We can visit churches easily now, that is one of the blessings of the current situation. I intend to explore some live services over these weeks of isolation. Today let me share with you an encouraging service from Emmanual Church Brighton. The service includes worship and a sermon by Joel Virgo. Here are my notes from his sermon.
Faith on its own is useless.
Faith is only useful because of its object. Do you have Jesus? To deal with our anxiety we need nothing else but HIM.
1. His compassion
At the time of Jesus greatest need he was preoccupied with his disciples. Don’t let your hearts be troubled.
2. His trustworthiness
When Jesus makes promises you can be sure of them because he controls cosmic circumstances
3. His ability to satisfy.
There’s no more for Jesus to give than himself. He is enough. In the storm you get to know Jesus and find out that he’s sufficient for your need. Jesus gives us security. You don’t have to live in anxiety because he is preparing a place for you. He wants to come into your life now so that though you don’t see him you love him.
Trust that he’s real. That he really did die and raise again. That’s the only thing that makes sense of history. It’s not believing in ourselves any more. We can get ourselves though this problem alone. Turn to him with thankfulness and gratitude. Turn to him in prayer and expect him to be satisfying.
John 14:1-10, ESV
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.And you know the way to where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
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