Hi,
I pray everyone had a wonderful weekend. I miss you and pray for you all.
Here’s today’s sermon.
Lessons from Ancient Times
Introduction: Understanding Time Cycles and Strategies for Kingdom Success
Text: Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 (NLT): "History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new."
Galatians 6:9 (NLT): "So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up
- Exploring cycles of history, recurring patterns, and their relevance to our spiritual journey.
Historical Parallels in Time**
Economy is cyclical and even work is cyclical
- Reflecting on the parallels between Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy's assassinations.
- Recognizing the cyclical nature of events in history.
Introduction: "Echoes of History: Unveiling Cycles, Time Frames, and Parallels"**
Life's Rhythms: Just like seasons follow a pattern, history reveals cycles and rhythms.
- Let me ReMIND You: "Just as nature dances to a familiar tune, history too has its melodies of repetition."
- Wisdom from Ecclesiastes: "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again."
- Let me ReMIND You:: "In the pages of history, the past whispers to us, revealing its hidden echoes."
- We Must Stay in the School of the Spirit: "Biblical stories resonate through the ages, echoing lessons for our journey."
Today we’re going to look at lessons from Noah, Abraham, Elijah and Jesus Christ
#1: Lessons from Noah's Time
- **Problem:** Widespread wickedness and corruption among people.
- Scripture: Genesis 6:5-8 (NLT)
[Gen 6:5-8 NLT] 5 The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. 7 And the LORD said, "I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing--all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them." 8 But Noah found favor with the LORD.
- **Lesson:** **Faithfulness in the Face of Corruption**
Stay Building. Stay Faithful. Keep preaching with your life even if no one but your family responds and keep saving up for rainy days.
- Today's Challenge: **Remain faithful in times of moral decline; our faith shines brighter in darkness.**
- Scripture: Hebrews 11:7 (NLT): "It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before."
Noah’s Uniqueness: http://theresonlyoneanswer.com/the-book-of-enoch-106-107/
#2: Insights from Abraham and Lot
- **Problem:** The impending destruction of Sodom due to its wickedness.
- Scripture: Genesis 18:22-33 (NLT)
https://www.blueletterbible.org/nlt/gen/18/22-33/s_18022
- **Lesson:** **The Power of Bold Prayer**
- Today's Lesson: **Be bold in prayer; intercede for your community, seeking God's mercy and transformation.**
Pray for the country and world but try to focus daily praying for 10-20 people.
- Scripture: James 5:16b (NLT): "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."
3: Reflections from Elijah's Life
- **Problem:** Elijah's burnout and despair after his bold confrontation with idolatry.
- Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-8 (NLT)
https://www.blueletterbible.org/nlt/1ki/19/1-8/s_310001
- **Lesson 1:** **Boldness and Zeal for God's Truth**
- Today's Lesson: **Embrace boldness in your convictions, even when facing opposition.**
- Scripture: 1 Kings 18:21 (NLT): "How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions?"
- **Lesson 2:** **Overcoming Burnout with God's Care**
- Today's Lesson: **Even faithful servants face burnout; trust in God's care and find renewal in His strength.**
- Scripture: Isaiah 40:31 (NLT): "But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength..."
#4: Jesus' Triumph on Mount Hermon
[Luk 9:28-36 NLT] 28 About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. 31 They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus' glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, "Master, it's wonderful for us to be here! Let's make three shelters as memorials--one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 34 But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them. 35 Then a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him." 36 When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone. They didn't tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
- **Background:** Mount Hermon's significance in ancient times as the site of the Watchers' rebellion.
- **Symbolism:** Mount Hermon represents a spiritual battleground where dark forces once rebelled against God.
- **Jesus' Victory:** By revisiting Mount Hermon, Jesus reclaims this ground, asserting His authority over all principalities.
- **Lesson:** **Claiming Spiritual Authority**
- Today's Lesson: **Just as Jesus triumphed over spiritual darkness on Mount Hermon, we can claim His authority to overcome any spiritual battle we face.**
- Scripture: Colossians 2:15 (NLT): "In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."
**Conclusion: remember in the cycles of history
- Romans 8:37 (NLT): "No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us."
Conclusion: Embracing Jesus' Victory and Authority
In our journey through the annals of time, we've uncovered profound lessons from Noah, Abraham, Elijah, and the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ. As we reflect on these lessons, let's remember that history is not a mere repetition of events; it's a canvas upon which God paints His timeless truths.
Noah's unwavering faith in the midst of corruption teaches us to stand strong in moral decline, knowing that our faith shines even brighter in the darkness. Abraham's bold intercession for Sodom reminds us of the transformative power of prayer, inviting us to intercede boldly for our communities. Elijah's zeal for God's truth and his subsequent burnout highlight the importance of unwavering conviction and finding renewal in God's care.
Yet, amidst these lessons from ancient times, the pinnacle of our journey rests on the sacred ground of Mount Hermon. Just as Jesus triumphed over spiritual darkness on that very mountain, He reclaimed the battleground of rebellion and asserted His ultimate authority. This victory is not limited to history; it extends to each of us today. Through Jesus' triumph, we can claim His authority to conquer any spiritual battle we face, finding overwhelming victory through Christ's love.
So, as we navigate life's cycles and embrace the echoes of history, let's be filled with passionate and persistent faith, fervent prayer, unyielding boldness, and unwavering trust in God's provision. Let us also walk in the authority of Jesus, knowing that within the limited chords of life, there are boundless combinations of victorious melodies waiting to be played.
