Let's Celebrate a Hero!
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I won’t be speaking. Today, I use this opportunity to preach and pay tribute to my mentor, father in the faith and even in life.
He has counseled me, rebuked me, taught and encouraged me.
Story - my conversion, Teacher Jaipaul.
Pastor teaching teen SS.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Bruce Lee -“Give recognition where it is due.”
In two weeks, we will have a great celebration of Pastor’s ministry. If we were at the Grammy’s, we’d give him a Lifetime Achievement Award but in his case, he wasn’t just doing a performance.
In two weeks, we will have a great celebration of Pastor’s ministry.
I won’t be speaking. Today, I use this opportunity to preach and pay tribute to my mentor, father in the faith and even in life.
He has counseled me, rebuked me, taught and encouraged me.
I won’t be speaking. Today, I use this opportunity to preach and pay tribute to my mentor, father in the faith and even in life.
Story -
HS studies
my conversion
Teacher Jaipaul.
Pastor teaching teen SS.
He has counseled me, rebuked me, taught and encouraged me.
Story - my conversion, Teacher Jaipaul.
These verses of the great apostle Paul are very applicable to Pastor and Sister Shirley.
These verses of the great apostle Paul are very applicable to Pastor and Sister Shirley.
Background: This letter was written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison in Rome, awaiting execution. Paul was martyred during the reign of Nero around 64-67 AD. Facing imminent death, Paul encourages his mentee Timothy to carry on the ministry. He tells Timothy to continue in ministry - Fight the good fight of faith; be diligent, study, preach the Word, be brave.
Born in the city of Tarsus about AD 9, highly educated,. Tarsus was also the seat of a famous university, higher in reputation even than the universities of Athens and Alexandria, the only others that then existed.
· Tarsus was also the seat of a famous university, higher in reputation even than the universities of Athens and Alexandria, the only others that then existed.
Paul studied under the famous Gamaliel I (). The Mishnah mentions Gamaliel I frequently. Gamaliel was listed among 13 great rabbis whose deaths marked the decline of Judaism: “When Rabbi Gamaliel the Elder died, the glory of the Law ceased and purity and abstinence died.”
He describes himself as one
circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
Extremely devout, religious fundamentalist and extremist. As to zeal - a persecutor of the church.
“circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews, a Pharisee” ().
Extremely religious man, religious fundamentalist and extremist. As to zeal - a persecutor of the church.
Witness to the death of the church’s first martyr Stephen. “And Saul approved of his execution.”
Thus Paul was probably in his thirties when he, with authorization from the chief priest, began to imprison believers first in the synagogues of Jerusalem and then later in Damascus. Perhaps Paul’s clearest description of persecution is found in
“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.
And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
On the road to Damascus, Jesus met with him.
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;
and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”
But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
He went on four Missionary Journeys, preaching the gospel of Jesus relentlessly as the fire of God burned in his soul, planted numerous churches in various provinces.
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
: 18-
He went on four Missionary Journeys, preaching the gospel of Jesus relentlessly as the fire of God burned in his soul, planted numerous churches in various provinces.
He became the most influential leader in the early Christian Church, writing about half the books of the NT. He laid the foundation for much of the theology of the church.
Now he lying in a jail knowing that Nero has planned his death and pens one final letter to Timothy.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
:
Paul sees his life as being a sacrifice, a libation, a drink poured out as an offering to a deity.
a drink poured out as an offering to a deity.
In the OT , when the worshiper presented a food offering of a lamb or bull, he was to also offer a grain offering and pour out a drink offering. Paul was saying he was the drink offering poured out as a sacrifice unto God. He saw his life and the lives of other believers as living sacrifices unto God.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
·
1) I have fought a good fight.
1) I have fought a good fight.
The Christian life can be viewed as a journey a pilgrim sojourns, a marathon an athlete runs and a fight a soldier engages.
In this pilgrimage, you have to endure to the end.
In this marathon, you have to keep your eyes on the prize.
In this fight, you have to engage the enemy of your soul.
Paul says, I have fought a good fight.
There are many battles raging in the world.
North Korea fighting for supremacy.
Islamic militants physically fighting with the use of violence and bloodshed to propagate their ideology.
Women fighting for rights to abort babies
Liberal groups fighting to make gender change acceptable and normalizing deviant sexual behaviour.
People fighting to save whales and threatened species.
There are certain battles God will call on us to fight that are good
fight to end slavery
fight to end racism
fight to end human trafficking
Paul said I have fought a good fight.
You have heard in raising children, you have to “pick your battles”
In life I say - Pick your fight. What are you fighting for?
