THE SILENT SERMON

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preacher’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace…and waited.
The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning    ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone, then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and    diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it     began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, ‘Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.’

SHOWING RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER

13 June 2010 (pm)

Pastor Melody vd Merwe

Rom 12:10(b)

AIM: Measure our lives to see that we live the way God expects and commands us to live.

Romans 12:1 (b)

(GW) – excel in showing respect for each other…

(NKJ) – in honour giving preference to one another…

(CEV) – honour others more than you do yourself…

Respect begins with a godly perspective.

Respect means we see others thru our Father’s eyes, as eternal beings – John 3:16 ..God gave His best.

1 Pet 2:9 … you are a chosen generation a royal priesthood, a holy nation. His own special people..

It means seeing each other as “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” Rom 8:17 (NIV)

NKJ…heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…

Put a “10” on others head – see them as God sees them.

Respect means we consistently remember we’ll soon be sharing heaven with other believers.

We give respect even to those whom we have difficulty respecting. Luke 6:31…and just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. (NKJ)

(LB) Treat others as you want them to treat you.

GOLDEN RULE IN LIFE – Sow and Reap

Respect regardless of so-called station in life.

James 2:1-9 Remember we are all made in God’s image.

Remember also 1 Cor 12:24 (NLT) …God put the body together in such a way that extra honour and care are given to those parts that have less dignity…

v     All human beings are eternal beings and creations of God – with or without God.

Show respect – Simply listen!! James 1:19+20

v     Open your ears and listen – close your mouth – 2 ears – 1 mouth.

v     Hurts, heartaches, dreams, desires – God takes time to listen to us.

Part of listening means we don’t rush to fix things, or to give an answer; we respect others enough to let them share their full story!!

Show respect – Trust others!

Don’t assume they’ll get it wrong, or not do it as well as you would.

Phil 2:3 … let nothing be done thru selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

v     Allow people to be themselves – let them do it their way – your way isn’t the only way!

Show respect – protect other’s reputation.

1 Cor 13:7 (LB) …don’t listen to gossip, or spread it.

1 Pet 4:8 (NIV) …love covers a multitude of sins…

Respect others be tactful.

Be tactful, not just truthful – think before you speak, NB the way you say something WILL influence how it is received. Prov 15:1 a soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels. (death + life).

Constructive criticism is best received when it is presented in a loving manner and, as mature Christians, we’re to “know the whole truth” but “tell it in love”. Eph 4:15 (MSG)

v     BEFORE you speak frankly with someone, ask yourself: “Why am I saying this? Will my words build them up or tear them down?”

Prov 15:4 (TEV) …kind words bring life but cruel words crush your spirit…

(CEV) kind words are good medicine…

Prov 31:26 (LB) …let kindness be the rule for everything you say…

WAIT ON THE LORD

13 June 2010 (am)

Pastor Melody vd Merwe

Isaiah 40:31

AIM: We’ll see the importance of waiting on the Lord – not running ahead without Him.

Read WW Micah 7:7

WAIT – to wait, tarry, hope, trust, expect, be patient; remain in anticipation.

AMP…those who wait – [who expect, look for and hope in Him]

Waiting on the Lord means taking God at His word even when circumstances seem to deny the truth of His promises.

Isa. 28:16 (b) …whoever believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to) will not act hastily..

Col 3:15… and let the peace of God rule in your hearts (act as umpire continually [AMP]) [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds]…

Rom 14:25 …whatever is not from faith is sin… if in doubt, cut it out!

Ex 33:14-16 …presence of the Lord – moving when He moves – I will give you rest.

Heb 4:9+10 …rest WW Is 28:12 place of stillness, peace, rest; a quiet place.

Ps 27:14 …wait (wait in faith) on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your hearts; wait I say on the Lord.

AMP – wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

Waiting = hoping, expecting, trusting, believing.

Heb 11:1 …now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

AMP – now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed)…

Patiently waiting is a sign of maturity.

James 1:4 (LB) …for when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.

Is 40:31 – Waiting on God is expecting, looking for, and hoping in Him.

