I am overfed, overweight and over here in Romania and loving it.
Today was nice to get up when I liked and enjoy a late breakfast {lunchtime probably counts as late!} and then spend some time in prayer and study before the youth meeting this evening at the Trinity church. I really don't tend to worry about what to preach. I trust that God will leave an impression on me and I'll run with that and what I needed to preach on came to me yeaterday. It was only after I went through the old notes I realised how relevant this was. After an unexpected late lunch not long before I was due to be picked up I quickly got changed into something less comfortable {They expect leaders to dress smartly. There is a lot of petty silliness going on} I couldn't make up my mind and felt out of place among young people in a smart shirt and shoes so I put on my jeans and an orange shirt that I leave hanging outside my jeans {I think it looked pretty cool and I didnt really worry if it was acceptable}. Anyway, one of the pastors at the church commented in passing that he mistook me for one of the youth for a moment {The comment went over my head at first but I think he was trying to make a point. He didn't stay for the sermon either.} To tell you the truth I'm so laid back at the moment and enjoying myself that I only found it amusing, all the more so given what I was going to preach.
Now I have to clarify something here. One thing I DEFINITELY don't think it wise is to start stirring up controversy at a church I am visiting so my concience is clear. I knew what to preach from yesterday. I took a sermon I had written three years ago about David in his youth. I'm in the habit of letting God nudge me in the right direction and the sermon I pick up always tends to be very relevant. It isn't planned that way. Anyway the main text was "For God does not see as man sees for as man looks at the outward appearance God looks at the heart" There were a number of points that could have been construed as a deliberate poke at the leaders in the church. Fortuitously the assistant minister wasn't even there and the pastor who made the comment about my dress sense didn't stay for the message. {I got a very positive comment about it from one of the young guys by the way}. The main points were as follows.
1 / God sees things differently.
{He's not looking at your looks, number of friends, wealth, social status, nationality, church membership, fashion sense, level of authority or pecking order. All he is looking at is your heart. Those who judge by outward appearance are blind to how God sees. Even the prophet Samuel got it wrong. It's what God thinks of you that counts not a priest or pastor when they judge by outward appearance.}
2 / God chose you.
{Christian means little anointed one. Davids standing with God was not Samuels first choice or Jesses but God's. If you are a christian you are anointed by God. You are chosen, accepted and anointed. We throw away cheap things that are broken but mend more expensive things. They are worth fixing. Acts ch 20 v 28 says you are bought with the blood of God himself. Do you really think God will throw you away or reject you given what he's paid for you? If churches grasped this and were redemptive in their response to the sins of struggles of people in them then they would be revolutionised. David didnt let the lack of significant value his father put on him affect him. David got his value from God.
3 / God was Davids encouragement : 1 Samuel ch 30 v6 {Encouragement is a secret weapon in the church, too secret. Too many discourage therefore many are weighed down with guilt, insecurity and a heavy heart whereas encouragement strengthens and empowers. Satan fears the encouraged church. If there was such thing as the perfect christian without sin Satan would use his key weapon of discouragement. David looked beyond the circumstances he was in to the nature of the God he trusted and not only survived but reached greatness. Don't let anybody set man made limitations on you. LOOK TO GOD NOT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES OR THE WORDS OF THE NAYSAYERS AROUND YOU.
Why does God say to people, be bold, be strong, be courageous, be encouraged? He knows we go through doubts and fears ect. His response is to encourage us. He is not an angry sports coach on the sidelines yelling at you to do better. He the one who when you dropped the ball three times encourages you and when you caught it the 4th claps you on the back and says well done. If this mentality could transform a football team it will transform the kingdom of God.}
There were two more points : Faith & Praise {which are both a source of strength.} A few young people liked what was preached and were happy to tell me so. They seem quite open to me. As a result I have a couple of additions to my facebook friends list which is great because now I can stay in contact with them.
After the meeting we had a mini volleyball tournament outside until it got dark. I'm really enjoying being with these people and appreciate the opportunity to speak with them and spend time with them. All in all a good day. I'm now looking forward to tomorrow and another chance to preach {I need to pray about what to say} and Dragos housegroup in the evening. I've been asked by one of the leaders of the valley church if I would preach there sunday but I have no time. Maybe next Sunday.
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