The following was my first sermon and I wish to deliver it again
today so as to tell all of my style of delivering and that love that is a
Christian's means of delivering God's Word to His servants.
BREVITY
Over the years I have listened to many
Pastors and Priests deliver sermons. Some are openly frank while others
are long, drawn out. Others are, to put it simply, boring.
Many
Pastors read a Chapter of the Bible or a verse from the Bible then set
about delivering an explanation of what was read. Too many fail to read
enough of the subject to give a correct interpretation of what was
intended, by God, to be edified upon. After the initial reading these
Pastors 'dumb down' their words so that those that did not get their
point the first time can join the ones that supposedly got the message
at the first
explanation. If they really try to stretch their message they 'dumb
it'[ down even further!
If
you ever wondered why some congregations get 'glassy eyed?' Ever wonder
why some simply fall asleep? Just how many do you think remember what
was said or even repeat it to one another? If their was no 'fire'
(brimstone) there is but a short 'half life' to such sermons.
Men
and women who go to fellowship appreciate brevity. Trim off the gristle
from the meat before it is served and the chef will be remembered.
Season it just right and they will tell their friends where to go when
they are hungry. The secret is, 'Don't burn it, cook it right the first
time.
Our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was, and is a master of brevity. He cut
to the chase. He often spoke in parables but when He did he was making
His followers think! What He was doing was insuring that there would be
no misunderstanding as to what He said. Whether speaking a parable or in
plain language He kept His words brief and to the point. In doing so He
not only got His message across but He endured it's repetition.
Look at a few:
- His greatest sermon can be read in 8 minutes. Matthew 5.7. (Sermon on the mount)
- His best known story can be read in 90 seconds. Luke 15: 11-32 (Prodigal Son)
- He summarized prayer in 5 phrases. Matthew 6:9-13 (Lords Prayer)
- He silenced accusers with 1 challenge. John 8:7 (Those who chased a woman)
- He rescued a soul with one sentence. Luke 23:43 (Thief while on the cross)
- He summarized the law in 3 verses. Mark 12:29-31 (Love thy Lord and love thy neighbor)
- He reduced all His teachings in 1 command. John 15:12 (Love one another)
See what He did? Isn't it great!
Say it but keep it brief.
- Pray all the time. If necessary, use words.
- Sacrilege is to feel guilt for sins forgiven.
- God forgets the past. Imitate Him!
- Greed is to be regretted. Generosity- never forgotten.
- Never miss a chance to read a child a story.
- Pursue forgiveness, not innocence.
- Be kind to any that serve you. (Waitress, valet, etc)
- Don't ask God to do what you want. Ask God to do what is right.
- Nails didn't hold Christ to the cross. Love did!
- Know the answer to a prayer when you get it and don't give up when you don't.
- Flattery is fancy dishonesty.
- No one is useless to God. No one.
- You will never forgive anyone more than God has ever forgiven you.
- God does not keep a clock.
- God's grace is without measure.
- When Jesus went home, He left the front door. open!
I really don't/ think these thoughts require an in depth explanation. If they do..the question is, Do you expect to have your thinking done for you?
Love is what the root of God's WORD is all about. Love told of with openness, charity, with
fervor...but always with brevity!
An additional thought, from the heart.
Often
all too many Pastors convey the thought that infirmity suffered by any
man or woman is the result of the lack of Christian strength. They seem
to be saying, 'I am not sick, I pray; if you prayed in a correct manner,
you would not be sick either.'
Within
the Bible there are many, many references that speak of lameness,
disfigurement, illness, leprosy and all manners of infirmity. When Jesus
Christ came and walked amongst us as our Messiah He taught His Apostles
to heal as He did. What all of us must do is to realize that Jesus knew
there were doctors and therefore knew of man's problems dealing with
health
issues.
Jesus, in Mark 2:17
said, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor, sick people do.' Then He
went on to say, 'I have come to call sinners not those who think they
are already good enough.'
So, two topics are spoken of here. Sick people needing doctors and sinners needing Jesus to call on them.
In
Luke 10:9 (Luke was himself a physician) Jesus' Apostles were sent out
by Him to, 'Heal the sick.' He went on to instruct them to say, ' As you
heal them say, the Kingdom of God is near you now.'
