Pastor Allan was ministering as I took notes and present an edited sermon.
I realize that during this
season, we often are familiar with certain stories that commemorate the steps of Jesus
toward the cross. Isaiah 53 prophesies
of Jesus being stricken, wounded and by his stripes we are healed.
Recognize God had planned for Jesus to be the
sacrifice before the world was created.
He knew what was in the hearts of man and what must be done to redeem “sinners.”
God had hindsight knowing Adam
would fail and plunge us into a world of sin.
Know that your “Bad day,” is in his plan to bring you out.
Every one of us has fallen
short - - perhaps this week, or even today.
We need to press on and
forward to be able to receive all God has for us.
Next Sunday is not about
barbecue and Easter bunnies. It is about
those who visited the tomb and discovered He was not there. He has risen as He said.
We are having church, God has
showed up and we have been edified, but now it is up to us to take God’s
presence with us out to the streets.
Paul reminded us the greatest
gift is Love. We are not to be ignorant
of this fact. Lord teach us to love
people, we thought we never could.
Our heart has an amazing
capacity to store things. A storage unit
has rooms and some are locked. God has
keys to open up the secret rooms and expose those things that need to be dealt
with.
Words hurt and we remember
things said. I remember when as a young
boy wanting to preach, I was told, “You will never minister. The doors were opened and my sponsor helped
me apply to a known denomination to become a minister. After reviewing my past, they made a decision
that “You are not qualified.” We can’t
accept you because of your past. Rejection
hurts. By His stripes you are healed.
Many of you today are in that
position of feeling worthless, and not qualified. Those feelings are simply not true. You will never hear God say that about
you. He is pleased with you and promises
to heal those areas of hurts.
Paul reminds us that God uses
the foolishness of preaching to win the lost.
I am no longer a people
pleaser. I am concerned only to please
Jesus.
God calls and equips those
who will come forward.
God said, “Let US create man
in OUR own image.” God, Jesus and the
Holy Spirit were all active in creation and God does not make junk. He knows all about you both good and bad and
He desires to change you into a new person.
The simple truth: If there is something in your life that makes
you think you are NOT qualified; understand the enemy haunts us with
condemnation in our “thoughts.”
Realize
God desires to use each of us to bless others.
All ministry is different. Not
all will have a pulpit ministry. God
will guide you and show you how to give a testimony here and there. By His stripes we are healed.
God desires to qualify
you. It is a decision of the heart to
come to Jesus and allow His stripes to heal you.
Come and then realize it is a
process and a journey to walk with Jesus.
Jesus is the qualifier and By His Stripes You are Healed.
Yep, "All ministry is different". Sometimes it's just us living life and being the example for others to see how we deal with life when the tough times come.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter!