Hope Assembly of God

Today we worshiped at Hope Assembly of God, 3008 Cleveland Avenue, Hopewell Township, PA 15001, 724.378.7864, www.thehopepage.com, Janet Giles, Pastor.

Scripture – John 11:1-44 NIV

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

Jesus wept.

Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Bob’s thoughts:

It always surprises me what I remember when we revisit a church. I remembered the pastor and worship leader, but little else; nothing outside looked familiar. When we sat down almost in the same pew where we sat four years ago, I remembered a couple with a baby who had a host of serious problems; I felt a strong call to go to the narthex and lay hands and pray for this little girl. My wife joined me to pray for complete recovery. When I tried to check on her condition sometime later, we learned the couple were also first-time visitors. The call to pray was so strong that I don’t doubt God answered prayers and healed her.

When the praise worship was to begin, there was the sounding of a ram’s horn and a long brass horn that caught us both off guard. I had some trouble hearing after that.

The message was about Christ’s raising Lazarus. A thought that stuck out for me: “with the resurrection, we will realize no joy in sin.”

A highlight for me was the call to pray in gratitude before receiving a blessing.

Jan’s thoughts:

It has been nearly 4½ years since our last visit here. It is still a pretty sanctuary, decorated much the same as I recalled. The windows were clear glass block with pink glass block in the shape of a cross.

A gentleman greeted us and kindly held the door for us to enter, and we were welcomed by several folks prior to and after the service.

The first 45 minutes or so consisted of worship through music. Though I was unfamiliar with the songs, I enjoyed the impromptu use of bells and tambourines by members of the congregation.

I do not recall hearing a shofar or trumpet used in worship before, so the volume surprised me, though they were intriguing.

The message was entitled “Jesus’ Perfect Timing” in which the pastor taught through the Scripture about the death and raising of Lazarus.

She stated that Thomas, also known as “the twin,” is believed by some to have been called that because he looked so much like Jesus. This is the first time I’ve heard this. I always supposed Thomas must have had a twin. She pointed out this would have put him at special risk…a remarkable perspective.

The pastor told a personal story about an issue faced by her late husband. Some time after they had buried two of their children, her husband was losing his eyesight. One day he heard God urge him to praise Him. Her husband obeyed and his sight was restored. The pastor pointed out that when we pray for things, we should be thanking God in faith even before we see His response.

She pointed out a striking detail of the story of Lazarus also: when Lazarus walked out of the tomb, Jesus instructed those nearby to remove his graveclothes, knowing at some point Lazarus would need them again. But when Jesus left His tomb, He left His graveclothes behind as He would never need them again. A nice touch, I think.

Our prayer for this church:

Heavenly Father, we pray Your continued blessing on Your small church full of prayer warriors. Amen.

Hope Assembly of God

Today we worshiped at Hope Assembly of God, 3008 Cleveland Avenue, Aliquippa, PA 15001, 724.378.7864, www.thehopepage.com, Janet Giles, Pastor.

Scripture: Luke 8:40-56

Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”

They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Bob’s thoughts:

Sometimes I have an inkling that it is to be a special day in worship and today it proved true. Many churches have newspaper ads at Christmas and Easter and we thought we were choosing this church on the basis of their start time. Today’s was an extended prayer and healing worship service.

We were warmly welcomed by most of the church and the restroom locations were pointed out. A number of people commented on my Semper Fi shirt and someone thanked me for my service.

There was a cross on the wall, on the clear acrylic lectern, and the glass block window had crosses in tinted block.

The previous pastor died after an extended battle with cancer and I think God used that to develop the healing prayer ministry here.

Most of the music in this small church was borderline too loud for me but it did soften a bit with a long duet.

The message was based on some healing Scriptures, in particular Luke 8:40-56 about Christ’s traveling to heal Jairus’ daughter and the woman touching the fringe of Jesus’ cloak and being healed from a 12-year bleeding issue. Christ was clear that her faith was why she was healed. When Christ gets to Jarius’ house it is too late for conventional healing but perfect for a God lesson. Jesus gave them back their daughter who was dead.

The powerful message brought back some painful memories of when our son was killed. God had used me in some miraculous healings, and seeing my son’s body I knew that I had Christ’s power in me to raise our son whole and healthy. I knew it to the very core of my being and I know it now.

But I knew God didn’t want me to pray for that healing (I tried anyhow). It is seldom that I feel that call to heal anymore, but today felt the need to pray for a baby with some serious medical issues. We were privileged to lay on hands and pray for this child.

The pastor was right on track when she said God is not restricted in how He accomplishes healing and touch is important, but it may be the surgeon’s God-given skill that brings healing.

Jan’s thoughts:

A gentleman greeter noticed visitors approaching the door and held the door open for us while greeting us and handing us a welcome folder as we entered the building. We were warmly greeted by more folks before worship began, and the welcoming continued even afterward.

The pretty sanctuary is decorated simply with two large TV screens in the front and a purple-draped cross with a crown of thorns on the side wall.

The words to the music were large enough to be seen from the (almost) back row where we sat and the sound system was more than ample.

Each glass block window displayed a cross created with pink-colored glass block.

The pastor announced that this would be a healing service, then proceeded into the sermon during which she stressed that God gives medical science their abilities and knowledge and that He works differently for each person. We are to believe, pray, and step forward in faith. It was obvious that the power of prayer is held in high esteem and accessed constantly.

When the pastor gave the word, the Prayer Team (each wearing her shawl) joined the pastor and anyone desiring laying on of hands and prayer came forward starting with a mother and her less-than-1-year-old. The prayer mantle was placed on the baby and prayers were prayed, followed by many other members of the congregation.

As parents who have lost a child, this message was hard to hear, but even more odd to me was the fact that for the last couple of days I’ve been speaking with God in my devotional time about prayer. This is something I struggle with because I prayed often for safe passage for our son who was killed in an automobile accident. I’ve come to realize that God promises to always hear our prayers and always answer them, but He does not promise that the answer will always be “yes.” We interpret His “yes” as an indication of prayers heard and answered and we mention how good God is. We hear His “no” as proof that He somehow missed our request and seldom talk about His goodness at these times.

I believe God hears and answers our prayers, but experience has taught me that the answers are not always what we hope for. I know our son is entirely whole, healed, and happy beyond measure, and I’m just as certain that when I see him again I’ll never again have to say goodbye. In the meantime – for the rest of my life – I must take it on faith that God’s sovereign decision was best. I believe it…I just don’t always feel it, and I suppose that’s the essence of faith – believing without seeing.

Our prayer for this church:
Holy Lord, we pray You continue to encourage this congregation in their prayer and healing ministry. May Your Name be always on their lips. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.