PREACHER: REV. ISAAC ETUAH-JACKSON
Today is the fifth Sunday of lent (next Sunday is Palm Sunday). During lent the church helps us to prepare for great events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. These events set us free from the slavery of sin and also raises us up to be sons of God and heirs to the eternal kingdom of heaven. Today’s discussion is to remind us that we are only passing through this earth and need not dwell on our past achievements, possessions, power, pleasure but build on Christ’s foundation in order to grow into maturity and to attain eternal salvation. Amen
In the 1st lesson, we read part of the message of encouragement which the 2nd Isaiah preached to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. The miracles of the first exodus would be surpassed by those of the 2nd, the liberation of the Babylonian exile. We need to remember that the Israelites lost their homeland cannan and were taken prisoners to Babylon in 586BC, but the God of their fathers did a new thing by bringing them back to their homes and established them there once again through Cyrus- a heathen king who facilitated their return (Ezra 1:1-11). God did this so that the Israelites may declare his praise and to bring them to the realisation that that they do not need to dwell on their past.
Brethren, dwelling on past glories is what st. Paul addresses in the letter to the Philippians. The congregation in Philippi must have included some Jewish Christians or at least must have come under the influence of Judaisers; the Jewish Christians insisted that the gentile Christians should be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses. To explain what he means, Paul takes himself as an example. He had dwelt on his past glories by being extremely happy about his adherence to Jewish traditions but now he dismissed the status and dignity given him by his race, religious rites and tradition as rubbish. Why because he has now found a real reason for boasting: i consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, whose sake i have lost all things. (Verse 8)
Brothers and sisters in the Lord like Paul we should also discard our pride in such things as our race, social status, achievements in academia, business, work among others. Let us not dwell on our past glories as individuals and as a church. As new people of God we should rather boast of our identity in Christ and our desire is to become like Christ in all respects, including his suffering, death and resurrection (verse 10) Paul ignores his past successes and failures as he presses forward expectantly to reach the goal. (Verse 13-14)
Brethren just as Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery in our gospel reading even though her accusers the scribes and Pharisees who had become so blinded by their pride in their own righteousness in the strict observance of the 613 precepts of the law of Moses. Paul contrasts his former Christian life with his present Christian life. St Jerome is on record to have said that Jews wrote the hidden sins of the Woman’s accusers. The woman was told to go and sin no more and the result of her changed life is recorded in St John gospel 12: 1-8 where she anointed Jesus feet to prepare him for his burial.
We must not dwell on our past successes, glories and failures but we must press on towards the Goal having faith in God. A mark of a Christian is keeping on towards the goal, trusting in the Lord despite the circumstances. A Christian is like a runner who looks forward to crossing the finishing line.
As Christians we should not think that we have arrived because today the non churched are no longer geographically but are culturally distant from us. This is because our culture in church makes the church irrelevant to them.
As members of this church and for that matter Christians one thing we all can do as we try not is dwell on our past glories is to make our work places, schools e.tc an extension of the church mission and of in fact that is the reason why we come to church every Sunday so that we can change agents in our communities, schools and workplaces.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
MARCH 13, 2010 TEXT- HEB. 5:11-6:3 THEME: “GROWING INTO MATURITY”
PREACHER: REV. FIIFI FOH ARKHURST
Every parent expects his child to grow and not be a liability on him. So does GOD also expect from us. Maturity is a gradual process that takes time. It has nothing to do with age. To be matured is to turn your back to the world and live as Christ expects of you, living as if the things of this world are of no importance and refusing to be weighed down by material concerns.
The message in Heb 6:1 is meant for Christians and not unbelievers. The writer of Hebrews wrote to Christians about what the writer refers to as elementary doctrine.
For they were arguing about;
1. When one should be baptized (infant baptism v adult)
2. Which mode of baptism was acceptable (immersion or sprinkling)
3. Where one should be baptized (by the riverside or the chapel)
4. What posture of prayer is suitable (standing, kneeling, prostrating or sitting)
5. Which mode of worship was acceptable and so on.
The writer complains that his reader’s knowledge of the bible is inadequate to follow the rest of his argument. He insists that they must become more biblically informed if they wish to persevere. They had to get past the basics to biblical maturity.
