Dover Assembly of God
1.3.2021 | Nehemiah - Week 4
Locations & Times
Dover Assembly of God
4790 Carlisle Rd, Dover, PA 17315, USA
Sunday 10:30 AM
Welcome!
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January 3, 2021
Welcome to Dover Assembly!
We are so glad you have chosen to attend Dover Assembly this morning. It is not by accident that you are here. We believe that God has allowed you to be here so that you might receive all that He has for you. We pray you are blessed as you allow the Lord to work in your life.
THIS WEEK
Sunday
9:00 am ~ Coffee & Donut Hour
9:30 am ~ Sunday School
10:30 am ~ Worship Service
10:30 am ~ R.O.C.K. Children’s Ministry
1:00 pm ~ Spanish Service
Monday
7:00 pm ~ Deacon Board Meeting
Wednesday
6:30 pm ~ FAMILY NIGHT
Saturday
6:30 pm ~ Spanish Service
UPCOMING EVENTS
Week of Prayer
The Assemblies of God sets aside the first full week of January as the “week of prayer”. Traditionally, we gather in the church for a time of corporate prayer. However, in light of the COVID situation, we are asking each family to spend time at home and pray not only for the items on the insert, but for needs that our church family is experiencing. The church will be open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday, Jan 3 to Saturday Jan 9, for anyone wishing to come and go and spend time in prayer as well. God didn’t stop being God because of the pandemic. He still answers prayer!
Annual Business Meeting
As we prepare for our annual church business meeting on Sunday, Jan. 17, we ask that you pray for the election of our new deacon board members. The following have been nominated and have accepted the nomination to run for our 2 open positions.
~ Paul Jones ~ Bill Myers ~ Phil Stough
BODY NEWS
Membership
If you would like to become a voting member of Dover Assembly, we will be having a new member’s class after the first of the year. Please complete the new member’s form found at the Information Center, place it in Pastor Jeff’s door and we will contact you when the class date has been set.
Water Baptism
If you would like to be water baptized, please complete the form found at the Information Center, place it in Pastor Jeff’s door and we will contact you with the date and time of the class and the baptism date.
Hoodies
We have had some requests to order some new Dover Assembly hoodies. If you would like one, please sign up in the lower foyer. Price is $17.95 each (2XL & 3XL is $3.50 additional). Zipper hoodies are $22.95 (2XL & 3XL is $4.50 additional). CREW NECKS ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL!
Ladies Bible Study
Anna is wondering if there are any women interested in doing a Zoom Bible Study? Sign up at the Women’s table in the upper foyer if you are interested. Anna will be in touch if there is enough interest.
Snow Cancellations
Should we have the need to cancel any of our services due to inclement weather, we will put that information on our Facebook page, our website, and the local TV stations [WGAL-CH 8, CBS 21, ABC 27, FOX 43, CW 15] If you would like to sign up for a TEXT on your cell phone that will indicate the status of our services, please fill out the blue & white card with your name and cell phone number. Please be sure to place them in the offering plates as you leave and we will add you to our list.
Texting
We are continuing to expand the way we share information through texting. If you would like to receive periodic updates, weather cancellations, church information, encouraging quotes, etc. please fill out a blue card in the pew rack with your name and cell number with the word TEXT. Place it in the offering plate, or hand it to an usher and we will add you to our ever-growing list.
Mailboxes
Mailboxes are in the lower foyer. Please be sure to check your boxes before you leave today. We will be taking them down shortly.
COVID-19 Information
In this time of COVID, we wanted to keep everyone updated on what has been outlined by the CDC in response to the COVID virus for those who test positive.
FROM THE CDC: Once an individual has tested positive for Covid, the return-to-work criteria are as follows:
(we are using this same guideline for return-to-church activities as it is the right thing to do)
~ Must be fever-free 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications)
~ Respiratory and other symptoms have improved
~ It has been at least ten (10) days from the onset of symptoms.
Please let's all do our part; if sick, stay home; if fevered, stay home and contact your healthcare provider for his/her advice.
We will get through this together!
Welcome to Dover Assembly!
We are so glad you have chosen to attend Dover Assembly this morning. It is not by accident that you are here. We believe that God has allowed you to be here so that you might receive all that He has for you. We pray you are blessed as you allow the Lord to work in your life.
