The Gospel: The Power of God

Preacher: Revd Canon G.K. Neequaye
Micah 6:1-8
1Cor 1:19-31
Matt 5:1-12

The Beatitudes or the Sermon on the Mount is one of the greatest sermons preached by Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 5. These messages (Matt 5-7) tell us what we should be like as children of God; how our hearts are supposed to live for God. They are not material things; they are things that will send us to heaven if we take note of them.
How we live for God on earth is not in the food we eat, the car we drive, the bed we sleep in nor the clothes we wear. It is about our relationship with God and with human beings; how we live to glorify Him. Blessed means Divine joy and perfect happiness. The one who is blessed is not moved by happenings around him. Please listen to the message.

Revd Canon Neequaye is an Anglican Minister and Lecturer at the Trinity Theological Seminary

Our Testimony About Christ

Preacher: Revd Isaac Etuah-Jackson
16th Jan, 2011
2nd Sunday After Epiphany

Text::
John 1:29b "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!


John 1:34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."


We are grateful to God once again that we have come to His house to share in His word.

Isaiah and the other prophets gave prophesies that described the new era of liberty and joy which the long-awaited Messiah would bring as promised to Abraham.

These prophesies were studied by devout Jews and was evident in the prayer that Simeon prayed for the baby Jesus. Because of his saintly life, Simeon had been promised that he would live to see the promised Messiah. This promise was fulfilled when the baby Jesus was brought to the temple. Simeon carried him in his arms and prayed for him – Lk2 27-32.

Lu 2:27 And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,
28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
30 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
31 which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."

Two thousand years on, we today can also sing the song of Simeon with heart-felt joy and gratitude; for we can see, with the eyes of faith, that our saviour, the Son of God has come among us and enlightened us with the true knowledge of the real purpose of our life on earth.

Simeon’s testimony about Jesus was that he will be a light to the Gentiles.

John the Baptist paid a spontaneous tribute to Jesus: the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world; the Son of God.

John 1:29 b "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

To John, the Lamb of God was greater and more valuable than the Passover lamb, which had to be offered every year - Ex 12:11-14 - He knew this because he was the son of a priest.

Ex 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.


13 The blood shall be a sign for you, upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.


14 "This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as an ordinance for ever..

The Lamb of God was a once-for-all sacrifice. Jesus the Christ is the one true sacrifice which can deliver us from death. Through his death on the cross our sins are forgiven.

John made it clear what his own function was i.e. to bring men to Christ; so he claimed no greatness for himself. He introduced two of his own disciples to Jesus and they went and followed him. His disciples deserted him. But he must decrease while Christ increased.

Andrew was a man with a ‘missionary heart’. When he found the Messiah, he first introduced his brother Simon (Peter). His testimony was that ‘we have found the Messiah’

What is your testimony about Christ?

As we mark Evangelism Week this week, let us use the opportunity that comes our way to testify about Jesus. When we testify about the love and goodness of God, it would challenge others to give their lives to Christ.

If we can win a soul a month this year, we bring12 souls to the saving knowledge of Christ and when He comes into his Kingdom, we would have a place there with him.

In the Second Service, Sis Doris Achampong’s Sermon was more interactive.

She said to be able to testify about Jesus; we must be able to praise him; for praise enables us to testify about him. We must also have faith in him.

God testified about Jesus by saying ‘this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’.

Jesus testified about himself when he said ‘I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me’.

The woman of Samaria, after her discourse with Jesus went back to the village and gave a testimony about Jesus ‘John 4:28 So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city, and said to the people, 29 "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ? ’’

What is our testimony about Jesus?

Jesus is our Healer, our sustainer, our glory and the lifter of our heads.

She asked the men what they would do at home to be able to testify about Jesus; and Bro David Nyako said he will forgive his wife for whatever she does. The men agreed with him.

Our daily lives must be a testimony about Jesus. A testimony that He lives in us.

Donation of Musical Instruments

A group of church members that wants to

remain anonymous has donated a set of musical instruments, made up of Electronic organs, guitars etc to enhance the Ministry of One Voice and the Choir. It is also to enable the seasoned musicians in the church to train the young ones. In the picture on the left Revd Seth Kissi, the Minister-In Charge, prays over the equipments and dedicates them for the work of God.

Assisting him are the Assistant Ministers; Revd Foh Arkhurst on his right and Revd Etuah-Jackson on his left.

        

May God bless the donors!

Earlier in the month, the Young Adult Fellowship had donated 1,000 customised Sermon Note Pads. It was very thoughtful of them! In the note pads are the dates and themes for every Sunday of 2011. The essence is to enable church members to write notes as the sermon is preached; and then refer to them at home to recapitulate.

Chosen for the Mission of the Father

Readings: Is 42:1-9; Acts 10:34-43 & Matt 3:13-17

Preacher: Revd Isaac Etuah-Jackson

Text: Mt 3:17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Let us look at the theme in two parts

1) Jesus Christ as the chosen one for mission and

2) Jesus Christ as the one we pattern for mission

The description of the Saviour in Isaiah written some 5 centuries before Christ’s birth showed that he did not proclaim himself to be sent by God but chosen by God – Is 42:1 he came to the world to teach both Jews and Gentiles the new law of God which was the love and mercy of God.

Jesus as the son chosen by the Father for His mission had a universal vocation to bring salvation to mankind. God was to reach out to man through this salvation plan which was to all peoples – Jews and Gentiles. Mt 28:19
John the Baptist’s mission was to prepare his fellow Jews for the inauguration of the messiah’s kingdom which they had waited for centuries; by washing them in the waters of the Jordan – an outward sign of their inner repentance and of turning their hearts to God.

