Posted by: Shirley Smith on Wed, Jul 25, 2018
"CHANGING LIVES THROUGH CHRIST"
Pastor Johnson’s message came from Acts 17:28-32, Romans 4:18-24, Revelation 21:24-27, and Romans 12:1-20. The topic was “Changing Lives through Christ” with the following sub topics:
“Only In Him”
For in Him we live and move and exist (that is, in Him we actually have our being), as even some of your own poets have said, For we also are His children. So then, being God’s children, we should not think that the Divine Nature (deity) is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination or skill of man. Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent (that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives), because He has set a day when He will judge the inhabited world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed and destined for that task, and He has provided credible proof to everyone by raising Him from the dead.
“Our Hope”
In hope against hope Abraham believed that he would become a father of many nations, as he had been promised by God: So numberless shall your descendants be. Without becoming weak in faith he considered his own body, now as good as dead ( for producing children) since he was about a hundred years old, (he considered) the deadness of Sarah’s womb. But he did not doubt or waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith, giving glory to God, being fully convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised. Therefore his faith was credited to Him as righteousness (right standing with God). Now not for his sake alone was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also-to whom righteousness will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead- (Hebrews 9:27-28) And just as it is appointed and destined for all men to die once and after this (comes certain) judgment, so Christ, having been offered once and once for all to bear (as a burden) the sins of many, will appear a second time (when he returns to earth), not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly and confidently waiting for Him.
“For All People”
The nations (the redeemed people from the earth) will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring into it their glory. By day (for there will be no night there) its gates will never closed (in fear of evil); and they will bring the glory (splendor, majesty) and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing that defiles or profanes or is unwashed will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices abominations (detestable, morally repugnant things) and lying, but only those (will be admitted) whose names have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
“A New and Different Person”
And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you. As God’s messenger I give each of you God’s warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you. Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others. God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has give you the ability to prophesy, the prophesy whenever you can-as often as your faith is strong enough to receive a message from God. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If you are a preacher, see to it that your sermons are strong and helpful If God has given you money; be generous in helping others with it. If God has given you administrative ability and put you in charge of the work of others, take the responsibility seriously. Those who offer comfort to the sorrowing should do so with Christian cheer. Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble and prayerful always. When God’s children are in need, you be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night. If someone mistreats you because you are a Christian, don’t curse him; pray that God will bless him. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Work happily together. Don’t try to act big. Don’t try to get into the good graces of important people, but enjoy the company of ordinary folks. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil for evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honest clear through. Don’t quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone just as much as possible. Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it. Don’t take the law into your own hands. Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry. If he is thirsty give him something to drink and you will be “heaping coals of fire on his head.” In other words, he will feel ashamed of himself for what he has done to you. Don’t let evil get the upper hand, but conquer evil by doing good.
Read the scriptures and be blessed!
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