Faith and Healing

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Ukiah SDA Church

Brayan Lopez

Repairing the Breach

My name is Brian Lopez, as it was said, and I'm delighted to have this opportunity to share a bit about my journey and my experience with you all.

So, I come from the beautiful state of Georgia, but after driving through California, I might have to relinquish Georgia as the most beautiful state in the country.

I spent my formative years navigating the typical challenges of adolescence, but my story takes a unique turn when it comes to matters of faith.

You see, I grew up in a non-Adventist environment.

I went to public school my whole life, and I did what normal public school kids do.

I was a part of the wrestling team, I was a part of the football team, I was a part of the track team, and I was a part of the soccer team.

And it wasn't until I was 17 that my faith truly became my own.

And it was a pivotal moment for me as I was faced with a challenging decision.

Would I prioritize my relationship with God and honor His commands, or would I pursue my passions, even if it meant compromising my beliefs?

This dilemma centered around the involvement in varsity sports teams, all of which required me to violate the Sabbath.

And it was a tough choice, but ultimately I knew where my allegiance lay, and I made the decision to follow God's lead, even if it meant stepping away from something that I loved dearly.

This decision wasn't without its share of challenges.

I faced misunderstanding from peers, pressure from my coaches to simply ask for permission from my pastor, and even the harsh reality of getting kicked off 1 of my teams.

But through it all, I held firm to my convictions, trusting that God would lead and he would remain faithful to his promises.

What touched me deeply throughout the journey was actually an unwavering support from many of my friends.

And some of my coaches, they respected what I did and they admired my commitment to my faith.

And this encouragement bolstered my resolve and it served me as a reminder that I'm not alone in this walk.

In looking back, I see how every twist and turn in my path has led me to where I am today, and it's a testament to the power of faith, the remarkable ways in which God works in our lives, even when the road ahead seems uncertain.

Since that decision, I've been able to attend an Adventist university.

I was an overseas missionary in Hong Kong.

I was able to preach evangelistic series in the Dominican Republic, and now I'm a local missionary with Dr.

Traquardo, where I'm being mentored in medical ministry work before my time begins in medical school.

So I want to thank you for allowing me to share a glimpse of my story with you all, and may it serve as a source of encouragement for our young people to make a bold proclamation of their faith and to watch for God will lead.

He will uplift you, he will take you to places that you could not even have dreamed of.

Now, I want to speak a little bit over what my training looks like up in Hayden.

So I started off taking vital signs and also shadowing with Dr.

Traquado, kind of getting a feel for what it is that he does.

And From the very first shadowing opportunity, the very first patient that I saw, I remember thinking everything I have learned in my 6 years of being at Southern, being in my theology classes, being a missionary, preaching, I saw in a 30 minute visit and I was just blown away.

And from that first visit, I was like, I'm in.

I then started to take health histories with patients and big spiritual histories, learning kind of how to navigate patient interaction, also while bringing up spiritual things.

I also learned how to run the front desk, how to run the phone, how to do billing, and now I visited patients full-time in the community, helping them in their health and also offering Bible studies to them.

And God has been gracious through it all, and it has been a life-altering decision.

So I guess before we begin the study of the word, let us bow our heads.

Gracious Heavenly Father God, I ask nothing else, Lord, than that you open our hearts, that you help me realize, Lord, that this is a message first and foremost for me.

And dear God, I know that you are doing a great work in this town of Ukiah.

I wanna pray for all the leaders, for all the community members, Lord, and for all of the patients, Lord, that are going through this hospital, that you open their hearts, Lord, and May the words of life that are being spoken to them by the godly physicians or that are working there May they yield a bountiful crop Lord.

We love you and we trust you and in the holy name of Jesus.

So let us turn our Bibles to the first verse of the 58th chapter of Isaiah.

The first verse of the 58th chapter of Isaiah.

Okay, the first verse says, "'To shout aloud, do not hold back.

"'To lift up your voice like a trumpet and declare to my people their rebellions and to the house of Jacob, their sins.

The whole of the 58th chapter of Isaiah is to be regarded as a message for this time to be given over and over again.

The divorce between outward rights and inward piety has been the curse of every age.

When the Pharisees were plotting our Lord's death they refused to enter Pilate's hall.

Not the bowed head but the broken heart, not the sackcloth and ashes of the feet but the contrition of the soul.

Verse 2, they seek me day after day and are eager to know my ways as if they were a nation that practices righteousness and has not forsaken the justice of their God.

They ask me to reveal just decisions and they are eager to draw near to God.

God's first described the appearance of spiritual lives.

On the surface, it seemed that God's people loved him and were devout to him.

They had the reputation of a nation that did righteousness and they looked like a people that would take the light in approaching God.

"'Why have we humbled ourselves, but you take no notice?' With the spiritual veneer, they felt God was unfair to them It was as if they said Lord we have fasted, but you still don't answer our prayers Don't you know that we seek you daily?

Delight to know your ways do righteousness and take the light and approaching yet you do not answer our prayers.

Yet in chapter 58, the prophet announced empty religious sanctimony.

His cry was against sin and it was a plea for the restoration of true worship in Israel.

Isaiah 57 verse 20 through 21 says, But the wicked are tossed like the sea, for it is not able to keep still, and its waters tossed of myrrh and mud.

Yet there is no peace for the wicked, says my God.

Against the terror of that word, they thought to shelter themselves with external performances.

Look, you fast only for quarreling and for fighting and for hitting with wicked fist.

You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice heard on high.

The first 4 verses describe the condition of Israel at that time, related to their worship practices.

God told the prophets to cry aloud, to verbally sound a loud, clear warning to the people because of their hypocrisy in worship and the practice of fasting.

The people were self-righteously following all the religious motions and mechanics of worship, but their actions were nothing but empty rituals because their motives were impure.

They wanted to impress God with their fasting, and at the same time they were contending and debating with each other.

With your present mode of fasting, your prayers can never reach the ear of Jehovah.

My words fly up, my thoughts remain below.

Words without thoughts never go to heaven.

It is an insult to God, for he abhors the sacrifice where the heart is not found.

This selfish piety is the most abhorrent of all impieties.

Is this the kind of fast that I have chosen?

Merely a day for a person to humble himself?

Is it merely for bowing down one's head like a bulrush?

Acceptable day to the Lord Like a loving father he reminds his people guys come on.

Do you really think this is what I meant?

Isaiah 55 verse 8 For the thoughts for my thoughts are not your thoughts Nor are your ways my ways declares the Lord For just as the heavens are higher than earth So are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts the earth thoughts For just as the Rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there without watering the earth Making it bring forth and sprout Yielding seed for the slower and bread for eating So will my message that goes out of my mouth it will not return to the empty.

It will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I have sent it.

Isn't this the fast that I have been choosing, to loose the bonds of injustice and to untie the cord of the yoke and to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke.

There is no better description of the work of a medical missionary than this verse.

Pastor McIntosh spoke last night about a girl that he was counseling, a girl with multiple addictions, a girl with severe depression, a girl with multiple sexual partners.

Does anyone remember what the song went like?

Basically, the song was, you are complete in him.

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Repairing the Breach

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