Jesus’ baptism by John did not mean that he had any sin to repent of but to fulfil all righteousness; for he had to be baptised and anointed for the mission of the Father. He came to take away the sin of the world. Jn 1:29

The baptism made Jesus’ perfect righteousness to be imputed to his followers because he came to save them.

At the baptism of Christ, the Father spoke from heaven and proclaimed that Christ Jesus was His beloved son and he was pleased with him. At that point the Trinity was present to play their role. The Holy Spirit descended upon him to anoint him as the Messiah. It was a hallowed and memorable occasion where God the Father spoke from the scripture from Psalm 2:7 and Is 42:1 in delighted acknowledgment of his dear son.

Ps 2:7 ¶ I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my son, today I have begotten you.

Isa 42:1 ¶ Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations.

God spoke about Jesus and showed him to the world that this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

But can these words be said about any of us?

Are we an example to our household and work place?

Christ came so that we come to the saving knowledge of God.

The greatest barrier to the spread of the Gospel in the first century was the Jew-Gentile conflict where the Jews claimed to be the chosen ones and we gentiles were not part of God’s Salvation plan. But through Jesus we know that God’s salvation is to all peoples – Jews and gentiles alike as God Himself demonstrated when he asked Peter to take the Gospel to Cornelius, a Gentile.

Our physical situation - our language, culture, prejudices, economic status etc therefore should not be a barrier to the spread of the gospel. We must remember that when one soul is won there is celebration in Heaven.

Today as Christ has been manifested to us we must launch into the deep to give the message of salvation to unbelievers and the unsaved around us.

Jesus as the chosen Messiah of God is calling on us to extend his mission. We are to continue his work till he comes back and we will give account. The salvation messages that we hear every Sunday must be translated into soul-winning and personal growth. We must grow in the area of bible study and obedience to the word.

May God say to us that he us well pleased with us for the way we are ordering our lives.

May Jesus find us worthy to enter into his kingdom when he comes back.

Eager to Maintain the Unity of the Spirit

Bible Readings: Eph 4:1-7; 1Cor 12:22-27

Preacher: Revd Seth Kissi

Covenant Service / Teaching on our Theme for 2011

We thank our God for a New Year and are grateful for this first service of the first month of the New Year.

Our Theme for this year, 2011, is Eager to Maintain the Unity of the Spirit – Eph 4:3

Ephesians 4 is a letter Paul sent to a church in gentile land reminding them to walk and live a life worthy of their calling.

Paul identified their challenges in verse 2 as

Lowliness

Meekness

Patience to forbear one another in love and

Diligence

If there is anything that has fought the church from the beginning to this time, it is the threat of division – sometimes in subtle ways.

Therefore we must make the spirit of unity the common denominator of all members in the common bond of peace. It means if you have been restored to fellowship with Christ, then there is peace between you and God and therefore between you and me. That is the common bond of peace.

One of the threats against the unity of the early church was ethnicity - where you come from; and that gave Paul a lot of struggles in his missionary work.

Paul saw himself as the apostle to the gentiles and so he preached faith in Jesus Christ as the basis on which God accepts and saves us; but the Jewish Christians in Ephesus could not accept that teaching and so they tried to persuade the churches in the gentile lands to behave like Jews – circumcision, keeping of the Sabbath, abstaining from eating certain foods, purification rites etc - in order to be accepted by God; and Paul fought against these teachings; and that has made it possible for us to worship today as Christians without the Jewish rites being an obstacle.

In 1Cor 12: 22-27, the situation was different. The issue that divided the church in Corinth was a spiritual one i.e. the alignment of the people to the leaders who had ministered in the Corinthian church. Some said they belonged to Paul, others to Apollos, others to Cephas (Peter) and others said they did not belong to any human leader, they belonged to God. In all these associations they were trying to tell each other that I am more superior than you are because my leader is more spiritual.

The other issue was the importance they placed on the gifts in which members operated. They said the gifts were more inspired than the works and services. And so those who operated in works and services were ordinary people. This was a church that was endowed in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and demonstrated these gifts well and that made Paul angry with them and accused them of being carnal. Paul addressed this issue of the gifts and defeated their wrong notion in a very excellent manner: the gifts and works and services come from the same Lord. Paul employed the human body metaphor to bring home the fact that individually we are members of the same body; some we do not even see (the heart, liver, kidney, lungs etc) but which play very important roles.

In the body there is recognition, forbearance, harmony and unity. Our differences should not serve to divide but to unite us.

In the body, we treat the less honourable members with a lot of care and modesty and so Paul argued that granted that indeed some gifts were more inspired than others, then the less important members ought to be treated with a lot of love and care and attention.

This year we want to put in everything possible to live in unity (in the ‘united’ church) to maintain the unity of the Spirit.

