Yesterday (Saturday) afternoon at 3:37 PM EDT I got the call to preach today at 11 AM. I wasn’t scheduled to preach, but when I get the call to preach I accept it, I stop everything I’m doing, and I immediately prepare my sermon for God. I look at it this way. I’m preaching a sermon to my brothers and sisters of my church family, but my sermon is for God – just as our praise and our worship is for God.
I preached from the Book of James – Chapter 4 – Verses 1 to 10. My sermon was titled “War & Peace”. Here’s an excerpt:
The more personal time you spend with the Lord – the less likely the devil will be able to get to you. When you pray. When you read the Bible. When you read “The Upper Room”. When you watch a preacher on TBN. When you listen to a program on 90.9 Life-FM Miami. When you sing out loud – in your car – in a traffic jam – through a school zone – at 15 MPH – to music – on Positive & Encouraging K-LOVE. When you participate in a bible study with a small group. When you come here on Sunday mornings to sing and dance and celebrate. When you perform a song for God with your guitar or your voice or both. When you write a sermon for God. When you preach God’s Good News to all who will listen. When you share your testimony with the world out there. All of that – draws you closer to God – and further away from Satan.
I sang a portion of Chris Tomlin’s “At The Cross” as part of my sermon. (I used to sing fairly regularly in my early sermons.) After I sang to God I concluded with this:
Don’t be afraid to sing out to the Lord – in here. He’s listening. And don’t be afraid to praise and worship the Lord – out there. And don’t be afraid to speak of the Lord – no matter where you are. Get closer to the Lord – closer than you were yesterday – closer than you were when you walked in here today. May the Lord be with you in everything you do and everywhere you go.
All rights reserved (c) 2018 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries.
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