Dover Assembly of God
1.24.2021 | Nehemiah - Week 7
Locations & Times
Dover Assembly of God
4790 Carlisle Rd, Dover, PA 17315, USA
Sunday 10:30 AM
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January 24, 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
Wednesday ~ PRAYER & FAST DAY
6:30 pm ~ Family Night
Saturday
6:30 pm ~ Spanish Service
UPCOMING EVENTS
Business Meeting Update
Our annual business meeting was held last Sunday and in addition to all the reports and updates, we said a temporary farewell to long-term board member, Gil Tunney as he was required to sit out for one term. We elected Paul Jones and Phil Stough as our newest board members. We also recognized the home-going of long time member and former board member, Bill Myers If you missed the meeting and would like a report, please see Pastor Jeff.
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.
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.
Ladies Bible Study
Due to lack of interest for a Zoom Bible study, we will postpone our study at this time. We will plan on having a 6-8 week Bible Study in April or May of this year. Stay tuned...
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!
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Feb 1 ~ Sheila Reed
Feb 2 ~ Daci Miller
Feb 3 ~ Edith Nunez
Feb 8 ~ Kendra Knaub
Feb 15 ~ Abigail Reed
Feb 26 ~ Lacey Shumaker
Feb 26 ~ Gary Landis
Feb 12 ~ Tom & Darlene Osborn
Join us for 21 in '21!
God Answers Prayer
21 Wednesdays of Fasting and Prayer
Wed., Jan. 6 ~ Wed., May 26, 2021
We will fast Breakfast and Lunch and take time to pray for:
Salvation for our families, friends and community
1 Timothy 2:3-4 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. NIV
Health for our families and church body
James 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. NIV
The Lord's direction for our property
Proverbs 2:6For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. NIV
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
Wednesday ~ PRAYER & FAST DAY
6:30 pm ~ Family Night
Saturday
6:30 pm ~ Spanish Service
UPCOMING EVENTS
Business Meeting Update
Our annual business meeting was held last Sunday and in addition to all the reports and updates, we said a temporary farewell to long-term board member, Gil Tunney as he was required to sit out for one term. We elected Paul Jones and Phil Stough as our newest board members. We also recognized the home-going of long time member and former board member, Bill Myers If you missed the meeting and would like a report, please see Pastor Jeff.
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.
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.
Ladies Bible Study
Due to lack of interest for a Zoom Bible study, we will postpone our study at this time. We will plan on having a 6-8 week Bible Study in April or May of this year. Stay tuned...
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!
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Feb 1 ~ Sheila Reed
Feb 2 ~ Daci Miller
Feb 3 ~ Edith Nunez
Feb 8 ~ Kendra Knaub
Feb 15 ~ Abigail Reed
Feb 26 ~ Lacey Shumaker
Feb 26 ~ Gary Landis
Feb 12 ~ Tom & Darlene Osborn
Join us for 21 in '21!
God Answers Prayer
21 Wednesdays of Fasting and Prayer
Wed., Jan. 6 ~ Wed., May 26, 2021
We will fast Breakfast and Lunch and take time to pray for:
Salvation for our families, friends and community
1 Timothy 2:3-4 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. NIV
Health for our families and church body
James 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. NIV
The Lord's direction for our property
Proverbs 2:6For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. NIV
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Week 7 - January 24, 2021 - Pastor Jeff Bender
We have been going through the life and times of Nehemiah and have discovered that through him, the power of God and the people determined to rebuild, they have started this difficult mission.
So last week, we saw the opposition to God’s work coming from the outside.
Nehemiah faced it head on and prepared the people to keep working, but always be ready to stand up against any attack from the enemy.
So last week, we saw the opposition to God’s work coming from the outside.
Nehemiah faced it head on and prepared the people to keep working, but always be ready to stand up against any attack from the enemy.
In any effort that is God directed, we need to be aware that there will always be the enemy ready to attack.
We have a similar admonition in the New Testament.
We have a similar admonition in the New Testament.