Is it for something that is valuable? Is it for something eternal? IS it something that will make a difference in the life of a child? a family? a society?
The best fight is the fight for God. But is not a physical fight, a carnal fight.
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
@ cor. 4: 4
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
What are you fighting for? What are you expending your energy behind?
What are you fighting for?
2) I have finished the race
2) I have finished the race
How many times you have started a project and left it half-way done?
In the New Year, we make many resolutions but run out of gas pretty soon. I suppose the period with the greatest registration for gym membership is the first few weeks of January. Same for Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers.
Right here in Ch 4, we read
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
In , we read of Alexander and Hymeneaus who have shipwrecked their faith.
But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Pastor has always admonished us to “Stay the Course.” I heard those words at a very difficult time in my life. It wasn’t sweet to hear then but what I needed.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
matt. 24: 12-1
Do your best to come to me soon.
:
Pastor has always admonished us to “Stay the Course.” I heard those words at a very difficult time in my life. It wasn’t sweet to hear then but what I needed.
And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
My story.
Jesus
Pastor Samaroo has stuck to the race - with patience, faithfulness, always there; ready in season and out of season; many have left the church he pastored but he kept going because he was being faithful to the heavenly vision, to the God who called Him.
Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.
I have no idea how he and Sister Shirley did it during the early years when they began.
: 11
Pastor had to hold on firmly to the God who saved him and called him. The God who never fails.
He had to live by exemplary faith like the heroes of faith in
Pastor Samaroo has stuck to the race - with patience, faithfulness, always there; ready in season and out of season; many have left the church he pastored but he kept going because he was being faithful to the heavenly vision, to the God who called Him.
“He endured as seeing Him who is invisible”
Pastor also says “Have faith in God.”
Men ought always to pray and not to faint - not to give up.
In today’s world, we often hear of men of God who abuse their authority, who are sexually inappropriate and others who mismanage the finances of the church, using the pulpit for their own financial gain. Not one of those accusations can be leveled against this man of God.
Whenever you hear or see in the news another pastor, or so called man of God succumbing, I want you to remember Pastor Haitram Samaroo.
Heard someone say, when you become a Christian, you go to a church and listen to the sermons the Pastor preaches. After a few years, you realize, you heard it all. After that, what you do look at the man and observe his life.
Pastor is like a Rock, solid, sure, no wavering. because his life is built on the Rock of Ages.
holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Whatever, God determined for him to do with his life, he has done.
People’s AOG Church in Guyana is now one of the top AG churches in that country.
Here from nothing, he has raised up a healthy church.
3) I have kept the faith
3) I have kept the faith
In today’s word, there are so many fads
juicing
organic
vitamins
different water
In the church, we have different fads too:
lighting
music
hype
Pastor has stuck to what he knows and proved, allowing the Bible to be his authority and not the opinions of men.
He has not drifted into doctrinal error.
If you are looking for a hip church, this is not the one for you.
If you are looking for a church that want to copy what is going on in the world or other churches, this is not the one for you.
If you want a church where the Bible is believed, preached and practiced, you’re in luck.
Pastor:
Preach the Word.
I have seen enough of this world and men in authority to know that I cannot trust man but God alone and what he has revealed to in His Word.
4) I have a crown of righteousness
4) I have a crown of righteousness
What did Pastor achieve? His faithfulness to God and the ministry has impacted the lives of many.
I am part of group of young men whose lives were powerfully changed and directed by his ministry.
Anthony Persaud, Kishore Heralall, Dev Raghoo, Ewart Cummngs, Sase Khadaroo, Martin Sookchand.
Ill - street corner liming.
Hundreds have been impacted by his ministry.
God has His reward awaiting Pastor. We will have an opportunity in two weeks to give thanks to you in a tangible way. [remind church]
Someone asked Ravi what he’d like God to say to him when he stands before Him in heaven.
I knew the answer before he said it. it is what every man and woman of God wants to hear:
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Conc
Pastor has given his life to the gospel of Christ. What about you and me? What has God asked us to do?
Like Saul -”Lord what will you have me do?”
I pray that Almighty God will reach down into the hearts of young men and women today and by the power of His Holy Spirit plant a passion and burning desire, a fire that nothing in this world can quench; that He’d call men and women who will respond and say Lord, Send me! I’ll go Lord. I’ll do what you want me to do.
Pastor has served well and he is now passing on the baton to you and me.
I pray that at the end of our lives, Jesus will say “Well done…”
Today, we celebrate a hero of the faith.
If you desire God to touch your life, transform it and use you, come to the altar.
I sing praises to Your Name
He has done great things