LORD’S Day #50

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalms 91:11

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SOME EXCERPTS AND LESSONS FROM TODAY’S MESSAGE

MORNING SERMON

SERMON FOCUS: “THE REALITY OF A TRUE BELIEVER IN CHRIST”

Text: Romans 13:11-12
“Besides this, you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

1. THE ANALOGY OF THE CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE
2. THE TWO-FOLD FOCUS OF OUR PILGRIMAGE IN THIS WORLD

– Our pilgrimage in this world is described as “the night” for this world is in darkness
– Illustration: We are walking the desert in the darkness (of this world). It is described as a short journey. “The night is far gone”
– Romans 13:12 talks about a Christian’s lifelong engagement of 2 things: (1) Mortification of sins (2) Vivification of Righteousness (Putting on the full armor of light)

“A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity. ‘the same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever.? Each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will affect our everlasting destiny.? How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness?! It is too late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us, then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked”

Adoniram Judson

AFTERNOON MESSAGE

SERMON FOCUS: “OUR ONE MESSAGE – JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED”

Text: John‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭7‬
“After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.”

1. THE WORLD’S HATRED OF CHRIST
2. THE WORLD’S HATRED OF CHRIST’S PEOPLE

– Despite the faithful proclamation of the gospel and the abundant display of miracles, only a few were saved in Galilee
– *”time”, the term used in John 7:20; John 8:20;  tells a fixed time/ appointment; in John 7 verse 6, the Greek word ‘kairos’ was used. This refers to an occasion, that is, set or proper time, opportunity.
– The holiness of Christ condemns the darkness.
– The world hated Christ because of the holiness of living that the Lord demands.

– The gospel call is a call to holiness. It is because the author of the gospel is a holy God. – When we preach holiness, we also preach that God is the one enabling us to walk in holiness.
– God restores His people to a place of righteousness.
– It goes beyond Justification – it concludes with Glorification but prior to that there is Sanctification.
– It is not just Christ who the world hates, the people of Christ share the same hatred from the world.

“These words reveal one of those secret principles which influence men in their treatment of religion. They help to explain that deadly enmity with which many during our Lord’s earthly ministry regarded Him and His Gospel. It was not so much the high doctrines which He preached, as the high standard of practice which He proclaimed, which gave offense.”

JC Ryle

“When Christ says that the world hateth him on this account, he means that the Gospel cannot be faithfully preached without summoning the whole world, as guilty, to the judgment-seat of God, that flesh and blood may thus be crushed and reduced to nothing, according to that saying, When the Spirit shall come, he will reprove the world of sin, We learn from it also, that so great is the pride natural to men, that they flatter and applaud themselves in their vices; for they would not kindle into rage, when they are reproved, were it not that they are blinded by excessive love of themselves, and on that account flatter themselves in their sins. Even among the vices of men, the chief and most dangerous is pride and arrogance”

John Calvin

Blessed LORD’s day, dear brethren!
To God alone be the glory!