"Singular Comfort from Fear"

Please allow me begin this week’s message (sermon) as many Clergy often do, with a simple, but relevant, question: "Of what are we afraid?

"What is it that we fear? What is it that puts a knot in your stomach as you think about it?" Some among us might answer, "Honestly? Do you really want to know? I'm afraid of the results of the tests my doctor took or tests yet unavailable. I know that there's something wrong. I'm sure of it. Perhaps fear comes in the form of a life threatening illness of which we almost always find ourselves unprepared to face or exposure to any other deadly pathogen!" Perhaps, if we're like a lot of people, we fear what a doctor might say, and don't even visit one unless absolutely necessary. Again, "What strikes fear in your heart? What makes you desire some comforting?"

All calming comfort.... we all of us need this at some time; most of us need it now more than ever before. We fear the unknown and need comfort. The fact is, often enough, we don't even realize what it is that we fear. We only know that something's wrong, but we're not sure what. Though we can’t place our finger on it, we know in our gut something is amiss. We need something to assure us, something or someone to comfort us. Comfort is that which takes care of a bad situation. It may not remove the situation, but helps us deal with it and brings us a soothing comfort which lowers our anxiety levels.

Comfort comes with the assuring words of a parent stilling a nightmare awakened child. Comfort comes when a friend looks deep into our eyes, sees our great depth of pain and shares a comforting hug and words of assurance and of support. Comfort comes and dries your tears; it encourages us to keep going when what the doctor said seemingly shattered our world, our dreams and hopes. Comfort comes to young parents presenting their children for Baptism, even when they are not sure of what is ahead for them and their children.

The faithful hear the familiar and loving words of Ha Moshiach (The Anointed One), " Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” - {Matityahu/Matthew 28:20} These comforting words are followed by the challenge to go wherever He leads and to trust Him fully, taking up the banner of Ha’ Moshiach. That ruggedly hewn cross is the call designed uniquely for us.... a challenging, life-embracing, and yet comforting call. Comfort comes to us all when we participate in the Pesach Meal {Passover/Lord's Last Supper}. We live in a world, whether pre or post Corona Virus, where many realize that life is out of sync. Folks feel incomplete. Things just aren't right. Whether they realize it or not, it has everything to do with their relationship with Hashem!

Hashem continues to issue divine warnings ahead of them whom bring to fur5ition great achievements; all the successful, whether of position or prosperity, fame or family, cannot fill the void as only His love can. Their deep-felt insecurity is not caused by illness or by any test results. Their anxiety reflects a lack of a solid assurance, a needed comfort, which only Elohei Chasdi (The G-d of my kindness) can provide. Alienation is not caused by being in a foreign land, but by being a stranger to Elohim’s unconditional love and acceptance, His great mercies and forgiveness which bring opportunity and grace. Let us remember that nothing much has changed since that drama-filled day in the Garden when a couple, bereft of their innocence, began living a nightmare of alienation. Ha’ Shem came calling with that question that has haunted all of us ever since. " And the L-RD G-d called unto Adom, and said unto him, Where art thou?" - {Bereishit/Genesis 3:9} Whatever label you want to give it, whether anxiety, nervousness, incompleteness, sense of inadequacy or simply a sense of guilt, we have it.

We'll continue to have a driving need of comfort until we can confess with heart, mind, soul and mouth, with every bit of our being, with whom I am and who you are: "My comfort is that I belong to Yehoshua." The first note of this confession brings us to I Corinthians 6. These words: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of G-d, and ye are not your own? “ Next, we refer to what we read from Romans 14; we're not in it alone, we are meant to be in right relationship to the L-rd. “For whether we live, we live unto the L-rd; and whether we die, we die unto the L-rd: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the L-rd's.” Whether we live or die, we belong to Yehoshua. Hashem had a right to come calling, and He still has that right, asking, "Where are you?" and "Who are you?" Inherent is something that we must realize is true: We are His humble servants. So, when, or IF, in response to the question, "What is your ONLY comfort in life and in death?", the only true answer remains.

