High and Lifted

This sermon is inspired by the devotionals written by Pas, and dated September 15 through
September 24 and published in Pas’s 365 Daily Devotional Journal. These devotionals grabbed
my attention because my father’s birthday is September 15, and my father also taught and
preached from the Book of Revelation and Isaiah.
To connect the past with the present, I am currently studying Advanced Hebrew Exegesis with
Dr. Doug Kennard at the Houston Graduate School of Theology. My first assignment was to
translate Isaiah 6. The class started on Thursday, August 20, 2018 and in less than one month, I
heard a sermon by Dr. Terry Anderson. He focused on the melodious and musical nature of
Isaiah. Next, I read and studied a series of devotionals by Dr. Ralph Douglas West, Sr.
highlighting Revelation and a sequence of devotionals on Isaiah 6:1 through Isaiah 6:6.
As I sat with Dr. Kennard and translated Isaiah 6 from Hebrew to English, I noticed the word
spelled with a nun, shin, and aleph. Nun is similar to an “n”, shin is similar to an “s”, and aleph
is similar to an “a”. In the Masoretic version of the Hebrew, there are vowel markings below
and above each letter to help the modern student pronounce the word. I learned during my first
Advance Hebrew Exegesis lesson that in Isaiah 6:1 the word “nasa” is used. Nasa means “to lift
up, take up, carry”.
Further study reveals that Psalm 32:1a states:
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, and whose sin is covered.”

On October 15, 2018, I made a connection with the Tower of Babel. The scripture says,
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“And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And
they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves
a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be
dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the LORD came down to see the city and the
tower, which the children of man had built. ...”
In Genesis, the people sought to lift themselves up by means of their own efforts so that they
could reach, see, and dwell in the heavens. The materials they used to build their tower included
bricks--they made and burned them thoroughly and bitumen (bahy – too – muhn) for mortar.
I asked myself, “Why bitumen?” So, I did research on bitumen. Here is what I found.

***
Viscoelastic Properties of Polymer Modified Bitumen in Warm Mix Asphalt Technology in
Terms of Ageing☆
Abstract
The paper presents the influence of ageing on the viscoelastic properties of the polymer
modified bitumen (PMB) in WMA technology. The base bitumen was PMB 45/80-65. Fischer-
Tropsch synthetic wax (SW) and the liquid surface active agent (FA) ware used as a bitumen
viscosity-reducing modifiers. All properties of binders have been determined before ageing
(NEAT) and after long-term ageing (RTFOT+PAV). The research area includes the study basic
properties (softening point and Fraass breaking point) and rheological characteristics (zero shear
viscosity ZSV, complex viscosity η0 and rutting factor G*/sinδ). It was found that fatty amine
additive works as a ageing inhibitor. The ageing process revealed degradation process in
polymer. This phenomenon is more explicit in the bitumen modified with wax than the fatty
amine.
***
I was amazed at the connections discovered because of my fasting, praying and researching to
present this sermon to you.
What is remarkable is that my advisor at TAMU-College Station is an expert in the research of
viscoelastic materials. He encouraged me to study Polymer Science and Viscoelasticity. He has
published 146 papers on this topic and he stays in touch with me to this day. Now, I will make
the connections between the ancient efforts to be lifted up to the heavens and the contemporary
efforts to do the same, in order to see, explore and dwell in the heavens. An amazing connection
is that bitumen was the viscoelastic material used in ancient times, so researchers like Dr.
Richard Shaphery have attempted to develop polymers and viscoelastic materials to minimize
failure in the materials that make up some of the equipment used by NASA.
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I called my daughter and she shared with me that on the radio this morning she learned that a
space walk was canceled because of a malfunction of some equipment. She added that our
astronauts have to ride with Russian astronauts to travel to a space station. She learned of this
on October 16, 2018 and shared with me because I told her that “nasa” means “to lift up” and
that man’s modern effort to be lifted up and to explore or dwell in the heavens is similar to what
happened during the days of the Tower of Babel. We both agreed that there was an interruption
in the project in ancient times, and as of the report today, there is an interruption in America’s
effort to be lifted up to the heavens to dwell on the man-made space station. Now, I ask you,
“What is the probability of me researching the Hebrew word “nasa” and making the connection
that NASA really means “to lift up” and then discover that America’s effort to be lifted up is
interrupted and American astronauts are dependent on Russian technology to pursue their goal
at this time.
Now, as Daddy and Pas would tell us, let us go to the Word of God. Jesus said, in John 12:32:
New International Version
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."
We learn from the Word of God:
"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by
God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed
for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we
are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the
LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all" ( Isaiah 53:4-6 )
We also learn:
Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at
the right hand of God and is also interceding for us" (Romans 8:34)
In conclusion, if you desire to be lifted up, to be raised up, then fast and pray, and draw near to
Jesus. Be encouraged that you will be drawn to Jesus and be with Him, the One who was raised
to life and is at the right hand of God, and is also interceding for us.
The tower cannot get you to the heavens, nor can NASA get you to the heavens. Only Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Savior gives us access to be with Him. Jesus, the One who is high and
lifted up, draws all men unto him. Amen.

Rev. Jacqueline Brannon Giles

10/16/2018 11:18:33 AM

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