It
follows to reason that God knew that man would get sick. He knew that
they aged and died of old age. God knows everything! He knows that
cancer, arthritis, migraine headaches, heart disease, strokes and a
myriad of other diseases would plague His followers. Those are but a
few of the crosses we must bear!
Throughout
the ages Christians have been called upon to give their very lives for
God. Will we now ask or claim: 'If they had known how to really pray,
would all that pain and suffering have taken place?' Who would be so thoughtless as to belittle a person of faith for his aggrandizement?
It is recorded that
Peter was crucified upside down. Other Apostles were sawn in half,
skinned alive, while other Christians were so mistreated and killed that
we refer to them a martyrs. Are we now to believe and be taught that:
'If they had but known how to really pray,' or ' You will never get sick
if you pray as I
do,'?
Will
any man or woman who teaches the word of God be so bold as to stand
before God and declare, this is Your WORD? Sadly...some do.
God is the author of the Bible. Men who wrote those words were but tools, but God, He was the author.
God
created a perfect world. He gave man everything he desired and asked
but one thing of him. 'Do not eat of the tree of life.' Well, we did!
Pure and simple, we did. Now we must pay the price.
God,
in His infinite wisdom gives us the knowledge and cures for many
illnesses. He will, if He so chooses, heal and infirmity with no
need other than prayer. But, if prayer is offered and no apparent
healing takes place, do not despair. God has a reason and you must bear
that cross. He may remove that cross at a later date or He may remove it
upon your earthly death. Have faith, your malaise will be removed but
until it is, bear it with grace!
If
your pain seems unbearable, think! What did my Lord and Savior feel as
He was nailed to the cross? What did He feel as He was flogged for
healing a man? What was it like to have a nail driven through a hand? A
foot? With your arms outstretched, hanging from nails, would you think
of comforting another?
When
things look bleak and malaise sets in...bear your cross and know one
thing...You are no less a Christian than what you truly are. God loves
you and will give you relief...in His time...not
mans!
Over the years I have listened to many
Pastors and Priests deliver sermons. Some are openly frank while others
are long, drawn out. Others are, to put it simply, boring.
Many
Pastors read a Chapter of the Bible or a verse from the Bible then set
about delivering an explanation of what was read. Too many fail to read
enough of the subject to give a correct interpretation of what was
intended, by God, to be edified upon. After the initial reading these
Pastors 'dumb down' their words so that those that did not get their
point the first time can join the ones that supposedly got the message
at the first
explanation. If they really try to stretch their message they 'dumb
it'[ down even further!
If
you ever wondered why some congregations get 'glassy eyed?' Ever wonder
why some simply fall asleep? Just how many do you think remember what
was said or even repeat it to one another? If their was no 'fire'
(brimstone) there is but a short 'half life' to such sermons.
Men
and women who go to fellowship appreciate brevity. Trim off the gristle
from the meat before it is served and the chef will be remembered.
Season it just right and they will tell their friends where to go when
they are hungry. The secret is, 'Don't burn it, cook it right the first
time.
Ever
hear
of the dummies that lost money on a football game? They lost even more
on the replay. Think they'd talk about that? I think not.
Our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was, and is a master of brevity. He cut
to the chase. He often spoke in parables but when He did he was making
His followers think! What He was doing was insuring that there would be
no misunderstanding as to what He said. Whether speaking a parable or in
plain language He kept His words brief and to the point. In doing so He
not only got His message across but He endured it's repetition.
Look at a few:
- His greatest sermon can be read in 8 minutes. Matthew 5.7. (Sermon on the mount)
- His best known story can be read in 90 seconds. Luke 15: 11-32 (Prodigal Son)
- He summarized prayer in 5 phrases. Matthew 6:9-13 (Lords Prayer)
- He silenced accusers with 1 challenge. John 8:7 (Those who chased a woman)
- He rescued a soul with one sentence. Luke 23:43 (Thief while on the cross)
- He summarized the law in 3 verses. Mark 12:29-31 (Love thy Lord and love thy neighbor)
- He reduced all His teachings in 1 command. John 15:12 (Love one another)
See what He did? Isn't it great!
Say it but keep it brief.
- Pray all the time. If necessary, use words.
- Sacrilege is to feel guilt for sins forgiven.
- God forgets the past. Imitate Him!
- Greed is to be regretted. Generosity- never forgotten.
- Never miss a chance to read a child a story.
- Pursue forgiveness, not innocence.
