Worship Theme:

The love of Christ compels us to share the message of Christ.

 

Call To Worship

For the Love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, than all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again (2 Cor. 5:14–15).

 

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, we ask You this: that You might make us to be not only Your worshippers but Your witnesses. Kindle the fire in our bones. Loosen our reluctant lips. Fan into flames the gift within each of us. Fill us with your Spirit, and make us Your witnesses. In this very church, Lord, may there be, one year from today, men and women, boys and girls, who at this moment are far from You, unconcerned, lost. Help us to reach them, O Lord, with Your message of hope through Jesus Christ. In the words of the old song, Lord, lay some souls upon our hearts and love those souls through us. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Todays Scripture Reading is Taken from Isaiah 43:10; Acts 1:7–8; 2 Corinthians 5:20–21; Isaiah 44:8.

 

“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me, And understand that I am He...” “It is not for you to know the times of seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. . . .” Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. . . . Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.

 

Lets Glorify the Lord with showering him with praise!

My Redeemer

·          I will sing of my Redeemer and His wondrous love to me; on the cruel cross He suffered, from the curse to set me free.

·          I will tell the wondrous story, how, my lost estate to save, in His boundless love and mercy, He the ransom freely gave.

·          I will praise my dear Redeemer, His triumphant pow’r I’ll tell, how the victory He giveth over sin and death and hell.

·          I will sing of my Redeemer and His heav’nly love to me; He from death to life hath bro’t me, Son of God with Him to be.

Chorus: Sing, O sing of my Redeemer; with His blood He purchased me; on the cross He sealed my pardon, paid the debt and made me free.

 

My Redeemer Lives

Verse

I know he's rescued my soul

His blood has covered my sin

I belive, I believe

My shame is taken away

My pain is healed in his name

I believe, I believe

I'll raise a banner (men wo wo wo)

Coz my Lord has conquered the grave!

 

Chorus

My Redeemer lives

My redeemer lives

My redeemer lives

My redeemer lives

 

Verse

I know he's rescued my soul

His blood has covered my sin

I belive, I believe

My shame is taken away

My pain is healed in his name

I believe, I believe

I'll raise a banner (men wo wo wo)

Coz my Lord has conquered the grave!

 

Chorus

My Redeemer lives

My redeemer lives

My redeemer lives

My redeemer lives

 

"Bridge"

You lift my burdens

And I'll rise with you

I'm standing on this mountain top

To see your Kingdom Come

 

·         Worship Music ( Worship Director )

·         Prayer requests

·         Childrens Church ( Shhhh, wait until all the children are really quiet, can you hear anything.  Thats what happens when we keep quiet.  Quiet is good at times but other times its best to say something, to share! Like when its your Birthday, if you did not tell anyone noone would know to be happy for you…)

 

 

 

Main Sermon...

 

Title: Can’t Hold It In

 

Scripture: 2 Kings 7:9 Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent.”

 

Introduction: All successful football teams have a 12th player—the crowd. The volume and enthusiasm of the home-field audience can make the difference between a win and a loss. In the frenzy of a game, it’s hard to sit still and keep quiet. The same is true whenever we have good news. We can’t hold it in. We want to share.

In Scripture, we see the same principle at work about sharing spiritual truth.

1.  Good News Is for Sharing (2 Kings 6:24–7:9). The city of Samaria was under siege; within was famine and starvation. Outside the walls were four lepers who decided to defect to the enemy in hopes of staying alive. Approaching the opposing camp, they found it deserted and began helping themselves to food and provisions. Suddenly, coming to their senses, they said, “This isn’t right. This is wonderful news, and we aren’t sharing it with anyone!” (tlb). It isn’t right when we discover the wonderful news of Christ, but don’t pass it on.

2.  Wineskins about to Burst (Job 32:15–21). Young Elihu described himself as “pent up and full of words...  The spirit within me urges me on. I am like a wine cask without a vent. My words are ready to burst out! I must speak to find relief...” (nlt). How descriptive of Christians who are filled with the Spirit.

