Sermon Notes 10-16-11

            Pastor Lonnie's sermon on October 16, 2011, was titled, "Come Before Winter," and the scripture was 2 Timothy 1:7-12, written when Paul was in prison, suffering for his faith.

 

            We are living frustrated lives because we're out of touch with the reality or our spiritual lives.  We become spiritually emaciated.  Mr. Yates owned a sheep farm in west Texas, barely eking out a living.  He gave geologists permission to drill a wildcat oil well, and they found that his ranch was sitting on an oil field: more than 80,000 barrels a day were pumped out.  Mr. Yates had owned the oil when he bought the ranch and its mineral rights, but he was living in poverty.  He didn't know the oil was there; he owned it, but he didn't possess it.  That illustrates the tragedy of our Christian lives: the moment we become children of God, we become heirs with Jesus, and all God's resources are available to us.  But most of us live in spiritual poverty because we don't know how to dig into these resources.

 

            Everything we need is available but we don't possess it.  The Holy Spirit is powerful and available.  He has a purpose; he is a helper, active and involved. Acts 1 assures us that the Holy Spirit makes God known to us, through the Bible and through the testimony of what God has done for us.  If the Holy Spirit is in us, is there anything we can't handle? 

           

            Paul reminds Timothy that God has given him a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.  Timothy was to use his talents and skills to advance the Gospel beyond where Paul had taken it.  God is calling us, as a church, to advance the Gospel beyond where is has been.  We've been created for just this time.  He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, of love, and of self-discipline. 

 

            Matthew tells the story of the merchant who found treasure hidden in a field.  He sold everything he had and bought the field. (Matt. 13:44)  That's what He wants from us: to give Him everything.  Then He gives back to us, everything we need, trusting us to take care of everything he's given us.   We are agreeing to be stewards of all he gives us

We are to hold it lightly: it doesn't belong to us; it belongs to Him.  Hold lightly to stuff, and hold tightly to God.

 

            Then Pastor Lonnie read a letter of encouragement from the District Superintendent, Dr. Phil Fuller.   Dr. Fuller is sending Rev. George Stevenson this Sunday, October 23, to help us through this time of pastoral transition and to answer our questions.

 

            Pastor Lonnie closed his sermon by reminding us that as members of this church we have pledged to uphold the church: to sustain it through prayer, our presence and participation, to bring our talents and gifts to God, and to do His work.

 

            Be God's steward.  Care for His things, care for His people, and deliver His message.