on case lots. Orders go in monthly.
STORE HOURS Thursday, 4:00-7:00 p.m.