“If He is not Among the Dead, You Aren’t Either”.

The Topic of the Easter Sunday Holy Communion Service of 31^st March 2013, at St. Margaret's UCZ Church was entitled: “If He is not Among the Dead, You Aren’t Either”.

Preacher: Student Minister Chileshe Chepela

Scripture Reading: Luke 24: 1 - 11

SERMON SUMMARY

The St. Margaret's UCZ Church was having an Easter Conference from Monday 25^th March 2013 up to today. Today marks the end of that Conference.

You may have missed one or two things that were discussed during the Conference by the various speakers, who are men and women of God. However it is my prayer that you have picked a thing or two from the Conference. (Note: I, Henry Nasilele, took notes throughout the Conference and I shall write these in my Facebook Notes and my Blogs in the next few days).

God is always speaking to us in many ways. He spoke to Abraham and Joseph and made them great men. These men went through so many hardships but God knew what their destinies, which, He has planned for them.

Our theme for the topic of today is: “If He is not Among the Dead, You Aren’t Either”.

The story of the resurrection of Jesus is very well known to all, even Sunday school children are able to recite it with ease. Many people take it as mere folktale.

Today let us listen to it as if we are hearing it for the first time and take a serious note of what it means to us.

When the women we read in Luke 24: 1 – 11 went to the Tomb of Jesus, they were not sure who was going to help them roll out the big stone that sealed the entrance to the Tomb. However, they believed that God was going to help them to do so.

In our lives we have so many stones that torment and enslave us such as poverty, disease and hunger, to mention but a few. We are always wondering who is going to remove these stones for us.

In most cases we are dependent on other people and not God to resolve our problems. Many people visit witchdoctors for their various ailments and some depend on “powerful people” in society to help them to get employment, etc.

May we look to God as the author and finisher of our fate and man is only there to support us.

Men with wealth do not realise that it is perishable. Money can buy you a very comfortable bed but will never buy you a peaceful sleep. Money may buy you entertainment but it will never buy you joy. Money will never buy everything you need in life.

Let us not depend on things that are perishable. Let us look up to God for our needs. There are many unhappy marriages in wealthy families and many people wonder why this is so. Remember it is not about money but it is about God. It is only God who can deliver us from our problems.

Money can buy a passport to go anywhere in the world but it will not buy your passport to heaven.

The women who came to the Tomb of Jesus depended on God to remove the stone for them because they had faith.

“If you have put your life in a tree watch out for Charcoal Burners and Lumber jacks. One day the tree is going to be cut down.”  It is only when you put your trust in Jesus that your life is assured. If he is not among the dead, you aren’t either!

The disciples of Jesus were troubled on a Friday because their teacher was put to death. However he was resurrected on a Sunday.

John 16: 21 say: “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.”

You may be in sorrow on a Friday but wait for a Sunday because the day of resurrection comes on that day. When a Sunday comes in your life things will change.

If you put your trust in God a day is coming when things will be alright with you. A little more prayer and a little more faith is all you need. The bad things that you have passed through in your life are not important, but your faith in Jesus is important because those things will become your testimony.

Wait, a Sunday is coming in your life.

Don’t worry about people gossiping about you because a day is coming when they are going to say. “Sorry”.

Why are you looking for the living among the dead? Jesus is not among the dead and if you believe in Him you are not among the dead.

AMEN!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: (From the Church's Weekly Bulletin)

Luke 24: 1 -11 is a narrative of the resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

Verse 1, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the    tomb.

Verse 2, they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Verse 3, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Verse 4, while they were wandering about this, suddenly two men in clothes, that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.

Verse 5, ln their fright, the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Verse 6, He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee.

Verse 7, when Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

As you begin this new week, remember to celebrate this Easter in style. Keep telling yourself that if Jesus is not found among the dead, then you aren’t either. He is your life when He appears; you appear with Him in glory. Don’t let anybody down play you, your life is Christ.

AMEN!

“The Servant's Obedience”.

Part of the Congregation waving Palm Branches at the Palm Sunday Service

The Topic of the Palm Sunday service of 24th March 2013, at St. Margaret's UCZ Church was entitled “The Servant's Obedience”.

Preacher: Reverend Chipasha Musaba

Scripture Reading: Matthew 21: 1 - 11

SERMON SUMMARY

Today the whole Christian world is observing Palm Sunday, which marks the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.

On Palm Sunday Christians celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, the week before his death and resurrection.  For many Christian churches this marks the beginning of Holy Week, which concludes on Easter Sunday.

This triumphal entry symbolises the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into our lives.