THIS WEEK
Sunday
9:00 am ~ Coffee & Donut Hour
9:30 am ~ Sunday School
10:30 am ~ Worship Service
10:30 am ~ R.O.C.K. Children’s Ministry
1:00 pm ~ Spanish Service
Monday
7:00 pm ~ Deacon Board Meeting
Wednesday
6:30 pm ~ FAMILY NIGHT
Saturday
6:30 pm ~ Spanish Service
UPCOMING EVENTS
Week of Prayer
The Assemblies of God sets aside the first full week of January as the “week of prayer”. Traditionally, we gather in the church for a time of corporate prayer. However, in light of the COVID situation, we are asking each family to spend time at home and pray not only for the items on the insert, but for needs that our church family is experiencing. The church will be open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday, Jan 3 to Saturday Jan 9, for anyone wishing to come and go and spend time in prayer as well. God didn’t stop being God because of the pandemic. He still answers prayer!
Annual Business Meeting
As we prepare for our annual church business meeting on Sunday, Jan. 17, we ask that you pray for the election of our new deacon board members. The following have been nominated and have accepted the nomination to run for our 2 open positions.
~ Paul Jones ~ Bill Myers ~ Phil Stough
BODY NEWS
Membership
If you would like to become a voting member of Dover Assembly, we will be having a new member’s class after the first of the year. Please complete the new member’s form found at the Information Center, place it in Pastor Jeff’s door and we will contact you when the class date has been set.
Water Baptism
If you would like to be water baptized, please complete the form found at the Information Center, place it in Pastor Jeff’s door and we will contact you with the date and time of the class and the baptism date.
Hoodies
We have had some requests to order some new Dover Assembly hoodies. If you would like one, please sign up in the lower foyer. Price is $17.95 each (2XL & 3XL is $3.50 additional). Zipper hoodies are $22.95 (2XL & 3XL is $4.50 additional). CREW NECKS ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL!
Ladies Bible Study
Anna is wondering if there are any women interested in doing a Zoom Bible Study? Sign up at the Women’s table in the upper foyer if you are interested. Anna will be in touch if there is enough interest.
Snow Cancellations
Should we have the need to cancel any of our services due to inclement weather, we will put that information on our Facebook page, our website, and the local TV stations [WGAL-CH 8, CBS 21, ABC 27, FOX 43, CW 15] If you would like to sign up for a TEXT on your cell phone that will indicate the status of our services, please fill out the blue & white card with your name and cell phone number. Please be sure to place them in the offering plates as you leave and we will add you to our list.
Texting
We are continuing to expand the way we share information through texting. If you would like to receive periodic updates, weather cancellations, church information, encouraging quotes, etc. please fill out a blue card in the pew rack with your name and cell number with the word TEXT. Place it in the offering plate, or hand it to an usher and we will add you to our ever-growing list.
Mailboxes
Mailboxes are in the lower foyer. Please be sure to check your boxes before you leave today. We will be taking them down shortly.
COVID-19 Information
In this time of COVID, we wanted to keep everyone updated on what has been outlined by the CDC in response to the COVID virus for those who test positive.
FROM THE CDC: Once an individual has tested positive for Covid, the return-to-work criteria are as follows:
(we are using this same guideline for return-to-church activities as it is the right thing to do)
~ Must be fever-free 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications)
~ Respiratory and other symptoms have improved
~ It has been at least ten (10) days from the onset of symptoms.
Please let's all do our part; if sick, stay home; if fevered, stay home and contact your healthcare provider for his/her advice.
We will get through this together!
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https://doverassembly.com/appOnline Giving
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Week 4 - January 3, 2021 - Pastor Jeff Bender
Welcome to 2021! Praying this is a better year that 2020!
We're going to pick up the series we started way back when. The book of Nehemiah. Turn with me to Nehemiah Chapter 3.
As I was reading and thinking about how to tie this in to the New Year, I realized that it fit in pretty nicely.
Normally this is one of those chapters that I kind of read quickly through.
There’s a lot of names and places that kind of bog me down. But I realized that while the names and places are important, otherwise God wouldn’t have included them.
We're going to pick up the series we started way back when. The book of Nehemiah. Turn with me to Nehemiah Chapter 3.
As I was reading and thinking about how to tie this in to the New Year, I realized that it fit in pretty nicely.
Normally this is one of those chapters that I kind of read quickly through.