Please Download audio here

Christ The Saviour Is Born

CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE

PREACHER: REVD SETH KISSI

READINGS: IS 9:2-7; TITUS 2:11-14; LK 2:1-14

We thank God that we can celebrate this Christmas with some joy and happiness and blissful expectations. Not everyone. Some are in mourning at this moment; and our hearts, thoughts and prayers must go to such people so that our God can hold and sustain them. Christmas has always been associated with love, joy and excitement; and rightly so because there is something about the season that makes us expectant and wanting to experience it over and over again. The event that occurred on that day- the birth of a saviour of the world - is an event that is supposed to bring us joy. When angels announced the good news to the shepherds they sang a song made up of just two lines: Glory be to God on high And on earth peace and goodwill to men When there is peace and the favour of God is upon us, God is glorified. Let us examine how this favour and peace translate into the experience of those who first heard it and of us who are celebrating the good news of Christmas. Two kinds of people were given the Christmas message; 1. Mary and 2. The shepherds Mary is isolated for the favour of God – a blissful and happy experience. She is highly favoured – the most favoured - among all women; the angel Gabriel told her. Her experience was that she was pregnant without a husband which in no doubt may have created a difficulty for her trying to explain her pregnancy to family members. To make matters ‘worst’ she delivered in a manger. But the child she delivered was not an ordinary child; he was different from all other children. The favour and grace of God were on him and he had wonderful abilities that the people in the temple could not come to terms with. They described him as mad. Luk 2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. Mary was always aware that the favour of God was on her and so the Bible tells us Mary kept all these in her heart. At the cross of Jesus she might have asked herself so many questions. But the favour and grace of God enabled her to go through the pain of seeing her own son crucified – death in a most shameful and degrading way. Mary must be revered for what she went through and did for us. Sometimes the favour of God comes opening the door to all sorts of challenges and experiences including pain and shame; and Mary’s was no exception but the same grace that was to make her the mother of our saviour was sufficient to sustain her and to enable her go through the pain. In spite of the trials, temptation and pain it is worth it – to have the favour of God upon us. We must not give up. The grace of God is always available to give us strength to go through our trials. How does this favour of God translate into our experience as we celebrate Christmas in the 21st century? For many including the shepherds and Mary, the news of the birth of Christ was vague; even the disciples were not so sure; but to us the birth of Christ is great light. We no longer live in darkness. We have been redeemed by the saviour. We have hope of salvation. As we celebrate the birth of the saviour, we must be able to say that our hearts are filled with joy and peace because our encounter with the Saviour turned us from the path of death and the wrath of God to the path of redemption and hope of a salvation. Christ came so that our story of hopelessness and fear and anxiety about his second coming will disappear and give way to peace, joy, hope and blessed expectation of eternal life.

Please Download audio here

ADVENT REFLECTIONS – Day 2

Revd Prof J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu


Date 23nd Dec 2010

Readings: Lk2:21-35

The important thing about Jesus is that he was born. Whether or not December 25 is his actual date of birth is not important. There is enough evidence in both the Old and New Testaments that he existed.

At Christmas we give presents and gifts to our friends and loved ones. Sometimes those gifts are not meaningful or useful to them. The wise men gave gifts to Jesus. They gave gold to signify that he was a King, Myrrh to represent the peace he brought on earth and frankincense to represent his priesthood.

God’s gift of Jesus that we celebrate at Christmas is very precious and what He expects to receive from us is our heart.

In those days every first born son must be consecrated to the Lord and this was done on the eighth day. Samuel, John the Baptist and Jesus were consecrated as such. There lived at the time of Jesus’ birth a righteous and devout man of God called Simeon. God had promised him that he would not see death until he has seen the Lord’s Christ. The Spirit therefore led him to the temple at the time the baby Jesus was being presented on the eighth day.

The man Simeon took the baby Jesus up in his arms and blessed God and said,
Lu 2:29 "Lord, now let thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
Lu 2:30 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
Lu 2:31 which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
Lu 2:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."
Lu2:33 And his father and his mother marvelled at what was said about him;
Lu 2:34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against.
Lu 2:35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."
How would some fall and others rise because of Jesus?

The Christian life is full of choices and the choices we make would determine whether we fall or rise. Our attitude towards Jesus would determine whether we fall or rise.

1. From childhood, the rich young man had done everything the law said he should do, but when Jesus asked him to go and dispose of his wealth and give to the poor, he went away sad. He was not prepared to pay the price of discipleship

2. The Pharisees failed to admit that Jesus was the son of God even when there was every indication that he was. A forty-year old man who was born blind was healed by Jesus and the Pharisees decide to quiz him about his healing to make sure he was indeed born blind and Jesus had indeed healed him

3. Judas was a member of the twelve but fell because of greed and disloyalty

However there were others who rose

1. The twelve left family and business to follow Jesus

2. The Samaritan woman at the well after her encounter with Jesus went back to her village and declared she had found the Messiah

3. Bartemeus, the blind man, shouted for Jesus to call him and heal him. He followed him praising God

4. Zaccheus realised where he was standing was not good enough to catch Jesus’ attention and so he climbed a tree and that day he received his salvation

5. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night to seek explanations on how he could be saved. He was a secret follower of Christ.

6. Paul thought he was doing the right thing by persecuting the believers, but when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, he repented and preached the gospel to the extent that he said:
1Co 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!


In conclusion,

1. it is up to us make choices that honour God

2. we must display more inward form of Christianity where we worship from our hearts, in spirit and in truth

ADVENT REFLECTIONS - DAY 1

By: Revd Prof J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu


Date 22nd Dec 2010

Readings: 1Sam Chaps 1-4, Mt 1:18-25

Let’s begin the Christmas story from a very unlikely place in 1Samuel chapters 1-4; Is2 12-17.
Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas were priests in Israel.

Eli’s sons were wicked and had no regard for the Lord. They took the best parts of the offering even before it was presented to the Lord. In fact they treated the Lord’s offering with contempt. They also slept with the women and abused them.

Eli was very old at this time. One day he called his sons and asked them a question:

1Sa 2:25 If a man sins against a man, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father; for it was the will of the LORD to slay them.