Jesus introduces himself to us as the King.

There are three aspects of this message which we are going to look at:-

1) Jesus commands the bringing of the donkey and colt to him.

His final assault is to release those who are in captivity of the enemy. Look at your life with respect to Jesus' command to untie the donkey and the colt. When the name of Jesus is mentioned you will be untied.

Your life is tied despite what you think of yourself as being more important than others.

Jesus wants you and your children to be set free just as he commanded to untie the donkey and the cult.

Many people who are bonded by witchcraft think that they are "powerful", but in fact they are in bondage of Satan.

In many families small children are tattooed at birth with the belief that they would be "protected" for the rest of their lives, but in fact bonded to the kingdom of darkness.

Many people are full of themselves and say "I am not a person to play with." but in fact they are in bondage. Adultery, fornication, theft, drunkenness, etc. are some of the bondages such people are tied to.

Jesus wants you and your children to be untied.

2) Jesus rides on a donkey.

A donkey is a sign of peace. Allow him to usher in peace into your individual life. Allow him to come into your life and your story will not be the same.

Say this to yourself: “Jesus is coming to me and ushering in peace into me."

Many people are suffering from high blood pressure due to stress brought about by lack of peace in their lives.

Let peace be a reality in our lives.

3) Inevitability of the human response in the coming of Jesus into our lives.

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" ~ Matthew 21: 9 b

You are nothing without Jesus. Let Jesus take charge of your life. Untie us Son of David!

When a change takes place as a result of Jesus comes to take charge of your life people will not recognise you and they will ask "Who is this?". People will not be able to predict about you because God is unpredictable.

The Easter Conference at St. Margaret's UCZ Church in Kitwe from Monday 25 March to Thursday 28th March 2013 is for people who realise that they are bonded and they need to be untied.

The theme of the Conference is “Refined in the Blood of Jesus the Christ”.

You are all invited for this conference.

AMEN!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: (From the Church's Weekly Bulletin)

Matthew 21: 1-11

What should this year’s Palm Sunday entail to mankind throughout the world?

Most people believe it's a Christian celebration hut in essence goes beyond Christian jurisdiction. If focus is on the whole humanity, the loosing of the Donkey and the Colt points to the redemption of both the experience and the inexperienced.

Get ready to the Chris’s triumphal entry into your life!

Be part of this year’s Easter Conference under the theme, “Refined in the Blood of Jesus the Christ”.

AMEN!

"The Journey of Seeking Genuine Transformation."

The Topic at the 7.00 hrs.  Service of 17th March 2013 at St. Margaret's UCZ Church was entitled "The Journey of Seeking Genuine Transformation."

This was a Youth Sunday Service conducted by the Youths of the Church. The second Service was for the Boys and Girls Brigades' Induction.

Preacher: Ms. Matilda Nakamba

Scripture Readings: 2 Kings 5: 1 -19

                                  1 Corinthians 4:1

                                  1 Timothy 4: 6 - 16

                                   Mark 10: 17 - 23

SERMON SUMMARY

In the scripture reading from 2 Kings 5: 1 - 19 we read about Naaman, a great soldier who was healed of leprosy. He was a mighty man of valour, but he was a leper.

A captive young girl from Israel who served Naaman’s wife said to her mistress, ‘If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’

Because of his pride, Naaman did not initially want to listen to the advice of the young servant girl. When he finally listened to the advice he was cured of his leprosy and praised God and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.."

In Mark 10: 17 - 23 we read of a young man who could not accept the Kingdom of God due his pride of being rich. Jesus said ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!’

In the two scriptures we learn that pride can stop us from getting closer to God and we fail to be transformed.

Let us look at two ways one could be transformed.

1) Opportunity through Enterprise.

Many Youths do not know that transformation starts from humble beginnings. People who are despised, businesses or jobs that are shunned or situations that are not attractive to most people usually end up with great transformations.

2) Breaking Transformation Barriers.

Barriers of pride should be overcome. Proverbs 16: 18 says "Pride goes before destruction,a haughty spirit before a fall."

A lot of young ladies have missed the opportunity of marriage because of pride. They have put certain "standards" which must be met by the potential bridegrooms before accepting their hand in marriage. The same is true of some young men.

Things that are usually despised are the secret to success because "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. !" - 1 Corinthians 1:27

Humble yourself before God and he will lift you up to bring transformation in your life. (James 4:10).

We cannot overcome our battles without God's intervention.

We have battles of fornication, adultery, drunkenness, political strife, celebrity worship, etc which we have to overcome if we are to get closer to Jesus Christ.