We yet hold the assuring knowledge that you belong to Ha’ Moshiach. If this is not just some over simplified confession we learned by memory in our Biblical Classes, but that it has truly entered your deep level of consciousness, then you'll endure every battle, face every foe and conquer even illness, confident of the outcome. Then you will say, "Thank you, Hashem for giving me the comfort that I need. You are mine and I am yours." The Believers who have confessed these words at the time were enduring uncertainties, struggles, persecution and required true comfort. Even when they faced martyrdom, they held on to, "I belong to Yehoshua." Had they done enough? Had they paid enough? Had they prayed enough? Did all their works ever suffice? Or has something been lacking as they struggled to be right with Hashem? Uncertainty was replaced with confidence, with the powerful assurance of the words: "I belong to Yehoshua. For He has in His sacrifice atoned and accepted the dreadful payment of my transgressions.”

In comfortable knowledge, believing that we may now know that nothing which can separate us from His love. Nothing. That's comfort. That's the comfort we need to have also in a world where the next terrorist strike may take our life or that of our loved ones or the next unexpected attack on a city street. That's the comfort we need if our family fails us and our friends forsake us. Who of us knows when something similar may happen to us? Who knows when we will hear those dreaded words from our doctor or loved one's doctor: "That's all that can be done." Or as so many have already heard, "I'm sorry to inform you, but.... "The power of the comfort confessed in L-rd's Day!” is based on the confidence we hold in Yehoshua. His is THE way to the Father, and when we were willingly baptized in obedience to His command, we do so in the assurance that it is meaningful and not some nice ritual.

When in time we celebrate the Pesach Meal, we do so because it has meaning for us. This confession, learned and memorized by generations of believers, is basic to what follows. It's basic to life, and not just comfort in death. It's not just a cheer-me-up for the dying and those mourning. It's a comfort for facing the struggles of the day. It's a power for entering into the battlefield of our learning, making sure all taught and learned is in subjection to Ha’ Moshiach. It's the basis for keeping the promises made in the boardroom as well as the bedroom. It provides the comfort for living as well as dying.... the living that we're called to do again tomorrow, the cross we pick up as we go about out daily endeavors.

This is why we yet proclaim, "Because I belong to Him, Yehoshua.... assures me and the Holy Spirit makes me whole-heartedly willing and ready to live for Him." Those who belong to Yehoshua know they do and it affects their lives. If our living does not reflect to whom we belong, then I ask with some fear and trembling, but ask it I must, "Do you belong? Do you belong, body and soul to our Rock and Redeemer, Yehoshua Ha’ Moshiach?" At times, we spend hours looking at our children and grandchildren to see whom they resemble. Well, isn't it about time we spend some time looking at ourselves to see if in any way we resemble Him, to whom we belong? He who bought us at a price, the precious price of His own life, He who is our sole justified our role model. Doing so, gets us involved in looking at how we can live in the joy of the comfort that Elohim provides His children. What's involved then also is the constant interaction of knowing my sin and misery, knowing how I am to be freed from them and finally how I am to thank Elohei Ma’uzzi (The G-d of my strength) when He delivers me from myself. Sound familiar? I need Elohim’s comfort and so do you.

When that penetrating, very personal question, "What is your only comfort...." comes your way, can you answer, "I belong...." Not "I've heard of Yehoshua" but "I belong...." and, having that assurance, that comfort, do you live for him? Do you?

Then, and only then, even with tears of magnified joy, can you sing, "It is well.... with my soul, that is.... me. It is well with me." Is it? Is it well with you? Is it t6hat we may say, "Though temptation should be presented, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control. Our Redeemer has regarded my helpless estate, and has saved me in through the power of His resurrection for my eternal soul...." Can you face whatever fears may come your way? Will you live in confidence having this comfort that Elohim gives? Do we yet stand before and in defense of our Rock and Redeemer today, tomorrow an always?

We journey the dark yet, in complete faith; comforted and assured we come to the light in His grace and unending love,

Pastor Mark