A Global Methodist Church
Today's sermon is titled "Promises". Our Lord gives us so many promises. His promises, unlike ours, are completely reliable, solid as a rock. As he tells us in Psalms 18: 30-31 God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?
Today's sermon is titled "The Hands and Feet of Jesus." Nothing on earth was created without Jesus Christ. Jesus was in the beginning and He still is now and forever. Jesus lived on this earth as a human for thirty-three years and showed us many signs and wonders. Jesus is Love. Jesus has given us - His followers, the honor of being His hands and feet on earth while we await His return. It is up to us, church to spread His love to the world that so desperately needs it. All who follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Luke 24: 44-49 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things. “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
We can only be the hands and feet of Jesus through the power of The Holy Spirit living in us. Go forth and do His works because you were born again to do so.
Today’s message is titled “Spiritual Burnout.” Jesus fulfills His promise that He is always there. He promised that if we ask anything in His name, He will do it. It is a fact of life that there will be sorrow and hard times. There will be times that seem hopeless and on our own, it can be hopeless. Our Hope is in Jesus Christ. Our Hope is found in Him alone. It is when we try to take control and fix things on our own, that we invite trouble and strife. The answer is found in God’s word and prayer for sure. The more we are not in The Bible and not in prayer, the more we are vulnerable to spiritual burnout and depression. The “Easy Button” for defeating burnout is found in seeking Jesus Christ with all of our being. “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
Today is our Celebration Sunday, celebrating one year as Damascus Methodist Church, in the Global Methodist Church Denomination. It has also been a year with Jon and Jenny Long. Pastor Long preached a message called "Nothing but the Blood" this morning. As we celebrate our anniversary, we remember that we have never ceased to be grounded in the word of God. We have never and will never cease to spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of the blood He shed for the forgiveness of sin for all that accept and live for Him. We are His sheep and we are all called to add to the flock daily and follow Him.
1st John 10:1-10 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.