Transformation lies in our individual approach of how we look upon God for his intervention.

We need spiritual, financial and economic transformation, etc. This can only be achieved through God.

God is giving you an opportunity to make peace with Him today.

AMEN!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: (From the Church's Weekly Bulletin)

Can you imagine a seriously cracked building inevitably in need of urgent attention? A man is contracted to rehabilitate it and he does a bad job. He coats the cracked walls with Paint and everybody who sees the building on face value believes life has been put back into it.

Could this be any different for a man who is seriously damaged from sin and wrong attitudes on the inside and yet transforms the outside for the benefit of those who only see the outside.

AS you begin this brand new Week, consider your ways. Genuine transformation begins from the inside. If not, it is cosmetic.

Luke 11:39. "And the Lord said to him, 'Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.'"

AMEN!

How to make compost - Full instructions

How to make compost - full instructions

"Repentance is our urgent need."

The Topic at the service of 3rd March 2013 at St. Margaret's UCZ Church was entitled "Repentance is our urgent need."

The Holy Communion Service at St. Margaret's UCZ Church on 3rd March 2013

Preacher: Reverend Kuzipa Nalwamba of Theological College - Kitwe

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 55: 1 - 13
1 Corithians 10 : 1 -13
John 10: 1 - 9


SERMON SUMMARY

Repentance requires courage and making choices.

There is a story of a Lumberjack who was cutting a tree in a remote place when the tree fell on his leg and trapped his leg.

He had two choices: To bleed through his wound and face eventual death, or to cut off the trapped leg and walk away on one leg to seek medical attention. He took courage to choose the latter and he saved his life.

It is like that in life when one has to surrender certain pleasures in life. It is not that God does not want us to enjoy ourselves in our lives but to live through His Word.

When we look at the scripture reading from Isaiah 55: 1-13 it may divided into the following.

1) Isaiah 55: 1 - 2 tells us that God provides everything for our everyday life. God invites us who are thirsty to come to the waters and drink. Water gives us life so God gives it to us even if we have no money.

The other invitation is to buy wine and milk without money and without cost. wine and honey represents splendid abundance in our lives.

We do not have to pay for that because someone (Jesus) has already paid for that.

2) Isaiah 55: 3 - 5 tell us of an invitation to a permanent covenant with God where he provides us with permanent security.

"Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.

Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendour.”

3) Isaiah 55: 6 - 9 tell us about the four fundamental issues of what this invitation is based on.

1) Verse 6 a says SEEK the Lord while he may be found. To "seek" here does not mean looking for something that is lost but to come with diligence where the Lord is found.

2) Verse 6 b says CALL on him while he is near. This means to acknowledge and worship God.

3) Verse 7 a says; let the wicked FORSAKE their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.

4) Verse 7 b says; let them TURN to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

It is what you do that that matters and not what you do not do.

Who should repent? The wicked and evil should repent.

"Wicked" refers to the character of an individual, whereas "Evil" refers to the effects of sin on an individual.

There is nothing like "That is the way I am." It is in the mind that one's character is enshrined.

Turn to the Lord and he will have mercy on you.
The Church is the only army which finishes off the wounded but God's way is to heal the wounded. Forgiveness without reason is what God does to the wounded.

3) Isaiah 55: 10 - 11 shows us the mercy of God.
"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,so is my word that goes out from my mouth:It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

4) Isaiah 55: 12 - 13 tells us of the promise of the new world.

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

Repentance is not what you do to repent but what God does after your repentance.

Don't be attempted to take a short cut to repentance but soldier on and a transformation will take place. This transformation will spread to all aspects of your life under the guard ship of God.

Ask yourself "What is it that hinders my relationship with God." Bring these to God and a transformation will take place in your life to bring joy and peace."

When people transform the World will also transform.

AMEN!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: ( From the Church's Weekly Bulletin)

Isaiah 55:1
God is inviting His people to “come, buy and eat”. For one to accept this invitation, one must acknowledge that he or she has a thirst and hunger that needs to be quenched.

When we come to God, we begin to exchange our sinful nature for the full package of Salvation:

•Preservation
•Deliverance
•Soundness of mind
•Wholeness
•Health
•Peace

God takes away all our pain and the effect thereof, to give us fullness of life as promised in His Word.

We know this is true because God is not man that He should lie.

The first step is to acknowledge our weakness, then reach out to the One who is able to make us strong, One who is able to take away our sickness to give us healing, the One who is able to take away our blindness to enable us to see again.

“Come, buy and eat” says the Almighty God! Only God can satisfy our thirst and hunger.

God bless us all!

AMEN !