From Heb. 5:11-6:3 it could be declared that Christians although truly born into God’s family were not matured. The writer observed that the Jewish Christians were not growing up in their understanding because he found it tough to teach them anything more than their spiritual ABC which he termed elementary basics hence the command to grow into maturity. (Heb 6:1)
Beloved in the Lord I want you to draw your attention to the fact that it is possible to acquire much knowledge in the word of God, praying in spiritual language, casting out demons but still not be matured. Signs of immaturity (as outlined in the scripture reading) are;
1. Laying again the foundation of repentance (5:11) here the Christian life is likened to a building under construction which from time to time they have to dig up the foundation and lay it again. Thus after a long time there is still no progress in the building. The same sins tempt most of us day in and day out which makes us repent over and over again. Let’s learn from Paul in Cor. 13:11 saying “when I was a child I talked like a child but now I am an adult i behave as one”
2. Our inability to share with others. Let’s grow into maturity by sharing with others. (Heb 5:12)
3. How much we know is how much we absorb we need to go past the little truth we knew long when we became Christians. That Jesus died on the cross for your sin, that you have eternal life and that he has gone to prepare a place you, e.tc We are in perilous times so let us go on to maturity. When people do things against us are we ready to reconcile and forgive them.
4. Inability to use the word of righteousness (Heb 5:13) the spiritual weapon the bible should be handled properly as we fight with the Devil. We should feed on the word of God in order to grow into maturity. Do we meditate on God’s word?
5. Can you tell the difference between the correct use of scripture and mistaken one? Heb. 5:14 the people were unable to tell between good and evil. The immature Christian is easily led astray, can you recognise temptation before it traps you? For the author the ability to differentiate critically bad and truth was very important.
Certain elementary teachings are essential for all believers to understand. These basics include;
1. Importance of faith
2. The Foolishness of trying to be saved by good deeds.
3. The meaning of baptism and spiritual gifts.
4. The facts of resurrection and eternal life.
To be matured we need to move beyond and not away from elementary teachings to a more complete understanding of it. For the writer they had to get past the basics of biblical Maturity this is what he intends for them to do. Matured Christians should be teaching new Christians the basics.
What should fully matured Christians look like? People who are matured are;
1. Secured in their relationship with Christ. They know they have eternal life (1 john 5:11-13)
2. Rooted and built up in the spirit
3. Victorious over sin. Come back from their senses after sin.
4. Understands the words of the scripture and can apply it effectively in their lives.
5. Has an effective Prayer. Phil 4: 6-7
6. The fruit of the spirit is seen in their lives
7. Obedient in service to the Lord. Doesn’t think about what people say. Jn 14:15,23
8. Actively share their faith with others. 1 pt 3:15
9. Actively participate in Christian fellowship. Heb 10:24-25
10. They have compassion on Christians and are wailing to give to others. Col 3:12-14
Are you prepared to grow into maturity? Then we have to be;
Actively involved in church the church, attend programs
Sensitive to the holy spirits promptings
Realise your inadequacies anytime you go to God in prayer.
Read and search in scriptures
Cultivate the habit of fasting
GOD wants us to mature, what we know is good but we need to know more.
Our prayer at any point in time should be that we grow into maturity.
Every parent expects his child to grow and not be a liability on him. So does GOD also expect from us. Maturity is a gradual process that takes time. It has nothing to do with age. To be matured is to turn your back to the world and live as Christ expects of you, living as if the things of this world are of no importance and refusing to be weighed down by material concerns.
The message in Heb 6:1 is meant for Christians and not unbelievers. The writer of Hebrews wrote to Christians about what the writer refers to as elementary doctrine.
