We want to express our greatest gratitude for all of who has attended the Service and Vestry today. I would like to say thank you to all who have been serving as PC and churchwardens last year and who have re-dedicated themselves to serving again. Your hard work is not unnoticed. A big welcome to the new members of PC and churchwardens.
May God help us to start this journey with love and patience towards each other. May God help us as we embrace what it means to be *Saved to serve* May God bless you all.
When Jesus says that those who obey won’t die, he is talking about spiritual death, not physical death. Even physical death will eventually be overcome. Those who follow Jesus will be raised to live eternally with him.
The great “I am” statement is one of the most powerful statements uttered by Jesus. When he said that he existed before Abraham was born, he was undeniably proclaiming his divinity. Not only did Jesus say that he existed before Abraham, but he also applied God’s holy name to him self. This claim demands a response. It cannot be ignored. The Jewish leaders tried to stone Jesus for blasphemy because he exclaimed equality with God. But Jesus is God.
Jesus himself is the truth that’s sets us free. He is the source of truth, the perfect standard of what is right. He frees us from continued slavery to sin, from deception, and from deception by Satan. He shows us clearly the way to eternal life with God. Thus; Jesus does not give us freedom to pursue harmful actions or dangerous beliefs but freedom, to have new and overflowing life as we follow him.
As we seek to serve God, Jesus’ perfect truth frees us to be all that he created us to be.
Sin has a way of enslaving us, controlling us, dominating us, and dictating our actions. Jesus can free you from this slavery that keeps you from becoming the person God created you to be. If sin is restraining, mastering or enslaving you, Jesus can break its power over your life.
In a number of places Jesus intentionally challenged his listeners to test him. He welcomed those who wanted to question his claims and character as long as they were willing to follow through on what they discovered. Jesus’ challenge to the Jewish leaders here clarifies two reasons why people often miss out on a life changing encounter with Jesus.
1) They never accept his challenge or test him,
2) they test him but are not willing to believe and respond to what they discover.
Congratulations to the Bambayi Project and its commitment “safeguarding the integrity of Creation “through their litter and Plastic Pollution projects” watch them here. ~ Fr. Andrew Manning.
