Say So
Moody-Leon United Methodist Church
Moody First United Methodist
Rev. Eddie Smart
Psalm 107:1-7O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
those he redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to an inhabited town;
hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress;
he led them by a straight way,
until they reached an inhabited town.
When John Benjamin Wesley was only 6 years old the rectory at Epworth was set on fire. John was in the second story window screaming for help. All the other family members were safe outside group of men form human ladder to rescue him. From that point on Susannah Wesley called John, “A brand plucked from the burning.” (This a reference to a vision of Joshua in Zachariah 3:2) John shared with the world the rest of his life how he was redeemed by God that day in 1709.
On May 24, 1738 John Wesley entered these words in his journal: In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.
Ten years after John Benjamin Wesley was ordained a priest in the Church of England. He had this life changing experience at Aldersgate. John continued his ministry with increased zeal. He constantly shared with others how God had been good to him.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…
Three days prior to John’s Aldersgate experience, on May 21, 1738, Charles Wesley had a similar experience. On the one year anniversary of this experience, Charles wrote a hymn telling the world about it. The hymn was called “For the Anniversary Day of One’s Conversion.”
With the words of this hymn, Charles Wesley shared with the world his personal experience of God. He shared how he knew God’s love for him. He shared how he knew God’s steadfast love endures forever.
You may not be familiar with many of this hymn’s 17 verses. You are familiar with verse 7.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my dear Redeemer’s praise!
The glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…
A few years ago, Bishop Ntambo from the Methodist Church in Africa visited our Conference. He was in the Ft. Worth West District.
Friends from that district told me about his message to us. Bishop Ntambo was also in the Fort Worth East district, and I missed hearing him, BUT again friends reported being moved by his message.
Bishop Ntambo spoke of the contrast between here & Africa. For example, have you purchased tooth paste lately. I use Crest. I went to buy some, and I had trouble finding my type of Crest. There are different flavors. There is the choice of paste or gel. There is Crest for: Tartar control - Cavity control -Gum disease control - sensitive teeth. Toothpaste covered shelves to 5 feet high and probably 20 feet long.
When Bishop Ntambo buys tooth paste, he purchased the ONE that is available.
We have two adults in a family and two cars. Add two teens that drive and add two more cars. The Bishop comes from a part of the world were there are two cars per community - one for the Dr. & one for the missionary.
Bishop Ntambo said, “Don’t get the wrong idea. I am not begrudging Americans any of these blessings.” “You American’s have many blessings for which to be thankful. BUT we too are blessed! We have the one. We have Jesus.”
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…
Some time ago I attended a Bible Study called Bible Study Fellowship — abbreviated BSF. It is a study which goes from September through May. In the study there was a great deal of personal sharing within small groups. But at the end of the year, there was a special time of sharing. This time was called “Say So.”
The Fort Worth group of men with whom I met included about 250 men from around Arlington & Ft. Worth. Say - So was our very last meeting each year. All 250 or so would gather for a fellowship meal. Following the meal, those who chose to would share with the rest of the group what God had done in their lives that year
It was a time of thanksgiving, It was a time of celebrating. It was a time of giving glory to God for what God had done. It was a time to recognize God’s steadfast love. It was a time to share the good news of God’s grace.
Say - So was a powerfully inspiring time. Why? Because people we had been with each week for 32 weeks shared with each other what God had been doing in their lives. God is no longer out there some where. God is active in lives of people we know.
The gospel message is: God’s steadfast love is showered on everyone. God’s steadfast love is free to all. All we have to do is accept it.
God redeems us from our sins, our tribulations, our troubles, and, yes, even from ourselves.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…