{"id":1063,"date":"2018-09-30T14:16:58","date_gmt":"2018-09-30T21:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1063"},"modified":"2018-09-30T14:20:50","modified_gmt":"2018-09-30T21:20:50","slug":"the-good-lord-grants-good-helpers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/30\/the-good-lord-grants-good-helpers\/","title":{"rendered":"The Good Lord Grants Good Helpers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1063-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Pentecost-19-09-30-18.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Pentecost-19-09-30-18.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Pentecost-19-09-30-18.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">September 30, 2018<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Numbers 11:16, 17, 24-29<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Good Lord Grants Good Helpers<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoBodyText\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">The L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> said to Moses:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cBring me seventy of Israel\u2019s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So Moses went out and told the people what the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> had said.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the Tent.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the Tent.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A young man ran and told Moses, \u201cEldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses\u2019 aid since youth, spoke up and said, \u201cMoses, my lord, stop them!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But Moses replied, \u201cAre you jealous for my sake?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I wish that all the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">\u2019s people were prophets and that the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> would put his Spirit on them!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Have you ever been in a situation where you were working very hard at something while someone else was just standing there watching you work?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How did it make you feel?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Were you angry?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Did you become frustrated?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Did you get to a point where you felt like just giving up?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Have you ever been in a situation where you were working very hard at something and then someone stepped up to help you?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now how did you feel?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Were you relieved?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Were you thankful?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Were you re-invigorated to continue your work?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Our text for this morning focuses our attention on a very tense time in the relationship between God\u2019s people Israel and God\u2019s servant, Moses.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As we observe this situation let\u2019s see how it illustrates a truth that still holds true right down to this very day.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That truth is this:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">The Good Lord Grants Good Helpers.<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are two questions we want to address this morning.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The first question is\u2014 Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why does the good Lord grant good helpers?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The second question is \u2014 Who?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Who are the good helpers that the good Lord grants?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Why does the good Lord grant good helpers?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>To answer that question we need to look at the larger context in which we find our sermon text for today. In Numbers chapter eleven we see that God\u2019s servant Moses had become very frustrated in the work that the good Lord had given him to do.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why was Moses frustrated?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In Numbers 11:1-15 we\u2019re told that God\u2019s people had once again begun to grumble against the Lord, their God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The people of Israel were tired of the manna that God had graciously been providing for them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God\u2019s people wanted meat\u2014 like they had back in Egypt.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Israel\u2019s grumbling not only angered the Lord, but it also frustrated Moses.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Numbers 11:10)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Moses\u2019 frustration comes out very clearly in verses 13 and 14.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We hear him say, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWhere can I get meat for all these people?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They keep wailing to me, \u2018Give us meat to eat!\u2019<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, my friends, sometimes even God\u2019s servants feel frustrated and overwhelmed by the work that God has given them to do.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">That reality helps us to understand the answer to the question of\u2014 Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why does the good Lord grant good helpers to His servants?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at the opening portion of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We read, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThe L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> said to Moses, \u2018Bring me seventy of Israel\u2019s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Why does the good Lord grant good helpers to His servants?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because the good Lord cares!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because the good Lord is concerned!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God was concerned about His servant Moses.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God was concerned about His people Israel.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God was concerned about His work getting done.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So what did God do?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In His grace and in His mercy the good Lord granted His servant Moses good helpers\u2014 people who would help Moses carry out God\u2019s work among God\u2019s people.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">That brings us to our second question\u2014 Who?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Who were the helpers that the good Lord provided for Moses?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are two parts to the answer to that question.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, God told Moses to select seventy men who were <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cknown as leaders and officials among the people.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God wanted Moses to make sure that the men who helped him carry out God\u2019s work were men who would be respected by God\u2019s people as well as men who would set a good example for God\u2019s people to follow.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Second, look at verse 25 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We\u2019re told, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThen the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> came down in the cloud and spoke with him <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">(Moses),<i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"> and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Notice very closely, my friends, that what made these men good helpers for Moses was not simply their natural abilities.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While these men were indeed <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cleaders and officials among the people,\u201d<\/i> God is the One who supplied them with the power they needed to be good helpers for God\u2019s servant, Moses.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How did God supply these men with power?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ctook of the Spirit that was on <\/i>(Moses) <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">and put the Spirit on the seventy elders.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Picture in your mind our Christmas Eve service here at church.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I light my candle from the Christ-candle on the Advent wreath.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then from my candle all your candles are lit.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Is my candle in any way diminished?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not at all!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In fact, one might even say that my candle is \u201cenhanced\u201d by your candles.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s what the good Lord did for Moses here in our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Without diminishing Moses in any way whatsoever, the good Lord granted Moses good helpers\u2014 men who would enhance the work of the Lord being carried out among the people of the Lord.