Summary of the preaching
Sunday, February 4th 2024 – Pastor Tony.
1 Corinthians 12
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink [g]into one Spirit.
14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
Our whole body must connect with all the other parts of the body.
I need my hands, my feet, my ears, my mouth…to live every day.
So we need each other spiritually.
We were bought out at a Grand Prix. Everyone is very important.
So we must each be our brothers’ keeper.
Let’s remember Abel and Cain.
Genesis 4
9 The Lord said to Cain: Where is your brother Abel? He answered: I don’t know; am I my brother’s keeper?
10 And God said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out from the earth to me.
Beloved, we must look out for one another.
If we refuse, we’ll still have to account for all our actions and behavior.
**We have to have a goal every day.
We must commit ourselves to the Lord and be instruments of reconciliation in his hands.
Matthew 18.
15 If your brother has sinned, go and rebuke him between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you’ve won your brother.
16 But if he won’t listen to you, take one or two people with you, so that the whole matter may be settled on the statement of two or three witnesses.
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church; and if he also refuses to listen to the church, let him be to you as a pagan and a publican.
If you see someone who isn’t walking the straight and narrow – you must first talk to them face-to-face before alerting the authorities.
We have to look out for each other.
Our brother is lost – we must do all we can to bring him back to life.
We must not only sympathize when someone comes to us to explain their problems/weaknesses, but also bring them truth, life through the word.
** We must also evangelize our acquaintances and friends who are not in Christ.
We have within us the spirit of reconciliation. And that’s how you can talk someone back onto God’s path.
We must give account to God for every person – Christian or pagan.
We have authority and power within us through Jesus Christ.
Romans 14.
11 For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me, and every tongue will give glory to God.
12 So each of us will give an account to God for himself.
God examines our actions. He knows our weaknesses, our shortcomings…
Let’s give it to him. He is capable of transforming us and making us useful instruments.
** We are God’s dwelling place – So it’s important to note that we also need to watch our mouths.
Indeed, we carry God within us. And everything that comes out of our mouths must come out of God’s throne.
Every word out of our mouths must give encouragement.
For God will also call us to account for everything that comes out of our mouths.
It reads:
Matthew 12
35 The good man gets good things out of his good treasure, and the bad man gets bad things out of his bad treasure.
36 I tell you: on the day of judgment, men will give account for every idle word they have spoken.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Beloved, if someone offends you, despite the voice that will tell you not to forgive, but to return the evil – You must learn to act in spirit.
Luke 17
3 Take care of yourselves. If your brother has sinned, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
4 And if he sins against you seven times in one day, and seven times he comes back to you, saying, “I repent,” you will forgive him.
By walking in the Word, you’ll be able to maintain a good relationship with the Lord.
Don’t let pride get the better of you. Let it all go.
It is written in
Revelation 3. 20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with me.
** Which door is it?
It’s the door to our hearts.
Beloved, anger must not be in our hearts.
When you can’t control yourself, just remember that you are the temple.
And then you’ll see the atmosphere around you change.
We mustn’t be impatient with people. Work on patience, because God pours out his love in you for the people around you.
Mockery is not permitted in the Kingdom of God.
So we know not to make fun of each other.
You can only truly praise or serve the Lord when you surrender all the desires of the flesh to submit to the Word.
If you walk like this, blessings will follow you and every word from your mouth will have impact.
We need to be constantly aware that wherever we are, God is with us.
We must glorify the Lord on every occasion, by loving, supporting and looking out for one another.
LET US PRAY →
Father in Jesus’ name,
I ask your forgiveness for my brothers and sisters whom I have offended
For my work colleagues, family members…
Forgive me Lord.
I was born again to win souls.
I have to spread love around me.
Help me to let your light shine around me.
Help me to be an instrument of reconciliation everywhere and at all times.
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.