Knox, Port Carling & Zion, Torrance Presbyterian Charge

Sunday June 28, 2020

Message: Jesus, the Fourth Man in the Fiery Furnace

Reverend Glynis Faith

Daniel 3:16-27

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

MESSAGE 

It is not easy to stand up for our faith sometimes. There have been many times throughout our history when it was exceptionally hard to stand up for one’s faith. There are people around the world today who face persecution for being a Christian. Some face the scorn or mocking of society if they stand up or speak up for what they believe. Many have died for their faith.

It is not easy being a Christian today, but it is a blessing to be a child of God. As children of God, it is important for us to remember God’s promise to always be with us. Whatever struggles we face, we do not have to face them alone. We can stand on faith – on the belief that God is faithful – and we can face all things knowing that God is right there by our side. That is God’s promise.

Here these promises from the Old Testament:

Joshua 1:9 "… Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

These are the promises that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego put their faith in. As young Jewish men they would be familiar with these Scriptures. Even while in captivity and forced to serve the king, these men trusted that God was with them.

Notice they trust that God is there with them, regardless of the outcome.

“…If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Their faith is grounded in the promise that God is with them, not that God will save them. They hope God will save them, but if that is not to be, they know God will be with them, whatever the outcome. And he is.

Three men are thrown into the fire, but the king sees four men, or, as the king puts it, ‘the three men and one that looks like a son of the gods.’

The king was almost right. But it was not a son of the gods in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, it was The Son of the Most High God.

Jesus was the fourth man in the furnace, there, just as God had promised to build up their strength and courage and never leave them to face life’s trials and challenges alone.

Jesus reinforced that same promise before He ascended to the right hand of God, saying

Matthew 28:20 "… And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

The Apostle Paul wanted the new Christians to know the depths of God’s commitment to them, writing

Romans 8:38-39 "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Friends, I pray our faith is never tested with a fiery furnace, but it will be tested by many other things. This is why it is important to know God’s promises – to study God’s word and to speak to God often in prayer – because when our faith is tested, we need to know God’s promises in our hearts. Friends, "… Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

All thanks be to God. AMEN

ORDINATION OF Edie Bard, Scott Murley and Cathy Vine. Ken Shortt, who have been previously ordained as an elder, joins them in being admitted to the Session of Knox Presbyterian, Port Carling:

* RESPONSIVE

There are a variety of gifts,but the same Spirit;

There are varieties of services, but the same Lord;

There are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.

                To each one is given a gift by the Spirit, to use it for the common good.

Together we are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.

                Though we have different gifts, together we are called to be the church with a ministry in the

world which is led by the risen Christ. Let us confess our faith together in the words of the

Apostle’s Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.    AMEN

 The Steps

The Session of Knox Presbyterian, Port Carling, met on Tuesday February 25 at 1:30 p.m., and it was decided that 4 new elders be elected to the Session. A review of the membership list took place and a list of names was created to be put on a ballot. On Friday March 6, 2020, the Session met again to approve the ballot and dates for the election. Sunday March 8, 2020 the elder election was announced during worship, and the ballots were made available, allowing people until March 29, 2020 to return their ballots. On March 17, 2020 a joint Session meeting was held to discuss the State of Emergency called by the Ontario Government, and it was agreed that both Knox and Zion would close their doors until further notice. The Knox Session later met by phone to discuss the process for the Elder Election, and it was agreed that we could proceed. Members were informed that their ballots could be dropped off to Alf, Kay or myself, or that they could be mailed to the church. On March 29, 2020 the moderator and Alf met at the church hall, with Kay joining them by telephone. The ballots were opened, read aloud for Kay to participate. After the ballots were counted, discussion took place and it was agreed by Session that the congregation had made wise choices. The moderator agreed to contact each candidate to inform them they had been elected by the congregation and to discuss their thoughts on accepting the call. Each candidate was asked to spend some time to prayerfully consider the call. At the online worship service held on May 1, 2020 the names of the elders elect who were accepting the call to eldership was announced to the congregations.

On behalf of the Session and the congregation of Knox, Port Carling, I present to you Edie Bard, Scott Murley, and Cathy Vine as we now proceed to ordain them as elders and admit them to the Session. Also being admitted to Session today is Ken Shortt, who was ordained as an elder in 1975 and has served three Sessions.

WHAT THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN CANADA believes concerning the ministry of ruling elders.

All ministries of the Church proceed from and are sustained by the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Prophet, Priest and King, the Minister of the covenant of grace. By the operation of God’s Word and Spirit, the Church is gathered equipped, and sent out to participate in this ministry. All members of the Church are called to share the Gospel with the world, and to offer to the Father the worship and service that are due to the Creator from the creation, through Christ, the only Mediator, until he comes again. That the Church may be continually renewed and nurtured for ministry, Christ furnishes the Church with pastors and teachers. He requires and enables the Church to discern and to confirm by ordination those whom he calls to this pastoral and teaching office. The standards of his Church he entrusts in a special degree of responsibility to their care.

