Mac Hammond’s 80th Birthday Celebration | Lynne Hammond
Recap
Happy 80th Birthday, Pastor Mac! This past weekend, the Living Word congregation celebrated Pastor Mac turning 80. Pastor Lynne commemorated this momentous event with a short teaching on the number 80—a number associated with renewal and new beginnings. We had very special guests to join in with the celebration. Pastor Marie all the way from Nice, France being one of them! It was a celebration and thanksgiving to God for all that He has done and all that He will continue to do through Living Word Christian Center.
Dive Deeper
Pastor Lynne did research into the biblical meaning of the number 80. The number 80 is a symbol of renewal, redemption, and personal growth. It is closely associated with new beginnings and regeneration. It is also symbolic of a fresh new start and of personal transformation and spiritual renewal.
When Moses wrote Psalm 90, he was 80 years old. At that time, his eyes had grown dim and he was getting physically weaker.
Moses lived until he was 120 and his vision and physical strength had been renewed.
A rabbi explained about Moses that when he reached 80, he was an average older man. His eyesight was growing dimmer, and he was getting physically weaker. But at 80, God had given him an infusion of strength and vitality that he has never had before.
At age 80, God had given him the assignment to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. God renewed the youth of Moses so that he would fulfill that calling to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt!
Another example is Caleb, who was one of the two spies that were sent into the Promised Land to spy out the land. Out of the 12 spies that were sent into the land, only Joshua and Caleb came back with a positive report. The children of Israel began to complain about entering the land. As a consequence, the Lord said it would be 40 years before they could enter the land.
Ten of the spies painted a very bleak picture and convinced everyone that it would be impossible to take the land. But when they asked Caleb, he said “Give me that mountain!” At the time, Caleb was 80 years old!
So now Pastor Mac, at age 80, has declared “I’m going to the nations.” Or like Caleb, “Give me that mountain.”
Pastor Lynne presented Pastor Mac with a plaque thanking him for his vision and his life. The plaque says, “Give me the mountain,” meaning, give me the nations.
Pastor Lynne said, “When Pastor Mac said that we’re going to take the Gospel to the nations, that means that we’re all going to the nations.”
The Lord began to give Pastor Lynne prophetic scriptures about this new ministry adventure in which we are about to embark!
Proverbs 9:11, “For by me [Wisdom from God] your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.”
Isaiah 54: “Sing, O barren one, you who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who did not travail with child! For the [spiritual] children of the desolate one will be more than the children of the married wife, says the Lord. 2 Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes, 3 For you will spread abroad to the right hand and to the left; and your offspring will possess the nations and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 5 For your Maker is your Husband—the Lord of hosts is His name—and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth He is called. 10 For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you. 13 And all your [spiritual] children shall be disciples [taught by the Lord and obedient to His will], and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children. 14 You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God’s will and order): you shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you. 17 But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. … This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.”
Psalms 2:7, “I will declare the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, You are My Son; this day [I declare] I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession. ‘
Psalms 9:9, “The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation).”
Pastor Lynne remarked that we will look back on this day and be amazed what God was getting ready to do in our lives. God is getting ready to catapult us into a worldwide mission, flinging doors open, with angels in attendance. We’re going to be so busy that we’ll hardly be able to keep up!
Read About It
Proverbs 9:11, “For by me [Wisdom from God] your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.”
Isaiah 54: “Sing, O barren one, you who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who did not travail with child! For the [spiritual] children of the desolate one will be more than the children of the married wife, says the Lord. 2 Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes, 3 For you will spread abroad to the right hand and to the left; and your offspring will possess the nations and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 5 For your Maker is your Husband—the Lord of hosts is His name—and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth He is called. 10 For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you. 13 And all your [spiritual] children shall be disciples [taught by the Lord and obedient to His will], and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children. 14 You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God’s will and order): you shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you. 17 But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. … This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.”
Psalms 2:7, “I will declare the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, You are My Son; this day [I declare] I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession.
Psalms 9:9, “The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation).”
Discussion Questions
If the Lord tapped you on the shoulder and asked you to take the Gospel to the nations, are you ready to go?
Is there anything in your life that would prevent you from saying yes?