A SPECIAL SUNDAY SERMON
By OneVike
When asked by His disciples to teach them how to pray as John's disciples prayed, Jesus gave them this prayer as a model. Luke 11:1-2 "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen." Matthew 6:9-13
When you read the Bible, you are not just reading one book, instead you are reading a compilation of sixty six books. I like to think of them as sixty six love letters from the lover of our soul, our Father in heaven. On this Fathers Day, I would like to present a love letter, from our heavenly Father to us.
My child, you may not know who I am, but I know everything about you. I know when you sit down and when you rise up, and what you are thinking. I am familiar with all your words and your ways, Psalm 139:1-4 I even know how many hairs are upon your head. Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in My image, Genesis 1:27 and in Me you live, move and have your being. You are My offspring Acts 17:28 whom I knew before you were even conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5 Do not think that you were a mistake or made by chance, because I personally knitted you together in your mother's womb so that you would be fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-16 On the day of your birth when I brought you forth, Psalm 71:6 I not only knew the exact time of your birth and where you will live, Acts 17:26 but I also know when you will die. Job 14:5 & Ecclesiastes 3:1
Those who do not know Me have misrepresented Me, John 8:41-44 but let Me assure you that I am neither distant nor angry. Fact is, I am the complete expression of love, 1 John 4:16 and it is My desire to bestow My love upon you. I do this simply because you are My child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1 And because I am perfect, Matthew 5:48 I can offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11
I am the One who provides all your needs, Matthew 6:31-33 all the good gifts that you receive come from My hand. James 1:17 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope, Jeremiah 29:11 because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sands on the seashore, Psalms 139:17-18 and I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 While showing you great and marvelous things Jeremiah 33:3 I will never cease from doing good to you, Jeremiah 32:40 because you are My treasured possession. Exodus 19:5 If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me. Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart, Psalm 37:4 because it is I who gave those desires to you. Philippians 2:13 I am your greatest encourager 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 and I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18 Like a shepherd who carries a lamb, I will carry you during your times of and frailty and hold you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11 Then one day soon, I will wipe away every tear from your eyes Revelation 21:3-4 and take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4 As I said, I am your Father, and I love you even as I love My own Son Jesus, John 17:23 in whom My love for you is revealed. John 17:26
You see, My Son is the exact representation of My being, Hebrews 1:3 and He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31 He also assured you that if you believe in Him I will not count your sins against you. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 because He would pay the price for all the people. John 1:49-51 My child, I love you so much that I do not wish to condemn you but instead I gave My only Son for you, John 3:16-17 so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death is sufficient to cover all your sins, 1 John 4:10 and if you accept, and receive My Son, then you shall also receive Me. 1 John 2:23
It is my promise that nothing will ever separate you from My love again, Romans 8:38-39 and that the good work I began in you, I will perform it until the day My Son returns. So come home to Me now, and I will throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7 I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15 My question to you is, "Will you be My child?" John 1:12-13 Come, I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32
I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
Thank you Pastor OV, a fitting sermon for this day! I am embarrassed to say I didn't know about the 66 books, well, not completely. I knew the Bible was a compilation of works, many of which were handed down verbally, as was the custom in the Jewish faith.
This part is off track, but it is interesting that the Jewish faith is of course the basis and most dominant factor throughout the Christian religion, yet when the Crusades began it was the Jews who were first to fall victim to their sword. Before the Crusaders even left Europe they had slaughtered tens of thousands of Jews enroute to the Holy lands. Then just a bit later on, within the next 2 years or so as they moved into Arab lands, it was Jews and Muslims who sometimes fought side by side against the Christian Crusaders. In one city battle the Muslims and Jews, men, women and children were put to the sword when their city fell.
Up till just recently I was totally oblivious to this part of history. It was sure never mentioned in Sunday school and I can see why. I appologize, I know this was off track and I didn't mean to take away from a wonderful message, but I guess this has been bugging me ever since I learned about it a few days ago. Another dark point in our Christian history, but non-the-less an interesting one and worth exploring.
Thanks for compliment and as for the new information you learned, I would just say that throughout history, men of God have committed many evil acts in the name of God. Some out of ignorance, others out of flagrant disregard for the truth, yet we are not called to follow men's examples, we are called to follow what God says and the example of His Son, Jesus.
It is important to remember that Christianity and Judaism are the only religions in the world that presents the message of their faith along with the truth of it's follower's sins. All other religions tend to excuse the frailty of man by claiming a new understanding that allows their sin to be justified. The Bible tells us about the sin's of the patriarchs, and the disciples, but never justifies their sins.
Then we get to the atrocities of the crusaders, and the Catholic church during the reformation, and even the sins of the evangelical churches that we learn about from time to time. All these are the sins of men who claim to be Godly, but unlike men God sees the heart, and on the day of judgment there will be many who call upon the name of Christ, only to be told by Christ,
"I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"
One last thing, and that is that when I go to church, I do not see a building full of righteous perfect Christians, I see a building full of forgiven sinners who struggle daily to be what we are told we must be, yet fail continually in our walk. Martin Luther King said that Christians are the most schizophrenic people on the planet. In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote,
For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.Romans 7:15-19
I do not expect Christians to never make mistakes, I just expect them to ask God through Christ for forgiveness when they stumble, instead of justifying their sin.
