1.2 Hindrances to Revival
The sermon emphasizes the importance of praying for those who hurt us and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with them.
In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the kingdom of God as a source of justice, joy, mercy, and grace. The congregation is encouraged to sing hymns that reflect these qualities and to rejoice in the love of Jesus. The sermon takes a brief pause to address a recent act of vandalism in the church, urging the congregation to pray for those responsible and hope for their redemption. Overall, the sermon emphasizes the importance of living in accordance with the kingdom of God and spreading its message of love and forgiveness.
Full Transcript
Our opening hymn today is number 651. We're going to stand and sing this hymn together after the introduction. The kingdom of God is justice and joy.
♪ The kingdom of God is justice and joy. For Jesus' soul was in goodness tried. On trial and glory with Jesus we know.
And here and hereafter the kingdom shall go on. The kingdom of God is mercy and grace. The captives are free, the sinners find place.
We are blessed, our help from God's hand came to share. And hope is awakened in place of his care. We believe the good news, repent and rejoice.
In love for our sinners, God cries to his cross. For in Jesus we come, in heaven we go. The heirs of the kingdom shall answer his call.
And all will know. Before Colin comes to speak to us, I just want to commit our time to God. Before I do that, I'd just like to tell you that last night the church was very slightly vandalized and that this back window was broken.
And the stewards have done their best to clean the glass, to sweep it. But if you see any small particles of glass, just either pick it up or be aware of it and tell someone about it so that it can be taken care of. You know, the scripture tells us that we should pray for those who hurt us, who would despitefully use us.
And in that time of prayer, we're going to pray for these people who vandalized the building and ask that this incident will stick in their mind and God will touch their conscience and that one day they might come to know him as we do, as our Saviour and Lord. Let us pray together.
Sermon Outline
- Introduction
- The Kingdom of God
- Prayer for Those Who Hurt Us
- Praying for Vandalizers
- Asking for God's Touch
Key Quotes
“The kingdom of God is justice and joy.” — Colin Peckham
“For Jesus' soul was in goodness tried.” — Colin Peckham
“The kingdom of God is mercy and grace.” — Colin Peckham
Application Points
- We should pray for those who hurt us, not just for their salvation but also for their well-being and peace.
- We can apply the scripture by being aware of our surroundings and taking care of any damage caused by others.
- We should share the good news of Jesus Christ with those who hurt us, as it is an opportunity to show them God's love and mercy.