There’s a lot of names and places that kind of bog me down. But I realized that while the names and places are important, otherwise God wouldn’t have included them.
The main point is this: The city, walls and gates were in a shambles and the work to restore them was going to be overwhelming.
This past year has seen significant changes and hardships on not only churches, but businesses, families’ hospitals, and communities.
It might even appear too hard to overcome.
Rebuilding was a great challenge for Nehemiah, from the natural perspective, it probably seemed impossible, but he had a great God that was able to accomplish it.
But the walls and gates would not have been rebuilt by themselves. It required everyone to step up and work.
I really have the sense that this is where the church is today. Not just ours, but the church in general, but it does include our church.
This past year has in some cases put churches in shambles. Across the board, attendance is down, either from sickness or fear, giving is down; ministries are struggling to keep operating.
I keep hearing this is going to last indefinitely. No one is able to give us a date when it goes back to normal.
And to look at it from the natural, it seems almost impossible to recover.
So we can either just sit around and wait for it to end on it’s own, or we can step up in faith and rebuild what the enemy took away last year.
In Nehemiah’s case, the work was a great challenge, but he knew they had to start somewhere.
And what was the purpose of rebuilding?
This past year has seen significant changes and hardships on not only churches, but businesses, families’ hospitals, and communities.
It might even appear too hard to overcome.
Rebuilding was a great challenge for Nehemiah, from the natural perspective, it probably seemed impossible, but he had a great God that was able to accomplish it.
But the walls and gates would not have been rebuilt by themselves. It required everyone to step up and work.
I really have the sense that this is where the church is today. Not just ours, but the church in general, but it does include our church.
This past year has in some cases put churches in shambles. Across the board, attendance is down, either from sickness or fear, giving is down; ministries are struggling to keep operating.
I keep hearing this is going to last indefinitely. No one is able to give us a date when it goes back to normal.
And to look at it from the natural, it seems almost impossible to recover.
So we can either just sit around and wait for it to end on it’s own, or we can step up in faith and rebuild what the enemy took away last year.
In Nehemiah’s case, the work was a great challenge, but he knew they had to start somewhere.
And what was the purpose of rebuilding?
In other words, people are mocking the God of the Jews; saying if your God is so great why is your city in ruins.
And if you love your city so much why aren’t you doing something about it? The people had become accustomed to their situation. They accepted the status quo.
They thought it would never change, so let’s just go along to get along. Let’s not attempt anything, let’s just not rock the boat. It’s not perfect, but it’s comfortable, so. . . we’ll accept what is happening to us.
Is that how we feel today? Well, it’s not going to change; we’ll have to accept this as the new normal.
Never being able to go back to what it was?
If that’s the case, then the church will be the ones being mocked and ridiculed. If your God is so great, why are you letting the world dictate how you operate?
Why aren’t you doing something about it?
Enter Nehemiah. He calls the people out and tells them God can do this if we put all our effort into it. God isn’t going to do this by himself; he is going to do it using all of you!
And he starts with the leaders and important people.
And if you love your city so much why aren’t you doing something about it? The people had become accustomed to their situation. They accepted the status quo.
They thought it would never change, so let’s just go along to get along. Let’s not attempt anything, let’s just not rock the boat. It’s not perfect, but it’s comfortable, so. . . we’ll accept what is happening to us.
Is that how we feel today? Well, it’s not going to change; we’ll have to accept this as the new normal.
Never being able to go back to what it was?
If that’s the case, then the church will be the ones being mocked and ridiculed. If your God is so great, why are you letting the world dictate how you operate?
Why aren’t you doing something about it?
Enter Nehemiah. He calls the people out and tells them God can do this if we put all our effort into it. God isn’t going to do this by himself; he is going to do it using all of you!
And he starts with the leaders and important people.
Here we have the High Priest, who was set apart for Holy things, getting his sanctified hands dirty. He believed that rebuilding the wall was a ministry to the Lord.
Nobody is above doing hard work to advance the kingdom of God.
If you’ve been a Christian for a while and people see you as a leader of the faith, we need to be the first ones getting in the trenches to rebuild what the enemy has destroyed.
38 individual people and 42 different groups are mentioned in helping to rebuild.
And many others that are not named, but were vital in the rebuilding.
In other words, EVERYONE was a part of the work.
