“Trinity – The Eternal Divine Wisdom”

The Topic for the Service of 26^th May 2013, at St. Margaret's UCZ Church- Kitwe was entitled:  “Trinity – The Eternal Divine Wisdom”.

Preacher:  Reverend Bellington Kabaso

Scripture Reading:   Proverbs 8: 14, 22 – 31

                                     Romans 5: 1 – 5

                                     John 3: 1 – 17

SERMON SUMMARY

The theme for our Service is “Trinity - The Eternal Divine Wisdom”. Looking at the meaning of the three words:-

·         Eternal – means everlasting or continuous without end.

·         Divine – means something provided by God and not of human nature.

·         Wisdom – means the ability to use knowledge and experience to make a sensible decision or judgement.

In Proverbs 8: 14, 22 – 31 we learn that wisdom was the first to be there during creation. In John 1: 1 we are told that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This Word is the wisdom. Nothing was created without the Word or wisdom of God.

Everything we see in the world was created before man. Everything in this world was created to be used by man.

In Romans 5, Paul is telling the believers in Rome that there must be a change in the one who becomes a believer. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”  (Romans 5:  1 – 2). Through peace we are able to talk to God in prayer.

God cannot continue to be in peace with a person who claims to be a Christian but continues to live in sin. The peace with God can only happen if we take Jesus as our Saviour and we get justified with God. Jesus has taken away that sin and we are able to be in the presence of God and we become His children. If we repent of our sins we are forgiven and become justified with God.

 However, we have taken that forgiveness for granted by continuing to sin and saying forgiveness will be given to us in Church at the next Sunday. God is not only found in Church. God is omnipresent so sinning deliberately is mocking God.  Ecclesiastes 5:  4 – 7 says “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfil it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfil your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfil it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?  Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.”

Nicodemus was an educated and rich man who was full of knowledge and lacked nothing. In John 3: 1 – 17 we read that when Nicodemus met Jesus, despite his knowledge, he was taught what it was to be “born again”.  Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”

For every Christian to be saved he or she must be born again. It is not a matter of coming to Church every Sunday and looking very humble. One must be born of water and the Spirit of God. Let us not take being born again lightly. Ask yourself whether you are on the right pass to be born again.

We should prepare our lives before it is too late, and do not say that “I shall be born again at a latter date”.

Nicodemus was taught on how to enter the Kingdom of God in heaven. We should emulate what has been told to him.  It is time to change our ways of living.

May the Lord bless his Word!

AMEN!

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

Trinity Sunday Prayer

Almighty and Eternal God, through your Word and Spirit you created all things.

In Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh; you revealed your salvation in the entire world.

Through your Holy Spirit, you give us a share in your life and love.

Keep us Firm in this faith, and fill us with the vision of your glory, that we may serve and praise you all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

(Book of Common Order, Church of Scotland P. 674)

AMEN!