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A sermon delivered at Miracle Valley on 15th September , 2018.
Another encouragement for God’s People.
LEAD VERSES :
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53 : 3 – 5).
Jesus has prepared a way for us and surely taken our shame on the cross. Let us cling onto the cross for that is our salvation.
Introduction:
1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
1:17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
1:18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
(2Tim. 1 : 15 – 18).
THE MESSAGE :
Paul the servant of God experienced loneliness when he wrote the above letter to Timothy. The aim of the deserters was to discourage him. On another angle it was targetted to make him feel he had no followers, otherwise he was on an unworthy cause. But some who God willed, really supported him when he mentioned one of such as Onesiphorus and his house, who nonetheless he prayed for that God may grant him mercy on that day. Those who deserted him must have genuine reasons however, in their heart, to cause such situation that could amount to shame , but God was ever present to send someone when he was in chains. Many servants of God are left to wield through water, when things get tough, but God never fails.
Paul continues such experiences in another letter to the Corinthians as he narrates his ordeals :
11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
(2 Corinthians 11 : 24 – 26).
They would have jeered at him , just as the Roman soldiers did mock Jesus. Apart from this type of agony, Paul kept this faith that has been sustained by others like him through the years to make us have what we are reading today. Whatsoever shame he went through brings to us a golden message of salvation. Shame meant might be turned to God’s glory.
While in chains in Rome he made this statement below:
1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1 : 15 – 17).
A just man must live by his faith. We have a cloud of witnesses from the Lord Jesus and from the prophets, concerning the concern of God on faithful people.
John 3 :16 gives an assurance :
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The substitute for shame contemplated, has been eternal life through Jesus the Son of God as a reward for faith in Him.
The Prophet Isaiah speaking about Jesus said prophetically:
“And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 8 : 14).
Those who persecuted the apostles and even contemporary believers, have found Christ as a rock of offence and many of them have stumbled thereat.
Jesus is a sure foundation that brings many blessings. This is given by the prophet Isaiah in the following words:
28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
28:18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
The contemplated shame of death and hell has been annuled for he that believeth.
People of God will not be brought to shame. You and me and indeed all faithful people will not be brought to shame.
Look at following scriptures :
“As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 9 : 33)
Jesus confirmed what was written in the scriptures concerning Him:
“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Matthew 21 : 42).
Jesus is the rejected Messiah who brought salvation to mankind. All the people of God who are persecuted have been over the years the carriers of deliverance of the peoples across the nations.
And so:
“The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” (Psalm 118 : 22).
It has always been assured that no matter the repression of His followers, even the set backs they suffer on material earth will be restored. Patience is needed.
And in the book of Joel :
2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
2:24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
2:26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. (Joel 2 : 23 – 26).
There will be restoration and even where God caused such things to come, because of our sins, He will restore His people, such that the latter will be greater than the former. The Lord has spoken.
CONCLUDING VERSES :
The heroes of faith looked for a city whose builder and Maker is God.
11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God. (Hebrews 11 : 10).
Good things go with hard times. Anything you get without labour cannot be gold. You must strive in an upright manner, so when you win, you have cause to praise the name of God. Most often hard times will not last, when God is in control. The righteous should sin not, because that is a snare to be used by the devil.
Let us keep trusting God. We shall not be put to shame, because God Almighty is able to deliver us. Amen.
Miracle Valley Sermon 15th September, 2018..
email : outreach.mvgm@yahoo.com.