Elder Kennedy Noisette: “How to Overcome Fear"
A FISHER OF MEN
Guy Cherisol, an Adventist resident of Florida, has shared some links to presentations by Kennedy Noisette on the latter’s Facebook timeline. They are mp3 files of conversations about spriritual matters. They are all from a few years back. They are all “en francais.” Je ne parlez pas francais, but there are millions who do. For a while, it was the international language of diplomacy. Peter the Great (whose birthday I share) tried to modernize Russia, and advocated the use of the French language by the upper classes. He also promoted other modern practices, such as smoking and drinking. Another extreme modernizer, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk of Turkey (and the original “Young Turk”) similarly thought that drinking liquor would benefit the backward Moslems that populated his realm. Ataturk was not particularly monogamous, either. Turkey, like Russia, was out of the frying pan, and into the fire. This is known as “progress.”
Elder Kennedy Noisette (and I strongly suspect, Guy Cherisol, as well) is a native of Haiti. This is the only nation to ever be successfully established as the result of a slave revolt. Here, for the 2% of human beings who may not be aware of him, is a Wikipedia article on Toussaint Louverture, a man who inaugurated the journey to independence of the former French colony known as Saint-Domingue. This revolutionary venture was culminated in 1804 under the leadership of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who was a stern taskmaster. In an effort to strengthen the new nation, he required that the populace serve as either soldiers or laborers. Two centuries later, a Haitian emigree, Kennedy Noisette, serves in both roles. He is a soldier for the Lord, and a laborer in fields that are ripe for harvest (John 4:35).
Some church elders enjoy a measure of worldly prosperity, due to the remunerative nature of their careers. Elder Kennedy Noisette’s career is exclusively pastoral. The reward for this type of is not primarily a financial one. The Elder is to be admired not for what he has, but for what he has relinquished. This statement only describes relative prosperity, in the context of American society. Compared to the average current resident of Haiti, even the least of the citizens of U.S.A. lives in a princely manner. According to this World Bank LINK, the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the United States is $54,629.5 (although this is not very evenly distributed). The GDP per capita in Haiti is just $824.2. This makes the hypothetical “average” American 66 times richer than the average Haitian. Everything is terribly unbalanced, here in the last days of inequitable planet earth.
Elder Noisette was the fourth in a series of ten projected talks to Wednesday night worshippers at Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church, Atlanta, by elders on the “ordination track.” The three elders who preceded Elder Kennedy were all competent speakers, but public speaking is not a thing they do very frequently (with the possible exception of Elder Ron Taylor, EMS director for the City of College Park). In response to pressure to “put their best foot forward, the first three talks were highly polished artifacts. Elder Noisette distributes his artifacts to the public so prolificaly, he does not always have time to polish them all. And, rather than being intimidated into being over-prepared for his May 4, 2016 sermonette at Berean’s “War Room,” he took this presentation as an opportunity to “let down his hair and relax.” His remarks were therefore casual, and relaxed, as befits a conversation between friends.
Elder Kennedy Noisette received an M.S. in Pastoral Study from Oakwood University. He is a good man.
A INDEQUATE SUMMARY OF SOME INFORMAL REMARKS
On a few previous occasions, I have excused a lack of careful attention to “War Room” sermons by whining that I am invariably physically drained long before attending them, the result of a day’s work at the Food Pantry. This Wednesday past, I was also suffering from a spiritual crises. May 4, 2106 had become the worst day in my entire life. God remedied the situation on May 5, 2106, making this day one of the best of my life. The good feeling that accompanies deliverance from adversity almost justifies the preceding misery (almost). But divine intervention arrived too late for me to be able to concentrate Wednesday evening, and to do literary justice to Elder Noisette’s sermon. I have only vague impressions of it, which I must now attempt to reconstruct. I have noted the difficulty of summarizing the sermon style of Berean Pastor Austin Humphreys, as it is designed to resonate in the ear and the heart of the listener, and not necessarily the eye of the reader. Elder Noisette, likewise, possesses a quality that is hard to capture in text. It is the ingratiating quality of amiability.