So one day Israel went to war with the Philistines and the Ark of the Lord was captured. Eli’s two sons were killed. As soon as Eli was told this, he fell over his chair, broke his neck and died.

The wife of Phinehas was pregnant and about to deliver and when she heard that her father-in-law and her husband were dead she went into labour and not even the knowledge that she had given birth to a son was good enough news to make her live. She lost her life in child-birth. But before she died she named her child Ichabod meaning ‘The glory has departed from Israel’ because the Ark had been captured.

In those days the Ark symbolised the presence of God among His people and its capture meant the people of Israel were left without a covering.

In the New Testament, in the birth of Jesus, that Glory has been restored.

1. The name Jesus means he will save his people from sin

Mt 1:21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

2. Immanuel means God with us; His presence - His Glory- which was taken away has been restored to those who confess him as their Lord and saviour

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel

Joh 1:12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;


Lu 2:9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.


Lu 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"

As we celebrate Christmas let’s remember the change of name from Ichabod to Immanuel, meaning God’s favour and presence have been restored and we now have His covering over us.

Gone Too Soon

Mrs. Rita Abrahams, Assistant Council Secretary, has left us for eternity. Her first and last Sermon was exactly three months ago on Sunday, 22nd August, 2010 on the theme Respond to The Call of God. She was 41. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.  May she rest in peace.

YOU WILL GAIN YOUR LIFE THROUGH ENDURANCE

1st Reading: Isaiah 65:17-25

2nd Reading: 2Thes 3:6-13

Gospel Reading: Lk 21:5-19

TEXT: Lk 21:19     By your endurance you will gain your lives

THE MESSAGE

From the Gospel Reading

Jesus had just finished talking to the disciples about the widow who gave all that she had in the offering.

Then with admiration some (disciples) spoke of the external pomp and magnificence of the Temple, and thought Jesus should be as much affected with those things as they were.

In fact the temple was beautiful; it was built after the Israelites had returned from exile during the time of the prophet Ezra.

But Jesus said, as for those things which you see, those dear things which you are so much in love with, behold, the days will come, and some now living may live to see them, in which there shall not be left one stone upon another.

Lu 21:6 "As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.

They then asked Jesus when all this will happen and he replied:

They must expect to hear of false christs or messiahs and false prophets appearing, and false prophecies given out (Lu 21:8):

Many shall come in his name; he does not mean in the name of Jesus, though there were some deceivers who pretended commissions from him (as Ac 19:13), but usurping the title and character of the Messiah and encourage people to follow them.

They must expect to hear of great commotions in the nations, and many terrible judgments inflicted upon the Jews and their neighbours.

There shall be bloody wars

Nation shall rise against nation, one part of the Jewish nation against another, or rather the whole against the Romans.

There shall be earthquakes, great earthquakes, in divers places, which shall not only frighten people, but destroy houses and whole towns, and bury many in the ruins of them.

There shall be famines and pestilences, the common effects of war, which destroys the fruits of the earth, and, by exposing men to ill weather and reducing them to ill diet, occasioning infectious diseases.

There shall be fearful sights and great signs from heaven, uncommon appearances in the clouds, comets and blazing stars.

But Jesus warned us not to be terrified, not to panic nor be frightened but stand firm

We should not be deceived by these people who pretend to be him

We should not go after them nor have anything to do with them.

Life is so precious we do anything to preserve it; and Jesus knowing this did not leave the disciples unprepared for what will happen in the future – persecutions and killings.

He said to his disciples "Before all these, they shall lay their hands on you” and your adversaries will include your own relatives - "Your own relations will betray you

(Lu 21:16), your parents, brethren, and kinfolks, and friends; so that you will not know whom to put a confidence in, or where to be safe." "Your religion will be made a capital offence, and your blood will be demanded.

Jesus encouraged them to bear up under their trials, and to go on in their work notwithstanding the opposition they would meet with for the Holy Spirit will be there to protect them and tell them what to say even when they are arrested and brought before the authorities: 

Lu 21:14 settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer;
15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.

In all their persecutions Not a hair of their head will perish - Lu 21:18

The persecutions they suffered as recorded in the Book of Acts of the Apostles helped spread the Gospel.

In the first reading from Isaiah we learn that:

When we endure, God will give us a new heaven and a new earth

There shall be new life, (Isa 65:20) Untimely deaths by the sword or sickness shall be no more known as they have been.

Our enemies shall no longer inhabit the houses which we have built and eat the fruit of the trees which we have planted

We shall build houses and inhabit them ourselves

We shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them, Isa 65:21-22.

There shall be a good correspondence between us and our God (Isa 65:24): Even before we call, He will answer. God will anticipate our prayers with the blessings of his goodness.

In the second reading from 2nd Thessalonians the Apostle had the opportunity to warn the Church in Thessalonica about idleness. We understand that:

The best society of Christians may have some faulty persons among them and some things that ought to be reformed.

There were some who walked disorderly, not after the tradition they received from the Apostle, 2Th 3:6.

Some of the brethren did not live regularly, nor govern themselves according to the rules of Christianity.

In particular, there were among them some idle persons and busy-bodies, 2Th 3:11.

There were busy-bodies among them: persons who have no business of their own to do, or who neglect it and busy themselves in other men's matters.

They believed that because of the coming of our Lord they need not work.

If we are idle, the devil and a corrupt heart will soon find us something to do.

The mind of man is a busy thing; if it be not employed in doing good, it will be doing evil.

The Apostle commands and directs the whole church to withdraw themselves from such busybodies or idle people, and afterward to mark them, and have nothing to do with them; that they may be ashamed; yet not to count them as enemies, but to admonish them as brothers.

