|
|
THE ENCOURAGING WORD Text: Hebrews 12:1,2 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Subject: "Drop the Albatross around your neck" Induction: Today, in our society there are many persons with an Albatross around their neck. The little things we do, the little things we say, the little things we think and believe that no one knows about. But there is the Omniscience, the all wise God; the Omnipotent, the all knowing God; the Omnipresent, God is present everywhere at the same time; the Immutable God; He was, and is and always shall be God, knows your innermost secrets. The Albatross is a large web footed bird in the South Seas. During the 18th and 19th centuries, on a fast two decked sailing ship of war, this bird, the Albatross would fly aboard looking for food. If a mariner (sailor) committed a crime, the others would kill an Albatross and hang it around his neck. If he refused to carry it, he would have to walk the plank. Moreover, the bad thoughts of your mind, the burdens on your shoulders, the bad habits which are practiced, and the worries are sin, are the weights-the Albatross hanging around your neck. Body: The purpose of this letter was to encourage Christians. Jesus Christ as priest, opened the way into the presence of God, and to the throne of grace. So let us free ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and the sin which holds on to us tightly. Let us keep our eyes always fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. However, there is only one way we can free ourselves of the heavy weight, by believing in the Savior of the World, Christ Jesus our Lord. Next repent of your sin by having a change of mind; then you can drop the heavy weights of worry; the heavy weights of prejudice; the heavy weights of anxiety; the heavy weights of hatred. For God sent Jesus to tell us that if you drop the Albatross, the weight around you neck, by accepting, trusting, and obeying His Word, He promised He would never leave you alone nor forsake you. He promised that your sins would be forgiven and remembered no more. When the weight, the Albatross has fallen from your neck, you shall truly love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. It is written, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, even though it seems that way. But He is waiting, for the good reason that He is not willing that any should perish, and is given more time for sinners to repent. Peter said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." Paul said, :God commandeth all men every where to repent." Jesus said, "Repent and believe the gospel." Repentance is turning away from known sin, sorrow for a deed or regret, and making restitution. The prodigal son is a perfect illustration of repentance. For he has a change of mind, he came to himself. He had a change of heart, "I have sinned." He had a change of will, "I will arise and go to my father." Repentance is a change, for the prodigal had a change of mind, which effected a change of heart, and his change of heart effected a change of will. No one is ever saved until he or she wills to be. Look unto the hills from where your help comes from, for your help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of life. Look unto Jesus, who promised and sent the Holy Spirit to indwell within you, to guide and to keep you, because God loves you. Consequently, when you repent and drop the Albatross around your neck, there will be love for God and man; you will have courage and fortitude; you will have purity and integrity; you will have self-respect and nobility. Christ Jesus will defend you when you need a lawyer. He will be a doctor to you in illness. He will be a river to you in dry places. He will be inner peace to you when storms of life are raging. Some times you may feel lonely, He whispers "I will never leave you alone nor forsake you." Every once in awhile you may feel like no one loves you, He whispers, "I died for you and arose from the dead, to prove I love you for ever and ever, beyond your comprehension. Sometimes you may feel discourage, He whispers, "My eye is on the sparrow, and surely I am watching over you." Conclusion: Come, walk with me on the narrow road that leads to the little quiet Cathedral on the hill. As we are walking, listen, do you hear them? There are many persons saying one thing, and others saying something different. They are saying all manners of evil, filthiness and lies. But look to your right, there is a tall person walking with you, and on your left, the person about your height, walking with you. The one on the right gave orders to the one on the left, "Write, make a list of everything being said." When we reached the door, which had no handle, knob or lock, it opened on its own accord. When the foot is lifted to enter, all weights of sin drop off. You are not to look back, over your pass life because you have been forgiven. You have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. And your name is written in the Book of Everlasting Life. It is written that Jesus said, "It is expedient for you that I go away: if I depart, I will send the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, to comfort, to guide you into all truth. Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you; that you all may be one, even as we are One." The New Testament Church This page created and maintained by GCR Online. |