We do not worry while we wait on God; we do not get frustrated while we wait on God; we do not get upset while we wait on God. We rest. James 5:7-11

Is 30:15 In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength (v16+17 trusting in self Ps 20:7 some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember this name of the Lord our God)

(v18) the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.

Wait is…

Ps 37:3-9+34

Saul’s unlawful sacrifice 1 Sam 13

Micah 7:7 … I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

Prov 3:5 …trust in the Lord and lean not…

Eph 6:13 …having done all to stand, stand therefore.

CARE FOR THOSE JESUS CARES ABOUT

by Rick Warren

The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.” Jeremiah 1:7 (NLT)

Whether it was Sarah claiming she was too old to be used by God or Jeremiah claiming he was too young, God rejected their excuses. “Don’t say that,” the Lord replied, “for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you.” (Jer 1:7-8 NLT)

Maybe you’ve believed that you needed a special “call” from God, and you’ve been waiting for some  supernatural feeling or experience, but God has already stated his call for you. He doesn’t want to use just some of his people; he wants to use all of his people. We’re all called to be on-mission for God. He wants his whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world.

If you want to be like Jesus, you must care about what he cares about most; you must have a heart for the whole world! You can’t be satisfied with just your family and friends coming to Christ. There are over six billion people on earth, and Jesus wants all his lost children found.

The Great Commission is your commission, and doing your part is the secret to living a life of  significance.

Jesus said, “Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.”    (Mark 8:35 LB)

POSSESSING YOUR PROMISE

30 May 2010 (am)

Pastor Melody vd Merwe

1 Cor 15:57+58

AIM: To encourage us to fight the good fight of faith and not give up.

(v57)…but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (v58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord…

Gal 6:9 …and let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose hope…

v     People want everything instantly and they want it easy or they give up!!

v     Remember the process – little boy dreams to become president – Growing up to do.

James 1:2-4 (TLB) …dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete…

NB!! God never said it would be easy, but He did say He’ll be with us always.

Heb 13:5… I will never leave you nor forsake you. (v6) So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear, what can man do to me?

Is 43:2 …when you pass thru the waters, I will be with you; and thru the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk thru the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.

Our Examples

Abraham: Gen 12:2 – Age 75

Age of 86 yrs Ishmael born by Hagar. (Making their own plans)

At 99 years God appears to Abraham (Gen 17) cuts covenant with him. Abraham 99, Ishmael 13. Circumcised. Sarah 99+- 1 year later Isaac was born.

25 years after receiving the promise!

Joseph 17 years old ha a dream Gen 37.

±20 years until Joseph revealed himself to his brothers Gen 45.

Waited for the fulfilling – went thru various trails while waiting – kept the faith.

Israelites in a land that was not their own 430 yrs. God promised their own land to Abraham’s descendants.

Moses leads them out amidst great signs and wonders – opens the red sea after being led by the cloud and fire pillar.

Num 13 …send spies into Canaan

v     TOO DIFFICULT – odds against us cannot do it!

Murmur – God takes it personally – get what they say – we will die in the wilderness (Num 14).

NAAMAN Commander of army of Syria.

2 Kings 5. Leprosy – slave girl – king thinks it’s a trap. Elisha gives Naaman order to wash in the Jordan seven times. Had his own idea how God would heal him – rivers of Damascuas better.

v     TOO EASY (v13) if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it?

v     TAKING TOO LONG

DAVID. Saul reigned as king 40 years but God disposed of him after 25 years – still reigned 15 years. David was anointed as king ±15 years before Saul’s death. Goliath killed – now king – at Saul’s death David was anointed as king of Judah – 15 years after promise.

+ another 7½ years until he was anointed king of Israel.

±22½ yrs passed after David was anointed as king by Samuel as young man.        1 Sam 16 (15 years of age).

Phil 2:14-16 … do all things without complaining…3:12-14

Phil 1:6 … He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Gal 6:9

Possess your promise.

DON’T GIVE UP

Is 54:14…no weapon formed against you..

Josh 1:3 … every place that the sole…