We learned that the enemy outside didn’t win that round.
The enemy does not give up that easily as we’ll see in later chapters.
But when he can’t win from the outside, he tries again from the inside.
But when he can’t win from the outside, he tries again from the inside.
We had a great work . . .
Started by a Great God . . .
Now we have a great outcry, but it wasn’t against the guys mentioned in the last chapter.
That was who was on the outside-the world today.
Now it was internal. It was against their fellow Jews.
What was happening?
As with any group of people, you will have those who are dedicated and hard-working, willing to sacrifice, and those who take advantage of the situation.
Now it was internal. It was against their fellow Jews.
What was happening?
As with any group of people, you will have those who are dedicated and hard-working, willing to sacrifice, and those who take advantage of the situation.
In this account, you have 4 different groups of people.
1) People that did not own land, but needed food.
2) Landowners who mortgaged their property to buy food and were eventually losing their property.
3) Those who were taxed so much that they couldn’t make enough to have food. They also had to mortgage their property and then lose it and sell their families into slavery to get food.
4) Wealthy Jews who exploited their brothers and took advantage of their need.
1) People that did not own land, but needed food.
2) Landowners who mortgaged their property to buy food and were eventually losing their property.
3) Those who were taxed so much that they couldn’t make enough to have food. They also had to mortgage their property and then lose it and sell their families into slavery to get food.
4) Wealthy Jews who exploited their brothers and took advantage of their need.
It wasn’t bad enough for the outsiders to oppress them, but now their own people were doing as much damage as those on the outside.
It’s one thing to face a common enemy and know your family or country is behind you. But it’s quite another to have even your own family or county against you.
And doesn’t that sound familiar?
The very thing they were working for, the ability to have property, a safe family, enough food, to be protected from the outside enemies, were all the reasoning behind rebuilding the wall, now even that was falling apart.
In other words, why rebuild the wall if I lose everything before it’s even done.
Nehemiah recognized the problem and again, went at it head on.
It’s one thing to face a common enemy and know your family or country is behind you. But it’s quite another to have even your own family or county against you.
And doesn’t that sound familiar?
The very thing they were working for, the ability to have property, a safe family, enough food, to be protected from the outside enemies, were all the reasoning behind rebuilding the wall, now even that was falling apart.
In other words, why rebuild the wall if I lose everything before it’s even done.
Nehemiah recognized the problem and again, went at it head on.
Have you ever heard that Christians shouldn’t be angry?
We get that from a misunderstood verse.
We get that from a misunderstood verse.
That means don’t go off half-cocked and do something that is sinful in response to your anger. It means to assess your anger and respond accordingly.
Today’s response for any conflict might be: “What is a popular decision for this problem?” In other words, what choice could I make that would make the most people happy.
Or: “What is a safe decision for this problem?” In other words, what would mean the least problems for me?
But we as believers like Nehemiah, should choose this response: “What is the right thing to do?” Regardless of popularity or safety to me.
Righteous anger may result in God allowing you to ponder it, then doing something about it.
Today’s response for any conflict might be: “What is a popular decision for this problem?” In other words, what choice could I make that would make the most people happy.
Or: “What is a safe decision for this problem?” In other words, what would mean the least problems for me?
But we as believers like Nehemiah, should choose this response: “What is the right thing to do?” Regardless of popularity or safety to me.
Righteous anger may result in God allowing you to ponder it, then doing something about it.
First: he pondered. This means he put his heart and head together. He didn’t go in all angry and mouthing off. He didn’t sin in his anger. He pondered the situation.
Whenever we get angry, we need to take a breather and ponder what is happening.
Maybe a cool down time-to properly assess the situation and see what God would have us do in response to it.
It doesn’t necessarily mean we sit down and do nothing. We just need to get God’s mind on it.
Which is what Nehemiah did, but then when he calmed down, he acted.
Whenever we get angry, we need to take a breather and ponder what is happening.
Maybe a cool down time-to properly assess the situation and see what God would have us do in response to it.