This chapter mentions rulers and priests, men and women, professional craftsmen, even outside workers.
If you’ve been a Christian for a while and people see you as a leader of the faith, we need to be the first ones getting in the trenches to rebuild what the enemy has destroyed.
38 individual people and 42 different groups are mentioned in helping to rebuild.
And many others that are not named, but were vital in the rebuilding.
In other words, EVERYONE was a part of the work.
This chapter mentions rulers and priests, men and women, professional craftsmen, even outside workers.
Since everything in God’s word is of significance, let’s look at the gates that were being rebuilt and see what that is telling us today.
SHEEP GATE
SHEEP GATE
Sacrificial animals were brought through this gate to be offered as the sacrifice.
The gate signifies Jesus Christ, the sacrifice for our sins.
In our desire to rebuild the shambles of the past, the very first thing we need to focus on is our relationship with Christ.
Every other gate comes after this one. In fact, as you go around the wall, the gates begin and end with the sheep gate.
He is the Alpha & Omega, beginning and the end.
The gate signifies Jesus Christ, the sacrifice for our sins.
In our desire to rebuild the shambles of the past, the very first thing we need to focus on is our relationship with Christ.
Every other gate comes after this one. In fact, as you go around the wall, the gates begin and end with the sheep gate.
He is the Alpha & Omega, beginning and the end.
If your relationship with Christ is off, nothing else will matter.
And everything that we do to rebuild is based on your faith and trust in Christ.
And everything that we do to rebuild is based on your faith and trust in Christ.
THE FISH GATE
As Christians, we are fishers of men.
Once we have a right relationship with Christ (Sheep Gate), our next step should be to reach others with the gospel.
We pray and believe for miracles and healing and we should, but the biggest miracle is someone coming to Christ.
If we want to really see the power of God and bona fide miracles, evangelize!
If we want to see this church explode with the presence of God, bring lost people in.
And that requires work. Not just physical labor, but prayer labor as well.
Again, there is a reason for the order of rebuilding.
Get right with God through Christ, bring others with you.
We pray and believe for miracles and healing and we should, but the biggest miracle is someone coming to Christ.
If we want to really see the power of God and bona fide miracles, evangelize!
If we want to see this church explode with the presence of God, bring lost people in.
And that requires work. Not just physical labor, but prayer labor as well.
Again, there is a reason for the order of rebuilding.
Get right with God through Christ, bring others with you.
THE OLD GATE
This is a unique name and meaning. The Old Gate was named from what is outside the gate, but when you entered the gate, you entered into what the Jews called The New Quarter or the New area of expansion.
Meaning, if you want to enter something new, you have to pass through something old. If we want to see God do something new in our church, we have to do what has always been done.
Something we might consider “old fashioned”.
I’m not talking about styles and music or anything visual.
I’m talking about prayer and fasting. Seems old fashioned, right?
We have these programs and specials, won’t they work?
They will, if we go through the old to see what God wants to do that’s new.
I have been reminded that we haven’t done that in quite a while.
We all want to see people come to Christ. What does the Bible say we need to do?
Meaning, if you want to enter something new, you have to pass through something old. If we want to see God do something new in our church, we have to do what has always been done.
Something we might consider “old fashioned”.
I’m not talking about styles and music or anything visual.
I’m talking about prayer and fasting. Seems old fashioned, right?
We have these programs and specials, won’t they work?
They will, if we go through the old to see what God wants to do that’s new.
I have been reminded that we haven’t done that in quite a while.
We all want to see people come to Christ. What does the Bible say we need to do?
We pray for God to send others to our families and friends to witness.
But how often do you think that we are the answer to someone else’s prayer for their family and friends?
Look at what Jesus said when the disciples couldn’t drive out a demon:
But how often do you think that we are the answer to someone else’s prayer for their family and friends?
Look at what Jesus said when the disciples couldn’t drive out a demon:
Thinking that we can win a spiritual battle by human wisdom and power will always fail.
If we are serious about seeing God move, then we need to spend serious time in prayer and fasting.
Either we let the situation stay as it is, and we are a weak church, unable to withstand what is happening to us, or we go on the offense and pray and fast for healings, salvations, deliverances.
Nehemiah didn’t let the hopeless situation he was facing stop him.
He just dug his heels in, prayed, fasted and worked.
