The Peace of Christ Comes With Authority
Authority Can Be a Blessing
We, as humans, naturally buck authority and love to push the limits. We test our parents, teachers, and even our own self-preservation to see just how far we can go. We are taught by our culture to be individuals; we stand alone and decide for ourselves what is right or wrong.
But a healthy measure of authority can be an incredible gift. It provides guidelines and structure under which we can strive.
As Christians, where do we look for this healthy authority? Teachers, politicians, or gurus? These are just men, and they have no more authority than we do.
But Jesus Christ says, “All authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to me.” Christ shows us authority with love. His authority delivers peace when he says, “Fear not” and, incredibly, he has delegated that authority so that we can say to one another ‘fear not’. Christ does not rule with an iron fist, but with tender words of forgiveness.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Today’s sermon is based on these passages from Revelation 1:
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail[b] on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
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Announcements
Voters Meeting: The next meeting is May 22nd via Zoom at 3 pm.
Bible Study: Our midweek Bible study will resume this Wednesday, April 27th and meet via Zoom. Our Sunday morning class meets at 9:45 and is currently discussing the papacy.
Donations: Even during the pandemic and with a decline in attendance, the expenses still go on. If you wish to make a donation please mail them to the St. James post office box as that is a secure location. You may also donate online.
Prayer requests. Bring your prayer requests to Pastor Jenson, Deacon Poe, or Loyd Harris (bulletin typist). They will be printed in the bulletin and prayed in the Sunday service. The deadline is Tuesday. Remember to obtain permission if you are bringing a prayer request on behalf of another person.