Notes on Sunday's service. (Thanks Jean)
Dr. Barclay
Something to Think About
In the first five books of the bible God tells
the Hebrews what they should do. However history tells us they did not follow
with what God told them and they did not always obey.
In the book of Esther, chapter one, King
Ahasuerus wanted to display his wife in an unseemly way. Vashti, his wife
refused and so the King searched for a new wife and Esther a Jew was
chosen, in a Persian court.
In Chapter 3 of Esther we read that Haman
had people bow to him in the Kings gate. But Mordecai, Esther's uncle and a
very good Jew, would not bow to any human especially Haman. Haman was
upset and mad when Mordecai would not bow to him. Haman was so full of
anger and pride that Mordecai would not bow to him, that he sought to then
destroy all the Jews, because Mordecai was a Jew. However we read in Chapter 9
that it was Haman and his ten sons that were hung at the gallows and not one
Jew was killed. Haman was hung and not Mordecai her uncle. Due to a
series of banquets that Esther had devised with the Kings Court she was
successful in saving the lives of her uncle and all the Jewish people.
There is a great lesson here that pride is a
terrible thing and always has bad consequences.
The King was so proud of his wife and his
belongings, he was full of pride, which resulted in the loss of his wife. Haman
was full of pride, he thought he would destroy all the Jews. However this
resulted in the loss of Haman's own life and sons. We should never become
prideful because it will always result in a downfall.
In 1 Peter chapter 2 -We are told to fear God
and honor the King.
We always need to respect our Nation's leaders
and recognize God placed them in power for a reason. We must remember how
Mordecai and Esther acted in true faith.
Mordecai and Esther respected and honored the
King and did nothing in any way that would embarrass him.
God's true purposes were accomplished through
them and the Hebrews were saved.
Even when we disagree with our Nation's
leaders we need to pray for them and respect them.
1 Peter 2 King James Version (KJV)
2 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and
all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As
newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby:
3 If
so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To
whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of
God, and precious,
5 Ye
also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to
offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore
also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner
stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto
you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient,
the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the
corner,
8 And
a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the
word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
darkness into his marvelous light;
10 Which
in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not
obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Dearly
beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts,
which war against the soul;
12 Having
your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against
you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify
God in the day of visitation.
13 Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the
king, as supreme;
14 Or
unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of
evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For
so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance
of foolish men:
16 As
free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the
servants of God.
17 Honour
all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
18 Servants,
be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but
also to the forward.
19 For
this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering
wrongfully.
20 For
what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it
patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently,
this is acceptable with God.
21 For
even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us
an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who
did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who,
when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not;
but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who
his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to
sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For
ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and
Bishop of your souls.
And the outline of Pastor Caroline's message:
A - Accept Jesus as Son of God
B - Believe Jesus died on the cross for forgiveness of all sin
C - and confess our sins.
D - Declare to the world to Jesus is Lord! And has purchased our
E - Eternity on the cross as a gift from the
F - Father, who
G - Gave
H - HIS Son, to come to earth to die on the cross so that we could
have an
I - Intimate relationship with
J - Jesus; who
K - Keeps us in
L - Love with the
M - Master (who is God) who
N - Never
O - Opens up our
P - Past (in His death there is no
Q - Question as to how to
R - Receive OUR
S - Salvation for He gives us a "Plan".) (See below)
T - The truth of the word and the
U - Understanding of the word give us great
V - Victory in
W - Whatever this world brings us.
X - X in Greek 'X' is the first letter in Christos, meaning
"Christ", and receiving Christ in
Y - Your life, you will become
Z - Zealous; living and loving God with great zeal. You can't go
wrong, be zealous for God, serving and loving others as He serves and loves you
everyday.
Plan - John 3:16, 17: For God so loved the world He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in His shall not perish but have
everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through Him might be saved.
I want to be sold out for Jesus, loving Him, loving each other,
and having Jesus as Lord of my life. How about you?
Now... I'm sure you will look at the ABC's in a different way...
Accept, Believe, Confess