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Now look at the closing verses of our text, verses 26-29.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We\u2019re told that two of the men, Eldad and Medad, did not come to the Tent of Meeting as they had been told.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Did that prevent the Lord from empowering them with His Holy Spirit?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not at all!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God still used them to carry out His work.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We\u2019re told that they <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cprophesied in the camp,\u201d<\/i> or we might say, they proclaimed God\u2019s Word to God\u2019s people right where they were.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And when Joshua, Moses\u2019 faithful aid, heard about what was happening in the camp, he reacted in much the same way as Jesus\u2019 disciples in our Gospel lesson for today (Mark 9:38-41).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Joshua said, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cMoses, my lord, stop them!\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And what was Moses\u2019 response?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Moses said, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI wish that all the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u2019s people were prophets and that the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> would put his Spirit on them!\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Moses was willing to take as many good helpers as the good Lord was willing to grant!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">While this account recorded here in our text is both interesting and insightful, does it really have any application in our lives and in our church today?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In other words, does the good Lord still grant good helpers in His church today?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The answer to that question is a resounding\u2014 yes!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Let\u2019s see how this text applies to our lives and to our church today by asking the same two questions.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First\u2014 Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why does the good Lord grant good helpers in His church today?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Second\u2014 Who?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Who are the helpers that the good Lord grants today?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Why does the good Lord still grant good helpers in His church today?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because there are times when God\u2019s servants today become just as frustrated and just as overwhelmed as Moses was here in our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think about it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Satan is still working just as viciously among God\u2019s people today as he was in the days of Moses.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Satan still uses anything and everything he can to get God\u2019s people to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cgrumble.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Like Moses, God\u2019s servants today can get to a point where they say, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Verse 14)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Does God still care about His servants today?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Is God still concerned about His people and about His work getting done today?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Absolutely!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So what does the good Lord still do?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The good Lord still grants good helpers in His church today!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">That leads us to our second question:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Who are the good helpers that the good Lord grants to His church today?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While there are a number of ways to answer that question, we will look at just two.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Let\u2019s start with the most obvious answer to that question.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Due to the way that our church is organized, the good helpers that the good Lord grants to whomever is the pastor here in this congregation are found in our elected leaders.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>These are men who through regular use of God\u2019s holy Word and regular reception of God\u2019s holy Supper are being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>These are men who help the pastor proclaim God\u2019s Word to you, God\u2019s people.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>These are men who help carry out the Kingdom work here in our midst.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you are feeling weak and weary, they will help point you to the cross for guidance and for strength.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you are troubled by your sins, they will help point you to the cross for the assurance that through faith in what Jesus has done for you, all of your sins are completely forgiven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you lose sight of why it is important to come to church, why it is important to receive the holy Supper on a regular basis, why it is important to continue to grow in your understanding of Scripture by attending Bible class, they will help point you to the cross to remind you of how awesome our God is and how amazing it is to learn even more about what the God of heaven has revealed to us here in His holy Word.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, my friends, the elected leaders of our congregation are included among good helpers that have been granted to us by the good Lord Himself.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Perhaps a less obvious yet just as important answer to the question of who are the good helpers that the good Lord grants today is very simply\u2014 <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">you!<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You come into contact with people whom I and our elected leaders might never meet.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Share the Truth of God\u2019s Word with them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You might look around in church on Sunday morning and say to yourself, \u201cI haven\u2019t seen John and Marlys for a long time.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I wonder if they are Okay?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Call them on the phone when you get home from church today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Send them a card this week.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Invite them to dinner.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do whatever you can to encourage them to come to church on a regular basis.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, my friends, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">you<\/i><\/b> are included among the good helpers that the good Lord grants so that His work can be carried out among His people.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Have you ever been in a situation where you were working very hard at something while someone else was just standing there watching you work?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How did you feel?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Have you ever been in a situation where you were working very hard at something and someone did step up and help you?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How did that make you feel?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Take those two scenarios and apply them to the work of God\u2019s Kingdom here on this earth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Instead of standing on the sidelines and watching as other people do the work, instead of standing on the sidelines wondering why this isn\u2019t getting done or criticizing how that is getting done, lift up your eyes to the cross (Pointing to the cross) and remember.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Lift up your eyes to the cross and remember what the good Lord has done for you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Lift up your eyes to the cross and remember that the good Lord still grants good helpers in His church today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Lift up your eyes to the cross and remember that <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">you <\/i><\/b>are one of those helpers.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Lift up your eyes to the cross and humbly ask yourself, \u201cWhat can I do to help?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<p> <\/font><\/p>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Pentecost-19-09-30-18.mp3\">Pentecost-19-09-30-18.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 30, 2018 Numbers 11:16, 17, 24-29 The Good Lord Grants Good Helpers &nbsp; The LORD said to Moses:&nbsp; \u201cBring me seventy of Israel\u2019s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people.&nbsp; Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you.\u201d&nbsp; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1063","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1063"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1063\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}