Finally he exhorts those that did well not to be weary in well-doing (2Th 3:13)

In Conclusion:

• We will be hated by all men because of our faith in Christ

• God will bring glory both to himself and to them that suffer for His cause; therefore we must not despair nor give up in the face of trouble.

• God is always with us, He will stand by us, and own us, and assist us, in our trials

• The Holy Spirit is there to help us in time of trouble

• We shall suffer no real damage by all the hardships the world shall put upon us (Lk21:18)

• There shall not a hair of your head perish."

• God answers our prayers

• When we endure we will gain our lives - in the new Heaven and the new earth

• We must work and not be idle

• We must not to be weary in well-doing

Revd Fiifi Foh Arkhurst is an Asst Minister at Trinity United Church

Give Thanks to God in all Things

10th October, 2010

20th Sunday After Pentecost

Preacher: Revd Isaac Etuah Jackson


Bible Readings
2Kings 5:1-3, 7-17     2Tim2:8-15        Luke 17:11-19

Text: 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.


Beloved in the Lord, today is 20th Sunday after Pentecost and we are 11 Sundays to the end of the year. The theme for today is apt for us to consider how thankful we have been to God; in our joys and in our sorrows.

At times we make the sad mistake in thinking that it is God’s duty to protect and provide for us.

In the First Reading from 2Kings, we saw Naaman, a Pagan commander of the King of Aram who was suffering from an incurable skin disease – usually referred to in Old Testament times as Leprosy. A slave-girl captured in one of Naaman’s raids and who served his wife suggested that his master sees the Prophet who lived in Samaria. This was the Prophet Elisha.

The Prophet told Naaman to go wash himself seven times in the river Jordan. But Naaman reasoned that if he had to take a bath in a river in order to be healed, then there are better and bigger rivers in Damascus. 2Ki 5:12 "Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. Sometimes we too want to design God’s salvation to suit us. Naaman would not have been healed if he had washed in another river. He left in a rage because he thought the process for the cure of his disease was too simple. 1Co 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Full of pride and self-will, he could not accept the simple cure of faith. Fortunately, he accepted the advice of his servants and did as the Man of God had instructed and then he received his healing.

2Ki 5:13 But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, if the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?"

14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Naaman, who thought that the God of Israel was only one among many gods, now could say there is no god in all the world except in Israel... 2Ki 5:15 ¶ Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him; and he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant."...he was full of gratitude and offered Elisha rich gifts. But Elisha refused the gifts to show that God’s favour cannot be purchased. That was the mark of a true man of God; that he was not out to make money or acquire possessions but one who seeks the welfare of others.

Beloved in the Lord, in the 3rd Reading, Jesus healed 10 men who had leprosy. Among the ten was a Samaritan. In those days, Israelites and Samaritans had nothing in common, but here we see a common sickness or misfortune had broken down the racial and religious barriers. They only remembered that they were sick people who were in need and together they shouted with one voice. Lu 17:11 And as He went to Jerusalem, it happened that he went through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as He entered into a certain village, ten leprous men met Him, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted voice and said, Jesus, Master, pity us!

They stood afar off: Lev 13:46 All the days in which the plague (Leprosy) is in him he shall be defiled. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.

Jesus asked them to go and show themselves to the priest – a very simple process of healing- and on their way they were healed, but only one, the Samaritan, came back to thank his benefactor. This pleased the Lord and led him to remark on the ingratitude of the others: Lu 17:15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

17 Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?

Beloved, before we comment on the actions of the nine, let us wait for a moment and ask ourselves how many of us return thanks to God for our lives. Many of us seek God only when we are in difficulty – like the lepers. While things are going on well – no sickness in our home, business is booming and when there is peace all around us, we forget to thank God; but as soon as trouble strikes we rush to Him and implore Him to have pity on us.

Naaman - a pagan army commander - sought God for healing, likewise the 10 lepers; but Naaman and the Samaritan both strangers to the Jewish religion saw the need to come back and thank their benefactors. We too must always come back to God and thank Him for the many blessings and mercies He shows us. David knew how to praise God - Ps 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The forthcoming Harvest is another opportunity for us to show or gratitude to God.

Please read also MHB 963: 1 & 3

Let us give thanks to God in all situations we find ourselves.

The Wise Use of Our Resources

18th Sunday After Pentecost

                                                          

26th September 2010 - First Service

Preacher: Revd Martin Obeng


Readings: Amos 6:1-7/1Tim 6:6-19/Luke 16 :19-31

In the Book of Genesis we learn that we were all created in the image of God and given the mandate to subdue the earth as well as enjoy it. God therefore gave us the ability to be resourced.

‘Resources’ are the qualities and skills one has and can use to solve problems. Therefore when the people in Amos’ time were complacent and abused the prosperity and resources God gave to His people, he threatened them with a curse as in Amos 6:1

Am 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and to them that are secure in the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come!

In the third Reading, the rich man, with all the blessings and prosperity he enjoyed on earth, failed to prepare for eternity. Whatever our status on earth we must remember that death comes to both the rich and the poor; and so we must prepare for eternity.

Preparing for eternity involves sharing our resources or riches and giving to God’s work; and there are a lot of opportunities around us to enable us to do these. For example, the story is told of a tomato seller who earns very little income and yet decided to help train a Catholic Priest; and she did, consistently with her little contributions. Many of us have clothes we have never worn and which can be given out to Charity but which we are holding onto. Opportunities exist in the Seminary and in the Church to offer such things as our contribution to the training of Ministers of the Gospel and the support of less endowed brothers and sisters in the Church.

