How Are You Conected? / Alternating Or Direct Current

For those that are not familiar with an Anglican Service; there are four Scriptures that are read prior to the Message. The Scriptures that are assigned for today are Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 and John 2:13-22

The message today ......is based off the first sentence of our reading... from Paul's first letter to the believers gathered in Corinth.

BIBLE "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing; but to us who are being saved... it is the power of God." END (1 Corinthians 1:18) (Pause)

Do any of you Remember... the Energizer bunny commercials?

You know the one ...where the little bunny appears beating a drum, ...and the announcer says" ... It's still going!

And ...On the Bunny goes, ...across the desert, ... over mountains, ... and down the lonely highways.

Nothing seems to stop ......the energizer bunny.

Now ...... the point of the commercial of course ...is not the bunny, ...... It is ...the battery.

It is imperative ... to have good batteries.

Why?

Because weak batteries... cause problems.

Cars with weak batteries ... have problems starting.

Once the motor turns over ...the car will usually keep running, ... but it takes a good battery... to get the car started.

Particularly in cold weather, ... a weak battery... ...just will not do.

CD players and DVD players with weak batteries will drag.

Flashlights will go dim.

Cordless phones and cell phones ...with weak batteries ...will be full of static ......and will eventually quit.

Why? ... Because the battery ...is the power source.

Yet... even a good battery ...... is only half the solution. (Long Pause)

A man was having trouble getting his car started.

Every time he would turn on the ignition ...he would get that dreaded ... clicking sound.

So naturally ... he thought that the battery was dead.

Without checking with anyone, he sent his son to purchase a new battery.

When his son returned... they put the battery in ...... turned the key, ... yet there it was ... that dreaded clicking sound.

Finally, he called a mechanic ...who took one look at the cable ends ...and analyzed the problem.

He said "Sir, ...... you have a good battery... but your cables are bad."

That day he learned a very good lesson about his car; ...You must always make sure ......that you have a good connection ... to the battery.

Beloved ..., we too, ...as "Redeemed" Christians, ...must make sure ...that we have a good connection ... to our power source; ... and that source our Scripture declares... Is the Cross.

In our text from Corinthians, ......the Cross is the power of Christ.

It also represents the power of God... for every believer...... to live ... and walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)

And like the car battery, ...we must have A clear and solid contact ......in order to keep ... that power flowing.

We must be in harmony... with the will... of God.

We must be in Harmony... to fully benefit ...from the spiritual power ...that is available to all who call themselves ... followers of the Christ.

It is of little or no value ...to have the power of Almighty God at our disposal, ...Yet let our connection...... be rusty ...... corroded.

As we are all aware (Slow) corrosion causes ......a very poor connection. (Long Pause)

There are far too many people...... that go through life ...hearing the dreaded ...... "clicking" sound.

There is power under the hood ......but the power ...cannot get through.

Every time they switch... there is no power ... all they hear (Slow) is click -- click -- click ... that dreaded clicking sound.

We, ...as followers of the Christ, ... must keep a clear ...and uninterrupted connection ...open to God.

We who are redeemed ... know that our power comes from ...and through (Slow) ... God himself.

In our text, Paul encourages the Church in Corinth to have... godly wisdom ...... and to share the truth of the cross of Christ.

Paul explains that those who are saved ...recognize the cross...... as a symbol ......of the power of God.

But to those outside of the faith, ... the church seems to be involved ......in foolishness. (Pause)

What is this foolishness ...... of which Paul speaks?

Perhaps it is the command ... of Forgiveness and Grace ... to love your enemies ... and to pray for those... who hurt you.

Perhaps it is the knowledge and the conviction ...that what you hope for ... will become evident ... through faith.

Perhaps it is your assurance ...that you are blessed ...when the world reviles you... when the world persecutes you, ......and utters all manner of evil ...against you ...falsely.

Hear God's word again for us this day: BIBLE "For the message of the cross ...is foolishness ...to those who are perishing; ...but unto us ...who are being saved ...it is ...the power of God". END (1 Corinthians 1:18)