It doesn’t necessarily mean we sit down and do nothing. We just need to get God’s mind on it.
Which is what Nehemiah did, but then when he calmed down, he acted.
He didn’t go to each one individually, he called them all together to accuse them in public in front of everyone.
Their actions and sin had affected the whole nation so it had to be dealt with in front of the whole nation.
It demanded a public rebuke and public repentance. Matthew 18 has a procedure.
But when the sin is public, and in view of everyone, it needs to be corrected in front of everyone.
Anyone who doesn’t have a sense of outrage over gross injustice or mistreatment of helpless or innocent people, especially from within, may have already seared their conscience.
When Jesus flipped the tables and drove out the moneychangers with a whip, it was because they were taking advantage of the people who came to worship.
Their actions and sin had affected the whole nation so it had to be dealt with in front of the whole nation.
It demanded a public rebuke and public repentance. Matthew 18 has a procedure.
But when the sin is public, and in view of everyone, it needs to be corrected in front of everyone.
Anyone who doesn’t have a sense of outrage over gross injustice or mistreatment of helpless or innocent people, especially from within, may have already seared their conscience.
When Jesus flipped the tables and drove out the moneychangers with a whip, it was because they were taking advantage of the people who came to worship.
He deals with this on different levels.
First, he tries to get them emotionally. “You are doing this to your own people!” “Everyone outside this wall, hate us and we know that, but we shouldn’t expect hardship from our own family”.
Then he looks at history. He said, that over the years, beginning in Egypt, we have always bought back our brothers from slavery from the Gentiles.
It isn’t said here, but you can add the question he would ask: Why do you think we did that? So they could be free!!
Then he says that the very thing we freed them from you are dong to them again.
When they were confronted with that truth, what happened?
First, he tries to get them emotionally. “You are doing this to your own people!” “Everyone outside this wall, hate us and we know that, but we shouldn’t expect hardship from our own family”.
Then he looks at history. He said, that over the years, beginning in Egypt, we have always bought back our brothers from slavery from the Gentiles.
It isn’t said here, but you can add the question he would ask: Why do you think we did that? So they could be free!!
Then he says that the very thing we freed them from you are dong to them again.
When they were confronted with that truth, what happened?
When we confront a wrong being committed--- with the truth, there is no response they can give.
Hopefully that will be enough to convince them.
Hopefully that will be enough to convince them.
There will always be differing opinions in the church. The question is how do we settle it.
But as in this case, where one believer is oppressing another, Nehemiah is asking them “Don’t you fear God?”
But as in this case, where one believer is oppressing another, Nehemiah is asking them “Don’t you fear God?”
Remember he is confronting fellow Jews, not the outside world.
Whenever there is strife in the family of God, we need to remember whom to fear.
Are we honoring God with our actions? And what kind of testimony are we being to everyone else?
Paul addressed a similar issue in 1 Corinthians 6 . . .
Whenever there is strife in the family of God, we need to remember whom to fear.
Are we honoring God with our actions? And what kind of testimony are we being to everyone else?
Paul addressed a similar issue in 1 Corinthians 6 . . .
How often do we know what God says about something and yet we either don’t believe it, or we just ignore it?
In other words, we don’t really fear God. We think that we’ll just get away with it and maybe for a time you do. But we need to remember
In other words, we don’t really fear God. We think that we’ll just get away with it and maybe for a time you do. But we need to remember
The world loves it when believers fight amongst themselves and harm other believers.
Why is it such public news when a pastor falls? Or we get caught doing something that may not be wrong for the world but is wrong for us?
Why is it such public news when a pastor falls? Or we get caught doing something that may not be wrong for the world but is wrong for us?
The world mocks us when we act and live like them.
Acting like the world does not win people to Christ.
Living like Christ does.
Then Nehemiah leads by example.
Acting like the world does not win people to Christ.
Living like Christ does.
Then Nehemiah leads by example.
He was already lending money to those who needed it, (wasn’t broadcasting it) but he did not charge interest take collateral or require children be his slaves in payment.
