Church 11/20/2021
Offertory scripture:
How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Psalm 119:103-105 - https://www.biblegateway.com/
Sermon message:
When we thank God, we’re thanking Him for His love for us.
Thesis: love can transform
Love can transform a person’s life.
Love can transform a relationship.
Love can transform a nation.
Love can transform the whole.
Transform = make a dramatic change
Love energizes your faith.
Love and thanksgiving go together.
If you have love, thanksgiving is there also.
Christopher Columbus’ two verses that he stood on in his life, as written from his journal:
“Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name. Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
After Columbus got rejected by different monarchs when he approached them, and was insulted, he met with a righteous man who prayed with him, had communion with him, and reminded him of God’s love for him. Then he met with King Ferdinand of Spain. He blessed the journey and financed it.
Columbus encouraged himself in the Lord after experiencing other disappointments and setbacks.
But because Columbus received God’s love and gave thanks to Him, the world changed forever.
Columbus felt that his real mission was to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to tell them about God’s love for people.
The pilgrims also had the same mission, the same faith, the same belief: to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to spread God’s love. They believed in a mission of building a place where there was freedom of religion. They too set aside time to reflect on God’s love for them and thanking them.
It’s easy to get discouraged and to conform to this world. It’s easy to give up.
Encouragement: don’t give up; don’t conform to the world; don’t give into discouragement.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Refuse to conform to this world; be a rebel for God against the world. Be transformed with the power of God.
To be transformed: Get into the word of God, yes, but there is more to it:
Point #1: Be careful what you hear
Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
Our minds get renewed by reading the word of God, but what is the word of God? It is a love letter. Therefore, by reading His word you are reading His love letter and therefore receiving His love.
The world has a voice too: one of discouragement. They will do everything in their power to not only dissuade you to follow and believe God but also to do things the world’s way.
Satan also talks to you too: but he tries to discourage you in everything that you do.
The world and Satan talked to Columbus and to the pilgrims. They talk to us too.
Hatred has a voice also. They say the same things.
But love is not stupid. It is not simple. It speaks loud. It encourages you and builds you up. It encourages you that you can do it.
When you hear God’s voice, love and hope and strength return to you.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Point #2: Know that listening to God is time well spent.
God’s love letter gives you hope.
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
It’s a love letter you get to read.
His word infused us with love.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/
Point #3: receive a fresh touch of God’s love by giving thanks