In the Second Reading, 1Tim 6:6-12

6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses; the Apostle Paul instructs us as follows:

1. We must Flee: foolish and hurtful lusts; the love of money

2. We must pursue: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

3. We must Fight: the good fight of the faith.

4. We must lay hold on eternal life

He further instructs us to

1. Keep these commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

2. He warns the rich not to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches; but on God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

May God grant us the grace to manage our resources wisely and to seek eternity in whatever we do.



Revd Martin Obeng is a Lecturer in Old Testament at Trinity Theological Seminary

YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MONEY

Preacher: Revd Mrs Grace Sintim Adisa

Bible Readings:  AMOS 8:4-7    1TIM2:1-7        LK16:1-13

Date: 19TH September 2010              17th Sunday after Pentecost

To serve means to perform a duty or provide a service for some one. There is always an authority that is being served. The parties involved are a master and a servant and the normal thing is that the servant obeys the master.

The Theme for our reflection indicates that we have God and Money in this world; but we cannot serve both of them at the same time else we will be bias.

In the first Bible reading, we hear the prophet Amos warning the Merchants of his time. These merchants were enticed by money and they pretended to be worshiping God. They were not serious with the religious festivals. They always wanted the Holy days and Sabbaths to be over quickly so they could go back to work to make money. They loved market days more than Sabbath days.

They were cheating the poor to make money. They were selling inferior products for the same price as the finest – e.g. they mixed grain with wheat that was meant for animals, they inflated prices, knocked the bottoms of their measures upward, adjusted their scales among others. They sold the poor debtors into slavery for a pair of scandals.

Beloved in Christ, the Lord was not pleased with the behaviour of the Merchants. But my problem is – how different was their time from our time?

When you visit our market centres in Ghana (Asesewa, Techiman, Mankesim, Agomeya, Makola, Kasoa, etc) you will not see a different picture, there is cheating all over. Our traders love money more than anything else. Traders are giving false measurement for materials and cloths, deceiving people with Copper Jewellery as Gold. Come to think of the way they arrange their vegetables in the pans, sacks and ‘olonkas’ – they put fresh ones on top but the bottom ones are rotten. Groundnut paste and Ground pepper are mixed with flour etc. There are countless cases of rapist, armed robbers and thieves bribing their way through.

So what do we do as Christians because the Word of God says, we are the light of the world. There is so much moral decadence even at the offices. People would have to pay in cash or in kind before they could get jobs. Elderly men are abusing young girls and their house helps, their steps daughters etc.

Beloved, we have to walk with God. We should let justice roll on like a river and righteousness like a never-failing stream. God has something Good for us, so He is the only one that we should serve. The Word of God says that if I gain all the wealth of the world and I lose my life then what will I get?

Mt 16:26 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?

Scripture warns as in 1 Tim 6:10 that the root of all evil is the love of money. Money per se is not the problem, but the way we acquire and use it brings problems.

1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

In our times, we see people especially the youth rushing for money through ‘sakawa’, juju, armed robbery, 419 among others. The Bible warns us in Gen. 3:19 that “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food…” so why do we want to relax and get money?

Gen. 3:19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

The Apostle Paul in our 2nd Reading (1 Tim 2:1-7) preached Christ and his crucifixion that we may believe in God only.

Beloved in the Lord, what are you also doing? God is the ultimate that we need to serve. There is nothing to be compared.

Our 3rd Reading, (Lk 16:1-13) tells us that one day we shall be called upon to give an account of our stewardship. The servant in the parable did not know Christ but he thought of the future. He helped his master’s debtors so that they would also help him in his time of need. The steward helped the people in order to get their help in the future when he loses his job.

The Lord is saying that we cannot serve two masters. Either we will hate the one and despise the other.

Lu 16:13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

Money has the power to take Gods place in your life. It can become your master. How can you tell if you are a slave to money? Money is a hard master and a deceptive one at that. Wealth promises power and control, but often if cannot deliver.

Great fortune can be made – and – lost overnight and no amount of money can provide health, happiness or eternal life. How much better it is to let God be your Master; His servants have Peace of Mind and Security both now and forever- Amen.

REJOICE OVER ONE REPENTANT SINNER

PREACHER: REV DR JOHN ABEDU QUASHIE

DATE: SEPTEMBER 12, 2010


PASSAGES: Exodus 32: 7-14; Psalm 51: 1-10; 1Timothy 1: 12-17; Luke 15: 1-10

Introduction

We thank the Lord Almighty for bringing us to the beginning of yet another academic year. The year may seem to be full of challenges but we can be assured of God’s unfailing love, protection, provision and sustenance. We have every cause to thank the Lord because He has been faithful to us in the past and we can trust Him to take us through the present and continue with us into the future.

We reflect on the theme, “Rejoice over one repentant sinner” by considering the following:

Lost Sinners

From the three scripture passages and the Psalter, one thing that becomes clear is the fact of lost sinners in the world. This fact of sin and sinners is sometimes found in the most unlikely places such as among the people of God, the church; the people who are supposed to be separated from the world and separated unto God.

In Exodus 32, we find the Israelites, the specially chosen people of God, having sinned terribly against God. They had made for themselves graven images and attributed the protection, provision and deliverance of God to these images. God was so angry that He wanted to destroy them. What led to the Psalter read for us today (Psalm 51) was a grievous sin committed by a man whom God had raised and used to deliver His people. David, a man after God’s own heart, committed murder and adultery. In 1Timothy 1:15 Paul describes his previous life as being the “the worst of sinners”.

