Our annual theme of “Learning to love like Jesus”, based on the verse John 13:35: “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples if ye have love one to another” So, now that we are entering in to the season in which we celebrate the victory of the “First Advent” let us focus on giving the fallen world the right information so that they can be saved, This week’s message we have chosen to call: ” Loving Enough To Speak The Gospel Plain and Clear”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 16:5 – 11 (KJV)
Psa 16:5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
Psa 16:6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Psa 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
Psa 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psa 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Acts 4:7 – 12 (KJV)
Act 4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
Act 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
Act 4:9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
Act 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Act 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
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Transforming Power Statements:
1) The Psalmist, King David, taught and understood that the things of this life were not the only nor main things to concern themselves with, but rather that we should see that it is our relationship to God that we must treasure and that God Himself is our long-term inheritance.
2) The message of the Apostolic Church was clear, and not the least bit ambiguous it was all about the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah and what this means for everyone.
3) We as the “visible church” must hold fast to the things of God and be certain that it is and has always been better to be covered by His love and sacrifice than it could ever be without Him even if we owned the entire world!