Daniel 3:13-18Of all the things that money can buy in this life, it cannot buy you conviction. There’s something about this rare commodity that is priceless…something about this precious asset that speaks greater volume than a thousand words could ever tell! To see a man clothed in integrity and girt about with conviction; is a thing most glorious to behold. Such a one has as his moral compass, the Word of God and though all of nature demands of him to lay down his convictions, he will never do so, because the light he has, he knows, has been given him by God!!
This sermon is an exhortation for the people of God to gain conviction from the Almighty so as to stand courageously for the Lord in this perilous time. The Apostles stood firm in the face of threatenings, when opposed by the religious elite and continued speaking those things they’d been given. Esther was called to stand valiantly in her day and by doing so, she secured the lives of her country people. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, resisted the command of Nebuchadnezzar, choosing to fear God than man. O God, make us a people of conviction!!
Hebrews 10:32-39
Anyone who has walked with the Lord for long enough, knows full well, that there are seasons to this Christian life—I mean, it’s not all smiles and hi-fives! Living in England, we observe well, the changing patterns of nature as the bleak months of winter give way to the fresh life of budding spring. The lengthened days of summer bright with their glorious rays, alas must come to an end as the green vegetation retreats and the golden brown of autumn fills the landscape. Brethren, whatever way you look at it, we cannot avoid trial and affliction in this Christian life; we’ve a cross to bear that’s part and parcel of being called a disciple of Jesus Christ.
This sermon is an encouragement to believers who find themselves in a season of affliction and distress. In all of your tribulation, Satan is after one thing and so is God. Satan is after your faith to destroy it, but God is after your faith to strengthen it!! Don’t lose heart Christian soldier…No matter how fierce the trial, no matter how great the battle, THERE CAN BE NO TURNING BACK!
1 Samuel 25:1-35
There are many things in this life which seem to come easier to us than others. Eating (for example) comes more readily to heart than cooking; spending than saving; resting than working. I well could add to this list another entry; obstinacy comes more readily to heart and easier to our sinful flesh that apologising to a Brother or Sister that we have wronged through our bad attitude! How naturally does it come to first justify ourselves along the lines of, “they deserved it!!”; how much the more enticing is it to allow offense and so-called “justified” anger to pump through our veins than we bow our stubborn hearts and turn to our Brother and say, “I’m sorry...I was wrong!”
As we enter a new year; this sermon is an exhortation for us where possible, to make things right with our fellow brother or sister. May we be the first to the mark to say; I’m sorry…I was wrong!