Sermon Notes, August 5, 2012
Pastor Gary
Smith
Pastor Gary’s
sermon was titled “The Irresistible Church Promotes Spiritual
Self-Feeding.” We’ve all heard of
Christians who leave a church because “I’m not being fed.” Just as in the physical realm we are
responsible for feeding ourselves, so are we also in the spiritual realm
responsible for our own growth. There
can be a banquet laid, but we have to feed ourselves.
Spend time with
the Lord. We each need to be in the
Word. Prepare yourself to receive what
God has for you. The Holy Spirit meets
us in the Word, in prayer, in community worship.
First, drink
without thirst. A marathon runner’s
trainer tells him to drink every 15 minutes even though he’s not thirsty,
because if he waits until he’s thirsty it’s too late. He’s already dehydrated. We need to read our Bibles and pray daily
even though we don’t feel the need.
Psalm 46:10 tells us to “be still and know that I am God.” If you wait until you’re thirsty, it’s too
late.
Second, come
prepared to play. You wouldn’t attempt
to play basketball in flip-flops. Equip
yourself spiritually so you can get in the game. Psalm 119:32-35 tells us how.
Ask Him to teach you, give you understanding, and direct you in His paths. God sets our hearts free. Spend time with Him. The responsibility is ours.
Third, be
unshaken. Keep your eyes on Him and you
will not be shaken (Psalm 16:8). When
we’ve been in the Word, talking to the Lord, we won’t be shaken. A Shakespearean actor recited the 23rd
Psalm at a church’s Talent Night and everyone was impressed. Then an old farmer who had had lots of
trouble also chose to recite it. He
talked about how God was with him when he was in the valley of the shadow of
death with his wife who was dying of cancer, and how God prepared a table for
him, and was merciful, and how he looked forward to spending eternity with
him. The actor came up afterward and
told the audience “I know the psalm, but he knows the Shepherd.” When we
regularly feed on God’s Word it helps to know the Shepherd.
Do you want to
be fed? Don’t expect others to do what
you can do for yourself.
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