SPECIAL SUNDAY SERMON: 31-08-2014 HEALING HURT HEARTS SERIES PART 23: Prepared by Pastor Charles Chanda; Pretoria, South Africa HE WAS HURT BY THOSE IN AUTHORITY AND REACTED NEGATIVELY BUT QUICKLY CORRECTED HIMSELF! Act 23:1-5 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. 2. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. 3. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? 4. And they that stood by said, Revilest thou Gods high priest? 5. Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. The problem the church is facing today is the problem of not having preachers who are relevant. This is observed in the sermons that are delivered week in week out. People go to church and come back worse than they went because all they hear is the unending money story. It is evident that the voice from the problems in the ministry is now louder than the voice of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the head of the church and not the world. I pray that preachers will take heed and spend adequate time listening from the Holy Spirit so that they will become relevant to the church in Jesus Name. We are this Sunday confronted with a very serious text and I pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to you and me in Jesus Name. One thing I can assure you is that this is not a message many preachers can preach today especially those who have political allegiance and find themselves in the opposition. Paul, a holy man of God became so agitated after being smitten on the mouth and spoke words that even a sinner is not allowed by God to speak. Here Paul represents every minister of the gospel. For him to have spoken the words he spoke shows us that at that time, something went wrong in his heart. Evil was activated and the fruit was evidenced through the bad language. We further observe that he quickly realized that it was unlike him to utter those words and quickly retracted them and apologized. That is how you can differentiate between a sanctified believer and a nominal church goer. Remember he was innocent and the High Priest did not apologize for the his action against Paul. Normally people will say why did he do that to me when I was innocent? He must also apologize otherwise I will not retract my statement as it is the truth. Brothers and sisters Christianity affects the way we live in our day to day lives. It is very strange that today many people will be in church and some attended yesterday but the way we live is like people who never attend any church. This is a sign that it is not your attendance of church but having a new nature that comes once you are in Christ. 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. My question to you friend is “Are you born again”. Your church uniform is nothing and serving in the church is a waste of time if your have not been forgiven of your sins. Let today be a day of repentance for you in Jesus Name. 1. HOLY MEN OF GOD CAN BE AFFECTED BY PEOPLE’S REACTIONS ASWELL! Act 23:1-5 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. 2. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. 3. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? 1Sa 24:4-5 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Sauls robe privily. 5. And it came to pass afterward, that Davids heart smote him, because he had cut off Sauls skirt. Some people think that there is a level in the kingdom of God where you do not need to repent. How wrong you are my friend. Just think of a Paul, a man who saw the third heavens and David a man after God’s own heart. Everyone can justify their actions but not conscience. Thank God they had a tender heart to apologize when things were wrong on their side. It is to such men that God gives the keys of the Kingdom. He will not withdraw His Holy Spirit from a man who quickly repents and returns to the right path as soon as there is a realization of ever going astray. Some of us are too proud to apologize especially if the people involved are our juniors. If you love your soul, you will come down from that tree today like Zaccheaus as Jesus wants to abide at your house. Look around in your church and you will see people you offended though everyone can justify you. Make peace with all men. Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 2. HOLY MEN OF GOD NEED PEOPLE BY THEIR SIDE WHO CAN CORRECT THEM! Act 23: 4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou Gods high priest? This may sound very strange to many of you who are founders and overseers of ministries. Most Christian leaders stand alone without anyone to speak to them when they go wrong. Some never ever think they can make mistakes and what they say is final. This is a dangerous path and many young men and women have shipwrecked their lives by thinking that they can break away from the leaders who have developed them and start their own churches just because they cast out an evil spirit on e Sunday. Never start a church out of anger or frustration as the Holy Spirit will not back you. Humble yourself and correct what needs to be corrected and at the right time if it is God’s plan for you to start a church it will be so. Do not be a lone ranger like Samson. It is never too late for those of you who jumped out of you church and cut off from your leaders to go back home. Gen 16:9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. 3. BE HUMBLE AND APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR WRONGS NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE! Act 23:1-5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. Whatever word you have spoken against anyone including political leaders, you have to apologize. God will hold you accountable if you do not. David had to apologize to Saul because if he did not he was going to face the same when in office. Never forget the golden rule! Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 05:55:01 +0000
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