During his sermonette, the elder evoked a few of the “Names of God.” This is a post-Scriptural construct, as is the “Seven deadly sins,” a useful compilation of material that scattered about the Bible. The differing attributes of God are edifying and impressive when rounded up into single list, as are the many terms for Jesus, when breathlessly recited, sequentially, in the course of a sermon. This last exercise is a specialty of John Hagee. Elder Kennedy Noisette used a few of God the Fathers many designations. The link above features 216. This second LINK culls the number down to 19. The short LYRICS of the song “More Than Enough” (written by Robert Gay) reduces the list to just 3: Jehovah Jireh (my Provider), Jehovah Raepha (my Healer), and Jehovah Shammah (with me). I am nearly sure, but not entirely sure, that Elder Kennedy Noisette utilized the following four “names of God” in his comments:
- Jehovah Shammah (“The Lord is There”)
- Jehovah M’Kaddesh (“The Lord our Sanctifier”)
- Jehovah Rohi (“The Lord my Shepherd”)
- Jehovah Rophe (an alternate of Raepha, “The Lord Heals”)
News that is not the exclusive property of Adventists was delivered at the beginning of Elder Noisette’s remarks. “We are living in the last days. People are living in fear.” The speaker related a tale about a child who came to his parents in the night. “I am afraid of the dark,” the youngster told them. The father assured the child that there was nothing to fear, that he himself was not scared of the dark. The child then stated, “of course you’re not afraid of the dark. My mommy is looking out for you!” Elder Noisette alluded to the fact that there is safety in numbers. “When we are “two,” we are not afraid of anyone” (Bible worker Mae Williams once revealed that one of the easiest ways to share the Gospel is in the company of like minded evangelists. This was a response to a statement of my fear of others).
God wants us to trust Him. “Trust me,” He states repeatedly in His Word. We should not withhold a measure of this trust. It needs to be unreserved, and unqualified. “Some people want to trust God 90%, and withhold 10% for themselves. God says ‘trust me 100%.'” Proverbs 3:5-6 was cited by the speaker:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Elder Noisette made what may have been an oblique reference to Berean SDA Church’s current appeal for funding (you may make your checks payable to “Berean R3 Capital Campaign”). He noted that many may think that they are giving too much money to the church. “But God,” said Elder Noisette (echoing Lead Pastor Fredrick Russell’s remarks on “sacrificial giving”). “says TRUST ME!” The elder admonished us to seek God’s will with all of our heart, and He will show us the way. [I will insert Hebrews 11:6 here for the elder:]
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
A significant caveat was inserted into the main body of the elder’s presentation. He reminded his audience that he had asked our forgiveness, at the outset of his remarks, for any shortcomings in the sermon. He shared this need for forgiveness, stating that we all stand in need of forgiveness from God. Unstated, but implied by the elder, was the requirement that repentance, and a turning away from our transgression, is a necessary component of the process of receiving divine favor. A reference to Matthew 6:33 also addressed actions and priorities that are prefatory to blessing:
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Elder Noisette utilized a little Anaphora (the 2016 vocabulary building word-of-the-year) in making his next point.
- “Are you worried tonight about your bills?”
- “Are you worried tonight about loneliness?” [I mentioned the cat, already]
- “Are you worried tonight, and need a touch from God?
Elder Noisette made a profound observation. “Fear is the opposite of faith!” He restated some typical worries that beset many. He said that the young worry about succeeding in their studies. The middle aged, 40 and 50 tear olds, worry about turning 60. The 60 year old thinks about the end of life. But God has our back. It only required faith. Here the first of four “names of God” was supplied.
“He is Yahweh Shammah, (The Lord is There) who is there for forgiveness, kindness, and guidance. Elder Noisette recalled feeling the presence of the Lord earlier that day, as he was preaching to the seniors (approximately 40 seniors gather each Wednesday for worship, under the aegis of Senior Ministries coordinator Elder Dorothy Mants). He addressed the current congregation: “Do you feel the presence of God here?” [“Yahweh Shammah” implies the omnipresence of God. He was as assuredly with the “War Room” worshippers, as he is, at this instant, with my cat and I as I hunt and peck, out of habit, and perhaps to no great end.] The elder continued to magnify the Lord. “If you are sick, broke, God will do something! When the Holy Spirit comes to visit, what will happen? Blessings!”
“He is Yahweh M’Kaddesh (The Lord is our Sanctifier). God can restore you!” The speaker may not be native to this country, but he is well versed in its colloquialisms. He embellished his remark with some slang: “I don’t care where you are coming from!”
“He is Yahweh Rohi (The Lord our Shepherd), our shepherd!”
Elder Kennedy Noisette wrapped up his remarks, allaying our fears in the only truly effective manner. He knew that we frequently feel alone [those who don’t own cats, I suppose]. But when it seems that nobody cares for you, God cares for you. Elder Noisette repeated a question he had asked a little earlier, “Is there anybody feeling God tonight?” Raised hands ratified the elder’s assertion. He spoke some reassuring words. “When the whole world is living in fear, you don’t have to!”
“He is Yahweh Shammah! He will provide!
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