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.’

Choose To Trust God’s Word

Past. Melody vd Merwe

22 May2011 (am)

Intro: CHOOSE the choice is yours, to trust God’s Word.

Prov 3:5 (TLB) Trust the Lord completely don’t ever trust yourself…

Ps 20:7 … some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember (trust) the Name of the Lord our God.

Micah 7:5-7

TRUST GOD 2 Eph 3:12 “TRUST” WW (Spirit filled life Bible)

Middle verse of the Bible Ps 118:8 …it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man…

Everything is around this truth. Centre of everything.

Why Trust God’s Word?

John 1:1… in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…v14 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jesus IS the Word)

Times of trouble fear so many things.

Is 8:11-15. Fear only God. WW

Believe that the Lord is your refuge, and overcome worldly fear that threatens in times of major crisis. Faith takes God at His Word when circumstances seem to deny the truth of His promises.

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!! Why fear him?

Is 40:12-15,18, 21+22, 25-31

V29 Gives power to the weak… WW Deut 8:18

V31 Those who wait… WW Micah 7:7

Realise that spiritual strength comes from waiting on the Lord.

Is 49:23 ©… for they shall not be ashamed who wait for me…

Is 30:15 (a)… for thus says the Lord God, the Holy one of Israel; in returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength…

Is 28:12+13…this is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest, and, “this is the refreshing,” yet they would not hear…v13… but the Word of the Lord was to them, “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.

Ø      THE WORD – receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls..v22 be doers of the word and not hearers only. James 1:21

28v16… whoever believes will not act hastily. James 1:2-4 (TLB)

Is 42:23 – 43:7

Trust that God knows how to protect His righteous ones.

V43:2 Waters – floods + Fires – to strengthen us +43:5 I AM WITH YOU – (never leave you- Is 41:10)

God is for us!

Rom 8:31 … if God is for us who can be against us…

God is in us!

1 John 4:4… you are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater that he who is in the world…

Choose to believe that God’s Word is the most powerful force in the universe and act accordingly!

Is 55:10+11

Is 45:22+23

Is 46:9-11

Num 23:19

Act like you believe it!

1 John 5:9 …if we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater…v10 he who does not believe God has made Him a liar…

What we believe…

Regarding Water Baptism.

Baptism, or full immersion in water, is an act of biblical obedience that is a symbolic sign of the believer’s death, burial and resurrection in Christ Jesus. Matthew 28:19;

Acts 2:38;

Romans 6:3-4

Sunday 15th May 20011 we will be baptizing people…

Come join us in the celebration…

Service times 09:30 & 18:30

ALL WELCOME!