In the gospel reading, we find the Pharisees and scribes complaining and criticising Jesus, that He had associated himself with sinners and even gone on to eat with them. In His response Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin (Luke 15: 1-10). In these parables, Jesus did not deny the fact that those people the Pharisees and scribes were referring to were indeed lost sinners. Jesus used pictures that would be appreciated by all the people gathered. The story of the sheep would at the time touch the hearts of the men and boys in the crowd, while the women and girls would appreciate the story of the coin.

Sheep get lost because of their foolishness. They have the tendency to go astray. While the Pharisees and the scribes had no problem seeing the publicans and others as ‘lost sheep’ or sinners they could not see themselves in the light of Isaiah’s prophecy that all we like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6). It is very easy for us, like the Pharisees and scribes, to consider others as lost and ourselves as okay. The story of the Pharisee and the publican who went to pray is a good illustration of this kind of situation. But is it not true that we have been foolish at times, going astray like the Israelites, and like David, and disobeying the word of God. Is it not just because of grace that we can claim to have a right standing with God? It is not strange that John Newton will pen down the hymn, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me”. The fact is that we are all sinners saved by grace.

The other issue is that unlike sheep that get lost because of their foolishness, the coin was lost because of the carelessness of another. When a Jewish girl married, she began to wear a headband of ten silver coins to signify that she was now a wife. It was a calamity to lose one of those silver coins. Sometimes our carelessness at home and at work results in a soul being lost. It is important to ask ourselves whether our words and lives are not causing people to be lost.

Two things can be said about being lost. First is that one is “out of place”. Sheep belong with the flock and coins belong on the chain. All humans belong in fellowship with God and anytime that fellowship was broken, it means they are lost. The Israelites had broken their fellowship with God so they were lost. In David’s prayer of forgiveness, he dreaded this idea of being out of place and asked God not to cast him away from His presence but to restore to him the fellowship that was lost.

To be lost also means to be “out of service”. A lost sheep is of no service to the shepherd and a lost coin is of no service to the owner. As ministers in training and even lay people, we must remember that we cannot break our union with God and think that we are still in His service. We sometimes find people living in serious sin and still claiming to be working for the Lord. Well, they may be working for another lord but not

the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus categorically said that without Him we can do nothing. Are we lost? Are we out of place and out of service with the father through Christ? Do we know people who we can rightly claim are lost?

Lost Sinners are Valued

What the Pharisees failed to appreciate was that the lost are also valued. The fact that the shepherd would go after one sheep is proof that each animal was dear to him. In the same way that fact that the maiden would light a lamp and search for the missing coin was indication that the coin was of value to her. The point being made here is that the people we may think of as being lost are valuable to God. Each person in the world is so valuable that God does not desire that any should be lost forever. So Jesus described His ministry as “seeking and saving the lost” (Luke 19:10).

The lost sinner is so valuable to God that he offers the priceless blood of Christ to purchase him/her. That is why we never have to look down on anyone like the Pharisees did; that is why we never have to give up on anyone who is lost; that is why we never have to relent in our efforts in seeking the lost. Moses set us an example. When the Lord told him that He was going to destroy all the Israelites because they had broken the fellowship with Him and gone to serve other gods, but He was going to bless Moses, Moses began to remind God about the value of the people He was going to destroy. They were a people God had brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand (Ex. 32:11). They were a people God had made an everlasting covenant with through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that He would make their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and give them the land as an inheritance forever (Ex. 32:12). The lost are also valuable to God.

The two parables teach us about the value of the lost sinner. If you lose something that is not valuable, you don’t mind. For the shepherd to search for the one sheep, it indicated that the one sheep was valuable and for the maiden to search for the one coin, it indicated the value of the coin. It is because of the value of the lost sinner that when one repents, there is rejoicing.

Sinners Have the Capacity to Repent and be Found

The two parables also suggest that it was the shepherd who goes after the lost sheep, and the maiden who goes after the lost coin. This may not immediately bring out the fact that there is the capacity in the ‘lost’ to be found. There are situations in which announcements are made about lost but found items which the owners had to come for. Could it be that the lost sheep was looking for a way back but was helpless? The third parable which follows the two read today brings this fact out clearly. In the parable of the lost son, we find the son repenting and returning to the father.

People have the capacity to repent and go back when they realise their foolishness. David, in Psalm 51, expressed the desire to be restored to God. The Lost son was desirous to be restored back to the father. Paul was happy to have been restored back and was thankful to God. His statement in 1Timothy 1: 15 that Christ Jesus came to the world to save sinners is an indication of the fact that sinners can be saved. In fact, his statement that he is the worst of sinners seems to give an indication that all sinners can be saved. If the worst has been saved, then it is easy to save the “not so bad”.

Every lost person has the capacity to be restored back to their place and to their service with God. That is the reason we should never give up on them. There are people who have prayed for the salvation of their loved ones for years and after so many years, it eventually happened. In his song “Welcome Home”, Ron Kenoly talks of his son who left home at 16 and after some years came back in repentance.

Unfortunately, the Pharisees failed to recognise this capacity in the “sinners” with whom Jesus ate. Do we recognise the capacity in sinners to be saved or we totally condemn them as if nothing good can come out of them?

Attitudes towards Sinners

In the passages, there are two kinds of attitudes displayed regarding sinners. First we have the attitude of the Pharisees. For them, sinners were lost and could not be found. Nothing good could come from them. To them there was no possibility of repentance.

