Saturday, January 24, 2015

SERMON - IT IS OVER, BUT WHY?

It is over
But
Why?
 
 
The holiday season is over. The hectic shopping is done. All of the lights and statues of deer, Santa Claus, elves are put away until next Christmas gets near. All of the “Merry Christmases” have been wished and all but the most festive of us are done wishing everyone a “Happy New Year.” The happiness of the season has faded just as it never existed.
 
My question is, ‘Why?’
 
What we were to do was celebrate the fact that God became flesh incarnate. He was born to Mary as a child and began living amongst man to show us the way to walk the Path. Although He did not choose to be born as the child of great wealth and status, nevertheless He was a child of great wealth and status. What has been failed to be seen is that His wealth was in His teachings; His status was in His humility.
 
Just as the Bible, God’s Word, teaches us:
 
1 Titus 6:6 …yet true religion with contentment is a great wealth.
 
 Our choice of religion is that of true Christianity. With that being so, our wealth, our TRUE wealth is found in our belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Other forms of wealth are only of the earth and have no value other than the type of value that will cause those amongst us to lose their souls for eternity.
 
James 5:2 Your wealth is rotting away and your fine clothes are moth eaten rags.
 
James 5:3 … The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh in hell. The treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the Day of Judgment.    
 
With the knowledge that God loves us so dearly how is it that our joyous season does not continue all year long?
 
The ‘status’ He was born to is the ‘humility’ He displayed at every turn of the road in His lifetime here on earth. God even chooses His followers and teaches that they, themselves, are to gain the status He has.
 
Colossians 3:12 Since God chose you to be the holy people whom He loves; you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
 
 To gain the ‘status’ that makes us worthy servants of God we must put aside the riches we see as the wealth of  earth and, as Jesus did, be willing to serve our fellow man instead of  attempting to ‘lord’ over him.
 
1 Peter 5:5 …all of you, serve each other in humility, for “God sets Himself against the proud but He shows favor to the humble.
 
If we are true Christians we can show, every day of the year, that we are servants of God with humility yet show our happiness to all that we meet. It should not matter to any of us that the season celebrated by us and our fellow men has passed as, with the knowledge that God was, and continues to be, amongst us, our celebration must be continued every day of our lives.
 
Everyday we see many men in celebration as they wear expensive and tailored suits, drive the most expensive cars, dine at the restaurants with the most costly menus and adorn themselves with jewelry meant to be envied by all. Sadly many men that represent themselves as ‘Christians’ join in with these people and smile as they are entertained by even more of their ilk. Ask yourself, ‘Do these people look happy or are they just trying to look happy?’
 
Then, look to a person you know to be a true Christian, is he/she reflecting happiness? Then ask yourself, ‘Am I reflecting happiness?’
 
No matter what woes you may face, what travails lie in your path, you must be aware of one thing if nothing else. God loves you; He dwelt amongst us to show the way of life. You must show joy in His gifts to you as you are His representative here on earth. Every day should be seen as a Christmas and every morning greeted as if it were a ‘Happy New Year’ day.
 
(Closing prayer)
 
Almighty God, Father of us all, You are worthy of our praise and even more worthy of our worship. Lord, You have given us so very much and yet there are those who almost demand more. For those people we pray that their eyes be opened to the knowledge of the wondrous gifts You have given. Those gifts have value beyond their comprehension.  May their hearts be eased and may they come to realize the power of Your love. .
 
Father, even we are not always ones that reflect the happiness You bestow upon us and we ask that You allow us to realize the great wealth and kind status You have chosen for us. May we always grateful for Your gifts. May we always be thankful for all that You do and will do in each of our lives.
 
Lord, as a special petition, allow me to thank You for all of the fine Christians You have blessed me with the company of and for my sister, Patty, and her husband, Ross, who are celebrating 56 years of marriage. Thank You Lord for these are truly  blessings. Additionally, Lord, as Yahweh Rophe  our Divine Physician,  please touch Carol, my mate of 30 years, who is beset with medical problems. You alone have the power to heal her in body as well as in spirit.
 
Lord, we pray for the safety, happiness and wondrous protections you afford our military personnel and ask that You continue to see them safe. Be with our elected officials, Judges, Peace officers, National security man and women, protect them and guide their actions. May this nation return to You. 
 
Father, these things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ who is One with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever,
 
Amen, amen and amen. 

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