Sunday Worship -07.09.2020

'Chose Jesus, Today!'

by Deacon Crimson

-------------------

First Reading: - Joshua 6: 16-26

Second Reading: - John 17:14-16

Gospel Reading: - Matthew 6: 19-24.

---------------------

Matthew 6: 24.

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

-----------------------------

Dear Brethren:

Greetings to you from Church of Christ the King, Libya. Today's message questions the double minded and the compromising mind-set. How can you serve two masters? - The world and God.

John 15:19

¹⁹ If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

--------------------------------------

In the world but not of the world

Our world has transformed itself from a spiritual estate to a materialistic state; the shift is from the 'garden' of Eden and eternal life; to a 'desert' of Sin, shame and eternal death.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus

Christ our Lord.

1 John 2:16

¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Money corrupts and sin multiplies. Recent trend is to compromise things of God with things of the world; eroding the values and ethics of life. Money and material life has tried to enthrone itself over God and eternal life.

Gehazis and Annanias are noticed, now and then; parading themselves, on today’s pulpits. The glitters of the world has darkened the truth in them. They have infected the hearts of people (the laity) with the double-minded attitude with lukewarm-ness. As their predecessors, are they marked for severe punishment?

Revelations 3: 15-16

I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth

Our world is a spiritual world. God is still on the throne. He seeks the Garden of Eden again. He wants to restore man's legal right of his honourable relationship with God.

Man's soul belonging to the eternal realm, seeks to be tuned to God's frequencies. He has preoccupied the days of his life by seeking clarity; while, listening to wrong stations.

Let us examine ourselves, if we are with the Lord. There cannot be a compromise. Purity mixed, is Impurity. Money is necessary for mortal sustenance; while, godliness is eternal providence.

================

A story is told about smugglers who were involved in the underground trade of pearls and gold. The smugglers used speedboats with experienced sea divers. The divers would jump into the sea with the booty to escape from the coast guards.

Once, a young confident chap, a strong swimmer, convinced his bosses to entrust him with two heavy plates of gold. When the coast guards surrounded the smuggler’s boat, the young diver jumped into the sea. He was never to be seen again. The heavy gold plates drowned him. The newsflash was right; the heavy gold plates drowned the diver.

==================

One Way - Jesus

You have a choice. Do you wish to give up the heavy load of sin and to come to Christ, or sadly submerge into the waters of sinful death? Jesus offers salvation and eternal life.

Which way have you chosen?

Proverbs 119: 37

Turn my eyes from worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

Prayer

Loving Lord, heavenly Father, We ask your pardon and forgiveness for having fixed our eyes on the worldly materials, which are temporal and perishing. Help us, God, to have our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the author of our salvation and eternal life. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Amen!

---------------