3.  Volcano about to Erupt (Ps. 39:1–3). David decides to keep his mouth shut, but, “My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned.” We need a fire in our belly, spilling over into the lava of a loving witness.

4.  A Fire in the Bones (Jer. 20:1–9). Jeremiah had been beaten and humiliated in the stocks for his preaching. In reaction, he tells the Lord he is quitting the ministry. But the fire in his bones would not be quenched. Vance Havner said that Jeremiah did not merely have something to say; he had to say something. In one of his messages, Havner asked why we don’t have a similar “bone fire.” Turning to Acts 19:19, he read about the Ephesians who, coming to Christ, burned their sinful paraphernalia in a bonfire. Havner suggested we can’t have bone fire until we have a bonfire.

5.  Can’t Stop Preaching (Acts 4:18–20). The apostles had “bone fire,” telling the Sanhedren they could not stop telling what they had seen and heard. Once, when Indian evangelist Sundar Singh was in the forbidden land of Nepal preaching the gospel, he was arrested and thrown into prison. He preached to the other prisoners with great effect. When the jailer ordered silence, Sundar replied, “I must obey my Master and preach His gospel regardless of threats or sufferings.” The authorities put him in solitary confinement in a foul-smelling cattle shed. They tied his hands and feet to a post, and removed his clothing. They threw leeches on him, which fastened to his body and sucked his blood. Sundar simply raised his voice to heaven in prayer and song. Concluding him mad, the jailers released him, and he went on his way—preaching.

6.  Woe Is Me if I Preach Not the Gospel (1 Cor. 9:16). Paul’s words were echoed centuries later when John Hus told the archbishop of Prague, “Shall I keep silent? God forbid! Woe is me, if I keep silent. It is better for me to die than not to oppose such wickedness, which would make me a participant in their guilt and hell.”

7.  Compelled By Love (2 Cor. 5:14). The love of Christ constrained Paul to share Christ. John Geddie, pioneer Canadian missionary to the New Hebrides Islands, was shocked by the butchery, brutality, and sensual evil of those he came to win. But he wrote in his diary, “The love of Christ sustains us and constrains us. My heart pants to tell this miserable people the wonders of redeeming love.” John Wesley wrote: “The love of Christ doth me constrain / To seek the wandering souls of men, / With cries, entreaties, tears, to save, / To snatch them from the gaping grave.” George Whitefield simply said, “I’ll preach Christ till I do to pieces fall.”

 

Conclusion:

 

Take It to the World

Fritz Kreisler (1875–1962), the world-famous violinist, earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions, but he generously gave most of it away. So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn’t able to buy it. Later, having raised enough money to meet the asking price, he returned to the seller, hoping to purchase that beautiful instrument. But to his great dismay it had been sold to a collector. Kreisler made his way to the new owner’s home and offered to buy the violin. The collector said it had become his prized possession and he would not sell it. Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had an idea. “Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?” he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music that the collector’s emotions were deeply stirred. “I have no right to keep that to myself,” he exclaimed. “It’s yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear it.” —from Our Daily Bread, February 4, 1994

 

Vance Havner lamented that many of us are like arctic rivers—frozen at the mouth. Ask the Lord for a thaw, for a fire in your bones, for a Spirit-compulsion to share Christ. May He kindle afresh the fire within until we can’t hold it in any longer.

 

Alter Call. 

How do you feel about Jesus? Do you get tired of Him? What if our Great Priest, our honorable defender grows wary and tired when it comes to defend you at the great Throne before our Father? Have you been wary about speaking about him—about his glorious love he has for you?  Let’s come together and pray, pray for the Spirit to fill our hearts and souls and to open our Mouths for good—to share Christ and all his glory to the world! Let your Spirit Shout to the Lord, and let our joys Through the whole WORLD run!  We have a Loving GOD!

 

Closing Words and Closing Prayer...

 


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