If we are serious about seeing God move, then we need to spend serious time in prayer and fasting.
Either we let the situation stay as it is, and we are a weak church, unable to withstand what is happening to us, or we go on the offense and pray and fast for healings, salvations, deliverances.
Nehemiah didn’t let the hopeless situation he was facing stop him.
He just dug his heels in, prayed, fasted and worked.
THE VALLEY GATE
AKA The Challenge Gate
The valley usually represents a hard time in the believer’s life. “Going through the valley"
As you progress around the symbolic gates in a believer’s life, you will see a pattern.
First, you come to know Christ-a new believer, then you get excited and start telling everyone about Christ.
Then you want more of Jesus, so you begin to fast and pray.
And as soon as you start that, you will face some opposition.
You hit the valley gate. Things start to get hard, times get challenging and things don’t seem to go right.
No matter what you try, it doesn’t work.
As we start to rebuild after last year and we start going thru these gates, and commit to doing what is necessary, there is going to be a time of difficulty and discouragement.
We need to stay the course and not give in.
God will bring you through it.
And not only that, your faith will be built up as you see God actually working on your behalf.
The valley usually represents a hard time in the believer’s life. “Going through the valley"
As you progress around the symbolic gates in a believer’s life, you will see a pattern.
First, you come to know Christ-a new believer, then you get excited and start telling everyone about Christ.
Then you want more of Jesus, so you begin to fast and pray.
And as soon as you start that, you will face some opposition.
You hit the valley gate. Things start to get hard, times get challenging and things don’t seem to go right.
No matter what you try, it doesn’t work.
As we start to rebuild after last year and we start going thru these gates, and commit to doing what is necessary, there is going to be a time of difficulty and discouragement.
We need to stay the course and not give in.
God will bring you through it.
And not only that, your faith will be built up as you see God actually working on your behalf.
Once you are thru with that gate, you come to the:
DUNG GATE
DUNG GATE
This was exactly what the name means. It was the gate where people took their trash and excrements and burned it.
Have you ever had a commode back up? Or the trash not collected for several weeks? Pittsburgh had a garbage strike a few years ago, trash just collected, and it was ugly. It eventually became a health hazard.
That’s what happens to us personally if we don’t get rid of the things in our lives that defile us. And we know what they are.
We know the things in our lives that need to go because they are causing a spiritual health hazard in your life.
If we truly want to see God rebuild this church to a place where God knows it can be, then we need to take out the trash.
God will not work in or through us if we harbor sin.
Have you ever had a commode back up? Or the trash not collected for several weeks? Pittsburgh had a garbage strike a few years ago, trash just collected, and it was ugly. It eventually became a health hazard.
That’s what happens to us personally if we don’t get rid of the things in our lives that defile us. And we know what they are.
We know the things in our lives that need to go because they are causing a spiritual health hazard in your life.
If we truly want to see God rebuild this church to a place where God knows it can be, then we need to take out the trash.
God will not work in or through us if we harbor sin.
New Year’s resolutions seldom work. But I believe if we make a commitment to God to clean up, he will enable us to do it.
I believe that we are in the same position that Nehemiah was in, 1000’s of year ago. This past year has wreaked havoc on many things and people.
But I also believe that God wants the church and this church to start the rebuilding process.
We talked about it. We know what God has said in his word. The question is, are we willing to do it. It will take everyone who is listening to do their part.
Nehemiah had almost everyone working on it. Without that help, it wouldn’t have gotten done and the walls would still be down.
God wants us to re-group and trust him like never before and step up and do what is necessary for this church to thrive.
You know what happened when they were finished?
I believe that we are in the same position that Nehemiah was in, 1000’s of year ago. This past year has wreaked havoc on many things and people.
But I also believe that God wants the church and this church to start the rebuilding process.
We talked about it. We know what God has said in his word. The question is, are we willing to do it. It will take everyone who is listening to do their part.
Nehemiah had almost everyone working on it. Without that help, it wouldn’t have gotten done and the walls would still be down.
God wants us to re-group and trust him like never before and step up and do what is necessary for this church to thrive.
You know what happened when they were finished?
When we do God’s work, God’s way, there will be cause for personal joy in our lives.
And the world will see what God can do!
And the world will see what God can do!
Thank you for joining us!
If you haven't already, be sure to check out our website and follow us on social media @doverassembly! Have a great week!
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