The Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church service on March 2, 2019 began with Rodney Herra welcoming everyone and making a few announcements.
Jeremy Westcott played an introit. Pastor Cory Pitman had the invocation, and the congregation sang “This Is My Father’s World”. Rodney Herra had the main prayer; the congregation responded with “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”. Michael (junior) then called for the offering. Saul and Daryen (juniors) then collected the morning offerings; the loose offering went to the local church budget. The congregation sang the doxology, and Michael prayed for the offering.
Yzznne (freshman) told the children a story about a fire she started that got out of control. Gustavo (junior) sang a Spanish song, accompanied by Eric (senior) on the piano. Mark (junior) then read Psalm 24:7-10“7 ¶ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who [is] this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift [them] up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he [is] the King of glory. Selah.”
Pastor Cory Pitman discussed the topic “Meeting at the Gate”. The congregation sang “Sweet By and By”. Pastor Pitman had the closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Jeremy Westcott – teaches some of the academy classes
Pastor Cory Pitman – retired pastor working with the nearby Brayton church and a prison ministry
Rodney Herra – head local elder / has an auto repair business on Highway 30
Following are some notes on the sermon:
- Some gates have a key code to use when you wanted to come in. Purpose was to keep people out.
- In Bible times, gates were a place to do business and obtain legal judgments.
- Luke 7:11-12 “11 ¶ And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.”
- In Jesus’ day, this widow’s only source of survival is gone.
- In the Jewish economy, God had built in sources of survival for widows. The nearest of kin or “redeemer” could provide for a widow. Illustration – Boaz and Ruth.
- Every 50 years land was returned to the original owners although it was not commonly done in Israel.
- Luke 7:13 “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.”
- Luke 7:14-15 “14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare [him] stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.”
- All of a sudden, the woman has certainty in Jesus at the city gate. A funeral is going out while resurrection is coming in at the gate.
- Luke 7:16-17 “16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.”
- Mark 15:21-22 “21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. 22 ¶ And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.”
- This man was coming for the Passover feast and is approaching the city gate. He hears calls for crucifixion and is quickly caught up in the Jesus’ procession to the cross.
- Jesus’ and Simon’s eyes met. Simon never forgot that look. No man can look to Jesus and remain the same.
- Simon’s sons’ names apparently are important because Paul mentions them as believers.
- Simon met Jesus at the gates, and Simon’s life changed. He started to understand Jesus better.
- Acts 3:2-6 “2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”
- This man could have disbelieved what Peter said.
- Acts 3:7-8 “7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted [him] up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”
- Peter and the man met at the temple gate. This man received physical and spiritual healing at the gate.
- Peter’s ministry was a healing ministry. They met with the man at the Gate Beautiful.
- Revelation 21:12-13 “12 And had a wall great and high, [and] had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.”
- These gates are different. A prison gate restricts liberty. But these gates makes the city inclusive, inviting people to come and go within and without with freedom.
- Psalm 118:19-20 “19 ¶ Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, [and] I will praise the LORD: 20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.”
- This gate is opened forevermore by the blood of Christ for the redeemed, those committed to Jesus Christ.
- Ellen White says that God intervened in the lives of God’s people to bring them to glory.
- Psalm 24:7-10 “7 ¶ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who [is] this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift [them] up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he [is] the King of glory. Selah.”
- Jesus will open the gates of the city and invites all the redeemed in. Then Jesus, the second Adam, meets the first Adam and takes him to the Tree of Life and invites Adam to eat.
- These gates are inclusive for whoever will come and eat. Do you want to be there?