To Love Jesus

Let us Pray

Intro

Thank you so much for inviting me again to preach today. It is always a great honor for me to come to this beautiful place and also a time of healing of peace and quiet.

To my understanding, Bartow Cumberlad Presbyterian Church has existed for over 150 years, being the beacon as the salt and light within this community that God has placed you in. That is an amazing history and we give glory to God for the existence of this church. I have faith that someone else will be preaching on this podium 150 years later. Although I would personally love to, I rather be with Jesus by then. haha.

To Protect

So, today I wanted to come here with a message of hope and encouragement and remind you of your rich history within this community and how God has worked through this church to expand his kingdom.

And this church has existed for this long because of the faithful servants within this church who sacrificed their time and effort out of their love for God and his body of Christ.

I have faith that all of you also love God and this church and it is the reason why we are all gathered here on this Sunday morning.

To love means to protect.

To protect something means you love.

To love God means to protect your church, your community of brothers and sisters and more important, the body of Christ.

A church is not the building, even though we have a beautiful sanctuary here.

The church is you. The church is me. We are the church and as a gathering of followers of Christ. Christ calls us his body.

The building allows us to gather together to fellowship, to share jokes with each other, to commune together and to worship together.

But, We are the church.

So, if you love God, then you to protect the church. If you love Christ, hold dear to each other and cherish the church.

Jesus says in John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.

What are his commandments? Well, to start we have the ten commandments. To love God only, do not follow idols, respect your parents and respect others. Jesus said first love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. Who are my neighbors? You have your physical house neighbors but your direct neighbors are for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, whom you commune together and worship together.

By doing this, what are we doing?

We, together as a church, are loving Jesus by doing so.

If you love Jesus, we as a church should follow his teachings. Spend more time in scripture and learn what it means to live as the light and salt of this world. Learn what it means to live as a Christ. Learn what it means to be a body of Christ.

For Jesus is amongst the group when two or more are gathered in his name.

When you do, the grace of God is blessed on you.

Words of Encouragement

This amazing church has existed for over 150 years and it will continue to exist for another 150 years, because all of us are gathered together in the name of Jesus and we are following his commandments by loving and serving each other just as the original members of Bartow did 150 years ago and will continue to do so for the next 150 years.

How? John 14:16-17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

Amen!

Our Advocate. Our Helper, the Holy Spirit is guiding us on the path that God wants us to follow.

God does not stop working. Amen? God has worked 150 years ago. He works today and He will continue to work the next 150 years.

God never stops working. When we all think that the world is crumbling down, He reminds us that He is working according to His time and agenda. He waits for the perfect opportunity to reveal His plans for us, because that is the perfect advantage for us.

Remember the story of Job. Job’s story is controversial, because people ask the question how could a loving God do such a thing to his faithful follower?

Brothers and sisters, that is the whole point of the book of Job. It is to remind us who God is. He says in

Job 38:4–7 CSB

Where were you when I established the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? What supports its foundations? Or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Amen.

Jesus is with you in the middle of the storm. He is there standing right next to you, but it is us who looks at the storm and becomes afraid.

Furthermore

John 14:18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.

Jesus will not abandon us as orphans. He will come to you.

If you remember when Peter was walking on the water, Jesus was with him at that moment.

But, I don’t think the point of this story of Peter walking on the water or when Jesus tells us that if we had faith as small as a mustard seed that we will be able to tell mountains to move from the left to the right was not a literal meaning.

Rather, Jesus was trying to tell us that if we have faith, then he will always be with us.

Because I am with you, do not be afraid when you are in the middle of the storm. Have hope. Have courage and have peace.

Because I am with you, internally you will have strength that will make you feel like you have strength to move mountains.

He was talking about our spirit and the life that overflows when He is with us.

So, our faith is that much valuable and precious. Cherish your faith.

People spend hours reading books their whole life trying to find the right ingredient to turn their life around.

Right ingredient all along has been faith.

Faith is the secret grandma recipe for the perfect brownie.

Peace be with you.

Conclusion

Fellow brothers and sisters of Bartow, To love means to protect. To love means to follow. To love Jesus means to keep his commandments.

What are his commandments? First, To love God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. Second, to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

What we focused on today was the second commandment of loving each other by protecting each other in God’s word.

Have faith God will provide. His providence waits for the perfect opportunity.

He never leaves us alone even if we feel like we are alone. He has sent us His holy spirit who is amongst us, guiding us and encouraging us.

Until that day when we see Jesus standing at the right hand of God like Stephen did. A life that is pleasing to our Savior.

If you had one question that you would like to ask to Jesus, what would it be?

Jonathon Roumie, the main who plays Jesus in the TV series, the Chosen. It is an excellent book if you have not read it, called the Bible. Recommend reading the book first then watching the series.

He said his question for Jesus would be, did I do well…? This question hit my spirit.

I asked myself. Would Jesus be pleaseed with me today? I have faith Bartow is a church that Jesus is pleased with.

Let us continue to strive forward and be the church that Jesus says, well done, my faithful servant. Amen.

Let us pray.