- Be kind to any that serve you. (Waitress, valet, etc)
- Don't ask God to do what you want. Ask God to do what is right.
- Nails didn't hold Christ to the cross. Love did!
- Know the answer to a prayer when you get it and don't give up when you don't.
- Flattery is fancy dishonesty.
- No one is useless to God. No one.
- You will never forgive anyone more than God has ever forgiven you.
- God does not keep a clock.
- God's grace is without measure.
- When Jesus went home, He left the front door. open!
I really don't/ think these thoughts require an in depth explanation. If they do..the question is, Do you expect to have your thinking done for you?
Love is what the root of God's WORD is all about. Love told of with openness, charity, with
fervor...but always with brevity!
An additional thought, from the heart.
Often
all too many Pastors convey the thought that infirmity suffered by any
man or woman is the result of the lack of Christian strength. They seem
to be saying, 'I am not sick, I pray; if you prayed in a correct manner,
you would not be sick either.'
Within
the Bible there are many, many references that speak of lameness,
disfigurement, illness, leprosy and all manners of infirmity. When Jesus
Christ came and walked amongst us as our Messiah He taught His Apostles
to heal as He did. What all of us must do is to realize that Jesus knew
there were doctors and therefore knew of man's problems dealing with
health
issues.
Jesus, in Mark 2:17
said, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor, sick people do.' Then He
went on to say, 'I have come to call sinners not those who think they
are already good enough.'
So, two topics are spoken of here. Sick people needing doctors and sinners needing Jesus to call on them.
In
Luke 10:9 (Luke was himself a physician) Jesus' Apostles were sent out
by Him to, 'Heal the sick.' He went on to instruct them to say, ' As you
heal them say, the Kingdom of God is near you now.'
It
follows to reason that God knew that man would get sick. He knew that
they aged and died of old age. God knows everything! He knows that
cancer, arthritis, migraine headaches, heart disease, strokes and a
myriad of other diseases would plague His followers. Those are but a
few of the crosses we must bear!
Throughout
the ages Christians have been called upon to give their very lives for
God. Will we now ask or claim: 'If they had known how to really pray,
would all that pain and suffering have taken place?' Who would be so thoughtless as to belittle a person of faith for his aggrandizement?
It is recorded that
Peter was crucified upside down. Other Apostles were sawn in half,
skinned alive, while other Christians were so mistreated and killed that
we refer to them a martyrs. Are we now to believe and be taught that:
'If they had but known how to really pray,' or ' You will never get sick
if you pray as I
do,'?
Will
any man or woman who teaches the word of God be so bold as to stand
before God and declare, this is Your WORD? Sadly...some do.
God is the author of the Bible. Men who wrote those words were but tools, but God, He was the author.
God
created a perfect world. He gave man everything he desired and asked
but one thing of him. 'Do not eat of the tree of life.' Well, we did!
Pure and simple, we did. Now we must pay the price.
God,
in His infinite wisdom gives us the knowledge and cures for many
illnesses. He will, if He so chooses, heal and infirmity with no
need other than prayer. But, if prayer is offered and no apparent
healing takes place, do not despair. God has a reason and you must bear
that cross. He may remove that cross at a later date or He may remove it
upon your earthly death. Have faith, your malaise will be removed but
until it is, bear it with grace!
If
your pain seems unbearable, think! What did my Lord and Savior feel as
He was nailed to the cross? What did He feel as He was flogged for
healing a man? What was it like to have a nail driven through a hand? A
foot? With your arms outstretched, hanging from nails, would you think
of comforting another?
When
things look bleak and malaise sets in...bear your cross and know one
thing...You are no less a Christian than what you truly are. God loves
you and will give you relief...in His time...not
mans!
So, we
have learned brevity is a virtue and faith is a gift that will see us
though hard times. Brevity is best and faith is even better.
(closing prayer)
Father I thank You for the opportunity to edify Your Word to those that are Your children.
It is my happiness to be Your servant and Ordained one to tell of Your
greatness and to praise You. It is even more of a pleasure to worship
you, in spirit and in truth realizing that You alone are God and there is no other.
I ask that You open the hearts and minds of all that receive these sermons and at Your time, receive them in the Paradise You have created for Your followers.
I pray these
things in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son and our Lord and Savior,
Who is One with You and the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever,
Amen, men and amen
Pastor Lee S Gliddon Jr, DOM
God's Word Christian Ministry
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