Women's Ministries Programs

Sunday Evening Message

Talkin’ Story ‘Bout God

The theme of this meeting is based on the Hawaiian Islands’ expression “talkin’ story.” Decorate the hall with tropical island elements: palm trees, beach chairs, beach towels, leis and Hawaiian posters. Give everyone a plastic or shell lei as they arrive. To engage all the senses, play Hawaiian music and scent the hall with tropical flower plug–in air scents in gardenia or plumeria fragrances. After the meeting serve tropical refreshments: pineapple chunks, papaya or macadamia nut cookies and Hawaiian punch.

Introduction

For years and even today, a favorite pastime for the people of Hawaii has been to sit down, preferably under a palm tree next to the ocean, and talk story. “Talkin’ story” is an island expression describing a casual friendly chat, which often includes reminiscing and remembering. We may not have warm balmy weather, real palm trees or crystal blue sea, but we do have the most essential element for talkin’ story—each other!

As we talk story about our God, we remember that He is an eternal God and His story isn’t merely a recent event. It goes as far back as time itself. How wonderful that God’s story reveals a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever. The God of the Old Testament story is the same God revealed in Jesus in the New Testament and the very same God who is working in our lives, our own story, today.

• Let’s talk story about God’s provision.

You may have heard of the aloha spirit of the people of Hawaii. This expression describes the attitude of kindness and generosity that is so valued in the culture and customs of Hawaii. It is the aloha spirit that makes Hawaiian hospitality so gracious, that causes Hawaiian drivers to allow you to pull in front of them in heavy traffic. Did you know that a Hawaiian would never arrive at a friend’s house  empty–handed? Even if you are the one who invited them for dinner, they will show up with some sort of gift, such as a plate of “ono” (delicious) treats to share. Someone with the aloha spirit constantly considers others’ needs and makes provision for them.

Today we’re talkin’ story about a loving and gracious God who would feel right at home in Hawaii, because He is the perfection of the aloha spirit. He is a God who constantly thinks about the needs of His beloved children by providing deliverance and freedom.

1. Old Testament Deliverance Story (Exodus 3:7–10)

The children of Israel were living lives of horrific slavery in Egypt when a loving God heard their cry and remembered His people by providing a deliverer, Moses. While the journey and process of their deliverance was not all smooth sailing, we remember with joy the end of the story. They were delivered out of their bondage and slavery in Egypt and were led into the Promised Land—a land flowing with milk and honey.

b. New Testament Deliverance Story

That Old Testament story parallels what Jesus did for us when He came to earth. Just like those children of Israel slaving away in Egypt, the Bible teaches that we are all born into slavery (Rom. 3:23). We are slaves to sin and we need deliverance. God once again provides the deliverer—Jesus. Through our acceptance of His provision for our  forgiveness, through His death on the cross and resurrection, Jesus brought us out of our slavery into relationship with God (Rom 6:5–7,22,23). He provided eternal and abundant life (John 3:16,10:10).

Today many people are in bondage and need deliverance. They are in bondage to their need for the approval of others, materialism, jealousy, substance and food addictions, pride and selfishness. Even today God is still is in the business of providing deliverance. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). We can live lives of freedom because of the forgiveness and power available through Jesus Christ.

II. Let’s talk story about God’s promises.

In a place like Hawaii that loves to talk story, there are many legends that develop. One Hawaiian legend says that if anyone takes a piece of lava away from the islands, they will be cursed with bad luck. Whether the legend is true or not, the Hawaiian post office stores a large collection of lava pieces sent back from tourists who link their bad luck with the piece of lava they took from Hawaii. Another popular legend says that if a visitor throws their flower lei into the Hawaiian surf and the lei floats back to the shore instead of drifting away, that person will return one day to Hawaii.

When it comes to our God, we need to remember He’s not a god of legends. Rather He is a God of promises that are always sure and true. You simply can’t talk story about God and forget to mention His promises. Throughout the Old Testament the Scripture records God’s promises, the covenants, He makes with His people.

a. God’s Old Testament Covenants

God promised Abraham that he would be father to a great nation that would bless the whole earth (Gen. 12:1–3). Several hundred years later, He promised Moses that he would lead that same nation out of slavery and into their promised land (Exod. 6:4–8). He gave Moses the Books of the Law, which documented the covenant. Hundreds of years after that, God promised David that he would be the king of that same nation and that his descendant would rule forever (2 Sam. 7:12–16).