For they were arguing about;
1. When one should be baptized (infant baptism v adult)
2. Which mode of baptism was acceptable (immersion or sprinkling)
3. Where one should be baptized (by the riverside or the chapel)
4. What posture of prayer is suitable (standing, kneeling, prostrating or sitting)
5. Which mode of worship was acceptable and so on.
The writer complains that his reader’s knowledge of the bible is inadequate to follow the rest of his argument. He insists that they must become more biblically informed if they wish to persevere. They had to get past the basics to biblical maturity.
From Heb. 5:11-6:3 it could be declared that Christians although truly born into God’s family were not matured. The writer observed that the Jewish Christians were not growing up in their understanding because he found it tough to teach them anything more than their spiritual ABC which he termed elementary basics hence the command to grow into maturity. (Heb 6:1)
Beloved in the Lord I want you to draw your attention to the fact that it is possible to acquire much knowledge in the word of God, praying in spiritual language, casting out demons but still not be matured. Signs of immaturity (as outlined in the scripture reading) are;
1. Laying again the foundation of repentance (5:11) here the Christian life is likened to a building under construction which from time to time they have to dig up the foundation and lay it again. Thus after a long time there is still no progress in the building. The same sins tempt most of us day in and day out which makes us repent over and over again. Let’s learn from Paul in Cor. 13:11 saying “when I was a child I talked like a child but now I am an adult i behave as one”
2. Our inability to share with others. Let’s grow into maturity by sharing with others. (Heb 5:12)
3. How much we know is how much we absorb we need to go past the little truth we knew long when we became Christians. That Jesus died on the cross for your sin, that you have eternal life and that he has gone to prepare a place you, e.tc We are in perilous times so let us go on to maturity. When people do things against us are we ready to reconcile and forgive them.
4. Inability to use the word of righteousness (Heb 5:13) the spiritual weapon the bible should be handled properly as we fight with the Devil. We should feed on the word of God in order to grow into maturity. Do we meditate on God’s word?
5. Can you tell the difference between the correct use of scripture and mistaken one? Heb. 5:14 the people were unable to tell between good and evil. The immature Christian is easily led astray, can you recognise temptation before it traps you? For the author the ability to differentiate critically bad and truth was very important.
Certain elementary teachings are essential for all believers to understand. These basics include;
1. Importance of faith
2. The Foolishness of trying to be saved by good deeds.
3. The meaning of baptism and spiritual gifts.
4. The facts of resurrection and eternal life.
To be matured we need to move beyond and not away from elementary teachings to a more complete understanding of it. For the writer they had to get past the basics of biblical Maturity this is what he intends for them to do. Matured Christians should be teaching new Christians the basics.
What should fully matured Christians look like? People who are matured are;
1. Secured in their relationship with Christ. They know they have eternal life (1 john 5:11-13)
2. Rooted and built up in the spirit
3. Victorious over sin. Come back from their senses after sin.
4. Understands the words of the scripture and can apply it effectively in their lives.
5. Has an effective Prayer. Phil 4: 6-7
6. The fruit of the spirit is seen in their lives
7. Obedient in service to the Lord. Doesn’t think about what people say. Jn 14:15,23
8. Actively share their faith with others. 1 pt 3:15
9. Actively participate in Christian fellowship. Heb 10:24-25
10. They have compassion on Christians and are wailing to give to others. Col 3:12-14
Are you prepared to grow into maturity? Then we have to be;
Actively involved in church the church, attend programs
Sensitive to the holy spirits promptings
Realise your inadequacies anytime you go to God in prayer.
Read and search in scriptures
Cultivate the habit of fasting
GOD wants us to mature, what we know is good but we need to know more.
Our prayer at any point in time should be that we grow into maturity.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
MARCH 7, 2010 TEXT – IS. 55:1-9, 1 COR. 10:1-13, LUKE 13:1-19 THEME:”RELIANCE ON GOD”
PREACHER: REV. SETH KISSI
God has problems with our understanding and judgement. He appears to paint a picture of how we behave and invites us to come and depend on him. In his eyes we have denied ourselves life, satisfaction and what we need, pursuing things we don’t need which we are not necessary.
There’s a difference between our ways and his. (Is 55: 8 & 9) this forms a wave of action because we follow our ways which makes us hungry, thirsty and unsatisfied.
