Sunday Worship Message - 15.08.2020

' Closer walk with You, Lord!'

by Deacon Crimson

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

First Reading: Genesis 5: 24

Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

Second Reading: Genesis 18: 22

Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the LORD.

Gospel Reading: Luke 15: 20

So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

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

Dear Brethren,

Greetings to you in the sweetest name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The above Bible verses has three different characters with three different actions. Enoch: walked with God; Abraham: Stood before God; Loving Father: Ran towards his son.

Enoch: walked with God

There are two persons known as Enoch in the Holy Bible. The first one was the son of Cain and there was a city built on his name. The whole generation of Cain and the great city was destroyed during the great flood.

However, the second Enoch, unlike the descendant of Cain, had a closer walk with the Lord. He was an ordinary person like us with a family. However, his close walk with the Lord is quite unique. He was the first prophet in the Bible, who prophesied about the Second Coming of the Lord who would judge the whole world (Jude: 1: 14 -15).

We can infer that Enoch was raising a family, preaching to the people and still walking with the Lord. This means that when he was walking with the Lord, he could not keep quiet but kept telling the word of salvation to others. Had they obeyed Enoch, the people would have escaped the great flood. Due to his closer walk with the Lord, he was taken up to glory without experiencing death (Hebrews 11: 5).

What is meant by walking with the Lord? Is it physically possible? Can we do that? Psalm 23: 3 says that the Lord leads us in the paths of righteousness. We too can experience that same walk with the Lord even though we cannot see him through our sinful eyes.

Abraham: Stood before God

Abraham was standing before the Lord (Genesis 18: 22). The angels visited Abraham’s tent and pronounced judgement towards the people of Sodom. But Abraham stood in the presence of the Lord and interceded. He asked the Lord to show mercy to the whole city with at least with ten righteous people. But still none righteous were found.

His first intercession mission was successful in (Genesis 14) when he rescued Lot from captivity. But the second time, Abraham was far away from Lot as they had parted ways. Yet, Abraham was thinking and beseeching on behalf of Lot and the people of Sodom.

In this Quarantine time, are we ready to wait in the Lord’s presence and intercede for the perishing souls? Shall we also take up a decision to pray for the people, who are dying around us in sin and sickness? Yes, the Lord will certainly show His grace and compassion, because still a little time is left before the final judgement.

Loving Father: Ran towards his son

In Luke chapter 15, we see Fathers action of running towards his son. The son had left him and all legal settlement was complete. The Prodigal son had shamed his father. He had no legal right binding over his Father's property.

As the disfigured prodigal son approaches his fathers house, we note an opposite action. The father runs towards his son. It seems the father was waiting for his son's return everyday. Father ran towards his repentant son. Though the prodigal son was legally dead, there was life and riches in the Father’s house.

Dear brethren, are you away from the Heavenly Father? Come Home. The Father will come running to embrace despite the filth and abominations. This is Father's love and compassion. This is the reason He paid a huge price of sacrificing His own Son our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us walk with the Lord. Let us stand in His presence and come back to the Father. May the Lord richly bless you.

Hebrews 8:12

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.

Prayer

Loving Heavenly Father, Help us to have a closer walk with you and to wait in your presence. Moreover, forgive all our sins and iniquities and bring us back into your fold. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

Amen !

Just A Closer Walk with you

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Precious Jesus, hear my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee,

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

I am weak, but Thou art strong;

Jesus, keep me from all wrong;

I'll be satisfied as long

As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Precious Jesus, hear my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee,

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

When my feeble life is o'er,

Time for me will be no more;

Guide me gently, safely o'er

To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Precious Jesus, hear my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee,

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.