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)
When Paul speaks of the cross ......as the power source, ...He is referring to what the cross symbolizes.
And that symbolism encompasses the sacrifice of Jesus himself ... His blood shed on Calvary, ......His death ... His burial ...... His resurrection
The crucifixion of Christ transformed the cross... from a symbol of shame and embarrassment ...to a symbol... of the Mighty Power ... of God.
When Paul preached about Christ and His crucifixion, ......for the Jews it was ...... a stumbling block. (1 Corinthians 1:23)
For the Greeks ... it was ... foolishness. ( 1 Corinthians 1:23)
But to those who are called, ...both Jew and Greek, ...Christ is redemption... Christ is the answer.
He is the Way ...the truth ...and the life.
He is the chief cornerstone.
The reality of the Cross...is our power source ... it is our spiritual energizer ......that just keeps us (Slow) going, going, and going.
There are many who are hooked up to the wrong source; ...they are trying to use a six-volt battery.........to empower a twelve-volt understanding.
Far too many ... are depending on their own skills...... On their own power ...to get them through life.
But when troubles come, ... and they will ......When hard aches befall......and they will... that human battery ... That I can do it battery ... is far too small.
When you need real power, ...... When you need spiritual intervention:
You had best be connected ......to the power source ...that created the universe... in all its majesty.
You had best be connected to God Almighty...... T the King of Kings ... and the Lord of Lords.
You had best be connected to the King of Glory ... To ... El Shaddai
So, what type of connection required?
Well Beloved... I am going to take you back a few years.
Do you remember your science class teacher's instruction on electricity.
There are two types of electrical current ... Alternating Current A/C ......and Direct Current D/C.
Some folks who call themselves followers of Jesus ... are A/C in nature.
They suffer ...from being hooked up to ......an alternating current.
They attend church ...... when it is convenient... on an alternating ... basis.
They pray on an alternating ...... irregular... basis.
They give to Gods work ... on alternating occasions.
The A/C followers ... come to church when they feel like it, ... whatever that means.
They pray ... when it is convenient, ......and give when they...... feel like it.
Most A/C believers ... Are motivated by how they feel.
They are not in charge of their life...(Slow) ...their feelings are.
They do everything ... in response to their feelings. (Long Pause)
Then there are those who are hooked up ......to the D/C, ......the direct current.
God is looking for disciplined disciples ......who allow the Direct Current of God... to flow consistently in their lives.
God is seeking men and women ... who abide to the vine. (John 15:4-11)
Who will... "press on toward the mark". (Philippians 3:14)
That are yearning ... to be mature ... in the Faith.
Disciples ... Those who are disciplined ... that want to finish this race of life ... and to finish it well.
So, ... you ask ... what can hinder us...... from having a tight connection with God?
Here the Scriptures Command to us... from Hebrews:
BIBLE "Let us also lay aside every weight ...and the sin that clings so closely, ...and let us run ...with perseverance ...the race that is set before us, ...looking to Jesus the pioneer ...and perfecter... of our faith." END Hebrews 12:1
We are to Lay aside sin... and every weight... that clings closely ...to us.
If you yield to Jesus ...if you let Him be Lord of your life, ...he will lead you to lay aside those things ... that needlessly fill up your life ...... that separate you ...from a tight connection.
Things that the writer of Hebrews states... are not necessarily a sin ...but are a weight ...holding you back ...in the race of life.
A weight ...that is clinging to you ...pulling you away ...from having a tight connection ... a direct connection ... With God.
Sin ...and weights that cling to you ......will corrode ...and loosen your cables.
They will separate you from a solid connection.
Beloved ... Free yourself ... of such things.
Free yourself ...of those things ...that are hindering you.
Be sure... All the cables ...are connected.
And ... Along with the hot wire ... there is also ...a ground cable.
Beloved ... be both connected with Christ ...and grounded in Christ ... Yet Also be grounded in love ...with one another.
Ground yourself ... first to the Cross of Christ...then plunge into what the world calls "foolishness" ... of loving your neighbor as yourself ... and of loving those ...who hate you.
Plunge yourself into the foolishness ...of believing ...without seeing.
Plunge yourself ... into the foolishness ...of praying for those ...who use you ...and persecute you.
Ground yourself to the knowledge... that in Christ ...(Slow) We live, ...move ...and have our being.
When you're in need of power... you need to go to the Rock of your Salvation and His name ...... is Jesus.
Beloved...... Hear me on this ... Jesus is ... Ever-ready.
They crucified Jesus on the cross, ...they buried Him in a borrowed tomb, ... they tried to drain Him... of his eternal power.
But early... On Sunday Morning, ...He rose with All power ......in his nail cared hands.
Are you connected ... directly and grounded securely ... in his life-giving power?
You should be......and You can be.
(Slow down) Beloved abide ... in the vine and allow the DNA of God flow through your very being.
And if you do the Fruit of the Spirit will permeate your life ... and His spiritual peace ... and His unending joy ... will fill you ... to overflowing.
Let the Spirit conform you ... Let the Spirit of God transform you.
Beloved ... if you do.
If you do ... you have this promise ... that Jesus ... the King of Kings ... and the Lord of Lords ...will take you and transform you...... from Glory ... to Glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Amen.
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