Unlike the Pharisees however, we find Moses, Jesus and Paul having a different attitude to sinners. Moses’ example was a striking one. God had decided to destroy all the Israelites and to leave him alone blessed. If you found yourself in that situation, what would be your reaction? There are people who see their success in other people’s failure. If those people were in Moses’ situation they would have become excited about the idea and asked God to quickly do what He was talking about. Do you see yourself also wanting to be better than the other person? Do you see yourself rejoicing over the downfall of a fellow believer because you think it raises your prospects? Or do you see yourself hurt about the brother or sister who has fallen and praying earnestly about his restoration? What is your attitude to sinners?

Jesus’ attitude was one of hate for sin and love for the sinner recognising the potential of the sinner to be the best. Due to the recognition of this potential in the sinner, Jesus is always patient with the sinner. Paul declared in 1 Timothy 1:16 that in him, Christ Jesus displayed His unlimited patience and that was intended to be an example to those who would believe in Him. What is your own attitude to the sinner? Are you eager that the sinner should be punished or like Moses, you always plead on their behalf that God will have mercy upon them? Do you hate sin and love the sinner or you hate both sin and the sinner?

Rejoicing: The Right Reaction towards Repentant Sinners

Our attitude also informs our reaction to the sinner who has repented and received mercy. Because the Pharisees had a negative attitude, they could not rejoice over the fact that the sinner has repented and received mercy. On the other hand Jesus explained that just as a shepherd would rejoice over a lost but found sheep and a maiden would rejoice over a lost but found coin, so do the angels rejoice over one sinner who repents. There are three things that we may consider as the right reaction towards the repentant sinner. First is rejoicing over the sinner’s repentance. If heaven rejoices over a repentant sinner, our reaction to the repentant sinner should be one of joy and celebration. A lost brother/sister has been found and there is every cause for celebration.

Second those who are genuinely in tune with God reach out to the lost to restore fellowship with them in a very intimate way to the extent of eating with them. The shepherd reaches out to the lost sheep and the maiden reaches out for the lost coin. True believers welcome the repentant sinner and seek to help them stand firm on their feet as they find their place among the people of God and become of service to God.

Third, those who have a right attitude towards sinners are not ashamed associating with the repentant sinner. Jesus was not ashamed of associating with sinners, something that the Pharisees could not just take in. Barnabas was not ashamed associating with Paul and that helped Paul a lot to find his place in the fellowship of the Lord and of the believers. Some believers behave like the Pharisees and shun those who have fallen from grace even when the people have genuinely repented and received mercy from God. The attitude of Christ is to receive the repentant sinner and encourage them to stay strong in the Lord. Could we follow the example of Jesus and help those who fall to rise on their feet instead of “shooting the wounded”.

Conclusion

The fact is that there is sin and sinners in the world, sometimes found in the most unlikely place like the church. Sinners are out place in the fellowship with God and also out of service. However in the sight of God, there a great value in every sinner and every sinner has the potential to repent. Our attitude to sinners must not be one of looking down on them but rather one of hate for sin and love for the sinner. This attitude leads us to rejoice when they repent, share fellowship with them and not become ashamed associating with them. May we have the grace to follow the example of Jesus and that of Moses towards sinners who have repented! Amen.

1. there is sin and sinners in the world,

2. Sinners are out place in the fellowship with God

3. Sinners are out of service out God

4. However in the sight of God, there is a great value in every sinner and every sinner has the potential to repent.

5. We must not look down on sinners, rather we must hate sin and love the sinner...

6. ...that attitude leads us to rejoice when they repent, share fellowship with them and not become ashamed associating with them.

7. May God grant us the grace to follow the example of Jesus and that of Moses towards sinners who have repented!

Amen.

Revd Dr Abedu Quashie is Dean of Students, Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon.

BE A TRUE DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST

PREACHER: Revd Seth Kissi

BIBLE READINGS: Deut 30:15-20 / Philemon 4-6 / Lk 14:25-33

DATE: 5th September, 2010             

15th Sunday after Pentecost



God wants us to be disciples of His son Jesus Christ; but He doesn’t compel us to obey Him. He wants us to be willing disciples and always expects us to trust in His counsel. No matter how we feel about or see God’s ways, they are always meant for our good.


A disciple learns from his master and is influenced by him.

Paul was different in his approach to his ministry to the Gentiles compared to the other Apostles. He was a teacher and a friend to them. In explaining the Gospel to them he used his own life experiences and encouraged them to ‘follow him as he followed Christ’.

What are we supposed to do as followers of Christ or to be followers of Christ?

1. Decide to be willing disciples

2. Estimate the cost of following Christ

3. Be prepared to bear the cost and

4. Do not let the cost deter us


1. God doesn’t force us to obey Him, and so we must decide to be willing, obedient disciples

2. Jesus asked in Luke 14 which house builder does not estimate the cost of the building before he sets out to build the house. Likewise we must estimate the cost of following Christ.

The cost involves

• Death or loss of our own lives

• the loss of family and other relationships

• Acceptance, love and forgiveness of difficult people and things as was the case of Philemon who had to take back Onesimus, a runaway slave.

• Injury to our ego

3. A lot of sacrifices need to be given in our desire to be disciples of Christ and we must be prepared to bear that cost

4. The good news is that when we become disciples of Jesus Christ, that relationship takes care of our every need and gives us the Grace to love and forgive, accept other people, do things that ordinarily would have been difficult for us to do. That relationship with Christ promises us above all things, Eternal life; and so the cost does not and must not deter us.