“Paul Takes the Gospel to Macedonia”.

The Topic of the Service of 28^th April 2013, at St. Margaret's UCZ Church was entitled: “Paul Takes the Gospel to Macedonia”.

Preacher: Mr  Lovemore Daka

Scripture Reading:   Psalm 67: 1–7

                                   Acts 16: 9 – 15

                                   John 14: 23 – 30

SERMON SUMMARY

As we pray and worship God it is important that we do it according to His plan. What God had planned for Adam and Eve he has planned for us as well. Man was created in the image of God.

Man must turn to God and is transformed from glory to glory.

St. Paul puts in 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Psalm 67: 1–7 tells us that we should God all the times.

” May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.

May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.” Psalm 67: ~ Verses 3 – 5

In Acts 16: 9 – 15 we read about Paul taking the Gospel to Macedonia, which had very few worshippers. Lydia was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. She was the first to be converted.

In John 14: 23 – 30 Jesus tells his disciples that he has to go but will sent them the Holy Spirit, who whom the Father will send in his name, and will teach them all things and  remind them  of everything he has said to them.

The Holy Spirit is the comforter the teacher that was going to make them understand the Word of God.

We Christians need to praise the Lord and be prayerful all the time. We can only get blessings if we remain truthful to God.

How are we going to take the Gospel to others as Paul did take it to Macedonia?

·         We need to be in God’s presence

·         We need to have knowledge of God.

·         We need to know God’s kindness.

Are we mindful of people who have not known God?

The church started with women and we should be mindful of this fact and honour them. Lydia was a merchant who responded to God’s calling. The ministry of the Holy Spirit will teach us of the thing of Jesus Christ and remind us of what needs to be done.

In Acts we see a vision of Paul who was called to go to Macedonia.  Proverbs 29:18 says "Where there is no vision the people perish".  Just as Lydia, who was a gentile like us before we knew Christ, we can respond to God’s calling.

After the resurrection of Jesus the disciples ‘eyes were opened.

What do we learn from this?  

No one is born a Christian but we are shaped and refined as we follow the footsteps of Jesus.

Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (Hebrews 12:2)

Many people are tied to the things of this world such as drug abuse, rejection, lust, poverty. etc.,

As we do prayers of intercession let us untie these people from the shackles of these burdens. We should carry burdens of these people and not only of those of the brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let us strengthen them as the Gardener strengthens the Tomato plant by tying it so that it will start to bear fruits.

The message of Christ is a bridge between Man and God. The Holy Spirit is our comforter and teacher. Just like it helped Paul to take the Gospel to Macedonia we should also take the message to others.

There is no need for us to be known or to have knowledge in order to preach the Word of God. Let the Holy Spirit rise up and be our comforter and teacher and then we shall sent the Gospel  to the whole world.

AMEN!

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

The Great Commission for every believer in Christ is to go out and proclaim Christ and demonstrate through what is said and what is lived.

For many, the Great Commission is about quoting scriptures, simply. But the Great Commission goes beyond that.  There is an aspect of you the propagator of the Gospel to keep the word of Christ as an expression of your true love and loyalty to Christ.

 

Yet many draw a line between propagating the Gospel and keeping His Word, (John 14:25-24).

 

As you begin this new week, consider your ways. The Commission is not all talk but both talk and demonstration.

AMEN!