The form of Presbyterial Church government of the Westminster Assembly reminds us that Christ has furnished some in His Church, beside the Ministers of Word and Sacraments, with gifts for government and with commission to execute the same, when called thereunto who are to join with the Minister in the government of the church, which officers of the reformed churches commonly call Elders.

The Presbyterian Church in Canada is bound only to Jesus Christ Her King and Head. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as the written Word of God, testifying to Christ the living Word, are the canon of all doctrine by which He rules our faith and life. We acknowledge our historic continuity with the Holy Catholic Church and her doctrinal heritage in the ecumenical creeds and the confessions of the Reformation. Our subordinate standards are the Westminster Confession of Faith, as adopted in 1875 and 1889, the Declaration of Faith Concerning Church and Nation of 1954 and such doctrine as the Church, in obedience to Scripture and under the promised guidance of the Holy Spirit, may yet confess in her continuing functions of reformulating the faith.

Elders have privilege and responsibilities to the oversight of spiritual matters of the church, working closely with the Minister of Word and Sacraments. Elders oversee church membership, pastoral care, planning and implementing special services of worship, Christian education, stewardship and the missions of the Church, they have the responsibility to carefully keep the records of the Church and to participate in its courts. The elders are called ‘ruling elders’ and they work closely with the minister, who is called the ‘teaching elder.’

THE VOWS

Edie Bard, Scott Murley, Ken Shortt, and Cathy Vine, that your faith in God and your integrity of purpose may be declared before Him and all people, you are required in terms of this preamble to answer the questions appointed for all who would enter the office of the Ruling Elder.

1. you believe in God the Father, made known in His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom the Holy Spirit witnesses in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments? I do
2. Do you accept the subordinate standards of this Church, and do you promise to be guided thereby in fostering Christian belief, worship and service among the people? I do
3. Do you accept the government of this Church by sessions, presbyteries, synods, and general assemblies, and do you promise to share in and submit yourself to all lawful oversight therein, and to follow no divisive course, but to seek the peace and unity of Christ among your people and throughout the Holy Catholic Church?               I do

4. In accepting the office of Elder, do you promise to perform your duties in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, striving to build up His Church and to strengthen her mission in the world? I do

(to the elders) May the Lord bless you and give you grace to keep these vows.

 The ordination of elders in a congregation, if their leadership and ministry are to be fruitful, involves responsibilities for both the elders and the people of the church.  These questions therefore I direct to you, the members and adherents of this congregation, so that you may renew your obligations to this shared ministry.

1. Do you confess your faith in God as creator and ruler of the world, in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord, and in the Holy Spirit as your inspiration and strength? We do.
2. Do you receive Edie, Scott, Ken and Cathy as elders, chosen by God through the voice of this congregation to lead you in the way of Christ? We do.
3. Do you agree to encourage them, to respect their decisions as they guide you, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is head of the church? We do.

May the Lord bless you and give you grace to keep these promises.   Amen.

ORDINATION PRAYER

We praise and glorify you, Lord God Almighty, for you have created us and called us to yourself;

you have redeemed us in Jesus Christ your Son; you sustain our lives and our works

through the presence and power of your Holy Spirit.

Almighty God, in every age you have chosen servants to speak your word and lead your people.

We thank you for Edie, Scott, Ken and Cathy, whom you have called to serve you as ruling elders.

By the power of your Spirit, develop in them the gifts of ministry; may they have the same mind that was in Christ, serving you in the world as long as they shall live; through Jesus Christ the Lord.     Amen.

Edie Bard, Scott Murley, Ken Short, Cathy Vine – May the blessings of God almighty guide and strengthen you as you share your gifts in the service of the Church.

Congregational Prayer:

God of Grace, who baptized us into a common ministry as ambassadors of Christ;

who called us to be a priesthood of all believers; who entrusted to us the message of reconciliation;

we pray for courage and discipline to follow where your elders rightly lead us, that together we may declare your mighty acts and show your love to the world; through Jesus Christ who is ruler of all.     Amen.

DECLARATION:

In the name of Jesus Christ, the only king and head of the church, and by the authority invested in me by the Presbytery of Barrie, I now declare you to have been ordained as a ruling elder and admit you to the session of Knox, Port Carling.

(Ken, would you please join these newly ordained elders by standing) In the name of Jesus Christ, the only king and head of the church, I now admit you to the session of Knox, Port Carling.

Edie, Scott, Ken and Cathy, whatever you do, in word or action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God through him.     Amen.

The Right Hand of Fellowship

It is customary for the moderator and the session to offer its new elders the right hand of fellowship, but these are not normal times, so Kay, Alf and myself would like to offer you these words instead of a handshake.

KAY – We welcome you and look forward to serving Christ’s church with you.

ALF – Welcome to the Session of Knox, Port Carling, may God bless all you do in His Name.

MODERATOR – Through this congregation God has called you into service and you have answered. Thank you – welcome and God bless each of you. AMEN