Now that was good, I didn't see it posted at FR yet, so I posted it for you OV. I have read similar type of messages like this where the whole message was taken from Scripture, but never on for Fathers Day. Very timely and very well put.
Well said, you make perfect sense! (Jack)
That was incredible brother. On the way down the hill tonight, the Holy Spirit was telling me a very similar sermon on His love for me/us. Not legalistic but soooo relational - He wants us to KNOW HIM to have that intimate relationship with Him. He wants it so bad He gave his only Son to pay the price, the ultimate price.
Thanks um 'OV' lol, chuckle
Yup!
Unless you're gay--or a liberal, God may love you, but One Vike has damned you.
Sir, you are a hypocrite.
Oh well, history is full of them.
What's one more?
Quentin, you never cease to amaze me with the way you twist things to make yourself seem intelligent and informed. I challenge you to show me where I have ever said God does not love people because of their sins. I did say that sinners will never make it into the pearly gates of heaven, but then again we read different Bibles don't we? I'll tell you what Quentin, you seem to be smarter than Paul. So tell me where Paul is wrong in this passage,
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
See, Quentin, I believe God loves the sinner but hates the sin. Men like you want to justify one's sin by telling others that God condones their sin. Where is the love in that? True love comes from telling the truth as Paul did, and the truth is sinners will NOT enter into the presence of God.
Only one way to get in good with God on judgment day, and that is by the blood of Jesus washing away your sins. And that means that you admit your sins, not justify them. Now should you justify others who sin, because when you fail to correct a sinner, you are just as guilty as they are.
As I have said time and time again, you and I have two different Bibles we read from. My Bible tells me to love the sinner but hate their and tell them the truth. While your bible tells you that your god will allow homosexuals, fornicators, thieves and other unrighteous individuals into heaven, because you have a living bible. Your bible is like your god, he is so small he takes orders from men.
Quentin, it is time you met my God, who inspired men like Moses, David, Jeremiah, Matthew, Paul, John and others to write His words in what we now know as the Holy Bible. A God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.(Hebrews 13:8) That means if homosexuality was wrong the day He smote Sodom and Gomorrah, then it is still wrong today! You may not like it, but tough. Take it up with God, not me!
I am a seeker. An honest seeker.
If I do not love myself, how can I love others. In my readings today if "I love God, I will love his children." So I think I love god but I do not love his children. Where do I begin? I need to change, I need to love others, I need to love myself. Do I love God. Can I love God?
Sure don't like people like Quentin at all. I have no patience for that sort, do not want to hear or care.
How???
You are not required to love yourself and everybody in the world, thats just plain stupid and you know it. What we expect from you as a member of God's society on earth is something more akin to this: Strive to have a healthy balance of consideration, compassion and respect for others, for life and for the world around you, at the same time use your intellect to seek truth and expand your knowledge so you can achieve wisdom. And don't forget to give thanks to God when its appropriate!
If you love yourself you would be a narcassistic moron, better to like yourself, respect who you are and what you have achieved. Just try not to be so hard on yourself.
One last thought....love is a rare commodity that comes in just a few limited forms and varying degrees like love for your family, love for your friends, love for your pets and love for the one who chooses to share his/her life with you. you can love your religion and who or what you see as your higher power too. Love for your fellow man is more of a misnomer, who besides Jesus/God can really do that without be certifiably bonkers?
You really don't love your job, you really don't love skiing, you do enjoy your job or skiing or you have great respect for or admiration for or compassion for other things, but love, nah? Wrong word. The word love gets overused, misused and abused, save for it for the right time and place so that it means something when you say the L word.
Lost, you have given yourself the wrong name! To be truly lost in the wilderness you have to be in denial. As an "honest seeker" you have stepped onto the path to wisdom. The first piece of advice I would give you is to relax and sharpen your senses and thirst for knowledge. The kind of love you seek will bring peace. Love is not a feeling or an attraction but a context of the spirit. God is love. God would be a good place for you to begin.
A few thoughts about the world. It is possible to love people you don't particularly like as God instructed us to do and that will come in time if you continue to seek. But you don't have to like what people do, how they behave or what they say. You don't have to put up with bullies. God doesn't expect us to love bad manners, poor attitudes, or cruelty. At the same time we must be cautious. The world is a giant mirror for the "honest" seeker. The qualities you see in others can be found in yourself. when you begin to see the truth of this you will be well along the path of humility and wisdom.
Personally you might also stop being so hard on yourself. If I were your teacher I'd give you this homework: Every time you find yourself having a negative thought about yourself, match it with one possitive thing.
Seeker,
I will expound upon my advice for you in an article that should be able to help you more then I can in a few sentences.
The questions you ask are important ones that need to be answered rightfully and with good thought. For now allow me to let you know you are in my prayers and that God does call us to love all, yes even Quentin. It's difficult. Something that even Peter found it hard to do, but God still used him as an Apostle.
The brothers John and James even asked Christ to call down fire and brimstone to destroy a town that had rejected Him. This act of hatred earned them the title of "Sons of Thunder". Mark 3:17 You are not alone my friend, but it is something that god wants to work on, and that is what He promised through His Son. We are not perfect, and we will not be perfect until we finally get to the Kingdom He will bring back when He returns in the clouds to throw hatred and death into the lake of fire for the final death.
But worry not, your is a common feeling, just remember to try and love, God will help with the rest. He promised
As I said I will cover it all in an article that will hopefully set your heart and mind at ease for the way you are feel.