Have you ever heard the phrase “Do as I say, not as I do?”
Parents are guilty of this at times. Hopefully preachers aren’t guilty of this, but I’m sure some are.
The point is, Nehemiah wasn’t asking anything of the wealthy Jews that he wasn’t already doing himself.
Dobson coined the phrase “More is caught than taught.” In reference to children learning more from watching their parents behave as opposed to just listening to them.”
Leaders need to set the example by being the example.
It’s much easier to follow someone who is working along-side of you, than someone watching you from afar.
Have you ever heard the phrase “Do as I say, not as I do?”
Parents are guilty of this at times. Hopefully preachers aren’t guilty of this, but I’m sure some are.
The point is, Nehemiah wasn’t asking anything of the wealthy Jews that he wasn’t already doing himself.
Dobson coined the phrase “More is caught than taught.” In reference to children learning more from watching their parents behave as opposed to just listening to them.”
Leaders need to set the example by being the example.
It’s much easier to follow someone who is working along-side of you, than someone watching you from afar.
It’s one thing to tell them what they are doing wrong; it’s another to tell them what they need to do to fix it.
You ever have someone always tell you what you are doing wrong. But never offering and idea of how to do it right?
Restoring all the money and property wouldn’t solve the immediate crisis of no food, but it sure would alleviate the worry and fear that the people had about losing their property and children.
It’s kind of like a pre-Jubilee year blessing.
If you don’t know, the Old Testament law required every 50 years that all property be restored to it’s original owners, all debts forgiven.
You ever have someone always tell you what you are doing wrong. But never offering and idea of how to do it right?
Restoring all the money and property wouldn’t solve the immediate crisis of no food, but it sure would alleviate the worry and fear that the people had about losing their property and children.
It’s kind of like a pre-Jubilee year blessing.
If you don’t know, the Old Testament law required every 50 years that all property be restored to it’s original owners, all debts forgiven.
This is the desired result from any confrontation.
When you see something happening within the family of God, get angry about it, ponder what your response should be and then act on it as God directs.
The problem is acknowledged, agreed to and repented of.
But just to be sure, Nehemiah made them vow to God that what they said they will do.
Being priests and nobles, they would know what the bible said about taking a vow before God.
It was a serious thing.
When you see something happening within the family of God, get angry about it, ponder what your response should be and then act on it as God directs.
The problem is acknowledged, agreed to and repented of.
But just to be sure, Nehemiah made them vow to God that what they said they will do.
Being priests and nobles, they would know what the bible said about taking a vow before God.
It was a serious thing.
It reminded me of the adage that was popularized by Ronald Regan.
“Trust but verify”
Nehemiah trusted what they said, but to verify their faithfulness in doing it, he had them make the vow to God, not to him.
“Trust but verify”
Nehemiah trusted what they said, but to verify their faithfulness in doing it, he had them make the vow to God, not to him.
The business meeting turned into a worship service.
Whenever conflict is managed God’s way, there should always be a resolution and after that, thanksgiving to God and worshipping God’s wisdom in strengthening the body.
A broken leg not set right will always be a source of pain and anguish.
A broken leg set properly, the point of breaking becomes stronger than it was before the break.
When pursuing God’s work in rebuilding, we can anticipate conflict from without. And we shouldn’t be surprised if there are some internal skirmishes.
But we should always be ready to defend those from without and to reconcile those from within.
When that happens, we become stronger, God is glorified and His work continues and is completed.
Whenever conflict is managed God’s way, there should always be a resolution and after that, thanksgiving to God and worshipping God’s wisdom in strengthening the body.
A broken leg not set right will always be a source of pain and anguish.
A broken leg set properly, the point of breaking becomes stronger than it was before the break.
When pursuing God’s work in rebuilding, we can anticipate conflict from without. And we shouldn’t be surprised if there are some internal skirmishes.
But we should always be ready to defend those from without and to reconcile those from within.
When that happens, we become stronger, God is glorified and His work continues and is completed.
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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