When we depend on him we would find how deficient, thirsty and thoughtful our ways are. The narrative and parable throw light on how things should be done. When eighteen people perished in the tower of Siloam. Jesus saw an attitude of judgement in those who told him about the incident, portraying the victims as sinners. Jesus told them that their ending would be worse if they didn’t repent.
He then spoke to them about the parable of the fig tree which had not bore fruit for three years, its soil was re-fertilised and was given one more year. After it had still not bore fruits so it had to be cut. When we set our eyes on others, we forget our problems and feel very good, perfect and flawless but Jesus called their attention and asked that they think about themselves.
Jesus was in the synagogue one Sabbath when he saw a woman who came in with burns she had for about 18years and healed her. The head of the synagogue drew the attention of the congregation to this and said to them we have six days of work and do not have to work on the Sabbath. They were deficient on the understanding of the Sabbath. So Jesus broke their understanding making them know that preaching on the Sabbath was also work. Doing what they wanted to do and what they didn’t want to was not observing the Sabbath. Sometimes relations can come in the way of things we have to do to serve humanity. It could lead to low productivity but we pray to GOD to invite us to come to live in his ways so that our ways and thoughts would change.
The mustard seed as small as it is grows and birds of all kinds perch on. Jesus asks, what is the shelter to the woman who has been saved. The well being of humanity is paramount to everything. if you have a sacrifice to make and someone has something against you, leave it go and ask for forgiveness before offering it or GOD would not receive it. This is the kind of attitude GOD wants, that we are people of his and not ourselves.
Eating food offered to idols is tantamount to idol worship. We should not do anything to lead to the fall of a brother not even offering food. That for Paul is the way of GOD, we rely on him that our ways would find peace drawing us to him.
Let’s come to him today and ask that our words, ways and faults would enhance people on him. For that to happen we have to rely on him.
God has problems with our understanding and judgement. He appears to paint a picture of how we behave and invites us to come and depend on him. In his eyes we have denied ourselves life, satisfaction and what we need, pursuing things we don’t need which we are not necessary.
There’s a difference between our ways and his. (Is 55: 8 & 9) this forms a wave of action because we follow our ways which makes us hungry, thirsty and unsatisfied.
When we depend on him we would find how deficient, thirsty and thoughtful our ways are. The narrative and parable throw light on how things should be done. When eighteen people perished in the tower of Siloam. Jesus saw an attitude of judgement in those who told him about the incident, portraying the victims as sinners. Jesus told them that their ending would be worse if they didn’t repent.
He then spoke to them about the parable of the fig tree which had not bore fruit for three years, its soil was re-fertilised and was given one more year. After it had still not bore fruits so it had to be cut. When we set our eyes on others, we forget our problems and feel very good, perfect and flawless but Jesus called their attention and asked that they think about themselves.
Jesus was in the synagogue one Sabbath when he saw a woman who came in with burns she had for about 18years and healed her. The head of the synagogue drew the attention of the congregation to this and said to them we have six days of work and do not have to work on the Sabbath. They were deficient on the understanding of the Sabbath. So Jesus broke their understanding making them know that preaching on the Sabbath was also work. Doing what they wanted to do and what they didn’t want to was not observing the Sabbath. Sometimes relations can come in the way of things we have to do to serve humanity. It could lead to low productivity but we pray to GOD to invite us to come to live in his ways so that our ways and thoughts would change.
The mustard seed as small as it is grows and birds of all kinds perch on. Jesus asks, what is the shelter to the woman who has been saved. The well being of humanity is paramount to everything. if you have a sacrifice to make and someone has something against you, leave it go and ask for forgiveness before offering it or GOD would not receive it. This is the kind of attitude GOD wants, that we are people of his and not ourselves.
Eating food offered to idols is tantamount to idol worship. We should not do anything to lead to the fall of a brother not even offering food. That for Paul is the way of GOD, we rely on him that our ways would find peace drawing us to him.
Let’s come to him today and ask that our words, ways and faults would enhance people on him. For that to happen we have to rely on him.
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