The elements of the Old Testament covenants varied. Sometimes they included conditions—man’s responsibilities to fulfill, and sometimes they included consequences (blessings or punishments) related to man’s fulfilling or not fulfilling those  responsibilities. However, in every case, God’s covenants always included His commitment or promise to man. Old Testament covenants were often sealed

with a ratification ceremony that included the spilling of blood. When God gave the children of Israel the Law and Moses read it to them (Exodus 24:8), the people promised

their obedience and Moses then sprinkled them with the blood of a slain bull. It was the sign of their covenant.

b. God’s New Testament Covenant (Luke 22:20)

While God has never broken His side of any covenant He has made with man, the Old Testament records many instances of God’s people breaking their side and being unfaithful to God. The Old Testament prophets looked forward and prophesied of a future new covenant with God that would be very different from the other covenants. God says how it will be different in Jeremiah 31:31–33, ”I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people” (verse 33). This new covenant would be transformational. It wouldn’t be just a law written on tablets of stone. God’s law would actually become a part of His people as He wrote it on their hearts and they would be faithful to Him.

Ezekiel 36:26–27 further elaborates on this new covenant, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws.”

These prophecies about a new covenant were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The elements of this covenant are much the same as the Old Testament covenants, concluding with the spilling of Jesus’ blood as He gave His life on the cross. Jesus, the “sacrificial Lamb” was perfect and, therefore, would be final sacrifice for sin. There was no further need for spilling of blood; no need for any subsequent covenant. Jesus, on the night before He died, gave His disciples a cup and told them to drink it. “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). The sign of the covenant again was blood, but this time it was not sprinkled on the outside, but received internally on the inside, symbolizing the internal nature of the new covenant. Today, God is still a God of promises. We are people of the new covenant and we receive the blessings of that covenant every day, if we fulfill our side of the agreement—if we accept the Christ of the new covenant as our Savior, letting Him transform our hearts and shape us into new creations from the inside out.

III. Let’s talk story about God’s presence.

Many will agree that one of the most wonderful customs of the Hawaiian culture is the giving of a beautiful flower lei. When it is put around your neck, you are enveloped in the

sweetness of the fragrant Hawaiian flowers from which it is made. No matter where you travel during the day—from the sandy beach to the waterfalls, from the tall mountain cliffs, to the lush valleys, from the office building to their home—the fragrance never leaves you.

Just as the sweet fragrance of the Hawaiian flowers hovers around the wearer of the lei, the presence of our God is constantly with His children. The sweetness of His presence is always with us. General John Gowans wrote, “Ours is not a distant God, remote, feeling …” How true, our loving God draws near to us and His presence never leaves.

a. Old Testament Presence of God.

For the children of Israel making their way through the desert to the Promised Land, the Tabernacle symbolized the presence of God. They carefully constructed this tent of worship to God’s exact specifications, and when it was dedicated, God Himself filled the most holy place  with His glorious presence. The presence of the tabernacle in the camp constantly reminded the Israelites that God was indeed present with them (Exodus 25:8) and was leading them (Numbers 9:15–23). The presence of God with them meant they would always know what to do, where to go and which battles to fight. All they had to do

was to ask the Lord’s guidance and then obey.

b. New Testament Presence of God

The angel of the Lord told Joseph, “’The virgin [Mary] will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’—which means, ‘God with us’” (Matt. 1:23). God indeed was with us in bodily form when Jesus walked the earth. But even after His death, resurrection and ascension back into heaven, He didn’t abandon us. He gave us a great promise with the great commission “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). In John 14:15–18 Jesus promised that even though He was leaving, He was not abandoning us, but would send a Comforter to be alongside of us. Today we have the presence of God constantly with us because the Holy Spirit is living in us (1 Cor. 3:16,17).

Just as the Israelites were guided by the presence of God in their midst, so we, as Christians with the Holy Spirit of God within us, know where to go and what to do. We need only to seek the Lord’s guidance and then obey. We have the assurance that He won’t abandon us (John 14:16–18, 16:13–15). He is with us always!

Conclusion

We’ve been “talkin’ story,” remembering the God of the Old Testament and His Son, Jesus, as revealed in the New Testament. We’ve talked about God’s provision for our freedom, about His promises and about His presence with us today.

Do you remember a time when you accepted the provision God made for your freedom? Have you asked for forgiveness for your sins? If so, are you still walking in that freedom

today or are there some areas of your life where you’re not enjoying the freedom that Christ provided for you? As Christians, Christ provided for you? As Christians, we have been given freedom from sin and the freedom to joyfully serve and live for Christ. If you’ve never experienced that freedom, you can today.

Do you remember a time when God’s promises became real to you personally? How prominent a part do God’s promises play in your life story right now? Are you living the blessed life of someone who basks in the reality of the promises of God? Remember, it’s not a life of following rules, it’s a new covenant of the inner life—a relationship where our obedience springs not from some external law, but from our hearts. We can  personally connect with the heart of our loving God.

Remember when God graced your life with His presence? Are you living in the sweetness of that presence? God wants to lead and guide you and be your strength. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit of God and living each day in tune with His Holy Presence?